Jim Jefferies on Comedy, Life Lessons, and the Magic of Filling Out Customs Forms (#428)

May 4, 2020 Stories

“The rise is always better than the peak.” — Jim Jefferies

Sydney native Jim Jefferies (@jimjefferies) is one of the most popular and respected comedians of his generation, entertaining audiences across the globe with his provocative, belief-challenging, and thought-provoking comedy. He created and starred in the sitcom Legit and the Comedy Central late-night show The Jim Jefferies Show. Jim was honored as Stand-Up Comedian of the Year at the Just for Laughs Festival in summer 2019. At the end of 2019, he embarked on his new tour Oblivious, performing all around Europe and North America. He is currently working with NBC on a multi-camera pilot that he will star in from writer-producer Suzanne Martin, Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner’s Hazy Mills Productions, and Universal TV.

Jim’s new podcast I Don’t Know About That will debut on Tuesday, May 5th, and his ninth stand-up special will be released later this year on Netflix.

Please enjoy! 

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can also watch the conversation on YouTube.

This podcast is brought to you by Laird Superfood and “5-Bullet Friday.” More on both below. 

#428: Jim Jefferies on Comedy, Life Lessons, and the Magic of Filling Out Customs Forms


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This episode is brought to you by Laird Superfood. Founded by big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton and volleyball champion Gabby Reece, Laird Superfood promises to deliver high-impact fuel to help you get through your busiest days. Laird Superfood offers a line of plant-based products designed to optimize your daily rituals, from sunrise to sunset.

My favorite two products are their Turmeric Superfood Creamer and Unsweetened Superfood Creamer. I put one of them in practically everything. Both can really optimize your daily coffee or tea ritual, and a $10 bag will last you a long time. For a limited time, Laird Superfood is offering you guys 20% off your order when you use code TIM at checkout. Check out lairdsuperfood.com/tim to see my favorite products and learn more.

This episode is also brought to you by “5-Bullet Friday,” my very own email newsletter, which every Friday features five bullet points of cool things I’ve found that week, including apps, books, documentaries, gadgets, albums, articles, TV shows, new hacks or tricks, and—of course—all sorts of weird stuff I’ve dug up from around the world. 

It’s free, it’s always going to be free, and you can subscribe now at tim.blog/friday.

What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…

Want to hear another episode with a standup comedian? — Listen to my conversation with Whitney Cummings in which we discuss emotional intelligence, how to overcome workaholic tendencies, managing instant gratification, and much, much more.

#84: Whitney Cummings on Turning Pain Into Creativity

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SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

  • Connect with Jim Jefferies:

Website | Podcast | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

SHOW NOTES

Note from the editor: Dear listeners, the timestamps will be added shortly.

  • Contrary to popular Australian belief, I’ve never played guitar for INXS. Here’s Jim’s Tim Farriss story.
  • Beautiful birds, awful sounds, and the unforgiving sun and currents down under.
  • When Jim had to perform his comedy set under parental supervision, and how a serial killer’s murder spree turned out to be a big break.
  • If comedy didn’t work out, what was Jim’s plan B at age 17?
  • Why Jim wound up leaving Australia for the UK (after a stint as a terrible car stereo salesman).
  • Why Jim would argue that those early days as an expatriate comedian in the UK were the happiest in his life, and how the British and American comedy scenes differ.
  • When did Jim first notice he was achieving some level of success as a comedian?
  • On getting punched in the head by a heckler in Manchester, traveling the world for free, and the fleeting nature of fame and fortune.
  • What keeps Jim going these days?
  • J.K. Rowling, the beauty of Edinburgh, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
  • The time Jim had John Cleese over for dinner, and where someone curious but inexperienced with Monty Python should start.
  • How a story about taking a friend with muscular dystrophy to a brothel became the seed of Jim’s two-season sitcom Legit.
  • The story behind Jim’s gun control piece, a peek into his writing process, and how new material gets tested.
  • What is it about Monty Python’s Life of Brian that makes it a perfect movie in Jim’s estimation?
  • What comics does Jim see as inspiring and formative to his own development as a comic?
  • Does Jim plan on calling L.A. home for the foreseeable future?
  • To what does Jim credit his longevity in comedy?
  • Today, what might give Jim a high comparable to the first time he was able to write “standup comedian” as the occupation on his customs form?
  • How does Jim know when he’s being a good dad?
  • What can we expect from Jim’s upcoming I Don’t Know About That podcast?
  • Parting thoughts.

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