You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes

We Made It Weird #202 – Summary

Original Air Date: January 10, 2025
Hosts: Pete Holmes & Valerie Chaney

Episode Overview

This episode finds Pete and Val podcasting from their home in California amid a difficult period marked by devastating fires in LA. The couple reflects on recent events and how communal support and creativity can provide solace. In classic “We Made It Weird” style, the conversation weaves between earnest discussions, tangential humor, pop culture riffs, and metaphysical pondering. There are deep dives into the role of creative flow, their personal dynamics, reflections on childhood, and the making of Pete’s new standup special—peppered with jokes, impressions, and intimate observations.

Table of Contents

1. California Fires and Community Support (00:18–03:15)
2. Intentional Escapism: Lightness Amid Hard Times (03:17–08:27)
3. Bonus Episode Structure & Holiday Banter (08:27–10:33)
4. Playful Riffs: Water Snakes, Dirty Jokes & Corny Church Facts (10:33–18:43)
5. Family Portraits and Photogenic Wisdom (14:39–19:02)
6. Self-Effacement & Church Upbringing (19:02–20:38)
7. Social Media, Memes, and Public Etiquette (20:38–23:40)
8. Jim Henson Documentary, Muppet Archetypes & Creativity (23:40–36:34)
9. Creativity as Spiritual Practice & Flow (36:34–49:27)
10. Metaphysics, Nonduality & the Art of Merging (49:27–61:50)
11. Behind-the-Scenes: Taping Pete’s Stand-Up Special (66:16–79:12)
12. Back to Jim Henson, Purpose & Creative Sacrifice (79:12–end)

1. California Fires and Community Support (00:18–03:15)

• Host updates: Pete and Val check in from northern California, acknowledging the hardship and heartbreak caused by LA area fires.
  • “It‘s been really hard and heartbreaking…so many lives affected by these fires.” (Val, 00:44)
  • They offer practical support (e.g., resource documents, Airbnb offers, Instagram accounts @MutualAidLA/Google Docs, Baby2Baby for basic needs) for listeners seeking help or hoping to assist.
  • Val: “If you are, like us, feeling sort of helpless…there are a lot of great resources…” (01:06)
• Community spirit: Stories of mutual aid and neighbors helping one another, e.g., checking on houses, provide hope and a sense of connection.
  • Pete: “As old Mr. Rogers said, look to the helpers... it’s been really beautiful.” (02:45)

2. Intentional Escapism: Lightness Amid Hard Times (03:17–08:27)

• Mental health balance: Pete and Val discuss the value of distractions and laughter during crises, giving themselves—and listeners—“permission” to experience joy or levity despite difficult circumstances.
  • “Sometimes entertainment, sometimes laughs…this is a very lot of laughs up top and then also some…classic [We Made It Weird].” (Pete, 03:34)

3. Bonus Episode Structure & Holiday Banter (08:27–10:33)

• Show format: A “bonus” episode with Pete and Val catching up, riffing on their marriage and relationship lingo (e.g., “life partner,” “partner in crime”).
  • “It’s the only show that gives you a bonus episode you weren’t expecting, hoping for, or needed…” (Pete, 08:30)
• Playful rapport: Their chemistry sets the tone for a meandering, comedic episode.

4. Playful Riffs: Water Snakes, Dirty Jokes & Corny Church Facts (10:33–18:43)

• Water snakes: Quickly devolving into innuendo, comparing childhood toys to “Fleshlights.”
  • “Water snakes are the most sexual thing anyone’s making.” (Val, 09:31)
• Euphemisms for masturbation: Comparing and ranking such expressions (“wank,” “feeding the chickens,” “shucking the corn”), blending crude humor with Midwestern innocence.
• Corn/maize bit: Extended riff on the origins of the word “maize,” corn mazes, and the dry delivery of these “facts” in childhood education. Pete pitches a movie scene based on this (“Field of Dreams but with corn mazes”). (12:19–13:35)
• Childhood corrections: Pete proposes that everyone in their 20s loves correcting people about Frankenstein’s monster and “maze” as corn.

