069. - Brandon Wardell

All right, this episode of How Long Gone is brought to you by Stateside with Kai and Carter, a new podcast from The Guardian. And they are using this podcast to slow down the news and wrestle with the questions that we all have about what's happening in the world. And they do it three times a week. Jason, does that sound familiar to you? We don't really talk about, you know, a lot of international global news items and climates and cultures and sports and things like that. We do talk about fashion and wellness, but for everything else, Kai and Carter are a great place. All right, so who couldn't use more news? Listen wherever you get your podcast. or watch on YouTube. Want to make a podcast? Spotify's got a platform that lets you make one super easily, then distribute it everywhere, and even earn money. We like that. All in one place for totally free. It's called Spotify for Podcasters. And here's how it works. Spotify for podcasters lets you record and edit podcasts right from your cellular telephone or your computer. So no matter what your setup is like, you can start creating today. Then you can distribute your podcast to Spotify and everywhere else, those other places that podcasts are heard. Video podcasts are also available on Spotify. And when you want to take conversations with your fans to the next level, Q&As and polls are the best way to get them talking. With Spotify for podcasters, you can earn money in a variety of ways, including ads and... And podcast subscriptions. And best of all, it's totally free. Zero catch. We've been using it ever since we started How Long Gone. And ever since I discovered Spotify for Podcasters, I feel like having the option of turning off the Q&As and the polls on the user dashboard has really helped boost my creativity and take it to another level. I highly recommend giving it a try. Download the Spotify for Podcasters app or go to www.spotify.com slash podcasters to get started.

What's up, Chris? How are you? You know, I'm nursing a little bit of a sore right ankle, actually. Go on. I just think it's due to classic overuse. So I have my leg elevated right now. I'm doing the rice program, you know? No, I don't know. So you're suffering from classic ankle overuse where you went and gone and you used it too much. I used it too much, and I ran this morning using those new Nike 4% shoes. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. The ones that make you look like a centaur. They make you go faster, apparently, but I was hurting today. So maybe they're not for me, but I'm going to try them a few more times because the first run is always a break-in situation. Sure. So these are the brand-new Nike shoes that cost $250, and they look wild, and you did get some great results from them. Well, I feel like I was huffing and puffing a little bit because we did two workouts yesterday and it was hot and my time was still pretty good. So that makes me think it was the shoes. Michael Jordan boys. Who knows? That's the only reason why Chris Black would be huffing and puffing. Man, it is hot as a motherfucker out here, baby. It's hard to get used to these temps. We're dealing with a real-ass heat wave. I mean, right now, California is in some bad... It's in a bad place. We got the heat waves. There's like 30 different wildfires going on. You're experiencing true California right now, aren't you, for kind of the first time? You know, I have been here for an earthquake once. I survived it. I think I told this story. I thought I was just really high. I stood up and I was like, damn, the pack is really hitting. You survived the quake, first of all. I survived the quake. I was in Matt Goldman's apartment. This was a long time ago. This was like 2008 or something, 2009. What was the drug that you may have been high on? I was probably gone off the perkies and some marijuana. Okay, okay. Nothing crazy. Right. I mean, so it wasn't like a paranoid cocaine thing going on. No, I understand why you would think that.

considering the circumstances. But no, this was a, this was a just like, where am I thing? I mean, but, and then even though that did happen, you were, you weren't like, maybe I should cut back. No, who cares? No. If you cut back because of an earthquake, you're a pussy. No, not because of an earthquake. Because you couldn't tell if an earthquake was happening or if you had just gotten up too fast and were lightheaded. No, that's cool. Every time I get up, I'm lightheaded to this day. Constantly lightheaded. Maybe you should see a doctor. Bitch, yeah, maybe I should. Bitch, yes, I should. It's fine. I'm fine. I'm fine. You're fine. We're all fine, bro. Besides the forest and Big Sur, we're all fine out here in Cali. Speaking of Big Sur, I'll be glamping there this weekend on Sunday. Oh, my God. Jealous? No, not at all, actually. I hate the outdoors, and I honestly find Big Sur a little disappointing. I have to be honest. Great. Well, my life partner will not, I mean, I will have fun. Yeah, we're planning just some little trips just to kind of feel like we can get away and do something involving nature. I would say if you're going to be up there, you should stop in Carmel, my true heaven. We will lunch in Carmel. Don't worry. Lunching in Carmel is truly my happiest place. I love it. I've only been once or twice, but I need to go back. It's just kind of far. Yeah, it is far. And if you ate food, I would ask you for a recommendation on where to go, but I will have to just get my Yelp. Yeah, pull up Yelp, and I'm sure you'll find some great recommendations from friends and colleagues. Today is Friday when this episode's coming out, and if you are listening to this in the morning, we are dropping some new merch. Is that correct? Oh, yeah. This is really our master work, I believe. It's just a classic navy blue hat with a beautiful gone embroidery inspired by the Lemonheads classic album, It's a Shame About Ray.

Jason really did his little fucking thang thang on Photoshop and really flipped that bitch. And then I think we should also talk about the incredible set of photos that we made last night for this. Yeah, I mean, if I feel like when you have a podcast, you can kind of just pretend like you have a business. I mean, I don't know if it'll ever feel real. of organizing a photo shoot for your merch for your podcast. You know what I mean? But it is a real photo shoot with a real person and real things and selling stuff and making money. It is an actual business, but it also just feels... It's kind of weird. It's something that I've been thinking about as the podcast has grown in success and popularity and size. just having it's just i don't know i can't put it into words but it just it feels like it's called capitalism jason maybe you're uncomfortable with it but i'm not it's not no it's not the capitalism angle but more of just like you can you can use pod a podcast as a guise to have many different businesses that sure that we never you know like we have a we have a t-shirt company now As well as a podcast. I prefer to call it a burgeoning streetwear brand, actually, but T-shirt company is a little underselling, Jason. Thank you. Well, I don't want to call it streetwear as well. Well, it's elevated. It's elevated streetwear, of course. You know what I'm saying. It's elevated garments. Yeah, it's like pleasures or something, like a really high-end brand. You know, I'm not talking any shit like you, Chris. I would never do that. No, we can cut. Here, hold on. We'll cut that out if you want. I don't want to cut it out. Okay, good, pussy. That was also just a joke. There's many brands I can make fun of. And we do. Yeah, the photos, we got our friend, a stylist, and sometimes model, Mikey, MDC, who you probably recognize from the internet as a...

