HATE TO BREAK IT TO YA with Jamie Kennedy

In this solo episode of Hate To Break It To Ya, I get into the literal hole that opened up under my driveway — 35 feet deep, undisclosed by the previous owner, and possibly connected to LA's underground tunnel system. Or it's a leech pit. Either way, I'm thinking merch. We're also seeing angel numbers everywhere and the pod is growing, so the universe is clearly on board.

From there I get into the LA mayor's race, and I'm all in on Spencer Pratt. I break down why a guy who lost his house in the Palisades fires and decided to run for mayor makes more sense than the career politicians who've been running this city into the ground. I react to clips of the debate — Lydia making the common-sense case, the other side rolling their eyes at constituents — and I get into the Lee Zeldin EPA hearing where he absolutely dismantles a blue-haired congresswoman who doesn't know what Loper Bright is. Then I go deep on the MacArthur Park needle program: why creating a drug utopia in the middle of the city attracts people from Barstow to Pahrump, why the Coffee Bean on Sunset has to lock up its stirring sticks, and why all of it is the same slippery slope playing out in slow motion.

The back half gets into the stuff that's keeping me up at night. A teacher wishing death on the sitting president. Mark Hamill promoting harm and calling it activism. My prediction that by July 1st they're going to try to shut things down — and why I've already spent $900 on food prep. Then we go deep on the Hantavirus cruise ship situation: the Andes strain, the MV Hondius, 29 passengers from 12 countries disembarking at St. Helena, one woman collapsing in the Johannesburg airport, and why Jo'burg as a transit hub is the perfect super-spreader petri dish. We close out with ancient structures as circuit boards, predictive programming in a 1978 Superman movie, and the theory that the entire earth is a giant motherboard. Stack your supplies. Much love.

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 – The Hole Under Jamie Kennedy’s Driveway

00:03:15 – Angel Numbers and Pod Growth

00:08:09 – Spencer Pratt for LA Mayor

00:15:50 – Lee Zeldin vs. the Blue-Hair Congresswoman

00:25:10 – Career Politicians and the Homeless Crisis

00:40:28 – The MacArthur Park Needle Program

00:54:29 – Coffee Bean Condiment Lockdown

01:00:30 – Enabling Bad Behavior and the Slippery Slope

01:03:01 – Teacher Wishing Death on the President

01:10:08 – Mark Hamill and the Lunatic Left

01:11:44 – July 1st Prediction and $900 Food Prep

01:13:34 – The Hantavirus Cruise Ship Breakdown

01:27:35 – Pentagon UFO Drops and Predictive Programming

01:31:14 – Ancient Structures as Circuit Boards

01:34:02 – Subscribe, Come to Shows, Peace Out

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Support the Pod:

💥 Patreon: patreon.com/thejamiekennedy

🎟️ Tour Dates: jamiekennedy.com

👕 Merch: jamiekennedy.com/merch

📺 Subscribe: youtube.com/@jamiekennedycomedy

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This week on Hate To Break It To Ya I sat down with Harland Williams — Canadian-born comedian, cult movie icon, and one of the most genuinely original minds I've encountered in 30 years of this business — and I have to tell you, this one got weird fast and I loved every second of it. We've known each other for three decades, and somehow this is the first time we've really gone deep on camera. Buckle up.

We covered a lot of ground. Harland just wrote, directed, and starred in his new comedy film Wingman — out now on streaming — and the backstory of how it got made is almost as funny as the movie itself. He sent the script to Will Ferrell, Jim Carrey, Jason Bateman, and Ryan Gosling — yes, that Ryan Gosling, who used to house-sit for Harland and sleep in his guest room before he broke. None of them said yes, so Harland looked in the mirror and cast himself. He also fought hard to bring Kayla Wallace in from British Columbia at extra cost, insisted on Russell Peters doing an East Indian accent on screen for the first time ever, and cast me as the villain — a rival wingman named Eddie with a long wig and a Clint Eastwood stare-down energy. We even watched a scene from the film right here on the pod. The movie has set pieces, heart, and a dark secret between our two characters that you won't see coming.

