Joe Rogan Experience #1217 - Nimesh Patel

1. 0:04 – 1:11

   Generational friction: why “kids today” is a timeless complaint

   1. JRJoe Rogan0:04

      Two, one. Fucking kids today.

   2. NPNimesh Patel0:09

      Fucking kids today.

   3. JRJoe Rogan0:10

      Fucking kids today.

   4. NPNimesh Patel0:12

      (laughs)

   5. JRJoe Rogan0:13

      Hasn't everybody said that from the beginning of time? I bet cave people were saying that shit.

   6. NPNimesh Patel0:16

      Uh-huh.

   7. JRJoe Rogan0:17

      You know?

   8. NPNimesh Patel0:17

      Arr.

   9. JRJoe Rogan0:18

      Arr, fucking kids.

   10. NPNimesh Patel0:20

       (laughs)

   11. JRJoe Rogan0:20

       It's just, it is what it is, right?

   12. NPNimesh Patel0:22

       Yeah.

   13. JRJoe Rogan0:22

       Every new group comes up, they try to reestablish themselves as smarter, you know?

   14. NPNimesh Patel0:31

       Yeah.

   15. JRJoe Rogan0:31

       There's the new group coming up, they're gonna change the rules.

   16. NPNimesh Patel0:34

       I don't know what's so wrong with how we turned out. You know what I mean? Like-

   17. JRJoe Rogan0:38

       Oh, we're a mess. (laughs)

   18. NPNimesh Patel0:40

       (laughs) I mean, uh, I'm saying, not from a, like, I mean, every, I think every generation is better than the next in terms of how, like, things are just... This is the best times have ever been for most people.

   19. JRJoe Rogan0:50

       Right.

   20. NPNimesh Patel0:51

       But I'm saying from, like, uh, uh, how we handled things perspective, things seem... I'm, like, a fine human being. You seem like a fine hum- like, most human beings are fine, and we were raised quite, I don't wanna say differently, but a little better in my perspective than, like, uh, what's happening now. Like, what, what is being corrected is, is strange to me.

2. 1:11 – 2:39

   How the Columbia gig came together (and why it felt like a home crowd)

   1. JRJoe Rogan1:11

      To people that don't know the story, let's fill them in on your story-

   2. NPNimesh Patel1:14

      Yeah, sure.

   3. JRJoe Rogan1:14

      ... and how we got together.

   4. NPNimesh Patel1:16

      Uh-huh.

   5. JRJoe Rogan1:16

      So you're doing a gig, you're at Columbia.

   6. NPNimesh Patel1:18

      Mm-hmm. So, a few months ago, uh, I got this group called the Asian American Alliance at Columbia University hit me up saying, "Hey, you know, we're big fans of your work." Um, I was the first Indian to ever write for SNL. Um, and so they were, like, that was a story in the Asian American/Indian community. And so they hit me up in, like, May or June, like, "Hey, come. We have this show in November. It's called Culture Shock." Um, it's a big, like, fashion culture kinda event. And I've done, like, tons of these before, you know? Like, 'cause my sister and I, we both went to NYU, but my sister, um, like, helped put on these kinds of shows. So I would attend them, and like I've seen them ever since high school, 'cause I went to high school in Parsippany, New Jersey, which is like a hyper-diverse kinda place. Um, at least with, like, Asians and Indian people. And, like, I went to a few in high school, and I got laid after one of them when I was in high school. So they have like a-

   7. JRJoe Rogan2:08

      Congratulations.

   8. NPNimesh Patel2:09

      (laughs) I lost my virginity after one of them, so like-

   9. JRJoe Rogan2:11

      Oh.

   10. NPNimesh Patel2:11

       It was like, they held a special place in my heart. And so, like, I went thinking, "Okay, this is gonna be fun." And, and they know who they're getting in that, you know, the email said, "We're fans of your work," like, "We want you to come do this show. It's about, like, representing Asian identities and all that." I'm like, "Dope." And that's... I get there at, like, 7:30, and I walk in, and I'm like, "Okay, I know all these kids." I mean, they're like 20 or something, but, like, I know them. I grew up with these kids, you know, like Abigails and Pratik's or whatever. Like, I know all these guys.

   11. JRJoe Rogan2:38

       Right.

