Atsuko Okatsuka: Can You Ever Really Go Home Again?

29:53But from everything I've read about his life... That's true. He did not have Like I don't think he had a good relationship With his father In the way that they were Together you know so people would be like Oh but his dad was rich and he bailed him out That's the financial side of things Trump to me doesn't seem like somebody who was hugged regularly Sure yeah But sweetie to that I say Bitch join the club Okay yeah Guess who else wasn't hugged Me I'm just oh you're looking cute being a sweetie to people so cry me out river I'm not saying I'm not saying it's to feel bad not to you no no no but I'm not saying it's to feel bad for him it's just you know what it is it's the other side of the coin right if you if you I think of it like an experiment if you inflict a certain amount of anything on this object that is a human it can turn out sort of one of two ways so you you like zap it with this call a terribleness in some shape or form emotional financial whatever it may be you zap it it could become like beautiful genius or it could become terrible genius in a way no for sure and and so i'm like is it worth is it is it worth zapping at all if symphonies might on the other side be like world wars for sure Yeah, right.

31:18Or do we just keep it basic? Yeah, like just everyone is... You said Martin Smith? Yes, you remembered his name. Yeah, we just Martin Smith everyone. Yes, exactly. Made up name, obviously. It was like a Jane Doe. No offense to Martin. Of course not. Yeah, it was just the first name. Or anyone from the Smith family. Yes, it's kind of my go-to. I think when I was learning English, Smith was like the example name in sentences or something. How old were you when you learned English? I was eight. I started at eight, yeah. Because you joke and you say like English is not your first language, but I argue you have a greater grasp of the English language than many native English speakers because of how you play with the language.

32:03Oh, yeah. I mean, you know, a lot of us, you're what? I don't even know the name. Polyglot. Oh, polyglot? Polyglot. How many do you have to speak to be a polyglot? I mean, don't you speak like seven? No, the number keeps going up. I speak like five and then six if I'm in the place. It's you and Pete Buttigieg, right? Supposedly Pete Buttigieg speaks like seven. I was like, maybe like he can order food. I'm sure. Maybe. Pete. How many languages do you speak? Three. So? Four on tequila. Then I'm like, I don't even know what I'm saying. Were you raised in Japanese? I was raised in Japanese. And then when I came to the States, because the Taiwanese side took me.

32:49Oh, so my dad had full custody of me in Japan. And then my grandma took me from him and brought me to the States. Okay. It was like a two-month vacation. And then so then that's how they, it was kind of like a kidnapping. How old were you? I was eight. Yeah. So that's when I came. And then because I was suddenly with my Taiwanese side of the family too, That's when I And we stayed with my mom and uncle My uncle and aunt Who were already in Los Angeles They're also Taiwanese So at the same time I was learning English I learned Mandarin too Because I was hearing it in the house Okay Suddenly English is way easier, yes?

33:27Than like Mandarin? Yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, okay Would you say English is the easiest out of I think it is Many languages, right? Yeah, yeah They call it I think it's because it's the bastard tongue Bastard tongue? Yes So English is Formal term I actually think a few scholars call it that Oh yeah They call it the bastard tongue Because English is a combination of every language Like anal That anal technology thing Oh anal logic Like anal logic Yeah That's I've seen Yeah That I've seen on the machine This is one of the things I'm making up No yeah yeah Bastard tongue When you're in the airport next time Yeah Yeah Look at the machines Yes And if it's the new round ones It says anal logic on the side Okay No yeah I believe you That is 100 % true Yes Yeah I might have taken a picture, by the way.

34:11I'll show you. I'll actually check on my phone. I will, yes. Because sometimes I see things and I'm like, I've got to make sure that I'm seeing this and then keep a record of it. You said you're not a genius, but that's genius behavior. What's genius behavior? Like, you know, the kind of neurodivergent behavior because to like take a picture and you want to remember it, you know, like noticing words like that on a machine, you know? I don't know about genius. I just think it's maybe too much time in an airport. how do you even search for like a place this is the thing about like these new maybe white the phone oh there it is there it is look at that oh there that's great that it popped up oh oh it is there she is we have proof he's like please don't show my thank you thank you for that no i i believed you before you no but i just wanted you to see it right right yeah what i mean yeah it's the same way like the disciples believed that jesus was back but when they like saw him then they're like oh man the shit is real we're gonna write it down yeah now we gotta write before we're just gonna talk about it yeah now we're gonna write the shit down i don't know about the writing down i used to go to church sometimes now now i mean with a mom with schizophrenia yeah i'm like oh man i mean what if like who who are we listening to do he have mental issues he's like he walked on water i'm like yeah my mom thinks the chinese government has microphones in our house but they might have huh they might have they might have what actually had microphones in the house i know and she's not not wrong that's the that's the thing right it's always based on some reality yes that's the thing yeah yes jesus could have walked kind of maybe for like half a second i don't know i don't know but you know i'm just saying check your sources they didn't have psychiatrists back then you know there was a um there's a story of uh i don't want to mess it up but it's like i feel like it's like one of the saints or something like that yeah someone who is a saint and a bible story this is a bible no no this is not a bible story so this is a a woman who apparently was like a because i think they make you a saint I'm not completely familiar with how it works But like the church, the Catholic church I think can go, your life was so special And how you died or how you existed was miraculous So they can make you a saint And one of the people that they gave sainthood to They were like, because she like convened with, you know Right, with God With God or with otherworldly beings or whatever it was And then I think when they They either did an autopsy on her Or they just had like the records They were like oh she had like a mental illness Which she was struggling with It's not even like people are putting it on her She said hey I'm struggling with this And I think at the time back in the day the church was like No no no no no you good You just It's cause you're other You rose above reality I mean which she was Yeah yeah you do And then I'm torn on that because I go I I Consider myself A really practical person Mm-hmm But I also Don't exclude The supernatural In anything Sure Yeah of course Yeah So I never I never believe that Nothing is Possible But then I don't know Where you How you find Like when is somebody Not experiencing something And when are they Because I've seen some things In my life where I go Mm-hmm How did How did this person do that Or how did they know that Or how did they feel that Yeah, or like versions of it, you know?

37:56Yeah. Sometimes you meet, like have you ever seen like when some of those like psychics? I mean, I would say, you know, I haven't seen a psychic, but I've seen it through my mom a little. When my, you know, my mom was, you know, my mom said, you know, the KMT. The KMT is a party that was ruling in Taiwan for a long time. They ruled under martial law. Okay. And they just more recently got voted out. But for a long time, for decades, they they ruled Taiwan. And she was always like, they're going to come to the U.S. too. They're going to come to the U.S. and we're like, oh, she's wild. And then and then they did.

38:35And there was like a shooting at a Taiwanese church where it was because, you know, the KMT party lost the election. And so someone from that party was mad and shot up that church. Anyway, you know, like down the street from where my mom lives in L.A. So, you know, not like psychic stuff, but it's based in reality. Yeah, like premonition-ish vibes. Yeah, and there's history. So, you know, to go off of and the news. So, yeah, I don't know. But are you a psychic person? You see psychics? No, no, no, no. I don't believe in it. Oh, yeah. That's what I'm saying. But I've seen some things where I go, should I believe in some of it?

39:17Oh, sure. But I don't believe in it What have you seen? There's this one on YouTube That I bumped into Called Oh man What is it? It's like a psychic In like a He rides around in like an Uber type thing Okay Picks up passengers Whoa Okay And then asks them Can I Do you mind? I'm a psychic This is what I do Do you mind if I read you or whatever? Wow And then you see You see the passengers At first I was like Oh this is all fake You know Because I was like Whatever I don't believe anything I see Like on a show Yeah And then there were a few passengers where I was like Oh man this person is not acting And you see the The guy in the show Is like driving around and then he's like Yeah I'm getting a message from An older woman is this And then he gets really specific and then the passenger starts crying Oh my gosh yeah So I still don't know and I've spoken to People who worked on that production And I was like yo Come on level with me come on And then they were like look Either this person is supremely skilled at being a con man or he has some ability and we cannot figure it out but we've seen it with our own eyes and we don't know how it works right because some of it could be like kind of magic tricks mentalist yeah stuff you know yeah right it's like who who knows some some clues that they picked up that yeah and then maybe there's something in you i don't know i that's why i say i'm i i am 95 sure that all of it is bullshit but i leave five percent for myself just to be you know sure yeah in everything in life i don't think you should be 100 certain no no yeah and in fact i'm doubtful most times but i will walk into a place like you just said you just described you're like it's an uber driver you know he picks you up and he goes can i ask what is it what how does he start it he goes like can i do you mind if i if i read you or if i you know if I...

41:10Cancel ride. That's what... Cancel ride. Thank you so much, sir. I don't have time. Are you filming this? Is this for your content? Goodbye, mister. That's when I would leave. I already doubted him right there. I said, I'm trying to get to a meeting. I'm trying to see my mother in the hospital. What are you gonna do? Read me? Yes, I can't believe... So that's the stuff. That's what you watch. You watch things like that. I watch everything. You're an ever-curious person. Yeah, I watch everything oh that's why i was like i mean ice cream is your vice of course it can't be anything that really hinders all that thinking and curiosity i don't think that i don't think that's true right i think i just went through like alcohol has like faded in my life uh-huh um you're sober what do you mean i'm sober are you sober or like you don't drink alcohol sober means you used to be an alcoholic right oh i think you just don't drink no i don't think so yeah but if you're Sober, it means you were drunk most of the time.

42:09I think that's how it works. Is that right? I think so. Is that the connotation? Yeah, I think if somebody says I'm sober now, it means that they were struggling with alcohol. Oh, I didn't know that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think so. I'm not, yeah. I just was like, I've heard people also who never drink be like, I'm sober too. Oh, I don't think, no. Then you should just be like, I don't drink. Okay, I see, I see. Okay, so you don't drink? Yeah, I don't drink. Okay, got it. But I used to drink. Like casually and you know what I mean? But now I just don't find There are few Other than the social lubricant Yeah There are very few pluses to Alcohol for me Okay, yeah, right Like very few Like how you feel the next day Your body I'm just like The social lubricant's great And then ice cream You're good the next day?

43:02Yeah, too good the next day Too good? Yeah How much ice cream are you eating in a sitting? Like a pint? How much ice cream do you have? Is it really like that? And you don't feel bad the next day? I feel bad from like a society level. So I'll be like, yeah, you know, the same way I feel bad if I wake up like after midday. I'm like, oh, I shouldn't have done that. Oh, you mean guilt? Yeah. Oh, sweetie. People keep telling me there's only 15 years left or something on earth. Is that true? again who tells you this oh which ubers are you in uh right i don't know 15 years left on earth or like i know that's not technically yeah but like 15 years of like where it's like too late to save certain things oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yes there's certain there's certain clocks i mean i even saw the other day that the the the sea level has risen more than people thought right and it's So you're just like trying to eat ice cream as fast as you can before.