local Christian hottie with tats, um, who shows off his weapons collection. Um, but we, we took him to local hotspot Erwan and our other friend, twin Coleman, um, brought his, brought his big boy camera with the flash. And we, we, what we did is, and I think this is just a symptom of me spending too much time in LA. It's inspired by Just Jared, one of my favorite websites and the paparazzi photos that they post. Yeah, but your ass has been clicking on Just Jared way before you moved to L.A. permanently. Bitch, I'm Perez Hilton Hive, first of all, first and foremost. Is that right? Perez is my shooter, bro. You've seen the picture of me and him back in the day. CB Perez-edential. God damn it. Yeah, I think I've unfortunately had to hang out Perez Hilton once or twice over the years as well. You've definitely shared a bottle of Svetka with Perez Hilton. But yeah, so we recreated a paparazzi photo of Michael leaving Erwan on Beverly Boulevard smoking a cigarette while wearing the How Long Gone hat. And I gotta say, he looks like DiCaprio. I can't even tell the difference. Yeah, I mean, I'm looking forward to it to see how everybody enjoys it. It was very fun to do, though, I have to say. I had a really good time from... uh you know soup to nuts from the conception of the idea to to the to the completion of the photographs and the the hard work that you put in photoshop to make it a reality it's it's weird to also like it's it's it's kind of like helping unlock all these doors or like the podcast gives me a reason to do all of these things like these ideas that i might have or you might have exactly it kind of gives them a vehicle and a home and a place in that It just feels like this missing link that has been missing from my life for a long time. So, positive. Once again, Chris saves the day for Jason in his depressing-ass life. Before Chris saved my life, my life was very depressing. Yeah, you were just a tall loser in Glendale. Chris comes in, all of a sudden you got hats.

You got a podcast. You know what I'm saying? Your girl has a Tesla. You're taking credit for what kind of car my girlfriend has? Yeah, of course. It all trickles down for me. What you mean, bro? Once you associate with me, it's a halo effect. You know what I'm saying? Everything just comes up. Wow. Okay. I mean, I'm lucky. Yeah, I know. I'm looking at life with a new pair of peepers. I feel like I just got LASIK. and I have been blind, and now I have seen. Thank you for that. We also had a nice wrap party meal at Erewhon, and that was the first time I had really cruised West Hollywood, you know, 8 o'clock at night. It's a whole other vibe from what I'm used to. It's a movie, baby. That's why we stay over here. You know what I'm saying? It's a movie. Well, you don't stay over there. I don't, but I'm very close. You are very close. But I have been so used to kind of living on the east side of suburban Los Angeles that I am not used to seeing, you know, like driving down Beverly by Fairfax and the Grove and everything. Every restaurant, fully packed. Social distance, dining. Coronavirus is done in West Hollywood. There's a park. There's like a post office over there and like a strip of grass. There was a group of 50 guys practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu all together. Yeah, that shit was crazy, actually. Not a single mask and guys just rubbing each other's faces against each other and shit. Nobody cares anymore. It is all over. Everybody walking down the sidewalk, down the streets, not a single person has a mask. That's actually not true, Jason. Well, I'm embellishing a little bit for the story, but just... It's really different from what I'm used to. I'm just used to walking around in my neighborhood and seeing everybody. Yeah, you're used to walking around your neighborhood and seeing bent leaves and Range Rovers and Rolls Royces with tinted windows where you can't see what people are doing. You know what I mean? Over here where the salt of the earth types live, you know what I mean? We've got to walk places. It's different.

Got it, got it, got it. Yeah, I mean, the amount of scammers that are also in West Hollywood. Oh, man. Those two dudes, honestly, it's incredible. West Hollywood is incredible. It's my favorite neighborhood in the world. I mean, it might be. It's an awful, awful place. But I love going there. It feels like I'm going to just the zoo. It's pure entertainment everywhere you turn. Everywhere you fucking turn, it's another. bozo jabroni doing something stupid and i'm talking all the way down from like you know the hippie type to like to the it's just everybody's represented we saw a guy last night with like ripped jeans on a sleeveless hoodie and and fucking uh uh boots on and it's fucking 90 degrees yeah he was he was wearing the 2017 promoter fit of of the the fake louis chelsea boots You know, butt tight, distressed jeans. Not even the Amiri's. Bro, you ain't. You're going to come to Erewhon with some ripped jeans and they're not Amiri? That's crazy. They were not. But, I mean, it was like the same thing that, you know, like, what's his name from the 70s show? The. Your friend Danny Masterson? No, not my good friend Danny Masterson. I'm talking about Wilmer Valderrama. Like when you would see a picture of him leaving a terrible restaurant in 2016, that's the exact shit. Wilmer definitely had some dog tags with diamonds on them. That's for fucking sure. That's for sure. Imagine being named Wilmer and getting that much pussy back in the day. Go off Wilmer. Go on. I fuck with Wilmer. Speaking of Wilmer, we have a guest today on our show. He's comedy's Wilmer Volderama, Brandon Wardell. Mr. Episode 69. We literally planned episode 69 around Brandon, an old friend of Jason and I. Some would say he's our son. He's gone on to do pretty well for himself with a little thing called stand-up comedy.

has pivoted into loving clothing, which is very interesting for me to see. And he also is the co-host of his own podcast, Yeah, But Still. We had Jack, the other guy from his show, on a couple months ago. Very popular program. They've had some pretty funny guests recently, which I'd like to get into. Yeah, they have had some fucked up guests. And we can also talk to him more about Your Love of The Sopranos, the HBO show. it's the most overrated show of all time all right give him a call this episode of how long gone is brought to you by a new podcast from the guardian stateside with kai and carter this is covering a lot of our bases jason it's a it's trying to slow down The news and wrestle with the questions we all have about what's happening in the world. And I know you particularly have quite a lot of questions. A lot of questions, but how often? Because we do this podcast three times a week and that's a sweet spot. How many times do they do? Three times a week. And I have a feeling just based on the platform and these talking points that they're maybe going to be covering different stuff than we do. That's just a guess. The Guardian is not some billionaire owned. They're not afraid to say what they want to say, brother. Yeah, Rupert ain't sniffing around in what journalists Kai Wright and Carter Sherman are up to over there at Stateside. But yeah, listen wherever you get your podcasts. You can watch it on YouTube. It's three times a week. And who couldn't use more news? Especially when it's not from here, let's say. Give it a listen. Give it a listen. All right, this episode of How Long Gone is brought to you by Quince. Jason, the temps are warming up. It's getting hot out there. Summer always changes how I get dressed. I need pieces that feel lighter, more breathable, and that are just easy but still put together. I don't want to look like a slob. That's why I keep coming back to Quince. They focus on high-quality essentials that feel and look amazing. Breathable linen and soft organic cottons. Well-made basics but without the luxury markups. That rare balance where everything feels elevated.

