¶ Navigating LGBTQ+ Pronouns in Comedy
Guided us on over just about all Windows 9 . Now show jemand , and here's Modi , and we're back . Hey , hi everybody , and welcome to , and Here's Modi Right away . I want to thank our partners A&H Provisions the best hot dogs in the world , the best kosher meats in the world too , amazing packaging and all kinds of stuff Great to send as gifts .
And promo code MODY will get you 30% off of your first order and set this up .
KosherDogsnet What .
KosherDogsnet . Kosherdogsnet and our other partner , close friend of ours , Arthur Luxemburg , did a law firm of whites and Luxemburg , a law firm that you want to have on your side .
Whatever you're going through that you , God forbid , have to go through what's with you , with you And anyway , and their slogan and their thing that we have the Mashiach energy with is they're doing good while they're doing well .
They're a very successful law firm and doing lots of great things while they're doing well , And so that's just Mashiach energy And so thank you , And their website is whitesluxcom . And promo code is MODY . I don't think it's going to help you . I don't think that would help anybody .
You never know .
You never know , say you heard about us with MODY , and here we are . We're going to start off with an email that we received when we did a show in where was it ? Kirkland , aka Seattle , kirkland , seattle . We did a show and at the end of the show there's a standing ovation .
So Leo comes out with the camera and takes a picture of the people giving me the standing ovation with my back , and , of course , leo's dressed in a nice tight t-shirt and looks good .
I was wearing a normal black t-shirt . Okay , maybe it sounded like a whore , no , but just .
I did not get that ?
No one said that .
But we got this Coming out in a harness and a singlet .
No , he came out , but we get this .
He came out .
And keep in mind , this is in Seattle and it's a very LGBTQ ABCD .
Yes , seattle is like if an REI store became sentient and started using they them pronouns That's Seattle .
Their flag , their gay flag is , even has a special thing on it A circle . It's a super advanced LGBTQ community And I have a whole thing I do about they in my act which is super respectful and super acknowledging and how easy it is to be friendly and nice to people who want to be , who want to use certain pro pronouns .
Yeah , It's a super positive And , of course , anybody who just hears it already goes off the bat . So this is an email we got the day after the show . Am I doing ?
a dramatic reading .
Yes , yes .
Here we go . Dear Modi , I was at the Kirkland show yesterday evening . I could not help but notice that you made a disdainful sound slash tone about they , them pronouns , while proceeding to tell a story about how an awesome non binary checker at Trader Joe's inspired you to tip them .
It got a big laugh , especially when you said something to the effect of quote may they be , may they be blessed , or something which is basically Ashkenazi for go yourself .
It's not . It's I said because I'm to hate , they should , if you want to abuse you they , because I'm to hate , which means in good health be in good health .
He said it's basically Ashkenazi for go yourself . But I'm not going to try or sure I'll do this . But again you . I also noticed when you first started talking about being gay the room went way quieter than at the beginning of your show . My partner and I were laughing . We were laughing because we get you . We're so happy that you are plowing .
Some millennial stud who I think came out at the end of the show to take a picture or to show off his perfect body , could not honestly tell good for you . As you've probably picked up at this point I use they , them pronouns , and yes , i'm bold enough to write you because I am 99% Ashkenazi and I have never wasted my money to confirm .
Because you talk about 23 and me . My parents are straight off the boat Romanians , and I was born in Haifa and grew up in Berkeley , so I hope that gives me genetic cred . To help you hear me right now . I was probably the only they , them in the audience last night . Can you try lay off ? Can you try to lay off punching sideways in the community ?
Actually , it was like punching down . There's no point , dude . It made me feel isolated and other , which maybe prevents Mashiach from coming , but more likely just makes me feel like garbage , after my wife bought tickets as a gift and we were just trying to have fun like everyone else . So take this as you may .
If you even read it , don't bother apologizing , though you don't seem like the type or reprimanding me , no worries .
That was again a call back . He put thing Do you want ?
to do . You want to hear what I wrote to him ?
Oh , i had my deal back , i was very nice Did you . I was nice but I acknowledged .
If you took the time to write such an email , i'm going to write you back . I said Hi hi , marie , this is Leo . I'm so sorry to hear the joke didn't resonate with you .
The tone of the joke is more to illustrate Modi's effort to use the correct pronouns for people at the behest of his millennial husband , aka me , but also to ultimately show that it's not a big deal . I E Gouzunt to hate . May they be blessed and be well is what you say , not go fuck yourself .
I think , ultimately , it's important to find ways to talk about these subjects , especially with a lot of his religious audience members present . If Modi can use the correct pronouns , then they can too .
Of course , i can't tell you how to feel about a joke , and you have every right to feel the way you do , but I thought it would be helpful for you to hear a bit of the reasoning behind it . Ps .
I came out at the end of the show because I produced the whole thing and wanted to take photos for the meet and greet , not to quote show off my perfect body . All the best , leo .
Yeah , very nice , you wrote good .
Very good , very nice .
Very nice , very nice . Call a couple . Call a couple . It's people who write emails like that He's in his own world , it's his own movie , he was in his own movie watching my show . But this is , this is the thing , but I will just , i just want to tell you but we don't get once in a blue moon . You get a crazy like this .
Usually , 99% of messages are great and wonderful , but we're not going to sit here and read Modi .
You were amazing . We loved you .
We're not going to sit , I just think it's interesting because look , you're here , you are on stage talking about being gay , talking about having a husband . The part where you talk about the pronouns is like to me . I mean , obviously I'm , i don't use they , them pronouns . So again , i can't . I can't tell them how to feel about a joke .
but to my perception of the joke is like hello , this is me trying to accommodate people and make people feel comfortable , the way you , the way you say it , Like this is me making an effort . It's it's not coming off as like fuck you .
