Sage-Based Wisdom

Jana and Brian are joined by comedian, writer, and cultural critic Danielle Perez (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Overcompensating, The Night Agent, Ballard) for a wildly unhinged episode that spirals from political scandal and discourse into the ethics of kink, TMZ as the new people’s press, and the increasingly blurred line between power, performance, and delusion. Along the way, they unpa...

Jana and Brian are joined by comedian Hayden Johnson (Funny or Die, Netflix is a Joke, New York Comedy Festival) for a delightfully unhinged dive into van life fantasies, the undeniable hotness of smoking (unfortunately), and the growing suspicion that straight men might, in fact, be the gayest among us. From chaotic industry stories and accidental green room segregation to \a fully realized busin...

Jana and Brian are joined by comedian Tommy Do (Overcompensating, The Other Two, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, People We Meet On Vacation, and Hacks) for a chaotic, globe-trotting, and deeply unserious exploration of solo vacations, gay gym culture, and the increasingly cursed state of the internet. From Fort Lauderdale nude beaches and “living for the plot” to Japan travel prep, int...

Jana and Brian are joined by comedian Sam Taggart (StraightioLab) for a wide-ranging and deeply unserious investigation into gay travel lore, Mr. B&B, and why Fort Lauderdale might be the spiritual home of the “I’m so back” mindset. Along the way they spiral into Speedos, secret vacations, Japan travel stories, and the philosophical highs and lows of declaring yourself “so back” only for life...

Jana and Brian are joined by comedian Zach Noe Towers (E!, Comedy Central, Netflix, Good Sod Pod) for a chaotic, deeply educational exploration of gay hookup apps and the complicated taxonomy of twinks, otters, bears, and daddies. The trio debates sobriety, weed as a coping mechanism for the horrors, and whether personal growth in your 40s is just finally caring less during sex. In the advice segm...

This week, Jana and Brian are joined by poet and writer Tommy Pico for an episode that spirals from fart science to social media detoxing, cousin jealousy lore, and Tribal Chairman drag names. Along the way, they invent new anatomy terminology, debate lying for mystique, and remind you that everything is connected…including your microbiome. A grad student called in after being accepted to two conf...

Joined by television writer Michelle Davis (After Midnight, Ziwe, A Black Lady Sketch Show), the conversation ricochets from pickup basketball and dating lore to Zoom romance during the pandemic. The trio unpacks the chaos of writers’ rooms, getting canceled six months after signing a lease, and why West Hollywood can spiritually exhaust even the strongest among us. They spiral into pandemic panic...

Jana and Brian dive headfirst into TikTok withdrawals and Instagram Reels methadone. Brian recommits to finishing his stand-up hour after what he calls a “comedy sabbatical,” Jana productivity-maxes on antidepressants, and together they unpack algorithm slop bowls, Threads nostalgia, Land Back discourse, and why every app now feels like it was invented by a supervillain. In the advice segment, a s...

Jana and Brian welcome a very special guest straight from Jana’s bedroom to the couch musician and Gen X icon, Steve Jenkins. Hear them talk Succession finale worship, Mad Men propaganda, wallet chains, gay fashion crimes, and whether rich people are, in fact, the worst. Along the way hear from Brian about his ongoing existential crisis about becoming a daily vlogger in pursuit of filming a stand-...

NOTE: This episode was recorded in early January. This week on Sage-Based Wisdom, Jana and Brian ping-pong from SAT scores and stress dreams to Bri’s week-three vlog era, construction chaos, and a renewed commitment to 2026 being the Year of the Bitch™. AKA stop people-pleasing, start roasting the powerful, and please keep your eyes on the alley. In the advice section, a listener doesn’t even ask...

Joined by stand-up comedian and longtime NYC sketch scene legend Brigid Boyle, the conversation spirals from cosmetic procedures, aging, dating, desire, power, and why fantasy is often hotter than reality. Together, they unpack slut energy vs. slut behavior, fear of commitment, and the psychological thrill (and terror) of actually being seen by another person. The trio dives deep into roleplay fan...

Jana and Brian spiral productively into a full-blown stand-up special intervention. What starts as a casual check-in turns into a radical commitment to being delulu on purpose: chasing a Hulu/Netflix special, vlogging the process, and refusing to wait for permission. Along the way, they unpack rage as creative fuel, why bombing is actually essential to comedy, clowning vs. cringe, and whether stan...

Joined by friend of the show and Loud About Nothing co-host Sebastian Conelli, the conversation ricochets from Staten Island Italians on the internet to dating when you’re broke, busy, and spiritually exhausted. Things get intimate: giver vs. receiver energy, workaholism killing romance, Gilmore Girls as a roadmap to softness, and why third spaces are disappearing (and what Brian has unfortunately...

