October 7, 2024 • 26 mins
Joe Gatto is an improvisational comedian, actor, and producer from the New York City borough of Staten Island. He is a former member of the Tenderloins, a comedy troupe consisting of Sal Vulcano, James Murray, and Brian Quinn, and of course Impractical JokersMost recently, he toured for two years with his stand-up solo show “Joe Gatto’s Night of Comedy” in sold out theaters across the United States, Canada and Australia. Prior to that, he has toured with the Jokers live comedy show to sold-out crowds across the world, including legendary arenas, such as Madison Square Garden in New York and the O2 Arena in London.Joe is passionate about supporting anti-bullying organizations and animal rescue initiatives. He happily advocates for the “Adopt, Don’t Shop” movement with his non-profit Gatto Pups and Friends founded in 2022 which operates on Long Island, NY focusing on mainly senior and unwanted dogs.Joe also hosts a popular comedy podcast called "Two Cool Moms" on the iHeart Radio Podcast Network where he and his co-host dispenses sage motherly advice to fans who write in with their dilemmas.Joe's links:
- Messing With People comedy special, out now on YouTube: https://sacksco.com/pr/joe_gatto.html
- Podcast: Two Cool Moms with co-host Steve Byrne which just kicked off its 2nd season via iHeartMedia/the Elvis Duran Podcast Network: https://sacksco.com/pr/joe_gatto_073024.html
- Comedy Tour: https://sacksco.com/pr/joe_gatto_061824.html
- Children's Book: Where's Bearry? is out now via Penguin https://randomhouse.app.box.com/s/tzqkhe4nmmpofof249s5zszjmfk1q1al/file/1635852675698
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_02 (00:04):
This is the Unfiltered Union.
SPEAKER_03 (00:07):
I'm Linz.
SPEAKER_02 (00:07):
And I'm Russ.
SPEAKER_03 (00:08):
Here is this week's episode.
Coming to you live fromHurricane Helene.
I
SPEAKER_02 (00:17):
thought it was Helen.
SPEAKER_03 (00:22):
I don't know what it is.
We're on the tornado watch.
SPEAKER_02 (00:26):
Are we?
SPEAKER_03 (00:26):
We are.
Until like 8 p.m.
SPEAKER_02 (00:28):
Standard, standard hurricane procedure there.
SPEAKER_03 (00:32):
Yep.
Standard Florida hurricaneseason.
SPEAKER_02 (00:35):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (00:36):
Did you see the meme where everybody was buying up
water except for Dasani andAwkwafina?
SPEAKER_02 (00:41):
Well, yeah.
I will not say what I want tosay.
SPEAKER_03 (00:46):
Why not?
Say it.
SPEAKER_02 (00:48):
I might get cease and desisted.
SPEAKER_03 (00:50):
Say it.
SPEAKER_02 (00:50):
I've had that happen to me before.
SPEAKER_03 (00:52):
Yep, not allowed to just voice your opinions
anymore.
SPEAKER_02 (00:57):
No, you can't.
You can't review or, you know,you can't properly review things
without threat of legal action.
SPEAKER_03 (01:06):
Which is bullshit.
But welcome to the UnfilteredUnion for that very purpose.
Yeah.
So, hurricane.
SPEAKER_02 (01:14):
Yeah.
It hasn't really started yet.
So we're getting our episode outof the way right now on Thursday
because of the hurricane.
Because who knows?
We might lose power for a year.
A
SPEAKER_03 (01:28):
year.
So dramatic.
But during this wonderfulhurricane season, this hurricane
most moment we have an interview
SPEAKER_02 (01:38):
we do we do we haven't we have a special guest
today one that we're both andour child are very big fans of
SPEAKER_03 (01:47):
uh-huh very excited for this
SPEAKER_02 (01:49):
one yeah this was our like covid crutch watching
watching yeah watchingimpractical jokers was like our
thing to do during covid beinglocked inside all day watching
impractical jokers we evenwatched their specials where
they couldn't go out and theydid their
SPEAKER_03 (02:09):
Dinner
SPEAKER_02 (02:11):
specials or whatever.
Dinner with the Jokers orwhatever it was called, but it
was awesome.
It
SPEAKER_03 (02:18):
was good.
SPEAKER_02 (02:19):
We loved watching them and we have Joe Gata today.
SPEAKER_03 (02:22):
I'm so excited.
He is probably my favorite outof all four of them.
SPEAKER_02 (02:26):
100%.
He is a guy who does not care.
He was the one that if you askedhim to do something ridiculous,
he did it.
SPEAKER_03 (02:38):
Full out.
SPEAKER_02 (02:39):
He He was like, okay, I'll do it.
And we're talking to him todayabout a couple of things.
One, he has a new special outcalled Messing With People.
He also is a, I would say, aphilanthropist.
UNKNOWN (03:00):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (03:02):
Philanthropist.
SPEAKER_02 (03:02):
He's a philanthropist.
SPEAKER_03 (03:04):
Good job.
First try.
SPEAKER_02 (03:07):
Yeah.
He has a dog rescue by the nameof Gato's Pups and Friends.
And he rescues elderly andunwanted dogs.
And he also has a podcast.
So we're going to talk to himabout all kinds of stuff today.
SPEAKER_03 (03:21):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (03:22):
Very excited.
SPEAKER_03 (03:23):
Me too.
I can't wait to talk to him.
I just feel like he's the kindof person that you want to be
you know what i mean like noti'm not trying to idolize him or
anything but he just has thispersonality and attitude that
it's like fuck everybody
SPEAKER_02 (03:40):
yeah
SPEAKER_03 (03:41):
he's like be happy he doesn't care he
SPEAKER_02 (03:44):
doesn't care what you think about it like and
that's truthfully i thinkbreaking down that barrier for
yourself is super importantbecause of how hard it can be if
you're walking around wonderingwhat people are thinking about
you all the time right
SPEAKER_03 (04:00):
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (04:01):
That's not a way to live.
SPEAKER_03 (04:03):
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (04:03):
So stop caring and be Joe Gatto.
SPEAKER_03 (04:07):
Yep.
I think in his special, he evensays, you know, be kind and just
make people laugh like it's notthat serious.
SPEAKER_02 (04:14):
Oh, yeah.
He gives you some tips andtricks on how to do it, too.
So I highly recommend watchingit.
We actually checked it out lastnight and it was it was funny.
We enjoyed it.
Of
SPEAKER_03 (04:22):
course.
SPEAKER_02 (04:23):
Yeah, we enjoyed it.
Love you.
SPEAKER_03 (04:26):
Here we go.
SPEAKER_02 (04:27):
Introducing Joe Gatto.
SPEAKER_03 (04:31):
Hello.
SPEAKER_02 (04:32):
Oh
SPEAKER_03 (04:33):
my gosh.
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (04:34):
Are you not expecting me?
Oh, yes.
SPEAKER_03 (04:40):
This is you.
SPEAKER_02 (04:41):
Yes.
Yes.
I'm here for real.
I had no idea that we wereinterviewing Steve Carell today.
There you go, man.
Here he is.
SPEAKER_01 (04:47):
Here he is.
Let me tell you about Gru.
SPEAKER_03 (04:49):
No, we absolutely love you.
We have followed you guysthrough Impractical Jokers.
And then also during the COVID,we were just talking about this
when you guys were doing dinnerstogether.
Oh
SPEAKER_01 (05:02):
yeah, dinner party.
It was one of my favorite thingsI've done in my career.
SPEAKER_03 (05:04):
It was awesome.
It really got us through COVID.
I mean, it filled the space,
SPEAKER_01 (05:09):
right?
But
SPEAKER_03 (05:10):
just to hear from you, what was your favorite part
about doing Impractical Jokersand then dinner with friends?
SPEAKER_01 (05:15):
Yeah, I mean, it was all great.
You know, over a decade of mylife dedicated to be part of
that legacy is so fun.
You know, it was making your,having a good time your friends
just laughing is unbeatable.
So I would say there's so manymemories I have from that
fortunate part of my life.
But I think the biggest takeawayis the fandom I have and meeting
(05:36):
all these great people that havefollowed me through my career
and my journey.
