Tom Segura On Stoicism And The Craft Of Comedy

Ryan speaks with Tom Segura in the second of a two-part conversation about the changing landscape of stand-up comedy, the philosophical mindset that he brings to his work, how he manages his media diet, why kids made him more tied to reality, and more.
Tom Segura is a stand-up comedian, writer, author, actor, and podcaster. He co-hosts the Your Mom's House podcast with his wife and fellow comedian Christina Pazsitzky, as well as the podcast 2 Bears 1 Cave with best friend and fellow comedian Bert Kreischer. He has made two stand-up comedy albums and five specials on video, including Disgraceful (2018) and Ball Hog (2020), and he has appeared on the comedy shows Comedy Central Presents, Live at Gotham, and This Is Not Happening. You can find Tom’s work at tomsegura.com and on Instagram @seguratom and Twitter @tomsegura, on his KZbin channel.
📚 Check out Tom’s book I’d Like to Play Alone, Please at the Painted Porch (geni.us/vv7rcg)
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[@jakes1881]

The timing of his interview on this podcast has to be the funniest thing related to Tom in the last couple years.

[@George2647g]

💀💀💀💀💀💀 Change that to all the comments on this video and I agree with you.. Tom is such sociopath and he knows it.. Dudes gotta stop taking himself so seriously and go back to proper comedy which comes from a place of humility...

[@Kbwintyy]

Bring back fat poor tom!@@George2647g

[@Benieg83]

I feel like stoics are much better at dealing with...baggage.

[@TB-wt2li]

This deserves endless likes. You win 😂

[@DayDream-RR]

HA that’s a good one 😂

[@littlewigglemonster7691]

Lmao 👏

[@__G__-]

Who's here after his airplane meltdown? Marcus Aurelius would never

[@George2647g]

No I disagree - Pretty sure there's a quote from Marcus on that EXACT situation... "When the flight attendant insists on stowing your luggage beneath the plane, complain as if it were an affront to your noble belongings. For a threat in any way such as this, is the greatest insult to ones whole worth! Consequently to protest in a dramatic way is the greatest portion of the turbulence of travel" - Marcus Aurelius..

[@itscarmine]

Marcus Aurelius always flew private according to the literature

[@duckmasterflex]

Don’t tell me he was flying to this interview when he acted super stoic on that flight

[@ajrob77]

No… this was shot in Ryan’s bookstore east of Austin. Tom lives a few miles from there. Good try on the joke that everyone else also thought of though 😂

[@comojcl]

You can’t control someone’s behavior (flight attendant) but you can control your (Tom’s) reaction to that behavior.

[@georgeprendergast8305]

Oh I beg to differ 😂... I can change somebody's attitude real quick

[@AlenAbdula]

Tom being stoic IS comedy.

[@VIK_1903]

this is too funny to be true, I can't believe they posted this after his pathetic meltdown on twitter for the tiniest reason 😂😂😂😂

[@Localhero727]

Very funny, might steal

[@AlenAbdula]

@@Localhero727 steal away am being stoic not tyna be comedian

[@Don2Boxeo]

100

[@FellaGuy2]

​@@VIK_1903lol what did he tweet?

[@daveg9541]

Nice to see Tom u took a break from trashing poor people on twitter

[@VIK_1903]

and having the biggest meltdown ever 😂

[@EEGworld]

Mindset for success = uncontrolled rage at poor people ?

[@dhamslamm]

It's cute that Tom thinks that if he just ignores comments about his little meltdown that it'll go away and people will go back to thinking he's not a prick.

[@rodline9027]

He lives as a true stoic for as Marcus Aurelius says "Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Have a meltdown over luggage & trash the poor" Next time ask him about checking his bags at the airport. Next time ask him about checking his bags at the airport.

[@Excogitationn]

Next time ask him about checking his bags at the airport.

[@M450No]

Next time ask him about checking his bags at the airport

[@kwizzledizzle4513]

So we're pretending that a dude that had a full blown meltdown, because he had to check his bag is a stoic? That might be the funniest thing Tom has done...😂

[@Jake-nb2en]

Isn't stoicism about improving tho? Or do you just immediately need to be a full stoic master as soon as you start?