44:05No, I just enjoy it. Before the water hits your neck. And you're like, hurry. This is Trevor. At the end of the world, the water's rising, right? And you're like, bitch, how much ice cream do you have? You know when they're in the room and the water's... Yeah, yeah. You're still like, more. My last breath will be the ice cream. Like my last, my final. Yeah. Yeah. No, but guess what? Well, you know what you won't be feeling? Guilt. That's what I'm saying. So you wake up and the only bad thing you feel is guilt, which I don't think even you should feel that. I'll feel guilty because I'll go, you shouldn't have eaten that much ice cream, Trevor.

44:38Because society? Because of like, just, yeah, I think it's a, you know, there are a few places you can walk into and say you ate a pint of ice cream and people go, wow, look at you. Nobody should judge. Nobody judge. Nobody judge my son, Trevor. Okay, what are your vices? What's your middle name? What's your middle name? Cliff. Trevor Cliff Noah. What are your vices? It's the classics. You know, all the stuff like soldiers do. Like a classic. You're like, whoa. It's just alcohol, honestly, now. And like weed. Okay. Yeah. I'm very treat-based. So I like to have a drink every night. What's your drink of choice?

45:28I like to have tequila. Straight tequila? Yeah, very happy, happy. Do you have like a goat? Is it like a good one that you recommend? Is it like a Casa Dragones? I'm not even picky like that. Oh, really? I just want to feel like, you know, I did good today. I just want to feel that, you know, that it's a little burn, right? It is a little burn. So I like that feeling. And then I like feeling like a little buzzy. Yeah. Okay. Giggling, laughing. You know, so that's what I do. You know, I like sweets too. My first job after I got a green card was at an ice cream parlor. Which ice cream parlor? Do you know Cold Stone Creamery?

46:10Of course I know Cold Stone Creamery. Of course you do. Why did I doubt your ice cream knowledge? What's your favorite flavor? You have multiple, I'm sure. Not from Cold Stone. Yes. It's a little too like... Don't worry, I don't take offense. Yeah, no, no, it's just like a little too like broad for me. Like the way the actual ice cream tastes So I'll always try and find Small new places Where they're still making the ice cream By hand Once it gets commercial you start to taste it Sure that's okay so that's You know what I mean So very specific yeah So Flavor wise I judge a place by their vanilla Oh okay And then I explore from there One of my favorite flavors actually is durian Oh fun, yeah, durian's real good Yeah And then I love my friends trying to have some of it and not being able to Right, you're like, ha ha, won't be sharing Yeah, there's no sharing of durian Durian, yeah, I know, durian, very specific flavor Durian is only for you Yes, it is It is only for you It's like me, and maybe if Ronnie Chang comes over, he'll have my durian ice cream Right, of course, yeah And so he likes durian too Yeah, durian, like, yeah, Ronnie loves durian Not to, you know, I didn't want to assume.

47:24No, no, no. Ronnie loves durian. Just because he's from Malaysia. Yeah. But that's very specific. It's not flavors you can get all the time. You know, when you're touring. I think I do that on purpose. Okay. Oh, to cover yourself up. Because if I just like all ice cream flavors, then now I'm... Too easy. I'll tell you where I learned this the hard way. So when I first moved to America, so I used to have this rule in South Africa. to try and prevent myself from always eating sweet things because i have an insane sweet tooth i would say if i come across an apple pie i'm allowed to eat it oh so no matter where it is if i if there's an apple pie like so if there's an apple pie on the menu if there's an apple pie at a place i'm going to that i can eat it and this was my way of like preventing myself from overeating sweet things yeah because in south africa you don't just bump into an apple pie Right I came to America I had the same rule I didn't know American apple pie Was just You know what I mean Right So every place I would go to You were like Surely it's not a stereotype That everywhere has apple pie And we were like Ha ha I genuinely I promise you I didn't think that And then I would get to places And I'd be like They'd go Would you like some dessert And I'd be like Oh let me see what you have Oh apple pie Right And every place I went to Wow And then at some point I was like Oh I think there's just Apple pie everywhere You know who you were like You were like Morgan Spurlock Do you remember him?

48:47So he did a movie called Super Size Me. And the rule was I go to McDonald's every day, three times a day for the meals. And if they ask, would you like to supersize that? I say yes. I have to say yes. And that's how he got by the end of the month. He did this for a month. He got diabetes and all kinds of other health issues or whatever. It's like that rule that you created for yourself. I basically did, yeah. Yeah, you were like, okay, I'll eat apple pie if there is one. Okay. Yeah. So why tequila of all the drinks? What is it about tequila? I had heard that it's the happy drink, you know? Well, people say this, you know, they call it an appa.

49:27Right? Yeah, yeah. And I'm like, I don't know. Again, I mean, I'm not a scientist. Just like, I don't know if there's 15 years left on earth. I kind of doubt it, considering humans are pretty resilient, considering pollen alone can take us down. You know what I mean? We're pretty strong We should all, you know Because people are always like Oh, Jesus died at 33, so young I think that was pretty old Considering you could trip and fall on a rock Yeah, also he was killed I think we should always remember that Yes, yes He didn't die at 33 That's true He was killed at 33 He was killed Yes And that maybe I think that changes everything It always sucks Yeah When you're killed At any age It does indeed But 33, maybe young Well, maybe at like 90-something, I feel like getting killed at 90-something might be better than getting killed.

50:17Then maybe it won't be a whole religion. People would be like, he sacrificed his life for us, 97. Yeah. How many years did he have left? That's what people would think about it. Was he enjoying a lot or something? And then he had to give up going out every night? Yeah. Like if you killed me at 90-something, I would not be happy. But I do feel like if I had a lost breath I'd be able to say Haha, I was leaving anyways Right This is like a Like, I'm done And no movement would have started No Christianity would have started Because Trevor, you know No, got killed at 93 And claimed it was for our sins No, yeah, yeah, no That's not gonna happen We're gonna continue this conversation Right after this short break

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54:08Were you very religious growing up? I was Christian when I came to the States. You know, it all happens here. No, but wait, wait. Isn't Christianity very big in Taiwan? Or am I not... Oh, maybe. Am I misinformed? Well, that's... You know, I actually, well, I didn't, my grandma didn't practice anything. It was my uncle, her son, also Taiwanese. He did become Christian in Taiwan, so that is interesting. Yeah. He's the one that brought Christianity into our lives. Okay. Because he's the one who we stayed with when we moved to the States. Okay. And so. So you're eight years old, you're learning Mandarin, English, and Christianity.

54:48My mind is confused. I said, I thought this was a two-month vacation. Why am I no longer living with dad in Japan? Why? And then two months turned into three months. And then it turned into, it's been 20 something years. So. Oh, wait, it just, it just went on. Yeah. And then, so we were undocumented when we first got here because my grandma didn't, you know, there was no paperwork done. So suddenly, and I didn't even know, you know, what being undocumented meant. I thought, oh, we flew here. So we're allowed to be here. I just thought every human should, you know, wherever they end up, they're allowed to be.

55:27Because I'm not, I'm eight. I don't know immigration law. You know, that would be, if I did, if I did, I would be a genius. And as we talked about that, may or may not be good. Just a very specific eight-year-old. That's right. Very specific eight-year-old. And so, yeah, so I, but, you know, so I was undocumented learning two new languages. and also being brought to a Chinese Baptist church, you know, where my uncle was the choir director at. Wow. Yeah, yeah. And I said, and what's this? They said, well, you want friends, right? I said, yes. Well, you like free food? We're like, yes. We do free lunch after service every Sunday, you know?

56:11It was just a way of building community and friends really fast. That's how, you know. Yeah, it's the biggest thing I miss about church, to be honest. Yeah. I think it's the biggest thing society misses about church. Free food? Yeah, all of it. No, really. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I think I genuinely think about it. And I've spoken about it before, but I go, we take for granted how much we lost when people sort of shifted away from religion, but not the religion side, the church side. Because it was that. Kids would get these free meals after church services. There'd be clothes that you could sometimes just go and collect, you know, from a bin that everyone would contribute to.

56:50There's people giving jobs. There's people finding love. It was, imagine you've come from another country. You've come from another city, wherever it is. And you're all just welcome because of this book that tells you a story. I think it's beautiful and it's sad that we lost and are continuing to lose so much of it, that part specifically. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I think, you know, other community centers try to do that too. Yeah, but not with like, they don't. community requires um organization and club oh sure you know like like when you when you go to a community center the only thing that's sort of bringing you there is the fact that's like oh we are all struggling yeah but when you go to a church there's there's a vibe yes a lot of it is that part's disguised that part's disguised yeah but there's a there's a vibe of like you know we learn the same songs and we learn the same prayers and we it starts to build it stitches you together when did you stop going when did i stop going i probably stopped going to church when i was it was like my early 20s oh you went for oh yeah pretty much my whole life oh yeah and you just stopped when you were you were doing comedy yeah and then like people started like asking for selfies and people then i was like it felt weird being in church and and having that oh okay so it was like and then also it disturbed my mom's church going experience not she didn't say this yeah but i didn't like because my mom's very religious i didn't like how it would disrupt like the service for her oh i see okay so i was just like ah i can chill okay so yeah you just probably don't so you don't go to a lot of group things in general anymore you know i love i mean met you at games night right i mean i guess like a like a community public thing yeah it depends it depends sometimes yeah you know why because sometimes my presence can be misconstrued one day misconstrued one day i was uh this was in new york okay but wait sorry what's misconstrued mean oh the word itself yeah i don't know what it means misconstrued means um to misinterpret something to to take something and misinterpret how it's supposed to be or how you process it yourself.

59:08Oh, okay. So somebody says to you, ooh, that's a nice dress. That could be misconstrued as flirting. Oh, okay. You know what I mean? Okay, okay. Because you go like, the person was flirting with me. And they're like, no, no, no, I wasn't flirting. Yeah. You could have misconstrued it. Okay, okay. So when you go to a place, it can be misinterpreted. Sometimes it can be misinterpreted because they, so the one example that comes to mind, we're in New York visiting like friends in Harlem so we just like go for a walk and on this one day he's like yo let's go to this park there's an event taking place I think they were celebrating I think it was Jackie Robinson that they were celebrating or something but he was like let's just go to the park and my friends are all let's go so we roll up there and there's local politicians giving like speeches because it's Jackie Robinson and you know this whole thing and then And then someone sees me And comes running up And goes like Oh Mr.

1:00:05Noah Oh I didn't know you were here So Oh sorry And they're like Oh and And they're like Trevor Noah's here I'm gonna say a few words And I was like No I'm not gonna say a few words I have nothing And then people were like But then what are you doing here Right Right just hanging out No Come on Here's a mic You and the mic are tight Yeah and I was like No no I literally was just walking Right And then people People genuinely didn't believe me They're like Oh please You're just walking around Right You're here to make a speech about Jackie Robinson Trevor that's the vibe you give Is that you're gonna give a speech I need to change this You know what I need to do?