It's overwhelming with love andsupport.
So I'm very happy about it.
SPEAKER_02 (05:43):
Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (05:43):
We're
SPEAKER_02 (05:44):
big fans.
Our kiddo is too, but we're notquite comfortable yet bringing
her.
How old is your kid?
She is
SPEAKER_03 (05:50):
nine.
SPEAKER_02 (05:53):
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
I got a kid's book.
I got a kid's book.
Where as Barry.
You got to get you one.
Yeah, we'll definitely check itout with her and stuff.
But yeah, so your absolutefavorite part of Impractical
Jokers is everything, right?
I mean,
SPEAKER_01 (06:08):
there's definitely memorable moments for sure that
pop out.
Of course, you got your skoopskypatatas, you got your Larry
bits, you got all the stuff thatgets yelled at me.
I mean, I will say somethingthat's been popping up lately
has been Dave Jacobs, which isreally fun.
One of my favorite improv thingsI did ever cue was we had we're
doing the bit in the supermarketand Q starts talking to this guy
(06:29):
and he says to Q, he says, howold do you think I am?
And Q's like, you know, 54.
He goes, at 20.
He was 74 years old.
He looked unbelievable.
And he goes, I'm Dave Jacobs,superhuman athlete.
She was like, what?
And he takes out a newspaperclipping from his pocket and he
shows him.
He carried it around with him.
And he goes, yeah, look at that.
And he goes, I'm all overYouTube, whatever.
So I got the idea.
I was like, oh, I'll be rightback.
And I ran out and I recognizedhim talking to Q.
(06:50):
I go, oh my God, Dave Jacobs,superhuman athlete.
He goes, what?
You know who I am?
And then it just got daisychained and then sal came out
and mur came out we all took apicture with him his mind was
blown it was so what he's likeare you putting me on it was so
great uh that's one of myfavorite moments and i've seen
that resurface online which isreally really cool oh that's
awesome
SPEAKER_02 (07:10):
see the the organic nature of that show was what we
loved about it it was just itwas non-scripted you could tell
and we would just laugh our ournine-year-old would lose her
mind over it
SPEAKER_01 (07:22):
yeah so you know it's so funny you'd have some
bits that you know were heavilyscripted you had to think about
like when you had to dress up ascharacters and like you had to
really write that out and thinkabout things but then it was
just the fun of being with yourfriends you're confident because
you're with the funniest guysyou know right you know you
together collectively you knowthat you'll just you know crush
whatever you whatever you'regoing at as long as everybody
jumps in together so to be ableto just be like you know what
(07:42):
this is what's happening you'llhave this whole bit planned out
then this woman walks in withthis huge hat and you're like
okay that's out the window iclearly have to get this hat on
you know so it's like so it'slike just the that nature of it
was always fun for sure i
SPEAKER_03 (07:55):
mean i think i have to jump to this real quick,
because everything that you'resaying, right, aligns with how
you described in Messing withPeople, your special that you
have out right now, wethoroughly enjoyed.
It was hilarious.
SPEAKER_00 (08:07):
Oh,
SPEAKER_03 (08:07):
great.
Thank you.
That you tell everyone, youknow, to live in happiness, to
be kind, to just, I think that'syour personality, if I can gauge
that with, you know, knowingyour persona, but it's just
going to the max, right?
And not caring what anybodythinks about you.
And, you know, we obviously loveyou for that reason, but is that
how you view life?
Like,
SPEAKER_01 (08:25):
Yeah, I think, you know, that was a big takeaway
from, you know, as you said,messing with people is my new
special that's available onYouTube.
It was basically I toured withthat show for two and a half
years.
It was called Joe Gandel's Nightof Comedy.
And then when time was up, itwas like, all right, I don't
want this just to go away.
You know, let's release it as aspecial.
And people could see me as astandup as well, because a lot
(08:46):
of people weren't aware of me inthat format.
So it's nice.
And I really, really enjoyed it.
But it's funny when you people,when the way that people say, I
don't care what people thinkreally defines on how you can
live your life.
You can live it two ways.
You can be like, I don't carehow people think I'm going to
have a good time, or I don'tcare what people think.
And the people that say that wayaren't living life the right
way.
I mean, you're just out herebeing like caring, offending
(09:08):
people and and whatnot.
I think I don't care what peoplethink as long as I'm coming from
a place of, I'm trying to enjoyevery moment I have because you
never know when this ride'sgoing to be over.
So you got to try to do that andbe with people you care about,
have fun with people you careabout, make memories, because
that's all we leave behind,right?
Your legacy is the stories thatare told about you when your
light is burnt out, right?
That's all you have.
So I think that's reallyimportant to do that.
(09:29):
I live that way with mychildren.
I live that way with my family,my friends.
I think it's really important.
SPEAKER_03 (09:34):
You have a philosophical side to you that I
don't think people have seen
SPEAKER_01 (09:38):
as much because Everything you just
SPEAKER_00 (09:40):
said there,
SPEAKER_01 (09:41):
it's like, wow.
I get deep sometimes.
You know, it's fun because, youknow, you see me on Jokers.
I wasn't playing a character asbeing me.
So that's the good part aboutseeing me in stand-up is like
you get 60 minutes more insightof this guy you've just seen on
TV who's being himself.
I'm not an actor.
I don't pretend to be.
I just, I don't think I'd besuccessful in any other show
because I'm not, you know,that's not how I'm programmed.
I got to be myself and make myfriends laugh the way I make
(10:02):
them laugh.
That's why I succeeded in thatshow.
I always, embarrassment comedywas always the way I lived my
life.
Sal would always hate takingelevators or subways with me
because he'd be locked in aclosed space with me he knew
something was going to happenyou know so like it was just the
way i live um so i think i thinkthat's important and be it
through my different mediums nowpeople get to see a lot more you
know i'm 48 years old i've had avery up and down uh fulfilling
(10:25):
uh life which has been filledwith lots of challenges lots of
you know unfortunate events thati've been able to turn into uh
positives and and i think it's ithink it's really a mindset that
needs to be embraced byeverybody especially in these
times we have right now wherejust life sucks if we're going
to be honest with each other alot of people know this in tough
times you know oh yeah so youknow i have a saying that came
(10:45):
out of my thing it was like lifesucks suck harder you're just
gonna get out there and not giveup on it so uh i think that's
important to just be you knowhave that mindset yeah
SPEAKER_03 (10:54):
absolutely and for us you know unfiltered union the
point and purpose of our podcastis exactly what you're saying
you just don't get offended
SPEAKER_02 (11:02):
right
SPEAKER_03 (11:02):
so i think that was loud and clear in your special
messing
SPEAKER_02 (11:05):
with yeah we're allowed to to think different
things just move on we can stillbe friends.
SPEAKER_01 (11:10):
A hundred percent.
A hundred percent.
I think, you know, of coursecomedy too, it's funny because
comedy is 100% subjective.
It's the only thing really thatis dependent on if people get
you as a career, right?
People are going to think you'refunny.
It's one person thinks you'rethe funniest guy in the world.
The other person thinks you'reterrible and there's no rhyme or
reason to it.
It's just the perception thatwhat makes people what they
(11:32):
enjoy.
So you have to be okay withthat.
And for me, like I'm goingthrough my messing with people
the comments on YouTube, I'mreplying to every comment.
If people say you suck, I say,Hey, thanks for giving it a
shot.
Be well, you know, becausethat's fine.
If they thought it sucked, itwasn't for them.
You know, I, you know, differentpeople laugh at different things
and that's always the way it is.
Um, so I, I think that's a veryhealthy and smart way to
(11:55):
approach life, you know?
Yeah, I
SPEAKER_02 (11:57):
agree.
It's, it's, it's already tough.
Don't make it tougher.
SPEAKER_01 (12:00):
Yeah.
That's what I try to do in mylive comedy too.
Like, so I try to make my, whenI do my shows, so I'm on tour
now with my new, uh, my newhour, it's called, uh, which is
completely different thanmessing with people.
It's let's get into it.
And I try to make it like anevent where I don't get up
there.
I'm not divisive.
I don't do that kind of shockcomedy.