It's not . It's literally just showing how it's not a big deal . Exactly , i just hear use the day them , use it , don't worry , don't make a thing of a give it to them because that wasn't the punchline of the joke , it wasn't the fact that it was more my feeling for this poor cashier that he has nowhere to unpack my cart .
That's where the main thing is , but it was uh , but people feel It was just .
he needed to communicate with us somehow , and instead of doing it in a nice way , he did it in his . I care that he's Romanian , i couldn't care if he was from the toilet .
I didn't like the way he like spoke about me like a Yeah , i just Listen .
He's sitting there with his wife and he's a big , big big , they then their wife he's sitting there with their wife , with her , them there , but she is , they , she . they are a hot mess . They're hot . If you're writing an email like that , you are a hot mess .
I just have never been upset about anything to write an email that long I couldn't you couldn't never get me to write an email . About a comedy show . Oh my God , i think .
Leo's response was perfect . I mean , of course it was gonna be perfect , the big takeaway for me from all of this is I just appreciate the acknowledgement of Leo's perfect body .
Oh , That's again something that guy's going through .
I just They're going through .
Yeah , they're going through . They're going through . I didn't say that .
I just like look , I obviously never liked to hear that someone came to a show and was made to feel less than or unwelcome in any way .
Right , Because that's not the energy of your show , But that's also not what There are some comics where that is the energy of the show .
Yeah , And that's not you . No , that's not me at all . That's the thing it's like .
that's not what was going ?
on No .
So I don't know . Of course you don't want anybody to feel other or less than or uncomfortable , but I do think there is something to have to be able to take a breath and to be like , oh , maybe I'm projecting .
Speaking of projecting , should we shift into that podcast thing that happened with you , or are we waiting on that ? I'm kind of waiting for that Okay .
Yeah , we're gonna get to that . We're gonna need a little more time Because we're going to .
We have a special guest coming today .
We have a special guest coming today . We do have some news on our own , which is that I just finished the 47th draft of thank you , thank you , our book proposal That's right Coming soon to coming soon to a bookshelf or a link . Coming soon to a billboard in Times Square near you and a bidding war near you .
Yeah . So , There's some pretty juicy stories , and if you think I'm getting juicy on the mic , wait till you see what's on the page , honey .
Oh my God , it took five months .
It took .
That's not that long .
It took a few sessions , you and me , but you were in the other , crazy writing .
Five months , i mean .
No , you do , It's impressive .
It's not that long right .
I have no idea . I mean , oh , five months . I should have been done months ago , or five months It's . I'm six months ahead . I don't know . I never wrote a book . How would I have had ?
any idea . Fair enough , i mean , i think , five months is I thought it was ready months ago .
You didn't think it was ready months ago .
It wasn't ready months ago . Okay .
So , it's ready now and it's gonna go in And it's fun , it's juicy , it's yummy .
It is , it's yummy , it really is Are you excited to read it .
I am very excited to read it . I there are some stories in there that I'm just curious to see how they translate . I could change , but also the most fun chapter is not even done yet .
Well , the most , well , no , the most fun chapter is not done .
I could we could change AKA me .
I am the most fun chapter We could change your name , though , to like Cleo , if you want to .
Cleo No , cleo No .
Why was that funny ?
Cleo was funny .
Cause you said it , cause there's some juicy stuff about you .
So I'm saying , if you want to be anonymous , I mean no , i , at this point me , i can't , i don't think I can hop on the anonymous boat .
So you're gonna read it ? Of course I'm gonna read it .
I'll probably read it on our way to LA tomorrow .
It'll be something else that blows me away that Leo can do .
No , he's gonna be great .
No , he's gonna give you amazing notes . I'm watching Leo edit the special now It is like the things he catches , the way he marks them down of spreadsheets and timing , and I'm watching it and I'm already unfocused completely And he's like no , that's the wrong audience shot , that's the wrong this , that's the wrong that .
Oh my God , no it's . he's gonna be great .
Yes , well , let's just pump you up , let's just pump a house .
Great Leo . The only thing he's not great at is taking compliments . Look , he's already like he doesn't . No , no , not .
No , you don't .
But anyway , i'm excited because I think you're gonna have really good insights and really good notes . I just think that I just want to get it to them already . I'm so excited , i'm like ready and you're gonna read it too . Yeah , yeah , I have a flight coming up and I have glasses .
Here's the thing that I've said about my books .
For those of you who are just tuning in , i've written two books that are by my you know , my own books , two memoirs , comedic memoirs , but name them . The only bush I trust is my own and Harper Collins And Harper Collins and on my knees , and the one thing I always say about my books is that they're really good like bathroom reads .
What does that mean ?
It's like they're like fun books to go , like you sit on the toilet and like you read it .
Oh , no , really .
Yeah , it's like it's easy .
Yeah , I have a question .
I have a real , actual question . Do people actually do that still Like , if you're on the toilet for too long that you're reading a book , you should up your fiber intake .
No , i think it's just so . Here's my theory about this .
Do they have time ? People have time to do that .
I never mind Go to the toilet for me .
I go in , okay we don't need to get too graphic .
I'm not gonna get graphic , but I go in . I do . It has to happen right away and walk right out . There are people who sit there , I guess now with their phones especially .
Isn't that how you get hemorrhoids and stuff ?
That's one of the ways to get hemorrhoids If you're pushing .
Not even if you just sit in your butt . No , you're not supposed to sit there for a lifetime .
