You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes
Guest: Brian Bahe
Air Date: March 20, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode features comedian Brian Bahe in a free-wheeling, deeply funny, and surprisingly thoughtful conversation with Pete Holmes. Their discussion riffs on stand-up, cultural identity, internet culture, life lessons from comedy, and the search for deeper meaning beyond career success. Both comedians share stories about life on and off stage, exploring vulnerability, bombing, identity, generational change, and the weird beauty of the awkward moments in life.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Punctuality, Anxiety, and the Stand-Up Lifestyle
- Opening Anecdotes about Being Late/Early
- Pete and Brian begin by joking about being on time; Brian confesses he's "infamously late" to everything, setting up the theme of self-acceptance and embracing your quirks. (03:06–03:39)
- Pete brings up one of Brian's bits about the joy of thinking you're late but actually being early, and how that's "the feeling of MDMA."
“Thinking you're late, so you're rushing and then realizing you're actually early. Cause you wrote the time down wrong. And that is the feeling of MDMA.”
— Pete Holmes (03:56–04:05)
2. The Riff Zone: Airplanes as Dramatic Buses
-
Both comedians go on a playful extended riff imagining airplanes as “buses in capes,” complete with drag elements, high heels, and sashaying down the runway.
“Bus with a cape. It's bus drag.”
— Brian Bahe (07:08)- The riff morphs into children's cartoon territory, and Pete dubs it the best "opening riff" of the year.
“That was a great. I think you just won the Weirdy for best opening riff.”
— Pete Holmes (08:19)
- The riff morphs into children's cartoon territory, and Pete dubs it the best "opening riff" of the year.
3. Reflections on the Comedy Scene & Influence
-
WTF and Comedy Podcast Lore
- Pete and Brian swap stories about Marc Maron, “WTF,” and crossing podcast "milestones," reflecting on the allure and perils of big moments like landing a huge guest (Obama) and how fame changes creative work. (09:00–12:13)
- They riff on how the podcast landscape—and celebrity—has shifted, with Pete comparing current podcasting to the 70s movie scene with "everyone [having] more weight."
-
Bombing and Growth
- Both describe the necessity—and unexpected joy—of bombing on stage as vital to growth as a comedian.
“I think bombing is what it's all about. If you're not bombing, you're not growing.”
— Brian Bahe (26:50) - Pete shares stories about opening for Bill (Billy) Burr and the wisdom of established comics:
“He would make it clear, like, you're good. Don't worry. Sometimes it's just like this. That's what he said to me.”
— Pete Holmes (26:22–26:32)
- Both describe the necessity—and unexpected joy—of bombing on stage as vital to growth as a comedian.
4. Comedy, Internet Culture, and Micro-Celebrities
- The discussion turns to "third spaces" (places outside work/home) and how they've shifted online—especially into comment sections.
“People are not going to bowling alleys anymore. They're only going to the comments section to interact with others.”
— Brian Bahe (19:34)- Pete remarks on the difference between real-life risk (bombing) and the sterile environment of internet fame; the internet is "methadone" compared to the real high of stand-up.
5. Identity, Representation, and Subverting Expectations
-
Brian talks candidly about being Indigenous and gay—sometimes being “Asian-passing” and not fitting neatly into any label or expectation, much to his delight.
“I like to think I'm categoryless.”
— Brian Bahe (89:40)- He jokes about how increased awareness of marginalized groups sometimes lets mediocre members of the group "fly under the radar" just for being visible—a funny but biting commentary on identity politics.
-
They riff about who gets to use “gay” as a pejorative:
“FCO? 'For Children Only.' I think they are allowed to use gay as a pejorative ... up until, I'll say, 17.”
— Brian Bahe (33:39–34:23)
6. Comedy Generations, Persona, and "Flatness"
- Pete and Brian discuss changes in stand-up style: past generations were bigger and louder, while the current trend is more understated and "flat," something Brian finds surprising even about his own stage presence.
“In my head, I am doing full Sebastian Maniscalco ... and then I do remember the first time I watched a video of myself doing stand-up, I was like, huh?”
— Brian Bahe (85:46–86:05)
7. Meaning of Life, Documentary Final Scenes, and Transcendence
-
Both imagine the finales of their hypothetical documentaries—Pete dreamily envisions a scene where he "got smaller by choice," embracing something deeper and less fame-driven; Brian visualizes himself peacefully walking in the Arizona desert at 85.
