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Sureni Weerasekera is Dancing

62m 51s

Sureni Weerasekera is Dancing

Caleb and the host engage in a heartfelt, reflective conversation about personal growth, identity, and relationships. They share moments of joy—from public service parties and early morning walks to trying new foods like octopus tacos and exploring dance and potluck culture. Central to the discussion is a deeper exploration of self-worth, gender fluidity, and how societal expectations impact self-perception. The host reflects on overcoming childhood stigma around fatness and being seen as undesirable, while Caleb opens up about his evolving masculinity and desire for authenticity. Both acknowledge the emotional weight of social comparison, loneliness, and the challenges of vulnerability—especially in dating and queer communities. They recognize the importance of emotional honesty and mutual trust, with a clear intention to deepen their connection through more open communication and shared experiences. The episode concludes on a positive, hopeful note, with both affirming a commitment to grow, connect, and create meaningful, inclusive moments together—emphasizing joy, authenticity, and genuine presence.

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(dramatic music) - Wave. - I had an octopus taco. - Ooh. - Yeah, we should go sometime. - Delicious, where are? - You eat octopus? - I eat everything. - Yeah? - Nice, apparently these days. - Oh my God, oh God, oh my God, oh my God. (laughing) - Today's episode is sponsored by Domino's. It's rainy. - Caleb. - The hell's going on, brother? - The hell's up to you. - Tell me what's up with you now. - Things, God, gun to my head. - Yeah, now what's up with you? - I don't know, I feel good. I went to public service on Sunday that is one of my favorite parties of all time. It's outside in the park. And that park, hang, will just change my life. Like, it's the first one of the season. Every month, it's a Herbert von King. I did a little bit of mushrooms. Like a tasteful of them out. The stomach's still a little messed up. I feel good. - Mushrooms, mushrooms, stomach up. - Yeah. - Never done them. No, I'm not interested. - Okay, totally don't. I don't want to pressure you. - I don't want to change my situation. - Yeah, everyone thinks I should try them. Do you have some with you? - No, I don't. - What did you do? - Honestly, maybe. Honestly, for the bit, maybe I would. - I don't think I'm interested. Mushrooms, what do they even do for you? They make you what? - I think they kind of get a little up. It's like good. - I'm up. (laughing) - You're like, "I do bad all by myself." - I'm up. - You're up, okay. - What do you mean by me? - I'm up. - I like that you don't feel horrible the next day, really. - I like drinking and stuff like that. - You just tell me you're tummy hurts. - Just tell me it's fine, you know. I'm lactose-free and I do a little dairy and sometimes I'm gonna say, you know, pros and cons. - Yeah. - Yeah, what's up with you? - It's gonna be me. I didn't go to that party, unfortunately. - That's okay. - What else is going on with me? I'm got up one on a long walk this morning. - Oh. - Had a fresh grease orange juice. - Oh. - Beautiful. - Okay. - Beautiful, went on a bike ride. - Oh, all this morning? - This morning, yeah. - What time did you get off? - I got up at like seven. - Wow. - I'm trying to do better about mornings. We were talking about this though. - We did. - This is an unlikeable thing to say. - Oh. - I'm gonna say it anyway. - Say it. - When you get up early in the morning and you're a guy like me, there's too many hours in the day. - There's too many hours in the day. - That's such a, okay, but that's very like my lobster's too buttery, pillows too cold. - Yes. - Some people are like, there's not enough time, but you're complaining about that. - I know. - I'm grateful. - Now you're acting like TikTok comments. (laughing) - You're like, wow. - You didn't know that immigrant workers are working overtime. - People have a bunch of swathing me in. There's too many hours. - Yeah, I said it was unlikeable, okay. - Yeah, that's enduring of you. No, but that's good. I like getting up early 'cause I do feel better than other people. - Oh, I'm way better. - You know what I mean? I do feel like, oh yeah, like I got my smoothie in, I worked out, I went on my little walk. I said, hot of the neighbors, you know. - I see the other morning people and I go, we're all better than the people sleeping inside right now. - Absolutely. - Yeah, we're better than that. - And you are. - And same thing when I stay out late, everyone in bed's a loser. - Ew, I'm the close person on America right now. - Yeah, I'm like the coolest, most out guy there is. - Yeah, I'm like the party number stops 'cause I'm here and I'm going. - It's nice to have you. I wonder if you wanna apologize. You recently made some pretty insensitive jokes about ice and people of color. (laughing) - You're not gonna leave me. - You are a weapon, I see better, I think. - You fuck, you fuck, cut the carers, I'm done. Cut. - Cut. - Really be your own people, wow. Wow, okay, yeah. - Yeah, I should read the whole exchange if you want. - I was just checking in. - I went just, yeah, 'cause I made a stupid dick like gross. (laughing) I can't believe I'm making me do this. I was like, I'm trying to promote a show, I was like, are there any gay people in Minneapolis? Like, I know there are people of color here, but like, I know that there are, you know, white gay people come out or whatever. And someone was like, I cannot believe that, you know, you would say that it's so insensitive. 'Cause like, you know, ice is so heavy and Minneapolis right now. Immigrants aren't hiding. And I was like, it's not that deep. Like, y'all have the same stereotype as Denver, which is a lot of white gay people who are like the good whites. You know, even the crunchy hiking whites that like protest and organize, you know. - They're the whites with the whistles, yeah. - And it's like, frankly, many people came with me after the show. They were like, I never seen this many people in color in one room in Minneapolis. So, you know, and also like, obviously a lot of queer spaces lean white because there's less barriers to entry to queerness for white people than, you know. Okay, now it's getting serious, no. - No, I like dialoged in. Do you see the way I locked in? - Caleb was like, I'm listening, I'm learning. I went from joking to very, very serious. Yeah, people are way to doing too much, people are way too intense right now. - I just don't like, you know, like if you look at my page, you know my politics are as left as they come. Like, I read Octavia Butler. I'm like, let's get our seats and let's grab our go-beds bitch. Like, we gotta lock in the revolutions now, you know. I'm not the one, you know. And I matched his energy and then he sat down and shut up. And then he was like, oh, I might try to come to the show tonight. I was like, I was like, I was like, I'll try to get you on the guest list. Like, I was like, you know. It's too much. If that's the thing is, no one's looking at your credentials and no one cares, everyone's just trying to like, everyone is just like, not everyone. So many of us are just like walking around, like spewing our fucking like anxieties onto each other, and it's really tiresome. - I think the good part is like, everyone wants to be good. Like, that is the goal, right? It looks to be a good person, that is the motivation. Like, that is pure and good. But then it's just like, well, what's the actual impact of what you're doing though? - Yeah. - You know? Like, yeah. - Yeah. - Yeah. - This is my hype man, yeah. - I am your hype man. I'll hype you up through anything. You know that. - I'll do anything for you. - I have been in your corner and I'll stay there. - I feel that actually. - I'm with you. - I start crying. (laughing) - I think it's a really serious episode. - I feel that. I feel love for me. - You have love for me. - I hope you do feel love for me. Oh, okay. We're gonna work out. - Yeah, I do. No, I do. I'm just kidding, I do. I do. I swear I do. - Okay, cool. - I thought about doing a bit and then I took it back. - No, do it. - Okay, I'm asking you if I feel love for me. - Hey Caleb, do you feel love for me? - No. (laughing) - Well, how do we change that? - You know what, honestly, we should be texting more. - Oh. - Me and you should be texting more. Or talking to the phone. - I suppose I can start with unblocking you. - Okay, that would be nice. 