Andy Kindler stops by Alison Rosen Is Your New Best Friend to talk about religion and spirituality, losing his father, Bill Maher, Ricky Gervais, vestibules, reality TV, Entourage, his annual State of the Industry at Montreal’s Just For Laughs, growing up in Queens, starting out as a musician and switching to comedy, trauma, Marc Maron, Jay Leno and so much more. We also did a round of Just Me Or Everyone (click here to see the JMOEs from this episode).
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I'm a relatively new listener, I'm halfway through all of the episodes and have enjoyed most of them so far. This episode however was a hard one to finish, the amount of hate coming from Andy when he was ranting was a bit much.
At one point he mentioned the awful discrimination against muslims which is totally true these days, but a little while after saying that, he himself goes on a rant generalizing atheists to be these crazy fundamentalists, while the ones harassing him are internet trolls and don't represent all atheists at all. But that's acceptable to do for him it seems. He even went as far as bringing up the fact Stalin was an atheist, etc. it was all a bit much.
It wasn't all bad but between all the decent conversations there were these periods of him just ranting on and on, not even in a funny way.
I'm not criticizing the episode because I'm an atheist, I listen to Pete Holmes' “You made it weird” aswell and the topic of religion comes up there every episode but in a better non ranting way and it has never bothered me in any way.
I still think the show is great but for myself I'll know ill avoid any future episode with Andy in it. It was a real downer compared to the amazing episode last Monday.
Anyways, that was my just my opinion.
Love the show!
Alison, listen to your sister! How I Met your Mother is good!!:) It took me about 16 episodes for me to get into it, but once I was in, I was hooked. We binged watched it, which is the way to watch it rright.
Kindler isn't really doing it for me, but I still love your show, of course.:)
I'll add that I think you're much funnier on this episode than he is.
I’m a relatively new listener, I’m halfway through all of the episodes and have enjoyed most of them so far. This episode however was a hard one to finish, the amount of hate coming from Andy when he was ranting was a bit much.
At one point he mentioned the awful discrimination against muslims which is totally true these days, but a little while after saying that, he himself goes on a rant generalizing atheists to be these crazy fundamentalists, while the ones harassing him are internet trolls and don’t represent all atheists at all. But that’s acceptable to do for him it seems. He even went as far as bringing up the fact Stalin was an atheist, etc. it was all a bit much.
It wasn’t all bad but between all the decent conversations there were these periods of him just ranting on and on, not even in a funny way.
I’m not criticizing the episode because I’m an atheist, I listen to Pete Holmes’ “You made it weird” aswell and the topic of religion comes up there every episode but in a better non ranting way and it has never bothered me in any way.
I still think the show is great but for myself I’ll know ill avoid any future episode with Andy in it. It was a real downer compared to the amazing episode last Monday.
Anyways, that was my just my opinion.
Love the show!
Alison, listen to your sister! How I Met your Mother is good!!:) It took me about 16 episodes for me to get into it, but once I was in, I was hooked. We binged watched it, which is the way to watch it rright.
Kindler isn’t really doing it for me, but I still love your show, of course.:)
I’ll add that I think you’re much funnier on this episode than he is.
Can someone forward me the memo where racism became our biggest problem? And can you also explain why the memo was sent out so long after we had any real racism problems?
I have to say I'm more of an Andy Kindler fan now than before this interview, and I like that someone finally wants to call out the “new atheists.” But what Anthony Cumia said was not racism, and the former employer who will not be named is not a racist. What these two are is “racist” in the sense that you have to put someone in one of two buckets and if they don't agree to close their eyes to any glaringly obvious racial distinctions that puts them in the racist bucket.
Can someone forward me the memo where racism became our biggest problem? And can you also explain why the memo was sent out so long after we had any real racism problems?
I have to say I’m more of an Andy Kindler fan now than before this interview, and I like that someone finally wants to call out the “new atheists.” But what Anthony Cumia said was not racism, and the former employer who will not be named is not a racist. What these two are is “racist” in the sense that you have to put someone in one of two buckets and if they don’t agree to close their eyes to any glaringly obvious racial distinctions that puts them in the racist bucket.
Howdy – I too of course love all your shows. My feelings about Andy were that he definitely “brought it” to the pod – didn't want to be a body occupying the seat next to you, but at times it felt more like you chiming in on his stand up than a normal conversation. I know it must be hard for someone who is just stopping by the pod to necessarily inhabit the culture of that pod – we are regular listeners and you are the primary content provider, together we've worked out the dance. I think Andy was a good guest even though it occasionally felt as though one of you were in different time signatures. Two very funny people in any case.