1:00:39I need to start drinking That's what I need Maybe it's because I don't drink I give off ice cream vibes They're like you know him Feeling good from the night before It's just ice cream So he's ready Durian So at what point So you're growing up in LA And You stayed there your whole life Yes, yeah, I love New York vibes So if you don't mind me asking Wait, wait, wait So your accent didn't shift From before? Yeah, probably Because most kids lose their accents If they come like at that age Uh-huh, yeah You mean like a Japanese accent? Yeah, yeah, yeah Do you think I have an accent? You definitely I do?

1:01:23Yeah Okay, yeah I don't know what Some people are like I think it's a California accent. Who are these people? I don't know. The same people that told me we have 15 years left to live. My mother's seven voices. No, so yeah, I guess it didn't. I mean, I'm sure it was thicker back then. I don't really remember what I sound like when I was a kid. You don't have videos or anything? No, we lived in a garage. We barely had anything. Yeah, so. Did you actually live in a garage? Yeah, we lived in my uncle and aunt's garage. Yeah, yeah. And then, which was also illegal. But you'll know. I mean, it's life.

1:02:04What are rules? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And so, yeah. So I guess I just stayed in LA. And then some, you know, I do have like a laid back vibe. So I think I'm very Californian. I consider myself very, like I feel like. In your vibe. Like Southern California vibes. Cool, okay. Yeah. But who knows? this could have naturally been me too if I even stayed in Japan who knows but New York energy is what I'm really drawn to I love chaos energy yeah I love lights I love sounds my dream would be live at Times Square I'm unwell. Are you okay? Come back. Trevor, come back. No, I was just thinking that might be just like a Japanese side of you.

1:02:49Could be. Because when I'm in Japan, it feels like all of it is Times Square. Do you like it or no? I love it because I'm visiting it. Yes. Oh, yeah. So like when I'm in Tokyo, it really feels like it's all Times Square. And then when you go to Kyoto, it's like, no, it's the antitheses of everything Times Square. It's just bicycles and silence. Right, right. Yeah. And so, yeah, it's true. It's a little Japan. You like the chaos and the... Yeah, just, you know, it's either that or me and my thoughts. So how did your thoughts get you into stand-up? What's that journey? So you're eight. Yeah. You're here for a two-month vacation.

1:03:30Right. That turns into a 20-year vacation. Yeah. You start going to school? Yes, just like being a kid. Going through the American Education system Did you ask questions of your family? Were you like when are we going back? Yeah I did But also I was scared of my mom My mom When I would ask Sad questions like that She would get upset And also she would get My grandma raised me mostly So she was there But my grandma was also like don't upset your mom. We moved here. Sorry, we didn't tell you. But I didn't really know why. I was afraid to ask questions. And so, yeah, I just kept going to school. I later found out.

1:04:26My mom's mental illness got really intense towards the last years in Japan. She was very depressed too she has no friends she can't work she also has seizures so um you know there's a lot of stuff she can't do she's very isolated and then uh so she got pretty suicidal and uh some of my grandma was like oh i have a son in la you know maybe we switch locations maybe we change things up yeah you know have go to a place with more family support there's an uncle and aunt we can he said we could stay with them so you know I found out that's why we ended up in in LA um but yeah so after I did that oh oh gosh it was like then when I was 19 I was with my second boyfriend who uh told me that I was funny and he's like you should try stand-up and I was like stand-up isn't that only for like aren't all the I thought at the time there's only like 10 stand-ups in the world you know do you know what i'm talking about what you mean right it's just like there's only margaret cho was already a stand-up then i was like well they already have her what do you mean you could just start stand-up did you feel that way in south africa too no i didn't you didn't i didn't okay i just because because it was so new there that it felt like anything was possible okay yeah i thought here it's just like we have a quota and there's only like 10 comedians at a time yeah yeah yeah and uh so you know and i i liked their work i watched even yeah margaret cho i watched um what's his name uh robin williams and you know uh so i and then i found out there were like stand-up comedy classes so i decided to take one how are those um so this one i liked it was an all-female stand-up comedy class yeah because i I said, okay, how else do I start?

1:06:33Just start showing up at an open mic? Back then, it's like an open mic. Sometimes they were like 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. in some dark alley. You could be the only girl. Yeah, most of the time you were. I was like, that's how you go missing. I think that's how you go missing. I was like, ah. And I wasn't, you know, I didn't have enough confidence to be able to go by myself like that to a place. yeah um so uh so this all-female stand-up comedy class was actually a really great like supportive way for me to start where also i needed deadlines you know um i'm not good with like self-motivation i i haven't been diagnosed but i think i have add it's hard like i need someone to be like there's homework this is the homework come up with a five minute set so it was a good that's how i started oh yeah and was it was a good from the beginning What was your first set?

1:07:25Do you remember? Yeah, I remember thinking it was kind of funny. I was like, is there something? You know, you get in front of the class and then the teacher and the other students are there. And I said, is this something? I don't know. My name is Otsuko Okatsuka. I work at a Japanese restaurant and I drive a Toyota. And then they were like, ha ha ha, there is something there. You know, why everything's so on brand? You know, and so I think I started talking about that. And then I remember one of my first jokes was this guy found out that I was Japanese. And he said, oh, I have a good friend who works at the.

1:08:00And I think he wasn't thinking about it when he said it. It just came out. He said, you're Japanese. I have a good friend who works at the Mitsubishi dealership. And he goes, do you know, what was his name? Oh, he says, do you know Gary? Oh, do you know Gary? And I go, Gary? I don't fucking know Gary. I know Tom. So that was like my first, like one of my first jokes. Like the whole, you know, classic bait and switch. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But yeah, so I don't know. It just took a random boyfriend who probably just did a, you don't tell. In retrospect, I think he was trying to get rid of me. By telling you you're funny?

1:08:49Yeah, you should start stand-up. Because you don't tell someone you love that. He was like, go be busy. Go every night out to the jokes. Right? I don't know. No, I think that's someone who sees you. Oh, okay. Oh, that's very nice. I genuinely think that. I think every stand-up comic needed someone to see them before they could see themselves. It's true. That's true. Who told you? For me it was There were a few comedians Funny enough who told me this Oh that's cool You were already friends with comedians before you were a comedian? South Africa is so small That's what I mean by Anything is possible Remember we get democracy in 1994 I'm 10 years old So everything is this new world Free speech wasn't around before that Comedy wasn't really a thing before So everything Everyone in my generation This band that was growing up Especially in Johannesburg We all knew each other Wow that's true Everyone so it's like You knew the president's son But you also knew Like a taxi driver But you also Like everyone It was this really small band Wow That was growing up together It was really It was a magical moment honestly And so I knew a few people Who were comedians But I'd never seen their comedy And then one of like Because you weren't like You were young or something Too young to go to comedy I've just never gone.

1:10:12Comedy wasn't like a thing. We didn't even have a comedy club in South Africa. Where were they doing comedy? Just like maybe church or something? Random bars or random restaurants or whatever it was. Yeah, yeah. Right. And then one of them said to me in a conversation, Ronnie Murimola, I'll never forget, super funny, dry, one-liner comedian. And then he said to me, he's like, yo, Trev, you should do comedy, man. You're very funny. And then I was like, no, you're funny. I'm not funny. And he's like, no, man, you should do it. I think you'd like it. And I was like, no, Ronnie, I'm cool. Didn't do it at all.

1:10:47And then my cousin and my best friend were living together. They were like, you're funny. You should do it. And then I did it. You were like, okay, if multiple people think so. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right? And they're telling me. Yeah. So I think sometimes, and it's not just comedy. I think in life, sometimes you need someone to see you before you can see yourself. Yeah, totally. Right. So I think, I don't know, but I think that boyfriend was like, for someone to think you are that funny, it means they see you. And look, he was right. No, that's true. I don't give him credit for that. And I refuse to.

1:11:23I'm just kidding. Obviously, it was a good relationship. Give the man his credit. He deserves it for your career. Wow, that's very interesting. I never thought about it. That he was the, you know, you never know. Because it was just one person. I don't think anyone else told me I should do stand-up. No one else said you were funny? They did say I was funny. Okay, but no one said like - But to go stand-up, you should do the actual thing, stand-up comedy. And I was like, what? How would I even start? So I got curious. And that's why I looked it up on Craigslist. I found the class on Craigslist. I didn't know how else to look for things back then.

1:12:00I was already very much on that website. Craigslist was great. Yeah. It still is. one of the few companies that blew up that hasn't like just been sold to make money it's still very DIY no it really is but in a good way and then the founder was like no I'm happy with it the way it is and was I think multiple people offered him money to turn it into like a big tech giant type thing and he was like no I like it the way it is I like how people can find each other and how they can right commune or buy things or connect with people and right it's like healthy tick. That's so true. I didn't think about that.

1:12:36I mean, they started, they regulated it a little bit. Like they got rid of, you know, people were hooking up on there. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. But they got rid of that. I wonder if it was because of the Craigslist killer, maybe. Oh, that was a thing, wasn't it? Yeah, it was turned into like a whole movie because, yeah, there was a killer on there, which naturally probably was going to happen. You know, accessibility, someone's going to take advantage. It's inevitable. We can't have anything good for ourselves. But you could still buy furniture on there. Pretty good furniture. Yeah. Worth a few killings, some would say.

1:13:10I mean, I wonder. I'm so lucky. I actually answered some random ad that said, all girls class stand up at my house. And I showed up. I fucking showed up. And it wasn't a man with weird gloves on waiting to do some weird thing. You know what I mean? I was lucky I love how you worried about the gloves being weird I was gonna say Just gloves I like that you're like Those are weird gloves He just does this This is dangerous He's got like one extra finger He's got the weird gloves We're in trouble What kind of gloves, girl? Not the usual gloves Not the gloves Oh, man I could have said axe But I didn't want to be violent I decided not to go violent there So you wanted to go with some You wanted to go creepy Yeah, what if he's But not violent He's just the guy that's like just watch me play with my gloves for hours.

1:14:03For some reason, those ones are like... Scarier? Yeah. Yeah. That's why, you know, horror films, they have to get so creative these days. Yes. Do you like horror films? No, I hate them. Me too. I'm terrified. Yeah. Terrified of them. Yeah. I can't sleep if I watch one. If I have to watch a scary movie because my friends have been like, you got to watch this movie. I'll watch it during the day, bright as as possible yeah i i don't yeah i don't we have that in common okay yeah yeah i don't do well with that at all yeah even if it's like whether it's supernatural or more realistic yeah i don't care so you don't like watch true crime too right listen no that stuff is just like not that it's boring to me but i it's boring to me okay and i think it i think I mean this is a little maybe too extreme but like if I watch that stuff too much I feel like it'll make me feel like it's possible all the time and people are doing it all the time and people are killing each other all the time which is true but it's not like most of us are not killing each other in society yeah and like when you watch those true crime documentaries I think some people get really they're like oh everyone's killing everyone and every I don't know I just I'm like and they're all the same at some point yeah yeah I wonder Oh, maybe because there's nuance in it.

