It’s simple to be fooled into pondering Andrew Schulz resides his easiest lifestyles when he’s within the highlight. Whether or not that’s onstage in entrance of hundreds or on a display screen in entrance of thousands and thousands throughout an episode of one in all his widespread podcasts — “Flagrant” and “The Good Idiots” — there are few issues comics need greater than his present degree of publicity. However at the present time the one factor he seems to be ahead to is being performed in time to ditch the crowds, likes and perspectives to move house to his new child woman.
“When I will finish my day by means of 5:45 p.m. I’m just right as a result of that suggests I am getting to spend time with my daughter and simply be a dad for some time. It’s the best feeling on Earth,” says Schulz, sitting on the graceful black marble-top bar of the Kookaburra Living room in Hollywood. At the morning of the Oscars, with media chaos swirling outdoor the Dolby Theatre beneath the Kookaburra’s perch on Hollywood and Highland, the low-key comedian is sitting again in a inexperienced velvet chair considering lifestyles — and the way tricky it may be to make. After he and his spouse had difficulties conceiving their kid, they in the end discovered luck in 2023 thru in vitro fertilization, usually referred to as IVF.
The method impressed Schulz’s newest one-hour particular, aptly titled “Lifestyles.” His maximum private subject matter but comes at the heels of constructing headlines. Within the remaining a number of months, the comic made waves by means of interviewing President Trump simply previous to the election and stoking a short-term feud with Kendrick Lamar after the rapper took lyrical intention at him on his multi-Grammy-winning album “GNX.” Regardless of the place other people stand on Schulz’s viewpoint on comedy, his mark on popular culture together with his punch strains has turn out to be unquestionable. Not too long ago, he sat down with The Instances to talk about fatherhood, the results comedy has on politics and the inspirations in the back of his newest hour of subject matter, which premieres Tuesday on Netflix.
This interview has been edited for duration and readability.
“The second one you could have a child, each feeling you could have is the hackiest feeling ever,” Schulz stated. “On every occasion they snigger, it’s the most productive snigger on this planet; after they smile, you soften. You might do anything else for them.”
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Instances)
How has changing into a dad or mum helped your comedy when creating new subject matter?
I haven’t written a unmarried comic story since I had my daughter, or for the reason that excursion stopped. So now it’s all inquisitive about seeking to make her snigger. The sector will get actually small. It has made me replicate on comedy [material] about youngsters so much. As a result of when I used to be rising up, my favourite comedians would do that comedy about how they roughly hated their youngsters. And while you first have a child, you’re going to be stunned at how cliché your entire emotions are. The second one you could have a child, each feeling you could have is the hackiest feeling ever. On every occasion they snigger, it’s the most productive snigger on this planet; after they smile, you soften. You might do anything else for them.
We’re on this new technology of comedy the place extra comedians are speaking about being oldsters in lately’s global and being open and truthful about now not most effective elevating them but additionally the conceiving procedure, which is the center of your particular. What used to be it like being so inclined about one thing that used to be so private?
Cathartic. It used to be great at first, it used to be great as a result of there are levels. After I first began writing it, I wasn’t even like writing an hour, in keeping with se. I used to be simply roughly speaking about what I used to be going thru. I used to be simply getting again onstage and taking some day off from the remaining particular, after which [my wife and I] have been seeking to get pregnant I take into account, and I used to be getting back from Burning Guy and I used to be going to a large party for her mother. However I take into account that used to be once we first began making an attempt, and I take into account doing it after which later on being like, “It’s most certainly OK if we don’t get pregnant this time.” Simply because I didn’t know what used to be in my bloodstream at that time. I imply, I used to be at Burning Guy for every week after which I’m going proper to, like, make a toddler?
So it didn’t occur that point. After which some other month went by means of, it didn’t occur, some other one went by means of, it didn’t occur, after which I used to be like, oh s—, is it demanding to get pregnant?
I couldn’t fathom, it used to be demanding, you already know, my complete lifestyles has been about making an attempt not to get ladies pregnant and the quantity of tension I might undergo and Plan B’s and all this different s—.
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How do you’re feeling a unique like “Lifestyles” raises the bar in your comedy?