This comes off as more critical than it should be as 99.9% of the interview is not this topic that kind of irritates me. I'm not criticizing Kindler, except that in this interview he comes off as a very open minded (it is rare to hear someone take on the new athiest bandwagon) but when it comes to this issue he goes with the political moral panic bandwagon. I want to hear why people think racism is the new…well racism (as in, back when it was a real problem and we could have used people shouting it from the rooftops). What I'm tired of is people shouting from rooftops how racist other people are (esp. when those people aren't actually racist, in the important definition of the term- materially denigrating groups based on race).
Seriously, go read the transcript of the Cumia tweets. Tell me EXACTLY what is “racist.” I'm not saying you won't find any, I'm saying I want a discussion of what you think it is and EXACTLY why. Why? Because racism is a problem of thinking. It is not a problem of singling out racists and excluding them from society. I literally see one tweet that could be assumed to imply actual racism but then it might not. For a specific example, he says “white boys don't hit back.” I bet everyone assumed this was a racist comment. In reality, what he is saying is that the black woman assumed she could initiate violence against a white person based on HER racism! He was not making a statement about whites or blacks (with THAT tweet) but about THAT individual. Guess what, nobody stopped to ask exactly what Anthony meant. They were too busy labeling him so they could silence his fans right to hear him. Why did Anthony single out her race? Because there IS a violence problem in the black community. That is not a racist statement. Is pointing out that problem better or worse than the risk that it will cause racism or profiling? That is up for debate. But as the former employer who shall remain unnamed often says, what is really racist is to assume they are incapable of fixing that problem.
I guess this comment didn't really make the point that I like Andy Kinder now. Yay!
Howdy – I too of course love all your shows. My feelings about Andy were that he definitely “brought it” to the pod – didn’t want to be a body occupying the seat next to you, but at times it felt more like you chiming in on his stand up than a normal conversation. I know it must be hard for someone who is just stopping by the pod to necessarily inhabit the culture of that pod – we are regular listeners and you are the primary content provider, together we’ve worked out the dance. I think Andy was a good guest even though it occasionally felt as though one of you were in different time signatures. Two very funny people in any case.
I've never heard Andy be so funny. I honestly wondered if he was funny after 2 state of union and 2 Fitzdog shows.
Seems like there's a tendency for a small portion of liberals’ knee jerkily hit the racism button at times, and Andy might be one of these guys. Please indulge my side for 5 minutes.
Abrahamic religions are in general susceptible to evil shit (due to their monotheistic nature and their fire and brimstone crap and monotonous about idolatry, adultery, etc, etc, etc.)
But Christianity was a special case from the get go, frankly, because Jesus was a special guy from the get go. He was saying love your enemy, forgive the adulterer, and love the whore, 2000 years ago. That was revolutionary. But then within 2 centuries the church had completely corrupted it all probably to a state worse than before he had arrived.
But by the 16th century reformation was in full swing, and by the 19th century it was almost complete. We had secularism, and reason was dominating superstition.
Similarly Judaism began a reformation in the 18th century that continues to this day and that has been so thorough that the majority of Jews in United States might be considered secular (as you are very aware).
Islam is the one Abrahamic religion that was never reformed. In fact, it was born as reaction to the liberalization of Abrahamic religions. It was in fact a reaction by Muhammad to what he saw as the slipping of society into pagan idolatry. Some stats. 10-20% of the populations of all Muslim majority countries support terrorism at least some of the time.* Figure there are at least a billion Muslims. You can do the math. The other major religions, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, none of these ever had the Abrahamic issues with you are either my ally or my mortal enemy.
The truth is until the west comes to grips with the fact that what actually makes Islam different than every other religion in the world is that this hardline dogmatic stance ingrained in Islam is not a bug but a feature. That everything else that must ultimately yield, and ultimately coexistence is not and has never been the goal. Christianity used to be just like this. It is not like this anymore. Judaism used to be just like this. It is not like this anymore. It is not racism to point out the deficiency in a mode of thought. To point out a bad idea. Even if all those people happen to be white, or black, or black gay, handicapped women. We can never allow ourselves to get to place where we can’t call a stupid idea stupid for fear of offeding.
Our leader does no one on earth any favors by claiming that all religions are the same because Christians had the crusades 700 years ago, and jim crow was carried out by Christians.
This PC clap trap offers no shelter to the Muslims who trying to desperately bring the reform to Islam that the other two Abrahamic Religions have had, and which have allowed them to peacefully exist and innovate within modernity, and which Islam has never had.
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M…
/I completely understand if you don't want to post this wall of crap! love your show!!!!!!! *****
This comes off as more critical than it should be as 99.9% of the interview is not this topic that kind of irritates me. I’m not criticizing Kindler, except that in this interview he comes off as a very open minded (it is rare to hear someone take on the new athiest bandwagon) but when it comes to this issue he goes with the political moral panic bandwagon. I want to hear why people think racism is the new…well racism (as in, back when it was a real problem and we could have used people shouting it from the rooftops). What I’m tired of is people shouting from rooftops how racist other people are (esp. when those people aren’t actually racist, in the important definition of the term- materially denigrating groups based on race).