1:15:24Maybe that's why it's boring, quote unquote, to you. What do you mean? So like in a horror film. Yeah. Because it's a story written and it's actors and there's stunts and it's meant to entertain you. Yeah. So the killers are crushing it. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, okay. It's like, hit my mark, hit my mark, chopped his head off. And I am also fast at running. I like that the killer is saying this. Hit my mark, hit the road, chopped his head off. Gotta keep Trevor engaged. Okay, and hit my mark. I look scary. I'm that, you know. Yeah, exactly. Right. I mean, I imagine that's what the behind the scenes sounds like.

1:16:00Okay, cool. Hit your mark. Okay, and chop off the next head, chop off the next head. And now you're running. Right. And everyone's like fast. And you know, the killer's crushing it. So it's like meant to entertain. Right. But when you watch like a true crime, or when you read an actual like how a serial killer killed, there's a lot of clumsiness to it, because it's a human person. There's nuance. So it's not as exciting and on your toes Is that Do you know what I'm saying? No, no, no So you know what it actually is I thought you were saying that No, what it actually is It's like he dropped the knife No, what it actually is Is the formula that they tell the stories So they start to all do the exact same thing In the exact same way Right So it'll be the same music And then someone comes and sits down in a chair Oh, yeah And then they'll be like So the first time I met Brian Oh, no I was working at an ice cream parlor and like he just seemed like a regular guy.

1:16:52Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Right, right. Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun. Then they'll be like the local news. Then they'll be like, a man is searching. The police are searching for a man in connection with four women who've gone missing. Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun. This is good. Brian was a really sweet kid. And I mean, he was just a regular kid. He loved baseball. He loved hanging out with his friends. Yeah. You know what I mean I would watch this version By the way That was very riveting That's your next hour Brian Yeah So at some point I'm just like I bought ice cream from him You know me It's also I don't think they need to make it as many episodes as they do They do do that It doesn't need to be four parts It should be one I know and it's like also you know as like the the the families of the victims you know being like six episodes with boom boom boom boom boom boom boom my son died bitch my son died not everyone's singing the same song is this a game to you jesus christ oh a podcast three seasons what about my son died do you not understand right jesus christ this is why i'm not a mother i would just i would stop every podcast oh wow you know this is humanity you're taught playing with you know and then they make the the narrative version of it who's gonna play brian the killer Oh wow You know Wait do you want to be a parent?

1:18:34Do you want to be a parent? Do I want to be a parent? Yeah I think I go back and forth Oh okay okay Yeah I'm a no You're a no? Yeah yeah Husband actually got a vasectomy recently That's how strong your no was Yeah both of us yeah We were like oh we know We know ourselves Wait wait wait Tell me more I don't think about it I never thought about it I was never like you know I don't even know how To connect with kids I don't even know What they look like Really They're the little ones I see them And then You know Toddlers When they see me Like babies Yeah They They feel this connection I think they think I'm a baby too I kind of give baby I'm a little toddler core Do you see it?

1:19:18Like your vibe Have you always had this Like vibe to you Cause you A little toddler No no no I mean like the colors And the fashion And the There's nothing normal In your like in your right you know yeah it's like it's cool it's edgy it's interesting maybe a little Japan too yeah very Japan a little New York Japan yeah yeah vibes yeah did you always have that no no when I found my voice in comedy I think that's when I started being able to be my more true self too oh I like that in fashion and style yeah I like that okay and in hair yeah like you know sticking with a haircut yeah yeah yeah that kind of thing being like okay yeah I know who I am Outside and inside now.

1:19:57Yeah. Oh, that's beautiful, actually. Yeah. Because, you know, you've also kept an iconic look. Same, you know. People could do like a drawing of you. That's when there's a brand. Don't you think? I guess, yeah. But I don't think of it that way. I just didn't cut my hair during COVID. And then afterwards, I was like, I don't mind not cutting my hair. So it's just a little longer. I mean, but it's always stayed within. It's just about practicality. So if I can't wash it myself anymore, I'm like, all right, time to cut it a little bit. And then I go back. No, it's just, you know, wash day can be really, this part of the head.

1:20:33When you're washing your hair, this is fine. Then you get to this part. Sure. Shoulders. Shoulders, yeah. And then it's just, and then conditioning. This is you keeping it simple. This is me keeping it simple. Yeah. And in your fashion, your style, you dress yourself. I have no fashion and I have no style. I will buy things occasionally And I will put them on And I'll hope for the best Wow You have fashion and style I wear clothes Wow I mean If you're gonna compliment a girl I'll take it I'll take it No you really do You've got like There are people I see Dressed And I go Ah You know what to do With material on your body And then The rest of us We are just You are the You are the people That you're talking about Yeah I'm martin smith that's who i am with clothing i am martin smith because you i mean you're playing with so much like personality i can understand a suit nothing else but it's because i've worn suits so much and my entire life growing up we wore school uniform so i've been wearing a suit since i was five years old yeah every morning tie jacket so a suit i understand yes yeah and my mom would never pay for what we called civvies day uh civilians day it's where you oh it's where you got to wear your home clothes to school and you just wore the same suit then yeah and then my i'd be like mom we need to pay they're like who's this narc he loves the suit no genuinely oh that those are the worst days of my life oh where where you were still when i would go to school and then i was the only kid not wearing the home clothes hey i bet you looked spiffy they were like now he's a star he's ready to he's gonna be on stage you were like a little you were a little comedian it was the exact opposite do you wear suits on no no you're pretty like you're pretty casual I used to wear suits when I started doing stand up but then you turned more casual right yeah but I actually I do like the suits yeah yeah just because it's like it's your uniform yeah it really is and you put the thing you do the thing and you're like I'm in it's your armor I'm in I'm in More than armor It's I like uniform more than armor Because Uniform you just know What you're doing You know what I mean It doesn't It doesn't necessarily Protect me But it's like a This I'm now going To do the job Yes Yeah Right Yeah You're the forever host For Grammys right The forever host Yeah No no I'm done now Oh I guess I missed The done part Did you announce it Or something Yeah You said I'm done now I said this is my last one Yeah In my head you were going to be for another at least 15 years.

1:23:19I would hope not. Because 15 is what we have left. What? You would hope not? No. You're so good at it. Yeah. Thank you. But I don't like doing things forever. For too long. Yeah. What do you want to do next? This. You're already doing it. But then you're going to. Yeah. But this is like the next part of it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know? Yeah. Ice cream. Maybe like invest in ice cream. Don't turn your passions into businesses. Oh, then what's stand-up comedy? That's a hobby that people then paid me for. Wow. But it wasn't a passion. I wasn't doing stand-up comedy. It was a hobby. So I was doing this thing.

1:24:04Yeah, it wasn't a dream. No, it was never a dream. Same with me. No, it was never. But ice cream has been a dream my whole life. I wouldn't be an objective ice cream anything owner. My first dream was to work at an ice cream parlor That was your first dream? Yeah I didn't dare dream big You too? You wanted to work at an ice cream parlor Or just eat ice cream? No, I just wanted to own ice cream Yeah, big ice cream You wanted to own big ice cream Just own it all Yeah So I just wanted to work at one I didn't dream as big as you I just wanted to work at one And then at age 17 I did Was it good? Well, Cold Stone Creamery Yeah So do you know about Cold Stone?

1:24:44I don't know. Not all the stores follow this protocol. But when you get a tip as a worker, you're supposed to sing. You know about that? I did not know this. Oh, well. That seems really demeaning. It was. I said, in what world? I already got paid. I got the tip. I did a good job. I have to now do more work. What did you have to sing? Oh, my goodness. There were so many. All ice cream pun songs. Here, I'll show you. Yeah. So will you tip my jar please Okay Thank you Thank you Oh oh we got a tip We got a tip

1:25:19Cold Stone You're a Cold Stone We're a scooper duper family When you tip the tip jar We will try to sing in harmony

1:25:36Now if somebody tips you for the singing Do you have to sing more Like if someone goes That was amazing And then they tip again What do you have to do now Trevor don't ask questions like that Trevor We always hoped That no one like Try to crack Like crack the code I think a couple times People did And then we would sing another song What was Give me another song That was a good song by the way Thank you Yeah I like that In the style of Flintstones Yeah of course You know I'm trying to remember I don't remember That's the main one I remember That was like the main go to I think there was like we're off to see the wizard the wonderful wizard of oz but we did it with like ice cream words yeah i don't remember something like ice cream at all after that yeah i do but the singing was a lot you know in that because i always worked with this kid who loved the singing part and he would also add dances oh wow so then i'd be like stop like people because i was always in the shift with him and people would be like oh my god it's the duo and i'm like no i don't i did this when i just did this that was him he would be he would go out he'll do spins like we were on broadway i'm like bitch we're only getting we only got a dollar between us we have to split this dollar i was like i just got my green card i'm just trying to live a normal life but how old were you when you got your green card by the way 17 yeah 17 yeah and so that was my first job yeah Was it a big moment for you getting the green card?

1:27:05I didn't even Looking back it should have been But you know I didn't realize Because of that I got to finally work I wasn't like under DACA And things like that So I had to wait Till I got a green card to be able to even Start like contributing to the family You know with money and stuff like that So that was cool And then I got to finally take a driver's license test, which I couldn't before without a social security number. So, you know, again, it was a lot. I feel like in my life, it's always a lot at a time. I'm learning multiple languages and going to church, learning a whole new culture.

1:27:44You know what I mean? It's like, bitch, now suddenly you're working, getting a driver's license. You're the only person that drives in the family, you know? And so it's just a lot. And so, yeah, was it a big moment? I don't think I had a moment to realize it was it sounds like you had a lot of pressure at that age um yeah a little bit but I didn't even you know I don't think I realized it yeah it was just the defaults yeah yeah I was like okay we're yeah someone needs to get us around and so you so because you you are you still living at your uncle's house at that stage yeah and so now you're contributing to the larger family you bring the money from Cold Stone contribute to the family Which is very little money.

1:28:27Yeah, no, really. That's why I'm, you know. Very little money. But I was stoked to that. I was like, oh, I can finally do the things. I'd seen a lot of all my classmates do, like get the drive or working. And then also college too. I didn't know what would happen with college when I found out I was undocumented. And I was like, I think you need a social security number to go. And so it was just kind of very lucky that around the time you're supposed to start applying, I got... You got your green card. Yeah, right. Where did you apply? I applied to all the UCs. I had really bad grades. I wasn't a good student.

1:29:09So yeah, I applied to everything, but got into two schools, UC Riverside and like UC... I forget the last, Merced or something. Okay. For psychology, I just randomly chose something. I didn't really, again, I didn't really dream big, you know. I was like, why would I? Why psychology, though, of all the random choices? I think probably because of my mom. Yeah. But I guess at the time, I was like, I like people. I don't know why. But sometimes all the answers are there. Yeah. I wanted to probably get to know someone like my mom more and understand her and people like her. And so is that what you studied?

