Mohr Stories 581: Brian Posehn

Jay Mohr
00:57:29 Summary & quotes Report Issue
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About this episode Brian Posehn discusses his lifelong passion for heavy metal music, contrasting the longevity of disciplined ba… AI summary

Brian Posehn discusses his lifelong passion for heavy metal music, contrasting the longevity of disciplined bands like Iron Maiden with the struggles of drug-influenced artists. He shares personal anecdotes about working in record stores, the challenges of being a tall comedian, and specific disasters from his stand-up career, including audience brawls and medical emergencies. The conversation also covers his role in 'Mr. Show', his recent work in 'Stuart: Save the Universe', and his views on pop culture icons.

Key takeaways 5
  • Musician longevity is often tied to sobriety and discipline; Joe Rogan notes that Iron Maiden and Bruce Dickinson remain sharp because they avoided the 'sloppy years' of drug abuse that affected peers like Van Halen.
  • The 'nerd' identity has shifted from a source of bullying in childhood (e.g., backlash from Blizzcon) to a badge of pride and community representation for adults.
  • Stand-up comedy requires managing difficult audience members; Joe Rogan advises finding the person with crossed arms in the front row as they are often the most critical, while Brian Posehn highlights the importance of being a 'good hang' to sustain a 40-year career.
  • Record store culture provided a crucial social and musical education for comedians like Posehn, who worked at Tower Records and was exposed to diverse genres from metal to A Tribe Called Quest.
  • Height can be a practical issue for tall comedians; Brian Posehn (6'6") has had to manage sightlines at concerts and venues, joking about being compared to Hodor.
Notable quotes 5 AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
  • “If you look yourself up on the internet, you are everything you read and you've earned it.”
    ▶ 19:18 Joe Rogan quoting Greg Proops about the danger of comedians checking their own reviews online after a show.
  • “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
    ▶ 24:02 Brian Posehn describing how a man gave him a thumbs-up after his angry wife stormed out of his comedy show in Florida.
  • “I'm the guy that's always there and on time and, you know, just slugging away slugging away for 40 years. So, you know, every time I see you on TV, I get happy. It's like the good guys won, right?”
    ▶ 30:54 Joe Rogan explaining why Brian Posehn's consistent presence in media feels rewarding to fans.
  • “You didn't even have to be that funny in just like you can call me Ray. You can call me J. All you had to do was have a catchphrase.”
    ▶ 48:44 Brian Posehn joking about how easy it was to be a comedian in the 1970s compared to today.
  • “Put your name on it. That's all I say. Be a man or a woman. Put your name on it.”
    ▶ 0:00 Brian Posehn's opening advice regarding personal accountability and branding.

Chapters & Sections (33)

0:00 Brian Posehn's Early Music Influences chapter 1
2:44 Joan Rivers Jokes and Van Halen Concerts
5:04 Musician Longevity and Concert Height Issues chapter 1
7:36 Embarrassing 80s Hair Metal Bands
9:51 Record Store Work, Health, and Game of Thrones chapter 2
11:28 Weight Loss and Health Concerns
12:51 Game of Thrones Viewing Experience
13:59 Lena Headey and 80s Nostalgia chapter 2
15:12 Lena Headey's Acting and Goonies
17:08 80s Nostalgia and Jersey Childhood
18:17 Nerd Identity and Comedy Show Disasters chapter 3
19:49 Jesus Flag Shirt Limo Driver Story
21:44 Comedy Show Disasters and Audience Mishaps
22:48 Comedy Show Heart Attack Incident
24:10 Dungeons and Dragons Celebrity Guessing Game chapter 2
25:27 Celebrity D&D and Acting Career Discussions
26:45 Celebrity Guessing Game and Joe Manganiello's Dog
28:36 Fantasy Preferences and Career Longevity chapter 2
30:14 Big Bang Theory Success and Professional Reputation
31:45 Reality TV Preferences and Comedy Advice
33:47 Dungeons and Dragons Memories and Fitness Ads chapter 2
35:15 First D&D Experience and Metal Music
36:29 Fitbod and Blue Chew Promotions
39:12 Mr. Show Sketches and David Cross Standup chapter 2
41:00 Mr. Show Sketches and David Cross Standup
42:52 Comedians' Unpredictable On-Set Behavior
45:00 Gay Representation, Batman, and Record Stores chapter 4
46:21 Batman Movie Preferences and Michael Keaton
48:37 70s Comedy and Stage Performance Evolution
49:45 Grandpa Metal Song and Record Store Nostalgia
50:59 Tokyo Vinyl Bars and Celebrity Recognition
53:15 Multiverse Show, Muppets, Car Accident, and Drugs chapter 1
54:32 Car Accident and Drug Use Discussion

Transcript

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