Vishnu opened for Russell Peters, forgot his own birthday, and ended up smoking cigars on a New York street with Russell and a homeless man.
In Episode 20, Vishnu and Mahitha talk about what real success looks like (thanks to Russell and Clayton Peters), the advice Russell gave Vishnu right before his first show in Tokyo, and why it's worth hearing the other side before you pick one. They get into the British-era famines our history books skipped, why Indians save everything and hoard gold, houses vs. apartments, and following the crowd. Plus: Tesla's flying car, the Chicago temple attack that ended with "not today, son," the Karmelo Anthony case and what we owe bullied kids, a crying stranger on NJ Transit, a Best Buy standoff over SD cards — and a very confused conversation about when exactly they met.
Correction: At
46:58 Vishnu says "Nolan Wells" — he meant Karmelo Anthony. The sentence was 35 years, not 25.
Chapters
0:00 Welcome + our son's trumpet "background score"
0:47 Tardy for study hall?
3:32 Vishnu's "semi-black" belt
5:04 Opening for Russell Peters & a forgotten birthday
6:35 Cigars with Russell Peters and a homeless man
13:33 Russell & Clayton Peters — real success
16:23 Opening for Russell in Tokyo
18:22 Always hear the other side
22:29 The famines our history books skipped
25:37 Scarcity trauma: why Indians save everything
31:24 Houses vs. apartments
35:15 Don't just follow the crowd
40:38 Tesla's flying car
43:36 Chicago temple: "Not today, son"
46:58 The Karmelo Anthony case & bullying
53:36 A safe haven for every kid
58:44 Smile at strangers + the NJ Transit suitcase
1:05:30 Standing your ground: Target & Best Buy
1:11:31 New podcast + 20 years since we met
1:15:49 Costco diamonds?
Watch the full episode on YouTube: [YouTube link]
New: Vishnu Talks — Vishnu's solo podcast, every Tuesday.
See Vishnu live: Nov 12 – Punchline Philly. Tickets at https://www.vishnuvaka.com
Links
Vishnu: https://www.vishnuvaka.com
Mahitha: https://www.mahithavaka.com
Jovarta: https://www.jovarta.com
Follow Vishnu: @vishnuvakacomedy on Instagram, TikTok & YouTube