You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes – Joey McIntyre (Feb 26, 2025)

Main Theme:
Pete Holmes sits down with Joey McIntyre, the youngest member of New Kids on the Block, to explore childhood fame, Boston upbringing, therapy, family dynamics, creative resilience, and the evolution of both his career and personhood. They blend nostalgia, sincerity, self-examination, and the unique “weirdness” Pete’s show is known for—with plenty of laughter, music talk, and Boston banter.

Episode Overview

Pete Holmes delights in hosting Joey McIntyre—a personal hero from Pete’s youth. The conversation moves from playful reminiscence and New Kids on the Block stories into honest discussion about therapy, growing up Irish-Catholic in Boston, the strangeness of early stardom, evolving creatively, navigating fame, and finding joy (and weirdness) in adulthood. Joey discusses his solo album "Freedom" and reflects on identity, family, and self-discovery.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Childhood, Family, and Boston

• Early days: Joey is the youngest of nine in a lively Irish-Catholic Boston family.
  • "I'm the youngest. I'm the youngest of nine, seven sisters, then my brother, then me." —Joey (47:56)
• Family dynamics and humor: His family's chaos and humor shaped his identity and stage persona.
• Boston Skepticism: Boston upbringing created a tough, sarcastic edge—in both a supportive and defensive sense.
  • "I thought sarcasm was my best tool. But it was a survival tool." —Joey (86:31)
  • Nostalgic for local Boston radio, morning shows, neighborhood pride, and morning routines with kids.

2. New Kids on the Block: Origins & Impact

• Recruitment: Joey joined at age 12 after a citywide search for “white kids who could sing and dance black music.”
  • "There were white kids who would break dance and stuff like that, but to dance and sing... we weren't amazing singers. We learned on the job." —Joey (54:47)
• Maurice Starr’s role: The group's Svengali producer was seen as a father figure and creative force—flawed, loving, and driven.
  • "He was lovely, warm... in the hands of such surety, you know? That guy, that tender big bear guy, could put on a freakin’ admiral suit and tell the world I can make anybody a star." —Joey (37:09)
• Dynamic: The group’s dynamic mirrored a sibling relationship—with friction, teasing, growth, and loyalty.

3. Fame, Identity, and the Weirdness of Pop Culture

• Child stardom & therapy: Joey discusses the effects of fame on his psyche and the value of therapy, especially being a Boston guy breaking the “tough guy” stereotype.
  • "I'm proud if any man from Boston can go to therapy." —Pete (08:42)
• Teen Beat/Tiger Beat: The peculiar gendering of boy band fandom was evident, as was '90s homophobia and the way pop culture marks masculinity.
  • "It is weird that the New Kids were considered, to use the parlance of the time, gay when you were boys and girls loved you more than anything." —Pete (13:13)
• Navigating grown fandom: The weirdness and kindness of fans changes over time; Joey reflects on misconceptions and the projection of their own identities onto celebrities.

4. Creative Growth, “Freedom,” and Solo Work

• Evolution as an artist: Joey’s solo work marks a more vulnerable, honest songwriting, as evident in his new album "Freedom."
  • "It's nice to write about something because I feel in a big way, for the first time, I'm being open to that and being vulnerable and honest." —Joey (61:07)
  • Discusses drawing on his New Kids past both for inspiration and departure.
• Lightning in a bottle: The original NKOTB success owed more to 'organic' neighborhood chemistry than cynically manufactured pop.
• Learning on the job: Both musical skills and emotional resilience were acquired amidst the whirlwind.

5. Race, Crossover, and Musical Heritage

• Intentional crossover: Producer Maurice Starr’s intention was to create a “white New Edition,” with full acknowledgment of appropriation, cross-cultural admiration, and luck.
• Industry respect: New Edition and the black community were gracious, supportive, and fundamental to NKOTB's acceptance and legacy.
  • "Meet New Edition. Holy. Meet New Edition. They've been so gracious." —Joey (41:37)

6. Reinvention and Resilience

• “Bootstrap” moments: After NKOTB, Joey self-funded and sold his first solo CD online—before it was cool.
  • "I pressed up 2,000 CDs... it was a very indie on the Internet." —Joey (75:43)
• Advice about stagnation: The importance of pushing through creative fear and doing the work, even when vulnerable.
  • "Just go do some stuff. Like, just go make something!" —Pete (80:55)
  • "Do it scared." —Joey (84:11)

7. Sobriety, Therapy, and Maturity

• Getting sober: Joey shares his journey with sobriety and the clarity/availability gained.
  • "I haven't drank since March 10th or 11th last year... The obsession was more about wanting to not drink than to drink." —Joey (102:04)
• Therapeutic approaches: Both discuss therapy, in particular “parts work,” and the value of developing self-advocacy.
  • "A lot of therapy is just telling yourself these people, parts that are arrested... 'We don’t live there anymore. We live here.'" —Pete (91:22)
• Letting go of sarcasm: The journey from using sarcasm as a defense mechanism to genuine humor and compassion.