Like, oh, I hate when comics arelike, oh, when people, the crowd
(12:20):
goes, oh, and they're like, oh,you don't get it.
Oh, did I offend you?
Like, guess what you're tryingto do?
Like, so that's not my type ofcomedy.
My type of comedy is like, look,forget about how terrible life
is for an hour.
Let's get in here, have somelaughs together, just all
together.
I share stories about that.
I've my life that I think peoplecan relate to that I think are
funny and serve a little bit ofa purpose in my story of, uh,
(12:41):
you know, the journey I'm tryingto put together over that hour.
So I think that's, that's just adifferent way to approach it.
And people seem to respondpretty well to it.
SPEAKER_02 (12:49):
Oh yeah.
Oh, we, we did.
Yeah, we did.
Our kiddo did too.
She, she lost it a couple oftimes.
I love that.
Yeah.
Oh yeah.
So, so you, you with impracticaljokers, you were all over the
streets of New York, you know,pranking people and all that
stuff.
Causing a ruckus.
Causing a ruckus, you know?
And, uh, but, but how does itfeel to kind of change gears and
(13:12):
do arenas, you know, sell outarenas and, and, and perform in
that comedy aspect instead of,you know,
SPEAKER_01 (13:21):
so I've been performing live comedy forever.
Like I did it with the boys too.
So, which was great, you know,but it's a different animal,
right?
Do you get that?
Like I said, it's like an event,right?
You want to put on a show forpeople that they've spent their
money on, lined up a babysitter,making it a date night, whatever
they're doing, you know, it'slike you, you want to show up
for people.
a big different way and thathour could be really impactful
(13:42):
you know just to get out andsmile and laugh change their
perception on people I've heardstuff which is crazy to me that
I can't believe that hashappened in my shows I get I got
this one I met one person tomeet and greet after they came
after and it was a couple andthey had gotten divorced but I
bought the tickets and bothstill wanted to go so they had
separated and they came out andthis is the first time they were
(14:04):
together in about like you knowseven months or six months or
whatever it was and I was like,well, did you laugh?
And they're like, yeah, weactually were laughing and
having a good time.
I said, oh, we might not be donehere.
And then I heard from them alittle while later that they
actually were giving it anothershot, which was interesting.
And I was like, yeah.
I mean, you don't think that atall, right?
You're just getting up therebeing a jerk, having fun, making
(14:26):
some jokes, and hopefully peoplesmile and come out.
And you don't realize thoselittle pieces.
And I found that through Jokers,where we were playing on repeat
through COVID, I have inhospitals, TruTV is huge, we
have these people to find uswhen they're going through these
things.
We play in prisons, people inprison, you know, it's like all
these things you don't expectjust messing around with your
friends is going to have that.
(14:47):
And quickly I learned that.
And it had a real impact on methat I'm being that for people.
And it was like, this, it'simportant what I'm doing, not
only just to have fun and smileand self-fulfilling for me, but
also to be like, Hey, come onin.
Let's, let's get through thistogether.
Kind of deal.
So, yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (15:03):
Awesome.
Well,
SPEAKER_02 (15:04):
I mean, so, so you're telling me that you are a
philosopher.
UNKNOWN (15:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (15:08):
A comedian?
And now you're a marriagecounselor.
I
SPEAKER_01 (15:11):
do it all.
I do it all.
I'm a pastry connoisseur.
I'm a dog rescuer.
I mean, what do you need?
I got you.
The only thing I'm not isathletic.
UNKNOWN (15:21):
Right.
SPEAKER_03 (15:22):
Well, I mean, if you saw an ice cream truck, how
athletic can you get?
SPEAKER_01 (15:27):
You know what?
I got a good sprint.
I got a good sprint.
I hope he hears me yelling.
Ten
SPEAKER_03 (15:32):
seconds.
SPEAKER_01 (15:34):
It's so funny you mentioned it.
I literally chased the ice creamtruck for the first time in at
my sister's house with my kidsand my nephew is nine my uh my
nephew's 10 my daughter's ninemy my son is seven we hear that
we hear the dink dink and we runi'm like guys the ice cream
truck we run from the backyardout and he's gone and my son
goes he didn't hear us and helooks at me well enough i said
oh we're gonna get him and ijumped in my car in a wet
(15:56):
bathing suit i tore down theroad after this i chased down
this ice cream truck i pull overand i like literally like hong
kong and i like cut him off i'mlike mike you missed my kids and
he goes joe and he recognizedme.
And I was like, yeah, bro.
I was like, my kids are backthere crying.
Come on, we got to go.
And he turned around andfollowed me.
And I was honking the horn downthe street, hanging out the side
(16:18):
window.
My kids are jumping like I'm achampion.
It was so funny.
And the guy was like, dude, canI get a picture?
I'm like, absolutely.
Come on, let's go.
SPEAKER_03 (16:28):
I think my biggest fear with ice cream trucks,
though, because our kiddos ninetwo, it's like, do we have cash?
SPEAKER_01 (16:34):
Yeah.
Oh, yeah.
They don't take that Venmo.
You got to get up in there withsome bills.
SPEAKER_03 (16:41):
Well, I think you talked about the dogs.
So Gato's Pups and Friends.
I mean, they are awesome, right?
Your charity that you have goingon is amazing.
We looked at your list of dogsthat you currently have
available for adopting and thatare part of your charity.
Who names the dogs?
SPEAKER_01 (16:58):
We do, we do.
It's a family affair, yeah.
We have a couple of volunteersthat work with us, a couple of
people that work with ourfoundation and with our
organization.
They're great.
And my wife and I, we get intoit.
My wife has final, and I havereally final say.
We get pitched some names andstuff.
Sometimes I'll come home andlike, because I'll be on the
road and my wife will be like,this is Sprinkles.
(17:18):
I'm like, who the hell isSprinkles?
I don't know Sprinkles.
She's like, oh, she's like, wegot him Friday.
And I was like, oh, I was like,all right, it's all right,
Sprinkles.
But it's been great.
I mean, Gato Pups and Friends isour nonprofit here in New York.
We were just collecting olddogs.
Like that's what we were doing.
And I was like, we probablycould do better.
Let's see what, look intobecoming a nonprofit and helping
these dogs find homes.
And we just adopted out thislast weekend.
(17:40):
We adopted out our 120th dog,which is really, really, and so
great, so rewarding.
It really is a family affair.
And we have 11 dogs that are ourown that aren't up for adoption.
And the ones that are up foradoption range anywhere from
four to, you know, I think wehave 12 or 14 right now that are
up for adoption,
SPEAKER_03 (17:57):
so.
That's awesome.
SPEAKER_01 (17:58):
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (18:00):
Well, I mean, you have so much going on in life,
right?
You have your comedy shows, youhave your podcast, two cool
moms, your charity.
And I mean, you're also a fatherand a husband, but what is your
secret to balancing it all?
SPEAKER_01 (18:15):
To accept that there's no such thing as
balance.
I think that's a big thing.
I think people, you put so muchpressure on yourself that you
miss the moments because you'retrying to balance everything.
All I can really say is I'm moreabout focus less than balance.
When you're focused on themoment that's happening right
now.
If you're going to be a dad inthis moment, that's what's
happening.
You know, and that was a lessonI had to learn when I was going
through a lot of my personalstuff was like, I wasn't ever
(18:35):
present in what was going on.
You know, if my son says to me,dad, could you play?
Like I'll find the five minutesright now to stop what I'm doing
and play because those fiveminutes could be the best part
of his day.
And I have fun in it.
And it's a moment for me, or,you know, if I'm thinking about
something that I want to writeor something, and I'm trying to
do something else, I'm like, youknow what, I'm going to take
(18:55):
five minutes and go do this realquick, write this down, try to
flesh out an idea I have orsomething like that.
I think that's really importantfor stuff.
So I think that's the biggestthing for me is to realize it's
impossible to balance it.
You just got to become happywith where you're putting your
focus.
See?
SPEAKER_03 (19:11):
Know the philosopher.
That
SPEAKER_01 (19:12):
is the next special we need.
I had a lot of time thinking bymyself.
When I went through theseparation with my wife, it was
the first time that I was livingby myself in 47 years.