You're just sitting and reading with your pants down . If you're going mm , then you get the hemorrhoids .
I thought , even if you're just in that position , you could get hemorrhoids .
I guess it's don't forget this people who are like , let's say , you're in an office and the girl in the bathroom gives you like 10 minutes to be alone , and If you're married and you have a bunch of kids .
I think you spend a lot of time in the toilet , Yeah okay , I get it .
I get it now , I guess .
Why would you sit there with a you know You ?
want me to say okay , it's a great book for a flight Like that's Timmy is only .
Yeah , that's much better than bathroom . Thank you , that's what we needed . We'll find this a little bit toilet humor too .
If I am in a toilet , by the way , and it's all packed , it's busy , all stalls are busy , i will yell out there's a line , there's a line . just so the people who are sitting there just checking their spam get up and finish off .
Who is sitting and ? peeping in a public .
This is gross . We need to move on . We need to move on . I'm just saying , People sit there sometimes Oh where were we yesterday that I had a moment at a restaurant where I sent two things back ?
Oh no , what was that ? It's Seattle . Oh no , it's in Seattle . What did you send back ? That was your story . Oh wow , yeah .
What did you send back , i , who never sends things back , ever , i never send things back . We went to breakfast at the hotel and I ordered a nice coffee . The coffee came , i think it was someone took the coffee filter and just squeezed the remnants into whatever was left . It tasted so gross .
I said can you please take this back and get me a hot coffee , because I think , you know , sometimes I think they make iced coffee and it sits in a pitcher in the like in the bar tender's fridge for like three days .
Do you know what I'm talking about ? Just to set up on this . just to set up on this In the hotel was it The Fairmont ?
The Olympic Fairmont . It was a nice hotel . It was a very nice hotel .
Beautiful hotel . You could tell when they brought someone in to make this place beautiful and the restaurant was stunning . but they didn't have it with the food . Whoever they brought as a chef , like the avocado toast was just avocado on this piece of bread that wasn't toasted , It was too squishy .
Gross . It was a little gross . Anyway , I sent the coffee back and then I sent the smoothie bowl back .
The smoothie bowl . How do you mess up a smoothie bowl ? How ? And they did . It was just gross .
They bring you another good one , or they couldn't do it .
No , we just said bring us a fruit platter instead .
They could have done it . they would have done it the first time , But Modi was in shock .
I was in shock , Leo's . I grabbed the waiter . I said I never , ever do this , but this is not okay . Let me talk about smoothie bowls for a second .
But before you did , it's happening to you . I'm becoming Jewish . Yes .
No , he's not becoming don't say it like that Like he's becoming Like a werewolf you make it sound like on the full moon .
After Tish above . I just was like .
No , do you send food back ?
If it's No , it's really bad . But I usually order things that I know I'm not gonna have to send back . I will ask the waiter how hot is this soup gonna come out of the ?
Oh , you have this thing with soup .
You have a thing with soup That is Jewish . You have two things .
I don't know .
It's the soup and you never take the first table they offer us . That is Jewish . You never take the first table . I'll sit down and I won't even like . I'll just sit there and I'll wait , because I know we're going somewhere else .
I don't want to keep our water zosta green . I don't want to be one , that's not what I have right now , but just to reflect those steps and walk on the front of the mano lido right next to it .
I really hate all of this , these thoughts matter a lot , you're so weird man to me .
I don't know what you're talking about , man .
I have the same desire , like to lose as I am . I'm leaving my tracks in a like . It says I'm too slow to even even to be the man that's not laughing at me . My bad Emails me , tech tech messages me . Let me know how the podcast goes .
I'm like Like no , that comes with what I'm not with him .
How are you ? I'm well .
Is his sound .
Okay , how's the sound ? How's the hair ? Well , never , my barber raised his prices so It looks good 140 . What 140 ? When I first started with them , it's this one guy in like a little office building my haircut is $65 and it shows no .
Folks , if you're watching on YouTube , look at my hair , look at his hair .
Right back .
Zack is back on the podcast . Those of you who have not seen his Heard or seen his episode before he was back as a repeat guest . He's a repeat guest . We love him and I follow you and I your maid . You are Mashiach energy , you are Marty has no idea who I am .
I do , and I read your book .
Zack just had a not just but Zach's , since you've been here last your book was released here .
It's just yeah for a year , Yeah you have had this whirlwind book release .
The book is called is it hot in here or am I burning and hell for all of eternity ?
I think .
I committed on earth . Yeah , oh my god , that's high , that's so long I know that it right . They butchered a little bit .
What is it in here ? or am I suffering for all eternity for the sins I committed on earth ?
I was close . Oh wow , good for you for remembering I would have I was close . Is it hot in here ?
I would call it yeah , and it's a collection of essays
¶ Book Promotion and Family Dynamics
. Yes and humor pieces , and and you've gotten a lot of attention for it was on , it was in Times Square .
Yeah , they do a little billboard .
Isn't that fun . Yeah , I had that with the chosen comedy festival .
It's a lot of fun It's . and then you get there and it's like , oh , it's up for eight seconds every 15 minutes , so you're just like standing on the side of the corner like , okay , when's in diet done , when can't Get these little mermaid ads and then you get it again .
You have to wait till it comes back . It's so much fun .
That was Amazon I guess I read with pride thing .
Wow You know the community very nice one of a number that they're showing and you have all of the most amazing little Reels , like the one with the matches . Whose idea was it to make ?
matches . I mean it or it was me ? I thought I thought it was you .
That was brilliant .