'Cause when I text you, it says not delivered. - It's great. - Yeah, and that's really fucked up. - We can text more. - Yeah, I'll call you. - Okay, I'll call you. I've invited you out dancing a couple times and you just-- - You have not invited me out dancing a couple times. - You put on your story that you wanted to know where some places to go dance are. - Right. - And I said to you. - You told me one night, one time, that you and someone else were going dancing somewhere, and then I could join if I wanted to. That's one technical indication to dance. - Oh, why is this? - There was also that second party that me and Carly went to. - What party? - The Holy Party. - What party? - The Holy Party. - Holy party. - Holy, like, it's like a. (laughing) - What the hell is this? Like, we're the goddamn clergy? - You know, I really do, I should know, it's like a Hindu festival of colors. I don't grow up Buddha, so I don't really know, but it's a beautiful festival that people-- - Wait, this party is? The one I was just being flippin' about? - That was the second one, I think. - Okay, which one is the Hindu one? I don't want to be flippin' about that one. - The Holy one. - Okay, cool. That's how to do it. - Oh, I thought we were talking about H.O.L.Y. - No, I know. I could tell, Midwest was showing up. - Yeah, sorry. - That was okay. - So it's a festival of what colors? - Of colors, it's festival light. There's like a mythology of, like, good versus evil, and it's like something about good one. I don't know. - Who's winning? - Good. - Good? - Good. - Oh, I love winning good wins. - Yeah. - I would go to that. Yeah, I think that you and I might have different dancing vibes. I feel like you, like, like a clubby, like EDME. - You don't even know me. - That's the thing you might have met you. - No, I like house music. - Okay, the first thing you invited me to was kind of EDM-looking. - I do like a little once in some time and time, but I like house music a thing more. It's not realizing. Public service, that day party that's like free outdoors and everything that I love. It's all house music, it's really fun. - Yeah. For me, I can't be on a dance floor if they're not gonna play at least one thing I can sing along to. If Mariah Carey's not in the mix, if Warren Hill's not in the mix, if you're not gonna put in some stuff I know. - Have you ever been karaoke? - I love karaoke. - Okay. - That's a different thing. - karaoke's a different thing. That's all about singing. - No, but there's some DJs that will play like singable songs as well, like they'll remix it and stuff and like. - I believe in that. - You can member day party. - Yeah, those so far. - That's what I'm talking about. - Yeah, you wanna sing. - I wanna dance, but I want it to be something I've heard before. - Okay, I like that. - I don't want 15 layers of like your mix and the shit up. - Yeah. - Relax on it. - Okay, I'll curate a New York experience right here. - Would you really? - Let me make some calls. - We should throw a dance party. - I would love that. - You're an incredible dance party. - You think so? - Yes. - I think we could. - We could have so much fun with it. - I'm trying to get better at the art of gathering. - I know, me too. - You're so good at it. Don't piss me off. - No, I need to do more though. I need to do more. - What do you think you need to do? What do you not do? - I just saw an Instagram reel of someone being like, "Oh, my friend had like a cobbler bake off." Like a cobbler. - Wow, I wanna do that. - I wanna do stuff like that. - That's something that's happening in Bushwick. I don't need to be afraid. - I wanna do some stuff like that. - Okay, cobbler, food-based activities. I do love food. We can talk about that. - Yeah. - Yeah. - Oh my god. - What can you cook well? - Lob. You know? - Yeah. - I know, Lob. - I love Lob. - Yeah? - I love it like a fresh tangy, you know, minty, herbaceous, basil, something, fish sauce, like, got a little stank on it, you know? - Yeah. - Yeah. - Would you make that for me sometime? - I would. - Really? - Yeah. - We could have a potluck. - I would love to do a potluck. Shonkin community in New York, which is like, it's crazy that there's enough to have a little community here. - Yeah. - And we do potlucks together. We make some like a food. It's really sweet. - No. - You're not invited, but I just want to tell you about it. - Just check it out. (laughing) - So I have a really good, it's Caleb. - Is there like a token white situation where I can speak in? - How are you about that, William? - Oh yeah. - Yeah. - That's pretty great. - I make a good chicken curry. And that's the hot, if you're making the chicken curry for like the potluck, that's a big deal. - Yeah. - And I was really nervous the first time and it went well, and I was like. - And they trust you with it. - They trust you with it now. - My dream is to be the only white person in a room. - I really get that. - As often as possible. - I really get that. - It feels special. - Well, it feels special. - I'm like a black ass event, and I'm only a brown girl. I'm like, "Yeah?" - Yeah. - Is that happening to you often? - I'm a brown boy with motion. (laughing) - Please. - It can happen from time to time, and I'm always grateful. And I'm like, "Thanks for watching for letting me be here." Like, blah, blah, blah. I love your culture, but like, not in an exoticizing way. - Yeah. - Yeah, you know what, hell yeah. - I had mostly, I had mostly non-white students, when I worked in Chicago, when I worked with kids, and the things they came up with to say to and about me, were so devastating. These are children. - Whoa. - These are children. - They're calling me Pillsbury Doe Boy. They're calling me, I mean, Rosie O'Donnell's a famous one I've talked about. They're coming up with fat white people, I don't even know about. - Yeah, it's fascinating. - They're going home and doing their research. It's extremely impressive. - I'm like, "Hey, Mr. Lundman!" - And as a comedian, I'm like, "This is incredible." - Like, say that again one more time. - And as a person in charge, I'm like, "Y'all need to knock it off." - Yeah. We got stuff to do. - It sucks when like, kids are so funny. - They're so funny. - And they're so mean. - So mean. - And I really love it. - And they know that there's no consequences 'cause they're not 18 yet. - Yeah, I can't help them. - 18, you can punch 'em. - 18, you can punch. - Yeah. - And in my school district growing up, they could still hit. They could hit the kids. - They could, they could. - But not in progressive city school districts. - I mean, does it? - But I hit kids? - Yeah, if I hit a kid. - I have never hit a kid. - I can't even help his Tommy snap. - My dad's paying to me and he was a horrible parent and my mom mostly didn't and she was the good parent. - Yeah, 'cause I think that you, I don't know. I grew up gonna hit by both, mostly my dad. But then I'm like, I don't know. Sometimes I'm like, I like to think that you can raise a good kid without hitting. I want to believe that you're so bad. - For sure you can. - And I've seen families that seem well adjusted and they, yeah. - And they're not hitting. - I don't know though. But I get what you're getting at. Where it's like sometimes you can tell when some kid's not being disciplined at all in any capacity and I'm like, someone's got to hit this kid. - It's the impulse, right? Because it's the most, but that's the thing is we have to be better than that. The problem with hitting for me that we, my aunt and I have actually talked about this with my grandma quite a bit 'cause my grandma was big on hitting is and still is like, those kids need their ass beat. And we're like, basically spanking is a cause and effect. The idea that the idea is if you do bad things you're gonna get hit. And so you're asking the child to understand cause and effect. And if they're old enough to understand cause and effect, they could understand any cause and effect, which means they would understand taking away a privilege or. - Right. - So then hitting is just your own like. - It's a quick one. - Desire to be violent because you're upset. And so then it's like, well that's really fucking insane. - Would you ever get hit with this one? But not intended. Where it's like my parents would be like, well, we didn't hit you as much as our parents hit us. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. - And I'm like, well, how about no one gets hit, you know? - How about zero hitting? How about let's just stop the cycle, you know? - Oh yeah. - Yeah. - But in their mind they're like, we're being such good parents right now. - We used the same. - We used to have open hand instead of closed fist, you know what I mean? - My dad and I one time had a talk when I was like, maybe 18 or 19 years old where we started to have like our adult talks. - Yeah. - Where I was like, you hit me kind of a lot over like almost nothing. - Yeah. - And he was like, I never hit you with any weapon. He's like, I never, he's like, I never hit you with a spoon or a bell that I always use my hand. And I was like, so that's not impressive or anything to say at all. And he was like, my dad would hit me with anything within reach. And I was like, right, so you were a bitch. - Yes. - But has nothing to do with my situation. - It was literally crazy. - Crazy. - That's so true. I was in, the gas lighting is a little bit crazy. It was like a light like, well, we didn't hit you that, you know what I mean? - Yeah. - I went to couples therapy, not couples therapy. - Oh. - I went to therapy with my mom. - Oh. - A couple of us together therapy. - Some go into. - And it was honestly really cool and good. But I remember I was telling the therapist like, yeah, like I'm like, used to hit me and she's like, no, I did it. And I was like, I was going, and I was like, what about with the coat hanger? And she's like, oh yeah, I didn't do that. I don't like jog or remember it. I was like, what about when you did my chopsticks and spatulas? - She's like, yeah. - Or shoes and she's like, she's like, now she's going down memory lane. - You're playing the hits, yeah, she's like, oh, that's a good one. - She was like, oh, that was fun. - I remember those sandals, yeah. - Yeah. - Let me see if we can find