Brent Pella: Punchlines, Psychedelics & the Pursuit of Joy
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Comedian and creator Brent Pella (@brentpella) joins Richard and Joseph for a hilarious, unfiltered, and thoughtful conversation about satire, spiritual charlatans, and the surprising power of breathwork. Brent offers a rare blend of humor and heart while opening up about his creative process, psychedelic journeys, and why he believes we can store joy in our cells just like trauma.
Topics
Satire, censorship & comedy’s role in an outraged world
From ketamine to ayahuasca: Brent’s psychedelic path
Conscious Connected Breathwork vs. plant medicine
The charlatan problem in the healing space
The neuroscience of joy, trauma, and creativity
Biohacking water, BPA receipts, and microplastics
Timestamps
00:02:45 – Learning to suck at something again: Brent on picking up piano and why challenge equals joy
00:05:52 – Storing joy in your cells: Can our bodies hold more than just trauma?
00:12:15 – SNL, Daily Show, and political bias in comedy
00:19:30 – Satirizing the psychedelic scene: Manipulation, ego, and false prophets
00:25:10 – Psychedelics & creativity: Brent’s journey from microdosing to macro insights
00:33:01 – Why Brent won’t do ayahuasca (yet)
00:39:45 – The wine glass metaphor for trauma healing
00:45:00 – Punching down vs. satire with integrity
00:55:42 – Pella or Propaganda: Brent plays the parody vs. real news game
01:03:00 – Deep breathwork & energy surges: Brent’s experience with CCB
01:09:30 – From Venice Beach smog to Austin skies: Nervous system reset
01:14:58 – Water hacks, raw milk mafias & BPA paranoia
01:21:45 – Receipts, Lululemon, and slow-drip toxicity
01:26:30 – Mercury in retrograde & the astrology placebo
01:32:20 – The burden of manifesting everything vs. surrendering to chaos
01:35:10 – Brent on legacy: Why joy matters more than justice
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Liability Note
Psychedelics discussed in this episode are illegal in many jurisdictions and are not suitable for everyone. Conscious Connected Breathwork can induce intense physiological and emotional responses and may be contraindicated for those with epilepsy, cardiovascular issues, or during pregnancy. Always consult a healthcare provider before participating in altered state practices.
