This Past Weekend

This Past Weekend with Theo Von · Episode #606 · Host: Theo Von · Guest: Lainey Wilson · Published Aug 28 2025 · Runtime 1:35:31 · Watch: YouTube Country star Lainey Wilson returns to swap Louisiana upbringings with Theo, talk about getting her own exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame, rodeo and crawfish, songwriting and touring, and the time Hardy took her whole crew to a strip club in Alabama. The deluxe edition of her album Whirlwind is out now. Chapters People Products Places Ads Chapters 0:00 Louisiana upbringing. 3:22 Life outside Louisiana. 6:19 Family and music. 9:16 Rodeo and crawfish. 11:53 Music career beginnings. 14:41 Songwriting process. 17:31 Touring and fans. 21:12 Personal life and values. 23:20 Fashion and style. 26:06 Future goals. 28:20 Charity work. 30:45 Reflections on success. 33:40 Music industry challenges. 36:27 Final thoughts. 39:00 Family and traditions. 42:08 Rodeo memories. 44:57 Louisiana festivals. 48:06 Nashville music scene. 50:58 Acting and film projects. 53:46 Inspirations. 56:44 Future music plans. 59:43 Louisiana culture. 1:02:07 Collaboration and creative process. 1:05:39 Personal growth. 1:08:44 Fashion and brand partnerships. 1:12:03 Louisiana food and hospitality. 1:14:47 Touring stories. 1:17:44 Fan encounters. 1:20:26 Social media and digital world. 1:23:33 Impersonators. 1:26:34 Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit. 1:29:17 Creative projects. 1:31:59 Future outlook. Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. People On this episode Theo Von The Comedian List · Wikipedia · Best Movies & TV Shows Host. 0:00 Lainey Wilson Official site · Wikipedia Guest. Country singer and songwriter from Baskin, Louisiana. 0:00 People mentioned Hardy Wikipedia The strip-club story. 0:00 Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. Products Whirlwind (deluxe) — Lainey’s latest album. Amazon 0:00 Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. Places Baskin, Louisiana — Lainey’s hometown. 0:00 Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville — her exhibit. 0:00 Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. Ads Celsius (0:00) — Go to the Celsius Amazon store to check out all of their flavors. Perplexity AI (0:00) — pplx.ai/theo · comet.perplexity.ai · Ask anything. and download their new web browser Comet See America’s Team (0:00) — The Gambler and His Cowboys streaming now only on Netflix! Theo Von tour and merch (house) (0:00) — theovon.com · tour dates and new merch. JackPocket (27:49) — jkpt.co/4lOvTIG · Download the Jackpocket Lottery app today to start ordering Powerball and Mega Millions tickets right on your smartphone. New customers opt in Use code TVON for $5 in lottery credits. Helix Sleep (30:34) — helixsleep.com/theo · Get 27% off sitewide. Acorns (1:02:36) — acorns.com/THEO · Sign up now and boost your new account with a $20 bonus investment BoomBoom (1:03:57) — BoomBoom.com · Get BoomBoom Use code THEO for 20% off or you can find them at Walmart or CVS nationwide. Shopify (1:05:21) — shopify.com/theo · Build start building your business. Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. Show notes are a summary, not a full transcript. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links on this page may be affiliate links through Amazon and other partner programs we participate in now or in the future. If you buy through those links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

This Past Weekend with Theo Von · Episode #605 · Host: Theo Von · Published Aug 24 2025 · Runtime 1:06:51 · Watch: YouTube Theo goes solo: going to Hulk Hogan’s funeral, a new vision for the Grammys, what some girls in Philly are like, Morgan Wallen news, a spelling bee story, radioactive shrimp, China’s pregnancy robot, listener voicemails on dating, a first baby and alcoholism, and the power of brotherhood. Chapters People Products Places Ads Chapters 0:00 Life and career updates. 0:56 Burnout and show updates. 2:03 Philadelphia dating stories. 6:11 Touring and Mexican culture. 7:44 Future plans and tour wrap. 8:45 Hulk Hogan's funeral. 17:35 Morgan Wallen news. 22:14 School spelling bee story. 24:13 Missing woman found in Scotland. 26:58 Advertisement break. 28:43 Pornography addiction help. 30:19 Radioactive shrimp news. 33:28 China's pregnancy robot. 36:12 Caller advice: Shaky Jake. 39:01 Caller advice: Dating. 43:43 Caller advice: First baby. 47:03 Caller advice: Relationships. 50:27 Caller advice: Alcoholism. 55:24 Joaquin Phoenix interview. 58:59 Closing thoughts. Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. People On this episode Theo Von The Comedian List · Wikipedia · Best Movies & TV Shows Host. 0:00 People mentioned Hulk Hogan Wikipedia Theo went to his funeral. 8:45 Morgan Wallen Wikipedia In the news. 17:35 Joaquin Phoenix Wikipedia An interview clip. 55:24 Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. Products Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. Places Philadelphia — dating stories. 