them. - That's so fucking funny. - I felt insane, you know? - Herbie and I, did I hit you, tell me about it. - Yeah. - We live in the glory. - Yeah. - How hard did I hit you? - Yeah, I remember recording this. Can you send me that back, you know what I mean? - It's like, it's her greatest hits. - I know literally. - No pun intended. - I'm good. Okay. Thank you. Look at us. - What else is going on with you? How's your love life? - I relapse on dick. - What? - Yeah. (laughing) - What? Do I know him? - No. - Nice. - Them? All of them? - Them? - I don't know. - I don't know. - You're getting, they them, dick? - I don't know. I don't know. I'm just experimenting. Like, it's weird to revisit men as like, later in life. - Yeah. - 'Cause I've been such a lesbian for so many years. Like, I've always been pan and bi or whatever. But like, it's weird 'cause like, I'm at a different place in my gender. Like, I feel really confident in my like, masculinity and femininity. Like, I feel confident in my like, gender fluidity. Like, I feel really at a much different place. And one thing I will say about men, they are really not healed. - Yeah, yeah. - They are. - It's bad. - The emotional depth is just not there compared to like, I sometimes feel like, maybe I'll never fall in love with a man. Like, I don't think I could ever do that again. - Yeah. - You know, like I did in the past, but I don't know. - Yeah, why is that? Men or what? They're not deep enough? - They're just not as deep, but not you Caleb. - Yeah, no, I'm different. I don't take it personally when people talk about men. - No, I know. It's just like, I don't know. I feel a little bit like, I start to notice like, 'cause you hear straight girls talk about all the time. I'm always drinking therapy for this man. And it's like, I get it now. 'Cause I've been so out of the game. I'm like, coming back, I'm like, whoa. But then that's why it's like, glow stakes too. - Yeah. - I hate everything we're talking about right now. - I'm loving it. I'm loving it. I'm really locked in. I don't know, it's just also someone was telling me that, like, a lesbian relapsing on dick is like a recession indicator. That's something I was thinking about. - I've, look, I've been, for the past two years, I've had multiple gay men start experimenting with pussy, lesbian start experimenting with dick. Really, what is going on? When one of your staunchest lesbians, a year and a half ago, maybe two years ago, one of my staunchest lesbians, I will name them off camera. Told me that she was fucking a guy. And it was not even a cool guy. I know! - I know! - That's so cool. - Fucking a guy, not even like a successful, beautiful, brilliant, like a fucking guy with his mattress on the floor, like broke guy dick. - Right. - And I was like, what? - But I was like, what? - No, of course it is, but it's like, you have nothing else going, right? - You expect a lesbian to be above that? - No, I know, but this is my theory is like, okay. The lesbian community is so small to begin with, right? And the idea of hooking up within the lesbian community sometimes can be so overwhelming. The idea of like, hooking up with a dude from like, let's say even the straight community, it's really like, I'm never gonna see you again. It does not matter, it's so low stakes. Like, I actually don't give a fuck about you. Like, it's just like, you can keep it really sexual and get your needs met and not have a B that deep, 'cause it's not that deep. - Yeah. - You know? - Okay, guys are doing that and then also hanging out. - That's what I'm saying. I mean, that's so sad. I feel bad for gay men all the time. - Is that right? - Why? - Why do you feel bad for her? (laughing) I thought I think we're having fun. - I mean, like, the loneliness epidemic among gay men. - Well, it's loneliness epidemic among men. - Yes. - Is one thing. - But then I think when, I don't know. I feel like I just see a lot of, me, tell me if I'm wrong. I feel like gay men are not getting married as much. They're not having, 'cause it's just when masculinity meets like that, it's like, shit's not happening. You know what I mean? - Yeah. - Yeah. - Like, both of you guys are really having a tough time being vulnerable, you know? Versus, obviously, lesbian's have the opposite issue, which is that where you get vulnerable so fast, we're crying on the first date. Like, we, but then I don't know, 'cause there's also a high divorce rate among lesbians, but people like to be like, oh, lesbians, it's like, the divorce rate is because we don't settle for less. We're not trying to settle for shit, but then we're not happy about. Chance is key in this. (laughing) - I love, also, I love your conception of two gay men being like, it's too much masculinity. It's like, how many gay men have you hung out with? (laughing) Do we tell you, too much masculinity is not the problem that's being run into. - Then what do you think the problem is, okay, what? - Man, I mean, it's man, it's being socialized as a man. It's not part of it. - So much. - Yeah. - And also, it's a problem that our broader culture has. Like, I don't think women are, I think that women are suffering the same thing that gay men are suffering in a different way across sexuality spectrums. I think we're all suffering under the same thing, which is like this intense crippling of choice. There's this knowledge that there is always someone else, not far away. - Yes. - There are thousands of people in your phone and you just treat them like this. - Yeah, I agree. - And that's really fucking intense. You used to meet one person who was good enough in your town. - Yeah. - I fucking kinda like hanging out with that guy. Let's just lock it in. - And I guess we'll figure out whatever comes up. - And you'd be married for 60 years, and then you die within a week of each other. - That is so real. - And now you can be in a happy, loving relationship with someone who's really great and has maybe one or two minor flaws. And not for everybody, but I think for a lot of us, somewhere in the back of your head, you're like, there's 20 guys that would fuck me tonight. You know, it's just right in my phone. just waiting, but honestly begging. - Yeah. - For all of us, I'm not saying for me. - Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. - Look, I haven't heard of it, I haven't, but for all of us, there's like triple texting here. - You know the only about that. I'm actually, I have started triple texting this one guy. - Ooh, down bad. - Really? And I'm like, what am I doing? - I like to see a vulnerability, and I thank you. - I've been vulnerable recently. You know what, you would be proud of me. I'm not gonna go into too much details on here, but I have been pretty vulnerable in my dating life recently. - How does that manifest? - I'm saying my feelings out loud. - Wow. - I'm in my real feelings as well. - Oh, isn't that right, you're not the one you wrote in the bathroom at the date? - I'm telling my, I'm telling guys my real feelings, I'm not playing it cool, I'm not playing games. I've been, I've been off games in a big way. - Why? - You used to love games. - What's the shift, what's what's happened? - Well, I went through a breakup with, honestly, very similar to your breakup. I went through a breakup last year with somebody that I love deeply, still is a very good friend of mine. I love him so much, I think he's a wonderful person. He did nothing wrong, I don't think I did anything wrong with you, check in with him. - You want to have him on the podcast someday? - Oh, that'll be fun episodes. - We both think it'll be really funny. But yeah, I love him so much, and I think he's wonderful. And we are very good friends. I saw him last week. But I think going through that experience really opened me up to being like, okay, I think I want to be more open in my situations. Do you know what I mean? - Yeah. - Doing that with him felt like I'd been pretty guarded before that relationship. And then I was like, actually, I think I want to really try to be more open and vulnerable, the way that we were. - I mean, I think that's such a testament to like, you have to heal through relationships. - You think so? - Yeah, I think you can't, I think a lot of this concept of like, you can be told how to drive a car conceptually, but you have to drive a car, and you actually had to drive a car, right? And I think like you did that through this relationship, which is that you were able to have a safe enough space to be able to open up and feel comfortable enough to bring that to the next relationship. Like, that's so beautiful. - Yeah, and then there's this other thing where I'm like, so sometimes when I date somebody and it ends amicably, or I've seen someone or we've hooked up for a little bit, and we both, and we're just, it doesn't work out. Then when they start fucking other people, no matter what, I'm like, what is that? Jamie, like there was a guy two years ago that two, maybe you guys, maybe three years ago now, that I really liked, we had a good time. And then I was like, oh, I don't think I'm, I don't think this is more than what it was. - Yeah. - I think the hooking up for a couple of months is what this was gonna be. - Yeah. - And so we like stopped hooking up, and then he started hooking up with other people, and I was like, you can't do that. (all laughing) - It was me and that's it. - I'm also looking at other people. - Yeah, what I'd get, I