I had always had a roommate.
I was at home or I'd live withmy wife or whatever.
And you end up in this apartmentby yourself and it's like whoa
how did that how did i get hereso it leaves you with your
thoughts for a while so you sitthere and you think a lot and
(19:34):
you you try to set together aplan and i think it's a it's an
important part to to ponderbecause life could get tough and
you need to find your littletips and tricks for yourself and
what helps you cope with it
SPEAKER_03 (19:46):
see i'm telling you write a book philosophy because
that is amazing like amazingadvice
SPEAKER_01 (19:53):
yeah you got a kid's book how about the adults now
yeah yeah you're right i gotwhere's barry for the kids i
gotta to come on, like, How toSurvive by Joe Gatto.
SPEAKER_03 (20:01):
Yeah, right?
Yep, life sucks, sucks harder.
SPEAKER_01 (20:03):
Life sucks, sucks harder.
That's a great tagline, youknow.
It's funny, because when we didthat dinner show, you know, I
started, I had the inspirationalposters behind me.
Yes.
And that became a thing, thatbecame a thread within the show,
within Dinner Party, which wasso fun.
I remember sending them to,like, Kinko's to get printed.
You know, I was getting them atthe office, Max, they were
getting done, and it was sofunny when they would come home,
and the boys couldn't wait forme to reveal them during each
(20:25):
show.
It was so fun.
Okay.
It's awesome.
SPEAKER_03 (20:28):
Well, we can't thank you enough for your time today.
We appreciate you coming on hereat Unfiltered Union.
Again, we're huge fans and weabsolutely love everything that
you do.
So keep it coming, Joe.
SPEAKER_01 (20:40):
You're wonderful.
Thank you so much for having me.
Go to JoeGattoOfficial.com.
It's got the links to everythingI do and that's where you can
find it.
It's the official website, guys.
Don't go to JoeGatto.com.
I don't know what he's gettinginto.
JoeGattoOfficial.com is whereyou can find where I'm going on
tour, ticket links, how to watchmy special on YouTube and And
then of course the kids book andthe charity as well.
SPEAKER_02 (21:00):
That sounds good.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (21:02):
You guys are great.
Thank you.
This is really fun.
SPEAKER_02 (21:04):
Yeah, for sure.
Okay.
See, that was fun.
SPEAKER_03 (21:08):
That was so much
SPEAKER_02 (21:10):
fun.
Oh, my goodness.
I did not understand or I don'tknow how we got an interview
with Steve Carell.
SPEAKER_03 (21:18):
Stop.
The fact that he laughed at thatwas awesome.
Like he was.
SPEAKER_02 (21:25):
Well, I mean, it's his joke.
SPEAKER_03 (21:28):
said it to you before he said it in the special
I was like he looks like Gru
SPEAKER_02 (21:32):
yeah you did and then he said it in the special
we were both like
SPEAKER_03 (21:38):
no but that was awesome he seems like one of
those people I mean we say aboutalmost everybody we interview
right that we could talk to themfor hours oh yeah and it just
goes to show like when you havea certain personality right it's
it's easy
SPEAKER_02 (21:52):
you could learn a lot from him like just being
able to chill
SPEAKER_03 (21:57):
uh-huh
SPEAKER_02 (21:57):
you know just hanging out with the buddies and
making each other laugh that'sall you need
SPEAKER_03 (22:02):
yeah
SPEAKER_02 (22:02):
laughter is a good medicine and he's very good at
dispensing said medicine so he'skind of like a pharmacist too
philosopher comedian
SPEAKER_03 (22:12):
marriage counselor
SPEAKER_02 (22:13):
marriage counselor and now pharmaceutical person
SPEAKER_03 (22:17):
doling out dopamine
SPEAKER_02 (22:20):
yeah laughter dopamine oh
SPEAKER_03 (22:22):
that's another good tagline doling out dopamine no
SPEAKER_02 (22:26):
it sounds kind of rough
SPEAKER_03 (22:27):
okay
SPEAKER_02 (22:28):
so it It fits Florida, but I don't know about
the other countries.
Countries?
SPEAKER_03 (22:32):
Come down from your high.
SPEAKER_02 (22:35):
I'm talking to Joe Gatto.
I highly recommend you all checkhim out, though.
He just said his links.
JoeGattoOfficial.com and
SPEAKER_03 (22:46):
You looked angry about that dot com.
SPEAKER_02 (22:48):
Well, I was I was just kind of like making sure I
said it right.
But yeah, he's he's he does thephilanthropy with his Godo pups
and friends and just check himout.
He's he's a good person.
SPEAKER_03 (23:01):
Yeah, absolutely.
Based on, you know, just how youknow him for that short amount
of time.
It's like these are he is words.
He is the type of person that Iwould want to hang out with and
learn from.
I mean, in his special he talksabout being, you know, kind of a
nerd when he was a kid.
And I, you know, I can relate tothat one, but also that he is
(23:25):
very eloquent when he gets inhis philosopher hat, right?
Like the stuff he was saying waslike truth bombs.
SPEAKER_02 (23:31):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (23:32):
It was awesome.
SPEAKER_02 (23:33):
Kids books.
And now I seriously think heneeds to do an adult book
because I'd read it.
SPEAKER_03 (23:38):
Yep.
I agree.
SPEAKER_02 (23:40):
Like I said, during the interview, we utilized
impractical jokers as a, likeour COVID thing.
SPEAKER_03 (23:50):
Right.
It got us through COVID.
SPEAKER_02 (23:52):
It was a COVID tradition, I guess you could
say.
We would come home from work ornot come home.
We would log off of ourcomputers from our home office
and our kiddo would be ready towatch it too.
We would eat dinner and we wouldwatch Impractical Jokers and
it...
Was nice.
SPEAKER_03 (24:11):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (24:12):
Made us laugh.
SPEAKER_03 (24:13):
A silver lining to that crazy time.
SPEAKER_02 (24:15):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (24:17):
But we are still in Hurricane Helene.
SPEAKER_02 (24:21):
Helen.
SPEAKER_03 (24:23):
If you say so.
So it didn't take out our power,which was awesome.
And we got to interview Joe.
SPEAKER_02 (24:29):
We did get to interview Joe.
I was concerned big time aboutit.
But I will say we're not in ityet.
We are getting the
SPEAKER_03 (24:37):
bands of it.
SPEAKER_02 (24:37):
Yes, we are getting the band, the outer bands
currently.
And the major stuff is supposedto happen in a few hours.
Our time.
SPEAKER_03 (24:46):
Yes.
But again, we live in a place inFlorida, central Florida, where
people on the coast evacuate.
too.
We're safe.
We believe we're safe.
SPEAKER_02 (24:56):
If you care enough, we're safe.
We're good.
SPEAKER_03 (24:59):
I'm just making sure because you make it sound like,
oh my God, it's coming.
We're
SPEAKER_02 (25:02):
safe.
It is going to be catastrophicfor certain people.
SPEAKER_03 (25:06):
Absolutely.
Big Bend, it's 15 to 20 footsurge
SPEAKER_02 (25:10):
right now.
SPEAKER_03 (25:11):
That's insane.
SPEAKER_02 (25:12):
Dennis Phillips for our area has said, evacuate, run
from the water, and hunker downfor the wind.
Ours is wind and rain.
Yep.
SPEAKER_03 (25:25):
No storm surge where we live, which is a good thing.
SPEAKER_02 (25:29):
All the school systems around us get shut down
because they use them asshelters for people.
SPEAKER_03 (25:34):
Speaking of, they just canceled school for
tomorrow, too.
So, kiddo has been home foralmost three days.
We are losing our sanity.
SPEAKER_02 (25:44):
Yeah, yeah.
And you try to tell her, like,hey, just because you're off
school, you still got to do somework.
She's like,
SPEAKER_03 (25:50):
yeah.
What is that?
Super Saiyan?
She goes Super Saiyan?
SPEAKER_02 (25:54):
She goes Super Saiyan or Hulk.
SPEAKER_03 (25:55):
Okay.
All right.
So maybe not so nerdy to sayHulk versus Superman.
All right.
