Interview, Fireside Chat
Bert Kreischer: Comedy, Drinking, Rogan, Segura, Churchill & Kim Jong Un | Lex Fridman Podcast #382
- Bert Kreischer celebrates Winston Churchill's legacy annually on January 24th (Churchill's death date) by mimicking his daily routine: a large breakfast with soft scotch, a cigar in bed, a champagne bath, and drinking champagne throughout the day.
- Kreischer cites Churchill as his ideal drinking companion, contrasting him with Vladimir Putin (who drinks little) and Boris Yeltsin, while noting Kim Jong Un is rumored to drink Scotch (Johnny Walker Blue) and take amphetamines via IVs.
- Kreischer describes his writing process as the opposite of Ernest Hemingway's "drunk edit, sober edit"; he believes his first telling of a joke is the perfect version and that subsequent editing often ruins the original "pure" humor.
- Kreischer recounts how over-polishing a simple joke about a deaf child in pajamas alienated Louis C.K., leading Kreischer to realize that simplicity is superior to "razzle dazzle" and that editing often destroys a joke's initial impact.
- The success of Kreischer's story "The Machine" stems from its relatability to the universal experience of a wild night that friends or audiences might not believe, a sentiment he believes connects deeply with comedy fans.
- Kreischer expresses a desire for Vladimir Putin to know of him, hoping the former Russian leader has watched his content, though he admits he does not follow politics closely.
- Kreischer prefers drinking one-on-one with friends like Joe Rogan or Tom Segura over business-oriented drinking events, citing anxiety about the "getting you fucked up" energy often present in professional networking situations.
- His favorite drink is the Campari Spritz (Campari, Prosecco, soda water), which he enjoys in Italy with family because it offers a light buzz and tastes like "Kool-Aid" without the intensity of harder liquor.
- Kreischer details various solitary drinking scenarios, including on trains, in hotel rooms before early flights, and sneaking drinks in malls or behind family members' backs while shopping.
- Regarding emotional drinking, Kreischer avoids alcohol when depressed or grieving, preferring to sit with the feelings, but admits he sometimes drinks to cope with anxiety.
- Kreischer shares that his father taught him the importance of humility after aggressively criticizing him on his 26th birthday for lacking humility and not working hard enough to achieve his dreams.
- Kreischer values his relationship with Tom Segura, stating they work best when they prioritize feelings over money and operate on a "handshake deal" despite lucrative offers to split their podcast.
- Kreischer describes Joe Rogan as the "most selfless individual" he has ever met, praising Rogan's podcast for giving exposure to other comedians rather than hoarding attention, which has launched many careers.
- Kreischer believes in "blind trust" within relationships, citing an instance where he refused to believe Tom Segura leaked information to his managers, choosing to trust their bond despite evidence to the contrary.
- Kreischer defines finding love as recognizing the "one person you can't imagine a life without," comparing the process to ignoring "baby shrimp" (casual encounters) to find a "lobster" (life partner).
- Kreischer's relationship with his wife Leanne is characterized by him being a "rodeo clown" who keeps her interested, while she handles the domestic responsibilities and acts as a "gangster" in their partnership.
- Kreischer excels at self-correction and immediate apologies in conflicts, contrasting this with Leanne's need to sleep on an apology before she can resolve an issue.
- Kreischer advises parents to vary consequences for children rather than relying on extreme threats, using the analogy of a dog that can bark or bite but also wags its tail when petted to encourage conversation over fear.
- Kreischer warns that constant content creation can "cannibalize real life," leading to the inability to enjoy moments without thinking about them as "bits" or promotions.
- Kreischer's most successful promotional strategy is ignoring perfectionism, advising creators to "turn the camera on" and embrace failure, citing his own viral dance video and speedo promo as examples of "not being afraid to suck."
- Kreischer promotes his upcoming movie Fully Loaded, his summer festival Fully Loaded, the Top Soft World Tour, and a cruise, noting that he plans to take a break in January to reset his physical and mental health.
- Kreischer draws inspiration from disciplined individuals like David Goggins and Jocko Willink, though he acknowledges his natural inclination toward impulse and fun rather than regimented schedules.
- Kreischer discusses the unique quality of "tour bus naps" (5:00 PM to 6:00 PM in a bunk) as some of the best rest he experiences due to the pitch blackness and cold, which refreshes him for evening shows.
- Kreischer recounts a road trip during the pandemic where his crew formed a "bubble" in a tour bus, driving across the country, playing disc golf, and drinking to reconnect with humanity after isolation.
- Kreischer shares a traumatic moment where his wife, Leanne, unknowingly contracted COVID from a hug and passed it to their daughter, Georgia, causing him immense anxiety about inadvertently harming his loved ones.
- Kreischer identifies as a Pilsner drinker who enjoys the "afternoon beer buzz," contrasting it with his past avoidance of IPAs due to vomiting in a bathtub after drinking one before a skydiving jump.
- Kreischer's go-to drink is Jack Daniel's and Coke ("Double Jack on the Rocks, lots of rocks"), a habit so entrenched that flight attendants often bring it to him without him having to ask.
- Kreischer describes drinking vodka as a "journey towards a destination" associated with camaraderie and intense celebration, whereas he views whiskey and beer as more about the experience of the moment.
- Kreischer admits he is a "dumb drunk" who loses eloquence and speaks in broken sentences but finds joy in the vulnerability and lack of lies that comes with being heavily intoxicated.
- Kreischer credits his transformation from a serious, brooding college student to a comedic, joyful performer to a trip to Russia where he brought tampons to help Russian women, creating a moment of shared, pure joy with local bandits.
- Kreischer emphasizes that comedy is about bringing a "spark of fun" and not taking oneself too seriously, contrasting his "silly" persona with the "gangster" status of comics like Dave Chappelle and Bill Burr.
- Kreischer recalls a particularly emotional moment in Italy where, while lightly drinking on a Vespa with his family, they all sang "Uk Shaka" in the rain, creating a bonding experience he attributes to the slight influence of alcohol.
- Kreischer admits to getting blackout drunk at Whitney Cummings' roast, which was so severe he had no memory of it, but Whitney lied to him the next day about being eloquent to protect his feelings.
- Kreischer describes his most proud promotional stunt as performing a "promo read" into a phone while being prepped for surgery to sell tickets to his Red Rocks show.
- Kreischer compares Mr. Beast's energy to his own, noting his willingness to spend unlimited money on ideas, though Beast is limited by a "family-friendly" brand constraint.
- Kreischer lists Norm MacDonald, Mitch Hedberg, George Carlin, Tom Segura, and David Cross (or Dave Chappelle and Bill Burr) as the "greats" outside his immediate friend circle, citing their unique mental processes.
- Kreischer advises young people to find the thing they love so that working hard never feels like labor, quoting Jack Kerouac's idea of letting a pursuit "kill you."
- Kreischer ends the conversation by quoting Hunter S. Thompson: life should not be a safe journey to the grave but a chaotic, loud proclamation of a "wild ride," ending with the sentiment of being a "bad motherfucker" at 95.