know exactly what the fuck it is. - Do you know what I mean? It's not my actual feelings or values, but I have that, like, I'll find out that somebody I used to fuck with as fucking with somebody new, and I'll be like, totally. - What are they doing? - 'Cause it's like, in my heart of hearts, it's like, I don't want you to hook up. I don't want you to think about anyone else ever for the rest of your life. - For sure. - That makes no sense logically, but like in my dream world, that's what would be the case. I don't want anyone to think about anyone, but me in my personal life at all. Like even my friends, when you're not hanging out with me, I want you to be kind of wish Caleb was here. - And I'm not. - I know. (all laughing) - And that's okay. That's actually normal. - I had to humble you a little bit. I didn't humble me. - Yeah, I didn't at all. - No, it didn't. - Yeah, you didn't put it all. - It can't touch, you would need a rocket launcher. - That was great. Whoa, good day. - To touch. - Palantir, let's work on this. - Palantir? - We have a project. - Hello, Sam Altman. Do some more evil stuff. We're in this culture of choice that is overwhelming. And sometimes I feel like, why can't I be happy with such a good thing? That's just right in front of me. Why am I always like, have a wandering eye? What if there's something better out there? That what if feeling is so uncomfortable? And I don't know how to sit in that. I'm just be okay with like, 'cause it's like how many concessions are you supposed to make that's healthy, right? 'Cause it's always compromise. - Yeah. - And I never know, I'm like, am I settling or am I, is the healthy amount of compromise? Like when do you know? I don't know. But you and I both know are about single. I don't know, like we don't know. - Don't you think, I guess I think when I'm having that feeling, 'cause I know what you mean when you're in a good thing and you're like, I don't know if I'm supposed to be working this much at this or if I'm supposed to be making this many sacrifices or what's normal. But don't you feel like, I don't know. I'm just like, when I meet the right person, it won't feel. - But then like, what if that feeling ever happens? - Uh oh. - I'm so scared. - Okay, I'm really scared to have that again. - I'm so scared. - I'm so scared. I'm so scared of is like, I will, I'll never be content in that way. I'm thinking, I've thought a lot about, I made this theory up called the Sudoku theory, which is like the, if a Sudoku puzzle is easy, it's boring, if it's too hard, you feel dumb. You want that middle level of, it's difficult but fun. - Yeah. - And it's like, I think in theory, there's actually everyone has many soulmates or like you could fall in love with many, many people. You could live a happy life with many people. But then like, yeah, it's like, do you want high highs and low lows or do you want like contentness? And like, are you actually okay with that level of steady joy? I don't know, like, I feel like us as comics be like chase extremes. Like I also have like, I think I have like ADHD stuff where I'm always like chasing dopamine or like a next hit of something. Like, yeah, I don't know. - I also think heartbreak is worse when you get a little bit older because in a way, because like when I was heartbroken when I was like 20, I had this like misconception that I was like, I'm never gonna meet someone I feel this way about again. And that was part of the heartbreak. I was like, I'll never meet someone this special ever again. And that was a uniquely painful type of heartbreak. But then you get a little bit older and it's a different kind of heartbreak where it's like, now when I have my heart broken, it's almost sadder because I'm like, I actually will meet more special people and I don't want to. You know what I'm saying? There's something sadder about being like, I will get over this. I know that I will get over this. 'Cause you've lived it. I've gotten everything's before. I will definitely get over this. And I don't want to. I just want what I want. And that's almost sadder in a way. Or like harder to deal with. Yeah. I was talking to Carly on the phone about this last night. And really, she was like, can I send you some sad songs? And I was like, no. Let's just have the conversation we're having. Don't send me sad songs about it. Y'all, when it's time to order pizza, you gotta call our friends at Domino's. 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Domino's tracker, how about a TV remote tracker? For when it gets lost in the cushion, guys. No, in all seriousness, you can see in real time when your pizza goes into the oven. So you know that thing is being as freshly-based as it can be just for you. Try Domino's Parmesan stuffed crust pizza today. Thank you, Domino's for sponsoring this episode. This episode is brought to you by booking.com. Booking.com offers a wide array of hotels and vacation rentals across the US. You can find exactly what you're booking for. Or something for everyone. Even those who are impossible to please. Like my ex-wife. (laughing) Whether you're booking for yourself, your partner, your picky teens, your sleep light-rise early mom, or your high maintenance group chat, you can find exactly what you're booking for. We all have different travel needs. What's right for a young family might not be right for a Gen Z friend group. That's true. A young family and Gen Z friend group. Different things. When I go on vacation with friends, it's something I must have as a kitchen with a nice big oven and stove top. Where I can cook some of my world famous five alarm hot and spicy boneless chicken wings with homemade ranch dressing. (clears throat) People eat together, stay together. If we can find our perfect stay on booking.com, by we, I mean my Gen Z friend group. Anyone can. Find exactly what you're booking for. Booking.com. Booking. Yeah. Book today on the side or in the app. Everyone deserves access to high quality, affordable health care, no matter what. That's why millions of people rely on plan, parenthood, health centers for services. Okay, for services like cancer screenings. Let's do a serious one. For services like cancer screenings, wellness exams, birth control, STI tests and more. In fact, one in three women in the US have been to plan parenthood for care. So it kind of blows my mind, okay. The lawmakers are trying to permanently shut them down. Yeah, it does. They already passed the law that blocks patients that use Medicaid from getting the affordable preventative care they need. And now they wanna make that law permanent. Nobody benefits when people are getting fewer exams, paying more for care or just skipping the health care they need. And we know that's happening. Plan parenthood health centers have reported that fewer patients are getting basic care like breast exams and STI tests since the Trump administration and their backers defunded plan parenthood. Patients shouldn't suffer because of their laws. Our communities deserve better. To get involved, text update to 2242. Obviously, a bit of a vibe shift, but that's a beautiful one. Let's, what's text? Everybody text. (upbeat music) ♪ You are beautiful ♪ ♪ In every single way ♪ See, if this is a dance party, you would have been having so much fun. Dude, if there was a beat under that. (laughing) That's the kind of shit I'm talking about. That's what I want. I'm getting it now. And it's not karaoke. People who understand me will understand me. No, I know what you're getting at. Thank you. Yeah, I want someone to play like, I want someone to play like, fuckin' Earth, Wind, and Fire. Mmm. I wanna fuck that's what I, and I wanna be just a little stoned. Ooh. Yeah, I got way too stoned yesterday, actually. Oh my god, really? I got way too stoned that I was being weird at the talker spot. No. (laughing) It was a joint that I smoked, I smoked a joint a two nights ago. Chance was over at my house. I smoked some of this joint. I felt a little high. Maybe it took like four hits, felt a little high, felt nice. Yeah. Yesterday took two hits, maybe it's 'cause I hadn't eaten. I don't know. But I got bucked up off this. And then yeah, I was weird at the talker spot. Do you, how do you think you're being weird? I was just being weird. I kept like, I kept pronouncing the words on the menu pretty, pretty-- Would you like white guy trying to fart it? I was a-- I was-- It was more complicated than Alpastor, but yeah. (laughing) - Encelada. (laughing) - I was like, "Aincelada." (laughing) I was doing too much. - And Loki, they liked it, but-- - I bet they loved it. - Your eyes read his fuck, try to pronounce it. - They knew what was up, yeah. They knew what was up, because at one point, after I had interacted with the two of their two servers that had come over at different times, I had interacted with both of them, so Stone. - Yeah. - And then I looked over and they were like giggling. - And I was like, "Yeah, they know what's up." - Hey, you always get the laugh, huh? - Get the laugh you need. Oh, so fucking good. I had an octopus taco. - Ooh. - Yeah, we should go some time. - You eat octopus? - I eat everything. - Yeah. - Nice. Apparently, these days-- - Oh. (laughing) - Gobble, gobble. - Gobble, gobble. (laughing) - Give me that dick. (laughing) - Oh, I hate seeing you like that. (laughing) - I ain't not letting you suck dick too. - I know. Isn't it sick? - It's so sad. - It's sick to