Addiction, Comedy, and Trauma with Brittany Schmitt | EP 214

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with comedian Brittany Schmitt. We dove into her journey from working in advertising to becoming a full-time comedian, her struggles with alcoholism, her path to sobriety, and the impact sobriety has had on her creativity and social life. Brittany also opened up about life as a female comic, navigating the industry, misadventures in dating, and the challenges of sharing personal material on stage. Brittany discussed a shift toward a new era in comedy that's embracing sobriety as a response to the burnout, addiction, and tragedy of the previous generation. Once characterized by chaotic lifestyles and substance-fueled performances, comedians are fostering a culture that prioritizes mental health and longevity. We also spoke about Kill Tony’s Madison Square Garden roast, Trump on Rogan, JD Vance on Theo, general sentiment of people moving away from the extreme left toward more balanced political perspectives, and the potential for unexpected common ground in the age of polarization. Watch Brittany’s stand-up special HORNY: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sizQKblletY And check out her book ‘Stop Talking About Sex And Other Advice I Didn't Take’ on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Talking-About-Other-Advice-Didnt-ebook/dp/B0BHJKBQSH?dplnkId=f6d8b25e-4c88-4e23-86f9-1894914919e7&nodl=1 —Follow Brittany— https://www.instagram.com/brittanyschmitt/?hl=en —Check Out Our Sponsor— For a high quality, ideology-free education consider enrolling in Peterson Academy: https://petersonacademy.com/ —Follow Me— All Platforms: https://linktr.ee/mikhailapeterson Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikhailapeterson TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@mikhailapeterson Website: https://mikhailapeterson.com Lion Diet: https://liondiet.com Biotoxin: https://biotoxin.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/mikhailapete​rsonpodcast X: https://twitter.com/MikhailaFuller Telegram: https://t.me/mikhailapeterson​​ —Chapters— 0:00:00 - Introduction 0:01:04 - From Advertising to Comedy 0:04:05 - DUI Experience and Starting Stand-Up 0:06:22 - Writing, Memoir, and Success 0:07:07 - Brittany’s First Comedy Show 0:08:07 - Matt Rife, Crowd Work, and Comedy Trends 0:11:38 - Life in Los Angeles 0:13:34 - Crime and Gangs LA 0:17:19 - Being Vulnerable Professionally 0:18:04 - Writing Jokes About Difficult Topics 0:19:55 - Coping with Loss and Mental Health 0:20:54 - Divorce and Public Perception 0:27:03 - Journey to Sobriety 0:31:46 - Life After Getting Sober 0:37:40 - Dating Misadventures 0:39:15 - Trump, Politics, and Media 0:42:05 - Merging Political Perspectives 0:48:50 - Overexposure and Podcasting Challenges 0:49:50 - Closing Thoughts