You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes
Guest: Andrew Santino Returns
Release Date: October 5, 2022
Episode Overview
In this lively, deeply candid, and consistently funny conversation, Pete Holmes welcomes comedian Andrew Santino back to the show—for the podcast’s first-ever video episode. The two dive into everything from secret weirdness and the realities of stand-up life, to mental health, burnout, creative ambition, and wild tangents about robots, exercise equipment, LA vs. Ojai, and ghosts. At once hilarious and introspective, Pete and Andrew keep it weird, raw, and relatable, lampooning the comedy grind while also pondering what it might look like to step off the treadmill.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Stand-Up Burnout & The Comedy Game
[09:30 – 14:53]
- Andrew confesses his fatigue and ambivalence about stand-up after taping his special:
"I just shot my special in Denver, Colorado ... I'm gonna be real with you because sometimes we get very real, you and I ... I don't want to do stand-up anymore, buddy." (09:31)
- Pete mirrors this feeling, linking it to personal growth:
"The more healed as a person I become, I have less compulsion to go out and earn it in front of strangers." (12:51)
- The two discuss the emotional highs and lows of performing, comparing it to a relationship that alternates between devotion and longing to leave.
Memorable Moment:
- Pete compares stand-up to Michael Jordan’s compulsion for the game, but notes he’s less drawn to the "shiny and fancy" now.
Quote:
Andrew: "You're having that conversation where you're like, you don't leave your wife. You don't leave your wife, but you do. If she pisses you off enough." (13:36)
2. Changes in the Stand-Up Scene & Tape Anxiety
[14:09 – 16:00]
- The process of getting into stand-up has changed drastically; now even new comics have full high-resolution video for their socials, while older comics reminisce about fighting to get even crappy tapes.
- Andrew opens up about anxiety taping specials:
"Knowing you're taping, it's the worst ... you're in your head. You're like, 'This is locked down forever.' ...all the pressure that finally gets left ... and then the moment you get off stage, you're—I hated every second of it, but I actually really liked it the way it came out." (16:00, 18:47)
3. Shifting Culture, Social Media & Parasocial Relationships
[24:04 – 26:01]
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Pete and Andrew talk about moving out of the “cultural hum” of stand-up and the impact of social media.
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They agree the atmosphere feels heavier and more parasocial:
Andrew: "Parasocial relationships are ruining us. ...In person contact has become so odd now because everyone is your friend on the Internet." (25:31)
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Pete shares he pays someone to run his socials, stepping away for his own sanity.
4. Health, Fitness, and the Comedy Mindset
[25:50 – 34:40]
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Extended riffing on exercise equipment (Peloton and Tonal), with Pete admitting he ignores the instructor's calls for more resistance:
"When she goes, 'Let's crank it up to 40,' ... I'm like, I'm already sweating. ...Why would I listen to a robot?" (31:47)
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Andrew, by contrast, follows the cues out of loyalty or fear of “being caught,” exposing their different personalities.
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Deep dive into how exercise, competition, and even cheating in fitness classes mirror broader societal incentives.
5. Life Decisions: Ojai vs. LA, Escaping the Casino
[23:56 – 44:22]
- Discussion of moving out of Los Angeles for peace—Ojai as Pete’s “casino escape.”
- Andrew likens LA to a casino:
"Los Angeles as a city ... is a casino. It adopts the exact same ideology as casinos ... you win even a little bit ... and you're like, I'd like to go home with some of my winnings. And the casino's like, 'The fuck you will.'" (41:09)
- Both contemplate whether chasing more “bells and whistles” in cities like LA and the comedy industry is worth it, or if it’s better to go “sit by a fucking river.”
6. Mental Health, Burnout, and the Value of Partners
[51:25 – 55:06]
- Andrew discusses the overwhelming feeling from both shooting his special and jumping right into the new season of "Dave," leading to 14-hour days and emotional exhaustion. He emphasizes the difference between recognizing physical vs. mental fatigue.
- Pete and Andrew talk about the importance of partners who can “see all of it” and help regulate the rollercoaster of comedic highs and lows.