3. 2:39 – 4:48

   Trigger warnings, early boos, and the joke that flipped the room

   1. NPNimesh Patel2:39

      And immediately, my comic hat turns on. I'm like, "Okay." The show itself, the energy is dope, but the show, like acoustically, I'm looking, "Okay, this is a high ceiling. The lighting's shit." Uh, it's not set up for, like, a comedy event, but I still think, "Okay, this is gonna go well." 8:30, 8:45, I get on stage. Um, and I'm like, I, I do some Columbia stuff 'cause I went to Columbia for, like, a summer program. I start making fun of the kids a bit. And then I say, "Do I have to give, like, a trigger warning?" Almost, like, joking. Like, "Do I have to give a trigger warning?" 'Cause I know, you know, that's a thing. And I say like, "Be careful. Some of this might be sexist. Some of this might be racist." Uh, you know, "Just buckle up." And one girl boos.

   2. JRJoe Rogan3:19

      (laughs)

   3. NPNimesh Patel3:19

      And I'm like, "Wait, you're booing?" (laughs)

   4. JRJoe Rogan3:22

      (laughs)

   5. NPNimesh Patel3:22

      "Already? It's, like, two minutes in." And, and I'm like, "Well, look, this is th-..." I literally said, I just listened to the set the, on the way here. And I said, uh, "Well, buckle up, you know? 'Cause this is the real world or whatever." And then I go into material and about... And it's going well. This is one story I wanna dispel. Like, uh, I, I will fully own a bomb. You know, if I'm bombing, I know I'm bombing. I will tell you that I've bombed before a billion times. I'm doing fine, 60%, 70% of the set. 17 minutes in, I tell the joke where I say, um, effectively, you know, "I don't think being gay is a choice," which is, I don't think it is at all. Uh, "But this is how you know because there's gay Black people, and no one's gonna choose to be gay if they're already Black, right? No one's doubling down on hardship."

   6. JRJoe Rogan4:07

      That's a funny joke.

   7. NPNimesh Patel4:08

      Thank you. No one, no one- (laughs)

   8. JRJoe Rogan4:10

      That's a funny joke.

   9. NPNimesh Patel4:11

      Thank you. No one, like-

   10. JRJoe Rogan4:12

       (laughs)

   11. NPNimesh Patel4:12

       No Black dude ever wakes up and thinks-

   12. JRJoe Rogan4:14

       Right.

   13. NPNimesh Patel4:14

       ... "You know what? This Black shit too easy. I'mma put on a Madonna halter top and some Jordans and tell an Indian dude how to live his life." That's not a choice. That's, you were born that way. And, and that, it bombs. Like, there's silence.

   14. JRJoe Rogan4:26

       Really?

   15. NPNimesh Patel4:26

       Complete silence. And then I say, uh, "You're exactly who I expected to be as a crowd." (laughs) And then I say, uh, um, "The only person that chooses..." This is also what wasn't printed is that the, the offensive part to me, what I think is offensive, is the next part where I say, "The only person that chooses whether or not to be gay on a daily basis is Mike Pence," right? We can all agree that-

   16. JRJoe Rogan4:48

       (laughs)

4. 4:48 – 6:24

   Heckling, crowd work derailment, and organizers storming the stage

   1. NPNimesh Patel4:48

      Like, I don't know if he's gay or not, but no man hates homosexuals that much if he himself is not a homosexual. He chooses not to be gay every day. And that gets some laughs and applause, and I'm like, "Okay, cool." And then, uh, I get back into it. I'm rolling for about another two or three minutes. Um, I start talking to some, I do a joke about, uh, how my dad landed in Newark when he, uh, immigrated to America. Some girl's from Newark. She interrupts. I start talking to her for like two minutes, and that goes terribly. It's just like I'm trying to f- I'm going fishing with her, just trying to see if I can get back into it.

   2. JRJoe Rogan5:17

      What is she interrupting?

   3. NPNimesh Patel5:19

      I say, I-

   4. JRJoe Rogan5:19

      Is she heckling or is she-

   5. NPNimesh Patel5:20

      I say, I say a joke where I say, "My dad la- landed in Newark. Uh, back when he landed, it was called Brick City because if you hit s- if you looked at someone wrong, they'd hit you with a brick." Right? Fine kinda throwaway line. This girl goes, "That's not true." (laughs) I'm like, "Well, yeah, obvi-"

   6. JRJoe Rogan5:34

      Oh, my God.

   7. NPNimesh Patel5:35

      I'm like, "Obviously, you know." (laughs)

   8. JRJoe Rogan5:36

      It's a fucking joke, dude. (laughs)

   9. NPNimesh Patel5:36

      So I'm just, I'm just kidding. Uh, but, like-

   10. JRJoe Rogan5:39

       Ugh.