think about. - It's so sad. - It's really sick to think about. - It's really, it's rough. - You got a thing in there? - I know, I see that these days. - I feel like I really, I feel very fluid. Like, I feel like I'm fluctuating. - I know. - But yeah, I got a little, I like my, I love my gender right now. It's my footch. - Yeah. - Yeah. - What is your gender right now? I mean, footch, feminine butch, you know? - But what is changed about your gender that you're feeling so involved with? - Like, divinely harnessing femininity and masculinity. In a way, I used to like feel a lot of shame around my masculine because that was a tomboy as a kid. And then, you know, I just felt ugly and unfockable in all these things. And then I finally accepted that. And the ones I accepted my masculinity, then it allowed me to start wearing like skirts and wearing pink and wearing makeup. And like, now I feel like I go where, like a baggy feel like this and put on like a little beat and like feel really good and powerful. Like, I feel really like hot. In a way that like, I did not grow up feeling hot. I grew up in like a white, like, we're around white people in Mexicans and like, I was dark skin and like, I was not desirable. And I just feel really like, I feel like it's weird. I feel like in a, in a very broad stroke sense, like women want me and, and men want me. In a way that like, this is crazy to me. Like, I still feel like that ugly kid all the time who was like overweight and like, unlovable or whatever. But like, it's so, like, I don't know. And I'm working always on like internal validation, you know? And like, do I feel good and what I wear? And do I feel confident how I look outside of it? But it's just weird to feel like, it's also like when you're, when you're like a, and I'm sure like, like as a, as a masculine woman, I was undesirable to men, but then when I would be in queer circles, when I like moved to New York and stuff, I was like, whoa, people like, there's a mass shortage. Like, people want this and like, that's weird. And like, even with femininity as men too, I'm sure like, there's certain circles where it's like, that was rejected and now you're like embraced or whatever. You know, it's like, it's weird. You know, what the context you are in is where you can be a more desirable, I don't know. And it feels really good. - Yeah. How's the, um, wait, what were you saying something about, um, feeling desirable? Oh, internal validation. How's that journey going? - It's tough. - Yeah. - Yeah, I think like, you know, me, my therapist, we're working on, we're cooking, you know? - Yeah. - I think a lot of it is, I think anytime I show up for myself when no one, like who you are when no one's around is who you are. Like, that's actually how much you love yourself in my opinion. Like, are you like treating yourself sweet when no one's around? Like, what are you like, you know, eating good food that's nourishing? Are you like taking care of your body? Like, are you, you know, taking alone time? Are you just alone scrolling on, you know, like, I think, I think a lot about who I am when no one's around. And like, that to me is like, actual self love. And then anytime I like, show up for myself, or like, get up at 7 a.m. Do the cool shit or whatever. It's like, oh, I did that for me. And like, that feels really good. - Yeah. - And I'm like, I try really hard not to be in competition. And we're in entertainment. It's so hard not to compare yourself, obviously. But like, I'm kind of like, am I better than I was yesterday? Like, am I proud of something that I'm putting out? Like, I try really hard to like, just be in my own world in that sense, you know? - Yeah. - But it's a skill. It's a good thing that you can train and I've gotten better at it, you know? But it's hard. Like, you know, how do you feel about that? - About internal validation? - Yeah. - I'm pretty good at it, I think. Good. Why do you think that is? - Um, I don't know. I really don't know. I just have a, I feel pretty, I just feel pretty good about myself most of the time. - Were you always like that? Like, do you feel like it's, 'cause I think I kind of blame my parents a little bit on how they raised me. Like, do you feel like your parents were setting you up to win in that way? - My mom, yeah, for sure. My mom definitely always complimented me. And complimented me on things that, yeah, my mom always, my mom did a very good job at parenting in that way. Like, I definitely got a lot of confidence from her love. But also, I think really the biggest challenge for me was like, I really, a lot, and obviously a different way to what you're talking about, like, growing up and feeling, like, very undesirable and like, very different. Just growing up fat is such a nightmare. And being fat in general is such a nightmare. I still have to fend off so many, like, disparate ideas about, like, I see, I, when I would read about myself online, I would see so many things about like, especially when this podcast started, and I would talk about my sex life. I would see so many things about people being like, how long are we gonna let this guy pretend that he gets laid? Like, and it actually, it used to make me mad, but then it started to make me sad, 'cause I'm like, oh, you just actually don't think that fat people have like any value, and it's crazy because I'm like, I don't know that person, but I would bet dollar to dollar that if you put me in a room with them, I would, every single thing about me would outshine them. - Absolutely. - And I'm like, yeah, but you just don't, because I'm a fat person, you can't see why someone would be attracted to me. And yet, you're the type of person who behaves like that online. - Precisely. - Like, I guarantee I would fucking dog walk you in every social interaction. - Absolutely. - And that's fine, like that, but it just makes me, I'm like, oh, that's such an interesting and like limited view of the world, but it's also one that I internalize for so long. And so I think in like my mid, like early mid 20s, like getting over that and being like, oh, yeah, there's people that feel that way, but there's a bunch of people that don't. Actually, I'm holding myself back by like internalizing so much of it. Doing that work really set me on a path to just being like, oh, it really doesn't matter what anyone thinks about me or what I'm doing. I know the truth, and I know about me. - Precisely. Like, there will always be plenty of people that think I'm whatever, especially as you, if your profile grows and you become bigger at your job, like there will always be people that think I'm unattractive, that think I'm unfunny, that think I'm annoying, that decide I mean, that think I'm whatever, whatever, and it doesn't fucking matter. - Yeah, what other people think of you is none of your business. - It just doesn't matter. - I tell that to myself all the time, you know? As long as like, the people who I love, like if as long as they fuck with me, that's it, I don't care. Like I really don't care. And that's like freeing, it's really liberating. - It's great. - To let go like that. - Yeah, and it's like the people that, yeah, the people that I care about, there are plenty of people in my life who could tell me something about me and I would receive it. - Yeah. - If they're like, oh, you've been X, Y or Z lately, I would hear feedback from people that I love. - But really, if you're not in my inner circle, I don't give a fuck what you think about me. It doesn't matter. - You've been like kind of too high at the talker shop recently. - I got too high at the talker shop. - I just want to talk to you. - The talker shop staff giving me feedback. Hey, when you come in here to Stone, like, it's not our cute look. - You're being weird. - You're being weird, you're putting too much emphasis on enchilada. - There's not that many A's in enchilada. - You should let that out. - And they're like, hey man. No, they love me over there. - I love you. - They're the only people that matter to me. - That's it. - My friends, family, and people at the talker shop. - That's it. - Those are the people that can get to me. - And that's love is love. - Yeah, love is loving love wins. - Love wins always. - Which I've always said. - Which I used to say, but now I'm straight. - You are back on straight. (laughing) - I'm so scared for what your straight era might do to the community, because you're a powerful member of the queer community. - You think I'm a powerful, we need you. Don't leave us. - That says our sister over there. She's a powerful member. - I need you. - Community. - You are. You're a power broker. - I don't want to be that. 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Summer's just around the corner, and I, for one, playing to spend as much time as humanly possible outside in the sunshine after a long winter. If you're like me and want to soak up some rays, you got to check out our friends at Sunglass Hut to get your eyes right for all those fun outdoor activities. Soak up some rays. What am I, Marnie and girls? And when she was seeing Ray? They have a wide range of styles for the summer that you can only find at Sunglass Hut to give you that confidence boost to own your moment this year. Sunglass Hut also offers a premium shopping experience you won't get anywhere else, with expert guidance from Shades experts. Shade expert. Sounds like me when I've had a couple vodka crayons. [LAUGHS] No, no, no. But in all seriousness, as a signature part of the Sunglass Hut experience, Sunglass Hut elevates the shopping journey through premium services like their son love protection plan. 