But that's only half the conversation. Harland also went on record — publicly, for the first time — saying Richard Pryor and George Carlin never made him laugh. He'd take the Purple Rice guy from the Laugh Factory over either of them any day. We got into why so many comedians give the exact same answer when asked about their influences, whether that's conditioning or something weirder, and why Harland refuses to punch down at any comedian no matter how they got here. We also talked California — the taxes, the homeless crisis, the empty fire reservoirs, the delta smelt — and why this state is still a jewel that somebody needs to polish.

Harland Williams is one of a kind. This conversation reminded me exactly why.

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About Harland Williams:

Harland Williams is a Canadian-American comedian and actor best known for his scene-stealing roles in Dumb and Dumber, There's Something About Mary, Half Baked, RocketMan, and Sorority Boys. He is the creator of the Disney Junior animated series Puppy Dog Pals, an author and illustrator of children's books, and the host of The Harland Highway podcast. His new film Wingman — which he wrote, directed, and stars in alongside Russell Peters, Jamie Kennedy, and Kayla Wallace — is now streaming. He is currently on his 2026 Comzilla Comedy Tour across the United States.

Follow Harland Williams

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harlandwilliams/

X: https://x.com/HARLANDHIGHWAY

Website: https://www.harlandwilliams.com

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Hot Cocoa Suspicion & Mic Arm Intro

00:05:09 – Harland's New House & Loving California

00:09:51 – California's Problems: Taxes, Homelessness & Mismanagement

00:17:01 – The LA Fires, Empty Reservoirs & the Delta Smelt

00:22:10 – Stupidity vs. Conspiracy: Wrong Directors in the Wrong Seats

00:27:28 – The Comedy Pipeline Then vs. Now

00:30:13 – Purple Rice: The Unknown Comic Who Lived Rent-Free for 40 Years

00:36:28 – Art Directs Us — Not the Other Way Around

00:39:56 – Harland Quits His Busboy Job & Goes to See Purple Rain

00:43:00 – George Carlin, Richard Pryor & Comedy Conditioning

00:53:03 – Is Comedy Just About the Laugh?

01:00:25 – Wingman: The Movie — Origin Story & 16 Years in the Making

01:02:00 – Ryan Gosling House-Sat for Harland (And His Sisters Know It)

01:05:44 – Casting Wingman: Kayla Wallace, Russell Peters & Michael Rosenbaum

01:13:47 – The Koala, the Set Pieces & What Makes Wingman Different

01:21:28 – The Toothpick Showdown & Jamie's Character Eddie

01:24:10 – Wingman Is Out Now — Where to Watch & Tour Info

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Support the Pod:

💥 Patreon: patreon.com/thejamiekennedy

🎟️ Tour Dates: jamiekennedy.com

👕 Merch: jamiekennedy.com/merch

📺 Subscribe: youtube.com/@jamiekennedycomedy

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This week on Hate To Break It To Ya I sat down with Paul Rodriguez — comedian, actor, Air Force veteran, and one of the original Latin Kings of Comedy — and I have to tell you, this one hit different. Paul is someone I've known for years, seen work rooms that would humble most people, and watched stay out there grinding long after most guys his age would have cashed out. We got into everything: his family's immigration story, his unfiltered take on ICE and the border, the Comedy Store golden age, and what it was actually like living in the same building as Sam Kinison.

We went deep on Paul's father — a man who stood in a physical line outside the American Embassy in Tijuana for four months straight to get a lottery number for citizenship in 1958. That story alone will stop you cold. From there we traced the whole arc: growing up in Compton during the '68 riots, getting drafted into the Air Force, nearly becoming a personal injury lawyer, landing DC Cab on his third audition for sixty thousand dollars, and then Norman Lear writing him a check for three million. We talked about driving Richard Pryor around for six months, what Rodney Dangerfield was like in a hospital bed still asking for party favors, Jim Carrey getting standing ovations the first time anyone ever saw him, and why Paul and Sam Kinison genuinely could not stand each other. He also broke news on me — he's currently suing the Burbank Police Department for fourteen million dollars, and the story behind it is something else.