No , my favorite . So you've been doing he's been doing all these little like cute creative things that , as you're doing , this book tour Promotion is like for the promotion hell you promoting .
I was like wait , what was it ? when I did cordon backstage , i heard Jamie Lee Curtis say she was a weapon of mass promotion . That part of your job is to kind of like show the industry . Hey , i know how to promote a product .
Wow .
Put me in things , I will promote the hell out of them . So with my book I was like you know what that's gonna be the name of this episode . I'm I'm a first-time author . I need to pull out all the stops .
Wow .
See my not safe for work promotion I .
No , I didn't see that one .
There's a porn star who I follow and I would DM him like hey , it's like a dream of mine . This might be too racy .
No , no Okay .
I was like it's a dream of mine to like have someone reading the book . Wow , they're getting fucked , would you mind ? Oh , my , would you mind ?
Wow , you're going straight to hell And he , you really all . Go right to hell .
And he was like that's so funny and he did it . You're gonna be burning in hell And his only fans account .
He put it on his Twitter And then .
I fought with my friend .
I was like am I allowed to retweet this . My account's , not this graphic .
No Twitter , you can put whatever you want , There's no , Thank you that's great , and so the riff , or part of it is that you grew up very conservative .
Super conservative yeah .
And how has the reaction been from that part of your ?
origin story . Mom has read it . She said she was proud of me . She skipped over the sex part Right .
Yeah , because I have questions about the sex parts . But we'll get there .
That's a pretty great mom . Come around right , I was impressed with her , your mom seems cool , Like as a reader I've never met your
mom , We spoke about your mom last time you were on the podcast .
She wrote Red Lobster Yeah , yeah , has for 40 years now . Wow , i was just home for my nephew's graduation and we had fun together .
And where's home for again those They're in Myrtle Beach , South Carolina .
I grew up Virginia , but they've been there for a while And we were just having like a little kiki just hanging out , that's so nice Spiderman , you know We kind of get along Well .
you're also coming back as a celebrity .
Yeah , maybe that helps Yeah . We have a star Her . some of her gay coworkers had like the book and they were like can we get him to sign ?
Oh , that's so wonderful .
And then my dad hasn't read it . Thank God That doesn't bother me , he only reads the Bible .
Are they still together ? They're still together . yeah , I feel like if you could do some sort of a collab with Red Lobster .
Oh , wow , wow , that would be amazing . Last year they had rainbow colored Cheddar Bay biscuits .
They're so good . I think they were fake , but it was . Cheddar Bay biscuits . Have you ever had the Cheddar Bay biscuits ? You've never been to Cheddar Bay . I've never been to Lops from my life .
Oh gosh , Oh . We have to have a date , They have other things for you .
You can't have shellfish , no .
No shellfish , no pork . Oh sure .
I'm serious , no fun .
I'm not going to a restaurant that has 800 of them , is that ?
good , it's my thing , but you can go eat the Cheddar biscuits .
I go to Shea whatever on Thompson and Graham . I'm not going to a restaurant that there's 1,000 of them in every mall . Where are the Red Lobsters located All over ?
There's one in Times Square . There is one in Times Square .
We're going after this . By the way , speak of a turnaround moment . Leo went to Spain to be with his grandmother on her dying bed . On her dying bed she said to him I love you , even if you're gay .
Oh , that's beautiful .
But even if you knew her , it was kind of was meant to be a joke .
She had a good sense of humor .
She was saying she loves me , even if like , because other people in my family care . So she was saying that she doesn't .
You had to know her . She never cared .
She never cared No .
It was in Spanish . How does it sound in Spanish ?
Aunque sea . Aunque sea is even if .
No , say the whole thing . Yeah , i'm not speaking Spanish . No , just once again No , i want to talk
¶ Discussing Zach's Book and Writing Process
about .
This is Zach's book .
Zach's book is what we're going to talk about .
I want to talk about Zach's book . We had a turnaround moment , so we had it . I want to hear about Zach Te amo . First of all , I have a lot of questions . Te amo , but gay . Thank you , te amo .
Go ahead . So there's a few things in the book . I did read the whole book . It's been a little bit of time since I finished it . Pop quiz , page 42 . No , whatever Listen to me The story of the twink getting locked out of your apartment . Oh God , yes , no .
That was dark , that was a dark day .
That was actually a scary synopsis .
I mean , i'm in Chicago and I flirt with my host at the breakfast brunch place I'm at and we start flirting and then we go on like a third date and I take him He's 20 and so I know a bar that won't card him , so I take him to a bar that won't card him .
Oh , you're a predator .
And then he It was No . No , i was a child too . I'm just kidding .
You know , at 20 .
And then he just proceeded to get really drunk and I was like , oh , we have different nights , So I went home . But then I woke up to some voicemails and he's like He's locked out of his apartment .
So I'm like okay In Chicago in the winter .
In Chicago in the winter . So I'm like you can sleep on my couch . Like come to mine , and he's like still blurred speech . And so I take a cab over to bring him back to so he can sleep on my couch . And then the cab driver like runs away because he knows this dude's drunk Guy gets to my couch and then he's like I'm going to take a shower .
I'm like , okay , fine , it's 2 am , i have roommates . He starts taking a shower and then he stops responding Oh no . And I'm like , oh God , this is too drowning and the door's locked . So I break down the door , i open the curtain , the shower is empty and the little window is open . We're on the fourth floor .
He's climbed out the window , he's gone down the fire escape and is just sitting there , and so I'm like do I have to climb out here ? My best friend is like I think . So I climbed down to get him . He's trapped . The fire escape doesn't go all the way to the ground .
If we were actually on fire Is he naked .