2:03 Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. Ads Celsius (0:00) — Go to the Celsius Amazon store to check out all of their flavors. Morgan & Morgan (0:00) — forthepeople.com/THEO · See if you might have a case. Morgan and Morgan. America's Largest Injury Law Firm. Perplexity AI (0:00) — pplx.ai/theo · comet.perplexity.ai · Ask anything. and download their new web browser Comet Theo Von tour and merch (house) (0:00) — theovon.com · tour dates and new merch. Valor Recovery (30:00) — valorrecoverycoaching.com · To learn more about Valor Recovery please visit them or email them at admin@valorrecoverycoaching.com Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. Show notes are a summary, not a full transcript. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links on this page may be affiliate links through Amazon and other partner programs we participate in now or in the future. If you buy through those links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

This Past Weekend with Theo Von · Episode #604 · Host: Theo Von · Guest: Jim Jefferies · Published Aug 20 2025 · Runtime 1:51:48 · Watch: YouTube Jim Jefferies returns to talk about sobriety and fatherhood, honoring his nephew Max Nugent, the fragile friendship between Australia and America, the legend of “Chopper” Read, Chris Lilley, Olympic breakdancing, and how meeting his disabled fans inspired his Netflix special Two Limb Policy. Chapters People Products Places Ads Chapters 0:00 Introduction. 1:04 Life and career update. 2:32 Sobriety journey. 5:02 Comedy and fatherhood. 10:02 Tragedy and conspiracy. 14:02 Nephew tribute. 16:42 Military inquiry. 20:17 Family impact. 22:27 Honoring Max Nugent. 25:43 Politics and war. 28:13 New comedy special. 31:17 Sponsors and comedy. 34:06 Chopper Read. 36:27 Chris Lilley. 39:05 Australian sports and culture. 44:54 Olympic breakdancing. 48:07 LA and palm trees. 50:21 Crime and safety. 53:29 Culture and travel. 55:15 Passports and travel. 58:34 Immigration history. 59:39 Sponsors and personal finance. 1:01:53 Mental health. 1:03:46 Sports achievements. 1:07:12 Iceland and travel. 1:08:42 True crime and criminals. 1:11:12 Travel experiences. 1:12:30 Middle East comedy. 1:15:13 Political and social commentary. 1:18:20 Bar culture and personal stories. 1:21:46 Netflix specials. 1:25:14 True crime and media. 1:28:16 More true crime stories. 1:31:54 CFCs and environment. 1:35:00 Mythical creatures. 1:37:45 Political climate. 1:39:11 Foreign policy and surveillance. 1:43:40 Economic issues. 1:45:40 Aliens and UFOs. 1:48:36 Conclusion. Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. People On this episode Theo Von The Comedian List · Wikipedia · Best Movies & TV Shows Host. 0:00 Jim Jefferies Wikipedia Guest. Comedian; Netflix special Two Limb Policy. 0:00 People mentioned Max Nugent Jim’s nephew, honored on the show. 22:27 Mark “Chopper” Read Wikipedia The legend of Chopper. 34:06 Chris Lilley Wikipedia Australian comedian. 36:27 Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. Products Two Limb Policy — Jim’s tenth special, on Netflix. Amazon 28:13 Chopper (2000) — the Eric Bana film about Read. Amazon 34:06 Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. Places Australia — Australia vs. America. 39:05 Iceland — travel stories. 1:07:12 Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. Ads Armra (0:00) — tryarmra.com/THEO · Or enter THEO to get 15% off your first order. Celsius (0:00) — Go to the Celsius Amazon store to check out all of their flavors. Perplexity AI (0:00) — pplx.ai/theo · comet.perplexity.ai · Ask anything. and download their new web browser Comet Theo Von tour and merch (house) (0:00) — theovon.com · tour dates and new merch. Shady Rays (32:09) — shadyrays.com · Use code THEO for 35% off polarized sunglasses. Better Help (1:01:41) — betterhelp.com/theo · This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp – to get 10% off your first month. Rocket Money (1:01:41) — rocketmoney.com/theo · Cancel your unwanted subscriptions. Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. Show notes are a summary, not a full transcript. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links on this page may be affiliate links through Amazon and other partner programs we participate in now or in the future. If you buy through those links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