1:29:56Yeah, I studied psychology. I went to UC Riverside for like a year and a half. I dropped out. Again, it was hard for me to concentrate. I had my first boyfriend. I was just excited. I was like, I can drive. I have a boyfriend now. You know what I mean? What am I doing studying psychology? I don't have time for this. I, you know, I'm going to elope. I, I've made it. I, I, I'm, I'm working at Cold Stone Creamery. This was the only dream I had. I've peaked. You know what I mean? What else was I going to do? So, you know, the, I think when my second boyfriend at 19 told me, you're funny, you should try stand up.

1:30:36I was like, what? Why would I even think that was possible or available to me? Why? You know, I just got my green card. Who am I? who would want to hear my story who you know what i mean like there's nothing going on here you know so yeah was there a part of you that that thought of or wanted to escape the family or was that not an option in your world i wanted to i think that's why you know once i had a boyfriend yeah um i i i left the home and uh yeah i tried to make him my my second family so you You know, when you, you probably never fell into this. I don't see you as a person because I feel like you're pretty self-aware from maybe a young age.

1:31:22But, you know, when you date someone, sometimes you take on their personality. Oh, yeah. No, no, no. For sure. No, I've definitely done that. Where you're like, you're into something. You pretend you're into something. Yeah, no, no, no. So I never struggled with that. But what I would do is they would sway me too much like in their vibe. But I wouldn't be interested in what they're interested in. But their energy could affect my energy. Sure. Because I'd grown up in a world and in a home where I was so hyper aware. I grew up in a pretty violent household. And so one of the things that did to me as a child was it made me hyper vigilant.

1:31:58Because I had to know in every moment like, oh Jesus, my stepdad drunk. And if he's drunk, how does that change the day? And what do we do? And how do we act? And how do we keep the peace? You know what I mean? So that hyper vigilance continued with me in my life. So then when I would be in a relationship with somebody, I would pick up on their emotions sometimes before they would pick up on their emotions and then I would shift myself. Yeah. No, I totally get that. So I wouldn't pick up their interests or anything, but I think I had a similar experience in that way. I see where you would, yeah, just kind of walk on eggshells sometimes.

1:32:32Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. That totally, like I totally get that. You know, my mom being unpredictable too. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right. but I meant like something even more basic like I pretended I was into like punk rock music you know like that I feel like that's just love oh okay like early love yeah yeah I was like yes I love a nightmare before Christmas oh yes let's watch it again every day it's October it's Halloween this is Halloween Halloween Halloween you know I would sing along with it I like how Your life is just punctuated by painful songs. Get me out of this singing nightmare.

1:33:17I know because, yeah, my uncle was a choir director. Yeah, you just got like music the whole way. Just, oh my gosh, ever. Were you a singer? No, I never was. You would look good in a choir robe. Why have I pictured you in a choir robe before? I don't know. Have you not been like a sketch or something? A choir robe? Yeah. It's possible. Yeah. It's not impossible, I'll say that. Right? Yeah It's not like the most extreme thing If you said to me Trevor you've worn a choir robe At some point in your life Yeah I'd be like Yeah that's very possible Right Yeah Okay I don't know why But it's very possible I'm putting that image I just see you in it right now Well thank you very much And What's the color?

1:33:56Well it's just like white With like the red Red Oh okay those ones Those ones Those ones Yeah I don't think I've ever worn One of those No Yeah Well I did Because I was in the choir Were you good in the choir? One year My uncle I was never asked back after our big performance The cantata You know what a cantata is? No I do not Yeah I didn't either Guess what? It's 45 minutes of singing For Easter There was this It's like a short opera Short opera? 45 minutes Yeah it's pretty short right? Operas are I think longer Yeah yeah I don't know Timothy would know Chalamet I don't know how long I love how he's become Like the punching bag of Ballet and opera I didn't say good or bad Yeah but like No no no But I mean like He was right though That it is a dying art form I think the way he said it Might have inflamed Some people's emotions Yeah Because he said it in a very flippant way Yeah But he was having a conversation Yeah And then Can I tell you There's a weird thought I had When it was happening though i was going like oh is is the world like trying to find its old um like analog days back yeah like no no no like like our old our old outrage oh i was thinking to myself we are living in a world where world war three seems imminent every day yeah where you you know inflation is crazy where people are terrified of what's happening in the streets in america it's like the most brutal immigration crackdown ever like all these things are happening everywhere And then in the midst of that, there was outrage at Timothee Chalamet talking about ballet and opera.

1:35:43And I was like, oh, remember those days. Yeah, you're right. Remember those. Yeah, you're right. It was like a throwback. Oh, my God. To be mad at one skinny white kid that raps sometimes. That's what we wanted. We just want a simple time where we're like, why does he do hip hop? That was it. I appreciate it. I was like, thank you, Timothee. Thank you for your service. You bore the brunt for what society was feeling We needed an outlet And we chose you I mean unfortunately that's what happens But I think he's okay I think he'll be fine He's got love in his life He does indeed One of the most powerful families Around Backing him Backing him I don't think he needs them to back him You said like they're backing him You got this Timothee Probably No no shame They probably did You know I think his life is probably like More normal than people think it is His mom does ballet And his sister too That's what people don't realize About statements About his statement?

1:36:43Yeah Is that he grew up in that world Yeah yeah yeah And so he was saying This is what I mean by The context we remove From every statement or conversation Yeah yeah Robs us of the nuance That you experience In murder documentaries That like helps us communicate if Timothee Chalamet had said it was Timothee right but I guess you seem weird if you say Timothee whatever Timothee Timothee Timothee but if Timothee Chalamet had said you know I grew up my family was in ballet and my mom was a ballet dancer and my grandmother and I grew up in the ballet and I watched this and seeing how that art form has died over the years really made me grateful to work in an industry that still has social cachet to see people still go to movie theater.

1:37:33Like I'm grateful. That's where I want to be because I've seen what it's like when the ballet jobs dry up and when the opera dies down and when people are no longer coming out. I've seen that and that's something I don't want for myself. And so I'm lucky. I think people will be like, oh, wow. Trevor, people don't have the elocution that you have. You are a comedian. We are speakers. He's an actor. and so you know he's a speaker he's a speaker of other people's words a lot you know as an actor right this is true but i think like he's also like a he's a sharp kid my mom and sister need jobs they haven't danced in years if he said it like that yeah then people oh my god oh you're frustrated yes you're frustrated for your family my sister is always around because you know why No, please hire my sister.

1:38:25You know, it's his own, right? Yeah. Yeah. I think he has a personal connection with it, so. For sure. Or maybe they bullied him. Who knows? Maybe he's like, you know. Ballet bullies. Ballet bullies. He's like, ballerinas are not all that you think they are, you know? I was raised by one and my sister gets all the attention, you know, whatever it is that he was going through, right? which anyway i did a cantata and i was never asked back after that because left i was an alto i have a lower voice naturally so i gotta harmonize you know harmonizing is hard trevor you know that it's very hard i try to explain that to uncle paul he didn't there was no time you you mess up at an easter performance you're not coming back for Christmas yeah it's a big time oh my god he has risen and I'm out there singing the wrong notes aww he said let's go your thing is you love to sing I said yeah I do he said you love to sing loud so we could really hear your notes that weren't on.

1:39:43Oh, shame. How did you feel when he was telling you this? Well, at the time, I'm able to laugh about it now, but at the time I was really like, wow, I, there's a whole crier. I didn't think you could just, like, hear a few mistakes. Of course I'm singing loud. I don't know. I'm at church. He has risen. Damn. you should have been at black church port me to one that wouldn't have happened at a black church at a black church they would have helped you harmonize and they would have been like sing loud girl yeah they would be like okay you just need a little more work yeah but that wouldn't have happened I think it's because there was like the nepotism he felt guilty he was the choir director I'm the niece he probably was you know already like aware cause my aunt his wife was in the choir she got all the solos trust me talk about nepotism I know and so I think was she good though?

1:40:44she she was Trevor they're big fans and I think they're gonna watch this and I she was she's a very sweet person she's very nice okay alright don't press anything we've got more What Now? After This.

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1:43:16So when you look at your life now, I mean, it feels like at least from the outside looking in, obviously you've said you found your voice in comedy your vibe your style you're also blowing up right and you and you feel that moment it doesn't matter what what you do in in in entertainment there are these inflection points where it feels like you're hitting you know and i correct me if i'm wrong but it feels like you're like hitting you know what i mean you you're there you you're cruising does it feel like that to you that i'm finally hitting certain strides yeah yeah but But like, because you, all right, I'll speak for myself.

1:43:54There was a time in comedy where it's like, I didn't know when the next gig would come, if it would come, how it would come. So it was very much like, do a gig. All right, let's see what happens. Do a gig. All right, let's see. And then at some point, you're booked in advance now. You know what you're going to be doing. So I don't know. Right, that's true. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I've never thought you could, in the past, if you told me, when I was slinging ice cream, if someone said, what are you doing March... Let's see. It's 2026 right now. If someone told me, what are you doing March 2028? Can I book you down for the 18th?

1:44:38I would be like, what are you talking about? What do you mean? You're going to book me out that far in advance? I'm going to have something to do and I will know it? I would be like, Like, you're insane. But yes, to have that be a thing is cool. And because I was being me, you know, that's really cool. Oh, wow. That's really cool, actually. To be able to do stand-up, to be booked is because I got to finally be me and I'm being me. And, you know, so, you know, sometimes, like, people talk about, like, okay, you know, in the industry or in comedy, you want to be, you know, relevant. How do you stay relevant?

1:45:20And I don't think you have to worry about that. You just accidentally are relevant if you care about the world and people and what's happening. So you're going to speak on that. And that's naturally just going to be you being present. And, you know, so you find your fellow weirdos, that's the audience that find you and they keep you booked because it's a constant conversation with, right? As an artist, it's a constant conversation with your audience and you. And so, yeah, it's really cool that, you know, I wish when I was starting out standup, it's like, okay, how do I start? What do I grasp at?

1:46:00Kind of just being you was kind of a thing you would think would be told to you, but it wasn't. You know, it was more maybe people were more focused on like, how do I get success fast? Yeah, right. I think you're going to have a type five or whatever. It's like, OK, but what does that mean? Like, well, you know, what are the things that tickle you and you really want to talk about? And then you can hone the craft. That's that'll that's easy. Just like, you know, I would like to think being an alto or finding the right tones to sing is easy. But, you know, being you sometimes is harder, I think.

1:46:42It takes time. It's funny. I think there are two steps or two levels to it. Being you is one of the hardest things ever. But then I find there's something that people often don't speak about enough. and that is being comfortable allowing you to change is the second hardest thing. Being comfortable allowing you to change. So like when you're an artist or when you're a person, being you can be very difficult, like finding yourself. This is who I am. Took me forever. Yeah. But I don't think enough people speak about how hard it is to realize that that you can change as well and should change. Yeah.