but still effortless. Yeah, Chris, linen season is here. I wore a linen blazer to dinner a few nights ago in the warm California sun. But, you know, you got that Italy trip coming up this summer and quality European linen pants and shirts. Upgrade that look starting at just $34. You know, if you get a nice linen suit, a little t-shirt underneath it, some chill shoes, you're looking good, but you're staying cool. The inside of your special areas are nice and dry as you turn up with your besties. So elevate that summer wardrobe. Go to quince.com slash how long for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns, even on a nice holiday now available in Canada. That is Q-U-I-N-C-E dot com slash how long. That'll get you free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince punto com slash how long. This episode of How Long Gone is brought to you by Squarespace. Obviously, Jason, you and I spend a lot of time on the World Wide Web. So do our peers, our listeners, our friends, our colleagues, maybe even your parents if they're freaky. And if you're doing anything in the world. writing, taking pictures. I do topless boxing. You need a website. Exactly. A website that works, that does what it's supposed to do, that allows you to be creative, but also business minded. Jason, there's one place to go for that. Squarespace. Yeah, Chris, I'm over here. I'm modifying calculators and putting Claude inside of them so you could cheat at school. And I just want a place where I could, you know. have everything all in one place. I can have the SEO tools so those future graduates can find me. And, you know, I'm able to accept quote unquote donations for my services that might be gray area. You know what I mean? And then email campaigns. Hey, I got a new, you know, 2.3 version upgrade. Boom, boom, boom. Get the analytics going. Raise some money. Show your investor all of your cool analytics of what's going on. They're going to want to get in early, and we can use Blueprint AI to make your website look as professional as your competition, if not more. Head to squarespace.com slash howlong for a free trial. When you're ready to launch, use offer code howlong to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or a domain.

Hi, guys. You know, since we last talked to Brandon, he's really become a professional podcaster. It's really great to see the growth. Oh, thank you. When did I talk to you guys last? I feel like it's been a long time. I mean, we've talked a little bit. Well, in a public forum, I've talked with you guys privately many times since. That's right. Yeah, I guess in a public forum. Yeah, it's been a while since. Well, I podcasted with you. When was that? How long ago was that? This would have been like late August. You came on. Jack was out of town. Sounds like a year ago. Yeah, it was Adam and Jamel. How did he do, Brandon? How was Jason? Because he's a pretty shitty co-host, so I want to see how he held up. I wasn't even on the show, really. I just kind of, like, helped them record it and maybe said four things. Well, you engineered, but you were, like, your presence was, like, important, I think. Very, very key. Okay. And I think that when you chimed in, I think you were batting 1,000 with the quips. Classic TJ. i love you love a chime loves to hide in the cut and then come out with only the jewels that you and i people with diary of the mouth are not able to to stop ourselves yes yeah no absolutely a lot of chimers oh a lot of chimers are i mean famously yeah famously very bad uh brandon can you name your top three famous chimers i'm trying to think about some oh Top three famous chimers. Ira Glass. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Fuck Terry Gross. Yeah, who are some good chimers? I don't know. Letterman, you know, right? Yeah, I guess all those guys are chimers. That's kind of what the job is. Yeah, but most of them are kind of, I don't know. I like that he...

It always felt like he didn't want to be there. Just like Jason in this podcast. I love how that works. Did you like that about him? Well, just in the framework of a network celebrity talk show, I think that was refreshing. If you're able to do that and still keep your job, then I think you've really mastered life. Because it is also kind of very disrespectful to a company that's paying me tens of millions of dollars every year. He was the best at it. Once you establish that's your shtick, though, then it becomes like that's the deal. Yeah, exactly. People love it, and the network loves it. They love to cut checks. But Brandon's got to be careful talking about late night because you know he's trying to get on to do a little quick five minutes. You know what I'm saying? Well, I don't know when that can happen again. Oh, come on, bro. What are you, a pussy? Unless you do like a zoom. I don't want to do a zoom set. Brandon. It sounds like you are dude. Don't like wear a mask and go do your fucking. I fucking triple dog dare you, you fucking pussy. I fucking dare you to do a Zoom stand-up set on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Chris is like, dude, Brandon, you think you're funny. You should be on SNL, man. The SNL show is pretty popular. I feel like comedians tend to do that. You should try it. I don't know if you've heard of it or whatever. So, Brandon, you've pivoted from what you were doing before, stand-up, and getting these great tweets off to pretty much a full-time podcaster's life. Is that right? I was really committed to stand-up pre-COVID. I'm not committed enough to go into the trenches. There's some comics that are just back.

So going to the trenches, like moving to Texas to do stand-up and stuff like that? Yeah, there's a lot of comics that are just touring in the South right now. Oh, really? I didn't know. Like actually doing weird backyard shit? Well, like venues. No, like real venues. I mean, D.L. Hughley got COVID at Nashville Zanies. When he fell over on the stage. Man. It was so sick. Yeah, I... I don't know, man. It's, well, I, I had worth it. Worth it. I, uh, yeah, I, I don't shame. There's like, I see a lot of comics that are like shaming comics that are on the road. Uh, and I, I'm not really, I don't really participate in that, uh, in the shaming, in the shaming part. It's, it's like, it's shitty for, uh, I do think it's kind of shitty for a comic who does not need the money to go on the road right now. D.L. Hughley has enough set away that he doesn't need to be at a half-capacity zanies. Have you seen his fucking beard? He might be broke, bro. He looks crazy. I don't know. Brandon, as a stand-up... uh a person on the inside how much money do you think he got paid to do that well that's yeah that's the thing is i i don't know i've done you know i did zany's last summer and uh oh flex okay i think this summer prior you know i've i've so you're saying so you're saying on the rec and walk us through what that guarantee was i don't know i think i got like for like one night at zany's that's two cents though right that's the two cents Well, I was for him, probably I was doing I was I was not doing a weekend at Zany's. I was doing one show both times. But I don't know. Maybe like, well, it's it's like half capacity. So there's no way he was getting more than like maybe like a K and a half for like, I mean, I don't know.

