#662 - Matt Rife

Theo Von welcomes comedian Matt Rife to the podcast, discussing his upcoming Netflix series, 'The Altruists'. The conversation quickly shifts into a humorous exchange about the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, with Matt joking about using the marches to get his steps in on his WHOOP fitness tracker, leading Theo to search Perplexity for a conspiracy theory about the brand.

Theo Von and Matt Rife discuss how Rife's success and good looks disrupted the comedy community, making other comedians feel self-conscious. They also marvel at Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker's talent as an opera singer and discuss the idea of exploring hidden personal skills.

Theo Von and Matt Rife discuss the definition of onomatopoeia and its prominent use in classic comic books like Batman. They also joke about saving major television series and books, such as Harry Potter and The Sopranos, for hypothetical long-term hospital stays.

Theo Von recounts a humorous living situation in New Orleans, where he drove a faulty car to Loyola and learned to play Eric Clapton on the guitar. Matt Rife shares his own early roommate struggles in Los Angeles and discusses his love for Nashville during a recent trip for CMA Fest and a Billboard event.

Theo Von and Matt Rife bond over their shared love for the band Red Clay Strays and their song "I'm Still Fine." They also discuss the mental health benefits of staying uninformed about global politics and focusing on local, personal lives instead.

Theo Von and Matt Rife discuss how people use global events as a form of escapism to avoid dealing with their personal responsibilities. They joke about using major international crises as humorous excuses for personal shortcomings.

Matt Rife and Theo Von reminisce about the early days of Matt's comedy career, particularly his time performing at Zanies in Nashville. Matt shares fond memories of his late mentor, Ralphie May, who gave him early opportunities to perform and supported him financially during high school.

Matt Rife and Theo Von reminisce about the late comedian Ralphie May, sharing stories of his generosity, his inclusive comedy style, and his tragic passing. They also discuss meeting Tony Hinchcliffe's mother in Youngstown and briefly touch upon Bigfoot and NBA star Victor Wembanyama.

Matt Rife discusses his passion for ghost hunting, his investment in Ed and Lorraine Warren's museum, and his friendship with fellow ghost hunters Sam and Colby. He also explains his decision to move to Rhode Island for peace, land, and a convenient comedy scene.

Theo Von and Matt Rife discuss Matt's casting in an upcoming Netflix series about the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, which was filmed in Vancouver. Matt shares his experience working with co-stars Julia Garner and Anthony Boyle, and recounts a funny story about meeting Shaquille O'Neal at a Netflix festival.

Matt Rife and Theo Von discuss the creative and emotional challenges that come after achieving major career milestones in stand-up comedy. Theo shares his struggles with depression and lack of motivation after finishing his tour, while Matt reflects on the pressure of finding new creative pursuits after selling out massive venues.

Matt Rife and Theo Von discuss Matt's severe insomnia and his intense touring schedule. They share a humorous conversation about their personal habits, sleep doctors, and Michael Jackson's music video in Brazil.

Matt Rife opens up about his severe sleep issues that forced him to cancel a show, resulting in extreme backlash and death threats from fans. Theo Von compares the situation to the criticism country star Morgan Wallen received for canceling a show due to weather. Matt also shares a humorous story about a failed Morgan Wallen prank at the AMAs in Las Vegas.

Theo Von and Matt Rife discuss the politics of entertainment award shows, highlighting how major figures like Joe Rogan are often excluded. They joke about Matt's tour manager Kyle shaving his beard and being mistaken for Morgan Wallen or Paul Rudd. Finally, they transition to discussing a historical trivia fact about Michael Jackson's music video shoot in Rio de Janeiro.

Theo and Matt discuss Michael Jackson's bold decision to shoot a music video in a dangerous Rio de Janeiro favela. Matt then shares details about purchasing the famous haunted house and museum of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, which they have opened as an Airbnb.

Matt Rife discusses owning the infamous haunted Annabelle doll, explaining that it is kept securely locked in a box and handled only with the help of priests. He shares his plans to expand his paranormal museum to Salem, Massachusetts, and recounts some of his most terrifying supernatural encounters, including hearing EVPs at the Mansfield Reformatory and Lorraine Warren's home.

Matt Rife shares emotional memories of his late father figure, Steve, who supported his early comedy career and witnessed him sell out his first comedy club. Matt and Theo Von then discuss the differences between releasing comedy specials independently on YouTube versus streaming on Netflix, weighing the benefits of creative control and reach against industry validation.

Theo Von and Matt Rife discuss how crowd work clips have changed the landscape of stand-up comedy and shaped audience expectations. Rife shares how Andrew Schulz inspired his content strategy, and they talk about the challenges of being expected to perform crowd work or specific characters, referencing Adam Ray's popular impressions.

Theo Von and Matt Rife share hilarious and bizarre stories from their stand-up comedy shows, focusing on memorable crowd work moments. They recall interacting with audience members who had highly unusual physical features, leading to unexpected and comedic situations on stage.

Matt Rife discusses moving his mother to Colorado and recounts his most famous viral crowd work interaction with a woman named Christina in Des Moines, Iowa. He also shares a wild story from his European tour where his cameraman, Kyle, was roofied and robbed on their first night in Romania.

Matt Rife and Theo Von discuss their experiences performing stand-up comedy across Europe, highlighting Ireland as a favorite tour stop. They also express concern over the rapid expansion of massive data centers and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison's comments on a dystopian AI mass surveillance network.

Theo Von and Matt Rife reminisce about growing up in a pre-digital era where boredom fostered creativity. They then discuss the rise of Flock surveillance cameras, which use AI and biometrics to build detailed profiles on citizens.

Theo Von and Matt Rife discuss the widespread adoption of Flock license plate reading cameras across the United States. Matt also shares details about his ongoing "Stay Golden" comedy tour and his upcoming acting roles, including a Netflix series and a movie with Owen Wilson.