The Secret of Dave Barry’s Humor: Class Clown Memoir and Florida Tales

Jul 1, 2025

In this lively conversation, humorist Dave Barry, known for his iconic columns and bestselling books, shares insights from his memoir, Class Clown. He recounts outrageous tales, like driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile and his unique approach to humor that combines personal stories with absurdity. Barry discusses the evolution of his comedic style, the challenges of modern writing, and how engaging with readers shapes his work. He reflects on the quirky charm of Florida and the importance of embracing one's flaws in storytelling.

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ANECDOTE

Sewage Station Dedication Anecdote

Dave Barry made fun of North Dakota and got 115 angry letters.
They invited him to dedicate a sewage lifting station in his honor, which he humorously described.

ANECDOTE

Telemarketer Switchboard Prank

Dave Barry called the American Teleservices Association to flood their switchboard, after they opposed banning telemarketer calls.
This prank disrupted their operation and made him part of the story.

INSIGHT

Readers as Allies in Humor

Dave Barry's readers were his allies and actively engaged with his humor.
He treated readers as collaborators, making his column a shared experience.

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A Note from James:

One of the funniest guys I’ve ever spoken to—Dave Barry. I always love talking to him. He’s been America’s top humorist since the early ’80s with a syndicated column in 500 newspapers and a long list of bestselling books. This is his third time on the podcast, and his latest book, Class Clown: Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass, is out now.

We get into everything—his process, his adventures, and his signature style of humor that’s made him a legend. It’s always fun with Dave.

Episode Description:

James sits down with Dave Barry to explore the surprising journey behind his new memoir, Class Clown. Dave shares how his humor evolved from playful everyman columns to a more personal, story-driven style. They talk about his outrageous adventures, from picking up his son in the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile to getting booed by telemarketers and dedicating a sewage station in his honor. They also break down the shifting landscape of writing, how syndication shaped Dave’s career, and why modern humor feels trapped in political silos.

This is a rare chance to hear how one of America’s greatest humorists built a career by doing things to write about them—and why his readers became his closest allies.

What You’ll Learn:

Why Dave Barry was initially reluctant to write a memoir.
How performing outrageous stunts became central to his writing.
The critical role of reader engagement in building the success of his humor column.
How the writing industry—and the path to building an audience—has radically changed.
Dave’s candid perspective on modern political humor and why neutrality feels impossible today.

Timestamped Chapters:

[00:00] Introduction to Dave Barry
[01:00] Writing a Memoir: The Journey Begins
[02:00] The Humorist’s Approach: Balancing Persona and Reality
[03:00] Adventures in Journalism: Creating Stories by Living Them
[05:00] Tactical Humor: Rivalries, Stunts, and Getting Involved
[08:00] When Humor Becomes the Story: Telemarketers and Public Reaction
[12:00] Building a Community: How Dave Engaged His Readers
[17:00] The Syndication Era: How Writing Used to Pay
[23:00] The New Writing Economy: Substack and the Digital Shift
[28:00] Assault Humor and the Loss of Neutral Comedy
[31:00] What’s Next: Substack, Slowing Down, and Florida’s Wild Identity
[35:00] Writing Novels vs. Columns: Dave’s Fast-Paced Storytelling Style
[41:00] Stand-Up Comedy and the Influence of Nate Bargatze
[44:00] Comedy Club Lessons: James on Bombing and Recovery
[46:00] Criticism: Dave’s Approach to Bad Reviews
[47:00] Farewell: Dave’s Thoughts on Humor, Writing, and Legacy

Additional Resources:

📖 Class Clown: Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass by Dave Barry
📖 The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
🎤 Nate Bargatze Official Website
🎤 Jim Gaffigan Official Website
🎤 Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’72
🎤 P.J. O'Rourke’s Official Website (archived)

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