Jay Shetty - Jerrod Carmichael

1) Comedian Jerrod Carmichael with Jay Shetty discuss the respect they have for their audience's time and attention, with Carmichael remarking that it is a precious thing to ask for. He goes on to explain that his creative process is often sparked from anger or frustration, which he then develops into stand-up specials or other forms of programming. Despite the anxiety of putting out permanent content, he chooses to put all his energy into his creative work and performing, rather than social media.

2) Jerrod talks about the power of shame as an emotion and how it affects our behavior and actions. He also discusses how cancel culture and shaming have become more normalized in today's society due to the ease of access to social media. He questions the intention behind every tweet, post, or comment and how it can affect others. Lastly, he talks about how people are becoming their own news channel, and there is a constant need to fill the space, which makes us inclined to express our thoughts and opinions.

3) Jerrod discusses his documentary-making experience and coming out to his family. He talks about how confronting his father's adultery and the intergenerational trauma that caused him prevented him from telling his own truth. However, he later came out to his family and reflected on the subsequent consequences on their relationship. Jerrod explains how his last special was supposed to be the scariest thing he could imagine, which was coming out publicly and drawing a line in the sand with his family. He also speaks about how audiences react with empathy when he talks about his personal experiences, and his goal is to create a pure intention bottled through his art.

4) Jerrod shares his experience of reconstructing his relationship with God and how he reframed his idea of prayer. He explains that taking Christianity as philosophy and accepting his own divinity helped him articulate how he felt. He believes that all of us have access to good, even through pain and tragedy, and that we have the power to take what has been destroyed and make something new out of it. By accepting himself as innately divine and using his own innate power, he can move forward with a sense of purpose and duty.

5) Jerrod speaks about how he was afraid to accept who he was because of his religious background and how it impacted his perception of God. He talks about how he had to re-examine his beliefs to stay true to himself and how it scared him to come out to people who knew him. Even though he still struggles with shame, he is learning to trust his feelings and run towards things he's afraid of. He also talks about anxiety being real and how he denied experiencing it himself out of fear of being seen as weak.

6) Jerrod discusses the importance of confronting one's emotions and not putting them off, as they can grow bigger and more intimidating when not addressed. He also talks about facing emotional blocks that prevent a healthy relationship and the challenges of balancing work and friendships. Carmichael admits to sometimes engaging in harmful behaviors to relationships as a result of his work, but emphasizes the value of awareness and honesty in managing these occupational hazards.

7) Jerrod discusses how he views sports as a TV show, rather than a game. He suggests that sports in America are all about entertainment and keeping the audience's attention, with advertising and sponsorships playing a significant role. Jerrod also talks about his susceptibility to marketing and advertising, noting his love of good advertising that requires thought and planning. He also remarks on the prevalence of targeted ads and how corporations are still struggling to create friendly and diverse commercials that appeal to all customers.

8) Jerrod discusses the constant struggle between being skeptical and cynical about everything he hears and reads versus finding a middle ground in terms of where he gets his information. He acknowledges that it's difficult to know what sources of news to trust and that it's taxing to be inundated with information all the time. However, he emphasizes the importance of self-exploration and encourages people to examine their beliefs and emotions despite the discomfort and unease that may come with it. Carmichael believes that examining what we stand for is more beneficial in the long run than living in a world of platitudes and not challenging our own beliefs.

9) Carmichael discusses how he wants to focus his work rather than being a multi-hyphenate and doing many different things. He believes that finding the truth is a common thread across his various pursuits. Carmichael talks about how he has explored his emotions through psychoanalysis and as a result, has more access to different intentions which helps him with his acting. He also mentions how difficult it was to finance and make his last movie, "On The Count of Three," because people assume that comedy isn't truthful. However, he believes that the best humor can be found while taking things seriously and being truthful, which is why it was important to him to treat his audience as adults in the film, even if it was a gamble.

10) Jerrod discusses his struggles with opening up to his family about his sexuality and how it affects his relationships with them. He shares that it is hard for him to be around people who are not truthful with themselves and with others. Jerrod believes that the Golden Rule, "do unto others as you would have done unto you", should be a law that everyone in the world should follow, so people can see the divinity in others and be truthful with them. Jerrod hopes that people can give more and connect with each other based on their ability to be truthful.