1:47:26And so what I've seen people do, let's say specifically in like art, is sometimes people will stay as that thing forever because that's them. But then now they are the prisoner of the them that they became. Right. And then now like when an audience will tell you, that's not what Atsuko would do or that's not how she would. And you're like, oh, yeah, that's not an Atsuko joke. I shouldn't say that. Because an audience at some point will tell you. They'll be like, I just didn't feel like this was like your kind of show. Like, what does that mean? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, musicians, I think I look at musicians a lot because they probably deal with that a lot.

1:48:01Oh, definitely. They have to reinvent themselves. The next version, you know, Beyonce, I am now going to play with country music. I'm last time it was the ballroom, you know, the queer scene and the community, you know, that inspired that album to, you know, comedians, we don't get to think of that as much or, you know, I've kept this haircut. I'm like, how long do I have to keep this haircut for? You know what I mean? But you don't, but that's the thing. Right, yeah. That's the thing that's like, it is hard to remember that we shouldn't allow our freedom to become the prison that we were trying to escape in the first place.

1:48:42Yeah, totally. Yes. Oh, that twinkle in the eye. Yeah, that's why there's two cameras on you because we have to catch every time Trevor goes there. Oh, God. It's good. You know, these are compliments. Oh, goodness. Yeah. An extraordinary thinker. Oh, wow. Artist. I sometimes think you've reached enlightenment, you know? Oh, I wish. Just you with your water. I wish. Yeah. I wish. They say when you've... There was a monk who said this to me one day. He said, I asked him, have you reached enlightenment? Yeah. And he says, when you have reached enlightenment, that's when you know you've reached the bottom and you have to start again.

1:49:24Oh, my God. And he genuinely, he was just like, he says, literally, whenever people think they've reached enlightenment, it means they're at the very bottom of the journey and they have to start it all over again. And I was like, damn, that's intense. Of course. Because, I mean, yeah, that is your lowest point, huh? You're hungry, you're dizzy. You're probably confused. You're having the visions. You're dehydrated. Sweetie, you're near schizophrenia. Like you need to eat something. I know you're trying to reach like, I'm nothing. I'm nothing. Sweetie. Yeah, it's when it gets hard. My aunt in Taiwan, my grandma's like younger sister is a monk.

1:50:04We've been like, sweetie, you have children. She just left one day to the temple and said, I'm nothing. I'm nothing. I said, actually, you're a mom and a friend. and a sister and other things. Yeah. Who am I? How is this me? That's like one of the meditations. Who am I? How is this me? Yeah. And then that's what you're talking about. It's a beautiful one because. Who am I? How is this me? Yeah. It's, no, who am I? Where am I? And how is this me? That's me. And you just keep saying that. That's me most days out in the streets of New York lost. Okay. That was me earlier trying to find this place.

1:50:45because we walked here from the sherry shepherd show oh okay all right okay what street am i where are we oh trevor but um no but you know allowing yourself to change as yes so there's two things i want to actually want to get to before before before i forget is one on the on the family side what has your journey been like you know there's a thread that I see that I think a lot of people can relate to and that is coming from a family of hardship and living in a world of hardship means achieving becomes so much more important. It's not just like a trophy. It's not a mantle. It's meaningful for survival, right?

1:51:34But then what that comes with is an excessive amount of pressure as well for that for that success to maintain itself or to keep growing or to keep like what has that journey been like for you as somebody who was contributing and helping the family you know i'm assuming you're still doing that now does it feel like oh good you know the comedy helps me do this or does it feel like oh man i need the comedy because i i need this to keep going so that i can support the family i think it's a little yeah it's it's both happening and you know what's wild i feel more pressure from uh actually like um not the fans but from society more than family in what way like family knows family is like oh girl wait we got you too you know like we appreciate you you know my husband works for me too so i am the main person you know that they're you know for me my husband my mom and grandma right i'm like me i don't even know where my keys are at so that's too bad for you guys i'm the breadwinner but um yeah i you know i want to continue being like a good artist for the people and not let them down.

1:52:53So I feel that pressure the most, actually, out of anything. Like you were saying, it was very helpful that you said it's hardest to be down to with yourself changing, right? Yeah. That's, as you write the next hour of show to, it's like, oh gosh, what have I not talked about? To, oh, this joke is very similar to that last one I had. It's same theme you know um am i evolving as an artist things like that that's i'm i'm the most i'm the hardest on that yeah because it's it it's happened so fast and i i was never meant to be a comedian i don't think i think the opposites or this kind of life absolutely meant for it i i like i it's the only skill I have.

1:53:47But I often think that's, in a perfect world, I think that's how a society would run is the only skill that people have is where they would end up doing their thing. Like I think we've created too many funnels in the world now. We've made everyone doctor, lawyer, engineer, like all those types of things. We need engineers, we need doctors, we need lawyers, all right, fine. But I do think it's beautiful to be in a world where everyone's one skill just happens to be the thing that they can do and then we don't diminish that skill go like oh that's all you can do it's like yeah i can only paint oh yeah we need paintings sure i can only make music i i can only lay bricks yeah have you seen beautiful masonry like it's do you know what i mean there's something i i think we need that so yeah no i'm i'm into it but i mean i guess i didn't prep for this so it's happening very fast and i'm still i've only been touring like the past four years or um maybe yeah past four or five years it's very but i've i started stand-up you know maybe like 17 years ago i just took a lot of breaks i i didn't believe in myself i would you know i would go oh it's just a hobby i'm not gonna take it seriously so you know it's very a lot of you know just in the four years it's the touring and then doing and then two specials everything back to back to back so i just don't want to mess up you know yeah no yeah i can imagine yeah i'm like okay don't yeah yeah that that feeling is is um is one that's quite intense when you get to a place that you never thought you would get to and when you've achieved beyond your wildest dreams one of the scariest things is not knowing how it will or won't go because it was never promised.

1:55:36Yeah. It's like, oh, I was just supposed to work at an ice cream parlor. Okay, and then now, you know, quickly, yes or no, Riyadh Festival, for example. Well, I don't want to mess up. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. And my gut instinct says it's not a good idea. You know, things like that. And then, you know, conversation issues. It's so funny that festival became such a big conversation. I'm like, someone cares about a comedy festival that comedians only... It's like JFL Comedy Festival or something. You know what I mean? I'm like, what? Even my dad, who just lives with his cats in Japan, has heard about it.

1:56:19It got that far. Yeah, I mean, it was international news. What do you say? Or you think it was just like a very local news? No, I didn't know it had blown up that much. Yeah, I mean everyone. Like when you're in Japan, that's the phrase, right? You know you've made it when you're big in Japan. So if the news gets all the way to Japan, then I'm like, damn, that was a big story. Man, how isolated has Japan been? No, but it was always the thing, right? Do you tour in Japan, by the way? Yes, yeah, I tour in Asia. And do you do shows in Japanese? oh no no no no in English yeah oh why do you say it like that oh because I'm very out of practice with Japanese and Mandarin actually yeah yeah I wish that would be cool in Japanese my show would be 10 minutes long you know very like and probably very like dad jokes puns or something play on words maybe but yeah I don't that would be a cool goal to try to go for But I do tour Asia, I tour, you know, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, you know.

1:57:28Is there like a different magic that comes with touring the places that were like your foundation? Like going back to tour those places? Yeah, right, yes. Because now they're like, yes, come back, girl, we've always liked you. You know what I mean? Yes, now, you know, it's the whole thing, right? You find success in the US and then they're like, no, yes, please come. We've always believed in you. And I'm like, you didn't come get me or look for me when I was kidnapped. I was begging to go back to Japan. I left Tokyo for this. But yeah, yes, it's really cool. In Japan, there's this, when you come home, you say, tadaima.

1:58:14like oh no sorry when you leave your home to go to school it's usually like kids say it they go um what what is what do they say uh oh god ikimasu itte rashai they go ikimasu itte rashai that means like itte rashai yeah so it's like i'm leaving okay go ahead now like you know and then when you come home you say tadaima i'm home oh i like that and then they say okaeri, which means welcome home. Okaeri. Yeah, okaeri. And so the first time I toured Japan, just like two years ago, you know, I didn't know. It's just like thousands of people know who I am. Locals, you know, right? So locals. And I always felt like I was kind of ripped away from Japan.

1:59:04I didn't get to say goodbye to my dad or my friends. I didn't know I was moving, you know. And then I had to give up my Japanese passport when I became a U.S. citizen. Oh, wow. On Japan's side. Yeah, I didn't know that. Yeah. So I just felt like layers of my Japanese identity was being ripped away. And so for me to, you know, and I really wanted to do well in my Japanese shows, you know, like prove that like I am home. And so I just decided to say to the audience, I said, you know, tadaima, like I'm home. And thousands of them, all of them said back to me, welcome home. in Japanese and I was like oh my god I got so teary eyed yeah I was like how do you not cry like what a way to start a show I was like oh this is not what I expected yes oh wow like I've been gone but like I am home you know and thank you for like also being here for this kind of homecoming so it's really cool to be able to do that yeah that's beautiful wait so what are those phrases again so when you're leaving you say it's a lot so maybe it's just coming home so that's tadaima tadaima that means like I'm home okay tadaima I'll think of it as like tada yeah yeah exactly tadaima and then okaede welcome home welcome home yeah I'm gonna add that to my Japanese to your that's good your sixth language no Japanese is just like my dream is to be able to say enough to just like you know do you wait have you toured Asia have you yeah I've done shows in Japan yeah right Japan yeah yeah yeah I had a great time there Yeah That's true You've done Southeast Asia I tried to write one joke In Japanese You did You did Yeah It was like combining Everything I had So it was like Do you remember What it is Like phrases It was a joke About speaking to somebody In the airport In Japan Yeah Testing my Japanese Yeah And so it was It was like It was me I'd meet the person And then I was like The premise of it Was basically like

2:01:07you learn a language what was it yeah the premise was something about like you learn a language but you never know what no one tells you is that like at some point you run out of the language but the person you speak into doesn't know that you're going to run out right right you have to be careful yeah exactly so like mine was like at the airport and it was like konnichiwa and the person was like oh konnichiwa and it was like oh damn I was like oh this is working and then what did I say because someone had taught me that they were I did a comedy festival with two Japanese mime comedians, Kitchen and Hiropon.

2:01:39Oh my gosh. They're phenomenal. Like some of the best mime performers I've ever seen in my life. Funny, funny, funny, funny. And then one of them taught me this phrase, which I butcher, but I would always try it, which was, it was, niwa niwa niwa niwa toregaeta. Oh yeah, something about a chicken. The chicken's running in the yard. In the yard. Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then, so I'd throw that in the joke as well. Yeah. And then the other one, which I loved from like anime was, which is you're already dead.

2:02:14These are not sentences you really want to say at an airport. This is what made it a great joke. Yeah, so literally. That's like, and I had this bit, but what was weird was when I was doing it in Japan, all the Japanese people in the audience, you see them going, does he know what he's saying? does he like and then like after the show someone came up to me and they're like oh it's like Trevor he's like when you said this on the stage he's like who told you this is Japanese and I was like oh man long story long story long story I hear you try to do jokes for each local place like for some of your like the beginning of your show not even try I just do that you do yeah I do that I do I love it more than anything So I get to a place.

