On this episode of The Adam Carolla Show, actor Tom Pelphrey stops by the studio! Adam and Tom dive into Tom’s early career, starting with soap operas, which Tom describes as a kind of boot camp for actors. The conversation shifts to his relationship with Kaley Cuoco and the massive success of The Big Bang Theory, with Adam pointing out the lack of hit three-camera sitcoms since. They also discuss the importance of turning off your phone, staying present, and finding purpose in productive work. Tom asks Adam about his tough upbringing and whether it contributed to his success, leading to a candid exchange about Adam’s transition from radio to podcasting and the financial struggles of building his show in the early days.

Later, singer, songwriter, and actress Debbie Gibson joins the studio to talk about her new book Eternally Electric: The Message in My Music. She reflects on the challenges of writing an autobiography at this stage in her career and the whirlwind of finding fame at such a young age. Debbie explains how she hustled her way into the music industry by performing in small clubs, the sacrifices she made to protect her artistic integrity, and the pressure she faced from record producers to change her style. She also opens up about how touring has evolved over the years, how fame affected her when she was young, and what it was like to meet her musical heroes, including Elton John, George Michael, Michael Jackson, and Whitney Houston.

Get it on.

FOR MORE TOM PELPHREY:

TV SHOW: Task - September 7, 2025 on HBO

INSTAGRAM: @tommypelphrey

TWITTER: @tompelphrey

FOR MORE WITH DEBBIE GIBSON: 

BOOK: Eternally Electric - Available Sept 9, 2025

NEW SONG: Legendary 

TOUR: "Newstalgia Live Greatest Hits & Beyond"

INSTAGRAM: @debbiegibson 

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On this episode of The Adam Carolla Show, comedian Rudy Pavich joins Adam to break down the latest headlines, starting with Snoop Dogg admitting he was caught off guard when his grandson asked about a same-sex couple in Pixar’s Lightyear. The hosts of The Breakfast Club weighed in, defending Snoop’s concerns over LGBTQ themes in children’s movies. Adam and Rudy also discuss a viral video of a North Carolina mom who physically restrained a suspected Italian pickpocket for nearly an hour, Delta’s $79 million settlement with Los Angeles residents over a 2020 jet fuel dump, and the news that former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler has been sentenced to jail time following a DUI and gun possession arrest.

Later, criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos stops by the studio to talk about his involvement in the Menendez brothers case, which he says Adam inadvertently influenced him to take on. Mark explains what made the brothers’ recent parole hearing so frustrating, and he and Adam debate whether the Menendez brothers still pose a danger to society or if they’ve served enough time for their crimes. The conversation turns to the role politics may have played in the case, whether Governor Gavin Newsom could pardon the brothers, and what happens next. Adam also gets Mark’s take on the ongoing P. Diddy case, as well as a tragic accident involving an immigrant truck driver whose illegal U-turn resulted in multiple deaths.

Get it on.

FOR MORE MARK GERAGOS:

Menendez Parole Hearing

WEBSITE: Geragos.com

FOR MORE WITH RUDY PAVICH: 

INSTAGRAM: @rudy_pavich

WEBSITE: www.rudypavichcomedy.com

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#1 ACS #1546 (feat. David Alan Grier, Gina Grad and Bryan Bishop) (2015)

#2 ACS #1586 (feat. Kevin Nealon, Gina Grad and Bryan Bishop) (2015)

Hosted by Superfan Giovanni

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#1 ACS #1434 (feat. Marlon Wayans, Laura Ingraham, Alison Rosen and Bryan Bishop) (2014)

#2 ACS #1444 (feat. Arnez J, Deaf Frat Guy, Alison Rosen and Bryan Bishop) (2014)

Hosted by Superfan Giovanni

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#1 ACS: #1374 (feat. Amy Alkon, Alison Rosen and Bryan Bishop) (2014)

#2 ACS #1409 (feat. Jay Paterno, Alison Rosen and Bryan Bishop) (2014)