   11. NPNimesh Patel5:39

       ... I, I know where she's, what she's trying to do. I'm just trying to talk to her, and I'm going, trying to talk about, like, trying to get back into material. Um, and that's, like, probably minute 20 or something. And then out of my corner of my left eye, I see the three girls that invited me to do the show initially in May or June, like, gather. And I'm like, "That's kinda strange." I still talk to this girl for, like, another 30 seconds. And then as I'm concluding my talking to her, 'cause I'd realized that's not gonna go anywhere-... they come on stage with microphones in, like, one trench coat and they're just like... (laughs) They're like, they're like, "It's time for you..." They literally just say, "There's been a change. Thank you, Nimesh. There's been a change in program. Um, you know, we've received some comments from members. Um, you know, uh, we think, uh, that's enough."

5. 6:24 – 11:29

   “The tech has to leave”: excuses, entitlement language, and mic cut

   1. JRJoe Rogan6:24

      How long had you been on stage for?

   2. NPNimesh Patel6:26

      Uh, 20-something minutes at this point, yeah.

   3. JRJoe Rogan6:28

      And it w- it was that one joke that did it?

   4. NPNimesh Patel6:30

      So, this is, so, I go, I'm like, um, first I'm like, I'm s- I'm not even mad at this point, I'm just, like, in shock. I'm like, "This, is this like an episode of Impractical Jokers or some shit?" Like, "What is, what are you talking about? I still have 45 minutes left." Um, 'cause I'm slated to do an hour. And I'm like, "Really, what are you..." And they say, "Yeah, there's been comments. Like, people are upset or offended." And I'm like, "I feel like we're having a good time." And h- some of the crowd cheers. And then I'm like, "Why do I gotta go?" And one of the girls goes, "The tech has to leave." And I'm, I look at, "The tech has to leave." This is all on YouTube. Like, someone put the YouTube video out of this particular part. And I go, "They better be leaving." (laughs) 'Cause I could see, I could see the tech people. And I'm looking at them like, "You, you gotta bounce, dude?" And...

   5. JRJoe Rogan7:12

      So, the tech people, meaning the people that are coordinating the electronics-

   6. NPNimesh Patel7:15

      Uh, yeah, the tech.

   7. JRJoe Rogan7:16

      ... that broadcast the show?

   8. NPNimesh Patel7:17

      Exactly.

   9. JRJoe Rogan7:17

      Okay.

   10. NPNimesh Patel7:18

       Like, whoever's run... Like, I'm like, "I don't need tech. I'm, I'm not a fucking pyro." (laughs)

   11. JRJoe Rogan7:21

       Just m- just the microphone's on, that's it.

   12. NPNimesh Patel7:23

       Yeah, what do you mean the tech has to go?

   13. JRJoe Rogan7:24

       The tech people have to... They're coming up with lies.

   14. NPNimesh Patel7:26

       Yeah, I mean, I understand why she lied because she's trying to save face and not, like, and-

   15. JRJoe Rogan7:31

       Right.

   16. NPNimesh Patel7:31

       ... and try, I guess, not to embarrass me or whatever. But I'm like, "I'm not gonna believe that shit, that all three of you came out, but like, the tech has to go." And then I go, um, "Is it because, uh, the tech has to leave or because I'm saying some things that made people uncomfortable?" And one of the other girls goes, uh, "There's a, we think there's a distinction between being uncomfortable and being disrespectful."

   17. JRJoe Rogan7:52

       (laughs)

   18. NPNimesh Patel7:53

       And I'm like, "What?" (laughs) I'm like, "What? Don't use your big words on me." (laughs)

   19. JRJoe Rogan7:58

       (laughs)

   20. NPNimesh Patel7:59

       You know? But, but in my brain, I'm like, "What? What are you, what are you talking about?" Uh, like, I- I don't think I've been disrespectful at all. And there are some people who are like, "What the fuck is going on?" Majority of the people are like, "What the fuck is going on?" And, but, like, there's a pocket of the crowd where the three, uh, uh, Asian American alliance leaders and, like, the rest of the, sort of, crew was, like, waiting. And I think some of them cheer when they're like, "The, there's a distinction between disrespectful and being uncomfortable." I'm like, "What are you talk... I haven't been disrespectful in the slightest. What are you talking about?" And then one girl goes, "We think you're not entitled to be making some of the jokes you're making."

   21. JRJoe Rogan8:33

       Oh.

   22. NPNimesh Patel8:33

       And I'm like, I'm like, "My, my trigger word is entitled." You know?

   23. JRJoe Rogan8:37

       Oh.

   24. NPNimesh Patel8:37

       Like I'm, I'm thinking... And at this point I'm like, I'm too almost in shock, deer in headlights kind of, to, like, even process anger. I'm just like, now I'm just trying to assess what they're specifically saying. Like, which joke specifically? And they're like, "We think that gay and Black joke, um, uh, is particularly offensive," or whatever.