Paul Rodriguez is the real thing. He came from nothing, built something that mattered, raised a son who became a global superstar on his own terms, and he's still out there performing because he can't not do it. The laughs that come out of this man are earned. Every single one of them.

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About Paul Rodriguez:

Paul Rodriguez is a Mexican-American stand-up comedian and actor born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, and raised in Compton, California. He broke through as the star of the Norman Lear-produced ABC sitcom a.k.a. Pablo — the first television show about a Mexican-American family on mainstream American television — and went on to appear in films including D.C. Cab, Born in East L.A., Rat Race, Blood Work, and Ali. He is a part-owner of the Laugh Factory comedy club in Hollywood, chairman of the California Latino Water Coalition, and a U.S. Air Force veteran. His son, professional skateboarder Paul Rodriguez Jr. ("P-Rod"), is one of the most decorated street skaters in X Games history and the founder of Primitive Skateboards.

Follow Paul Rodriguez

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepaulrodriguez/

Website: https://www.paulrodriguez.com

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Wild Donkeys, Moreno Valley, and Paul's New Life

00:05:00 – Quadruple Bypass, COVID, and Getting a New Lease on Life

00:08:15 – How Paul Sees Jamie's Comedy Style

00:09:46 – The Ranch in Fresno, Brother George the Ginger, and Family Chaos

00:13:37 – Youngest of 12: Born in Sinaloa, Raised in America

00:16:26 – Paul's Father and the Bracero Program

00:17:27 – The El Chapo Connection

00:19:04 – Immigration, ICE, and Paul's Unpopular Opinion

00:26:51 – The Comedian's Dark Side and What Drives the Laughs

00:31:35 – Rodriguez Lemons and the Family Farm

00:35:43 – Getting Drafted, the Air Force, and Almost Re-Enlisting

00:37:40 – DC Cab, Joel Schumacher, and the $60,000 Audition

00:44:49 – The Comedy Store Golden Age: The Lineup Nobody Could Believe

00:56:47 – Driving Richard Pryor and What Paul Learned Watching Him Work

01:00:19 – Rodney Dangerfield: Partying to the End

01:01:18 – Sam Kinison: Brilliant Comic, Piece of Shit Human Being

01:07:55 – Norman Lear, Three Million Dollars, and Going Flat Broke

01:11:23 – The Burbank Police, the Bentley, and a $14 Million Lawsuit

01:26:55 – Paul Rodriguez Jr.: The Skateboarder Who Made It on His Own

01:34:03 – Current Projects: Roxy and the Man, Our Lady of the Barrio, and the Dos Pablos Tour

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Support the Pod:

💥 Patreon: patreon.com/thejamiekennedy

🎟️ Tour Dates: jamiekennedy.com

👕 Merch: jamiekennedy.com/merch

📺 Subscribe: youtube.com/@jamiekennedycomedy

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Spencer Charnas joins me for a conversation about horror movies, heavy music, fandom culture, and how Ice Nine Kills evolved from a metal band into a full cinematic universe.

We talk about the band’s obsession with horror films, creating music inspired by iconic slashers, building collectible merch fans actually care about, and why horror audiences are some of the most loyal fans in entertainment. Spencer also breaks down the storytelling behind Ice Nine Kills, balancing theatrics with music, and how the band turned niche concepts into a massive brand.

We also get into what it’s actually like performing this kind of music live night after night, the physical side of screaming on stage, and why horror and heavy music seem to attract such passionate fans. The conversation drifts into horror nostalgia, growing up on classic movies, and how comedy, film, and metal all tap into the same instinct to shock people, entertain them, and give them an escape from reality.

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About Spencer:

Spencer Charnas is the lead vocalist and creative force behind Ice Nine Kills, the horror-inspired metal band known for blending heavy music with cinematic storytelling. Over the last several years, Ice Nine Kills has built a massive cult following through concept albums inspired by classic horror films, including The Silver Scream and Welcome to Horrorwood.