Hosted by Superfan Giovanni

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On this episode of The Adam Carolla Show, actor Lou Diamond Phillips stops by the studio to share stories from his life and career. Lou opens up about the origins of his name, the strange ways fans insist they’ve met him before, and his love of cooking for family and friends. He recalls making sandwiches his mom would make him as a kid, working at Whataburger and even preparing lunch for Willie Nelson, and the worst job he ever had. Lou also dives into Hollywood life, from his early days being cast in Hispanic roles despite not being Hispanic, to getting dragged 100 yards behind a horse on the set of Young Guns 2, and talks with Adam about how hard it is to make a good comedic film or TV show.

Later, stand-up comedian Mike Vecchione and MMA personality Jason “Mayhem” Miller join Adam in the studio. They kick things off talking about the myth that white people don’t want to work the typical manual labor jobs that immigrants take, and compare sports in high school back then to today, where schools make special accommodations for kids who aren’t as athletic. Adam shares a brutal story about being rejected when he tried asking a girl out, while Mike and Mayhem weigh in on the challenges of growing up and competing in those environments. Adam also asks Mayhem for his take on the Raja Jackson situation.

In the news, Mayhem joins Adam and Mike Vecchione to discuss the week’s trending headlines. They cover Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement, joking about the couple as “your English teacher and your gym teacher getting married,” and react to Burning Man 2025’s Orgy Dome being destroyed by fierce desert winds, with organizers vowing to rebuild. 

Get it on.

FOR MORE WITH LOU DIAMOND PHILLIPS:

MOVIE: Et Tu - AVAILABLE NOW to STREAM

TWITTER: @LouDPhillips

FOR MORE WITH MIKE VECCHIONE:

SPECIAL: Low Income White - AVAILABLE on YOUTUBE NOW

TOUR DATES:

• THE PORT - BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 25
• COLUMBUS FUNNY BONE - OCTOBER 5

WEBSITE: mikevecchione.com

INSTAGRAM: @comicmikev

FOR MORE WITH JASON “MAYHEM” MILLER: 

INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: @mayhemmiller

WEBSITE: www.mayhemnow.com 

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On this episode of The Adam Carolla Show, comedian Dana Gould joins Adam in the studio! Adam praises Dana for being one of the few comics beloved across the board before diving into his legendary career writing for The Simpsons and Seth MacFarlane’s Ted. Dana reflects on his love for writing, the different career paths he could have taken, and how the “hero’s journey” became the template for nearly every Hollywood movie. The two share their admiration for Albert Brooks and the classic film Defending Your Life, reminisce about old favorites like Smokey and the Bandit, and even discuss the sad sight of abandoned buildings scattered across the desert on the drive to Vegas. Dana also discusses his conscious decision to be extra polite in traffic and the reasons behind it. 

Later, Adam explains why he regularly blows through red left-turn arrows, makes the case for why the laws around them are ridiculous, and tells the story of running a red on PCH right next to a fire truck full of firefighters. That sparks a bigger conversation about people’s inverted relationships with rules and authority, as Adam and Dana break down how modern culture often treats common sense like a liability. Along the way, they explore how shifts in comedy, film, and everyday life reflect broader changes in society, giving the episode a mix of humor, nostalgia, and sharp social commentary.

Get it on.

FOR MORE WITH DANA GOULD: 

SHOW: Hanging With Doctor Z - Live in person and live streamed - LOS ANGELES - Dynasty Typewriter - September 7th

WEBSITE:  DanaGould.com

PODCAST: The Dana Gould Hour

INSTAGRAM: @danagould

SPECIAL: Perfectly Normal - on YouTube

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On this episode of The Adam Carolla Show, comedian Avi Liberman joins Adam in studio to talk about his new book Strange Gigs, which chronicles the bizarre and unexpected shows he’s had to perform while on the road. Avi recalls one of his worst gigs ever, entertaining a rowdy crowd of drunk U.S. Marines, before he and Adam look back on their early days grinding it out at open mics. Adam shares the story of waiting all day for his shot at The Laugh Factory, only to be bumped by Pauly Shore, and explains why he’s never liked bumping other comics himself. The two then dive into the current state of stand-up, with Avi offering his honest take on crowd work and roast comics.

