Comedian and Podcaster Adam Carolla joins Bill Maher for a blunt conversation that moves from Hollywood war stories to California’s political dysfunction. They unpack the reality of entertainment careers—how early wins create false confidence and why setbacks are unavoidable. Carolla revisits his early breaks with Loveline and The Man Show, while Maher reflects on losing his father just before Politically Incorrect took off. The conversation then widens to identity politics and DEI backlash, overregulation and government bloat, discipline versus Ozempic shortcuts, and how Carolla’s emotionally distant upbringing shaped his independence and worldview—before giving way to classic Club Random humor, from Pop-Tarts to Elvis and strip-club metaphors.
00:00 – Intro
04:04 – Loveline, The Man Show & Early Luck
05:00 – Sinatra, Elvis & Career Comebacks
07:48 – Fathers, Success & Who Gets to See It
09:04 – Absent Parents & Growing Up Independent
14:18 – Affirmative Action & Individual Cost
18:31 – DEI, Resentment & Hiring by Race
22:29 – Culture Signaling: Trucks, Teslas & Tribes
24:05 – Newsom, Trump & Political Body Language
31:39 – Trump’s Second Term & Political Chaos
34:45 – Midterms, Voter Fatigue & Stability
38:17 – Marriage, Men, Women & Affection
40:09 – Ozempic, Obesity & Discipline
49:11 – Free Speech, Wokeness & Cancel Culture
52:07 – Covid, Vaccines & Lost Nuance
01:01:22 – Western Civilization, Israel & Values
01:07:56 – Slavery, History & American Perspective
01:12:22 – Policing, Power & Human Nature
01:17:24 – Cops Are Just Dudes With Guns
01:20:32 – Divorce Law, Incentives & Bad Systems
01:24:07 – Homelessness, Fires & What Actually Fails
01:32:49 – Free Speech, Jimmy Kimmel & Tribal Loyalty
01:39:05 – California Red Tape & Overregulation
01:47:54 – Parents, Schools & State Control
01:53:55 – Final Reflections & Wrap-Up