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They're safe. Yeah. They're treated well. They're fine. They're fine. They're safe. Why all the doors locked? So they can't get out. They're crying because they're weak. Oh. No, everyone here is good. Well, everyone, will you guys just say really quick that you're good? I'm great. I'm great. Michelle, just loudly. They all did SOS with their eyes when they blinked. They all did SOS. I saw that. Oh, no. Being a business mogul is hard. You know. I run a business. You have an empire? My little empire. You're a little empire? I'm a cute little empire. Oh, I wish I had been in Kansas City when you went. Oh, my god. Yeah. I still get sad about that. You put a college there, right? Yeah, I did a college. I met Tara. She's the best. Tara's so fucking cool. Isn't she the coolest? I met her and I was like, this girl dresses so well. Let's just start there. First view, right? Beautiful. Incredible politics. She's so brilliant. You know, she's been on the pod. Oh, my God. Yes. And I loved that. I've actually shared that clip around. The one where they, you guys talked about how they, how was it? They gathered, they, they united people on housing issues, not, because there were like people who voted for Trump and the building people who voted for, you know, whatever. And they, they united on a one, one issue. And they were able to not, I think it was like, not raise the rent in the building. Or something like that. It was the trailer park being displaced to build a jail. Oh, Jesus Christ. Which is fucking hilarious. It's like on the nose. That sounds like a lifetime movie. That's crazy. True. And yeah, organized that. But that clip was just so beautiful. And I think I've even said that to my brother, I was like, this is how like, we need, we, we are more like the different. We have a similar class as the thing that's the most uniting thing. Housing issues are uniting. Like, cost of living is uniting. Like, that is so brilliant of a method. And I just loved it. I loved that you had her on the pod. I thought that was really fucking cool. She's genius. Tara has like, completely, she would hate me saying this. Tara and the Tenant Union have like, completely changed my outlook on politics. That's incredible. And it's because of Tara's organizing. Tara organized me into that. She's totally brilliant. Yeah. And I was so excited for you guys to meet. I think she's so fucking cool. I just see a badass brown bitch, you know? She's doing that shit. Yeah. Well, you guys accused me of racism when I introduced you. That sounds about right. Yeah. And were we wrong? I introduced you. Anyways. I was like, I was like, you guys should know each other like, two people I love and you're in my city. And then they're like, oh, so because we're brown, I was like, guys. She's moving here, right? I think she hit me up. Okay. Yeah. I need to hit her up to hang. Let's hang. She's here. She was actually supposed to, you know what? She was supposed to call me last night. And she didn't. Should be being mean to her. Yeah. Let's give her a call on the pod. This one, my favorite things is confronting people on the podcast. Tara. Tara. Tara, where are you at? Tara. And also her home is so beautifully decorated as well. She also does. I took photos of the room I stayed in. Not to be weird. It was a great dinner. I believe that. That's like a woman. It's like a grown-ass woman. She's a grown-ass woman. Hello, sir. Hi, baby. I'm on the podcast with Serene here. Hi, Tara. Hi. Oh my gosh. Hi, guys. The hell is up. We were just calling because you never got a hold of me last night and I was wondering what happened. Oh, that's so interesting. I told you exactly, you're having dinner and you didn't tell me where you wanted to meet. Oh. What if you grow? I got to go, bye. Wow. So you're avoiding it and anxious. Got it. That was crazy. She tried to spin it. She's a professional poet. Wow. Wow. Politician. She's a fucking spin doctor. You walking back all the things you loved about her. She's a fucking hack. It was crazy. She's a hack in a spin doctor in a charlatan. Wow. In a vixen. In a vixen. No good, dirty brown girl. Say it. Don't listen to it. That's a stone too far. I won't do that. That's so funny. I have values. That's so cute. Yeah, she can't be believed. She can't be believed. It's rainy. What's so true to you? Let me turn this. I'm hearing noises. You hear noises over there? I'm a calendar. Sorry. What's going on in your calendar? I have you on airplane mode. I just keep you in calendar notifications. It's rainy. I think that. I think that kids of sheltered families make the best actors. Whoa. Because you have to lie to do anything. Yeah. Like, yeah, I was lying all the time. Is this, I feel like you were probably, you were running rampant. I could tell. No. I was a little sheltered. Yeah, a little bit. But like, you have to lie to, like, for example, like, I would leave the home and I'd be wearing my, like, nice conservative clothing. And then I would, like, say, buy out of my mom and then I would go to school and I'd change into my Hootie shorts. No. Like, is that, like, a related, is this a canon event? Do you know what I'm talking about? Oh, yeah. Or I made up a whole debate club that didn't even exist in my high school and I could smoke weed in the home depot parking lot. [LAUGHTER] Sorry, mom, if you're seeing this. Oh, she's watching. But she's watching, for sure. That girl is talking to me. She's a K lesbian. Is she-- what did she say? She's a K lesbian. A K lesbian? She's a K Liberty K lesbian. These are my fan names. K lesbian. Yeah. I've ever walked in over there. That's really cute. And the K lesbians. Shout out, you guys. Shout out. What's up, foods? Okay. It's raining. Where are we being that in? Check that out. Check that out. I grew up in San Diego, people in La Nasa. Okay. [LAUGHTER] What else? Like just-- yeah, or when I would be hanging out with boys or something. And I would sometimes be like-- I would tell my mom, they're like Ajatya, which in our language means that kind of person, which means they're gay. [LAUGHTER] Or like, you know, just-- I just be lying left and right. You have to do that to experience freedom. And my parents were so afraid of everything. They kept me really locked in, and I grew really sheltered. When I went to college, I low-key had a Gauraphobia. I just was so-- But I just lied so much. And I think that I feel like any kid of a sheltered household-- I'm speaking of Brown Girls, obviously, but just anyone who comes from a sheltered home, you are just going to be better at lying. The kid who-- the kid who's parents who were like, if you're going to drink, you're going to drink in my basement. They're fucking working HR. I say agents, they're doing whatever the fuck. They're not. They're ice agents. They're fucking ice agents. They're not. [LAUGHTER] Is this take-feeling anything? Oh, this take is huge for me. Did you start talking about-- Did you have a lot of the kids? No, I grew up sheltered. Like, as a kid, I didn't know a lot because I just grew up in a very quiet, homogenous town. And so I was sheltered, but not conservative. And high school and stuff. My mom was like, you can drink, but don't get behind the wheel. Call me if you need a ride. Like, my mom wasn't-- I didn't have to lie to her to do anything I wanted to do. So that's a difference. See, that's my culture, baby. That is my culture. Time so jealous. Is my culture really that way? Really? Yeah. It was pretty cool. The parents were like, yeah, if you want to do something, like, do it-- That's actually harm reduction. My mom was actually safer. My mom was not a dude at the house person, though. Yeah. She was like, do not drink in my house. Sure. I have drugs in my house. But I hear if you need it. But she was like, you go drink where you drink, and you call me if you need a ride. And there were times where nobody was sober to drive, and I did call my mom. Because I was like, I'm not getting in a fucking drunk driver's car. That's so cool. Yeah, it was sick. My mom and I had an understanding. When I asked her about weed, I was like, did you ever smoke weed? She was like, yeah, maybe hungry and tired. I'd do it if you want. But I didn't think it was interesting. And I didn't smoke weed until I was 27. See, that's a point. Because it wasn't interesting. That is how it should be. I think it-- yeah, I definitely-- here's the deal, though. It doesn't work the same for every kid. She raised my brother that way, and he turned into a fucking criminal nightmare menace. Oh. And I-- I want to hear more. Turned out really well. Oh, everything. I turned out great. - Well, she would think I turned out great. - Yeah, well relatively speaking. - Yeah, yeah, relatively speaking. Lives in a house that she doesn't pay for. - Oh, how do you get it? Okay, cool, got it. - Yeah, but the thing is, I think that's the thing is like as a parent, you kind of just pick a method and hope it works, and you don't know. - That's true. - It's like a hindsight's 2020. - I was really like, I see this a lot with Asian kids, they just like go buck wild when they go to college. Like they go ape shit. 