[@treverfarted]

@@Jake-nb2enisn’t improving about making an effort? Tom is regressing in comedy, intelligence, relatability, and interest. Total mudslide, that he decides to keep doubling down on. He’s had more than enough opportunities to be a better person. Shocking that all of the Rogan umbrella money didn’t humble him.

[@Jake-nb2en]

@@treverfarted Ill be honest, I had no idea Segura had haters. I didnt even think he was doing anything bad. Like, yeah he let loose on social media but I dont see that as weird especially for a comedian. Other than that, he is absolutely crushing it right now, hes funny af, and hes way healthier and seemingly much happier, so its just suprising to me. I knew people hate Bert, but not Tom.

[@Pearce989]

​@Jake-nb2en All these people need to feel some sort of comedic validation it seems like. They've all commented on 1 thing and 1 thing only and not a single ounce of comedic anything 😂 from the whole bundle of them. A bunch of imperfect bots pretending that everyone has to be perfect perfectly.

[@treverfarted]

@@Pearce989 you seem like a real high IQ fella

[@thatsjohnnyt6480]

Careful, you can't be poor and be stoic at the same time, ask tom!

[@Tony_Toni_Tone]

Tom being in a stoic podcast is the funniest shit ever

[@BradGroux]

This man literally went on a twitter rant because an American Airlines gate agent had him check his bag at the gate... stoic, he is not.

[@miscwatching8993]

HAHAHA perfect timing for this ep! Tom truly showed his stoic bonafides with that bag check situation

[@nosaj666]

so the dude who got pissy because his bag was checked and called the woman a cun+ is a stoic? ok cool

[@TheAuteurist23]

Not too stoic at airports.

[@DavidPerez-hi6ko]

Austin, Texas is over. Y'all Texans know what I'm talking about.

[@TwistedGeniusMedia]

Stoicism is philosophy for the poors.

[@George2647g]

Exactly - I'm just gonna continue to complain when I have to check my bags like the poors and blaming the poors for being that way just like my Hero Tom Segura! He's truly a champion of life and the world..

[@NPC_Kyle]

I just typed in irony and this came up…

[@jeepz669]

Tom is more of a psycho than a stoic imo

[@George2647g]

Even since he got rich suddenly his true colors have come out.. he needs to learn some humility and to stop taking himself so serious..

[@kennethmullen-qe9hg]

@@George2647g He needs to schedule a meeting with Rogan's DMT Jester-Elfs, it would seem...? LmMFaO!!! ;) :P :o)

[@SimonSez83]

Lol the failure of a stoic is always gigantic

[@josephloughery7624]

This reminds me of the wisdom passed down to us from the late Stephen R. Covey, Ph.D.. Specifically Habit 2: "BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND" (Covey. 1989.). R.I.P. Professor Covey. Thank you for your time.

[@cotopaximusic]

This is probably Tom's funniest bit. How are you gonna have a full grown baby on a podcast about stoicism lmao

[@DayDream-RR]

The comments are flooded with exactly what I wanted

[@lancestabler7650]

Stoics love raging about the poors.

[@M450No]

Is this before or after he called everybody poor idiot

[@jimib]

My opinion of your brand drops when I see you try and push these kind of people as having any stoic qualities. Do better

[@justcurious3514]

Absolutely agree with you.

[@soulstalker6]

These kind of people? Please do tell? I mean this guy sounds like he really likes country music and is a really cool guy.

[@Jarviskun1]

Tom is the new Schaub

[@treverfarted]

He wishes he was as funny as the thicccboi

[@Troll_the_Trolls]

Please more about the processes of hack comedians with unfunny specials

[@jschlaud6]

You mad bro?

[@Troll_the_Trolls]

@@jschlaud6 not at all. Why be mad?

[@jschlaud6]

You seem to hold some animosity towards Tom. How come?

[@Troll_the_Trolls]

@@jschlaud6 he's alright, on his podcast but he's sitting here acting like he's come up with some great works but the specials arent all that. He's not the only one. So much Hack comedy out there on Netflix.

[@Etherchannel]

I'll never understand how Ryan can get away with writing the same book over and over.