   25. JRJoe Rogan8:56

       (sighs)

   26. NPNimesh Patel8:56

       And I'm like... And then at, at this point, I'm like, instead of explaining that the joke is quite progressive, I'm like, "I literally got that joke from an audience member at Stand-up New York in, like, 2011." Like, I remember the conversation distinctly because it was such, like, one of these sort of (snaps fingers) "Oh, shit, that's a good bit" moments.

   27. JRJoe Rogan9:14

       Right.

   28. NPNimesh Patel9:15

       And I tell them that. And, and they were like... (snaps fingers)

   29. JRJoe Rogan9:17

       You got it ca- talking to a guy in the crowd?

   30. NPNimesh Patel9:20

       Yes. So, I was on stage. And I used to live in Hell's Kitchen, um, in New York. And I'm, and, like, the, there's, there's like a gay/Black constituency that would always, like, make fun of me when I was, like, leaving my apartment.
6. 11:29 – 17:58

   Aftermath: apologies from students, DM blow-ups, and finishing another show

   1. NPNimesh Patel11:29

      And so I go to, um, where I have a camera crew there because I'm trying to film every hour that I do. And I go to them and I'm like, "What the f- What just ha-..." If you watch the YouTube clip, I'm, like, on stage, I was like (laughs) like, look at them. And I go to them, I'm like... And then some of the members from the alliance try to, uh, uh, talk to me, um, like, "We're so sorry that that happened." Like, uh, you know, "That's not all of us," or, "We don't know what just happened." And I'm, in my head I'm, like, thinking, "So much for the alliance part of this whole thing," right? Like, I thought we were the same people. I'm flesh and... You know, like, we come from the same place.

   2. JRJoe Rogan12:03

      So, there's no other jokes they found offensive? That was the only one?

   3. NPNimesh Patel12:06

      No, that's what they said. There's, there's, there's, uh, like, two or three things that said, like, um, or articles, which I made the mistake of just reading everything. Like, don't ever do that.

   4. JRJoe Rogan12:14

      No, don't ever do that.

   5. NPNimesh Patel12:15

      Not fucking... (laughs)

   6. JRJoe Rogan12:17

      (laughs)

   7. NPNimesh Patel12:17

      I just fl- I read everything.And I had, like, there's two or three articles that say, like, I was badgering, uh, two people in the crowd. And there's, like, one girl who, like, maybe two or three minutes in, like, I talked to her for crowd work. Like, I asked where she's from, what's she doing, whatever. And then she gr- she gets up, like, she stands and, like, shows herself off to the crowd. I make fun of her for a little bit. And then this other girl, the one, the newer chick, that is like, we get personal because she reveals that, you know, her father's not in her life. We're... The conversation just gets awkward. It's not-

   8. JVJamie Vernon12:46

      She revealed that her father is not in her life while she was-

   9. NPNimesh Patel12:49

      I'm, like-

   10. JVJamie Vernon12:49

       ... in the crowd?

   11. NPNimesh Patel12:50

       I'm talking to her-

   12. JVJamie Vernon12:51

       Whoa.

   13. NPNimesh Patel12:51

       I'm, I'm talking to her like, uh, um... I was like, "What do your, what do your parents do?" Or whatever. And she's like, uh, she was like, "I don't know what my dad does." I'm like, "What do you mean? You, y-" He's like, "Oh, I don't know him." I'm like, "Oh, you... But you don't... He's not in your life or whatever? He doesn't..." And she's like, "Yeah, yeah." I was like, okay, I can sense, like, she's uncomfortable now.

   14. JVJamie Vernon13:08

       Mm-hmm.

   15. NPNimesh Patel13:08

       To the point where I asked her, I was like, "Are you uncomfortable?" And she said no. I'm like, "Okay, cool," like, 'cause I can make this worse. And (laughs) and then I'm like, "But I won't. You seem like a nice person." That's when they came out. But the, the people are apologizing to me and I'm like... I'm... Now I'm mad. Now I'm like, once I leave the stage, I'm, now I'm livid. But I'm, I know myself well enough to be like, I'm not gonna talk to anybody if I'm angry because I'll just say some wild shit. Like, I don't... I felt I could have billbord Philadelphia the whole thing. You know what I mean?

   16. JVJamie Vernon13:36

       Mm-hmm.

   17. NPNimesh Patel13:36

       Just- just went off on all these people for, like, 10 minutes, "What the fuck is wrong with all..."

