Sober October 3

Who is Sober October 3?

Joe is joined by Ari Shaffir, Bert Kreischer & Tom Segura to discuss their 3rd annual Sober October challenge.

Topics and Timestamps

• 01Ari Shaffir, Bert Kreischer, and Tom Segura return for the third annual Sober October challenge where they abstain from alcohol and drugs for the month
• 02The crew discusses the physical and mental challenges of staying sober while maintaining their comedy schedules and social lives
• 03Previous years' Sober October competitions included fitness challenges and competitive elements to keep everyone motivated
• 04The guys talk about how sobriety affects their comedy writing, creativity, and overall mental clarity during the challenge
• 05Discussion covers the health benefits they've noticed from previous Sober October months and why they keep doing it annually
• 06Hilarious stories and competitive banter between the four comedians about who struggled most and who's most likely to break sobriety
• ▶Introduction of Sober October 3 and explaining the challenge rules0:00:00
• ▶The crew discusses the physical withdrawal symptoms from not drinking0:15:00
• ▶Competitive banter about who's most likely to break sobriety first0:35:00
• ▶Discussion of how sobriety affects comedy writing and stage performance0:55:00
• ▶Recap of previous Sober October challenges and memorable moments1:30:00

The Show

Joe brings together three comedy heavyweights for the third installment of Sober October, the annual challenge where Ari Shaffir, Bert Kreischer, and Tom Segura commit to staying completely sober for the entire month. This has become a tradition that these guys take seriously despite their notorious party lifestyles, and for good reason. The month-long experiment forces them to confront their relationships with alcohol and drugs while simultaneously crushing comedy tours and dealing with the social pressure of their industry.

The conversation quickly dives into the practical struggles of staying sober while being comedians whose entire social and professional world revolves around drinking. They talk about how the first week is always the hardest, both mentally and physically, as their bodies adjust to not having the depressant effects they're used to. The guys are competitive about it too, constantly ribbing each other about who's most likely to cave and who actually has the discipline to make it through the full month. There's genuine respect mixed with merciless busting of each other's chops.

What makes Sober October interesting beyond just the challenge itself is how it affects their actual comedy and creative output. They discuss whether sobriety makes them sharper on stage or if the lack of liquid courage actually hurts their performance. Some years they've added fitness competitions into the mix to keep things interesting and give them something concrete to measure beyond just willpower. The physical transformations from previous years come up, with the guys acknowledging that a month without alcohol and drugs does legitimately change how you feel and look.

The episode captures the real tension between wanting to be healthy and actually enjoying the lifestyle they've built. These aren't guys preaching sobriety year-round. They're comedians who recognize that one month of discipline might actually teach them something about themselves and how their bodies work. The banter flows naturally as they remember specific moments from previous Sober Octobers, tease each other about close calls and failures, and set expectations for what this year might bring. It's the kind of conversation that's both genuinely funny and genuinely interesting because it involves real stakes and real friendships being tested.

Best Quotes