[@jremington123]

Fucking lol. Great guest. 😂

[@pjshulsky]

Tom ruined a career over a bag

[@RexFowler-uq6yk]

This might have been my favourite conversation this decade!

[@roxchblickt]

25 minutes in and I still don't know what a takeaway for me is til now. Why should I care what you've cut out and added to your book or special tbh. For that reason I prefer podcasts which have a subject and some sort of structure, although I like both gentlemen here.

[@KVonnegut]

"None of those who have been raised to a loftier height by riches and honors is really great. Why then does he seem great to you? It is because you are measuring the pedestal along with the man." - Letter 76, Seneca

[@chrstphrluis2206]

Omggggg the irony is wild with this one! Damn you can’t make this up.

[@kidsyx]

Tom is the biggest anti stoic ive ever seen. The dude is absolutely run by his emotions and greed. 😂

[@ozonius_6859]

1:13:12 tom is so right I was the same when I first watched scar face last year, like it was okay, but I had already seen so many violent portrayals in film that it didn't hit the same

[@FreddieM-p8r]

Springsteen theory very flimsy. He released two LPs between BTR and Nebraska.

[@markhilltaco4079]

We want to see more of Tom's Surf Videos they are sic

[@jennifernicole106]

Stoic Tommy Buns!! Yes!! ❤❤❤

[@bad3032]

Shocking that this guy would be on a stoicism podcast...

[@jtolech]

1:16:20 this won’t age well…

[@anderson9908]

dude’s ego is out of control, he has no place in anything to do with stoicism until he figures himself out

[@777tmack]

Dude looks like Christoph Waltz's younger brother

[@deadpool8340]

Well these comments were not expected!!! #MeltDown

[@massbaster7726]

Tom is just like us guys he says he practices stoicism but instead freaks out and asks for forgiveness later, like a Christian

[@TurdFerguson456]

You're a bit off on Elon, fellas. Not fully, but quite a bit.

[@TeaGF]

Everytime I see Ryan I wonder if we've ever read any of the same books lol.

[@85jongo]

When you point the finger at someone else you probably have other fingers pointing back at you depending on how many fingers you have. Especially if the person you're pointing at cut off a finger or multiple fingers. But be stoic and stuff.

[@YoKastic]

Is someone gonna tell Ryan (who I’m a huge fan of ftr) that Tom was SPOT ON about the sentiment/intent behind the fudge round lyric. Or naw…..

[@thebigsleepy2168]

Segura eats canned farts

[@michaelmartinson4284]

Very disappointing to hear Ryan's criticism of Oliver Anthony's song. It's a commentary that seems to break so clearly from the virtues he spent so much of his time writing about.

[@kennethmullen-qe9hg]

You should check the video 'Oliver' Anthony made clarifying his lyrics. Segura was right or closer to right concerning the song. However, the irrefutable fact SO MANY people'd misinterpreted the lyrics's PRETTY MUCH basically proof they weren't exactly clear enough out the GATE. STILL think it's a great tune though! LmMFaO!!! ;) :P :o)

[@babek2104]

F U SEGURA

[@evanreed5347]

This was a great interview! I really enjoyed hearing about the finishing part... as a visual artist I find it hard to finish my projects because I get bored once the challenging parts are done. The finish work gets boring but if I dont finish it then I might not come back to it for a while and it's one more thing cluttering my space and gets in the way of new work... I just had a flashback to coupaloompa rambling about how great military uppers were during one press conference and thinking he definitely added something else to his medication list.😂

[@m15602]

Almost like he owns the thing!!!! That killed me

[@zakkmiller8242]

The irony of Tom pretending like he has one gram of stoicism in his incredibly wealthy and luxurious body is comedy gold.

[@brianzjones]

Interesting comments around 34:30 given the recent writers' strike.... -bZj

[@Justin._Trudeau]

Clearly make a short with 47:42 to 48:32 👋👋

[@Justin._Trudeau]

I wrote that before I had listened to the part where Ryan talk about short/tik tok/reel

[@iReadFiction]

It's great that you invited this famous Japanese comedian to your show

[@Drilla81]

OK OK back to work poor people!!!!

[@TullyMars-d3m]

Missing the mark here Ryan. Tommy Boy is anything but a Stoic.