No , no , no . He had his pants on and everything . I didn't have shoes on , though , in January , and I just sit with him for hours . Eventually , i'm like this dude's not going to be able to climb up , and so we call 911 .
The fire department chops down the fence , puts up a ladder , carries him down , and then the next morning he wakes up and flirts with my roommate .
No , but the way you tell the story is . it was actually a little suspenseful and scary at some parts because I was like , oh my God , he's going to have a dead twink in his bathtub .
That's what it felt like going on . I don't need a dead twink on my account .
That story stood out to me , and then the story of when you went to Paris with your boyfriend .
Okay , i'm not going to give away the whole part of what happened with your boyfriend , but there is a small detail that you kind of reintegrate at multiple times in the telling of the story , which is that you guys checked into this Airbnb in Paris Tiny And there were no towels , so you used a dish rag , one singular dish rag for the two of you for the
duration of your stay .
My God , Which have you ever done something ? and then you're like oh well , we did it once , we could do it again .
You know , like the the time shift happens when you're like oh , i honestly Zach no honestly , Zach , we're not going with you on that .
I was just picturing you walking around .
I will tell you a quick , quick story on top of this , In the middle of the pandemic , in the middle of the pandemic , Halloween of the pandemic . So that's what ? October , October , October the pandemic .
This guy throws this rave party dancing party that you had to do three COVID checks to go to and was in the sleepaway camp for kids , but they were using it for this And we bought a bunk to buy and we bought , we went to Target and bought sheets and blankets and pillows and everything , put it all on top of it and left it all there .
When we left , there's no one dish . No , there's no one one towel Bring our own .
I was just picturing you walking around Your level of bougie . No , stinky , stinky in Paris , just like the Parisian .
That's what's in Paris Is your title . Second book , because you're in Paris , stinky in Paris , your next title .
I lived , not lived there . I visited last year for like three weeks . I was like you know what . I'm reclaiming the city and like have a journal . It was so high , i sweat so much , i chafed so much I haven't chafed , i don't know how I could .
I didn't know the city surprised you . Yeah , wait , leo . It produced me to . What's that thing ? that baby bond .
Oh , because you get used to chafing a little bit .
When we used to go dancing No .
So there's this product called butt paste .
Yeah .
It's amazing And it's for babies ?
I'm sure it is . I told you it was good . I turned my cousin in Israel onto it . It's amazing A butt paste .
It's like a diaper , Ash . I used it when my son was amazing .
It's amazing . You look a little drop and you just rub it in between .
You're going to dance .
It's just really yeah .
Dancing or walking around .
Sweating our brains out when we're dancing . You want to avoid ?
it Wait . so how was Corden ?
Oh , i had so much fun . I felt like it was my first time doing a TV appearance , because you know , you know , but without stand up .
Yeah , What stand up You did . And then the book promotion He just showed the book .
Oh , cute , yeah , yeah , yeah , i haven't done the couch . Oh , okay , okay , okay , okay . I did it a week before the like .
Balthazar The Balthazar game .
Yeah , so it wasn't yet like in that brand of hot waters .
So how exciting is it to have your first book come out Like what's been the most like surprising .
What's your thorn and what's your rose ?
Oh , I do this with my friends . Oh all right . I'm just a fucking idiot then The rose is sort of like getting a message every day from someone that they like it meant something to them . Oh , good . Like a constant little , like trickling in of , like love and support that you know myself doubt like appreciates on those days . And then thorn .
Oh my goodness , just not knowing what's next , like where to focus , i think like for the longest time .
There's always something to be doing , yeah .
Like promoting or this or just like what the next creative big ? thing ?
is How long did it take you to write the book ?
I feel like your first books , like you're kind of your whole life , or they say that because there were bits that I've been working on for a really long time or honing , but probably like two years , which hopefully the next one is faster , but I don't know .
And how long did it take ?
you to write the proposal . Yeah , oh , so it was pandemic May , like three months , six months , are you ? are you all playing in that space , potentially ? You all are we all are , are all , are all the is it okay to say all , or should I say day ?
Who are they all ?
are , yes , with our Ariel , and Modi are working on a book proposal . Hey , that's exciting .
Oh yeah , I'm happy to talk , It's like a fascinating
¶ Book Tour Experiences
world .
I'm by working on a book proposal , i'm speaking into a microphone and then having a meltdown afterwards Because I forgot , i forgot my childhood . And all of a sudden , like here it is . And she's like So this is how you should . We record everything into a machine . I can't write the I don't know , and she gets it and she's explained to me .
You speak like a 90 year old Holocaust survivor . That's how you talk And I'm really she's bringing back and you should know not everybody in the audience was crazy about my set . That's what it's .
And you should have what to talk about Afterwards like , things like that but you've .
There's also been a lot of the The buying a book for someone else Program that your friends have started my friend , just in general .
People should know that Zach is Mashiach .
Yeah , zach is Mashiach , that's something we talk about .
It's a good thing . Mashiach energy is messianic energy Bringing godliness , unity and love being a good person , helping other people .
Basically helping other people . I'm coming of Christ , you are .
Coming of Christ . Do you have to come ?
It's a second right here ?
Yeah , he's right there , wait . So tell us , how did that ? What ?
tell us about that , like passing it along , kindness , oh well , my best friend was like I think she heard like someone had tweeted They didn't like have enough money to buy the book or ever . So I sent him a book and she's like , if there are more people , i'll like sponsor five .
And I was like so I tweeted like hey , if anybody wants a free book , my friend will buy you . It's gonna do five books Wherever . And then it kind of snowballed and had other friends donating .
