On this episode of The Adam Carolla Show, actor Lou Diamond Phillips stops by the studio to share stories from his life and career. Lou opens up about the origins of his name, the strange ways fans insist they’ve met him before, and his love of cooking for family and friends. He recalls making sandwiches his mom would make him as a kid, working at Whataburger and even preparing lunch for Willie Nelson, and the worst job he ever had. Lou also dives into Hollywood life, from his early days being cast in Hispanic roles despite not being Hispanic, to getting dragged 100 yards behind a horse on the set of Young Guns 2, and talks with Adam about how hard it is to make a good comedic film or TV show.

Later, stand-up comedian Mike Vecchione and MMA personality Jason “Mayhem” Miller join Adam in the studio. They kick things off talking about the myth that white people don’t want to work the typical manual labor jobs that immigrants take, and compare sports in high school back then to today, where schools make special accommodations for kids who aren’t as athletic. Adam shares a brutal story about being rejected when he tried asking a girl out, while Mike and Mayhem weigh in on the challenges of growing up and competing in those environments. Adam also asks Mayhem for his take on the Raja Jackson situation.

In the news, Mayhem joins Adam and Mike Vecchione to discuss the week’s trending headlines. They cover Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement, joking about the couple as “your English teacher and your gym teacher getting married,” and react to Burning Man 2025’s Orgy Dome being destroyed by fierce desert winds, with organizers vowing to rebuild.

Get it on.

FOR MORE WITH LOU DIAMOND PHILLIPS:

MOVIE: Et Tu - AVAILABLE NOW to STREAM

TWITTER: @LouDPhillips

FOR MORE WITH MIKE VECCHIONE:

SPECIAL: Low Income White - AVAILABLE on YOUTUBE NOW

TOUR DATES:

• THE PORT - BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 25
• COLUMBUS FUNNY BONE - OCTOBER 5

WEBSITE: mikevecchione.com

INSTAGRAM: @comicmikev

FOR MORE WITH JASON “MAYHEM” MILLER:

INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: @mayhemmiller

WEBSITE: www.mayhemnow.com

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On this episode of The Adam Carolla Show, comedian Dana Gould joins Adam in the studio! Adam praises Dana for being one of the few comics beloved across the board before diving into his legendary career writing for The Simpsons and Seth MacFarlane’s Ted. Dana reflects on his love for writing, the different career paths he could have taken, and how the “hero’s journey” became the template for nearly every Hollywood movie. The two share their admiration for Albert Brooks and the classic film Defending Your Life, reminisce about old favorites like Smokey and the Bandit, and even discuss the sad sight of abandoned buildings scattered across the desert on the drive to Vegas. Dana also discusses his conscious decision to be extra polite in traffic and the reasons behind it.

Later, Adam explains why he regularly blows through red left-turn arrows, makes the case for why the laws around them are ridiculous, and tells the story of running a red on PCH right next to a fire truck full of firefighters. That sparks a bigger conversation about people’s inverted relationships with rules and authority, as Adam and Dana break down how modern culture often treats common sense like a liability. Along the way, they explore how shifts in comedy, film, and everyday life reflect broader changes in society, giving the episode a mix of humor, nostalgia, and sharp social commentary.

Get it on.

FOR MORE WITH DANA GOULD:

SHOW: Hanging With Doctor Z - Live in person and live streamed - LOS ANGELES - Dynasty Typewriter - September 7th

WEBSITE: DanaGould.com

PODCAST: The Dana Gould Hour

INSTAGRAM: @danagould

SPECIAL: Perfectly Normal - on YouTube

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On this episode of The Adam Carolla Show, comedian Avi Liberman joins Adam in studio to talk about his new book Strange Gigs, which chronicles the bizarre and unexpected shows he’s had to perform while on the road. Avi recalls one of his worst gigs ever, entertaining a rowdy crowd of drunk U.S. Marines, before he and Adam look back on their early days grinding it out at open mics. Adam shares the story of waiting all day for his shot at The Laugh Factory, only to be bumped by Pauly Shore, and explains why he’s never liked bumping other comics himself. The two then dive into the current state of stand-up, with Avi offering his honest take on crowd work and roast comics.

In the news, Elisha Krauss stops by with some of the week’s trending headlines. They react to the story of Rampage Jackson’s son, Raja, who is under investigation for a ruthless attack at a Los Angeles wrestling event. They also take a lighter turn with the viral clip of New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani failing at a bench press attempt during Men’s Day in Brooklyn — a moment that earned him public ribbing from political rivals like Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams.

Later, acclaimed chef Brad Kilgore joins the show for a mouthwatering conversation about pizza and the restaurant industry. Adam asks Brad to weigh in on the best style of pizza, before the two bond over their love of meatballs and debate the merits of ricotta cheese. They also discuss how chefs put creative spins on traditional dishes, while Adam samples slices of Brad’s famous pizza and doubles down on his love for thin-crust New York style. The conversation expands to the challenges of running a restaurant today, before the two swap topping preferences — from their shared love of olives to Brad’s favorite bacon combinations, and Adam’s surprisingly controversial take on bacon itself.

Get it on.

FOR MORE WITH AVI LIBERMAN:

BOOK: Stranger Gigs - Available NOW on Amazon

Touring Israel in October 8-12 benefitting the Koby Mandell Foundation

INSTAGRAM: @avilibermancomedy

WEBSITE: aviliberman.com

FOR MORE WITH ELISHA KRAUSS:

INSTAGRAM: @elishakrauss

WEBSITE: elishakrauss.com

JOURNAL: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/author/elisha-krauss/

FOR MORE WITH BRAD KILGORE:

PIZZA: Pizza Freak Co - Frozen pizza shipped to your door

WEBSITE: Pizzafreakco.com

INSTAGRAM: @brad_kilgore

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