Depending on... Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Well, they were probably charging way more for tickets. Yeah, because... He probably got, like, a couple grand or something. But, like, for one night, I don't know. Like, I feel like maybe, like, he got a... And you have to hop on an airplane. He loves the game more than you do. That's what it really comes down to. Maybe, yeah, maybe so. I mean, I really do love... You brought up the, like, whole pivoting thing. Like... I was touring so much last year. I mean, the beginning of this year, last year, and the year prior. And doing lots of shows in LA all the time. Just sort of increasingly not super... I like occasionally hopping on Twitter to be like, hey, I've still got it. I can still... Give them the razzle dazzle that they expect. And then if it's not a hit, then I'm like, well, this is ephemeral. I can just delete this. This is nothing. This is to me. This is nothing. You didn't see. You didn't see that. You didn't see that. That didn't happen. But yeah, it's the pivoting to only podcasting is just sort of I've been forced by the hand of God. You know, like I'm not. Yeah, I'm not. That was not the goal this year to just only podcast. So who was it? No, I mean, I don't think that was anyone's goal, perhaps. No, but who was in the Brandon Wardell war room making these decisions? Agents, managers, lawyers, stylists? Was it like, we're pivoting to podcasting right now, the world is ending? Yeah, what did your accountant say to you? Because I see you copping these Johns, bro. I see you copping these clothes. So if you're not making a stand-up money, this little podcast must be doing pretty well. Patreon's really coming in clutch. How do you feel about being a digital panhandler? Oh, a grifter. Yeah, a fucking grifter. I mean, this is not what I wanted out of my life. I'll tell you. Listen.

It's weird because I don't know. I'm fortunate. But it's also better. Why not want that? It's a COVID-proof gig. I'm fortunate. But I don't know. Doing stand-up was sort of the only refuge I had. where i i could uh i it was only it was the only like reminder of like humanity in my in my life you know like the it's the it's something that's like tangible and like not just on the computer and now you can only just be on the computer which like fucking sucks like i haven't right you know i haven't like done stand up or like acted in anything and like i don't know I feel like last summer I was really... I was so... Yeah, you were on Curb Your Enthusiasm. I was so on last summer, dude. How could we forget? I forgot about the Brandon Wardell Curb Your Enthusiasm camo. What kind of inside baseball was played to get you that? You didn't just audition, did you? No, that was not... I did an audition for my one-line role on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Actually, I just recently watched an episode and Brandon is chilling on the sidewalk with Bay and Larry walks by and takes his selfie stick and breaks it over his knee. Hey, what the fuck? I can do the line, guys. Hey, what the fuck, man? Do the line, Brandon. So I really nailed it. That's good. They just called me because... Kazzy, his daughter, had recommended me. They were like, oh, we need a... And you were white hot at that time, so it was only... Yeah, I was like a hot touring comedian. I wasn't some fucking podcaster. I feel like when we met, you weren't doing that much stand-up like you were. You were writing and trying to do TV stuff, I guess. So why did you lean in? When we met, I think I was doing... I've been doing stand-up since January 2010. So it was always like... I mean, that's why I moved out.

to do stand-up you know um but then i think i got distracted by this uh all these ladies yeah well you know just the yeah this ephemeral uh internet clout if you will the tweets the tweets were too good and you couldn't resist i got too into the i mean it's honestly i really regret Most of my forward-facing behavior from about four to five years ago, I don't really know that guy. Really? Well, I was like 22, 23. I moved here at 21. Prior to that, I was just like... I don't know. I started stand up when I was like 17 and was just like sort of like doing the doing local stuff a little bit. And, you know, I was like, yeah, you know, I was like online a lot, but not in like any sort of forward facing way. And then I and I was also like, you know, it's like a virgin. And I moved to L.A. and then it was just like there was like too much stuff too fast. And my. I got lost in the sauce. I fully got lost in the sauce, and I didn't know how to act right. It was all id. I was just very impulsive when I was younger. Well, it's hard to go from being broke, having no bitches, to the exact opposite. Way too quickly. Really quickly. You get the Benz, and then you're like, I guess I've got to buy a lot of Supreme. I never had a Supreme phase. I will say that. Oh, wow. He's drawing the line on that. He was buying bottles at Delilah, but he wasn't wearing Supreme. I should say. But that happened to me in my life as well when I moved to L.A.

started making some money DJing and then you, it's very easy to get lost in that sauce. And then five years later, you're like, I don't, I, you have something to show for it. You have like a name and you have notoriety and et cetera. But, but a lot of it is, is like, no, it was so fucking dumb. Like I would just like, yeah, it was like tweeting too much. And then you don't realize once you like get once you get fucking like normal pills and like fucking figure out, you know, once you just like fucking grow up, I was like, you know, I was in my early 20s and I had like some, you know, like a little bit of like early success. And so I was just like acting like a fucking like narcissist. And I just thought that it was like because it was ironic narcissism. It was like, oh, this is OK. But it's not, it's like not okay to be like ironically vapid. Like that's not, you're still just like. Yeah, wait a second. You just killed my entire shtick. I'm so sorry. You can still do your, you can still do your tweets about Justin Bieber, Chris. Hey, first of all, Brandon, first of all. You can still do the tweets about Justin Bieber's outfits or whatever. Thank you. And I hope to one day be able to go viral like you when you're an obnoxious 22-year-old. But I don't know if I'll ever get there, to be honest. Well, Brandon, are you glad that you were able to grow up and out of that phase and not find extreme success? Oh, 100%. Then you would become like a Bieber where you'd get locked in. emotionally i'm so glad that i never got because i was i've i'm not i'm not famous and i was never famous but i like i was in this like la bubble and uh yeah like i i think that like just that alone made me like act strange did anyone so i can't imagine like

giant success what that would have i would have lost my mind i mean you would be like a post malone kind of person where you're just like well yeah because it's like the industry wants to like turn you into a they they like turning you into caricature of yourself because then it makes it easier for them to exploit you did anyone did anyone like sit you down and be like you gotta chill or did you come to this realization yourself I just had to do it. Well, honestly, I think what it was is, like, I moved here in 2014 and was just kind of, like, dicking around for, like, a year before anything happened. And then some stuff sort of started happening. Like, 2015, things started picking up. And then 2016, it felt like, oh, this is real and, like, you know, I'm getting attention, whatever. And then 2017, a lot of the jobs that I had just kind of stopped. And then I was just sort of like, I don't know. I realized, I got to a point where I was like, yeah, this was all, I think nobody sat me down. It was just sort of something I had to like come to on my own. But I got to a point where I was like, fuck, I'm a poor sellout. I'm literally a poor sellout. I got to fucking fix my fucking life. That's a very important realization to come to, isn't it? Yeah, because I could have very easily burnt out. My manager dropped me. She was just like, I don't know what to do with this anymore. You understand, right? Yeah, I get it, whatever. And so then I just sort of had to start doing my... I just sort of had to... That's when I started doing the podcast, actually. Like around that time when she dropped me, I like...