   18. JVJamie Vernon13:40

       (laughs)

   19. NPNimesh Patel13:40

       But I just went, I was like, "I gotta go." Like, "I'm, I'm out." And I took my crew and we just, we just walked straight out of this fucking giant hall. And, and then, like, I'm waiting for my car and people from the show are like, like, apologizing. Not like... Just audience members being like, "Yo, we're so sorry. We don't... That was fucked up. That shouldn't have happened. You were doing great." Whatever. And then, like, uh, I, I get in my Uber to my next show. And mind you, after this I have to do another hour at another show. And-

   20. JVJamie Vernon14:10

       Where, where are you going next?

   21. NPNimesh Patel14:11

       UCB East in Lower East Side. From, from Columbia to Lower East Side, it's like a 30, 40 minute ride. And we hop in the car and, like, I'm li... First of all, I had to text my agent (laughs) you know, I'm like, "This just happened." And he's like, "Do not say shit until you get paid." I'm like, "That's probably the right move," uh, 'cause I'm about to just fucking Instagram some, like-

   22. JVJamie Vernon14:30

       That's a real agent.

   23. NPNimesh Patel14:31

       Yeah. (laughs)

   24. JVJamie Vernon14:32

       (laughs)

   25. NPNimesh Patel14:33

       Yeah, he's a, he's, he's the man.

   26. JVJamie Vernon14:34

       Protect the shekels.

   27. NPNimesh Patel14:35

       Yeah. He was, "Do not say shit until you get paid." I'm like, "You're right."

   28. JVJamie Vernon14:39

       Smart man.

   29. NPNimesh Patel14:39

       And, and I'm just, like, in my head, like, mad listening to, like, Drake, just like, "I gotta let enemies..." That ki... I'm just like fucking everything that I think is wrong that we hear as, like, a narrative of, like, kids are soft, all this kind of shit-

   30. JVJamie Vernon14:53

       Mm-hmm.
7. 17:58 – 22:24

   Is Columbia the exception? College comedy, power dynamics, and context

   1. NPNimesh Patel17:58

      And so the next day, um, I, I don't think anything about it, but, like, the Columbia newspaper hits me up, like... I get off... I leave Columbia at 9:30, the Columbia newspaper hits me up at 10:05 PM like, "Hey, do you have any comment?" I'm like, "Comment? (laughs) I'm hungry. How's that for a comment?" Like, I don't... W- Well, I'm not gonna talk to you right now. Let me fucking process what's going on.... the next day, I'm still thinking about it, but I'm going down to open for Aziz in Atlantic City. And, uh, open for him and I'm telling him this story, and he's ... He immediately hits on the fact that it's crazy that these kids came up to you and apologized. And I'm like, "I, I didn't even think about how insane that is," because I'm still mad. But I'm thinking ... I'm talking to these kids, like, I'm talking to Aziz and I'm just like, "That is kinda crazy," because it's so easy to buy into the shit that everyone's a fucking soft motherfucker. And then I think about it some more, and then I think about, like, all the gigs I've done college-wise before. Like, in the past year, I've been lucky to no- ... I did, like, Texas. I did a school in Alaska. I did a school in Ohio. I did a school in Maryland. And I've said much more offensive shit, like anti-Trump shit in the fucking reddes- ... of states and it's all been fine, you know? Like, I've never been kicked off stage before.

   2. JRJoe Rogan19:16

      Mm-hmm.

   3. NPNimesh Patel19:16

      And so to me, like, this Columbia incident, even the students there-

   4. JRJoe Rogan19:21

      (coughs)

   5. NPNimesh Patel19:21

      ... seem like the exception rather than the rule of, like, everyone's a soft person. You know what I mean? Does that make sense?

   6. JRJoe Rogan19:28

      It does make sense, but, uh, what I think is, is young kids in particular-

   7. NPNimesh Patel19:33

      Mm-hmm.

   8. JRJoe Rogan19:34

      ... that are in a position of power, right?

   9. NPNimesh Patel19:35

      Mm-hmm.

   10. JRJoe Rogan19:35

       They're running something. They have this idea of how people should behave that they want in their head.

   11. NPNimesh Patel19:41

       Yeah.

   12. JRJoe Rogan19:41

       And when you don't fit that, that mold, then they just decide to be outraged.

   13. NPNimesh Patel19:47

       Yeah.

   14. JRJoe Rogan19:47

       (coughs) I mean-

   15. NPNimesh Patel19:47

       That's what happened here.

   16. JRJoe Rogan19:48

       I mean, you need to look at the context of what you said.

   17. NPNimesh Patel19:50

       Mm-hmm.

