The Sport of Life: Chats w/ Comedians, Filmmakers, Sports Figures, Musicians, & Intellectuals

#573 - Josh Wolf: Putting The Fun In Standup Comedy

·55 min·5 clips

Two middle-aged comedians debate wearing 'Smedium' shirts and the insecurity of letting it all hang out at the beach.

The episode opens with hosts Trey Elling and guest Josh Wolf bonding over wearing 'Smedium' t-shirts and discussing body image insecurities in middle age. Wolf explains his motivation to stay fit comes from wanting to actively play with his grandkids, contrasting his own memories of sedentary grandparents. He shares a humorous anecdote about his son rejecting his request to be called 'LeBron' by his grandkids, settling on 'Jojo' instead. The conversation shifts to fitness limitations with age, as Wolf describes a rotator cuff injury and avoiding PRs to prevent setbacks. He recounts moving from Massachusetts to Trinity University in San Antonio for baseball, noting the culture shock of Texas high school football. Wolf then details moving to Seattle alone to start comedy, intentionally without a safety net to conquer fear. He reflects on living in Seattle during the grunge era, seeing Kurt Cobain and attending Mariners games. The discussion turns to fatherhood, with Wolf expressing joy in his children's pure happiness and his current close friendships with his grown kids. He describes his son Jake opening for him and their unique show dynamic, including Q&A sessions. Wolf explains his experimental approach to stand-up, avoiding politics to unite diverse audiences, and sometimes performing on mushrooms, with his son acting as a support. He briefly mentions his comedy music specials, which feature short, punchline-driven songs. The episode concludes with promotional details for Wolf's upcoming shows at Cap City Comedy Club with his son.

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