Overview of #344 Dusty Slay - Moon Landing Conspiracies, Flat Earth, Aliens and the Nephilim
Shawn Ryan sits down with comedian Dusty Slay for a wide-ranging conversation that blends stand-up, faith, family, and a long stretch of conspiratorial curiosity. Dusty shares how he built a comedy career from a rough Alabama upbringing, why he intentionally keeps his material cleaner, how sobriety changed his life, and why his Christian convictions now shape a lot of how he lives and works. The back half of the conversation dives into Dusty’s beliefs about the Old Testament, biblical law, the moon landing, flat earth theories, aliens, ghosts, and the Nephilim.
Dusty Slay’s Background and Rise in Comedy
- Grew up in Opelika, Alabama, largely in a trailer park setting with divorced parents.
- Described a childhood filled with:
- drawing and art
- exploring woods, creeks, and rivers
- collecting insects, tadpoles, and salamanders
- His comedy path started in Charleston, South Carolina, where he:
- took improv classes
- tried stand-up
- worked regular jobs while developing his act
- Later moved to Nashville, which helped him build a road-comedy career and avoid the high-cost grind of New York.
- Mentioned major career milestones:
- The Tonight Show
- Jimmy Kimmel Live
- Comedy Central
- Netflix specials Working Man and Wet Heat
- regular appearances at the Grand Ole Opry
- He’s currently touring with his Neighborhood Guy Tour and has a book titled We’re Having a Good Time and Other Stories.
Comedy Style, Clean Material, and Christian Convictions
Why he keeps it clean
Dusty explained that his comedy evolved away from dirtier material after a friend challenged him with the idea that if he cared what church people thought, he should also care what God thought. That moment pushed him toward a cleaner style.
His goal on stage
- He wants audiences to feel good and leave better than they arrived.
- He avoids shock-value humor because it doesn’t feel natural to him.
- He sees cleaner comedy as a creative constraint that forces him to be more original.
Swearing and self-control
- He admitted that cussing is still hard to fully eliminate in everyday life.
- On stage, he tries to stay away from it, though he allows for rare exceptions when quoting someone or telling a story.
Sobriety, Addiction, and Personal Change
Dusty talked candidly about his drinking history:
- Quit drinking in 2012.
- Also stopped smoking cigarettes at the same time.
- Described himself as a blackout drinker, not just someone who got sloppy.
- Said sobriety helped him become:
- more focused
- more creative
- more disciplined in comedy and life
He also shared that he had a period of experimenting with drugs in his late teens and early 20s, but alcohol was the main issue that truly controlled him.
Family, Marriage, and Parenting
- Married his wife Hannah in 2017.
- She is Canadian and also has a comedy background.
- Their relationship began in the comedy scene, including a period of long-distance travel and visa issues.
- He described the marriage as a commitment to stay in it “no matter what,” rather than expecting constant happiness.
Parenting outlook
Dusty said his own experience with divorced parents shaped his approach to family:
- He never wants his kids to feel forced to choose between parents.
- He tries to keep adult problems away from his children.
- He wants his kids to be better than him, not limited by his example.
He also mentioned homeschooling at least for now and prioritizing family time over nonstop travel.
Faith, the Old Testament, and Biblical Law
This was one of the most important themes in the interview.
Dusty’s current view
He said that over time he became increasingly convinced that:
- the Old Testament still matters
- Jesus is the way to salvation
- but the law is how believers should live on earth
Key points he raised
- He no longer eats pork or shellfish.
- He believes many Christians read the Old Testament through a New Testament-only lens.
- He argued that passages like Acts 10 are often misunderstood and that Peter’s vision was about people, not necessarily food.
- He emphasized that he is still “working through” his beliefs and remains open to being corrected if he’s wrong.
His broader philosophy
- Pray more.
- Question more.
- Don’t treat preachers or public figures as the standard.
- Let Jesus be the example, not other people.
He also said his faith has become more central since COVID, and that he now talks about the Bible more openly on his podcast.
Conspiracies, Moon Landing, Flat Earth, Aliens, and the Paranormal
The last portion of the conversation turned into a long conspiratorial discussion, but Dusty framed most of it as questions and skepticism rather than certainty.
Moon landing skepticism
Dusty said he has questions about the Apollo moon landing, including:
- why the footage looks oddly filmed
- who was recording the landing shots
- why we haven’t returned in a long time
- why the technology allegedly “got lost”
He also mentioned:
- suspicious-looking shadows in moon footage
- the strange contrast between astronaut press conferences and expected excitement
- being open to the idea that the landing footage may not tell the whole story
Flat earth and cosmic questions
He said he’s not claiming certainty, but he does have questions about:
- how oceans stay “on” a spinning globe
- why gravity seems selective
- how Genesis’s description of the firmament fits his reading of scripture
Aliens and Nephilim
Dusty’s take:
- aliens may actually be spiritual beings, not extraterrestrials
- some may be fallen angels
- he connected this to the Nephilim in Genesis 6
Ghosts and strange experiences
He described:
- sleep paralysis episodes
- a shadowy figure at the foot of his bed in an old Nashville house
- other eerie experiences in old homes and cabins
- a belief that torment, pain, or death can make places feel spiritually heavy
He also said he avoids Ouija boards and horror media because he feels it can invite bad spiritual energy.
Career, Touring, and Creative Process
Dusty shared how he works as a comic:
- He finds inspiration in ordinary life:
- grocery stores
- customer service
- country songs
- everyday weirdness
- He likes to break down songs and cultural moments into jokes.
- He’s comfortable pivoting when a room isn’t working.
- He favors theater shows because the audience is there specifically to see him.
Touring and work-life balance
He tries to limit travel so he can be home with his family, often doing:
- Friday/Saturday theater runs
- corporate gigs
- podcast episodes
- then returning home as quickly as possible
Main Takeaways
- Dusty Slay’s comedy is deeply tied to his background, faith, and self-discipline.
- He views clean comedy as both a personal conviction and a creative advantage.
- His sobriety in 2012 was a turning point that helped stabilize his life and career.
- His faith has moved beyond casual belief into a serious, ongoing effort to understand scripture, especially the Old Testament.
- He enjoys questioning big cultural narratives, especially when it comes to the moon landing, flat earth, aliens, and spiritual phenomena.
- At the core of the conversation, Dusty comes across as someone trying to be:
- a good husband
- a good father
- a better Christian
- and a funny person without compromising his values