5. Family Portraits and Photogenic Wisdom (14:39–19:02)

• Church directories: Reminiscing about the social import of church photo directories, family posing rituals, and Val’s dad’s disinclination for performative smiling.
  • “My dad's wearing a sweater and a sport coat…very photogenic. And he gave me a tip.” (Pete, 15:39)
• De Niro cheese trick: Anecdote about Robert De Niro actually saying “cheese” for photos.
  • “The greatest actor...can’t fake a smile for a photograph without the cheese trick.” (Pete, 17:22)

6. Self-Effacement & Church Upbringing (19:02–20:38)

• Val’s family: Her father’s tendency to downplay his talents, attributing them to humility or church culture (“all the glory to God”).
• Worship leading & modesty: Pete remembers being uncomfortable with performative acts of piety (“point to the sky”), noting the awkwardness of deflecting praise.
  • “Just makes my vagina so dry.” (Val, 19:32)
• Snoop Dogg reference: Val enjoys Snoop’s meme-worthy self-congratulatory acceptance speech (“most of all, I’d like to thank me…”), contrasting with religious humility.

7. Social Media, Memes, and Public Etiquette (20:38–23:40)

• Social media aversions: Pete discusses his efforts to avoid social media, tips like deleting apps, and old-person anxieties about screen time.
• Pet peeves: Both hosts rant against people watching videos with volume on, or talking on speakerphone in public.
  • “What is going on with everyone watching videos, volume on, and making phone calls on speaker?” (Pete, 21:20)
• Etiquette nostalgia: Reference to 90s “douche” archetypes; Pete jokes about wanting to “make America shame again.” (22:51)

8. Jim Henson Documentary, Muppet Archetypes & Creativity (23:40–36:34)

• Jim Henson: Idea Man: Discussion of the new documentary, including how watching it provided much-needed comfort during the stressful fire period.
  • “For that hour and a half, we were just in the 70s making puppets.” (Val, 35:05)
• Kermit, Miss Piggy, Muppet roles: Extended (and hilarious) bit about the incongruity of hearing Henson’s “Kermit voice” in domestic fights (24:18–25:18), Muppet actors’ range, and how their real voices color their characters.
  • “Jim Henson sounds like Kermit the Frog. Can you imagine hearing through a wall, like, ‘Shut up, bitch?’” (Pete, 24:18)
• Relatability of Muppet identities:
  • Val identifies with Miss Piggy (“her only talent is her confidence…deep down she knows she stinks but the only play she has is never admit it.” 29:05–29:18).
  • Pete relates to Fozzie Bear, discusses “Kermits” as Woody Allen or Bob Dylan types—mid-affectionate, creative, elusive.
  • The couple likens their own dynamic to Piggy/Fozzie, celebrating mutual appreciation rather than “chasing a Kermit.”

9. Creativity as Spiritual Practice & Flow (36:34–49:27)

• The Artist’s Way & the War of Art: Val explores the thesis that creativity is a spiritual calling—aligning with health and wholeness, and that anxiety/depression can be linked to creative block.
  • “The whole purpose here is to open the channel to creativity and collaborate with the creator…any misalignments...come from a lack of being connected to your creativity.” (Val, 36:20–37:17)
• Pete’s creative resistance: He voices reluctance to push certain projects forward unless they feel “essential”—reflecting on whether art really “changes the world.”
  • “If that project existed, the world would be exactly the same. It’s not adding anything—it doesn’t need to exist.” (Pete, 39:16)
• Bill Lawrence’s advice: “If you’re writing a script and any scene could be lifted out…the story would go the same—you don’t need that scene.” (Val recounting, 41:30)
• Creative routine as regulation: Val contemplates pursuing creativity as a daily practice for regulation and fulfillment, as opposed to constant self-analysis.

10. Metaphysics, Nonduality & the Art of Merging (49:27–61:50)

• Rupert Spira & nonduality: Pete waxes philosophical about oneness, knowing, and how “the art of living” is to experience beauty and love as unifying states.
  • “Beauty is recognizing that an object shares your inherent nature…you get lost in the sunset…for a moment, you weren’t there, it was knowing knowing itself as a sunset.” (Pete, 49:29)
• Creativity as cosmic expression: They riff on the idea that creativity is inherent to reality—a spilling over, a playful, messy dance.
  • “Rupert would say just because it’s its nature to overflow out of itself in the same way that it’s the sun’s nature to shine…” (Pete, 52:16)
• Direct experience: Pete describes “touching” sounds/feelings with an imaginary hand as an exercise to realize the non-separation of self and experience.
  • “Once you make love to it…you experience it…you have to merge with it.” (Pete, 57:16)
• Val’s attention lesson: A story from Tara Brach about a child’s compassion for ants after spending time observing them, illustrating the transformative power of focused attention.

