Andrew Callaghan | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #414

Theo Von・2 minutes read

New merch and tour dates available at TheOvInStore.com and TheOvan.com, with hitchhiking anecdotes and discussions on culture wars and late-night TV comedians.

Insights

New merch available in the "Be Good to Yourself" collection includes hoodies and t-shirts in various colors, accessible on theovinstore.com.
Today's guest, Andrew Callahan, shares insights into deodorant preferences, emphasizing organic options.
Andrew Callahan's journey from journalism to hitchhiking uncovers unique encounters and diverse storytelling opportunities.
The transition from hitchhiking adventures to a book, road show, and movie deal with Tim and Eric signifies a creative evolution and upcoming projects for the individual.

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Recent questions

What is the "Be Good to Yourself" collection?
New merch available in Plum and Moss hoodies, Lilac, Moss, and Blue Mist t-shirts at theovinstore.com.
Where can I find tour dates for upcoming shows?
Tour dates announced for various locations at theovan.com.
Who is today's guest on the show?
Andrew Callahan, known for "All Gas No Brakes" and "French Quarter Confessions."
What is the discussion about deodorant and personal hygiene?
Mention of using organic-style deodorant and anecdotes shared.
What is Andrew Callahan's background in journalism?
Started from high school newspaper to college at Loyola on a full scholarship.

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Summary

00:00

"New Merch and Tour Dates Announced"

New merch available in the "Be Good to Yourself" collection includes hoodies in Plum and Moss, as well as t-shirts in Lilac, Moss, and Blue Mist, all found at theovinstore.com.
Tour dates have been announced for January 11th and 12th in Grand Junction, Colorado, January 13th in Pueblo, Colorado, January 14th in Denver with two shows, January 15th in Fort Collins, Colorado, and March 1st, 3rd, and 4th in Boston, Massachusetts, and March 2nd in Medford, Massachusetts, all available at theovan.com.
Today's guest is Andrew Callahan, known for his work on "All Gas No Brakes" and "French Quarter Confessions."
Discussion on deodorant and personal hygiene, with a mention of using a more organic-style deodorant.
Anecdotes shared about collecting Axe deodorant flavors and experiences with deodorant in school.
Tire care was considered a respectable profession in Louisiana, with a mention of a personal story involving a tire shop.
Andrew Callahan's background in journalism, starting from high school newspaper to college at Loyola on a full scholarship.
Memories of Loyola University in New Orleans, including experiences at college bars like the Boot and the social dynamics there.
Andrew Callahan's transition from French Quarter confessions to hitchhiking around the US to interview various individuals.
Personal anecdotes shared about picking up hitchhikers, including encounters with unique individuals and experiences during rides.

13:05

Hitchhiking encounters and media culture wars.

Hitchhiking journey with various interesting encounters, including a ride with a Honduran man to a barn with confessional booths.
Encounter at a porn viewing location mistaken for a gay meet-up spot by the driver.
Author wrote a book about hitchhiking experiences, sold a few hundred copies, but realized reading is not popular.
Mostly picked up by old-timey, middle-aged, former vagabond hobo men during hitchhiking trips.
Encounter with an arms dealer who had gun parts in his car, highlighting the element of uncertainty in hitchhiking.
Hitchhiking popular in the 70s but viewed negatively after Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie.
Hitchhiking experiences differ between the West Coast and the South, with the latter being more charity-driven.
Discussion on culture wars in mainstream media, focusing on divisive tactics used before elections.
Scapegoating of the South in media narratives, especially during political events like the Charlottesville incident.
Transition from hitchhiking to creating a book, a road show, and a movie deal with Tim and Eric, leading to a tour and upcoming movie release.

25:54

"Tour with movie scenes, rappers, magicians"

The tour will feature movie scenes, battle rappers, and magicians found via Craigslist.
Performances will include individuals from previous episodes.
The individual has been preparing for the tour by playing tennis and spending time with their mother at Venice Beach.
The individual's father is a bartender in Seattle.
The individual's mother influenced their curiosity and empathy towards people from a young age.
Smoking weed at a young age led the individual to become curious and engage with strangers.
The individual realized the potential of a career in interviewing and podcasting.
Seattle's nightlife has a unique atmosphere with drug users and underground comedy clubs.
The individual currently focuses on character studies and cultural interests due to a slow news cycle.
It is essential to balance coverage of intense news events with lighter subjects like powerlifting events to maintain mental well-being.

38:27

Late-night TV bashing Trump lacks diversity.