And I talked to my live booking agents like, hey, let's really hit the ground running with touring stuff. And so I did the podcast and then I got back to work. Did the podcast – are a lot of people showing up to the shows? Are they familiar with you from the podcast? Yeah, for the most part. I would say most – that's like – Yeah, that was, like, huge. Yeah, the past couple years on tour, it's generally mostly people that are there because of the podcast. So you're saying Jason has a chance to finally kickstart his stand-up career? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'd say, yeah, podcast first. Yeah. Yeah, it doesn't matter. We're taking a new route to the top, Brandon. Yeah, no, absolutely. Yeah, I mean... So do you think... You were mentioning before about how you did not ever want to or planned on becoming a podcaster and your real love is stand-up and that kind of human connection and release. Do you think you're ever going to get that same high from podcasting that you get from stand-up? It's a different high. You know, like I... In terms of Patreon? Yeah, I mean the check. I know Brandon's gone off the shits when those subbies come in. He gets that subbie email and he's buying another pair of ASICs. You know what I'm saying? I mean, there's like a – stand-up money was like – colleges though were always – Hell yeah. The college money goes crazy. Also, you didn't go to college, right? I briefly went to college and dropped out. That's the best. To make money at a college when you didn't go is absolutely a silver lining to all of that. Oh, 100%. And I'm pretty sure that when I was like 23 and tweeting fucking 20 times a day.

I'm sure I had said some shit like, man, like it's crazy. I dropped out of college and now I'm performing at a college. This is whatever. Like I was just sort of that was that was like horrible. That was a horrible time. So you so you've had a lot of growth, a lifetime's worth of growth just in a few. Yeah, but I mean, I just had I had to. Otherwise, you know. otherwise what i'm like i can't be fucking like i'm turning fucking 28 next month you know i can't be 28 years old like oh remember the dicks out for harambe vine like you know i can't i can't be that guy tell that to jason who's about to turn 40 you know he might need to he might need to hear some of your young man knowledge actually So it's okay. So I should stop. It's finally time. It is finally time. It's back. It's back. Yeah, I'm voting. I'm voting for him again. I thought it was funny then. I think it's funny now. Yeah, no, it's I don't know. Yeah, I just you just have to fucking grow up. I mean, especially if I don't know. I think it's also unfair because I would. Most people went through their dumb shit in college not around anyone, and I had to do it on a semi-public scale. You had to wait until you were in L.A. in your 20s to lose your virginity. No, I didn't have to, but this behavior was incentivized and rewarded by people that did not have my best interests at heart. this crooked town we call i mean yeah that's like the fucked up thing about the whole i i mentioned that poor sellout thing and it's like i really like i compromised my integrity and my my dig my dignity for like uh for what for like some fucking like like most of like mtv like doesn't exist anymore basically like

You know, there was, like, a lot of just, like, things that at the time felt like, oh, this is, whoa, this is awesome, you know? And then you realize later, like, I think I got paid, like, a thousand bucks for that. You know? Well, I feel like the stand-up thing also is, like... feels more controllable for you. Oh, totally. There's no middleman. Yeah, exactly. Having that control is probably very nice because I feel like any entertainment business career is going to be feast or famine. I think that stand-up allows you to always have something to fall back on, if not make primary. Yeah, absolutely. Also, stand-up is something that you get to do. by yourself, alone, and your podcast is with a host. So how has that transition been? What have you learned about maintaining a healthy relationship with your host? We need help. That sounded... Yeah, that sounded like projection. You can deflect if you want, Brandon. Yeah, what would you say about maintaining a relationship with a podcast co-host when there's been some recent conflict? Like if the guy was white and wore a blue polo a lot, like that kind of guy, do you have any advice? I'm really on my wits end at this point. I don't know. I mean, we definitely, I think, uh be i mean me and jack are or is it just going bad it's going very bad jack like is uh we have different uh we're we're wired a little differently but i think that that's like important and he's like sort of the the podcast wouldn't have happened if he wasn't there to like uh you know added it and like really like sort of be the the straight man and fucking like keep keep the ducks in a row i mean i've done most of the i've done most of the guest booking but in terms of uh this is this is sounding like this is very similar to our setup except i'm the funny one how am i the brandon wardell of how long gone this is shaking me to my core continue that's you want i think you want that uh

I would agree with that, Brandon. He just needs to come to the realization about that. I mean, the quips per pod, I would say, I'm winning. In terms of quips per pod, I think if you put the two of us, you know, whatever. But he is like, he's, you know. Me and Jack. It's a different kind of quip. yeah i don't know it's like i we've definitely we've we've fought sometimes uh and you just you just talk through it and it's just sort of just you check that patreon balance you're like you know what bro i don't give a fuck you know what i'm saying gotta gotta stay together for the kids exactly dude yeah yeah who cares And then you just show your closet. It is really the dumbest job. If I didn't have that, I don't know. I'd probably be six feet in the dirt. I could say that again, brother. How many episodes do you guys do a week? Well, one free episode and one Patreon episode. And that's about it. It is a ridiculous job to have, but to be able to be in the position to where you can just do that and make enough money to live a relatively comfortable life, that's truly the American dream and really amazing. You get to have so much free time in your life compared to the average person. Well, I feel like you are probably using your free time wisely nowadays. Now that we're in Brandon 2.0 mode versus before, which might just be... Brandon 2.0 is still jerking off twice a day. Let's not. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no. Never more than once. And if I'm... Once a day, that's our cutoff. That's the maximum. And that was like kind of... That's been a rule for years for me. This growth is staggering. Yeah, I also... You know, and I think if... Yeah, honestly, I'm kind of... Like if I know my girl's coming over, I won't even jack off. I'm saving my... I will save it.

For her. You keep a full cleap. I will not nut in vain. We do need to discuss your pivot to fashion influencer and streetwear god. Oh, but I pivoted out of that. But I will talk about it. I will talk about it, but I'm less... Let's start where you are now, then, and then we'll work backwards. So what are you... Not what are you wearing in a sexual way, but what kind of gear are you rocking these days if you've pivoted from your loud streetwear phase? Well, I still like, you know, I still am wearing clothes that I like. Like, I still care about the things that I'm putting on. But for the most part, I, you know, like a wider leg jean, kind of a dad shoe. What would you, name an example of a dad shoe, please? I mean, like an Adidas Young one or like a New Balance. 990. Okay. And, yeah, I mean, the genes are acne. They are dad genes. I'm glad we got clean audio for that as well. The genes be acne. You already know. You already know. It's a wide leg. i love that you talk about acne like those are 300 bucks bro that ain't really a flex on this podcast it's not i don't i don't consider it a flex i mean i'm not like that's every day for big wardell that's every day yeah no i mean this is not look to to a lot of people that might be considered a flex guys For me and Wardell, that's what I'm saying. It ain't a flat. That's every day. You know what I mean? You guys have a lot of money, but I'm saying other people out there might not. That's true. And we don't want to alienate them. They have enough money for Patreon, but not for the acne. Rich podcaster, Brendan Wardell, loves acne jeans. That's the pull quote from this podcast. So you switched to a wider leg, so you're not rocking skinnies anymore.

