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[@joerogan] Joe Rogan Experience #2351 - James McCann

· 8 min read
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@joerogan - "Joe Rogan Experience #2351 - James McCann"

Link: https://youtu.be/CZw9BnPBwWo

Short Summary​

Number One Action Item/Takeaway:

Work ethic is half the battle in comedy.

Executive Summary:

This episode of the Joe Rogan Experience features comedian JDF MacCann, who discusses his experiences in comedy, particularly his move to the United States. He credits Rogan's comedy club, the Mothership, for providing a supportive and developmental environment that has revitalized his career. MacCann emphasizes the importance of consistent work and effort in achieving success, while also discussing current events, and random events.

Key Quotes​

Here are 5 direct quotes from the transcript that I found particularly insightful or interesting:

  1. "It's fun to get interesting ideas out there. It really is. It's fun to talk about interesting subjects, but it's got to be funny." This highlights a core principle of comedy: that interesting ideas and serious topics can be explored, but the primary goal is to be funny.

  2. "Half the battle is just sitting down and and actually writing. And know everyone comes up with an excuse. It's like a cold plunge. Everybody comes up with an excuse why they don't want a cold plunge. And everybody comes up with an excuse why they don't write in front of a computer or on a piece of paper. They always write only on stage." This is a very direct and relatable point about the importance of consistent effort and battling procrastination, comparing it to the challenge of taking a cold plunge.

  3. "Isn't that a great example? Like not everybody has the option to just go on stage and rant for 3 hours. But isn't it educational to any young comics? It says, 'Okay, who do people consider to be the greatest greatest comic alive?' Most people would say Dave Chappelle. And Dave Chappelle is working harder than anybody. Yes. It's not a coincidence. Like he's effortlessly funny. Yes, for sure. Brilliant. Yes, for sure. But also works every night." This emphasizes the work ethic required to succeed, even for naturally gifted individuals. It connects apparent effortless talent to dedicated practice.

  4. "You have to remember what it was like when you had nothing. And you have to remember what it was like when you would go to open mic night and just you wouldn't on the weren't on the list. You didn't make the list, but you just wanted to go on stage so bad. You wanted to go on stage so bad and you wanted to you're like, I got to figure this thing out." This point underscores the importance of remembering early struggles to maintain perspective and motivation, especially after achieving success.

  5. "But it makes sense. No, no, no, no, no. It makes you You have to be Listen, when I was a kid, I grew up in construction sites. My father was an architect. My stepdad was an architect. So, when I was real young, I got to see like real shitty construction, how dangerous it is when people like [__] around, don't follow code. Yes. What? How many like shady guys do a bad job? How many people try to like use lesser materials than they're supposed to be used? It's constant. And if you don't have regulation, you you put people's lives at stake." This quote explains the need for regulations, based on real life experience.

Detailed Summary​

Here's a detailed summary of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast transcript provided, focusing on the key topics, arguments, and information discussed, excluding advertisements and sponsor mentions:

Podcast Overview and Early Career Reflections:

  • Podcast is a conversation, even with significant figures like Trump or Elon.
  • Guest admits spinning out in early episodes when big names were on.
  • Discussion of an infamous Mike Tyson moment on the podcast.
  • Guest recounts being banned from the Comedy Store for seven years due to the Carlos Mencia plagiarism issue.
    • Defended telling Mitzi Shore about Carlos Mencia, and his decision to not return to the comedy store after being banned.
  • The guest mentions getting fired by his agent during the plagiarism scandal.
  • Brian Simpson was banned from comedy clubs when he was homeless.
  • Guest was unpleasant in Australia and banned from comedy clubs for a while.
    • Told people they sucked and should quit comedy.
    • Criticized the Melbourne Comedy Festival while participating in a competition.