Known for elaborate live shows, theatrical music videos, and collectible merch culture, Spencer has helped turn Ice Nine Kills into more than just a band — creating a full horror-themed universe that connects music, film, comedy, and fandom culture. The group has toured internationally, collaborated with major names in horror, and become one of the most recognizable modern acts in heavy music.

Follow Spencer Charnas / Ice Nine Kills:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@spencerink
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@iceninekills
Website: https://iceninekills.com

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Timestamps: 

00:00 – Spencer Charnas brings horror-themed gifts and explains the Ice Nine Kills universe

08:15 – Growing up obsessed with horror movies and discovering heavy music

17:40 – The origins of Ice Nine Kills and where the band name came from

27:10 – Turning horror films into songs and building a cinematic identity

36:45 – Why horror fans and metal fans are so loyal to their fandoms

46:20 – Stage performance, screaming techniques, and surviving long tours

56:35 – Collectible merch culture and creating items fans actually want to keep

01:05:10 – Scream, slashers, and the influence of classic horror franchises

01:14:40 – The crossover between comedy, horror, and shocking an audience

01:24:05 – Music videos, storytelling, and creating the Ice Nine Kills cinematic universe

01:33:30 – Touring stories, fan reactions, and balancing theatrics with music

01:42:15 – Horror nostalgia, cult movies, and the future of the genre

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Support the Pod:

💥Patreon: patreon.com/thejamiekennedy 

🎟️ Tour Dates: jamiekennedy.com 

👕 Merch: jamiekennedy.com/merch 

📺 Subscribe: youtube.com/@jamiekennedycomedy

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This week on Hate To Break It To Ya I sat down with Jerry O'Connell — actor, TV host, husband, dad, and one of my genuinely old friends from the Hollywood trenches — and we went for almost two hours without coming up for air. That's always a good sign.

Jerry and I go way back to the Scream 2 days, and we've never really told this story in public before. So we did. All of it. Growing up as a child actor after Stand By Me, what it actually felt like to step into the Scream universe, how that cast became a real family, and why Hollywood friendships drift even when they shouldn't. We talk marriage, kids, L.A. loyalty, gender, social media, getting older, and what it means to still be working and still be standing after decades in this industry.

Jerry's one of the most naturally funny, disarmingly honest guys I know. He's also not afraid to go there. This one's got some real moments.

About Jerry O'Connell Jerry O'Connell is an actor, producer, and television host whose career spans four decades. He broke out as a child actor in Rob Reiner's Stand By Me alongside River Phoenix, went on to star in Scream 2, Sliders, and Kangaroo Jack, and has remained a working force in Hollywood ever since. He currently co-hosts The Talk on CBS and is married to model and actress Rebecca Romijn, with whom he has twin daughters.

Follow Jerry O'Connell 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjerryoc
X:https://x.com/MrJerryOC

Timestamps:
00:00:00 – Reuniting after the Scream 2 years and how they bonded on set
00:10:00 – Growing up as a child actor, Stand By Me, and River Phoenix
00:20:00 – Stepping into the Scream franchise and trying to fit in with an established cast
00:35:00 – Scream 3, the sequels, and what the cast thinks of them now
00:45:00 – The Scream 7 premiere invite situation and Paramount years
00:55:00 – Hollywood friendships, dating in L.A., and the single years
01:05:00 – Rebecca Romijn, marriage, and life in the Valley
01:20:00 – Getting older, social media, and why Jerry doesn't post
01:32:00 – Stand By Me memories and being recognized by sanitation workers
01:37:00 – A debate on gender, speech, and saying what you think
01:45:00 – Never leaving Los Angeles and the state of the city
01:52:00 – Jerry's new movie Last Resort and the wrap-up

Support the Pod 💥 Patreon: patreon.com/thejamiekennedy 

🎟️ Tour Dates: jamiekennedy.com 

👕 Merch: jamiekennedy.com/merch 

📺 Subscribe: youtube.com/@jamiekennedycomedy

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