Transcript

Valerie (0:00)

You made it weird. You made it weird.

Pete Holmes (0:03)

You made it weird.

Valerie (0:04)

Oh, yeah.

Pete Holmes (0:06)

You made it weird. Made it weird. Yes, you did. Made it weird. You made it weird with Pete Holmes.

Valerie (0:15)

What's Happening Weirdos? What's Happening, Weirdos? Welcome to what's Happening Weirdos. We got a groovy baseline through this entire episode. Just take it happened so fast.

Pete Holmes (0:35)

What kind of. Kind of was it? We're glad you're here. If you're new to the show. This is We Made It Weird, the Friday bonus episode where Val and I catch up.

Valerie (0:43)

That's right.

Pete Holmes (0:43)

And as Val said, in this episode, we always do these intros right after we did the episode. You mentioned that this is kind of a classic, a return to form, in that we're talking about what we're watching, what we're reading, what we're loving. And I always think these are great. Always look forward to it.

Valerie (0:59)

Yep.

Pete Holmes (0:59)

And it was awesome. And I'm glad everybody is here to listen.

Valerie (1:02)

That's right. Thank you for listening.

Pete Holmes (1:04)

Only a couple things. Up top. Petehomes.com we just added a late show Thursday because Salt Lake City sold out. So that's awesome. Thank you, my Utah friends. So check out if you tried to get tickets and couldn't. We just added the late Thursday Show, PeteHomes.com and then after that is Arizona. And. And there's Largo once a month in LA. February 15th is the next Largo show here in LA. That was emotional. The last one was so sweet. With everything that LA is going through, to gather together and laugh, it was really beautiful. So hope you can be there as well. And that was a fundraiser and people really showed up for that. And Largo added $2,000 on top of it. So it was seven grand for a wonderful cause. Well, two of that was Largo.

Valerie (1:52)

Wow.

Pete Holmes (1:52)

Just Largo being. Yeah. Thank you, Flanny and Largo. All right, everybody. As you know, we don't do ads for things we don't actually use and love. So these are things we actually use and love. And if they sound interesting to you, support the show. Use our promo code. Keeps the lights on, as we like to say. Katie, roll that beautiful bean footage. This episode is brought to us by our friends at Chubby's. Lately, I have been rocking the Chubby's classic line swim trunks. In my pool, in my cold plunge and in the hot tub. You guys know I love the water and I love my classic line swim trunks from Chubby's. They are the best fitting, best looking swim trunks I have ever owned. And they have a built in boxer brief liner. Who knew that that would be such a game changer? Why did it take us so long to figure out boxer briefs are better than briefs and boxer brief liners are better than brief liners. And it feels so good. I'm obsessed with Chubby's. If you had a disappointing holiday season this year filled with gag gifts and novelty mugs, it's not too late to turn it around and get yourself the things you truly deserve. With our friends at Chubby's who have everything you need to turn your wardrobe and maybe even your life. I'm going to say it around from their every wear pants like everywhere. Wear everywhere we a r to their ultimate training shorts which make working out look so much better, maybe even feel a little bit better. You even on a non leg day to their classic Chubby's polo. I love a good polo. And the Chubby's Polo is a perfect cut for when you're casual or you're being slightly formal. I love a polo. It's like a life hack. You look good, but you still feel good. Not too tight or bunched up. So don't miss out. Chubby's is here to help you take on 2025 in style. Starting with the comfiest, most versatile gear you've ever worn. And for a limited time, our friends at Chubby's are giving our listeners 20% off with the promo code Weirdo for checkout at at checkout@chubby shorts.com chubby's. C-H u b b I e s s h o r-t s dot com. That's 20 off your order with promo code Weirdo. Support our show. Tell them we sent you. Support your body, support your look. No matter where the new year takes you, Chubby's has the gear to keep you comfortable and looking your best. Thank you to our friends at Chubby's. We're also brought to us by our friends at Element. You guys know I am obsessed with Element. Today is actually a fast day for me. And one of the reasons I have so much energy and feel so clear and so bright and so fine, even though I haven't had any food is because I have taken my element and I flooded my body with healthy hydration, which isn't just water. We know this. We have the science. It's water plus electrolytes and lmnt. Element is the perfect blend of sodium, magnesium and potassium to flood every cell in your body with optimum hydration. Plus it tastes fantastic. So I end up drinking more water. I love the watermelon salt. I also love the chocolate salt. I drink that one hot, especially on cold nights now that it's in the wintertime. I love it. It's absolutely the optimum ratio of what you need to feel. Fantastic. And it gives you that boost, gives you that energy, gives you that kickstart. And I swear it helps my brain, helps me think, helps me function, keeps me cracking. Whip smart. And I love it. Whip smart. And then I started reading and I lost my train of thought. Who cares? Go to drinklmnt.com weird and use promo code weird. And you get a free element sample pack. And you can try all of the flavors, which is awesome. It's like a $14 value. You can also try their element Sparkle Sparkling, which is a bold 16 ounce can of sparkling electrolyte water, which I love. And if they don't exceed your expectations, they have a no questions asked refund policy. So you literally have, have nothing to lose. You don't even have to send it back. So support your body, support your hydration, support this show. Go to drinklmnt.com weird and get your free sample pack with any purchase. That's drinklmnt.com weird. All right, everybody. Glad you're here.

