August 21, 2024 • 2hr 50min

#2192 - Raanan Hershberg

The Joe Rogan Experience

Joe Rogan welcomed standup comedian Raanan Hershberg to the podcast. Hershberg has a new comedy special out called "It Could Have Been Better" available on platforms like Amazon Prime and YouTube. The conversation covered a wide range of topics including the craft of standup comedy, mental health struggles, historical events, conspiracy theories, and Hershberg's latest projects.

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Key Takeaways

Raanan Hershberg is a standup comedian who recently released a new special called "It Could Have Been Better" on various streaming platforms
They discussed the challenges of developing comedy material, the importance of recording sets, and how comedians approach controversial topics
Hershberg opened up about his struggles with anxiety and experiences with psychiatric medications like Adderall and antidepressants
They explored topics like conspiracy theories, historical events, and societal changes over time
Hershberg promoted his new comedy special "Brave" on YouTube and an upcoming short film called "Memory Room" he directed

Introduction

Joe Rogan welcomed standup comedian Raanan Hershberg to the podcast. Hershberg has a new comedy special out called "It Could Have Been Better" available on platforms like Amazon Prime and YouTube. The conversation covered a wide range of topics including the craft of standup comedy, mental health struggles, historical events, conspiracy theories, and Hershberg's latest projects.

Topics Discussed

Developing Comedy Material (34:44)

Rogan and Hershberg discussed the process of developing and refining standup comedy material:

The importance of recording sets to capture new tags and punchlines that come up in the moment
Rogan emphasized writing jokes down rather than only developing material on stage
How comedians need to stay emotionally connected to their material to keep it fresh
The challenge of maintaining enthusiasm for bits after performing them many times

Hershberg noted: "I feel like so many times I'll do a bit and it's not working, and then I realize I don't give a s**t about the thing I'm saying. I need to [care]. If it's important to me, it'll be important to the audience."

Controversial Comedy Topics (13:13)

They talked about how comedians approach potentially offensive or controversial material:

Hershberg recounted doing a joke about SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) early in his career that upset an audience member
The importance of being prepared for potential backlash with edgy material
Rogan defended comedians like Louis C.K. who have faced criticism for working out controversial material
How social media and cell phone recordings have changed the landscape for comedians trying new material

Mental Health and Medication (1:47:48)

Hershberg opened up about his personal struggles with anxiety and experiences with psychiatric medications:

He became addicted to Adderall after being prescribed it by a psychiatrist, eventually taking up to 90mg per day
Experiences with antidepressants like Paxil and Prozac for anxiety
Severe anxiety and panic attacks he dealt with after stopping antidepressants
How continuing to perform through panic attacks on stage eventually helped reduce his anxiety

Hershberg said: "I had, like, terrible, like, dizziness, and I had to get on something else, so I got on Prozac, and it helped a little with that."

Conspiracy Theories (2:11:41)

Rogan and Hershberg debated various conspiracy theories and historical events:

The JFK assassination and questions around Lee Harvey Oswald acting alone
Theories about Jeffrey Epstein's death
Hershberg expressed skepticism about many conspiracy theories, emphasizing incompetence as an explanation for many events
Rogan argued for the reality of some conspiracies while acknowledging not all theories are valid

Hershberg stated his position: "I'm not saying some conspiracies aren't true, definitely. And there's a lot of corruption, but I'm just a firm believer in incompetence."

Historical Figures and Events (2:27:03)

They discussed various historical figures and events:

The Roman emperor Nero and stories about his cruelty and bizarre behavior
Elizabeth Bathory and debates over whether she was actually a serial killer or victim of false accusations
How societal norms and acceptable behavior have changed dramatically over time
The horrors of ancient Roman society compared to modern times

Rogan remarked: "We are way better than those days. We're way better than the Nero [days]."

Current Events and Social Issues (1:58:25)

The conversation touched on various current events and social issues:

The Israel-Gaza conflict and complexities around public discourse on the topic
Concerns about rising antisemitism
How social media and modern communication have impacted societal discourse
Anxieties about potential global conflicts or societal collapse

Hershberg commented: "I think what people aren't doing, they're not giving Israel the benefit of a conflicted soul. And a lot of the anti-Zionist propaganda is making you think all of Israel is like that."

Comedy Career and Projects (2:41:13)

Hershberg discussed his comedy career and latest projects:

His new comedy special "Brave" available on YouTube
An upcoming short film called "Memory Room" he directed about a caretaker suspecting her patient with dementia may be a murderer
His interest in making more films in addition to standup comedy
The process of funding and producing independent film projects

Hershberg said of his film: "We just filmed it...we're gonna finish editing and then send it to all these film festivals and try to get in."

Conclusion

The conversation between Joe Rogan and Raanan Hershberg covered a wide range of topics, from the craft of standup comedy to mental health struggles to historical events and conspiracy theories. Hershberg offered insights into his creative process as a comedian and filmmaker while also opening up about personal challenges he's faced. The discussion highlighted how comedy can be a lens to explore complex social issues and human experiences. Hershberg promoted his latest standup special and upcoming film project, showcasing his diverse creative pursuits beyond just standup comedy.