Adam Devine: Believing In Himself and Moving to LA | Forward Progress

0:00This message is brought to you by Apple Card. Shave ice by the beach. A trip to the state fair. And a throwback flick at the local drive-in. They're more than just items to check off the summer bucket list. They're also opportunities to earn 2 % daily cash back when you use your Apple Card with Apple Pay. Apply for Apple Card now and use in minutes with Apple Pay. Subject to credit approval, Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City Branch. Terms and more at applecard.com. Hey, it's Thursday, which means we're coming at you with a short feel-good story from a past guest. Hope you enjoy the clip.

0:37This week, Adam Devine.

0:44Senior year of high school, you get into UCLA, but family can't afford it. How does that affect you at the time? I couldn't care less. Oh, you couldn't care less? No, no, no, no. Why not? I didn't even want to go to school. Oh, you didn't? No. Okay, so what are you thinking then? Well, I was thinking I have to get to California. Okay. That was like a path to get to California. And then I was like, I'll go to the community college, and then I'll at least be close to California. Yeah. And I chose Orange Coast Community College in Orange County because I watched the movie Orange County with Colin Hanks and Jack Black.

1:28And the whole premise of the movie is Colin Hanks wants to go to Stanford and get out of Orange County. Because it's nothing but hot chicks and stoner dudes. And he's trying to get it. He's more than that. And I'm like, that's all I want to be, is a stoner dude surrounded by hot girls. And so I went to the community college. And tell you what, man, it was the best decision I ever made. So then I moved out here. And it was awesome because that's where I met Blake and Kyle, Blake Anderson and Kyle Newacek, who I created Workaholics with. And we met day one of improv class at community college. And the rest is, obviously.

2:07And the rest is history. In what ways do you think Robin Baker impacted your decision to move to L.A.? Yeah, Robin was, she was my high school drama teacher. And it was cool. She was like the first person that was legitimately said that I had it. She was like, you have it. You can go and have a career in L.A. And you're thinking what at the time? I'm thinking this lady gets it. I'm like, she's a smart woman. She understands. She sees what I'm bringing. But she also knew people. She had friends in L.A. I understand she had some conversation with your parents that made kind of all the difference in yeah She essentially told them That I have what it takes and that that I could move out because I think my mom was like Like does he like are we create we think he's funny and talented, but like are we crazy and your dad was more hesitant, right?

3:13Yeah, my mom was always always like he's gonna be a star delusional that lady but my dad he's just more of a realist he was like what are the odds you know because the odds are crazy and my mom kind of instilled in me and it's something I believe in and I'm like why can't it be you someone has to make it there are people that are working in TV and movies why can't it be you It could, you know, where it's worth giving it a shot. Cause then I don't want to be an old person and being like selling real estate or whatever I did, you know, and go, I wish I would have taken the leap and actually try to follow my dreams.

4:02Your mom was telling me the other day on the phone, she had a bit of a panic attack after they dropped you off in California. I think they made it to about Colorado. And she like broke down and was like, what are we doing? Rightfully so. My roommate and I got drunk night one and climbed a fence and he slipped while climbing the fence and it was like a metal fence with a sharp point. It stabbed him right in the shin and split open his shin and you could see the bone. We had to go to the emergency room that night, night one of us getting in town. The evening at the improv influenced you how? yeah even at the improv which was a show on i think a and e or something um and it was a stand-up show that my dad and i used to always watch and especially after my accident i couldn't walk i couldn't go play sports or get out of the house or do anything so my dad and i would just watch stand-up all the time and it wasn't the great comedians that really inspired me like obviously they inspired me because they're fantastic and they're super funny but it was the comics that barely made it on that weren't that great what because i was like well i could do that like i can be just okay and genuinely be on tv you're thinking that yeah it was like you know i was like 12 years old 13 years old and i was like i can be that funny like that guy's not that good what would your dad say nah my dad was he was always like yeah you know you're funny but you're not that funny like you're not uh like make it on tv funny and i'm like you're an idiot dude but that almost weirdly motivated you yeah for sure yeah i would say like just to prove him wrong he wasn't doing it to be mean he was just like he in his thought because we're just people from the Midwest.

5:58We've never even been to Los Angeles. Like we don't know the comedy scene or what it takes or how to actually make it or be a success. So for him, he's like, you're a funny guy, but you're not a standup comedian. Like these people are like the funniest in the, in the world. You know, we're, we're come from a funny family, but we're not that. And I think that's what he was trying to say. Uh, and, but in my head, I'm like, yeah, I am. Thanks for listening. We'll be back next week and every week sharing long form interviews on mondays and shorter uplifting stories on thursdays and then trending clips on fridays we'd love to hear from you with ratings and reviews do you prefer the longer podcast episodes or our shorter ones i'm excited to get your take