Summary

You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes

Episode: We Made It Weird #204

Date: January 24, 2025
Hosts: Pete Holmes & Valerie (Val)

Episode Overview

In this classic "catch up" bonus episode, Pete and Val return to the original format of the We Made It Weird Friday editions: sharing what they’ve been reading, watching, and loving. They dive into obsessions with the shows Bad Sisters and Valley Heat, revisit their fascination with Bob Dylan (prompted by recent documentaries and films), discuss authenticity and mystique in art and relationships, and take a vulnerable look at personal growth, therapy, and the power of genuine love and friendship. As always, their signature blend of silly riffing and soulful introspection leads to a funny, heartwarming, and resonant conversation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why We Listen to Podcasts & The Art of Riffing

Pete and Val riff on why people choose to listen to “You Made It Weird”—for laughs, bits, the familiar tone, and the unpredictability of the conversation.
- Pete: “What are you looking for? You're looking for bits. You're looking for laughs.” [07:20]
- Playful banter about old technology, Bob Dylan as a prophet, and hypothetical scenarios (e.g. a 1940s dad worried about "devil's riffs").
Valerie articulates a frequent nightmare scenario inspired by shows like Bad Sisters: “I somehow accidentally murder somebody, and then... it's not the murdering. It's that I have to pay attention to the details.” [10:40]
Extended riffing about Bob Dylan lyrics and cultural language drift, mixing comedy with nostalgia for a different era of music and communal values.

2. Recent Obsessions: Valley Heat, Bad Sisters, & Bob Dylan

Valley Heat

Both Pete and Val are deeply into Valley Heat, an indie comedy podcast.
- Pete: “Valley Heat...it's the greatest thing I've ever heard. I'm recommending it to everybody. It's a complete silly podcast. There's no learning or hugging. As the Seinfeld rule goes. But I'm listening to it, and I'm obsessed.” [13:06]
- They dissect why Valley Heat is brilliant—low-key, earnest, and unpredictable; it doesn't feel like someone "doing a bit."
- The show’s comedic pacing inspires them; Val notes it’s funny even when you’re not laughing in the moment: “You don't want to miss anything by laughing.” [18:02]
- Pete plans to have creator Christian Duguay (“Doug Duguay” in the show) on the podcast.

Bad Sisters

Bad Sisters is the couple's current TV obsession, which, according to Pete, is so good he “lowers his weapons” and simply enjoys it [16:15].
They connect the thrill of a tightly executed story with the difficulty of authentically depicting podcasts or improv on scripted shows. They find most representations inauthentic, referencing And Just Like That and other shows.

Bob Dylan

They shift into a deep exploration of Bob Dylan’s persona, legend, and personal impact after watching recent films and documentaries (No Direction Home, etc.).
- Valerie: “I think probably It Ain't Me Babe is like most authentic voice song...it's an enneagram 4 for sure. And it's just, it's really attractive.” [29:50]
- Pete: “I'm so happy...he's worthy of an obsession. ...I was so turned off by how, like, cold and cool he is. So cool he's cold. ...Now I'm like, no, that energy... yeah, it's exactly what we're missing.” [33:35]
Val shares her story of becoming obsessed with Dylan as a teenager, including her first crush and even a memorable “black and white” dream about Bob Dylan [31:26].
- Memorable moment: “Like, the night after I watched that, I had my first sex dream about Bob Dylan in black and white.” [31:39]
Pete ties Dylan’s iconoclastic persona to the need for more mystique and authenticity in modern culture.

3. The Power and Return of Mystique

The hosts lament the dissolution of mystique in modern entertainment and relationships.
- Pete compares old showbiz to “the carnival...there's a curtain and they ask for $5 and you go in the curtain and...” [34:32]
- Valerie: “It is important, but we're the generation...so interested in trying to heal and learn, and so we'll share all of our stuff and we just give it all away right away.” [35:58]
They assert mystique and artistic backbone (exhibited by Dylan, Matt Johnson, Christian Duguay, etc.) are deeply attractive and inspiring.
Pete discusses personal and professional parallels—seeking inspiration from such artists for his own work.