Jana and Brian kick off 2026, immediately spiraling into New Year “goals,” scammy influencer fitness plans, and the bleak reality that January is just a crowded gym with a calendar. Then the episode takes a HARD pivot into politics and Indigenous rage: Kristi Noem catching strays, a crash course in colonization, and the debut of the White Relocation Act–complete with a “five white passes” draft li...

Jana hosts a chaotic-perfect Sage Based Wisdom LIVE with guest co-host Sierra Teller Ornelas (Rutherford Falls), turning a packed room into the newest batch of callers. With Brian tragically missing in snowy Montreal, the night spirals from Indigenous snow art submissions to nepo vendor lore, cookie-snob confessions, and a surprisingly tender TikTok moment about getting older (and getting freer)....

Jana and Brian ring in the end of the year with a recap episode that spirals from Montreal mishaps and icy travel tales to totaled cars, high-stakes auditions, and the sacred wisdom of never ignoring a bad vibe. They reflect on a year of building community, teaching audition workshops, surviving industry collapse, and learning when to show up… and when to conserve energy. They revisit favorite mom...

Jana and Brian are joined by comedian Nori Reed (Raven’s Home, After Midnight, HBO, Showtime) for a long-overdue redo episode after a tragically corrupted audio file. Together, they unpack the algorithm’s favorite “wisdom,” debate whether quarter-zips thin culture, and grocery store inflation are all signs of late-stage capitalism, and share recession-era survival tips ranging from refund confiden...

Jana and Brian spiral gloriously from BBL surgeries and Beverly Hills housewife culture into foam-roller TikTok propaganda, pony herpes panic, and whether big cities are dying. A crash-course in medical tourism leads to faja talk, band-of-horses discourse, and Brian’s dream of a 10K population town with surgically-enhanced friends. Jana goes long on her Kristi Noem vendetta (and Brian maybe follow...

Jana and Brian welcome writer/comedian/professor Amy Silverberg (Comedy Central, Hulu, JFL, Amazon Prime, Don’t Tell) and author of her debut novel “First Time, Long Time,” for an episode that ricochets from news-anchor bloopers to Krampus Christmas lore. A deep dive on the iconic Grape Lady video spirals into internet nostalgia, Thanksgiving chaos, and why canceling the holidays for “political re...

Jana and Brian welcome comedian and internet fave Leah Rudick for an episode that starts with psychedelics and ends in full rot advocacy. A viral clip kicks off a talk about women no longer needing men and how patriarchy is still out here with tiny weiner energy. This week’s caller asks if it’s okay to “rot” instead of doing perfect self-care. Jana, Brian, and Leah unpack shame spirals, hotel Gold...

Jana and Brian welcome comedy legend Rachel Dratch (SNL, Wine Country, 30 Rock, Woo-Woo Podcast) for an episode that’s part pilot reunion and part crow TikTok deep dive. Rachel spills about her podcast, astrology, and crystal charging in the moonlight. Brian soft-launches a new horse era and contemplates being a Studio City cowboy. This week’s caller asks how not to blow up at her mom after a spec...

Jana and Brian welcome writer-director Yassir Lester (The Gutter) for a laugh-cry hang that’s equal parts movie night and auntie/uncle wisdom. They talk Trader Joe’s and trading-post culture, grocery-store anthropology, and why “fart culture” is hilariously gendered. Farts back. Yassir nudges us to put down our phones and show up for people IRL. This week’s caller asks how to flirt with Native fol...

Jana and Brian welcome MN Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan for a convo on organizing in scary times and why she’s running for U.S. Senate! They dig into health care for all, raising the federal minimum wage, national paid family & medical leave, and saying no to corporate PAC money. Plus, concrete ways listeners can plug in (letters, protests, mutual aid, running for local office, text banking). Ca...

Jana and Brian welcome actor/podcaster Michael McMillian (Bigfoot Collectors Club) for a delightfully unhinged tour through alien lore, the Phoenix Lights, Sedona orbs, X-Files, and why Bigfoot might be both relic hominid and forest spirit. They unpack cultural appropriation around “just sage it” and roast a viral TikTok encouraging people to “invite aliens in.” Expect tangents on Nordics vs. gray...

Jana reminds us to protect ourselves (online and IRL) while staying rooted in community values. Brian unveils his Native Uncle Era that includes boots, pickup truck, and outdoor sports. Our caller (28, newly single after 8.5 years) asks: How do I break the seal on a hoe era without apps taking over my life? Jana and Brian react to a viral “trad wife” TikTok teaching women how to please their husba...