'Cause that is like the first ounce of freedom that they have. Like me too, I was crazy, 'cause I just wanted to like, do what the American kids were doing, you know? - Yeah, where'd you go to college? - I went to UC Berkeley, but I did not like it. I dropped out. I found comedy when I was in college, and that's when I started kind of exploring that. - Yeah. - And like, I was like having kind of a tough time with my family and like doing my mental health and stuff, and it was just like a tumultuous time, and then I actually never went back to school. - Yeah, yeah. - Who needs it? - I mean, not us, we're doing a podcast. - I'm saying, I have a degree for nothing. - What's your, where did you go? - I went to Missouri State. - Oh yeah. - A degree in sociopolitical communication. - Ooh. - Don't use it. - Hell yeah. - We're communicating right now. - We're communicating. - We're talking about sociopolitics. - I learned how to like, I learned skills in college. - Sure. - I learned how to like, meet a deadline, and like, socialize, and like, be on time, and like, network. Like I learned things, but I don't, it's very rare that I like turn back to specific coursework. - I agree. - And I'm like, oh, this lesson that we learned. - Right, right, right. - Sometimes. - Yeah, there was like some, when I started, from comedy, I started doing like, acting classes, directing classes, writing class like that. Some stuff has helped and stuff, but like, I agree. It's mostly stuff outside of the campus that has been a bit of a show, or like being independent, or like having a safety net to be independent, you know? - Yeah, and friends. - And friends, you know? - Friends was a big part of it. - Yeah. - For me. Wait, if you weren't doing comedy, what do you think you'd be doing? (sighs) - I have authority problems like you. - Oh, I can't. You can't tell me to do anything. - I have mad authority problems as well. - Yeah. - I think I'd be a business owner of some sort, for sure. - Yeah. - I've thought about this, I'm like, if I, you know, when I quit comedy, it's like maybe, I don't know. Like, I could see where I run like a, I don't know, like a, maybe I've run events. - Yeah. - Maybe, I don't know. - Yeah, great about that. - Actually, Loki wanna be like a florist. I love gardening. - You'd be great for us. - I love plants, I love gardening, I love green, green shit, and maybe I'd just like that. - I don't know. - You'd fuck it up at Stonefruit. - Thank you, brother. - Stonefruit on Bedford. They'd love to have you. (laughing) Stonefruit on Bedford. The girls in there. - It seems so zen. - They're just, they're just. - Right? How nice. I mean, charge like 3,000 for that bitch. - They charge. - They charge. - I just feel like that seems like a simple way. What would you be doing if you weren't in this? - Oh, if I wasn't doing this, oh, I'd probably be dead by now. - Yeah. - Well, that for sure, I would be dead. Comedy saved me. - Yeah, for sure, too. - Oh, I should be dead for sure. - Yeah, I for sure would have died. - I didn't think I'd get this far, like, well, now I'm here. - Same. - Isn't that a weird feeling? - My whole life, I could never picture myself older than like 23. - Yeah. - And then like my whole childhood. And then I got through that. And then now every kind of week, I'm like, huh, we're still doing this. - Yeah, I was not kidding. You're like a romanticized like the 27 club. - Oh. (laughing) - Like, I'm not supposed to be here. - Yeah. - Like, I should be gone. I'm supposed to be like, I'm supposed to be my, my Amy Winehouse bag. - Yeah. - Just be my girlfriend. (laughing) - How many people do you think? I just, I don't think I conceptualized as a kid. No adult told me like, oh yeah, I didn't think I was gonna live older than 25 and now I'm alive and I'm just kind of winging in every day. - It's like a common experience I've heard a lot of people say. - But if an adult would have told me that, I feel like I would have felt so much better. - Yeah. - No one told me that. (laughing) - So anyway, oh wait, you want to play a game? - Okay, let's play a game. I'm scared. - Okay, I'm gonna read you 15 statements. - Oh my God, okay. - You're gonna tell me as quickly as you can if what I just said was true or false. If you get 10 or more correct, we're gonna give you 50 US dollars. - Wow. - Huge. - Cool, what forms? Vizel, Venmo. - Someone else handles that. - I'm like, one of the straights. (laughing) - One of the heterosexual people deals with that. - Right, pretty good, right. - Are you ready? - Yeah. - A cube has 12 edges. - Wait, it's true or false, sorry. - It's true or false. - Okay, a cube, say the number two. - False. - True. Electrons are smaller than protons. - Ooh, true. - True. The American Civil War ended in 1865. (laughing) - I know, it feels like dumb. False. - True. (laughing) - All mammals give live birth. - True. - False. East Lake High School's yearbook is the Titan. - If true, wait, wait, wait, the yearbook is the Titan. - You mean the logo or like the mascot? - East Lake High School's yearbook is the Titan. - Yearbook. - Yes. - What does, I think they're meant to say false. 'Cause the mascot. (laughing) - It's not uncommon for a yearbook to also be named. - Okay, so then true. - What's your answer? - True. - Okay, false. (laughing) (laughing) (laughing) - Oh, shit, that was a fun one, okay. - The main gas in Mars' atmosphere is carbon dioxide. - True. - What is true? Co-was formed from compressed dinosaur remains. - False. - True. (laughing) - True. - False. - Lance. - Saved by the bell we're in for four seasons. - False. - True. Dell computers are no longer in production. - What heaters? - Dell computers. - Are no longer in production. - False. - At his false. UC Berkeley's motto is for them all. - My comedy. No, false. - False, it's let there be light. - I didn't know that. - Mary Shelley wrote animal farm. - False. - False, it's George Orwell. - George Orwell, yeah. - The sea and tower is in Toronto. Toronto, sorry guys. - Sea and tower. - True. - True. Ostriches are the fastest land animal. False. - False, it's cheetahs. One is not a prime number. - Wait, prime is where you can divide, right? No, or is where you can't divide. - Fuck. - I was not a stem person. - Wait, one is not a prime number. - One is not a prime number. - Uh, false. - It's true. - Fuck. - Red tomato pizza house is closed on Sundays. (laughs) - This is the work of research on Sunday. (laughs) - Red tomato's is not open on Sundays. - True. - That is true, how'd she do? - Eight. - Wow. - Out of what? - Out of 15. - So how many did I have to get? - You needed to get 10 or more. - 10. - Yeah. - I did pretty good. - Yeah. - I feel like she's really good. Internal validation, look at that. (laughs) - I'm really proud of myself when I went in there. - Yeah, you did good, you did good. - Yeah. - It was good. - I don't believe you. (laughs) - No, it was good. It was good. - Yeah. - It felt worse than it was somehow. - I thought it felt good. (laughs) - I was lucky, like, I'm killing this right now. - I'm killing this. - Okay. - No, it's good, it's good. - No, it's getting paid regardless. Don't worry about it. - Oh, I'm good. - Money's coming. - I think you pay your team first. - Money's coming. (laughs) - They are not getting paid. You will get paid. - Woo! - No, I don't pay them. - Yeah. - They don't do value to the work. - They look malnourished. - Yeah. What else do you want to tell the people? Anything you want to leave everybody with? - I like, is something to plug, is that what you're saying? - We're sure to tell them where they can find you. - Oh. - What you want to plug? - Um. - Words of wisdom. - Oh, damn. Ah, that's a lot of things. Okay, um, you know, get you a therapist that you really love. - That's beautiful. - Yeah, my, my, my person is Lando. It's non-binary, immigrant, person, who I love. - Older, younger? - We've been, we've been cooking, older. Um, I don't know, just, you know, hang with your friends, show, show love to one another, um, eat some good food, you know, get some love. - Yeah. - Go to Holy. - Yeah. - H-O-L-I. - H-O-L-I. - Um, I am on social media. My Instagram is Serenia, as you are. E and I, TikTok is Serenia comedy. Come to a show, I'll be on tour later this year. And then I'm working on a show right now. It's called Lunch Lady. Carly's working on it too. It's where I cook with older women across New York City. And I'm trying to get to every country. It's called Lunch Lady 'cause my mom's a Lunch Lady and she's retiring next year. And it's kind of an ode to her, but it's, you know, people tend to infantilize or de-sexualize older women, but they're out here fucking and they're out here doing their, their shit. They're living their life. And, and I'm excited. It's like a little project I'm working on. - Oh, yeah. - It's really vulnerable to start a project. - Yeah. - I don't do that often. It's like, I feel like I've been part of many people's projects, but it's vulnerable to, like, start something, you know, and if it goes bad, it goes bad. I'm proud of myself regardless. - Yeah, I'm pretty too. It is scary. - Yeah. - It's really scary. - I'm having a lot of fun. Like, this is my year of collaboration. Like, I want to collaborate with people and, like, work with friends and, like, just, like, laugh a lot. And I feel like, I don't know, my life's good. I really, I love my life. - Yeah. - Well, it was a great episode. Thanks for doing it. - Thanks for having me.