We ended up like over the course of a day I raised like 5k to send wow , yeah , and now the only thing your life is is packaging up , and oh , i know my weekend was on me .
I was a customer service associate . I like copy all these DMs over . I was like I need , i need an assistant . That was the day , wow you have an assistant now . No Oh .
Wait , right now . I could just imagine you hiring an assistant . Oh yeah , it wouldn't it 22 year old twink business . You'd have to be with something like a complete .
You do like an older woman .
Yeah , like an older straight woman .
You need someone who like used to run a dental office .
Yes , you can't be like you can't be like with your assistant doing some work And you're over there shoulder going . You gotta be like . You need somebody that you've no canoes sexual energy with and boom boom .
You know , can I tell you something I did last night where I felt like I'm entering a new phase of my like romantic life ?
Oh , i was dated a 22 year old . Oh my god , you brought it up in a year .
Go ahead . No , i um , i was at a drag show , like a late-night drag show no one was there . It was like an after party , and we went there and I saw a guy who I knew had been on Broadway like a little twink and my friend was the drag performer and all I had all I had in my pocket was two $100 bills .
I couldn't tip any less and I was like I should tip and I was like you know what , this is my moment . So I tipped her $100 pick a song . And they were doing drag roulette . We got to request a song . I love the roller here .
The book is doing well guys .
And the twink's eyes like turned to it suddenly like , okay , someone's tipping a hundred bucks . And then I recommended a song from his Broadway musical as a way of saying like I knew you're on Broadway . This is my way of saying hello And I felt like such a little baller in that moment .
Did you get his ?
number home could Venmo me a hundred dollars . I am trying to make rent this month . Did you get his number ?
No , no , no , wow We were in some uh , we were in some event together , yes , where you were like working some twink and then I , leo and I were leaving right and on the way out I go . I'm so sorry , are you ? you're the comedian , zack . We follow you . We've seen you the comedy story .
We are such fans of yours , yeah love you , you're amazing and walked out and the spring's like Wingman . wingman , who is this ?
He later I was like was on your fire escape , crying for help . He told me he was like I live in boston and we're kind of at different phases in our life , so I don't think it makes sense for us . I was like you're right .
You're like , I just need you for a couple of hours , honey .
And it's , let's be honest Is .
How's torrey house comedy ? how you ? how's it going ? Torrey is so fun .
Isn't it ? I had some this book tour like unlocked , some new like fan experiences . I haven't had where people were like bringing inside jokes Or someone was like the way you said someone's name in this video I saw is now how my kid says our dad's name , and I was like , oh my god , there's like cool way .
I mean it's not at the scale , it's only like a hundred people at a show , but it's still like oh people , no , it's , it's a ripple .
So are you doing book tour like us , across the us book tour ? I ?
hit seven cities and now I'm kind of , wow , it was , it was , it's a lot at bookstores or where are you going ? I was doing like comedy venues mostly , so are you doing comedy .
And then Are you doing ? how does it work ?
I did comedy for maybe 30 to 40 and then like a little chat was .
That was fun .
I asked my like most famous friend in every city . I went to like hey , will you say nice things about me ?
That's nice , that's very sweet , yeah , fun . I'd like a little Q and a yeah the book . That's where we're . We are . We have a fire Allen house with a guy who's writing a book , jay kohen , and he's preparing himself mentally and physically . Physically . He's like I'm just enjoying the summer because I have to go promote this book And it's .
And he's like he's working out like a crazy person too , because he knows he has to be on like Yeah , on tv and you're doing like a morning show , you're up at 7 am Or your late night things , yeah , you get into , like you just become like this little horse being trotted .
I remember that when my first book came out , doing radio like Well , you sent me a really cool picture of you sitting next to santa bernard , who we had dinner with tonight at at uh at 6 30 , with a reservation . Oh , that's good to know . So at what point am I supposed to do any of the things I need to do to that ? I forgot to tell you that .
Well , I wonder if you remember that that was my first time on tv , was with you look hot , yeah , i would you look so good sitting on the sofa next to sandra bernard with soundra bernhardt and you .
Yeah , you could . You could tell you like .
I know I was so excited .
I love her .
It's so funny but I do , i remember send them send me that video again .
I could show it tonight .
I have to find it , i'll find it Um . I do . I remember going on on book tour . This was like before , like social media even existed .
I would be the worst on a book tour .
No , you're going on a book tour , get ready . who ?
reads anymore . Is anybody read ? No , I loved when you put the book .
Anybody read when you put the book through the baggage check carousel and it came down .
Oh , yeah , you have your cute thing . He's so creative . He's so creative . More interested , you know , because I'm saying the same things over .
I um , i made my Book was the same title as a t-shirt that I had just made . That like had gotten like very popular So I sent all of the editors t-shirts . It's the only bush I trust is my own , so it was . It was cute , i love it , i like . I like the matches , though I'm really into like the branding . You're very good .
Yeah , it can be kind of fun .
I am learning , though You can Miss opportunities too . I did . Uh , i was to watch what happens . Live bartender . One day , andy cohen show , yeah and I was stands on that so great , like he's gonna Were you shirtless . I'm gonna be so funny , no very sure , why not I got ? a custom shirt made inspired . By the book .
Okay , okay . So what happened ?
But all I got I was like I have so many jokes ready and he was like book comes out Tuesday , right ? And I was like yes , Tuesday .
Our trainer does that spot once in a while . Oh yeah , yes .
Andy asked me to do that . For me to do that .
Why don't ?
you go do it , what are you ?
waiting for because I have to be shirtless , so get , get ready . Are you kidding me ?