Nerd flag.
SPEAKER_02 (26:02):
Yeah.
Yeah.
See, you identify as a nerd now.
SPEAKER_03 (26:05):
Yes.
That didn't change
SPEAKER_02 (26:07):
with adulthood.
I was getting ready to say.
SPEAKER_03 (26:09):
Yeah.
My friend said aging ismandatory, but maturing is
optional.
SPEAKER_02 (26:14):
Yeah.
That's what's wrong with me.
SPEAKER_03 (26:17):
I agree.
I agree.
Yeah.
That's one thing we can agree
SPEAKER_02 (26:20):
on.
Love you.
Bye.
SPEAKER_00 (26:25):
Thanks for listening.
to the Unfiltered Union.
If you enjoyed this episode,click like and subscribe and
check out our merch onunfilteredunion.com.
It's what you do with things youlove.
This is the Unfiltered Union.
SPEAKER_03 (00:07):
I'm Linz.
SPEAKER_02 (00:07):
And I'm Russ.
SPEAKER_03 (00:08):
Here is this week's episode.
Coming to you live fromHurricane Helene.
I
SPEAKER_02 (00:17):
thought it was Helen.
SPEAKER_03 (00:22):
I don't know what it is.
We're on the tornado watch.
SPEAKER_02 (00:26):
Are we?
SPEAKER_03 (00:26):
We are.
Until like 8 p.m.
SPEAKER_02 (00:28):
Standard, standard hurricane procedure there.
SPEAKER_03 (00:32):
Yep.
Standard Florida hurricaneseason.
SPEAKER_02 (00:35):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (00:36):
Did you see the meme where everybody was buying up
water except for Dasani andAwkwafina?
SPEAKER_02 (00:41):
Well, yeah.
I will not say what I want tosay.
SPEAKER_03 (00:46):
Why not?
Say it.
SPEAKER_02 (00:48):
I might get cease and desisted.
SPEAKER_03 (00:50):
Say it.
SPEAKER_02 (00:50):
I've had that happen to me before.
SPEAKER_03 (00:52):
Yep, not allowed to just voice your opinions
anymore.
SPEAKER_02 (00:57):
No, you can't.
You can't review or, you know,you can't properly review things
without threat of legal action.
SPEAKER_03 (01:06):
Which is bullshit.
But welcome to the UnfilteredUnion for that very purpose.
Yeah.
So, hurricane.
SPEAKER_02 (01:14):
Yeah.
It hasn't really started yet.
So we're getting our episode outof the way right now on Thursday
because of the hurricane.
Because who knows?
We might lose power for a year.
A
SPEAKER_03 (01:28):
year.
So dramatic.
But during this wonderfulhurricane season, this hurricane
most moment we have an interview
SPEAKER_02 (01:38):
we do we do we haven't we have a special guest
today one that we're both andour child are very big fans of
SPEAKER_03 (01:47):
uh-huh very excited for this
SPEAKER_02 (01:49):
one yeah this was our like covid crutch watching
watching yeah watchingimpractical jokers was like our
thing to do during covid beinglocked inside all day watching
impractical jokers we evenwatched their specials where
they couldn't go out and theydid their
SPEAKER_03 (02:09):
Dinner
SPEAKER_02 (02:11):
specials or whatever.
Dinner with the Jokers orwhatever it was called, but it
was awesome.
It
SPEAKER_03 (02:18):
was good.
SPEAKER_02 (02:19):
We loved watching them and we have Joe Gata today.
SPEAKER_03 (02:22):
I'm so excited.
He is probably my favorite outof all four of them.
SPEAKER_02 (02:26):
100%.
He is a guy who does not care.
He was the one that if you askedhim to do something ridiculous,
he did it.
SPEAKER_03 (02:38):
Full out.
SPEAKER_02 (02:39):
He He was like, okay, I'll do it.
And we're talking to him todayabout a couple of things.
One, he has a new special outcalled Messing With People.
He also is a, I would say, aphilanthropist.
UNKNOWN (03:00):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (03:02):
Philanthropist.
SPEAKER_02 (03:02):
He's a philanthropist.
SPEAKER_03 (03:04):
Good job.
First try.
SPEAKER_02 (03:07):
Yeah.
He has a dog rescue by the nameof Gato's Pups and Friends.
And he rescues elderly andunwanted dogs.
And he also has a podcast.
So we're going to talk to himabout all kinds of stuff today.
SPEAKER_03 (03:21):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (03:22):
Very excited.
SPEAKER_03 (03:23):
Me too.
I can't wait to talk to him.
I just feel like he's the kindof person that you want to be
you know what i mean like noti'm not trying to idolize him or
anything but he just has thispersonality and attitude that
it's like fuck everybody
SPEAKER_02 (03:40):
yeah
SPEAKER_03 (03:41):
he's like be happy he doesn't care he
SPEAKER_02 (03:44):
doesn't care what you think about it like and
that's truthfully i thinkbreaking down that barrier for
yourself is super importantbecause of how hard it can be if
you're walking around wonderingwhat people are thinking about
you all the time right
SPEAKER_03 (04:00):
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (04:01):
That's not a way to live.
SPEAKER_03 (04:03):
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (04:03):
So stop caring and be Joe Gatto.
SPEAKER_03 (04:07):
Yep.
I think in his special, he evensays, you know, be kind and just
make people laugh like it's notthat serious.
SPEAKER_02 (04:14):
Oh, yeah.
He gives you some tips andtricks on how to do it, too.
So I highly recommend watchingit.
We actually checked it out lastnight and it was it was funny.
We enjoyed it.
Of
SPEAKER_03 (04:22):
course.
SPEAKER_02 (04:23):
Yeah, we enjoyed it.
Love you.
SPEAKER_03 (04:26):
Here we go.
SPEAKER_02 (04:27):
Introducing Joe Gatto.
SPEAKER_03 (04:31):
Hello.
SPEAKER_02 (04:32):
Oh
SPEAKER_03 (04:33):
my gosh.
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (04:34):
Are you not expecting me?
Oh, yes.
SPEAKER_03 (04:40):
This is you.
SPEAKER_02 (04:41):
Yes.
Yes.
I'm here for real.
I had no idea that we wereinterviewing Steve Carell today.
There you go, man.
Here he is.
SPEAKER_01 (04:47):
Here he is.
Let me tell you about Gru.
SPEAKER_03 (04:49):
No, we absolutely love you.
We have followed you guysthrough Impractical Jokers.
And then also during the COVID,we were just talking about this
when you guys were doing dinnerstogether.
Oh
SPEAKER_01 (05:02):
yeah, dinner party.
It was one of my favorite thingsI've done in my career.
SPEAKER_03 (05:04):
It was awesome.
It really got us through COVID.
I mean, it filled the space,
SPEAKER_01 (05:09):
right?
But
SPEAKER_03 (05:10):
just to hear from you, what was your favorite part
about doing Impractical Jokersand then dinner with friends?
SPEAKER_01 (05:15):
Yeah, I mean, it was all great.
You know, over a decade of mylife dedicated to be part of
that legacy is so fun.
You know, it was making your,having a good time your friends
just laughing is unbeatable.
So I would say there's so manymemories I have from that
fortunate part of my life.
But I think the biggest takeawayis the fandom I have and meeting
(05:36):
all these great people that havefollowed me through my career
and my journey.
It's overwhelming with love andsupport.
So I'm very happy about it.
SPEAKER_02 (05:43):
Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (05:43):
We're
SPEAKER_02 (05:44):
big fans.
Our kiddo is too, but we're notquite comfortable yet bringing
her.
How old is your kid?
She is
SPEAKER_03 (05:50):
nine.
SPEAKER_02 (05:53):
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
I got a kid's book.
I got a kid's book.
Where as Barry.
You got to get you one.
Yeah, we'll definitely check itout with her and stuff.
But yeah, so your absolutefavorite part of Impractical
Jokers is everything, right?
I mean,
SPEAKER_01 (06:08):
there's definitely memorable moments for sure that
pop out.
Of course, you got your skoopskypatatas, you got your Larry
bits, you got all the stuff thatgets yelled at me.