2:03:06I try. It means my touring is not as efficient as it should be. But I don't like getting to a place and doing a show. Yeah. You want to live in it. I want to land. And then I want to go to local spots. I want to watch local TV. I want to see what people do. I want to. Like everything. And it's osmosis. I just absorb, absorb, absorb, absorb, absorb. Yeah. And then when I get to the show, something happens in my brain and I start processing my experience. And yeah, so I do this everywhere I go. Yeah. What are some of your favorite places? London? Like South Africa always wins, so I can't count it because it's home, home, home.

2:03:49Sure, yeah. Places that I go to. That you like? London? London is, yeah, maybe like my number one. It's so cosmopolitan. It's so me. It's so There's Africans And Europeans And they've lived With each other And it's a weird mix And people get each other But also don't But there's all these accents Yeah London is I love Love love London Australia is a lot of fun as well Just because they They just They get comedy In a really specific way Yeah You know I find Australians have like A really really good sense of humor And they get comedy So just these English speaking places These fellow English speaking places Yeah, I guess so.

2:04:29Because I guess they've influenced, maybe because we were under this Commonwealth blankets, our sensibilities are adjacent, but not necessarily the same. Okay, that's true. Singapore, I have a great time though. That's one of my favorite places. Every chance I get, I'll go to Singapore. I mean, tiny, tiny. You could see that. I mean, you've probably seen the whole place already. Yeah, I have. I have. But I'll see it again and again and again. And then see it on a hot day and it's very different. I made the mistake of walking through the streets of Singapore in the middle of summer. It's hot most of the time.

2:05:03Hot is an understatement. Yeah, totally. It's that, you know, like the heat from movies? Where you can see it? Yeah, it's that hot. No, I know. And you're walking down a block and you're like, why is no one else walking? And then halfway down the block, I'm like. Right. That's where you're thriving on durian ice cream. Yeah, that's where. Scandinavia really surprised me. I did my first Europe tour just last year. And I was like, what? Yeah. So I had never, you know. You loved it? Yes, I was surprised. Oh, okay, great. Okay, great. Why were you surprised? Oh, I don't. I never met the true weirdo white people.

2:05:39I didn't, you know, where they came from. Like, they kind of reminded me of Japanese people. Yeah, they are. Right? They are. They really are. Finnish people, Swedish people. Even the fashion. Completely. A lot of the designs. Yes. I was like, this is just Tokyo. Yeah. It's minimalist and they also have a very, the culture is very much about like not standing out. Yes, it's the same. It is not about you. They're all weird together. It is about the collective. And yes. Yeah, it's very similar. Yeah, I mean, come on. Also very high suicide rates, I think. Oh, is that right? Yeah, I think per capita like Japan and Scandinavia.

2:06:15I had heard that. I wonder what it is because, you know, supposedly because it's like smaller population. So there is health care and stuff like that. I think a lot of it has to do with societal pressure. Right, yeah. From what I understand, it's like a vibe. Like don't stand out too much. Yeah. And like if you're not happy, it's you. Yeah, yeah. Because we're all weird and we're all doing this folk dance and we're eating salmon. Was salmon invented there? They ate so much salmon. There's a lot of salmon. That's all I ate. Some of the best salmon. Yeah. I just salmon for every meal. What's crazy is, do you know that Norway spent like I think almost a decade if not more trying to convince Japan to buy salmon from them?

2:06:52I had heard this. you've heard this right? Wait yeah yes how do I know this? Yeah because salmon wasn't that big in Japan or something and then they made it even bigger Well I think just in general Japan doesn't buy food from other people in that way They're always like yeah yeah yeah We got salmon You keep your food We've seen how you guys have food You And then like Do they have too much salmon? I just think the Norwegians are like we need a market for it and they've got some of the best quality salmon in the world but that's so far from each other no yeah and then they were like we gotta convince the Japanese that they would like our salmon uh huh and then now I think Norway's one of the only places that Japan gets their salmon from that's so wild it's phenomenal it is wild salmon it really is wild salmon no every minute I said oh my gosh I was so worried about I said oh you know I mean I've been in the States and you know I hadn't been to really even like Western Europe or whatever yeah yeah yeah and so I was like And in all my life, even in the States, I had to teach people how to say my name.

2:07:56Atsuko Okatsuka. I said, how is people in Norway going to get that? Have you seen their names? Exactly. When I went, I was like, oh, my God. They were like, my name is Sjörbjörn's daughter. Atsuko Okatsuka is not a problem. Are you kidding? I was like, oh, my God. Yes. I felt so seen by the weirdness. in iceland in the green room there was um fermented shark meat you know from like growing up eating like weird parts of the animal in the states to like oh white people just needed to remember where they came from then they wouldn't make fun of other people that you guys you know also eat all kinds of the animal too and all these things you know that must have been beautiful for you it was can i tell you i wish more people would have that experience and i know it's it's it's not feasible but we take for granted on a really like i know it's a soppy thing to say but man we take for granted how similar we are around the world but we don't like you say we just don't know it yeah and granted you know they don't have diversity there but you know uh yeah granted they don't have that yeah but but they didn't have an issue like you know yeah they don't have a lack of diversity because some shit went down they just have it's just the way it was yeah do you know what i mean and if you had i don't know the history as much i just i just know yeah there were no there were no black people there there was never like a thing there was no no one else was ever there uh-huh yeah that was their land and they are the people of that land and that's like how they look my husband who is white it's you know sometimes he tells me bedtime stories because I'm a baby.

2:09:38And so I told him, he's like, you know, we've been together 10 years. He's like, I'm out of stories. I said, make one up, just make one up. He goes, okay, do you know the one about where white people come from? I said, no. And he's tired, he's falling asleep. I was like, please, tell me the story. He goes, well, white people come from the ice rocks in Ireland. It melted and then white people came out of there. They thawed and then they needed to warm up. So they started moving their feet fast and then the jig was invented. So that's a story. That's a bedtime story he told me. Oh, man. But yes, we're all more similar.

2:10:22I kept my eyes closed that whole time. You really did. It was good. That was a great performance. I felt like you were your husband in front of me. I was there. Did you get sleepy? No, I was actually enthralled. I can't do bedtime stories Because they keep me awake Which European are you again? So my father is Swiss Oh Swiss Okay Yeah I didn't get to But I didn't grow up there Or spend any I'm like Yeah 100 % Everything of my life Has been South African Right yeah Yeah So But like Does it ever come out Where you're like Hmm I'm Where I'm like on time All of a sudden No Is that what they're known for I don't know I guess I don't know I was trying to think Of a Switzerland thing And I was like Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

2:11:02Like precision, like true precision. Yeah. Or like… Watchmaking. Yeah, yeah. Even like the chocolates. Even like if you look at like a Swiss chocolate. Yeah. Like if you look at a chocolate made in America or many parts of the world, it's just like a blob of brownness. Uh-huh. You know, and then like… And then you eat it. Swiss chocolate, just go look at it. Yeah, okay. Go look at the detail. I spent one day there. Yeah, I got in and I performed. Yeah, but even if you like buy some, just go look at it. Yeah. Look at everything from like You know Even like commercial stuff Like a Toblerone To anything Go look at the actual chocolate Yeah And you're like Who put this much effort Into designing A thing that I'm just gonna Yum yum yum Wow okay So they're about precision Oh yeah yeah yeah Completely Okay Completely And then also being like Neutral The trains are like Yeah neutral and precise Neutral and precise Do you ever find that in you?

2:11:55Where you're like Am I serious? No no no No you don't I'm like It's recessive Yeah, it's a recessive gene No, no, no, no, no I'm loud and chaotic I want to see you I know you have to go to lunch But I want to see you on Finding Your Roots Did you do that yet? With Louis Henry Gates Jr. Yes Have you done that? No, I haven't I'm about to do it You're going to do it? Yeah Oh, exciting Yeah, I'm curious What are you most afraid to find out? I'm not afraid I'm most curious about my grandpa, my grandma's husband. During the martial law, he was assassinated. So I want to know more about it. Because his father was running against the KMT, who was the ruling party, in local elections.

2:12:46And so to prove a point, they killed my grandpa. But because of that, my mom was five when they brought his body back and she saw it. And then, of course, now she has schizophrenia. And the voices in her head are KMT. Yeah, so everything's connected. So I'm really curious to find out about that. Even with the cameras rolling. I mean, you know, but yeah. But then I was like, I mean, Trevor has such a... So they can find anyone anywhere? Like, they can definitively say, we found your story? I hope so. With enough, like, you know, yeah. With enough... Like, they'll never just say to you, like, Like, ugh, sorry, Asko, no, we thought we could, but no.

2:13:27Yeah, I haven't known a person who's participated who, they, you know, I feel like they've been researching for months. Oh, okay, yeah. They've been on my case for a long time. We haven't been able to shoot it yet because they're like, we're still researching, we're still talking to people. And so, yeah. Wow. I mean, really, have you seen any of the episodes? I have, I have. It's where all the white people discover their great grandfathers were slave owners. Yes, yeah. That's the show. And then like Edward Norton found out like his great, great, great, great grandmother was Pocahontas. Things like that.

2:14:02What? Yeah. Or like Bernie Sanders and, you know, Bernie Sanders and Larry David are actual cousins. Yeah, are actual cousins. Things like that. Yeah, yeah. And so, but they really try to, you know, find out as much as they can. I'm excited for you. Yeah. What do you hope to discover from it? I don't know. I think I really like history. I like other people's history. I've never, you know, looked into my own as much, but I think I'm at a point where it would be, and not just insightful, I don't know. I want to, I love stories of like resilience and how people kept going. And so, I don't know. I hope there's some of that.

2:14:45It could be dark too, where it's like, yeah, and they died, who knows? but you know I'm okay because then I go okay well you know I'll keep that going for us you know with Mike here at Trevor's show I keep trying to get you to lunch do you know what I'm doing? no I don't know what you're doing I keep going this man's gotta eat he's got places to go what are you talking about? oh like slowly bring the oh you're trying to wind us down? oh I like this okay no no no I mean because I don't know is there words behind me? there isn't How do you know which questions to ask and stuff? It's through your heart.

2:15:23You just read the situation through your heart. You're really good at what you do, Trevor. I hope you get enough breaks. I'm so worried about you. You should know TSA agent's schedules. Oh, no. This man. Aren't you okay? You have health insurance and stuff. Oh, wow. Right? You have friends. Oh, man. You have fun. Are you happy? Oh, I actually am, yeah. Yeah. That's good. You work out every day? I do, yeah. Yeah. I play a lot of pickleball. That's every day? Almost every day, yeah. So that's a couple hours. Yeah. Right? Yeah. Oh, so you're like, that's a good work-life balance. It's just like a, just run around, sweat, get moving, you know, hit a ball.