I don’t know, I’m at all times simply seeking to do one thing other. I feel that’s the thrilling factor for me. Sooner than this particular, I used to be by no means private in my comedy in any respect. Like I didn’t suppose my lifestyles used to be attention-grabbing. After which when it used to be tricky for us to get pregnant, it used to be the one factor I may just call to mind. I simply couldn’t call to mind the rest. I couldn’t suppose of a few bizarre topical comic story — not anything actually mattered. After which speaking about this were given actually thrilling onstage. I used to be like, proper, possibly I will inform tales. I by no means actually instructed tales [onstage], so I used to be like, what if I will make this complete tale? After which I didn’t wish to inform anyone it used to be a tale as a result of I didn’t need there to be one-man-show expectancies and I sought after them to come back in pondering that is like hard-hitting stand-up for an hour and feature that expectation, but additionally see if I can have a tale layered into it.
Within the particular you communicate concerning the indignities of gathering a sperm pattern as a part of seeking to get your spouse pregnant. Did you suppose there generally is a comic story there as you have been going thru it?
I feel so, yeah. On occasion while you’re in a second you’re like, “Oh this is more or less humorous.” After which infrequently you’re simply speaking onstage, you’re like actually pissed off by means of one thing, you’re embarrassed by means of one thing and you’re feeling very inclined, so that you’re like, OK, let me proportion this after which possibly I’ll in finding one thing humorous in it. And there’s different portions the place you’re simply so depressing in those moments you’ll be able to’t even take into accounts comedy simply but. So I feel it used to be each evidently.
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“I feel other people have been going to vote this fashion [in the November election] it doesn’t matter what and I feel seeing him on positive podcasts made them really feel extra at ease voicing how they have been already going to vote,” Schulz stated. “I don’t suppose very many of us have been like observing Trump on mine or Rogan or Theo after which flipped on him 100%.”
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Instances)
What’s it like now that you’ve got this daughter to your hands?
It’s so cliché, nevertheless it’s the most productive factor on this planet. I don’t wish to be right here. I admire your time, don’t get me improper. [I would rather be] seeing my daughter on FaceTime and prefer she walks up and she or he faucets her head at the telephone as a result of I kiss her on her brow. And so she’s like seeking to make me kiss her during the telephone, which is a Soulja Boy lyric, if I’m now not improper.
For individuals who practice your podcast and your entire stuff, it used to be additionally most certainly a left flip as it’s now not political in anyway in any respect.
No longer actually.
Stand-up comedy perceived to play a rather main position within the 2024 presidential election. Do you suppose comedy helped get Trump elected?
Do you imply by means of Trump going at the podcast?
Sure, particularly comedy podcasts. Trump went on a number of presentations, together with your “Flagrant” podcast in addition to “The Joe Rogan Enjoy” and Theo Von’s “This Previous Weekend” podcast as smartly.
I’ve a possibly extra humble take than some, which is that I don’t suppose we influenced the election in any respect. I feel other people have been going to vote this fashion it doesn’t matter what and I feel seeing him on positive podcasts made them really feel extra at ease voicing how they have been already going to vote. I don’t suppose very many of us have been like observing Trump on mine or Rogan or Theo after which flipped on him 100%.
That’s simply me. I don’t know if now we have that roughly energy, however what he would possibly do is make you’re feeling extra assured publicly sharing how you’re feeling about Trump, proper, as a result of possibly in the ones eventualities he feels rather less radioactive.
“I don’t actually care about politics. I simply care about tradition, however infrequently politics is the mirrored image of tradition. That’s once I begin to roughly key in on it,” Schulz stated.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Instances)
There’s additionally a large number of more youthful individuals who practice you who most certainly weren’t as engaged in any election communicate or politics and are taking cues from you. Do you take into accounts the affect podcasts like yours now have?
I don’t actually care about politics. I simply care about tradition, however infrequently politics is the mirrored image of tradition. That’s once I begin to roughly key in on it. Now the pendulum is swung the opposite direction, so we’re out of just like the censorship technology. [When we’re in a censorship era,] comedians are in most cases the primary ones to bitch about it as it roughly impacts the way in which that we do our factor, and that’s took place right through historical past, and in most cases you get like actually prolific comedians that pop out of those instances. Carlin being one in all them. I imply, even Eddie [Murphy], you already know, like [Richard] Pryor, the way in which that they might speak about them, like, “I will’t imagine they’re announcing this stuff,” like, “That is so, that is loopy.”