- Val, Pete’s wife, is credited for helping him gain perspective:
Pete (as Val): "You're gonna have a great set tomorrow, and you're gonna come home and be like, stand up's the greatest thing. I'm never gonna stop doing it." Andrew: "You're right. Let's eat dinner." (54:01)
7. On Saying No, Healthy Boundaries, and the Perception Game
[96:21 – 101:40]
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Andrew and Pete explore learning to say “no” in show business and how that’s interpreted based on your persona and physicality.
"Because I'm strong, I'm like, strong personality, ...people like, 'I don't want—He probably doesn't want me.'" (100:15)
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They note that certain people, like Aziz Ansari, could get away with being nonchalant, while others may be misperceived.
8. Sisyphus, Boulders, and Comedy’s Endless Climb
[114:11 – 116:46]
- The Greek myth of Sisyphus is invoked as a metaphor for the comedy (and life) grind—constantly pushing the boulder with a secret smile.
Pete: "Even the things we hate, we secretly love." Andrew: "I'm pushing a little bit of a boulder. Sometimes you're like—well, actually, it's 20." (116:28)
9. Wild Tangents and Comic Weirdness
(Throughout: see especially 62:01 – 63:24, 73:02 – 76:07, 120:00 – 121:25)
- Tangents span from Nessie’s emotional intelligence, to impressions of Michael McDonald, Will Smith, and Rodney "Safety" Field, to deeply silly riffs on exercise, pets, and ghost stories.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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Andrew on the Pressure of Tapings:
"People don't get... as soon as you get off stage... I was like, I hated every second of it, but I actually really liked it the way it came out." (18:47)
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On the Culture of LA:
"Los Angeles as a city is a casino ... you win even a little bit ... and the casino's like, 'The fuck you will.'" (41:09)
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On Burnout and Partners:
Pete (as Val): "You're gonna have a great set tomorrow, and you're gonna come home and be like, stand up's the greatest thing." (54:01)
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On Sisyphus:
Pete: "Even the things we hate, we secretly love ... Sisyphus. I think that's right on." (115:45)
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Comic Relief:
"If this is the joke that brings us both down, fine." – Pete (19:52, after riffing on Pixar movies/Black leads)
Timestamped Segment Guide
- 07:34 – Show start, Andrew groggy but riffing on pimple, shooting “Dave”
- 09:30 – Burnout from stand-up, Andrew’s completed special, Pete taps into similar fatigue
- 14:09 – Generational change in stand-up, tape anxiety
- 24:04 – Living in Ojai, energy differences, leaving LA, digital/social fatigue
- 31:47 – Tangent on Peloton, Tonal, and following/ignoring the “robot” instructor
- 51:25 – Burnout and boundaries, importance of rest and self-care, Andrew on the grind shooting “Dave”
- 54:01 – Pete and Val’s marital dynamic re: stand-up highs/lows
- 62:01 – Tangent on Nessie, Creature from the Black Lagoon, what’s scary, and empathy for monsters
- 70:11 – Side story: Dinner with Dane Cook, social comparisons
- 96:21 – Saying no, healthy boundaries, and how public/fan perception is impacted by persona
- 101:46 – The role of physicality/personality in career interactions
- 114:11 – Sisyphus metaphor for endless showbiz striving
- 121:05 – Ghosts, hardest laughs, and comic superstitions
- 122:24 – Signature “keep it crispy” sign off (show close)
Tone and Language
The episode is fast-paced, irreverent, and self-aware, with frequent meta-commentary and digressions. Pete and Andrew balance deep self-reflection with rapid-fire bits and playful ribbing. Despite the fun, they are vulnerable about emotional exhaustion, creative dissatisfaction, and the perpetual tug-of-war between ambition and personal well-being.
Summary Takeaway
This episode offers a funny but unfiltered look at the secret weirdness and real emotional rollercoaster of modern stand-up life. With laughs, honesty, and sharp insights, Pete Holmes and Andrew Santino make the case that no matter how successful or seasoned you are, the struggle for meaning, mental health, and creative fulfillment—inside and outside of comedy—never really ends. If you’re a comedian, a fan, or just someone feeling burnt out by the grind, there’s plenty here to make you laugh and help you feel seen.
Signature Sign-off:
Pete: “Keep it crispy.”
Andrew: “Keep it crispy.” (122:24)