The Stavvy Method for Saving Young Men

by

This article was featured in New York’s One Great Story newsletter. Sign up here.

After photos emerged from the Venice Film Festival premiere of Yorgos Lanthimos’s Bugonia in late August, a comment on X perfectly captured the reaction of many: “I can’t believe Stavros Halkias went from making edgy online content to being in a movie with Emma Stone.” This sentiment was widespread, and for good reason. When Stone began collaborating with Lanthimos on The Favourite in 2018, Halkias was known as the co-host of Cum Town, a podcast popular for its ironic and often provocative humor. Since leaving Cum Town in 2022, Halkias’s following has grown significantly. He’s become skilled at creating viral clips from his live performances, attracting over 800,000 YouTube subscribers who enjoy his stand-up and fitness series, Stavvy Gets Ripped. His advice podcast, Stavvy’s World, has an additional 300,000 subscribers. Throughout his career, Halkias has built a reputation for being remarkably honest about his imperfections and for his uniquely open-minded and playful approach to humor.

I still don’t quite get why I was chosen for the movie Bugonia, but I understand my being in it adds something to the film’s message. It’s about guys who get lost in the darker corners of the internet, chasing conspiracies. In the movie, Jesse Plemons plays a guy whose life fell apart because of big corporations and medication, and he turns to YouTube for answers. It’s funny because, in my real life, I actually try to give those kinds of guys answers too. I remember being one of those angry, lost guys myself, and I know how easily I could’ve been pulled in by those online influencers who preach hate. That’s why I see my current work as a way to offer a different path. On my podcast and in my comedy, I try to tell guys that believing in yourself and treating people well is the way to go – and that can actually get you what you want. And honestly, in a world so divided, isn’t that a message everyone could use? Just please don’t compare me to Joe Rogan, okay?

Landing the role in Bugonia has honestly been the wildest, most amazing thing that’s ever happened to me. It started when my agent told me Yorgos Lanthimos wanted to chat on Zoom, and I nearly lost it! He’s one of the most brilliant directors out there, and as a Greek person, you’re basically required to be a fan, but I genuinely love his work. We had a great conversation, but I was fully expecting them to go with someone else. I’d actually made an independent film specifically to prove I could act, you know? To show people I wasn’t a liability on screen. I was thinking, ‘If they need someone who looks like me—a diner owner, someone down on their luck, even a controversial character—maybe they’ll remember me.’ And then, out of nowhere, this incredible opportunity just fell into my lap. It’s truly a dream come true.

Working with Yorgos Lanthimos was great – he’s definitely unique, as you can tell from his films, but also very down-to-earth and friendly. Honestly, I was more nervous about meeting Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone, since I didn’t know them personally. But they were both incredibly kind! I kept wondering if it was all a bit too good to be true – if Jesse was just being polite, or why Emma and I were getting along so well over lunch.

The most stressful part was filming with the VistaVision cameras. You could actually hear how expensive it was – the whirring sound seemed to say, “If you mess up, that’s a lot of wasted film!” It wasn’t like losing a gigabyte of digital data; this was rare film stock, the same kind used for Indiana Jones. I was constantly worried about flubbing a line, because a single mistake could cost ten thousand dollars in film – more than my entire salary!

Given how the film portrays the internet and ideas about masculinity, I’ve wondered if the director cast me because of my association with Cum Town and what that show represented at the time. We never discussed it directly, but it’s interesting to consider. As someone who loves movies, I always think about the hidden meanings behind casting choices. Cum Town definitely tapped into a kind of provocative, internet-based humor in the mid-2010s. We didn’t see ourselves as being against progressive values; it wasn’t a political stance for us. But we really disliked people who complained or tried to get others in trouble. We thought that was irritating, and even I – who usually tried to keep things in check – believed Shane Gillis shouldn’t have been fired from SNL.

Honestly, it didn’t even cross my mind when I first sat down to watch the film. I just thought it was a clever idea to bring a character from that podcast world into this bigger story. And Teddy? Yeah, I’m pretty sure he was a Cum Town listener. Maybe not his absolute go-to, but definitely something he had in his regular rotation.