[@AdamGans1]

Which of the 4 stoic virtues was Tom displaying when he berated the "poor" American Airlines employee on twitter?

[@TurdFerguson456]

Tom is allowed to be on the Stoic pod even though he tends to be antistoic, right?

[@brockparaf97]

Great interview......up until the Elon segment.

[@brewsy]

Hahahahahgahaa😂 ole Tom just made himself look real bad throwing a Twitter tantrum over having to check his bags. Not a stoic imo

[@PimpStains]

Jajaja Tom is on here? Never saw this coming

[@BonitoFlakes24]

So is Tom’s meltdown him attempting to be stoic or him pretending it’s still a joke? Lol Or is this his way of saying “Sorry, I’m working on it”? 😂

[@sly_tendencies87]

When i first found this, i thought it was a bit.

[@robinisbell8513]

Some of yall need to look up the definition of the word "stoic" that's all im gonna say

[@adamdales2626]

I recommended a eugenics diet for Tommy Sons on a wednesday at your moms house. The ex child stars will definitely know which cast member to murder off set.

[@robertrabel1014]

@TSNo clue, doesn't care. NO CLUE. One of the funniest things you've ever done/didn't do accidentally. "God" talking about stoacy.

[@Sbsenpai]

LMAOO all the people who dont know his “meltdown” is literally a bit, hes gotten hate for it before so hes poking the bear more

[@FiGMiNT]

so is this just an obvious ploy to not take responsibility for freaking out on that TSA person .....all i know is ive been a fan for long time but all this arrogant "poors" say or do this or that really makes me rethink being a fan of such a douche.

[@DavidPerez-hi6ko]

Love both of these cats but a bit too much "business insider" rap for me. Still an interesting chat.

[@QUEEFSWEAT]

Queefie practice Seguracism

[@miniharez]

uh people commenting like anyone who comes on this podcast is a “stoic”…I don’t think tom identifies as a “stoic” lol. yall need to use your two ears more than your one mouth😆

[@benedictmorley1287]

Great to see Christina's husband be given the limelight

[@jdruze7]

Better be drinking kool-aid

[@craggles7538]

Hahaha Tom Segura the Rich Stoic 😂

[@thedude2920]

Dude, what a progression. Get it Tom

[@planet_of_wisdom]

Check out our latest stoic video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a37XY5uorq5-b8U

[@BigSexyWizard]

I came here for the comments, I saw the title and knew the comments would be great and I weren’t wrong. It’s like a jester impersonating a philosopher.

[@susanucsb]

Tom is so intelligent

[@JG-kn7ew]

1:18:42 is too relevant to Toms recent thing. HOWEVER! It’s important to remember that meditations is Arellius journal, he wrote those things most likely when he mishandled a situation to remind himself of his principles . The dudes a dude, he can fall prey to ego like all of us. Fuck it man. Let that guy grow from his mistake (if he choses too).

[@sanguinebrood3194]

This guys talking about stoicism?…

[@NightWLKR1]

Lmao yall realize Tom was joking

[@aswordinthestonetv]

well we know why dude doesnt do song reviews lmao that was the worst summation of song lyrics ive ever heard

[@Sonofgrievous]

Bart is the farthest thing from Stoic

[@gabcohen]

There’s nothing more boring than listening to an author or a comedian talking about writing their work.

[@OnMeds1]

Had to stop watching after the 1st 7 minutes. Too much talking about your own book writing . A good interviewer will ask the guest questions and let them speak without Interruptions or opinions . @tips

[@martinkenealy2306]

......

[@TullyMars-d3m]

Tommy has no idea what a stoic is. Ryan be better

[@ajrob77]

Ryan clearly hasn’t heard the Oliver Anthony song - OR - he’s never met a working class poor white. We despise the people who abuse the welfare system when we can’t catch a break. It’s funny to see wealthy people who live outside of Appalachia try to understand what it’s like to work yourself to death and have nothing.

[@ericwaln2056]

An hour and 40 min of these Guys farting and discussing how great they smell while trying to sound humble.

[@historyismetal2187]

This guy is not stoic. Screw Tom. What a joke.

[@johnbaugh1122]

i miss fat tom

[@nicholassauer2612]

Im too poor to listen to Tom Segura anymore.