You didn't do it for the love of god .
Love of god All right , you better get on that show when the book comes out . Oh , I'll promote your book .
Good , i'll get a new tattoo of the title of your book .
Oh , Do you have a title ?
No , it's a work mode . You have a working title , working title .
Yes , titles are hard .
Yeah , how'd you come up with you ? How did you did commit ? Yeah , a long title .
Did you have pushback from the people making their book that it was too long ? They wanted it They did I ?
my original was on your right fire and brimstone , like a little tour guide through hell , like end on your right , and it's got that response . And then I made a big list and then they saw this one and they were like that is like a gut punch , like it's kind of hard to ignore that title .
Well , the the book covers also very hard to ignore . It's like it's like a skull on fire . For those of you who haven't seen it , it's very like eye catching .
With a purple background . Yeah , that'd be nice . I've seen it .
I know there's two copies floating around our apartment . I hope you see it Yeah two , not one .
Two , that's the incredible must , or ? I don't know if that happened with y'all , but my publisher sent them to the wrong people .
No we bought one , so we bought one , yeah , and then you sent one .
Oh , okay , so yeah for everyone else They were accidentally there's also two copies of um perials and adamant's book . Oh yeah , Yeah there's only one copies of your books , sorry guys haven't read yet .
You haven't even read . I love that you read Zach's book and not my book .
Well , Zach's was a little bit sure .
My god , it is it was digestible .
It's a collection of essays . What do you want for me Isn't that easier , just to do essays .
Book is essay . Oh , good Yeah .
I can't a chapter
¶ Life Lessons and Forgiveness With Humor
. So a lot of the vibe though of the stories that you tell , like , for example , the twink on the fire escape or Your heartbreak in Paris , your , you kind of explain it and you're like , well , that happened .
I mean , you obviously ended on a funny note and like the way you wrap it up , but like you don't try to like offer some sort of like deeper life , is that does , do you ? is that wrong ? Should I not be saying that hidden in there ?
It's hidden in there a little .
There's insight in the way that you like . Move on with it , like Your first three , some Experience . We're like it was kind of disappointing , kind of I think with love .
I'm still figuring things out . Maybe with family I'm a little more . I have the insight to share , but I hope there's like hidden in there some like oh Zach's , what a dumb , silly character Zach was at this time like Falling for something like in a song in the sauna story . Like falling in love with some guy .
That's just like in the sauna hanging out With you for the day .
Like that's dumb you fell in love with a guy you met in the sauna .
Oh yeah . And then I saw him later with someone else and I was like how could you do this to my hilarious Is a sexy sauna for those of you and then he adds a third and I'm like this is too early in our relationship . What are you doing ?
Oh my god , really I thought you'd be more like with the part Understanding what's happening .
I'm maturing now . Yeah . Well , how old are you in that hat ? How old are you now ? I was 30 , then I'm 34 now , okay .
Okay , i'm getting a little more like oh , don't fall for every hookup , oh wow but the part where you talk about you talk about your dad , right , and the why , why he views the world the way he does .
Yeah , and I Feel like you offer a lot of forgiveness in the way that you explain Why he is the way that he is , and I thought that was as someone who struggles with my parents . Hmm , i thought you wrote it very well , it was very beautiful .
That was one of the less funny essays .
It was serious . Yeah , i was a serious essay , but you , you forgive your father . I think so there was a sense of forgiveness in the way you were definitely like at an impasse .
I'm learning . This last trip I felt like I learned like there's no , you don't have to discuss Religion every time we hang out or politics . Maybe it'll be more nice if we just have like a meal together . Talk about the weather , like the more mundane things are , sort of like maybe that's their baby steps .
Yeah , That's a good metaphor . No , i never really had like in depth the conversation with my father about like anything , but like he , he , he , you could tell he wants to have a conversation . Like when I went to college and he wanted to be like , how were you learning , what are you ?
He came out with like he said this blazer , wait , like a snowplow blazer . He would like , he wanted to communicate . I changed all the tires on the blazer . He like tell you all about that's . I'd ask him about how would new tires you got new blazer , new this , new that , and it was a Good different . But I didn't .
You know he doesn't do in group in a very They didn't go up in an environment where they spoke and they , you know , we grew up in Israel before it became Israel and it's like a very tough luck . But yeah , but forgiving your father , is I nothing to forgive for ? but but it's , it's , it's Amazing step , you know . It frees you .
Oh , a hundred percent Yeah .
Listen , i'm just thinking like listening to you guys talk , like am I doing like you know ? okay , job raising this kid .
You're .
We don't want kids because I will fuck it up .
No , we wouldn't if we had that , it's just not on the I think so .
You think I'm traumatizing .
Her kid is great idea .
He's almost 10 .
He's great , he's gonna be great .
He lives , he's stunning and he has a great father and his great his mother , he's not very love . Aw , yeah and he's the only kid .
Yeah , which is getting all the ?
attention , all the attention , which is probably good . I .
Hope , so I don't know . Zach just said I'm traumatizing even ways I can't even imagine .
I Think you're fine .
I think I've met one told me you're gonna say like a hundred things to a kid And you have no control over the one that they remember , and so you all , you can do is be as good as you can With as much as you can , in every moment .
What a great .
And then in 10 years , when he's like mom . I always remember you used to say this you're like Yeah , do you want kids ? I've been asked that I think tiktok is my kid Because it shows me all the Something cute it pops up on my tiktok . I don't need to change a diaper , i don't need to do anything .
There's funny things people are saying are just coming in . My best friend has a one month old And so I joke , i'm looking for a new best friend .