4. Authenticity, Attachment, and Relationship Dynamics

Valerie examines the psychological roots of attraction, referencing Dr. Becky Kennedy’s concept that attraction stems from familiar attachment patterns [52:22].
- Valerie: “I think there's...a body, like a pure, like, pheromonal, primal one. I think there's, like, a spiritual one. There's, like, probably some, like, past life stuff happening. But I do think that on a psychological level...on a psychological level, that makes sense to me, that that's what attraction is.” [52:47]
The “moody, broody man” archetype becomes attractive when paired with personal tenderness; Val sees Pete as “that in the safest possible way.” [55:05]
- “You are the Bob Dylan. Well, that, like, doesn't destroy and break my heart.” [55:52]
Pete and Val emphasize the importance of being loved precisely for one’s idiosyncrasies:
- “So much of life is just getting some people around you. That's like the secret, a huge secret to life is you need people around you that go, I like the way you are.” [56:46]

5. Crushes, Inspiration, and Spirituality

Valerie describes how a crush can make you “the most current version of yourself”—standing taller, making better choices, and “unlocks something in you” [48:15]
- “It makes you stand up straighter. ...It encourages you to live your best life, to be your most crushable person.” [48:29]
Pete recognizes that loving and being inspired by others brings out his best self—through friendships, creative work, and beyond.
They unpack the deeper spiritual meaning behind connection, longing, and love: the "dance we do with the divine" [49:39].

6. Vulnerability, Therapy, and the Importance of Love & Friendship

Pete shares a recent internal family systems therapy breakthrough about his younger “fundamentalist” self and the search for reassurance in his beliefs.
- Notable quote: “I wrote this on my mirror. ...‘I'm sure, and when we're not sure, I'm sure we can hold it.’” [61:38]
They reflect on how acts of love and friendship—like a friend cooking for them—are deeply meaningful and carry a profound, often unacknowledged, emotional weight:
- “When you talk to your heart, your heart is a puddle and can't even handle it.” [69:03]
- “As I'm saying this, I'm remembering how important it is to just go around and maybe tell people, ‘I like the way you are.’” [70:42]
They conclude with the idea that the truest indicator of love—romantic or platonic—is the capacity to see someone anew and to affirm: “I like the way you are.” [71:17]
Valerie references Marianne Williamson: when you fall in love, you see people more clearly than later, when your history and pain with them clouds vision [72:03].

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On obsession and influence:
- “Valley Heat...it's the greatest thing I've ever heard. I'm recommending it to everybody. It's a complete silly podcast. There's no learning or hugging.” – Pete [13:06]
On mystique:
- “I'm not your man.” – Val, channeling Bob Dylan [29:47]
- “Mystique is coming back.” – Pete [36:03]
On authentic relationships:
- “You are the Bob Dylan. Well, that, like, doesn't destroy and break my heart.” – Val to Pete [55:52]
On support:
- “So much of life is just getting some people around you...that go, I like the way you are.” – Pete [56:46]
On the power of simple love:
- “When you talk to your heart, your heart is a puddle and can't even handle it.” – Pete [69:03]

Key Timestamps

05:47 – On why people choose to listen/podcast riffing style
13:05 – Obsession with Valley Heat
16:41 – Why Valley Heat is so innovative / Bad Sisters
29:46 – Bob Dylan's authenticity and appeal
34:41 – The need for mystique in art and culture
48:29 – Valerie on how having a crush is a version update for the soul
52:22 – Attachment theory and attraction
55:05 – Loving “moody, broody men” safely
61:28 – Pete shares personal therapy breakthrough
69:03 – Small acts of love have immense impact
71:17 – “I like the way you are” as the secret of love/friendship
72:03 – Quoting Marianne Williamson: On clearly seeing loved ones

Notable Episode Highlights

Valley Heat and Bad Sisters: The most recommended “joyful” media right now for Pete & Val.
Bob Dylan: Used as the avatar for living authentically and holding onto artistic mystique.
Romantic & Friend Love: The idea that loving and being inspired by someone doesn't just improve life, but updates you to a better version of yourself.
Therapy & Growth: Transparent sharing of career and personal doubts and the process of making peace with one's past selves.
Love & Connection: Small gestures in friendship and partnership have transformative importance—don’t underestimate simply telling someone, “I like the way you are.”

Summary

This “return to form” episode is a rich blend of silly riffs (classic Pete & Val banter), cultural obsession (Valley Heat and Bob Dylan), and vulnerable self-examination. They touch on heavy themes—authenticity, the need for mystique, the psychological roots of attraction, and the absolute necessity of being valued for who you really are—while keeping things affectionate, grounded, and, above all, funny. This episode pairs spontaneous humor with honest reflection, providing inspiration, laughs, and genuine heart for long-time weirdos and new listeners alike.

Closing Call to Action:
“Watch Bad Sisters, listen to Valley Heat, fall in love with Bob Dylan—or just remember to tell someone, ‘I like the way you are.’”