
June 26, 2024 • 3hr 34min
#2169 - Protect Our Parks 12
The Joe Rogan Experience

Key Takeaways
- The podcast features comedians Shane Gillis, Mark Normand, and Ari Shaffir as guests
- They discuss various topics including comedy, performing, podcasting, music, and pop culture
- There are stories shared about experiences performing stand-up comedy and at comedy clubs
- The group reminisces about the early days of podcasting and how Joe Rogan's podcast grew
- They talk about iconic musical performances and concerts throughout history
- There is discussion of how the comedy scene and industry has evolved over time
Introduction
This episode of The Joe Rogan Experience features comedians Shane Gillis, Mark Normand, and Ari Shaffir as guests. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to comedy, performing, podcasting, music, and pop culture. The guests share stories from their careers in stand-up comedy and discuss how the industry has changed over time. There is also reminiscing about the early days of podcasting and how Joe Rogan's podcast grew to become so successful. The group has a lively, free-flowing conversation touching on many different subjects.
Topics Discussed
Comedy Experiences and Stories (0:00:00)
The guests share various stories and experiences from their careers in stand-up comedy:
- Shane Gillis talks about bombing during a performance at a football stadium event in Texas
- They discuss dealing with hecklers and difficult crowds
- Mark Normand shares a story about a woman who hated his set but later hooked up with him
- They talk about performing at bachelor parties and other unconventional gigs
The comedians emphasize how important it is to perform in all types of venues and situations to develop as a comic. As Shane Gillis notes: "You gotta do the bad rooms. You gotta have a full array of experiences in order to reach your potential."
Early Days of Podcasting (1:23:00)
Joe Rogan reminisces about the early days of his podcast:
- It started very casually with just a laptop and webcam
- There was no expectation it would become popular or make money
- They initially recorded in Rogan's home before moving to a separate studio
- Ari Shaffir advised keeping episodes under an hour, which Rogan ignored
Rogan reflects on how the podcast grew organically: "The whole thing was just for fun. But it was almost like I felt like a magnet with 600 people are watching. That's so cool."
Evolution of Comedy Scene (1:50:00)
The group discusses how the comedy industry has changed over time:
- In the past, getting on The Tonight Show was seen as crucial for success
- Arena tours by comedians were not common until more recently
- The rise of podcasts and social media has changed how comedians build audiences
- Comedy clubs used to be the main venue, now theaters and arenas are more common
They note how comedians like Andrew Dice Clay and Dane Cook helped pave the way for arena tours to become more common for stand-up comics.
Iconic Musical Performances (2:12:00)
The conversation turns to discussing legendary concerts and musical performances:
- They watch clips of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Metallica performances
- Joe Rogan shares a story about Phil Hartman seeing Jimi Hendrix perform live
- They talk about groundbreaking artists like Nirvana changing the sound of rock music
- The energy and crowd reactions at massive stadium shows are discussed
Rogan emphasizes how certain artists completely changed music, saying about Hendrix: "You went from Buddy Holly to Voodoo Child. It was bizarre. Like, it's a big jump."
Comedy Club Experiences (2:40:00)
The guests share more stories about performing at comedy clubs:
- They discuss the energy and atmosphere at clubs like The Comedy Store
- Rogan talks about opening his own comedy club in Austin
- They reminisce about legendary comics like Sam Kinison changing the game
- The differences between club shows and larger theater/arena shows are noted
Rogan reflects on the special atmosphere of comedy clubs: "When you would crush on stage, Ron White came off stage and he grabbed my shoulders, grabbed both of my shoulders hard. And he goes, whatever the f**k we have to do, we're gonna keep doing this."
Conclusion
This episode provides an entertaining and insightful look into the world of stand-up comedy and podcasting through the experiences of Joe Rogan and his comedian guests. They share candid stories about their careers, discuss how the industry has evolved, and reflect on iconic moments in comedy and music history. The conversation highlights how podcasting has changed the media landscape and created new opportunities for comedians to build audiences. Overall, it's a fun and free-flowing discussion that gives listeners a behind-the-scenes perspective on the comedy world.