8. Meaning, Spirituality, and the Mystery of Life

• Meaning of life: For Joey, happiness now is about presence, self-growth, and relinquishing defense mechanisms.
  • "You gotta be willing to take a look at your challenges, personality traits that don't work... I thought sarcasm was my best tool. But it was a survival tool." —Joey (86:12)
• Spiritual interests: Mild skepticism toward ghosts, but an openness to reincarnation, spiritual tools, and the interconnectedness of all things.
  • "I'm getting into reincarnation... I kind of believe in that spirit. Why wouldn't we? This ridiculous, mystical journey we're on." —Joey (96:24)
  • Conversation about mystical experiences and how presence in ordinary life can be as profound as any spiritual vision.
• The value of doing the work: Ultimately, balance, self-awareness, resilience, and humor are the takeaways.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Exchanges

• On fandom projection:
  “People aren't obsessed with you. They were obsessed with who they were when they loved you.”
  —Pete Holmes (18:23)

• On coping and advocacy:
  “Being your own advocate. Right. You have to go, just do the math, and hopefully you’ve done the work... ‘It’s up to me. I get to decide — both and.’”
  —Joey McIntyre (65:41)

• On Boston's double-edged humor:
  “I thought sarcasm was my best tool... But it was a survival tool.”
  —Joey McIntyre (86:31)

• On reinvention:
  “Do it scared.”
  —Joey McIntyre (84:11)

• On creative momentum:
  "Just go do some stuff. Like, just go make something!"
  —Pete Holmes (80:55)

• On therapy:
  "A lot of therapy is just telling yourself these people, parts that are arrested... 'We don’t live there anymore. We live here.'"
  —Pete Holmes (91:22)

Timestamped Highlights

• On therapy & Boston men (08:39):
  Pete and Joey relate the difficulty and pride of Boston men embracing therapy, comparing therapist names ("Gotta have a Gary.").

• New Kids origin story (32:27–33:35):
  Joey details how the group formed, the search for specific talent, and Maurice Starr’s unique energy.

• Fame & audience projection (18:23, 22:09):
  Discussion of how fans project their own needs onto celebrities; comparison with John Lennon’s famous fan encounter footage.

• Voice change & musical challenges (56:05):
  Joey reflects on the difficulties of puberty for a boy band singer and pop culture's obsession with high-pitched boy vocals.

• Navigating pop/sexuality in the '90s (13:13–26:39):
  Candid chat about boy bands being called “gay,” pop masculinity, and reflection on how culture has evolved.

• Artistic evolution: writing “Freedom” (61:07):
  Joey describes the personal growth leading to this album and what it means to craft more honest, vulnerable music.

• Resilience & creative hustle (75:43):
  Independent production and internet sales as a means of reinvention post-boy-band.

• Meaning of life & presence (86:12–104:41):
  Joey’s reflections on letting go of sarcasm, the importance of self-examination, and finding fulfillment in authenticity and presence.

Tone and Takeaways

The episode is warm, authentic, funny, and introspective. Pete’s fan energy and emotional honesty get Joey to reflect deeply, while Joey’s self-deprecating, Boston-inflected wit keeps things light. It’s a window into the realities behind pop stardom and the lasting importance of family, humility, and honest self-work—showing Joey McIntyre as a guy who’s as earnest, funny, and weird as anyone.

Episode-in-a-Nutshell

• Joey McIntyre, legendary boy band member, discusses the realities of sudden stardom, surviving and growing up, and remaining creatively and spiritually open.
• Pete and Joey swap Boston stories, examine pop culture, therapy, fandom, and their own vulnerabilities.
• The conversation is as fun as it is thoughtful, full of laughs, insight, and memorable moments for fans and newcomers alike.

Closing Note:
Joey’s new album "Freedom" is out now. Solo tour dates at joeymcintyre.com.
"Keep it crispy, girl." (109:47)