I mean, I will say somethingthat's been popping up lately
has been Dave Jacobs, which isreally fun.
One of my favorite improv thingsI did ever cue was we had we're
doing the bit in the supermarketand Q starts talking to this guy
(06:29):
and he says to Q, he says, howold do you think I am?
And Q's like, you know, 54.
He goes, at 20.
He was 74 years old.
He looked unbelievable.
And he goes, I'm Dave Jacobs,superhuman athlete.
She was like, what?
And he takes out a newspaperclipping from his pocket and he
shows him.
He carried it around with him.
And he goes, yeah, look at that.
And he goes, I'm all overYouTube, whatever.
So I got the idea.
I was like, oh, I'll be rightback.
And I ran out and I recognizedhim talking to Q.
(06:50):
I go, oh my God, Dave Jacobs,superhuman athlete.
He goes, what?
You know who I am?
And then it just got daisychained and then sal came out
and mur came out we all took apicture with him his mind was
blown it was so what he's likeare you putting me on it was so
great uh that's one of myfavorite moments and i've seen
that resurface online which isreally really cool oh that's
awesome
SPEAKER_02 (07:10):
see the the organic nature of that show was what we
loved about it it was just itwas non-scripted you could tell
and we would just laugh our ournine-year-old would lose her
mind over it
SPEAKER_01 (07:22):
yeah so you know it's so funny you'd have some
bits that you know were heavilyscripted you had to think about
like when you had to dress up ascharacters and like you had to
really write that out and thinkabout things but then it was
just the fun of being with yourfriends you're confident because
you're with the funniest guysyou know right you know you
together collectively you knowthat you'll just you know crush
whatever you whatever you'regoing at as long as everybody
jumps in together so to be ableto just be like you know what
(07:42):
this is what's happening you'llhave this whole bit planned out
then this woman walks in withthis huge hat and you're like
okay that's out the window iclearly have to get this hat on
you know so it's like so it'slike just the that nature of it
was always fun for sure i
SPEAKER_03 (07:55):
mean i think i have to jump to this real quick,
because everything that you'resaying, right, aligns with how
you described in Messing withPeople, your special that you
have out right now, wethoroughly enjoyed.
It was hilarious.
SPEAKER_00 (08:07):
Oh,
SPEAKER_03 (08:07):
great.
Thank you.
That you tell everyone, youknow, to live in happiness, to
be kind, to just, I think that'syour personality, if I can gauge
that with, you know, knowingyour persona, but it's just
going to the max, right?
And not caring what anybodythinks about you.
And, you know, we obviously loveyou for that reason, but is that
how you view life?
Like,
SPEAKER_01 (08:25):
Yeah, I think, you know, that was a big takeaway
from, you know, as you said,messing with people is my new
special that's available onYouTube.
It was basically I toured withthat show for two and a half
years.
It was called Joe Gandel's Nightof Comedy.
And then when time was up, itwas like, all right, I don't
want this just to go away.
You know, let's release it as aspecial.
And people could see me as astandup as well, because a lot
(08:46):
of people weren't aware of me inthat format.
So it's nice.
And I really, really enjoyed it.
But it's funny when you people,when the way that people say, I
don't care what people thinkreally defines on how you can
live your life.
You can live it two ways.
You can be like, I don't carehow people think I'm going to
have a good time, or I don'tcare what people think.
And the people that say that wayaren't living life the right
way.
I mean, you're just out herebeing like caring, offending
(09:08):
people and and whatnot.
I think I don't care what peoplethink as long as I'm coming from
a place of, I'm trying to enjoyevery moment I have because you
never know when this ride'sgoing to be over.
So you got to try to do that andbe with people you care about,
have fun with people you careabout, make memories, because
that's all we leave behind,right?
Your legacy is the stories thatare told about you when your
light is burnt out, right?
That's all you have.
So I think that's reallyimportant to do that.
(09:29):
I live that way with mychildren.
I live that way with my family,my friends.
I think it's really important.
SPEAKER_03 (09:34):
You have a philosophical side to you that I
don't think people have seen
SPEAKER_01 (09:38):
as much because Everything you just
SPEAKER_00 (09:40):
said there,
SPEAKER_01 (09:41):
it's like, wow.
I get deep sometimes.
You know, it's fun because, youknow, you see me on Jokers.
I wasn't playing a character asbeing me.
So that's the good part aboutseeing me in stand-up is like
you get 60 minutes more insightof this guy you've just seen on
TV who's being himself.
I'm not an actor.
I don't pretend to be.
I just, I don't think I'd besuccessful in any other show
because I'm not, you know,that's not how I'm programmed.
I got to be myself and make myfriends laugh the way I make
(10:02):
them laugh.
That's why I succeeded in thatshow.
I always, embarrassment comedywas always the way I lived my
life.
Sal would always hate takingelevators or subways with me
because he'd be locked in aclosed space with me he knew
something was going to happenyou know so like it was just the
way i live um so i think i thinkthat's important and be it
through my different mediums nowpeople get to see a lot more you
know i'm 48 years old i've had avery up and down uh fulfilling
(10:25):
uh life which has been filledwith lots of challenges lots of
you know unfortunate events thati've been able to turn into uh
positives and and i think it's ithink it's really a mindset that
needs to be embraced byeverybody especially in these
times we have right now wherejust life sucks if we're going
to be honest with each other alot of people know this in tough
times you know oh yeah so youknow i have a saying that came
(10:45):
out of my thing it was like lifesucks suck harder you're just
gonna get out there and not giveup on it so uh i think that's
important to just be you knowhave that mindset yeah
SPEAKER_03 (10:54):
absolutely and for us you know unfiltered union the
point and purpose of our podcastis exactly what you're saying
you just don't get offended
SPEAKER_02 (11:02):
right
SPEAKER_03 (11:02):
so i think that was loud and clear in your special
messing
SPEAKER_02 (11:05):
with yeah we're allowed to to think different
things just move on we can stillbe friends.
SPEAKER_01 (11:10):
A hundred percent.
A hundred percent.
I think, you know, of coursecomedy too, it's funny because
comedy is 100% subjective.
It's the only thing really thatis dependent on if people get
you as a career, right?
People are going to think you'refunny.
It's one person thinks you'rethe funniest guy in the world.
The other person thinks you'reterrible and there's no rhyme or
reason to it.
It's just the perception thatwhat makes people what they
(11:32):
enjoy.
So you have to be okay withthat.
And for me, like I'm goingthrough my messing with people
the comments on YouTube, I'mreplying to every comment.
If people say you suck, I say,Hey, thanks for giving it a
shot.
Be well, you know, becausethat's fine.
If they thought it sucked, itwasn't for them.
You know, I, you know, differentpeople laugh at different things
and that's always the way it is.
Um, so I, I think that's a veryhealthy and smart way to
(11:55):
approach life, you know?
Yeah, I
SPEAKER_02 (11:57):
agree.
It's, it's, it's already tough.
Don't make it tougher.
SPEAKER_01 (12:00):
Yeah.
That's what I try to do in mylive comedy too.
Like, so I try to make my, whenI do my shows, so I'm on tour
now with my new, uh, my newhour, it's called, uh, which is
completely different thanmessing with people.
It's let's get into it.
And I try to make it like anevent where I don't get up
there.
I'm not divisive.
I don't do that kind of shockcomedy.
Like, oh, I hate when comics arelike, oh, when people, the crowd
(12:20):
goes, oh, and they're like, oh,you don't get it.
Oh, did I offend you?
Like, guess what you're tryingto do?
Like, so that's not my type ofcomedy.
My type of comedy is like, look,forget about how terrible life
is for an hour.
Let's get in here, have somelaughs together, just all
together.
I share stories about that.
I've my life that I think peoplecan relate to that I think are
funny and serve a little bit ofa purpose in my story of, uh,
(12:41):
you know, the journey I'm tryingto put together over that hour.
So I think that's, that's just adifferent way to approach it.
And people seem to respondpretty well to it.
SPEAKER_02 (12:49):
Oh yeah.
Oh, we, we did.
Yeah, we did.
Our kiddo did too.
She, she lost it a couple oftimes.
I love that.
Yeah.
