JRE 1530 · September 1, 2020

Duncan Trussell

comedyphilosophypsychologydmtconsciousness

Who is Duncan Trussell?

Duncan Trussell is a stand-up comedian, and host of his own podcast “The Duncan Trussell Family Hour”. His new show “The Midnight Gospel” is now streaming only on Netflix. @duncantrussellfamilyhour

Topics and Timestamps

01Duncan discusses his new Netflix show 'The Midnight Gospel' and the creative process behind it
02The conversation explores psychedelics, meditation, and altered states of consciousness
03Duncan talks about his podcast 'The Duncan Trussell Family Hour' and podcast culture
04They discuss comedy, the nature of reality, and philosophical perspectives on existence
05Duncan shares insights about his creative evolution as a comedian and artist
06The episode touches on mortality, acceptance, and finding meaning in life
▶Duncan introduces The Midnight Gospel and its creative vision0:00:00
▶Discussion about psychedelics and consciousness exploration0:15:00
▶Duncan talks about his podcast and going deep with guests0:30:00
▶Exploring themes of mortality and meaning in art0:45:00
▶Duncan reflects on comedy evolution and finding authentic expression1:00:00

The Show

Joe sits down with Duncan Trussell, one of the most interesting voices in comedy and podcasting, to talk about his new Netflix animated series 'The Midnight Gospel,' which is a wild blend of psychedelic animation and deep philosophical conversations. The show represents a major creative evolution for Duncan, combining his unique perspective on consciousness, spirituality, and the human experience into something totally different from traditional comedy.

Duncan has built an entire universe around 'The Duncan Trussell Family Hour' podcast, which has become known for going deep into conversations about consciousness, meaning, and the nature of reality. What's fascinating about Duncan is that he doesn't separate his comedy from his genuine spiritual inquiry. He's not just doing bit work or surface level jokes. He's actually trying to explore what it means to be alive and aware, which is rare in comedy.

The conversation weaves through Duncan's thoughts on meditation, altered states of consciousness, and how psychedelics have shaped his understanding of existence. He's thoughtful about these topics without being preachy, which is part of what makes him different. Joe and Duncan dig into the creative process, what it takes to make something like 'The Midnight Gospel' in an industry that doesn't always know what to do with experimental work.

What becomes clear through the episode is that Duncan is genuinely interested in big questions. He's not afraid to explore mortality, meaning, and what happens to consciousness. This comes through in his work and his podcast, where guests are willing to go to places they wouldn't normally go in mainstream media. It's one of those conversations that makes you think about what comedy can actually be when someone uses it as a vehicle for real exploration rather than just laughs.

Best Quotes

“The Midnight Gospel is about taking these deep conversations and putting them in a psychedelic visual world”

— Duncan Trussell