2:16:08When do you think I could reach that point where I will be playing pickleball? When are you ready to accept that you're a middle-aged white man? When is this journey? Yeah. That's the Swiss in you coming out. It's the further day of not hitting anything pickleball. No, I think it's when you get to that point, when you get to that, you're already at that point, is the way I would put it. I'm afraid to relax like that. Yeah. I don't relax like that. I said, that's pickleball every day. That's like two hours where I'm not working. Yeah, but this is, I'm trying to think. There are a few people who've given me pieces of advice that have really, really stuck with me over the years.

2:16:47one was Chris Rock when I was first starting out at the Daily Show he met we met each other before I started on the Daily Show but I'd just been announced as the host and we chatted about things and everything and he was like if you ever need advice reach out he didn't I didn't know this man Chris Rock he's a legend you know and he was really kind still is and where was it like at the cellar at the comedy cellar yeah at the comedy cellar and then and then I met him again A few months later At the Comedy Cellar And he was like How are things going What are you doing And I was really excited I was like Yeah you know I'm in it It's really hard I'm doing the Daily Show And you know I work every day And he's like Oh and then I was like Yeah and then on weekends I go do stand up I hit the road And I do stand up Right And he's like What?

2:17:36Every day? And I was like Yeah yeah I said I work Monday to Friday At the Daily Show And then Friday nights I leave immediately Go do a show Friday, Saturday And then Sunday And then Monday I'm back at the Daily Show and then and I genuinely thought he was going to be like yeah good for you and Chris looked at me in like like that classic Chris Rock way and he was like he said he said I'll never forget he said he said you're gonna be the worst comedian ever he's like you are gonna be the worst comedian ever I was like what do you mean and then he said he said um he said comedy comes from life you ain't living he's like you can't make comedy doing comedy and i was like oh shit and and we had a conversation about understanding that art is inspired by life and so to be responsible as an artist is to live away from the art so that the art can become better right yes and so in a way it made me trick myself into learning that not doing it is working towards doing it And that's how you play When you play, you're thinking that This is for my art?

2:18:43No, I just go like I have no I don't hold it on me I don't go like I should be I could be I'm like, no, no, no By existing I'm always doing something That contributes to my art Right, it's like tax write-offs or something Yeah Where you're like Hey, because I'm eating But I'm an artist eating This is a tax write-off It's like that I don't think that's a tax write-off You might want to meet with a new tax consultant but hey but i think uh fundamentally yes it's in the same realm right right so you don't you don't rest at all what do you do what do you do to to other than like sipping tequila and bedtime stories how do you find your right right um you know i definitely am aware that i need to work on that because i i play this video game on my phone where i own restaurants so in my off time I'm still busy because not only do I own them I also work at them too it's a wild game and I own so many restaurants has the game got you to spend money?

2:19:47yes I've spent real money sometimes they're so good at that to help you get upgrades yeah yeah of course because you gotta speed up the upgrades yeah what do you have to like upgrade the kitchen and when you're an entrepreneur yeah yeah yeah if you're an entrepreneur you have to invest money too make money. Thank you so much. But it's interesting how the money from the games, they never let you turn into real money the other way around. Slick business. Maybe I'm upgrading the counter, the look of remodeling my restaurant. So that you can serve more customers. Yes, maybe there's another seat that I add or buy fresher produce, more organic produce.

2:20:27Those are upgrades. Of course Sometimes you can upgrade your waiter Who is also me To walk faster Yes So there's that too Because then you can serve more customers Timeless money You know You understand You play this game? No but I played a version of it I think a healthier version You would love it I think If you play this kind of game Yes It's a game called Dave the Diver Dave the Diver Oh he dives for So it's a story of Clams A diver Yeah Who gets recruited He just loves eating good sushi There's a story? Yeah it's a fantastic game I love a story art It's one of the best games I've ever played in my life Wow It's a small I think it's an indie game company But it's Dave the Diver Yes And he loves eating more than anything He loves sushi Wow And then the guy who like There's a guy he meets Who wants to start a sushi restaurant And he goes You love eating And you're a good diver Wow You hunt the fish Let's go get the fish for me Yes Right And that's Dave Dave Yeah So Dave dives And you dive as Dave And then you swim around It's the most Tranquil experience You like You swim around Peacefully under the ocean Wow And then you just catch fish And you catch fish No rush Different No rush at all Is the man ever like Hurry I'm hungry No no no no Your only time limit Is your oxygen tank Oh But there's no hurry And then when you go up You give him the fish And then you get to the restaurant And then when you're there You meet with like a chef And then he like Walks you through Like what the menu's gonna be Are you serious?

2:21:55Yeah and I've learned so much About sushi playing the game What is this on your phone? Is this a VR game? I think it's on computer and console as well. Wow. Yeah, but it's really lovely. What I like about it though is, unlike the game you play, it finishes. Okay, it does, huh? Yeah, and you can't spend any real money in it. Because you go, hey, I finished my meal. That was tasty, thank you. Yeah, you do it, it plays out, and then you finish the story, and then it ends, and there's a beautiful story. But you get to do all these things you love doing. Right. Upgrading the restaurant, hiring more waiters getting better like sushi chefs and sous chefs etc yeah but you should try it okay yeah because this is never ending where I'm like okay if you do have ADD that's probably one of the worst things for your brain this?

2:22:41the infinite games probably because I go okay and then more stimulus it's the worst thing ever I just opened a caveman restaurant themed? Yes. Oh, no, it's actually of the time. Oh, wow. My sous chef is a dinosaur. This is a big move you've made. I am so busy. I have one out of an igloo where you ever try to cook in a building made of ice where the stove, that's a rush against time. You know what I mean? It's not good for me, this game. You're right. But, you know, yes, I want to try this sushi diving. Dave the Diver. Dave the Diver. I'm excited for you. I think you strike me as the kind of person who will find it because you always naturally find things.

2:23:38I think you'll find that rest. You'll find that, you know. Oh, yes. No, I think slowly, yeah. You know, I've been trying out nature, for example. Oh, trying out nature. I like this. Oh, my God. Me and my husband went hiking recently. We did try that. It was my biggest fear. I said, what am I going to do with just, you know, what happens when we get to the destination, which was we were trying to get to a waterfall. okay and and they said well then you walk back you know and that that scared me i said just and then see everything that i just saw again i know i sound insane but i haven't like hiking is not something i grew up with oh yeah did you grow up with it uh no but we just walked outside so that's what i'm saying yeah right like i feel like single moms didn't really take their kids hiking There is no time.

2:24:35Yeah. Hiking is not a thing in that way. Yeah. It depends on where you are. Maybe if you're like a single mom in Denver, Colorado, maybe you do it. That's true. That's true. Like in Japan, there was no hiking trails near us. It was a very American thing, just like eating salads. It was all stuff I discovered here. I said, oh, so people just walk towards like a thing and then they walk back in nature. And how was it? They get back in their car. Right. It was it was good. I guess, you know, we're very new. I didn't really even know how to dress for it. I guess I dressed improperly for it because I, you know, posted it in my Instagram stories.

2:25:17And all my fans were like, that is not an outfit. Why are you wearing a winter coat? We brought sparkling water to drink and they said this was a moderate hike. Oh, my God. Me and my husband, we were out of breath the whole time. uphill oh my god and then we got thirsty with sparkling water what to just wet our lips that's not you can't quench your thirst there were mothers with newborns like lapping us this we were like because we were like oh we were like walking slow there were we saw multiple people pass us and um so it was it was a lot but then like once we got to like the waterfall it was pretty i guess and i was like let me try to take in you know why people talk about nature and all that so i apparently the waterfall is prettier because of the walk this is like a weird psychological thing yeah where you go if you if you stress yourself before is that is this true yeah if you stress yourself like physically yeah if you tax yourself I should say rather before you get something or observe something then you will be more likely to appreciate it because it appears to be the product of hard work.

2:26:39That makes sense. Yeah. So we're just mind tricking ourselves the whole time. We're hiking. Yeah. Right? And so I think I was trying to do that too to be like yes I'll take yeah why not take this moment? That was intense. Yeah. Because we have to go back and see all the same stuff again to go back. So you know. And me and Ryan, my husband, talked about That was nice Let's try to do that more This is good Because we both are on our phones playing our games He's at war most times Okay, I like this He's at war in his game And you're running the kitchens Yeah, yeah Mexican restaurant, sushi, dim sum What's your favorite kind of food?

2:27:20Favorite It changes Okay, but right now, off the top of your head What are you craving? now i'm craving very boring foods no please just like no just like salads and mixed vegetables and oh yeah not even like a cuisine right now i went through a big pizza phase curry was like indian food is still probably like uh you know top but if i if i was to choose one cuisine for the rest of my life i would probably say japanese not just because you're here because i i think they've hacked everyone else's cuisine so Japanese curry I can live on that for the rest of my life and then there's sushi and then you know there's tempura and then there's like it's like it's a whole wide range of everythingness in one it's so interesting I'm listening to you speak on this and I actually own all these restaurants I have a restaurant and all the cuisines you just named so oh man this has been so much fun oh my god thank you so much for having me Thanks for having my unhinged energy.

2:28:21I was like, I hope... To me, this is hinged. Okay. Yeah, this is more my... This is your... This is so chill for me. Like the way your brain works, I'm just like, ah, this makes sense. Oh, yeah. Oh, this is lovely. Oh, and I'm slowly gonna get to your zen place. When I'm playing pickleball for four hours a day, oh, you won't even recognize me anymore. you say is that the Atsuko I knew? when I when I'm the Marty Supreme of pickleball oh yeah I've done it I was like is that Atsuko? it must be her no one plays pickleball in a winter coat it must be her it must be her but really this has been great thank you thank you thank you so much for having me congratulations on everything oh my god you too yeah you're an inspiration you and you are so brave you are brave braver than anyone I know thanks for leaving your house today that's always like the next thing you are so brave Trevor I just want to commend you for leaving the house today even though you know you know it's like what what you know what I'm talking about this has been great thank you thank you Oh, wow.

2:29:49What Now with Trevor Noah is produced by DayZero Productions in partnership with SiriusXM. The show is executive produced by Trevor Noah, Sanaz Yamin, and Jess Hackle. Rebecca Chain is our producer. Our development researcher is Marcia Robiu. Music, mixing, and mastering by Hannes Brown. Random Other Stuff by Ryan Hardu. Thank you so much for listening. Join me next week for another episode of What Now.

2:30:24Hey, y 'all. It's your girl, AD, from Love is Blind and Perfect Match. On my podcast, What's the Reality, I'm spilling all the unfiltered tea, y 'all. From messy breakups, behind-the-scenes drama, wild dating stories, and everything the cameras didn't catch. Nothing's off-limits, so let's get ready to dive in. New episodes drop every Wednesday on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. Pull up, join the group chat, and let's spill this tea together. See y 'all there. Hi, I'm Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angie. From roof repair to emergency plumbing and more, when you use Angie for your home projects, you know all your jobs will be done well.

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