TPW Mike Tyson (Live at the Wiltern) – This Past Weekend with Theo Von – TPW 658 Bobby Lee – This Past Weekend with Theo Von – TPW 657 Matt McCusker – This Past Weekend with Theo Von – TPW 652 Ella Langley – This Past Weekend with Theo Von – TPW 651 Jake Paul – This Past Weekend with Theo Von – TPW 650 Vince Vaughn – This Past Weekend with Theo Von – TPW 648 Nate Diaz & Chris Avila on UFC, Netflix Fight & Stockton – TPW #649 TPW 638 – Kevin James TPW – Thinking About Charlie Kirk TPW 611 – Louis CK Mariana van Zeller | This Past Weekend with Theo Von This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von EPISODE #603: Mariana van Zeller Show Notes The full episode can be found here: https://youtu.be/6J4U3R5dRik Summary In this captivating episode, Theo Von is joined by Emmy-winning journalist Mariana van Zeller to discuss her groundbreaking work on her National Geographic show, “Trafficked.” Recognized for its deep dives into the world’s most dangerous black markets, the show has earned numerous accolades for its fearless approach to humanizing the individuals within these hidden economies. Mariana explains her methodology for gaining the trust of people who live in the shadows, highlighting the motivations that drive them to speak—whether it’s ego, a sense of impunity in corrupt regions, or simply a deep-seated desire to be understood without judgment. She reveals the shocking reality that these criminals often look like “your neighbor” and that the “war on drugs” has been a “massive failure,” with most narcotics entering the U.S. through official ports of entry, not across open borders. Throughout their conversation, they touch upon a range of Mariana’s investigations, including: **Cartel Operations:** Her extensive reporting from Sinaloa, Mexico, and how American-born and raised individuals are often the masterminds behind logistics within the U.S. **Assassinations:** Terrifying encounters with hitmen in Los Angeles and South Africa, exploring the complex psychology behind their actions. **The Hidden Third:** The staggering scale of the global black and gray markets, which together constitute 38% of the world’s economy. **Human Trafficking:** The heartbreaking reality of bride trafficking in Vietnam, fueled by China’s gender imbalance from the one-child policy. **Rehab Scams:** The exploitation of vulnerable communities, particularly Native Americans, through fraudulent Medicaid billing in states like Arizona and California. **Ghost Guns & Militias:** The rise of untraceable firearms and the unsettling growth of unregulated militias at the U.S. border. Mariana also shares her personal insights on resilience, attributing her ability to handle such intense topics to her curiosity, supportive upbringing, and a knack for compartmentalizing. She concludes by announcing her new podcast, “The Hidden Third,” which will offer an even deeper look into these untold stories. The new season of “Trafficked” airs on National Geographic every Saturday at 9:00 p.m. and is available on Hulu. Mariana van Zeller Briefing Briefing: The Underworld Unveiled Executive Summary: Mariana van Zeller, an Emmy-winning journalist for National Geographic, specializes in investigative reporting on global black markets, including cartels, scammers, extremist groups, and human trafficking. Her work on the show “Trafficked” aims to expose the hidden corners of the world by getting unwilling individuals to speak. Key themes emerging from her experiences include the pervasive and growing nature of the global black market economy, the complex motivations of those involved (often driven by circumstance rather than inherent malice), the broken systems that enable these illicit activities, and the critical role of empathetic journalism in understanding and exposing these issues. Van Zeller emphasizes the importance of human connection, trust-building, and a non-judgmental approach in her dangerous work, highlighting that the “underworld” often operates closer to home than many realize. Key Themes and Most Important Ideas/Facts: The Pervasive and Growing Global Black Market Economy: Scale: Van Zeller highlights the astonishing scale of the black and gray market economy, stating that “38% of our global economy are these gray and black markets. It’s what economists call the hidden third.” Monetary Value: The drug trade alone is estimated at “$600$ to $800$ billion dollars,” surpassing the GDP of many countries combined. Accessibility: These illicit activities are not confined to “dark tunnels” or remote areas; they happen “in broad daylight in like open lit warehouses and you know the neighbor’s house in the backyard.” Growth: The industry of scams is “growing every single year,” with “$12.5$ billion dollars scammed from Americans last year alone.” Motivations and Humanity in the Underworld: Circumstance over Malice: Van Zeller strongly believes that the “vast majority of the people that I spend time with… are people that are born out of the circumstances that they’re born in.” Desire to Be Understood: This is a crucial factor in convincing people to talk. Her approach is “I’m not here to judge you I’m here because I really truly want to understand why you do what you do.” Aspiration and Hope: She shares the story of a 16-year-old cocaine trafficker who was saving money