“He did what he did, and he loved it. And then he got smaller. Yeah, he got smaller by choice. He didn't resist ... he settled down and discovered something far more valuable than seeking approval.”
— Pete Holmes (46:31–47:33) -
They agree: everything you want is on the other side of what you fear, and true contentment lies beyond professional achievement.
8. Stories of Vulnerability and Healing
- Brian shares about attending a tantric massage retreat in Mexico, describing the vulnerability, awkwardness, and eventual connection (and joy) of group intimacy ("naked dance party"). (77:50–80:41)
“It would be so easy to hate everything that's happening ... but you give yourself over to it. It was beautiful.”
— Brian Bahe (79:16–79:35)- Both Pete and Brian reflect on the power of dancing to dissolve boundaries and reinvigorate the spirit.
9. The Growing-Up Indigenous and Gay in Arizona
- Brian talks about coming out late (age 25) as a byproduct of both the region and his much-older parents' generational norms, rather than any specific hostility.
“So Arizona come out was like ... closeted until like, 25.”
— Brian Bahe (101:13–101:17)
10. Meta-Commentary & Memorable Moments
-
Pete continuously encourages Brian to turn their riffs into bits for stand-up—especially the airplane as a drag bus.
“There's a chance ... I'm gonna rewatch ... Like, that's the. You can't. It becomes corny if you just say, for sure. Planes are bus. Like, that's corny. But if you find how we got into it ...”
— Pete Holmes (104:10–104:21) -
“Keep it crispy”—in classic "You Made It Weird" fashion—ends the show. (106:34)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On What Makes Stand-Up Special:
“Bombing is beautiful. If you're not bombing, you're not growing.”
— Brian Bahe (26:45) -
On the Final Scene:
“He got smaller by choice. He didn't resist ... discovered something far more valuable than seeking approval.”
— Pete Holmes (47:14–47:33) -
On Third Spaces:
“People are not going to bowling alley alleys anymore. They're only going to the comments section...”
— Brian Bahe (19:34) -
On Comedy Personas
“In my head, I am doing full Sebastian Maniscalco ... then I do remember the first time I watched a video of myself ... huh?”
— Brian Bahe (85:46–86:05) -
On the Power of Dancing
“Dancing is, like, truly one of the coolest things you can do ... I do fully believe [it staves off depression].”
— Brian Bahe (68:26–68:54) -
On Labels & Identity
“I like to think I'm categoryless. ... These are things that we feel like we need to identify [with].”
— Brian Bahe (89:40, 89:52)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|----------------------------| | 03:06–03:39 | Brian's famous lateness & MDMA bit | | 07:00–08:28 | “Bus with a cape” / plane riff | | 09:00–12:13 | WTF/Marc Maron/Obama podcasting lore | | 19:34–20:21 | Third spaces & the comments section | | 26:22–26:58 | Bill Burr on bombing (“Sometimes it's just like this”) | | 33:39–34:23 | “Gay as a pejorative” — For Children Only riff | | 46:19–47:33 | Hypothetical documentary final scenes and wisdom | | 68:26–68:54 | Power of dancing, TikTok and mental health | | 73:01–73:16 | “Beautiful. Accept it. You're late.”| | 77:50–80:41 | Tantric retreat in Mexico; vulnerability and healing | | 85:46–86:05 | Real-life vs. imagined stage persona | | 106:34 | “Keep it crispy” — show sign-off |
The Episode's Spirit
In keeping with the "You Made It Weird" tradition, this episode is an authentic hang with quick pivots between profound wisdom and absurd bits. Pete nudges Brian to mine their conversation for material, but the focus always returns to comedy’s unique power: resilience, connection, and permission to be odd. The episode dances between cultural commentary, identity talk, dissecting stand-up mechanics, and celebrating the weird, ephemeral moments that make life—especially a comedian’s life—so rich.
Summary
For those who haven’t listened, Pete Holmes and Brian Bahe create a tapestry of relatable neuroses, comic optimism, and honest self-reflection. The pair balance tales of bombing and fleeting fame with real insight about community, fulfillment beyond the spotlight, and the joy of just being weird. The episode is both hilarious and sincere—an invitation to accept yourself, embrace awkwardness, and maybe, once in a while, dance it out.
Show Notes prepared by: Expert Podcast Summarizer (AI)