Podcast Summary

Key Points:

  1. Caleb and the host reflect on personal growth, including early morning routines, social activities like public service parties, and a renewed interest in self-expression and internal validation.
  2. They discuss cultural and personal experiences with food, dancing, and lifestyle choices—highlighting a desire to create shared, joyful experiences like a dance party or potluck.
  3. The conversation touches on identity, gender fluidity, and feelings of being seen and valued, especially in relation to body image, societal stereotypes, and personal confidence.
  4. There's a candid discussion about LGBTQ+ dynamics, including the relapse of some lesbians into exploring male connections, and the emotional loneliness faced by gay men.
  5. Both acknowledge the pressure of choice and social comparison, identifying a need for deeper emotional connection and authenticity in relationships.
  6. A key theme is vulnerability
  7. The dialogue ends with mutual commitment to improve communication, build trust, and create meaningful, inclusive experiences together.

Summary:

Caleb and the host engage in a heartfelt, reflective conversation about personal growth, identity, and relationships. They share moments of joy—from public service parties and early morning walks to trying new foods like octopus tacos and exploring dance and potluck culture. Central to the discussion is a deeper exploration of self-worth, gender fluidity, and how societal expectations impact self-perception.

The host reflects on overcoming childhood stigma around fatness and being seen as undesirable, while Caleb opens up about his evolving masculinity and desire for authenticity. Both acknowledge the emotional weight of social comparison, loneliness, and the challenges of vulnerability—especially in dating and queer communities. They recognize the importance of emotional honesty and mutual trust, with a clear intention to deepen their connection through more open communication and shared experiences.

The episode concludes on a positive, hopeful note, with both affirming a commitment to grow, connect, and create meaningful, inclusive moments together—emphasizing joy, authenticity, and genuine presence.

FAQs

Caleb attended a public service party outdoors in a park, which he described as one of his favorite events of the season. He mentioned feeling good and engaging in activities like a morning walk and drinking fresh orange juice.

Caleb tried mushrooms and said they made him feel 'up' or energized. He noted that he doesn’t feel bad the next day and enjoys the experience, though he remains hesitant to try them again due to personal reservations.

Caleb feels better when he wakes up early and engages in activities like going on a walk or biking. He believes these habits help him feel more alive and better than people who stay in bed.

Caleb expressed feeling more confident in his gender fluidity and masculinity, noting that he no longer feels shame around being masculine. He described feeling empowered and attractive in both masculine and feminine expressions.

Caleb shared that after a breakup, he became more open and vulnerable in his dating life, choosing to express his real feelings instead of hiding behind games or pretense.

Caleb described how he grew up feeling undesirable and unlovable due to his weight, and how online comments often reflect a narrow view of value. He now feels empowered by rejecting those judgments and focusing on self-validation.

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