Comedy Scene Analysis (Australia and US):

  • Australian comedy festival scene often involves "I was molested" or "Dad's got cancer" shows.
  • A lot of hour-long, sad, spoken word with a gag at the end.
  • American comedy scene in clubs is different; Colin Quinn's work on interesting subjects with comedy is praised.
  • Jimmy Carr's joke writing and stand-up are admired.
  • Discussion about teaching comedy and the importance of work ethic.
  • The early comedy scene has some guys who were going to be huge who self-sabotaged.

Importance of Hard Work and Taking Comedy Seriously:

  • Need to take comedy seriously and stop messing around if it needs to become the main focus.
  • Tearing his ACL forced him to commit to comedy and shift from a mindset of indifference to caring about audience reception.

Comedy Club Dynamics and Passing:

  • Difficulty of getting passed at a comedy club.
  • Discussion of people who show incredible potential but fail to sustain it.
  • Saw a woman perform a set in 1995/96 in the belly room and it was one of the funniest sets ever, never happened again.
  • One-off great performances vs. consistent work.
  • Ken Dodd would perform new hours, but then repeat the hours from the year before to give the audience a choice.
  • Dave Chappelle works harder than anybody, despite being considered the greatest comedian alive.
  • Need to avoid the feeling that you have to do another set, but remembering why you got into comedy.

Comedy Influences and Styles:

  • Sam Kinison was a big thing, but the speaker wasn't familiar with him.
  • Mentions Bill Hicks and Richard Jeni as all-time greats.
  • Appreciation for Bill Hicks, and the issues of his fans being nuts.
  • Richard Jenny did a new hour every night for a weekend.

Individual Experiences with Raw Milk:

  • The guest had raw milk from a farmer's market and vomited green bile for a couple days.
  • Thinks he may have gotten lactose intolerance from raw milk.

Housing and Regulation:

  • Australian housing market is too expensive.
  • Speaker says he believes safety regulations are put together to keep industry stable.
  • Discussion about housing regulations and building codes.
  • Arguing for simple, safe housing regulations vs. complex rules.

Random Topics and Conspiracy Theories:

  • Discussion of political primaries and power structures.
  • Mention of Australian politician Gough Whitlam potentially being ousted by the CIA.
  • The Israelis created a fake phone call to military leaders before blowing up the bunker.
  • Argentinian black population completely disappeared, which is believed to be a genocide.
  • City of God accurately portrays violence.

Political and Cultural Commentary:

  • Debate around freedom vs. overregulation, comparing Australia and the US.
  • Discussion of overregulation stifling business growth.
  • Reintroducation of wolves in Colorado has backfired because wolves are preying on cattle.
  • Tasmanian Devils are getting facial cancer from biting.
  • Old feet binding customs and neck ring extensions
  • Thailand decriminalized same-sex relations late, also the topic of surrogate wombs.
  • The dolphin article claims the sperm has so much jizz it comes out.
  • Female hyenas have fake giant dicks.
  • The Kennedy Assasination and inconsistencies in the Warren Commission report.
  • A magic bullet cannot exist because it shattered bone.
  • Dorthy Kilgallen, an journalist, was whacked before she released information on the topic.
  • Scientist was Karate chopped in the neck.

Current Events and Social Issues:

  • Mention of a woman killed by an alligator in Florida.
  • Analysis of crocodile-related deaths and attacks in Australia.
  • Wolverine's are tough and scare off bears.
  • Kangaroo's jumping in town due to Covid shutdown.
  • The first film that was banned in Cuba was a film about black people.
  • Discussion on the killing of white farmers in South Africa.
  • Amnesty should be created for those entering the US in the right way.
  • More transparency is needed in what goes on in the government.
  • Johnny Bones to compete in a fight on the white house lawn.

The New Comedy Club and the Impact on the Comedy Scene:

  • Joe Rogan and guest express gratitude for the new comedy club and its impact on comedy.
  • It creates a supportive environment.
  • Other comedy clubs do not create open mic nights where people can do 15 minutes and develop.
  • Shane brought the guest to America.