JRE 2538 · August 12, 2026
Joe DeRosa
Who is Joe DeRosa?
Joe DeRosa is a versatile comedian, actor, musician, and restaurateur. He is widely known for his sharp wit and is the host of the Vile and Horrendous podcast.
Topics and Timestamps
- 01Joe DeRosa discusses his latest Netflix special I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
- 02Insights into the grind of professional stand up comedy
- 03Stories regarding his experiences as a restaurateur and business owner
- 04Discussion on the dynamics of the Vile and Horrendous podcast
- 05The intersection of music and comedy in his creative process
- 06Conversations about the current state of the comedy scene
- ▶Breaking down the Netflix special0:12:00
- ▶The struggles of running a restaurant0:35:00
- ▶Creating the Vile and Horrendous podcast1:05:00
- ▶The evolution of the comedy circuit1:30:00
- ▶Combining music and stand up2:10:00
The Show
Joe DeRosa drops by the podcast to talk about his life as a multidisciplinary creative. The conversation kicks off with his new Netflix special, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, where Joe breaks down the process of writing and performing material that hits that specific sweet spot of being both cynical and honest. It is classic DeRosa energy, focusing on the absurdity of modern life without sugarcoating anything.
They dive deep into the business side of things, specifically Joe's ventures into the restaurant world. It is always interesting to hear a comic talk about the actual stress of running a business because it is a completely different kind of pressure than bombing on stage. Joe describes the chaos of the hospitality industry and how it mirrors some of the madness he sees in the entertainment world.
Joe also talks about his podcast, Vile and Horrendous, and how he approaches long form conversation. There is a great back and forth about the evolution of comedy and how the landscape has shifted over the years. Joe has been in the game a long time, so he provides a solid perspective on what has actually changed and what is just noise in the current culture war.
The episode wraps up with a look at his music and acting work. Joe has always been a bit of a renaissance man in the comedy world, and it is clear that his different interests feed into each other. It is a relaxed, funny conversation that feels more like two old pros hanging out and talking shop than a formal interview.
Best Quotes
“I never promised you a rose garden, I just promised you some jokes.”
— Joe DeRosa
From the JRE 2538 conversation with Joe DeRosa.
“Running a restaurant is just a different kind of comedy, mostly tragedy.”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 2538 conversation with Joe DeRosa.
“The grind of the road is where the real writing happens.”
— Joe DeRosa
From the JRE 2538 conversation with Joe DeRosa.
“You have to be willing to look like a fool to actually become funny.”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 2538 conversation with Joe DeRosa.
“Long form podcasts are the new late night talk shows.”
— Joe DeRosa
From the JRE 2538 conversation with Joe DeRosa.
Mentioned in This Episode
Books, supplements, gear, and other cool things that came up in conversation — not the podcast ads.
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
IMDBJoe DeRosa's latest comedy special streaming on Netflix
Vile and Horrendous
VisitPodcast hosted by Joe DeRosa
Black Rifle Coffee
AmazonAmerica's Coffee providing high quality roasts
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