Hosting Cum Town taught me a lot about online communities and subcultures. Unlike traditional art, where there’s a clear line between the creator and the work, online spaces can feel very personal and even risky. Being involved with such a specific internet fandom actually prepared me for the intensity of public attention – something I never anticipated. The experience ultimately showed me that other people’s opinions don’t matter as much as you think, even though that’s a cliché. After spending two years constantly being defined by others, it just becomes easier to ignore the negativity.

You mentioned you felt you couldn’t host Cum Town anymore once you turned 40. Can you explain why? Well, when we started the show, we weren’t trying to make a statement about ‘cancel culture’ or anything like that. We were just in our 20s, struggling financially, and honestly, we were pretty cynical and enjoyed being provocative. I originally thought it would only last for about ten episodes and didn’t worry much about offending people because I didn’t have anything to lose. But then the show started earning money, and I was able to buy my family a house. At that point, I would have done almost anything – even something seriously questionable – for $30,000.

Looking back at that time, when Trump was first becoming prominent, we weren’t supporters. While we leaned left politically, we didn’t want to make that the main focus of our comedy. I don’t believe comedians should primarily be political commentators. However, it’s understandable that you get people who are frustrated with the current cultural climate, who’ve spent years honing their skills at open mics, and who feel overlooked. When you combine those factors, you naturally get a rebellious reaction, and I think that’s a good thing. Young comedians should be free to experiment with edgy humor without facing permanent repercussions or being labeled negatively. That’s what we were pushing back against – Shane being a prime example.

As a comedy fan, it strikes me that a lot of that edgy, counter-culture stuff really feels like a generational rebellion. It was almost like a deliberate rejection of whatever the older generation believed in. Looking back, maybe we were just a bit immature, and perhaps 28 was already too old to be pulling that stuff. I think that kind of comedy should still exist, but it has to evolve. Honestly, if a young comedian was trying to be truly provocative today, I’d say it would be making jokes about figures like Charlie Kirk – basically, poking fun at what mainstream culture tells you is off-limits. Instead of targeting people who try to ‘cancel’ you, the real edge would come from mocking the bizarre trend of blindly following political leaders, which frankly feels pretty sad. That’s where the real transgressive humor is now, just like it was when we were ironically making racist jokes or poking fun at Hillary Clinton supporters back then.

You’ve called Stavvy’s World an “anti-incel” podcast. Can you explain what that means? It seems like there’s a lot of negativity and bitterness among young men who are struggling, and that’s damaging to them. I say that because I was one of those guys. It took me a long time – well into college – to gain any confidence and start dating. I often think about what would have happened if, when I was 17, someone had told me, bluntly, that treating women badly and being prejudiced would have consequences. Honestly, I probably would have thought, ‘Great, that’s easier than working on myself and becoming a better person.’

There’s a lot of talk about a crisis in how young men see themselves. But I understand what’s on a teenage boy’s mind, and I want to offer some simple advice for attracting girls. You don’t need to fall into unhealthy patterns – it’s actually damaging. I guarantee you’ll feel better just being a good, genuine person. Honestly, the standards for guys right now aren’t that high. Just avoid negativity and toxic behavior, and you’ll be okay.

After the recent presidential election, there was talk about the left needing someone like Joe Rogan – a popular, widely-heard voice. It’s concerning to me that my name comes up in those discussions. It suggests there aren’t enough prominent cultural figures on the left, or that journalism in this country is in really bad shape. Everything is driven by profit, and powerful people like Bezos are buying up major newspapers like the Washington Post. I also think it’s a lazy response to see comedians elevating right-wing voices and then assume we just need to find our own to do the same.

I definitely feel some pressure to be more upfront about my views. However, I prefer not to lead with that. What I want to say is that people need to stop blaming immigrants and transgender individuals for their problems. The real issues are things like tax cuts for the extremely wealthy and growing inequality. I actually studied public policy, but I decided around age 20 to focus on comedy instead. I do think I’ll eventually return to policy work, but I want to start small, at the community level. I grew up in Baltimore, where resources were scarce, and I really want to help kids there. I benefited from art programs as a kid, so I’ve been thinking about ways to give back in that area.

