Overview of #656 - Fahim Anwar
Theo Von sits down with comedian, actor, and dancer Fahim Anwar for a loose, fast-moving conversation that mixes comedy industry talk, personal backstory, and a long stretch of absurd riffing. They discuss Fahim’s new special Intrusive Thoughts on YouTube, his weekly work-in-progress show Fahim Works on Stuff at the Comedy Store, his path from mechanical engineering at Boeing to stand-up, and how the LA comedy scene has changed. The episode also drifts into Theo-and-Fahim-style improvisation about internet slang, tech, fame, Michael Jackson, and the weirdness of modern culture.
Main Topics Covered
Fahim’s New Special and Comedy Work
- Fahim promotes his special Intrusive Thoughts, now out on YouTube.
- He explains his weekly show Fahim Works on Stuff in the Comedy Store Belly Room, where he tests material before it makes it into a full hour.
- Theo praises Fahim as a comic who constantly brings fresh ideas and strong physical act-outs.
Touring Together and the Comedy Road
- Theo and Fahim reflect on touring together through the Midwest and playing huge rooms, including the Fargo Dome.
- They talk about the adjustment from club settings to large theaters and arena-sized crowds.
- Fahim says he enjoyed the tour because it let him experience what it’s like to play bigger venues than he normally would.
From Boeing Engineer to Stand-Up Comic
- Fahim shares that he studied mechanical engineering and worked at Boeing in Long Beach before leaving to pursue comedy.
- He describes the practical, almost strategic way he moved toward comedy while still working a day job.
- He explains that he started stand-up young, but didn’t fully leave engineering until comedy offered a real path.
Afghan Heritage, Media Bias, and Post-9/11 Identity
- Theo asks Fahim directly about how Middle Eastern and Muslim people have been portrayed in American media.
- Fahim says the post-9/11 era brought real bias and suspicion, especially for anyone who “looked a certain way.”
- He compares the experience to wearing an “away jersey” you can’t take off: you’re still yourself, but others project onto you.
- He notes that the internet has helped break down some of the old one-sided narratives.
LA Comedy Scene, Fame, and Social Media
- They discuss how the Comedy Store scene has evolved, especially after COVID and the rise of Austin and digital comedy.
- Fahim argues that digital platforms now matter more than geography: a funny person anywhere can build an audience.
- He reflects on how fame used to feel powerful but hollow when he got it early through MTV, before it translated into money or lasting creative control.
- He says his early reality-TV fame gave him a useful “trial run” for handling attention later in comedy.
The Episode’s Big Themes
Comedy as Craft
- Fahim emphasizes that he prefers new material over simply repeating proven bits.
- He talks about comedy as something physical and nonverbal as much as verbal, especially since he came up as a dancer.
The Absurdity of Modern Life
- The podcast repeatedly veers into surreal jokes about:
- gooning
- VR sex
- robot security dogs
- Waymos
- Michael Jackson fandom
- celebrity culture and internet clips
- Theo and Fahim build elaborate bits out of whatever topic comes up, turning everyday tech and culture into absurd scenarios.
Identity, Belonging, and Perception
- One of the more grounded parts of the episode is Fahim talking about being perceived through a post-9/11 lens.
- He stays measured and reflective, while still keeping the tone conversational and funny.
- The discussion lands on a broader point: people are more complicated than the labels assigned to them.
Notable Moments and Running Bits
Comedy Store Legends
- They mention being in the room with major comics and celebrities like Quentin Tarantino, Jim Carrey, John Mayer, Louis C.K., Spade, Sandler, and others.
- Fahim describes how surreal it is to share a stage with people he once watched on TV as a kid.
The Michael Jackson Rabbit Hole
- They spend time marveling at how huge Michael Jackson was in the early 1990s.
- They revisit “Black or White” as a massive cultural event and joke about how impossible that level of stardom is today.
“Gooning” and Internet Slang
- Theo and Fahim use AI to define gooning, then riff on it as a marathon porn/edging state.
- The conversation becomes a long joke about digital obsession, group sessions, and absurd future tech.
Tech and Surveillance Jokes
- They riff on:
- a robot security dog
- a Waymo with a personality
- futuristic sex platforms
- AI and digital life replacing ordinary human behavior
- A lot of the humor comes from treating advanced tech like it’s just another weird LA character.
Takeaways
- Fahim Anwar’s special Intrusive Thoughts is the main plug of the episode and is available on YouTube.
- Fahim Works on Stuff is his workshop-style Comedy Store show where he develops material.
- Fahim’s career path is a reminder that stand-up can come from anywhere: engineering, reality TV, and club sets all fed into his current voice.
- The episode is part interview, part hangout, and part extended improv bit—exactly the kind of freewheeling conversation Theo fans expect.