Seriously, go read the transcript of the Cumia tweets. Tell me EXACTLY what is “racist.” I’m not saying you won’t find any, I’m saying I want a discussion of what you think it is and EXACTLY why. Why? Because racism is a problem of thinking. It is not a problem of singling out racists and excluding them from society. I literally see one tweet that could be assumed to imply actual racism but then it might not. For a specific example, he says “white boys don’t hit back.” I bet everyone assumed this was a racist comment. In reality, what he is saying is that the black woman assumed she could initiate violence against a white person based on HER racism! He was not making a statement about whites or blacks (with THAT tweet) but about THAT individual. Guess what, nobody stopped to ask exactly what Anthony meant. They were too busy labeling him so they could silence his fans right to hear him. Why did Anthony single out her race? Because there IS a violence problem in the black community. That is not a racist statement. Is pointing out that problem better or worse than the risk that it will cause racism or profiling? That is up for debate. But as the former employer who shall remain unnamed often says, what is really racist is to assume they are incapable of fixing that problem.
I guess this comment didn’t really make the point that I like Andy Kinder now. Yay!
I feel like the times that Andy uses the word “racist”, he probably would have been better off saying “biggotted.”
I’ve never heard Andy be so funny. I honestly wondered if he was funny after 2 state of union and 2 Fitzdog shows. I chalk it up to your interview skills and keeping him positive.
Seems like there’s a tendency for a small portion of liberals’ knee jerkily hit the racism button at times, and Andy might be one of these guys. Please indulge my side for 5 minutes.
Abrahamic religions are in general susceptible to evil shit (due to their monotheistic nature and their fire and brimstone crap and monotonous about idolatry, adultery, etc, etc, etc.)
But Christianity was a special case from the get go, frankly, because Jesus was a special guy from the get go. He was saying love your enemy, forgive the adulterer, and love the whore, 2000 years ago. That was revolutionary. But then within 2 centuries the church had completely corrupted it all probably to a state worse than before he had arrived.
But by the 16th century reformation was in full swing, and by the 19th century it was almost complete. We had secularism, and reason was dominating superstition.
Similarly Judaism began a reformation in the 18th century that continues to this day and that has been so thorough that the majority of Jews in United States might be considered secular (as you are very aware).
Islam is the one Abrahamic religion that was never reformed. In fact, it was born as reaction to the liberalization of Abrahamic religions. It was in fact a reaction by Muhammad to what he saw as the slipping of society into pagan idolatry. Some stats. 10-20% of the populations of all Muslim majority countries support terrorism at least some of the time.* Figure there are at least a billion Muslims. You can do the math. The other major religions, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, none of these ever had the Abrahamic issues with you are either my ally or my mortal enemy.
The truth is until the west comes to grips with the fact that what actually makes Islam different than every other religion in the world is that this hardline dogmatic stance ingrained in Islam is not a bug but a feature. That everything else that must ultimately yield, and ultimately coexistence is not and has never been the goal. Christianity used to be just like this. It is not like this anymore. Judaism used to be just like this. It is not like this anymore. It is not racism to point out the deficiency in a mode of thought. To point out a bad idea. Even if all those people happen to be white, or black, or black gay, handicapped women. We can never allow ourselves to get to place where we can’t call a stupid idea stupid for fear of offeding.
Our leader does no one on earth any favors by claiming that all religions are the same because Christians had the crusades 700 years ago, and jim crow was carried out by Christians.
This PC clap trap offers no shelter to the Muslims who trying to desperately bring the reform to Islam that the other two Abrahamic Religions have had, and which have allowed them to peacefully exist and innovate within modernity, and which Islam has never had.
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_attitudes_towards_terrorism
/I completely understand if you don’t want to post this wall of crap! love your show!!!!!!! *****
this isn’t a political forum. I just wanted to explain the agnostic counter point of view to Andy in case you hadn’t come across it. to me it seems like he just seems like he sees someone being *mean* to someone *brown* and thinks *racism*. he’s like the opposite of adam carolla, but dumber. it’s even simpler calculus for andy in a way lol. anyway love the show. glad you are on your own!
I feel like the times that Andy uses the word “racist”, he probably would have been better off saying “biggotted.”
Interesting explanation.