But I held the kid holding a kid was Hold the baby bit all over me . I don't want to hold it . Yeah , it's gonna leak on me , it's they're all sticky baby paste , but But paste no I .
I don't hold , that's what . What am I ? because they project alvom it .
That's why I'm holding this It's like a geyser walk and then it pooped in my hand , not directly , it had a diaper on , sorry , but you felt it , but I could feel , sir , that's like a nuisance also Nobody tells you that tiny male babies .
Oh okay , back to the You guys , because I was never one of those people who wanted kids .
I had no , we know what happened .
I got an Israeli husband by accident .
Oh , and they demand same by accident . It's so funny because we were in a . We were in a YouTube rabbit hole yesterday with Joan Rivers and like and Johnny Carson , and then we watched running danger filled Johnny Carson , and then You know you're in that Johnny Carson .
For those of you who are young , johnny Carson was The Tonight Show host for many years and the best person at that job , and they would promote their books . They had books and there was no , there was no Facebook and there was no Instagram and no tick to promote anything and they literally had to go on this show .
But I think I'll talk about one of my appearance , one appearance on Johnny Carson back in those days , oh it's like yeah , all you do is seven hundred seven million Instagram account . You sort on , johnny , it was , that was it . Everybody went and bought the book . Yeah , and bought the book to buy the book .
Yeah , it's a link . Pink pink , thank you done What's the most famous put what's the most fun place . You've seen your book for sale at the airport .
I saw it in one San Francisco airport , which is like indie bookstore .
Did you sign it ?
Oh yeah , i always . but then it's a double-edged sword on my way In I signed them , and on my way out I went back . They're all there , yeah .
You just ask that cuz I was just thinking about that . That's like one of the best places if they get , if you get your book .
Picked up .
Yeah , yeah that's really exciting .
It is fun to it's a double-edged sword . Now when I go to a bookstore I'm like I wonder if they have my book and it can be like devastating if they don't , or it's fun if they do , and then you Sign it .
Oh my god , i could see I could see me seeing my book .
That's helpful .
I'm buying all of them just to let them know . Go order , order more books .
That's what I think a lot of like Republicans who have bestsellers do they buy , you buy 10,000 of your own book and sit it in a warehouse and then suddenly you're a bestseller .
Yeah , I actually think that is something they do . Is that to do ? I know that's what the music industry does with a lot of Albums fine , really .
Arthur .
Luxembourg is gonna buy 25,000 copies of .
He had in his office our friend , one of the partners of this of this , of this of this podcast . When you go to his office he has like piles of books that he loves . He just buys piles and just to get the people .
It's beautiful , you have read this book .
Read this book . He has like piles of books that he just loves and he just , yeah , there is something special about a book especially today because ,
it requires . It's hard , it's work to sit down right to your point who reads like it's hard to sit down and read , but I think it can mean more . You get someone's attention for longer than just 10 seconds or 20 seconds Yeah it's , it's active , like watching a show . You're laughing and you're having fun , whether it's TV or stage .
But a book like requires you . You have to meet the author in the middle , you have to like .
Do the work . Yeah , yeah , i'm excited to read yours . That'll be exciting , it's gonna be fun . Yeah , it is fun .
Okay , I'll be finished . Yeah , we're got .
Thank you so much for coming . Tell us where you're gonna be . Where can they ?
see you do stand-up . Oh , my goodness , i'm in New York most nights and then I'll be in London . This isn't announced yet . The Roundhouse Comedy Festival .
Oh it's 19th .
If anybody in London wants to come , okay , and then this also not announced . But in September I'm doing gay days at Disneyland Show in the hell , so if anyone's in LA that'll be fun .
LA , oh LA Disneyland , not Disney World . I get confused same .
you know , I remember it , Oh Land LA .
Oh we love a trick . What's that called a Monic , a mnemonic ?
Thank God you're here and then follow me on night against your grandma tick-tock at ZZ , double ZZ . I post little clips which I need to do a better job .
Yeah , he's really fun to follow you guys , he's fun to follow .
I follow him . I love , i love you . You're great . And all the work you do with the old , older people , too , do I , didn't you used to do this ? take care of older people , maybe wait , you had a whole promotion Take care of somebody . Take care of somebody else . Help somebody else older people .
Oh yes , oh yeah , yeah , caring across generations . Yeah me do like a thing on the street .
Yeah , I get really resonated with you .
Yes , I am glad look .
He's busy He's on a whirlwind .
Did you buy a book ? no , some 80 year old woman . Then get out of the way .
Me , me , me , me , me , no , no , no , yeah , care is important ?
Okay , so what's the ? what's the best place to find what your shows are ?
website yeah , Zach's H-Zimmermancom or Instagram tick tock and Twitter .
Yes , and we have a . We have a lot of shows coming up in America and in Europe and it's all on . Modi live calm . Amsterdam , brussels , frankfurt , berlin , israel . Shows are on sale . The show . Ladies and gentlemen , get your tickets for December 21st , the town hall , those that's gonna be sold out sooner than you know it .
And modi live calm for shows near you . Look , look and see what shows are near you or near your friends and be the friend that brings the friends to the comedy show . A Big thank you to a and H provisions for being our partner . What's their website ?
Wwwcosherdogsnet with 30% off with promo code modi and .
Whites and Luxembourg also our partners , and their website is whites luxe Com and they are a law firm . That's doing Doing well and doing good , that's they do a lot of Philanthropy and we are so happy that they're partnered with us . Thank you for joining us , zach , thank you Leo for everything and perry up for everything , and Thank you guys for listening .
Bye , bye , you .