Looking back on my life, I’ve gone through phases of strong beliefs, then formal education. I eventually realized my career path wasn’t connected to what I studied, but learning did help me form a core worldview and define my values. Now that I’m focused on my artistic career, my priorities have shifted – I’m less concerned with broad societal issues and more focused on enjoying life.

I want to believe you, but the way you’re denying it reminds me of how Joe Rogan sometimes sounds – like he’s playing devil’s advocate. I also think people are too focused on how things look and how they’ll affect their careers. Honestly, it would probably help my career if I learned more about policy, memorized some stats, and went on TV to debate people. I’d be comfortable on CNN – I’m more engaging and funnier than most of those commentators, and I don’t think they’re particularly brilliant. With a month of study, I could really excel at that, but I hate the idea of prioritizing career advancement over everything else.

During your appearance on Caleb Hearon’s Stavvy’s World, you mentioned being surprised and disappointed by Joe Rogan’s endorsement of Trump. Could you explain what you were feeling at the time? I was particularly surprised because I thought we shared similar views, and I don’t see Joe as a far-right personality. He represents the average person, and a lot of people’s opinions can change dramatically – he’s supported both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, which reflects a significant portion of the American population. Honestly, my reaction was more along the lines of, ‘Wow, that’s unexpected! How did the Democratic party let this happen?’

I understand why people strongly dislike both candidates. I personally didn’t care for Kamala Harris, but I really struggled with the idea of someone who values free speech then supporting Trump. That was the core issue for me, and it’s even worse now, especially seeing what’s happening with ICE – federal agents operating without due process here in America. Is that who you’re supporting in the name of free speech? Trump was already suing journalists he didn’t agree with. I think some people have a really basic understanding of free speech – like it just means being able to say whatever you want, even hateful things. That’s not worth it. We should prioritize fairness and respect. I want legal protections for everyone, and I’m okay with censoring truly offensive language.

I supported Zohran Mamdani in the New York mayoral race because I wasn’t impressed with either candidate in the 2024 presidential election. I feel the Democratic Party isn’t offering compelling solutions right now. Mamdani inspires a lot of young people, and he’s authentic – a 33-year-old who genuinely excites voters. Traditional Democratic leaders seem focused on overly calculated campaigns, while Mamdani connects with people in a more natural way. Unfortunately, I believe the Democratic Party is too influenced by money and special interests to embrace that kind of energy.

Let me be clear about where I stand. While his campaign is already excellent and doesn’t necessarily need my help, I’m happy to support candidates or causes I believe in, even in a small way – whether that’s by actively helping or by fundraising. However, I won’t be dedicating a significant portion of my podcast to political discussions every week.

I caught your set recently, and that bit about being the ‘last line of defense’ against bad bro podcasts really stuck with me. You flipped it so cleverly – everyone’s got those friends who say questionable things, but your questionable friends happen to have a massive audience. It’s a funny line, but it made me think. Because, honestly, I’m one of those guys. My own crew of goofballs and I have a pretty big listenership, and it’s… unsettling. We’re basically just comedians who somehow ended up with specials, and maybe that’s all we should be.

Don’t let yourself believe you’re on opposite sides of an issue. I genuinely think it’s a mistake to end friendships just because someone doesn’t share your beliefs. The goal is to create division and break down communities using these manufactured conflicts. I don’t believe these people are inherently malicious; particularly in fields like entertainment, it’s easy to get caught up in things and feel pressured to conform. However, it’s vital to maintain friendships with people who think differently than you do – as long as you believe they’re good people at heart.

Given your position as a prominent voice in comedy, do you feel a responsibility to address social issues? I noticed during your show you spent a lot of time defending LGBTQ+ individuals. It seems like there’s a lot of negativity directed towards them, and particularly with so many comedians making jokes about trans people, you decided not to include any such material in your last special, feeling it was unoriginal and tired. You’re currently working on new material, but you dislike feeling like your jokes need to respond to real-world problems. You find it frustrating that comedy even needs to matter in this way, and you really don’t want to be seen as an important figure.