   18. JRJoe Rogan19:51

       First of all, you're a comedian, right? You're obviously a guy who jokes about shit, right? So that's not a ... You're not saying anything negative about Black people.

   19. NPNimesh Patel19:59

       Or gay people, yeah.

   20. JRJoe Rogan19:59

       You're not saying anything about gay people.

   21. NPNimesh Patel20:00

       Right.

   22. JRJoe Rogan20:00

       You're, you're essentially admitting that it's a hardship.

   23. NPNimesh Patel20:03

       Mm-hmm.

   24. JRJoe Rogan20:03

       I mean, we all agree that Black people experience racism (clears throat) and gay people experience homophobia.

   25. NPNimesh Patel20:10

       100%.

   26. JRJoe Rogan20:10

       Everybody agrees to that.

   27. NPNimesh Patel20:10

       Yeah.

   28. JRJoe Rogan20:11

       So that joke makes perfect sense and it's funny.

   29. NPNimesh Patel20:13

       Thank you.

   30. JRJoe Rogan20:14

       I mean, it's, it's, it's stupid.
8. 22:24 – 35:16

   Rogan’s college stories and the “taboo subject” reflex

   1. JRJoe Rogan22:24

      Look, when I was in- ... (clears throat) When I was, uh, doing colleges way back in the day, I was in my 20s, I did a college in Connecticut. And right after I did that colle- ... I, uh, I was talking to the kids. I would do, I would do my set and then, uh, I would, like, open up for Q&A.

   2. NPNimesh Patel22:41

      Yeah.

   3. JRJoe Rogan22:42

      (coughs) The fuck's going on with my throat? But it was, um ... I was probably 23... 4? 25, maybe? Maybe 25 at the oldest.

   4. NPNimesh Patel22:53

      Mm-hmm.

   5. JRJoe Rogan22:53

      So I was just a couple years older than them.

   6. NPNimesh Patel22:55

      Okay.

   7. JRJoe Rogan22:55

      And so it was fun for me to talk to them about what life is like when you actually have to pay your own bills and you're out, you're out free. And some guy goes, uh ... You know, uh, you got ... Like, I was doing the question thing and some guy goes, uh, uh, I go y- ... You know, I, I lifted his hand up, he goes, "Tell a joke." I go, "Tell a joke?"

   8. NPNimesh Patel23:15

      (laughs)

   9. JRJoe Rogan23:16

      And I go, "Two Jews walk into a bar."

   10. NPNimesh Patel23:18

       Uh-huh.

   11. JRJoe Rogan23:18

       "They buy it."

   12. NPNimesh Patel23:19

       (laughs)

   13. JRJoe Rogan23:20

       It's just, it's an old-

   14. NPNimesh Patel23:21

       Yeah.

   15. JRJoe Rogan23:21

       ... fucking joke.

   16. NPNimesh Patel23:21

       Street joke, yeah.

   17. JRJoe Rogan23:22

       Street joke. After the show ... You know, uh, the show goes great. I say, "Thank you, I really appreciate you guys for coming out. It was really a lot of fun. Thank you. Good night." So afterwards, I would always hang around, say hi to people, and y- ... There was no picture taking back then, 'cause you had to have a actual camera.

   18. NPNimesh Patel23:36

       Yeah.

   19. JRJoe Rogan23:36

       Nobody had a fucking camera.

   20. NPNimesh Patel23:37

       Oh, it was a long time ago. (laughs)

   21. JRJoe Rogan23:39

       Long time ago. This is, uh ... I'm 51, so this is, uh, '90, '91?

   22. NPNimesh Patel23:43

       Oh, shit.

   23. JRJoe Rogan23:44

       't92? Somewhere around there. Um, so this one guy comes up to me, he goes, "The joke you said about Jewish people is very offensive." And I thought he was joking.

   24. NPNimesh Patel23:53

       Uh-huh.

   25. JRJoe Rogan23:53

       I go, "Are you serious?" And he goes, "Y- yes, very offensive." And he's, like, nervous and shit.

   26. NPNimesh Patel23:59

       (laughs)

   27. JRJoe Rogan23:59

       And, like, has a hard time looking me in the eye.

   28. NPNimesh Patel24:01

       Uh-huh.

   29. JRJoe Rogan24:01

       And I go, "Dude." I go, "Think about what the joke says. It's about Jewish people being really good at business."

   30. NPNimesh Patel24:06

       Right.
9. 35:16 – 50:36

   Stand-up craft: building bits, writing discipline, and the grind

   1. JRJoe Rogan35:16

      I got two new babies right now. Not, not real babies.

   2. NPNimesh Patel35:18

      Oh.