In the news, Elisha Krauss stops by with some of the week’s trending headlines. They react to the story of Rampage Jackson’s son, Raja, who is under investigation for a ruthless attack at a Los Angeles wrestling event. They also take a lighter turn with the viral clip of New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani failing at a bench press attempt during Men’s Day in Brooklyn — a moment that earned him public ribbing from political rivals like Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams.

Later, acclaimed chef Brad Kilgore joins the show for a mouthwatering conversation about pizza and the restaurant industry. Adam asks Brad to weigh in on the best style of pizza, before the two bond over their love of meatballs and debate the merits of ricotta cheese. They also discuss how chefs put creative spins on traditional dishes, while Adam samples slices of Brad’s famous pizza and doubles down on his love for thin-crust New York style. The conversation expands to the challenges of running a restaurant today, before the two swap topping preferences — from their shared love of olives to Brad’s favorite bacon combinations, and Adam’s surprisingly controversial take on bacon itself.

Get it on.

FOR MORE WITH AVI LIBERMAN:

BOOK: Stranger Gigs - Available NOW on Amazon

Touring Israel in October 8-12 benefitting the Koby Mandell Foundation

INSTAGRAM: @avilibermancomedy

WEBSITE: aviliberman.com 

FOR MORE WITH ELISHA KRAUSS: 

INSTAGRAM: @elishakrauss

WEBSITE: elishakrauss.com 

JOURNAL: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/author/elisha-krauss/

FOR MORE WITH BRAD KILGORE: 

PIZZA: Pizza Freak Co - Frozen pizza shipped to your door 

WEBSITE: Pizzafreakco.com

INSTAGRAM: @brad_kilgore

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On this episode of The Adam Carolla Show, comedian Darren Carter, “The Party Starter,” joins Adam in the studio! They kick things off with the challenges of doing clean stand-up comedy in Los Angeles before shifting to the rise in street brawls and society’s fading respect for consequences. Adam keeps Darren on his toes with some tricky “would you rather” hypotheticals about controversial jobs, then pivots to California’s bizarre bait car laws. The two also take aim at a head-scratching Kia EV commercial showing a couple dining in Las Vegas and then magically driving to an empty Los Angeles beach the next day. Adam closes the segment with his take on the tragic story of an illegal immigrant truck driver whose reckless turn led to a deadly crash.

Jason “Mayhem” Miller drops in with the latest headlines, starting with former LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley’s legal claim against the city of Los Angeles, where she accuses Mayor Karen Bass of orchestrating a campaign of misinformation and retaliation following the deadly Palisades wildfire. They also cover the remarks from Bed Bath & Beyond executive chairman Marcus Lemonis, who made waves by refusing to reopen stores in California, citing high costs and stifling regulations that he says make doing business in the state nearly impossible.

Get it on.

FOR MORE WITH DARREN CARTER:

DRY BAR SPECIAL: “CALM DOWN”

TOUR DATES: Sep 3, 2025 – Irvine, CA – Irvine Improv

PODCAST: “Pocket Party” - Available on all podcast platforms

INSTAGRAM: @officialdarrencarter

YOUTUBE: @Darrencarter

TWITTER: @darrencarter

FOR MORE WITH JASON “MAYHEM” MILLER: 

INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: @mayhemmiller

WEBSITE: www.mayhemnow.com 

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#1 ACS #1216 (feat. Greg Fitzsimmons, David Wild, Alison Rosen and Bryan Bishop) (2013)

#2 ACS #1220 (feat. Dave Dameshek, Steve Hofstetter, Alison Rosen and Bryan Bishop) (2013)

Hosted by Superfan Giovanni

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