long overdue that was the you were i never really thought of you as a skinny i was never afraid straight up like skinny skinnies like you know it wasn't it wasn't painted on but you would you would show up with some busted ass vintage on was kind of your vibe oh yeah i mean that was yeah early on like dirt vintage yeah but i was poor too at one point bro i still did better than that you know what i mean yeah i would wear like Yeah, I would always wear just, like, the same, like, Seattle Mariners windbreaker. Yes, yes, yes, legendary. Yeah. That's going to the comedy, that's going to the Hard Rock Cafe when you finally make it. But then, like, I sort of, and then, yeah, I mean, I wasn't, I was not dressing well when I had any sort of, like, initial success. Like, I was definitely, I was still dressing like shit. I think it's, like, kind of around. 2018 that i sort of started uh like getting these little fits off yeah that's that's when i i sort of i think like once the patreon money started coming in must be nice and there was the i think it was the patreon money like sort of the the asmr album the like i'm sorry what oh are you not familiar Did you make some decent money off of that album? Yeah, I got like a good advance. From who? Wow, that's great. What label put that out? Nice Life. I'm not familiar, but that's probably better. It was like, I think it was an Atlantic imprint and then they like split off, but it's like Ricky Reed's thing. It's like technically the same. I guess that album is technically on the same label as Lizzo. Yeah, definitely. So explain to me what... I mean, I know what ASMR is, but please explain to people what you did. Oh, I just did this... Well, two years ago, I did this ASMR album, which was... People know what ASMR is, right? Yes, yes. But it's basically like... I mean, half of it is just sort of me whispering jokes from my act at the time.

And then started transitioning into fooling around with ASMR stuff. And there's a tiny band. And I don't know. We recorded it over the span of maybe two hours, which is nice. So you recorded an album in two hours. And the album is an hour long. Yeah, well, the album is 30 minutes. And it has a 5.7 on pitchfork. You went to the studio and you blacked the fuck out. You're like, I got this one take Wardell. One take Wardell. Man, that hourly wage breakdown is looking pretty good, I feel like. Oh, the hourly... I had never thought about it like that, but... No, you're very right. It's important to think of it that way. When you think of it that way, you make more money than a brain surgeon doing a stand-up set or a DJ gig. Yeah, the world is not a meritocracy. I don't think that the world should be this way. So now your streetwear phase I feel like was well documented. You seemed to be attracted to loud colors, bright patterns. Yes. Which matches your personality, which I like to see that kind of line up. It's a peacocking style. Well, yeah. I'm done with the bright nonsense these days. Well, I think it goes along with your new mature outlook. Yes. One day you're going to start wearing navy polos like me, and then we can talk. Oh, yeah. I mean, I've got a fair amount of... I think a big part of the transition from bright nonsense out of bright nonsense was just sort of being like, oh, I'm going to wear mostly rugby shirts and sort of pullovers. Are you finding that the ladies respond to this better? Well, I have a girlfriend. Oh, okay. I'm sorry. I didn't realize.

I mean, yeah, I don't know. I think they were responding the same amount. That's right. It's not about clothes, Brent. It's about the guy inside. Right. No, like, I don't know. I was definitely like, yeah, I mean, that's the thing is like the, it's a girl's fault. The fucking, when I was like 23 and like, Being fucking annoying on the computer It was like I think a lot of it is because like there were hot girls that were okay with it There are hot girls that were like, oh, this is awesome. And so I was like, yeah, I guess this is fine This is it's okay to act like this. They girls like it That's a good case study for men in general, I think. Oh, 100%. As long as you're still getting laid, there's no reason to stop what you're doing. Oh, 100%. So much unbecoming behavior is the result of... Especially when you weren't getting laid before and now suddenly you are. Why would you ever stop? You're like, well, clearly there's a reason for this shift. It's because I'm being annoying on Twitter. Do you think that becoming a person who is in a relationship with their life partner has also affected Brandon 2.0? I mean, I think that that was like, I mean, I was already going through that before. We started dating. Were you able to get your girlfriend because of Brandon 2.0 happened? I mean, I think that helped. Do you think that you are still going to keep living in Los Angeles if... this quarantine keeps happening or are you going to move to Texas? I don't know. Yeah, I mean... You know, have you seen all of this that's been going on lately, Brandon? Oh, Joe Rogan moving to Texas? Well, we know you're a Joe Rogan stan, but have you noticed this coronavirus thing at all? With all of this that's going on... The what? Are you going to stay in LA? Dude, Brandon, people are dying. Are there going to be...

If you just become a professional full-time podcaster, are you going to stay in LA? Right, like if stand-up is just done. Done, done. Like if stand-up is just, yeah. Yeah, the version of stand-up that you would consider doable, not like, you know, doing it on a sidewalk. Right, yeah, because right now it's like a weird facade, like it's a weird like, you know, It's like having sex with a condom on. Yeah, exactly. It's very... Yeah, I mean, the whole... And Brandon want the raw doggy. You know. Yeah, I mean, the whole world... Yeah, the whole world does feel like... It feels like life with a condom on, for sure. Mm-hmm. And... What was I gonna... What was the question? Oh, if stand-up doesn't come back... Yeah, I mean, I don't know if I necessarily will stay in L.A. Because... Where would you go, fam? Where are you gonna go? I don't know. I mean... You know. Wyoming? You know, fucking Portland, maybe. Brandon. I don't know. No, no, no, no, no. No, listen, listen. I didn't think that through. I didn't think that through. Listen. I mean, it's honestly like where in general, mid-COVID, because it's like, I don't fucking know. Like, I would have loved to. For years, I was like, oh, I kind of want to get a place in New York. Because the stand up is, you know, you can do so much stand up in New York. Yeah, you can go hit the cellar. Hey, Brandon, if you need a place in New York, I have a vacant one right now. So let's talk. Oh, yeah. Yeah. You know what I mean? I just. Oh, that's that's amazing. You can't touch any of my stuff and I'm going to need you to watch the sheets every day. But other than that, it's for you. Awesome. Wait, you're in L.A. right now? Yeah. Are you guys in the same? You guys are separate, right? Yeah, we're separate. We spend a lot of time together, but we refuse to podcast in the same room. Oh, yeah, that's kind of... Yeah, me and Jack haven't podcasted in the same room, but I am sort of hanging out with people outside again. I feel like Jack is always somewhere in the desert, you know, picking flowers and camping or some shit. Well, yeah, Jack got super domesticated. As did I. Yeah. But I think he's out. He's further out.