   3. JRJoe Rogan35:18

      I have real kids, but I have two new comedy babies.

   4. NPNimesh Patel35:22

      Even better.

   5. JRJoe Rogan35:22

      And I'm watering them.

   6. NPNimesh Patel35:23

      Yeah.

   7. JRJoe Rogan35:24

      Like right now they're like, "Oh, I gotta give them some light. I gotta make sure they get the right fertilizer." Like, right now I have two bits. One bit that's one day old. I did it yesterday for the first time.

   8. NPNimesh Patel35:34

      Uh-huh.

   9. JRJoe Rogan35:34

      I've been working on it for a couple weeks. I knew there was some life to it.

   10. NPNimesh Patel35:37

       Yeah.

   11. JRJoe Rogan35:37

       And I sat down, I wrote it out and I said, "Okay, I'm gonna free ball this shit last night."

   12. NPNimesh Patel35:41

       What's, what's your process?

   13. JRJoe Rogan35:43

       I have, uh, d- over the last three or four year, uh, four years since, um, actually five. Since I did my Comedy Central special in 2014-

   14. NPNimesh Patel35:54

       Mm-hmm.

   15. JRJoe Rogan35:54

       ... I decided to change my process right before that because I decided that I needed to do more specials. 'Cause I went from, I did one in 2009 that I really liked, then I did one in 2012 that I half-assed.

   16. NPNimesh Patel36:07

       Mm-hmm.

   17. JRJoe Rogan36:07

       And then I said, "Okay." Because I wasn't doing ... I wasn't at the store anymore and I wasn't doing weekly sets. So then I realized, okay, there's a, there's a very distinct process in terms of the, the work that you have to do. First of all, you have to go up a lot. Like, you have to go up at least three or four times a week.

   18. NPNimesh Patel36:24

       Yeah.

   19. JRJoe Rogan36:24

       Excuse me, three or four days a week. And I would like to go multiple times a night. And I like to go to different environments. Not just the store. Uh, they, I like to do the Improv, I like to do the Icehouse. I like to do different environments.

   20. NPNimesh Patel36:35

       Mm-hmm.

   21. JRJoe Rogan36:36

       ... then I have to write right, like sit in front of a computer and write. And I like to do it high and I like to do it sober. I like to do it both ways.

   22. NPNimesh Patel36:44

       Got it.

   23. JRJoe Rogan36:45

       And, uh, George Carlin had an interesting method that I, I think I'm starting to adopt 'cause I've been doing it a lot lately-

   24. NPNimesh Patel36:51

       Mm-hmm.

   25. JRJoe Rogan36:51

       ... even though it's subconscious, where I write out concepts sober, and then I fire up. Then I spark up a joint, and then I go over it again when I'm high.

   26. NPNimesh Patel37:01

       Mm-hmm.

   27. JRJoe Rogan37:01

       Like the structure's already there. (coughs) And then I'll start putting the funny. Then after the writing part, there's like a lot of going over it and thinking about it. I try to give it a little life before I bring it to the stage. Then when I bring it to the stage, I write it out on paper. I have to write it out on paper.

   28. NPNimesh Patel37:19

       Yeah.

   29. JRJoe Rogan37:19

       'Cause that's how I remember where my bullet points are. Then recording always, and then review of the recording. Then rewriting after the review of the recording. This process is like... This is my process.

   30. NPNimesh Patel37:32

       Yeah.
10. 50:36 – 56:07

    Comedy as a calling: audience ‘contract,’ creative joy, and relationship bits

    1. JRJoe Rogan50:36

       You know, but it's also, on the other hand, I mean, we're talking about how hard it is, it's also the most fun shit of all time when it works.

    2. NPNimesh Patel50:44

       Oh, yeah, there's nothing like it.

    3. JRJoe Rogan50:45

       When it pops off, when you had a n- if you have a new bit and you have the, that pause right before you deliver, and you're like, "And I told him, 'That's not real.'"

    4. NPNimesh Patel50:54

       Mm-hmm.

    5. JRJoe Rogan50:54

       And then everyone goes, "Bah!"

    6. NPNimesh Patel50:56

       Oh, I gotta hear the beginning of this now. (laughs)

    7. JRJoe Rogan50:57

       Yeah, you know what I mean?

    8. NPNimesh Patel50:58

       Yeah.

    9. JRJoe Rogan50:58

       It's like you, you, you, you hit these punchlines and the whole audience laughs and roars and they're having a good time, and it's one of the greatest feelings in life.

    10. NPNimesh Patel51:08

        It's because, because you, you know but you don't know until it comes outta your mouth.