to “one day become a dentist” to “make people smile.” Broken Systems and Government Accountability: The War on Drugs’ Failure: Van Zeller asserts, “The war on drugs has been a massive failure.” Despite billions spent, “1 million people have died from the opiate crisis” since 2000. Exploitation of Loopholes: Many illicit activities, like rehab scams, thrive by “exploiting broken systems.” She criticizes the government for allowing these systems to be exploited. Immigration as a Political Tool: Van Zeller and Theo believe the ongoing immigration crisis is deliberately left “open and broken on purpose” by the government to “create a lot almost cuz then it inspires people who believe in America.” The Ethics and Methodology of Investigative Journalism: Building Trust: The “hardest part” of her job is convincing people to talk, which can take “months sometimes even years.” A key tactic is to show up “never with security,” which she sees as “completely counterproductive.” Human Connection and Empathy: Van Zeller’s primary tool is establishing a “human connection” by emphasizing: “I’m not here to judge you.” Personal

TPW Mike Tyson (Live at the Wiltern) – This Past Weekend with Theo Von – TPW 658 Bobby Lee – This Past Weekend with Theo Von – TPW 657 Matt McCusker – This Past Weekend with Theo Von – TPW 652 Ella Langley – This Past Weekend with Theo Von – TPW 651 Jake Paul – This Past Weekend with Theo Von – TPW 650 Vince Vaughn – This Past Weekend with Theo Von – TPW 648 Nate Diaz & Chris Avila on UFC, Netflix Fight & Stockton – TPW #649 TPW 638 – Kevin James TPW – Thinking About Charlie Kirk TPW 611 – Louis CK Episode Metadata Title This Past Weekend with Theo Von (Episode 601) Host Theo Von with mentions of collaborators Bobby and Mo Guest Dusty Slay comedian from Opaikica, Alabama Episode # 601 Air Date Aug 7, 2025 Introduction to Dusty Slay and his projects Dusty Slay has a new special out on Netflix called Wet Heat and his own podcast called We Are Having a Good Time 00:37 He has purchased 10 acres of land in McMinnville, Tennessee, where he is trying to build an orchard and has a cabin 04:32 Childhood experiences and neighborhood dynamics The conversation touches on the topic of people with disabilities being more visible in the past, with examples of individuals with crosseyed vision and other conditions being more commonly seen 05:07 The discussion also mentions unusual names, such as Misty, Stormy, and Dusty, which were popular in certain areas or communities 07:37 Dusty Slay shares his experience growing up in a trailer park in Opaikica, Alabama, with a diverse group of people, including Asian kids, and how it felt exotic as he got older 09:25 The neighborhood had a unique dynamic, with a mix of trailer homes and brick houses, and a distinct social hierarchy, where being too smart wasn’t considered cool 11:33 A friend named Squirrel had a notable presence, with an above-ground pool and a stepdad named Sid, and was seen as having a desirable lifestyle 11:49 The community had its own set of values and talents, such as whistling, were highly regarded, and having unique skills or possessions, like laser discs, was a status symbol 17:14 Growing up in a trailer park A person’s buddy’s dad installed a window upside down, and it was compared to a car window, letting it down instead of pushing it up, which was seen as defying gravity 19:17 The discussion involved growing up in a poor neighborhood with trailers, including the use of lattice work around the bottom of trailers, which could attract cats that would get under the trailer and cause problems 22:32 The person reminisced about their childhood, including stealing wood from their dad’s barn to build a clubhouse, not realizing the barn was not abandoned, and living in a trailer park with a sense of community, where everyone knew each other’s business 25:32 Growing up in a trailer park, there was a sense of community, but also a lack of personal space, and incidents like calling the police on a church for playing music too late were not uncommon 29:21 Tornadoes and storms were a big concern in the trailer park, with trees being a major hazard, and experiences like having a tree limb fall through the roof of the trailer were not rare 30:36 Childhood experiences, such as throwing pine cones and riding bikes, were a big part of growing up in the trailer park, and the lack of supervision and lawsuits made for a unique environment 33:39 Various life experiences, jobs, and memories The discussion involves bodily functions, including peeing, and how it can be affected by factors like clothing, with a mention of wearing 100% cotton underwear for comfort 39:44. There’s a conversation about flying and the challenges of finding the right time to board a plane to avoid waiting too long to use the restroom 40:37. The topic shifts to past experiences, including selling pesticides to stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot, and living in Charleston, South Carolina, where comedy and waiting tables were part of the experience 42:41. Memories can be changed, lost, or difficult to recall, and the brain is not a flawless archive of everything experienced 49:01 Some people use substances like LSD to try to expand their minds and recall memories, but this can lead to unpredictable and potentially dangerous situations 50:02 The conversation also touches on past work experiences, including a job in pesticide sales, where the individual had a wild summer with a coworker and managed to maintain good sales numbers despite their partying lifestyle 56:28 As a kid, time was often spent sitting in a car, trying to find ways to kill time, and enjoying simple things like smoking cigarettes or dipping, with the ability to sit in a car all day with just a radio and nicotine 58:35 The experience of being left in a car as a kid was common, and it was a time for exploration and learning, such as figuring out how to use the cigarette lighter 59:13 Learning to drive a stick shift was also a challenging experience, with the added pressure of being yelled at while trying to master the skill 01:01:13 Working with a parent, in this case, helping with credit card signups at colleges, was a way to learn how to hustle and drive to different locations, including Southeastern Louisiana University 01:03:01 Other jobs included working at a restaurant called Hyman’s in Charleston, a tourist spot with good food, where many employees were hired and it was common to run into former coworkers all over the country 01:04:31 Worked as a pizza delivery guy for Papa John’s, which felt like a blue-collar job, and would often get high while delivering pizzas 01:07:50 Used to pick up friends at a gas station and they would ride along while delivering pizzas, getting high and listening to the radio 01:08:26 Recalls a story about someone defecating in the meat at

This Past Weekend with Theo Von · Episode #602 · Host: Theo Von · Guest: Dr. Aziz Rahman, MD · Published Aug 12 2025 · Runtime 1:41:19 · Watch: YouTube Dr. Aziz Rahman, a board-certified radiologist, recently returned from working at Nasser Hospital in Gaza. He tells Theo about day-to-day conditions in the hospital, triage with almost no resources, starvation, what he saw around the GHF food distribution sites, trauma in children, the role of the UN, and how families hold on to hope. Chapters People Products Places Ads Chapters 0:00 Introduction and journey. 1:14 Stationed at Nasser Hospital. 4:42 Entering the war zone. 7:06 Healthcare crisis in Gaza. 9:30 Risks of the mission. 10:45 Daily life and patient influx. 13:49 Humanitarian aid sites. 17:00 The impact of starvation. 19:08 Militarized aid delivery. 22:23 Medical case studies. 26:09 Triage and resource limits. 29:14 Surgical procedures. 33:48 Handling the deceased. 36:22 Gratitude and resilience. 39:01 The geopolitics of the conflict. 41:32 Impact on the next generation. 45:59 Raising awareness. 50:27 Chronic care limitations. 52:31 Role of the UN and aid. 55:26 Trauma in children. 57:36 Technology in warfare. 1:00:24 Industrialized conflict. 1:03:14 The future of warfare. 1:07:41 Impact of gangs on aid. 1:09:41 Pessimism for the future. 1:13:21 US and international response. 1:16:18 The role of healthcare workers. 1:17:58 Shortages and inflation. 1:20:26 Gangs and IDF collusion. 1:24:07 Long-term psychological trauma. 1:27:42 Detention of medical staff. 1:31:02 Living in tent cities. 1:33:20 Reflecting on humanity. 1:35:30 Gratitude and guilt. 1:37:40 Conclusion. Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. People On this episode Theo Von The Comedian List · Wikipedia · Best Movies & TV Shows Host. 0:00 Dr. Aziz Rahman, MD Guest. Radiologist who worked at Nasser Hospital. 0:00 People mentioned Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. Products Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. Places Nasser Hospital, Khan Younis — where Dr. Rahman worked. 1:14 Gaza Strip — the war zone. 4:42 GHF aid sites — the militarized food distribution sites. 13:49 Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. Ads Celsius (0:00) — Go to the Celsius Amazon store to check out all of their flavors. Perplexity AI (0:00) — pplx.ai/theo · comet.perplexity.ai · Ask anything. and download their new web browser Comet Theo Von tour and merch (house) (0:00) — theovon.com · tour dates and new merch. Show more Want this section to go deeper? Share this page with the creators and have them sign up so we can get permission to dig deeper into this episode. Show notes are a summary, not a full transcript. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links on this page may be affiliate links through Amazon and other partner programs we participate in now or in the future. If you buy through those links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.