In L.A., like, removed from L.A. Right, yeah, he's not in L.A. proper. Oh, I didn't know that. I didn't know he'd, like, fully... Yeah. Wow. Well, he's got to have a place to store his guns and listen to Joe Rogan really loud, so I get it. Yeah, I mean, he's, like, he's kind of grill-pilled. Yeah, but... It's going to happen to you when you get older, Brandon. for sure i mean i i love i i love what it's done to him i think that he's like really like calmed calmed down um because he was he was different four years ago also sure you remember like you know peak Versace Tamagotchi days. I do. Even just the name Versace Tamagotchi. I live for those days, honestly, where I could LOL of an internet post. But, you know, everybody has to move on. Gone are the days. It's also just sort of, yeah, like the world was so much different. I mean, the way people behaved in 2015 and 2016 is i mean 2016 pre-trump it was like uh i think everybody was like a little more unhinged and like frivolous with yeah like when's the last time you were hung over oh i mean that like today but okay you know like i still get like so you so you are super spreading then well the like the thing is like the the hedonism element of it all is like that didn't that didn't go away i'm just like calculated about it now like i'm not like i'm not gonna if i if i get drunk like when i was 22 23 i would get drunk and then i'd fucking tweet through it like i'd be like all right well let's like now grip it and you rip it yeah i'm like yeah i gotta tell 40 000 people about this and now now you just do that good high grade colombian you know what i'm saying well yeah i mean the you know yeah exactly like just sort of like um

yeah yeah that i mean yeah private yeah private uh now you have some natural wine and listen to some jazz and then you have like a sick convo i mean yeah there's still i also you know i would still do coke now but um but like in private and like sort of right and that's the thing is i wasn't even when i was like super when i was like super online like The internet was the worst addiction. I wasn't even really getting fucked up in an interesting way. At that time, I think that when I was being really... When you're young and just getting attention for the first time and posting a lot... I think it was just weed and booze. The coke didn't come in until way after where I was like, oh no, I'm calculated about my decisions. Smart, Brandon. That's the best growth I've heard throughout this whole podcast. Jason and I have actually been bonding lately over listening to a podcast from a guy named Tim Dillon. who oh yes yes a friend of mine well we're gonna put you on the spot right now we need him on how long gone he's the only person that makes me laugh would he humor us do you think he would do it are we too small time for him i think he would absolutely do it why do you think he's nice why do you think he is capturing do you think he i feel like he's really in the zeitgeist right now why do you think that is well rogan i think like yeah rogan made like a huge difference um Because I've known him for years. Oh, you have? Just from, like, stand-up shit? Yeah, just from stand-up. And, like, he did the... I mean, because, like, I had that show, The Satellite. He would do that whenever he was in L.A., when he was living in New York and visiting. And, you know, he's been on the podcast, like, three times. And, you know, we'll get, like, food or whatever sometimes. But...

Like, it was the Rogan thing is what made a huge difference. Like, it was, like, overnight. Which is, like, fascinating that that is sort of the new, like, launching pad. Like, the modern five minutes on Johnny Carson is now three hours on Joe Rogan. Absolutely. I hate it, but you're absolutely right. I mean, I didn't, I actually, I don't, I. Don't watch Joe Rogan. I don't like him, but I did watch Tim on Joe Rogan. You know what I mean? It works. Yeah, I mean, I don't dislike Joe Rogan. I mean, he'll say goofy things sometimes, but he's podcasting six hours a fucking week. Of course. Nothing more. What's that? That's just stupid on his part. That's just greedy. I mean, I'm surprised. Yeah, I'm surprised that he does like that, that length, that length is like marathon is like marathon shit. Like, I don't know. I just don't think anything good comes after an hour, to be honest, hour and a half. Like, yeah, I think a lot of people would would say nothing good happens until hour two. Yeah, I understand that. But I have better things to do, to be honest. Yeah, I mean, I would never podcast for more than an hour and a half. You have better things to do than have a life-altering breakthrough? Bummer. Well, good point, actually. Well, you guys have had some big hot-shot guests on your pod lately, Brandon. Oh, yeah, yeah. I mean, yeah. So are you DMing Mark McGrath from Sugar Ray and he's just like, yeah, fuck it? The Mark McGrath episode, that was... um i had ordered i had ordered a cameo for jack's birthday okay and posted it and then and like tagged him and then in the comments he was like oh like i didn't know it was you like you know like i'm a fan or whatever which i don't think he was a fan but i think he had maybe seen me do he told me that he had seen me do stand up on a show like a while ago

Well, he's probably just, like, excited to see that somebody who has, you know, as many followers as you and seems cool just paid, you know, how much money did a cameo from Mark McGrath cost? It's a hundo. Okay, a clean hundo. So, I mean, that must feel good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, he was, like, yeah, he commented on it. He DM'd me, and then I was, like, hey, I would love for you to come on the podcast. Yeah, and then we got it on the books. I wish he was less hard on himself. I think he's very self-effacing. I think he just sort of had his guard up because I think he thought that we were going to rib him a little bit. But I was there for a good faith conversation. Yeah, yeah. I think he was justified to be a little dubious of your intentions. Yeah, for sure. But I think both of us very earnestly are very pro-Sugar Ray. Those hits are a couple of sugar boys. Those hits stand the test of time. Yeah, absolutely. But he probably has a little bit of an issue because of becoming a sellout. quote-unquote and being like a television you know host personality when he used to be like a badass rock star a lot of bands like that also start out as cool and then they get signed to a major and their whole trajectory changes and it's like right you i was there for the journey bro i saw i forgot that's that's jason's one of jason's guys mark marron voice um wait who is Sugar Ray, one of Jason's bands. No, they were the Orange County city that I grew up in. Oh, wait, Newport Beach? Huntington Beach. Get your beaches right. My parents met at Huntington Beach. I didn't know that. I don't think anybody knows that. Has Huntington Beach been in the news for any other reason?

You guys also had those Sopranos weirdos on. How'd that go? Oh, Sopranos weirdos? Why would you say weirdos? I'm just joking. I'm just joking. I'm a known... Chris is a known Sopranos slanderer. I love to make fun of... Yeah, because it's too popular. It's annoying. God damn. This is like Anna K. levels of contrarianism. happening right now expand on that i'm not saying it's not a good i'm not saying it's not a good show and it's like a classic but i just think the romanticism of it and everybody wanted to like fuck michael imperioli is boring yeah i mean i it's a yeah it's a classic program you know it's it's like i mean it's like the oh but you're just asking how i got them on did you bang jamie siegler jamie lynn siegler's dms oh my oh i love her so much. But I had, they host a podcast with that dude, Kasim G. And so I asked him, he was like posting about it. Like he has a podcast with, you know, the actors who played AJ and Meadow Soprano. And so I just like, I was like, hey man, can you, he asked them to, can you guys come on the pod? And then we just got it on the books. Yeah, by the way, Rob Eiler, absolute fucking pimp. Is that AJ? AJ Soprano, yeah. What does he do now? Well, he quit. And I really admire this path because he... What kind of pimp are we talking about here? Well, I mean, he definitely has dipped his wick. uh, a fair amount. He, he, he, and he also fucked the system is what you're saying. Yeah. But he also, yeah. Like I, I think it's cool that after having finished the Sopranos, he told his agent like, Hey man, I kind of want to just like take a break and just like be a person for a while. And then like that, that year just kind of kept that year became two years, et cetera, et cetera. Like he just kept taking time off.