Maybe, except:
Bigot: a person who strongly and unfairly dislikes other people, ideas, etc. : a bigoted person; especially : a person who hates or refuses to accept the members of a particular group (such as a racial or religious group)
That still does not describe some of the people he is labeling racist. A closer term would be 'racialist' but that is not even quite right. I listened to plenty of opportunities for the former employer who shall not be named to express racialist opinions and I don't recall any explicitly. He is more of a culturalist. Remember that he loves the Jews, which people can even find offensive, but still. He loves German engineering. That is a culture, not a race. He loves aspects of Japanese/Asian culture. He clearly loves aspects of African American culture. What he doesn't do is pander to individual and group fuckups within cultures. He does not think all cultures are homogeneous and equal and beneficial. But I also don't think that this makes him believe the entire race associated with failures within that culture is flawed. We can appreciate German engineering while also wondering if that collective personality contributed to World Wars and atrocities. But how do people hear him say “family and education” a million times and, as if brainwashed, translate that into racism? Because he simply MUST be using code for racism because you aren't allowed to criticize any group!
Whether he believes race causes culture is 1. unknown, 2. wouldn't matter because all he talks about is how people could improve their cultures (people mistake this for trashing the culture and/or race as a whole), and 3. is in any event far more nuanced than blanket labeling someone racist in order to shout them out of a discussion, probably because you don't like their economic politics. It is also a little disturbing for a comedian to take up the mantle of wanting to shut up other comedians.
Leeann I want to be your new BF too, I completely agree. Some great writers and actors worked together to create a fun and interesting show, and I personally loved the ending and think it made a lot of sense.
I agree, and in a way I'd say listening to that episode was a good reminder of why were all glad Alison is done with Ace.
Interesting explanation.
Maybe, except:
Bigot: a person who strongly and unfairly dislikes other people, ideas, etc. : a bigoted person; especially : a person who hates or refuses to accept the members of a particular group (such as a racial or religious group)
That still does not describe some of the people he is labeling racist. A closer term would be ‘racialist’ but that is not even quite right. I listened to plenty of opportunities for the former employer who shall not be named to express racialist opinions and I don’t recall any explicitly. He is more of a culturalist. Remember that he loves the Jews, which people can even find offensive, but still. He loves German engineering. That is a culture, not a race. He loves aspects of Japanese/Asian culture. He clearly loves aspects of African American culture. What he doesn’t do is pander to individual and group fuckups within cultures. He does not think all cultures are homogeneous and equal and beneficial. But I also don’t think that this makes him believe the entire race associated with failures within that culture is flawed. We can appreciate German engineering while also wondering if that collective personality contributed to World Wars and atrocities. But how do people hear him say “family and education” a million times and, as if brainwashed, translate that into racism? Because he simply MUST be using code for racism because you aren’t allowed to criticize any group!
Whether he believes race causes culture is 1. unknown, 2. wouldn’t matter because all he talks about is how people could improve their cultures (people mistake this for trashing the culture and/or race as a whole), and 3. is in any event far more nuanced than blanket labeling someone racist in order to shout them out of a discussion, probably because you don’t like their economic politics. It is also a little disturbing for a comedian to take up the mantle of wanting to shut up other comedians.
Leeann I want to be your new BF too, I completely agree. Some great writers and actors worked together to create a fun and interesting show, and I personally loved the ending and think it made a lot of sense.
I agree, and in a way I’d say listening to that episode was a good reminder of why were all glad Alison is done with Ace.
I agree too couldn't finish
I agree too couldn’t finish
There must have been a prior agreement not to discuss Adam. Kindler is funny but he is such a douche bag hypocrite. He really has a problem with Gervais making fun of fat people but Letterman has been the number 1 person in our culture who has been ridiculing fat people for decades now.
There must have been a prior agreement not to discuss Adam. Kindler is funny but he is such a hypocrite. He really has a problem with Gervais making fun of fat people but Letterman has been the number 1 person in our culture who has been ridiculing fat people for decades now. On Letterman, silence.
There must have been a prior agreement not to discuss (you know who). Kindler is funny but he is such a hypocrite. He really has a problem with Gervais making fun of fat people but Letterman has been the number 1 person in our culture who has been ridiculing fat people for decades now. On Letterman, silence.
Interesting and, what's even better, accurate. I'm a non-religious agnostic, for the record.
There must have been a prior agreement not to discuss Adam. Kindler is funny but he is such a douche bag hypocrite. He really has a problem with Gervais making fun of fat people but Letterman has been the number 1 person in our culture who has been ridiculing fat people for decades now.
There must have been a prior agreement not to discuss Adam. Kindler is funny but he is such a hypocrite. He really has a problem with Gervais making fun of fat people but Letterman has been the number 1 person in our culture who has been ridiculing fat people for decades now. On Letterman, silence.
There must have been a prior agreement not to discuss (you know who). Kindler is funny but he is such a hypocrite. He really has a problem with Gervais making fun of fat people but Letterman has been the number 1 person in our culture who has been ridiculing fat people for decades now. On Letterman, silence.
Interesting and, what’s even better, accurate. I’m a non-religious agnostic, for the record.