I’m reaching out because I was confused by how you handled a situation with comedian Jordan Jensen on your podcast. She accidentally used a hurtful slur while making a point, and you stopped her, which is different from other times when guests have used the F-slur and you didn’t interrupt. I feel for Jordan, and I want to clarify that I would never edit a podcast to make a guest look bad. Someone misrepresented what happened online. Jordan is a genuinely thoughtful person with interesting perspectives on gender and sexuality. I didn’t think this incident would become a big issue, so I didn’t address it further. Honestly, it happened right at the beginning of the episode, and my immediate thought was, ‘Let’s get the conversation going and focus on promoting her special.’ I was hoping we could start with lighter topics, like her niece, before diving into anything potentially sensitive.

When I mentioned “Austin trans brain,” I didn’t mean we should avoid joking about sensitive topics. It’s just that most attempts at those jokes are unoriginal and lack a fresh perspective. I’m not saying I’d never laugh at a joke that could be considered insensitive – a great example is the comedian Patrice O’Neal. His special, Elephant in the Room, is truly one of the best ever. He says things that are genuinely problematic, but the way he thinks and reveals himself as a person makes it surprisingly funny. You find yourself questioning whether you’re actually agreeing with him, and wondering how you can laugh at something you fundamentally disagree with. And that’s what makes a comedian truly skilled – making you laugh at something you normally wouldn’t.

Honestly, I don’t think anyone’s really handling this situation with the sensitivity it deserves. It feels like people are just trying to prove how edgy or progressive they are, and it comes off really badly. It’s like showing up on your first day of training and demanding to control nuclear weapons – you need to master the basics first! I think a lot of the recent discussions around this topic, especially here in Austin, have been dominated by people who think they have a unique perspective, but they just don’t have the experience or understanding to really contribute meaningfully. They’re not ready for this conversation, and it shows.

Jordan is hilarious, and looking back, I feel bad about how much criticism she received. I almost wish we hadn’t included that part of the episode at all, because I really wanted people to enjoy her comedy special. I just hope everyone can move past the controversy.

You’ve built a successful career independently, and now you’re starting to work within the traditional Hollywood system. How do you see yourself balancing those two worlds going forward?

I feel incredibly fortunate. I’ve exceeded all my expectations, and my family is financially secure. That means I’ll always return to stand-up. When you’re starting out, you might dismiss acting, but the path is challenging. Sometimes you end up in a movie that isn’t great. It’s a shift from being in control of your own work to feeling like you’re just waiting around on set, and the pay isn’t always better. It’s like someone suggesting an open relationship and then being upset when their partner thrives with others. Acting is much more difficult than I anticipated, and I’m committed to stand-up – it feels like my true calling. I’m realizing I’m best suited to doing what I do best: telling jokes.

When someone becomes controversial, their team often explores alternative opportunities for them. I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on potential collaborations with major brands. It really depends on the opportunity, though. I won’t promote gambling or cryptocurrency, and I’ve definitely advertised things in the past that I regretted. However, if a partnership feels right and aligns with my values, I’m open to considering it.

I originally wanted to be a writer, even before I started doing stand-up comedy. I especially enjoy writing personal essays, but only if it feels authentic and not just like a way to make money. I picture myself writing in a cozy cabin with a typewriter and a cardigan – the whole writer lifestyle. It’s just not my main priority right now.

Hosting Saturday Night Live is a huge deal. It’s often people’s first exposure to a comedian’s work, and it remains a significant platform for launching careers.

A Marvel movie.
Nah. Well … Nah, I don’t think so.

A dramedy — either a movie or TV show. Possibly with A24.
Yeah, I’m open to that.

I’ve actually considered hosting an awards show, and the anxiety I feel about it tells me I’d be good at it. It’s a bit scary because I know I could pull it off, but I’m hesitant to take on the challenge and all the work that would involve. Still, I’m definitely interested in the idea.

A new installment is in the works for My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Nia Vardalos has the idea, and is eager to secure the rights and start filming multiple sequels, envisioning it as a continuation of the series rather than a simple reboot.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=Jy0fRfaUWFM&list=PLZQfnFyelTBMMkDDYhRRq9h6HFVU3czhp&index=1

Read More

2025-10-24 19:59