11. Behind-the-Scenes: Taping Pete’s Stand-Up Special (66:16–79:12)

• Emotional aftermath: Pete describes the build-up and immense vulnerability hangover post-taping his new special, likening it to planning a wedding.
  • “Taping a special is no joke…the amount of, like, just…you’re carrying all of this…” (Pete, 67:10–67:27)
  • He details parallels with previous specials: a tense or “stiff” first show, then a looser, energized second show, and how separating from Val’s comforting hug before the second taping was a pivotal, almost “warrior”-like moment.
  • “There was a key moment backstage…mad and nervous. And I broke away from you. Not in a rude way…The hug is for after the show.” (Pete, 73:47)
  • “You had to leave the Shire…obviously, I’m the Shire.” (Val, 77:18)
• Performance psychology: Pete recognizes he needs “to put himself in a hole” emotionally to unlock his best performances—i.e., using nerves or frustration as fuel.
• Catharsis and gratitude: The return to Val’s embrace after the show is depicted as more rewarding for the trial endured (“all heroicism is like pushing away the comfort in the interest of the shoulder-slumping, cry-face kiss…” (Pete, 76:49))
• Appreciation for collaborators: Shoutouts to director Ricky, Val, and Matt for their “sweet” support and for making the special possible.

12. Back to Jim Henson, Purpose & Creative Sacrifice (79:12–end)

• Jim Henson and sacrifice: They circle back to Henson’s readiness to endure discomfort for creative service, seeing him as an emblem of devotion to something bigger than oneself.
  • “Jim Henson, in moments like that, knows that the Golden Ambrosia is on the other side of sticking yourself in a canister.” (Pete, 78:47)
• Closing affirmations:
  • “We missed you. Hope you had happy holidays and New Year time.” (Val, 79:39)
  • “Be excellent to one another.” (Pete, 79:50)
  • (Playful debate about the Bill & Ted/Wayne’s World origins of ‘be excellent’)

Notable Quotes & Highlights

• “As old Mr. Rogers said, look to the helpers. And it's been so beautiful seeing the help.” (Pete, 02:45)
• “Water snakes are the most sexual thing anyone's making.” (Val, 09:31)
• “The greatest actor...can’t fake a smile for a photograph without the cheese trick.” (Pete, 17:22)
• “Creativity is a spiritual calling—aligning with health and wholeness.” (Val, 36:20)
• “If that project existed, the world would be exactly the same. It’s not adding anything.” (Pete, 39:16)
• “Beauty is recognizing that an object shares your inherent nature.” (Pete, 49:29)
• “Taping a special is no joke...while you’re leading up to it, you’re thinking…this is the haircut for the special.” (Pete, 67:10)
• “All heroicism is like, I’m going to push away the comfort in the interest of the shoulder-slumping, cry-face kiss.” (Pete, 76:48)
• “Jim Henson…knows that the Golden Ambrosia is on the other side of sticking yourself in a canister.” (Pete, 78:47)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:18 – Introduction and response to LA fires
• 03:34 – Intentional escapism and podcast tone
• 10:33 – Water snake/childhood lewd humor
• 14:39 – Church directory/family photo reflections
• 17:22 – Robert De Niro "cheese" story
• 23:40 – Jim Henson documentary, Muppet archetypes
• 36:34 – The Artist’s Way & creative flow
• 49:29 – Nonduality and merging with experience
• 66:16 – Pete’s special recording: process and psychology
• 73:47 – Breaking away from Val’s hug
• 78:47 – Jim Henson’s sacrifice for creativity

Tone & Language

The episode maintains Pete and Val’s trademark blend of warmth, banter, tangential humor, sincerity, and spiritual/philosophical musing. It’s a conversation that feels both intimate and expansive—funny, nerdy, and affirming for fans old and new.

For New Listeners

This episode encapsulates the idiosyncratic spirit of “We Made It Weird”: comedy as coping mechanism, deep dives on creativity, earnest autobiography, and living out weirdness in private and public. If you’re looking for both laughs and insight during challenging times, this one is both an escape and a meditation.

Final note:
The episode ends with Pete and Val encouraging listeners to “be excellent to one another” and “keep it crispy.”