#1135 - Ari Shaffir

At a Glance

• Mike Lawrence’s Marijuana Situation - “I was like, oh, dude, Hollywood doesn’t test writers for drugs. Are you kidding me? They’re all on coke. They don’t test for that, bro.” This quote highlights Mike Lawrence’s humorous and relatable take on the marijuana situation in Hollywood.

• Fanny Pack Offer - “I offered him a free fanny pack. He would not take it… You were so proud. You’re like, hey, I have this fanny pack. It helps when you’re traveling.” This quote highlights the humorous offer made by Ari to Mike Lawrence and his refusal.

• Hamilton Morris’s Appearance - “We’ve got a lot of people coming. See you soon. Hamilton Morris Duncan Trussell’s gonna be here we got a lot of people coming see you soon bye bye” This quote announces the appearance of notable guests on the show, including Hamilton Morris and Duncan Trussell.

What to Do

• Don’t let fear hold you back from pursuing your goals - Mike’s reluctance to pursue writing jobs due to fear of being tested is a great example of how fear can hold us back. Ari Shafir encourages him to not be afraid and go for it, emphasizing that Hollywood doesn’t test writers for drugs.

• Don’t let external expectations dictate your choices - Ari’s advice to Mike to pursue writing jobs despite the potential risk of being tested shows that we shouldn’t let others’ expectations hold us back from pursuing our passions. He encourages Mike to focus on his goals and not be deterred by fear.

• Be true to yourself and your values - Ari’s refusal to accept a free fanny pack, saying he has a reputation to maintain and is “fanny pack free,” shows that being true to ourselves and our values is important. He prioritizes his personal brand over material possessions.

• Don’t let fear of failure stop you from taking risks - Ari’s willingness to take risks, such as pursuing writing jobs or performing in front of a crowd, despite the potential for failure, demonstrates that it’s okay to take risks and face challenges head-on. He encourages Mike to do the same.

• Stay focused on your goals and priorities - Ari’s emphasis on focusing on his goals and priorities, such as performing at the Hive in Edinburgh, shows the importance of staying focused on what matters most. He encourages others to do the same.

What to Get

• Fanny Pack- Amazon - Traveling (specifically, keeping keys and wallet secure)

Summary

The podcast episode features Ari Shafir, a comedian and writer, discussing his experiences and insights on comedy, writing, and life. The conversation starts with a humorous anecdote about Mike Lawrence, another comedian, who refuses to smoke pot while trying to get writing jobs because he doesn’t want to be tested for drugs. Ari jokes that Hollywood writers are not typically tested for cocaine use, but are now being tested for marijuana.

Ari then shares his own experiences as a writer and comedian, mentioning that he’s been influenced by the style of comedy from Edinburgh, but notes that their approach often sacrifices good jokes for the sake of making a point. He proudly announces that he will be performing his stand-up special, “Ari Shafir Jew,” 24 times in August at the Hive in Edinburgh.

The conversation also touches on Ari’s appearance and persona, with the host jokingly referring to him as “Edinburgh” due to his confident pronunciation of the city’s name. Ari playfully defends himself against criticism, saying he’s not fanny pack-free because he has a reputation to maintain as a free-spirited comedian.

The episode wraps up with announcements about upcoming guests on the podcast, including Hamilton Morris from Vice and Duncan Trussell, who will be discussing topics related to psychedelics and consciousness. Ari ends the conversation by thanking listeners and inviting them to attend his stand-up shows in Edinburgh.

Overall, this podcast episode offers a humorous and entertaining conversation that explores topics related to comedy, writing, and life.