So I feel the censorship in some way is more or less just right for comedy, however comedians talk about it after which comedy is having a increase and that’s a mirrored image of, you already know, probably the most influential individual on this planet, Joe Rogan being a comic and loving comedians and hanging comedy at the leading edge of his pursuits. There’s additionally like a social media facet on this the place it’s like everyone needs a humorous tweet, a humorous image, a humorous meme, like other people, there’s like forex in being humorous, you already know, it’s simply roughly like this highest hurricane.
What used to be the toughest section about prepping for the interview for Trump?
For me it used to be simply that I wish to perceive who he’s. So I spoke to a few other people as regards to him. I spoke to [UFC CEO and President] Dana White for some time and I spoke to Don [Trump] Jr. for some time. I simply stated, “Inform me a tale. I would like private tales, like, inform me your dating, like, you don’t have to inform me who he’s or who you suppose he’s, like inform me those moments that experience took place between you guys,” and also you’ll in finding so much about that.
What used to be the purpose of the Trump interview while you went into it, and did you’re feeling such as you achieved that?
The purpose used to be just like the purpose is with each individual I take a seat down with. I don’t wanna toot our personal horn at the pod, however I feel we were given the most productive interview with a large number of other people particularly as a result of we’re simply looking for out who you’re and make you at ease sufficient to hold with us. We’re simply seeking to have the most productive grasp on the net. That’s it. I hate that I actually have to say this, nevertheless it’s so silly — we presented heaps of Democrats to come back on, you already know, however they didn’t. Mark Cuban got here on, I’ll say that, after which Cuban used to be seeking to push [more Democrats to come on the show]. He’s a large surrogate for Kamala [Harris].
Did Harris and different Democratic politicians simply say no? Or did they offer a explanation why?
I feel they’re in a state of affairs the place they’re enjoying like somewhat little bit of save you protection, and I suppose it is a tough factor. Once more, I talk about this stuff culturally. I don’t actually perceive politics, however I will simply perceive the folks’s response to objects. I feel American citizens like chance, we love people who find themselves going to take a chance. I feel that’s why we have been seduced by means of Bernie [Sanders] as a result of he seemed like he used to be taking dangers. He used to be in the market like, “F— the billionaires, f— those giant companies, they’re taking your cash. I wanna get your a reimbursement,” and all people have been like, “Yo, he’s gonna get killed, like this man’s fireplace!”
I feel that’s the tough factor for the Democrats. They may win this so simply in the event that they made this about category. In the event that they made it a category conflict, they might win in a heartbeat. It’s really easy, however it kind of feels like they’re now not keen to try this as a result of I feel they’ve very rich other people donating some huge cash to them they usually don’t wish to ruffle the ones feathers. So now you must make it about id politics as a result of that’s the one thing more they might win in a heartbeat in the event that they made it about category. I feel you wish to have a tender Bernie. Take a look at AOC [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] — once more, I don’t care what you take into accounts her politics, however there are other people that during her district voted for her and Trump. And I feel it’s as a result of other people see her as working-class and in reality wish to assist the operating category, regardless when you suppose her philosophy is correct about it.
Comic Andrew Schulz poses for a portrait on the Kookaburra Living room in Hollywood.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Instances)
On the subject of having frank conversations and now not being afraid to problem other people, describe the dynamic of your podcast “Good Idiots” with Charlemagne Tha God, who at all times demanding situations your political and cultural reviews. What’s that like for you?
Dude, it’s the most productive. We’ve been doing this for over 10 years and now, he’s at all times been this loopy famous person, however possibly I’ve gotten somewhat bit larger, after which now you want to see the the political internet sites having a look at our stuff and principally observing the pod, they usually’re like clipping it.
However the factor that I love about it’s, right here we’re, those guys that, like, we would possibly disagree with regards to politics about some issues, however we’re pals for over a decade. It’s simply the evidence we don’t want The usa to be so divided. We hate each and every different and we’re about to battle, however we in reality may also be easiest pals and we will be able to communicate s— and, you already know, do no matter we’ve been doing for 10 years at the podcast whilst additionally disagreeing relatively.
I’ve been following your occupation a very long time since observing “Man Code” to your pre-mustache days. What made you make a decision to develop facial hair as a part of your glance?
No longer all people can develop an exquisite thick beard, OK? A few of us, that is all we were given. [As far as what inspired it,] I don’t have any clue.
To be honest, it’s a super mustache. There’s a tremendous artwork as a result of you’ll be able to’t pass too skinny or else you seem like the predominant of like Epstein Fundamental.
You can also’t pass too quick. That’s a large no-no — be ready for a large number of tough seems to be [from people].