Oh yeah.
So, so you, you with impracticaljokers, you were all over the
streets of New York, you know,pranking people and all that
stuff.
Causing a ruckus.
Causing a ruckus, you know?
And, uh, but, but how does itfeel to kind of change gears and
(13:12):
do arenas, you know, sell outarenas and, and, and perform in
that comedy aspect instead of,you know,
SPEAKER_01 (13:21):
so I've been performing live comedy forever.
Like I did it with the boys too.
So, which was great, you know,but it's a different animal,
right?
Do you get that?
Like I said, it's like an event,right?
You want to put on a show forpeople that they've spent their
money on, lined up a babysitter,making it a date night, whatever
they're doing, you know, it'slike you, you want to show up
for people.
a big different way and thathour could be really impactful
(13:42):
you know just to get out andsmile and laugh change their
perception on people I've heardstuff which is crazy to me that
I can't believe that hashappened in my shows I get I got
this one I met one person tomeet and greet after they came
after and it was a couple andthey had gotten divorced but I
bought the tickets and bothstill wanted to go so they had
separated and they came out andthis is the first time they were
(14:04):
together in about like you knowseven months or six months or
whatever it was and I was like,well, did you laugh?
And they're like, yeah, weactually were laughing and
having a good time.
I said, oh, we might not be donehere.
And then I heard from them alittle while later that they
actually were giving it anothershot, which was interesting.
And I was like, yeah.
I mean, you don't think that atall, right?
You're just getting up therebeing a jerk, having fun, making
(14:26):
some jokes, and hopefully peoplesmile and come out.
And you don't realize thoselittle pieces.
And I found that through Jokers,where we were playing on repeat
through COVID, I have inhospitals, TruTV is huge, we
have these people to find uswhen they're going through these
things.
We play in prisons, people inprison, you know, it's like all
these things you don't expectjust messing around with your
friends is going to have that.
(14:47):
And quickly I learned that.
And it had a real impact on methat I'm being that for people.
And it was like, this, it'simportant what I'm doing, not
only just to have fun and smileand self-fulfilling for me, but
also to be like, Hey, come onin.
Let's, let's get through thistogether.
Kind of deal.
So, yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (15:03):
Awesome.
Well,
SPEAKER_02 (15:04):
I mean, so, so you're telling me that you are a
philosopher.
UNKNOWN (15:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (15:08):
A comedian?
And now you're a marriagecounselor.
I
SPEAKER_01 (15:11):
do it all.
I do it all.
I'm a pastry connoisseur.
I'm a dog rescuer.
I mean, what do you need?
I got you.
The only thing I'm not isathletic.
UNKNOWN (15:21):
Right.
SPEAKER_03 (15:22):
Well, I mean, if you saw an ice cream truck, how
athletic can you get?
SPEAKER_01 (15:27):
You know what?
I got a good sprint.
I got a good sprint.
I hope he hears me yelling.
Ten
SPEAKER_03 (15:32):
seconds.
SPEAKER_01 (15:34):
It's so funny you mentioned it.
I literally chased the ice creamtruck for the first time in at
my sister's house with my kidsand my nephew is nine my uh my
nephew's 10 my daughter's ninemy my son is seven we hear that
we hear the dink dink and we runi'm like guys the ice cream
truck we run from the backyardout and he's gone and my son
goes he didn't hear us and helooks at me well enough i said
oh we're gonna get him and ijumped in my car in a wet
(15:56):
bathing suit i tore down theroad after this i chased down
this ice cream truck i pull overand i like literally like hong
kong and i like cut him off i'mlike mike you missed my kids and
he goes joe and he recognizedme.
And I was like, yeah, bro.
I was like, my kids are backthere crying.
Come on, we got to go.
And he turned around andfollowed me.
And I was honking the horn downthe street, hanging out the side
(16:18):
window.
My kids are jumping like I'm achampion.
It was so funny.
And the guy was like, dude, canI get a picture?
I'm like, absolutely.
Come on, let's go.
SPEAKER_03 (16:28):
I think my biggest fear with ice cream trucks,
though, because our kiddos ninetwo, it's like, do we have cash?
SPEAKER_01 (16:34):
Yeah.
Oh, yeah.
They don't take that Venmo.
You got to get up in there withsome bills.
SPEAKER_03 (16:41):
Well, I think you talked about the dogs.
So Gato's Pups and Friends.
I mean, they are awesome, right?
Your charity that you have goingon is amazing.
We looked at your list of dogsthat you currently have
available for adopting and thatare part of your charity.
Who names the dogs?
SPEAKER_01 (16:58):
We do, we do.
It's a family affair, yeah.
We have a couple of volunteersthat work with us, a couple of
people that work with ourfoundation and with our
organization.
They're great.
And my wife and I, we get intoit.
My wife has final, and I havereally final say.
We get pitched some names andstuff.
Sometimes I'll come home andlike, because I'll be on the
road and my wife will be like,this is Sprinkles.
(17:18):
I'm like, who the hell isSprinkles?
I don't know Sprinkles.
She's like, oh, she's like, wegot him Friday.
And I was like, oh, I was like,all right, it's all right,
Sprinkles.
But it's been great.
I mean, Gato Pups and Friends isour nonprofit here in New York.
We were just collecting olddogs.
Like that's what we were doing.
And I was like, we probablycould do better.
Let's see what, look intobecoming a nonprofit and helping
these dogs find homes.
And we just adopted out thislast weekend.
(17:40):
We adopted out our 120th dog,which is really, really, and so
great, so rewarding.
It really is a family affair.
And we have 11 dogs that are ourown that aren't up for adoption.
And the ones that are up foradoption range anywhere from
four to, you know, I think wehave 12 or 14 right now that are
up for adoption,
SPEAKER_03 (17:57):
so.
That's awesome.
SPEAKER_01 (17:58):
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (18:00):
Well, I mean, you have so much going on in life,
right?
You have your comedy shows, youhave your podcast, two cool
moms, your charity.
And I mean, you're also a fatherand a husband, but what is your
secret to balancing it all?
SPEAKER_01 (18:15):
To accept that there's no such thing as
balance.
I think that's a big thing.
I think people, you put so muchpressure on yourself that you
miss the moments because you'retrying to balance everything.
All I can really say is I'm moreabout focus less than balance.
When you're focused on themoment that's happening right
now.
If you're going to be a dad inthis moment, that's what's
happening.
You know, and that was a lessonI had to learn when I was going
through a lot of my personalstuff was like, I wasn't ever
(18:35):
present in what was going on.
You know, if my son says to me,dad, could you play?
Like I'll find the five minutesright now to stop what I'm doing
and play because those fiveminutes could be the best part
of his day.
And I have fun in it.
And it's a moment for me, or,you know, if I'm thinking about
something that I want to writeor something, and I'm trying to
do something else, I'm like, youknow what, I'm going to take
(18:55):
five minutes and go do this realquick, write this down, try to
flesh out an idea I have orsomething like that.
I think that's really importantfor stuff.
So I think that's the biggestthing for me is to realize it's
impossible to balance it.
You just got to become happywith where you're putting your
focus.
See?
SPEAKER_03 (19:11):
Know the philosopher.
That
SPEAKER_01 (19:12):
is the next special we need.
I had a lot of time thinking bymyself.
When I went through theseparation with my wife, it was
the first time that I was livingby myself in 47 years.
I had always had a roommate.
I was at home or I'd live withmy wife or whatever.
And you end up in this apartmentby yourself and it's like whoa
how did that how did i get hereso it leaves you with your
thoughts for a while so you sitthere and you think a lot and
(19:34):
you you try to set together aplan and i think it's a it's an
important part to to ponderbecause life could get tough and
you need to find your littletips and tricks for yourself and
what helps you cope with it
SPEAKER_03 (19:46):
see i'm telling you write a book philosophy because
that is amazing like amazingadvice
SPEAKER_01 (19:53):
yeah you got a kid's book how about the adults now
yeah yeah you're right i gotwhere's barry for the kids i
gotta to come on, like, How toSurvive by Joe Gatto.
SPEAKER_03 (20:01):
Yeah, right?
Yep, life sucks, sucks harder.
