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Max Amini Might Be the Biggest Comedian You Haven’t Heard Of | Whiskey Ginger

Whiskey Ginger with Andrew Santino

Hosted by Andrew Santino

59m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.

Andrew Santino welcomes comedian Max Amini to discuss his twenty-four-year journey in stand-up comedy, his sold-out global tours, and the evolving demographics of his audience. They dive into Amini's background growing up in Los Angeles with supportive parents, his upcoming Netflix special titled I Forgot to Tell You, and his indie drama film James II. The conversation also explores cultural automotive tropes, touring life, and the unique energy of different comedy crowds across the world.

  • Comedian Max Amini maintains a core demographic of 25 to 35-year-olds for his theater and arena tours. 3:29
  • Max Amini wrote and starred in an indie drama feature film titled James II about a 13-year-old boy who cannot feel pain. 6:09
  • Amini shot his upcoming Netflix special over four sold-out shows at a 5,000-seat casino in Toronto. 20:40
  • Running a massive production company with forty employees requires managing dedicated touring, marketing, and social media departments. 47:28

Chapters

  1. 0:00
    Podcast Intro and Sponsor Ads

    Andrew Santino opens the episode with promotional ads for Liquid IV and KitchenAid, setting the tone before diving into the interview.

  2. 1:52
    Introducing Max Amini

    Andrew welcomes comedian Max Amini, highlighting his rise and the excitement of having him on the show.

  3. 3:00
    Max’s Early Career and Work Ethic

    Max discusses his 24-year journey in comedy, the hard work behind his success, and his perspective on the industry.

  4. 8:47
    Comedy, Acting, and Industry Insight

    Andrew and Max compare their experiences in comedy and acting, touching on the differences between the two fields and the evolving entertainment landscape.

  5. 14:00
    Future Projects and Streaming Plans

    Max talks about his upcoming Netflix special, filming locations, and the strategic choices behind his releases.

  6. 20:00
    Relationship Dynamics and Touring Life

    They touch on marriage, touring logistics, and how personal relationships intersect with a comedian’s career.

  7. 25:07
    Audience Demographics and Market Challenges

    The hosts analyze the demographics of their fan bases, the challenges of touring in different regions, and the importance of authenticity.

  8. 26:15
    Personal Life, Family, and Cultural Stereotypes

    They discuss Max’s family background, Persian cultural codes, and how these influence his personal and professional life.

  9. 40:14
    Closing Reflections and Final Thoughts

    Andrew and Max wrap up the episode with final insights, future aspirations, and a nod to the audience.

  10. 43:59
    Touring to Australia

    The conversation shifts to the upcoming Australian tour, detailing cities, travel logistics, and the excitement of performing for Australian fans.

  11. 46:21
    Personal Routine and Work-Life Balance

    The guest explains his daily routine, including workouts, basketball, and managing a production company, highlighting the heavy workload and need for self‑care.

  12. 51:30
    Mental Health and Industry Pressure

    They talk about the mental toll of constant touring, referencing stories like Martin Lawrence’s burnout and emphasizing the importance of taking breaks and maintaining personal well‑being.

Highlights

  • 2:44

    A Coming-of-Age Indie Filmstory

    Max Amini discusses his indie drama film James II, which follows a 13-year-old boy who cannot feel pain or emotion, leading him to realize that pain gives life meaning.

  • 13:31

    Unconventional Persian Family Supportinsight

    Max Amini explains that unlike traditional expectations, his father fully supported his creative dreams and allowed him to live independently from a young age.

  • 20:40

    Shooting a Special in Torontostrategy

    Max Amini details why he chose to record his upcoming Netflix special over four packed shows at a 5,000-seat venue in Toronto.

  • 30:19

    The Origin of the G-Wagoninsight

    Max Amini shares the trivia that the G-Wagon was originally designed as an army truck for the Shah of Iran, which sparked the brand's immense popularity.

  • 33:07

    Bouncer Rejection and Rescuestory

    Max Amini recounts a hilarious nightclub story where he was rejected by a bouncer, only to be immediately recognized by a Persian police officer outside.

  • 47:28

    Managing Forty Employeesdata

    Max Amini reveals that he manages a production company with forty staff members spanning marketing, touring, and social media editing departments.

  • 51:30

    The Dangers of Overworkingstory

    Andrew Santino and Max Amini discuss the extreme exhaustion in the entertainment industry, referencing Martin Lawrence working himself into a coma.

Quotes

  • “It's hard to say without sounding condescending, but I'm proud, proud, happy for some people.”
    Andrew Santino · 2:12
  • “I was grateful when I played 200-seater, you know, theaters.”
    Unnamed speaker · 2:41
  • “The movie hit the pandemic, so we shot it and the pandemic happened.”
    Unnamed speaker · 4:58
  • “I feel like Tesla should fucking sponsor me for this.”
    Unnamed speaker · 28:06
  • “I think being a great actor is tough in general, I don't think anybody, I mean, like, I would count on my hands how many people I've seen that I'm like, 'Wow, that's a great actor.'”
    Andrew Santino · 9:29
  • “I would still say Mexicans are our best fans. I think when we play like the west, when we play LA or we play the west coast.”
    Andrew Santino · 41:06
  • “I love having a couple of pops. That's my favorite thing is, you know, that's my, part of my connective tissue to people is sharing a bottle with somebody and chatting backstage for a couple of hours.”
    Andrew Santino · 53:10
  • “You gotta have the work ethic and do it, otherwise, this side, you can, you, you know, you cannot enjoy the play, the fun.”
    Unnamed speaker · 49:07
  • “If you're not funny in a black room, you gotta take off a week. You gotta let them know, you gotta, go lick your wounds for a little, they'll tell you.”
    Andrew Santino · 43:21
  • Liquid IV 0:00–0:32
  • KitchenAid 0:40–1:02
  • FanDuel 1:03–1:27
  • FanDuel 21:36–22:47
  • Maximini 57:07–57:25
  • Liquid IV 58:36–59:16

About this episode

Welcome to Whiskey Ginger a Wave series presented by Fanduel. Andrew Santino sits down with comedian Max Amini for a hilarious conversation about stand-up, culture, family, touring the world, and the absolute chaos that happens when you make the audience part of the show. Max has built a massive international following with his storytelling, improvisation, and crowd work, performing for audiences around the world and proving that comedy translates a lot better than your uncle's opinions at Thanksgiving. Check out Max Amini's latest stand-up special, Randomly Selected, streaming free on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy2QyPQ5L5M See Max live and check out upcoming tour dates: https://www.maxamini.com Follow Max Amini: https://www.instagram.com/maxcomedian Follow Andrew Santino: https://www.instagram.com/cheetosantino Follow Whiskey Ginger: https://instagram.com/whiskeygingerpodcast #WhiskeyGinger #AndrewSantino #MaxAmini #ComedyPodcast ==================================================== This episode is sponsored by: FANDUEL Get ready for big games, bigger Saturdays, and your most rewarding season ever. only on FanDuel. http://fanduel.com/whiskey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

0:00
59:44

13,128 words · 8 speakers

Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

Topics

  • Perth
  • Australia
  • Netflix
  • Cybertruck
  • white Beamer
  • O2
  • Melbourne
  • Brisbane
  • Auckland
  • Sydney

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