    11. JRJoe Rogan51:13

        Yeah.

    12. NPNimesh Patel51:13

        And you're like, "Oh!"

    13. JRJoe Rogan51:14

        (laughs)

    14. NPNimesh Patel51:14

        "Look what I did there."

    15. JRJoe Rogan51:16

        Well, it's also you're making people feel good.

    16. NPNimesh Patel51:19

        Yeah.

    17. JRJoe Rogan51:19

        Like, there's something about looking out, you know, you go to the improv last night, there's 190 people in that room, and you're looking out into the audience and all these people are having a great time.

    18. NPNimesh Patel51:27

        Yeah.

    19. JRJoe Rogan51:27

        They're laughing and having so much fun. You know who worked today.

    20. NPNimesh Patel51:30

        It's like, "I got all your numbers."

    21. JRJoe Rogan51:32

        Yeah.

    22. NPNimesh Patel51:32

        "I got all your nu-"

    23. JRJoe Rogan51:33

        (laughs)

    24. NPNimesh Patel51:33

        You know what I mean? Like-

    25. JRJoe Rogan51:34

        "Here's your number, yeah."

    26. NPNimesh Patel51:34

        ... I got, I feel you.

    27. JRJoe Rogan51:35

        "Got you, yeah, yeah."

    28. NPNimesh Patel51:36

        "I know what you're s- I know what you're sa- I know why you're laughing at this."

    29. JRJoe Rogan51:38

        Yeah.

    30. NPNimesh Patel51:39

        "I know why you're not laughing at something. I know who you are, a, a little aspect of who you are-"
11. 56:07 – 1:03:52

    Managing attention: social media compulsion, detox trips, and future brain tech

    1. JRJoe Rogan56:07

       Ah, you keep reading those news. (laughs)

    2. NPNimesh Patel56:08

       Dog, man, I, it's fucking... It's so tough not to.

    3. JRJoe Rogan56:12

       Ah.

    4. NPNimesh Patel56:12

       It's s- it's so tough not-

    5. JRJoe Rogan56:14

       Well, you're smart with the thing that you're doing with the Instagram where you delete it every day and then-

    6. NPNimesh Patel56:18

       I, I can't.

    7. JRJoe Rogan56:18

       ... re- redownload it.

    8. NPNimesh Patel56:19

       I gotta, I gotta check like, uh, if anyone's hitting me up for a gig or some shit. But otherwise I'm just like, I fucking hate all the-

    9. JRJoe Rogan56:26

       Just don't look at it, man. That's what I do.

    10. NPNimesh Patel56:28

        Mm-hmm.

    11. JRJoe Rogan56:28

        I just don't... I mean, you just develop habits.

    12. NPNimesh Patel56:31

        Yeah.

    13. JRJoe Rogan56:31

        You know? Like, but the problem is it's a itchy thing. Like you start, you get itchy. "Let me just check real quick just to-"

    14. NPNimesh Patel56:36

        Yeah.

    15. JRJoe Rogan56:36

        Take those times and just go over your notes.

    16. NPNimesh Patel56:39

        Yeah.

    17. JRJoe Rogan56:39

        When you get itchy and you wanna look at your phone, like, who, who said this? Someone said it, someone said it really recently. Oh God, I don't wanna, I don't wanna fuck it up. Somebody said this in a tweet. I wanna say it was Ted Alexandro.

    18. NPNimesh Patel56:58

        Mm-hmm.

    19. JRJoe Rogan56:59

        No, Mark Normand. It was Mark Normand.

    20. NANarrator57:02

        That was the tweet, yeah.

    21. NPNimesh Patel57:02

        He, he, he went up after I did a, I did this, I did, uh, talking about Columbia at one night at The Cellar, and he went up after me and immediately goes, "I don't know why they're writing knee mash up now. He's been bombing for years." (laughs)

    22. JRJoe Rogan57:13

        (laughs)

    23. NPNimesh Patel57:13

        Piece of shit. (laughs)

    24. JRJoe Rogan57:16

        (laughs)

    25. NPNimesh Patel57:16

        It crushed.

    26. JRJoe Rogan57:17

        The fucking course it did.

    27. NPNimesh Patel57:17

        Ho- all, all levelled the room.

    28. JRJoe Rogan57:18

        Normand's funny, man.

    29. NPNimesh Patel57:19

        Oh, he's the man.

    30. JRJoe Rogan57:20

        But he, uh, he did a joke about how checking Twitter is like opening up, uh, an empty refrigerator and hoping that there's something new in there and there never is. You just go, "Ah, fuck. Let me check again."

Episode duration: 1:55:05