SPEAKER_01 (20:03):
Life sucks, sucks harder.
That's a great tagline, youknow.
It's funny, because when we didthat dinner show, you know, I
started, I had the inspirationalposters behind me.
Yes.
And that became a thing, thatbecame a thread within the show,
within Dinner Party, which wasso fun.
I remember sending them to,like, Kinko's to get printed.
You know, I was getting them atthe office, Max, they were
getting done, and it was sofunny when they would come home,
and the boys couldn't wait forme to reveal them during each
(20:25):
show.
It was so fun.
Okay.
It's awesome.
SPEAKER_03 (20:28):
Well, we can't thank you enough for your time today.
We appreciate you coming on hereat Unfiltered Union.
Again, we're huge fans and weabsolutely love everything that
you do.
So keep it coming, Joe.
SPEAKER_01 (20:40):
You're wonderful.
Thank you so much for having me.
Go to JoeGattoOfficial.com.
It's got the links to everythingI do and that's where you can
find it.
It's the official website, guys.
Don't go to JoeGatto.com.
I don't know what he's gettinginto.
JoeGattoOfficial.com is whereyou can find where I'm going on
tour, ticket links, how to watchmy special on YouTube and And
then of course the kids book andthe charity as well.
SPEAKER_02 (21:00):
That sounds good.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (21:02):
You guys are great.
Thank you.
This is really fun.
SPEAKER_02 (21:04):
Yeah, for sure.
Okay.
See, that was fun.
SPEAKER_03 (21:08):
That was so much
SPEAKER_02 (21:10):
fun.
Oh, my goodness.
I did not understand or I don'tknow how we got an interview
with Steve Carell.
SPEAKER_03 (21:18):
Stop.
The fact that he laughed at thatwas awesome.
Like he was.
SPEAKER_02 (21:25):
Well, I mean, it's his joke.
SPEAKER_03 (21:28):
said it to you before he said it in the special
I was like he looks like Gru
SPEAKER_02 (21:32):
yeah you did and then he said it in the special
we were both like
SPEAKER_03 (21:38):
no but that was awesome he seems like one of
those people I mean we say aboutalmost everybody we interview
right that we could talk to themfor hours oh yeah and it just
goes to show like when you havea certain personality right it's
it's easy
SPEAKER_02 (21:52):
you could learn a lot from him like just being
able to chill
SPEAKER_03 (21:57):
uh-huh
SPEAKER_02 (21:57):
you know just hanging out with the buddies and
making each other laugh that'sall you need
SPEAKER_03 (22:02):
yeah
SPEAKER_02 (22:02):
laughter is a good medicine and he's very good at
dispensing said medicine so he'skind of like a pharmacist too
philosopher comedian
SPEAKER_03 (22:12):
marriage counselor
SPEAKER_02 (22:13):
marriage counselor and now pharmaceutical person
SPEAKER_03 (22:17):
doling out dopamine
SPEAKER_02 (22:20):
yeah laughter dopamine oh
SPEAKER_03 (22:22):
that's another good tagline doling out dopamine no
SPEAKER_02 (22:26):
it sounds kind of rough
SPEAKER_03 (22:27):
okay
SPEAKER_02 (22:28):
so it It fits Florida, but I don't know about
the other countries.
Countries?
SPEAKER_03 (22:32):
Come down from your high.
SPEAKER_02 (22:35):
I'm talking to Joe Gatto.
I highly recommend you all checkhim out, though.
He just said his links.
JoeGattoOfficial.com and
SPEAKER_03 (22:46):
You looked angry about that dot com.
SPEAKER_02 (22:48):
Well, I was I was just kind of like making sure I
said it right.
But yeah, he's he's he does thephilanthropy with his Godo pups
and friends and just check himout.
He's he's a good person.
SPEAKER_03 (23:01):
Yeah, absolutely.
Based on, you know, just how youknow him for that short amount
of time.
It's like these are he is words.
He is the type of person that Iwould want to hang out with and
learn from.
I mean, in his special he talksabout being, you know, kind of a
nerd when he was a kid.
And I, you know, I can relate tothat one, but also that he is
(23:25):
very eloquent when he gets inhis philosopher hat, right?
Like the stuff he was saying waslike truth bombs.
SPEAKER_02 (23:31):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (23:32):
It was awesome.
SPEAKER_02 (23:33):
Kids books.
And now I seriously think heneeds to do an adult book
because I'd read it.
SPEAKER_03 (23:38):
Yep.
I agree.
SPEAKER_02 (23:40):
Like I said, during the interview, we utilized
impractical jokers as a, likeour COVID thing.
SPEAKER_03 (23:50):
Right.
It got us through COVID.
SPEAKER_02 (23:52):
It was a COVID tradition, I guess you could
say.
We would come home from work ornot come home.
We would log off of ourcomputers from our home office
and our kiddo would be ready towatch it too.
We would eat dinner and we wouldwatch Impractical Jokers and
it...
Was nice.
SPEAKER_03 (24:11):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (24:12):
Made us laugh.
SPEAKER_03 (24:13):
A silver lining to that crazy time.
SPEAKER_02 (24:15):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (24:17):
But we are still in Hurricane Helene.
SPEAKER_02 (24:21):
Helen.
SPEAKER_03 (24:23):
If you say so.
So it didn't take out our power,which was awesome.
And we got to interview Joe.
SPEAKER_02 (24:29):
We did get to interview Joe.
I was concerned big time aboutit.
But I will say we're not in ityet.
We are getting the
SPEAKER_03 (24:37):
bands of it.
SPEAKER_02 (24:37):
Yes, we are getting the band, the outer bands
currently.
And the major stuff is supposedto happen in a few hours.
Our time.
SPEAKER_03 (24:46):
Yes.
But again, we live in a place inFlorida, central Florida, where
people on the coast evacuate.
too.
We're safe.
We believe we're safe.
SPEAKER_02 (24:56):
If you care enough, we're safe.
We're good.
SPEAKER_03 (24:59):
I'm just making sure because you make it sound like,
oh my God, it's coming.
We're
SPEAKER_02 (25:02):
safe.
It is going to be catastrophicfor certain people.
SPEAKER_03 (25:06):
Absolutely.
Big Bend, it's 15 to 20 footsurge
SPEAKER_02 (25:10):
right now.
SPEAKER_03 (25:11):
That's insane.
SPEAKER_02 (25:12):
Dennis Phillips for our area has said, evacuate, run
from the water, and hunker downfor the wind.
Ours is wind and rain.
Yep.
SPEAKER_03 (25:25):
No storm surge where we live, which is a good thing.
SPEAKER_02 (25:29):
All the school systems around us get shut down
because they use them asshelters for people.
SPEAKER_03 (25:34):
Speaking of, they just canceled school for
tomorrow, too.
So, kiddo has been home foralmost three days.
We are losing our sanity.
SPEAKER_02 (25:44):
Yeah, yeah.
And you try to tell her, like,hey, just because you're off
school, you still got to do somework.
She's like,
SPEAKER_03 (25:50):
yeah.
What is that?
Super Saiyan?
She goes Super Saiyan?
SPEAKER_02 (25:54):
She goes Super Saiyan or Hulk.
SPEAKER_03 (25:55):
Okay.
All right.
So maybe not so nerdy to sayHulk versus Superman.
All right.
Nerd flag.
SPEAKER_02 (26:02):
Yeah.
Yeah.
See, you identify as a nerd now.
SPEAKER_03 (26:05):
Yes.
That didn't change
SPEAKER_02 (26:07):
with adulthood.
I was getting ready to say.
SPEAKER_03 (26:09):
Yeah.
My friend said aging ismandatory, but maturing is
optional.
SPEAKER_02 (26:14):
Yeah.
That's what's wrong with me.
SPEAKER_03 (26:17):
I agree.
I agree.
Yeah.
That's one thing we can agree
SPEAKER_02 (26:20):
on.
Love you.
Bye.
SPEAKER_00 (26:25):
Thanks for listening.
to the Unfiltered Union.
If you enjoyed this episode,click like and subscribe and
check out our merch onunfilteredunion.com.
It's what you do with things youlove.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.