Late night TV shows like Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel have become platforms for bashing conservative figures, particularly Trump, leading to a lack of variety in viewpoints.
The prevalence of anti-Trump monologues on these shows has been criticized for being repetitive and lacking in originality.
The comedian expresses a desire for more diversity in political views on late-night TV, suggesting that bashing a conservative president is the safest comedic route.
The comedian highlights the influence of these late-night shows, reaching a broad audience across different political beliefs.
The comedian praises Jon Stewart's era on The Daily Show during the Bush administration as a prime example of effective political comedy.
The comedian contrasts the treatment of Trump by Hollywood with past presidents, suggesting a concerted effort to vilify him.
The comedian discusses his move to Nashville, motivated by a desire to save money and differentiate himself from others relocating to Austin.
Nashville is depicted as a welcoming city with friendly residents, offering a different perspective on American life.
The comedian reflects on the changing perceptions of Southern cities, noting the impact of historical racism on their current identity.
The conversation shifts to the potential recognition of hip-hop achievements through landmarks, drawing parallels to the preservation of blues history.

51:03

Social media, drugs, and fringe groups discussed.

Taking two Somas led to a car accident, with a friend possibly offering a sexual favor, but the speaker avoids taking them.
The speaker observes friends taking drugs and notes a disconnection from reality and senses.
The King and the Sting podcast continues without the speaker due to lack of focus and attention.
Social media validation can lead to unhealthy ego boosts and anxiety spikes, affecting mental health negatively.
The speaker stopped using Instagram due to the constant need for validation and feedback.
The speaker discusses the negative impact of engaging with public feedback on social media.
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Interview subjects are respected, and the speaker aims to understand rather than pick on people.
The speaker delves into the reasons behind individuals joining fringe groups, often stemming from loneliness and ostracization.

01:04:09

"Alien Theories and Social Media Reflections"

The speaker recounts attending the 2019 Area 51 raid, where only a divorced father of three was arrested for attempting to storm the area alone.
Speculation arises about Area 51's purpose, with the speaker suggesting it's for drone experimentation rather than alien activities.
The conversation delves into the idea of aliens living among humans, with a focus on Nordic-looking individuals possibly being aliens.
Alien conspiracy theories involving Norwegians possessing alien DNA or being reptilian are discussed, along with their architectural capabilities like Ikea.
The speaker ponders the concept of aliens visiting Earth sporadically, likening it to a family outing to a subpar water park.
The discussion shifts to aliens potentially being microscopic to observe humans discreetly, contrasting popular media portrayals of giant alien creatures.
The speaker reflects on filming experiences in various environments, noting that frat parties can be challenging due to the comfort with violence in Southern schools.
Different interactions with fans and supporters are explored, with the speaker highlighting the parasocial relationship created through podcasts.
The challenges of maintaining originality and energy in comedy are discussed, with the speaker acknowledging the need for constant creativity and engagement.
The conversation concludes with reflections on the impact of social media on human interaction, with the speaker expressing a desire to detach from its influence and prioritize authentic connections.

01:16:17

"Real Friends Over Online Addiction"

The speaker expresses a need for more real friends and less online interactions.
Phones are described as addictive, similar to cigarettes, leading to a sense of ruin.
Instagram is likened to being low-key pornographic, influencing perceptions of attractiveness.
The impact of constantly viewing attractive individuals on social media is discussed.
The speaker highlights the influence of algorithms on social media platforms.
Specific examples are given, such as watching Jordan Peterson videos leading to continuous recommendations.
The speaker delves into the decline of the mafia and its current activities, like trash hauling.
The speaker humorously imagines the mafia adapting to social media and failing.
A personal anecdote is shared about learning from a negative contract experience in media.
The speaker reflects on the importance of maintaining positivity and avoiding negativity in interactions and content creation.

01:28:59

Navigating Success and Challenges in Media World

YouTubers often cover breaking news on Chicago's gang conflict, exposing inner workings to the public.
Some YouTubers are criticized for clickbait content, while others like Trap Lore Ross are praised for insightful coverage.
Interviewing individuals involved in gang conflicts can be challenging due to potential negative responses.
Concerns arise about the impact of rap music on violence and the role of record labels in promoting harmful content.
Success in media can lead to challenges like dealing with negative perceptions and maintaining authenticity.
Social media success can bring unwanted attention and criticism, affecting personal life and relationships.
Balancing work and personal life, especially in relationships, can be difficult due to trust issues and paranoia.
Success can lead to ego issues and public scrutiny, with people quick to judge changes in behavior.
Managing relationships while in the public eye can be challenging, with assumptions of infidelity common.
Despite challenges, there is still a strong belief in the importance of good journalism and inspiring others to pursue independent reporting.

01:41:04

"Desire for Casual Chats with Dream Guests"

The speaker watches interviews on YouTube all day, finding them cool but overwhelming due to the abundance of interviews available.
They express a desire to have more casual chats rather than formal interviews, appreciating the creativity and fun in conversations.
The speaker discusses dream podcast guests, mentioning individuals like Lil Boosie, a Louisiana figure, and JJ Watt, expressing interest in their authenticity and stories.
They mention reaching out to Mystikal for an interview, but he got arrested again, sharing disappointment at the missed opportunity.
The speaker talks about trying to secure NBA Young Boy for an interview, highlighting the challenges in booking certain guests.
They express interest in interviewing Trey Young from the Atlanta Hawks and discuss the process of securing guests, including offering incentives like weed and money to Lil Boosie for his appearance.

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