And he became like a professional poker player. Oh, sick. And the one time that he acted post Sopranos is he did this episode of Law and Order, but only because he wanted to get out of jury duty. So he had jury duty and he called his agent like, hey, man, I have jury duty on like such and such date. Can you just like get me a role on something like I'll do whatever. Like as long as I like if I don't have to like audition or whatever, somebody will just give me a role. Let's do that. And so like they found him some like law and order role. And he just actually that's very fucking funny. That's very. Yeah. Like he his mentality was he said it was like, I don't know. I played for the Yankees. Why do I want to keep playing baseball? Did he make that much money at that small of a role? It's that big. He's good forever. I think so. I think so. Because, I mean, there's got to be, yeah, there's got to be, like, crazy residuals. Yeah, it must be insane. No, it must be insane. Unless his contract was fucked. But, I mean, obviously, I'm sure he's fine. I mean, HBO is, like, richer than God. Like, they're fucking, like, I don't know. I'm pretty sure the HBO money is, you know, clean. The money is clean. It's spending good. Yeah, the money is clean. But what do you do with the rest of your life, then, if you just stop acting? Do you just gamble and work out? Well, he stopped gambling, and now he's like... He wasn't living in L.A., and then he moved to L.A. for the first time to start a podcast with Jamie and Kasim, and good on him. I mean, that's... It's definitely like, I mean, podcasting is such a fucking like, it's such a leisure job. It's such like passive. Maybe for you.

I mean, yeah, the way I do it. Yeah, the amount of editing and post-production work that Chris puts in. Yeah, you don't know what I'm doing. How long gone after hours is a whole different world. Make it seem easy here on the mic. What was the old podcast? Was it Public Service? Public Announcement. Public Announcement. And I remember you've, which by the way, I think like if you listen to that. that episode that i did versus this it's you know you were off the shits i remember i was off the shits i had to nurse you back to health because you'd been at like the vmas the night before oh my god yeah yeah so i was definitely like vmas you were like chris i need to eat i had to like go get you lunch and like a water because you were just so fucked oh yeah i was like that was horrible i was like i think that was like yeah that was the day after I believe you were in the same clothes from the night before. Yeah. I definitely indulged. It's okay, Brandon. The fact that I have been around long enough in your life to document your growth, that just makes me feel good. Yeah, I love that. Yeah, that's awesome. It does feel like a lifetime ago, doesn't it? It does. But I was just going to say that the editing on that was nuts. You really fucking... Well, that wasn't me. That was my partner, Jay Ellis, who did that. But yeah, it's crazy. It's crazy. But that was the point of that show. You know what I mean? It was almost like giving a gift to the guest. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely. You know what I mean? I definitely felt... It felt like you guys cared a lot. It was nice. Well, I mean, we've all known each other for kind of a long time. So I do care about the growth. It feels good because I remember a time when people were like, how are you friends with that guy? Oh, wow. And now, I mean, and I was always like, oh, you don't get it. He's the best. Bordell's the best. You know what I mean? Thank you. And now the world can see that. And now people ask me, like,

Chris Black, how are you friends with that guy? There's a side to him that others don't see. We make money together. We're not friends. We just make money together. You don't understand. I don't need friends. I need business partners. Exactly. Hell yeah. The grind doesn't stop. Billionaire mindset. Brandon, speaking of, are you working on anything right now other than the pod? Do you got the script in motion? There was one thing that was kind of in the works before all of this, and now it's just kind of up in the air. It's less in the works? Well, yeah, just because I don't know when people are going to film anything again. I was like at a, at a place where, you know, I was like, like, I think I'm like pretty good at acting and you know, like, that's nice. Uh, they, but they were, they like stopped, they stopped like filming the new season of, I think you should leave. And like that, you know, I, I know I was gonna, I was gonna like do something on that, but, um, you know, I don't know. There was like this other thing that I, really wanted to happen that like now I'm not sure when it's going to happen. But yeah, I've just kind of been like, you know, just podcasting and you know, like there's no, there's like nothing like in the, in the works. Like are you, are you writing standup jokes? Uh, a little bit, but it, it also like so much of it just feels like, uh, I don't know, like, writing for writing for a post-covid world like just kind of very evergreen yeah like it just kind of feels like you're like playing with barbies like when whenever i whatever i see like people will announce like oh like i'm gonna you know we just signed a deal to make this happen whatever and it's like we'll win i don't know like i like it's very

I'm very day-by-day lately. It's kind of like Bitcoin. I'll believe it when I see it. Yeah, I don't know. Great comparison, TJ. Brandon, tell people where they can find you online. Search my name and then it's all right there. They have the button for all of the platforms. Check out Brandon's podcast, Yeah But Still. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Brandon, you're not on TikTok, are you? No, fuck no. That would be, oh my god. Yes, I can. I can totally imagine. I could imagine... Me fucking four years ago, if TikTok was around, I'd be like, haha, like, oh, I'm on TikTok. But then I'd just actually be on TikTok. And that's not okay. That's no way to act. That's no way to act, young man. But I've never got on TikTok. And I never will. Oh, wait, guys, do you know about the fucking Omegle thing? Well, like the new, there's like a new feature on Omegle. What's Omegle? Omegle, it's like chat roulette. Bitch, I don't know about that. I forgot about Omegle. So Omegle, it's like a website where you just video chat with a random person. And generally, one out of five of those people will be a man just jacking off. But they just launched a feature. I just found out about this. They just launched a feature where it's like Omegle TikTok. Where you can only get on this part of Omegle if you have a TikTok account. But it just seems like a fucking pedo trap. It's basically like Omegle Kids. You can only get on this part of Omegle if... You have a TikTok account. If you let us know how to find you to see more of your young, twerking body. Yes. Yeah. I think that this definitely is a feature that will be abused. Yes. I would have to agree. It will be Smirch Omegle's good name. Big Omegle going to get taken down. Yeah, no, exactly.

Brandon, thank you for joining us. Honestly, it was a pleasure to hear some growth from you. I didn't know all this had happened, really, so it was fun to break it down. Oh, yeah. Thanks for having me on. Thank you, Brandon. Bye. Bye-bye.