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Read Time: 5 minutes. Read Time brought to you once again by the Ashburton Energy + Hair Logistics Group, in association with the Bradley Hills Bureau of Corrections + Housing.
New to the SternJourn? It’s a place where Julian (me) promotes shows; and talks about comedy, writing, productivity, and whatever the hell else he [I] want(s). Check out the best of 2025, 2024, 2022, 2021, or 2020 [I’ll get around to a best of 2023 at some point]!
Shows!
[West Hollywood, CA] Queer Roast for the Straight Hosts. Thursday January 29, 7PM.
[Santa Monica, CA] 100 Julian Sterns. Saturday January 31, 8PM.
[Santa Monica, CA] Just For Laughs New Faces Audition. Wednesday February 4, 7PM.
[Los Angeles, CA] Download Comedy. Thursday February 5, 8PM.
[Los Angeles, CA] MCing Coat Rack Reveal Party. February 7.
[Santa Monica, CA] 100 Julian Sterns. Saturday February 21, 8PM.
[Santa Clarita, CA] Peak Comedy Show. Thursday, March 26.
[Canton, OH] Headlining Canton Comedy Boom! Friday May 8.
[Future Shows] Fill out this form to lemme know what city you’re in if you wanna see me perform there! Takes 5 seconds! 22 people have done it so far! Could you be 23?
Hello Sternal Journalists,
Doozy of a week. I almost always look back on the SternJourns where I comment on how I feel about really bad stuff in the world and decide that, in retrospect, I was being cloying.
And yet, I remember that at the time, I felt the feelings I felt, and wanted to express them. This is all to say, this is probably more for me than for anyone else, but here are the feelings I’ve been feeling this week, previously posted on Instagram, and now here:
Renee Good and Alex Pretti were both 37 years old. I’m also 37 years old. He was an ICU nurse and she was a mother. I, obviously, am neither of those things. I’m sure there are infinite other ways in which we were different.
But we were all 37. And while that’s a coincidence, it makes me think about the many conversations I’ve had with friends and acquaintances who are my age. Whether business owners or currently unemployed, parents of 3 or childless, Democrat or Republican, whatever other way you can slice it, everyone I know has been dealing with some sense of, “Oh shit, we’re the adults.” Not young adults, not “technically” adults, but capital A adults.
Part of that involves shepherding/mentoring/looking out for the next generation—whether that’s one’s own children or other younger people in one’s community. Another part of it involves looking upward—taking care of or starting to talk about taking care of our parents. Looking to make sure that the older in our community are okay as they become in some ways less capable. But it all involves taking a more purposeful interest in making sure those around you are okay. Because we’re the adults.
For me, that’s manifested as interest in ending homelessness. For others, it’s taking more responsibilities at their church, or doing errands for an elderly neighbor. For others still, they’re not sure how it’s manifesting, but they feel that drive for purpose. They’re not sure what they’re looking for, but they know they’re looking for something.
It’s a dizzying feeling, but it’s a beautiful thing. It is, I believe, responsible for every bit of good that has come out of the experiment of America and the experience of humanity. It is, I believe, exactly what was driving Renee Good and Alex Pretti when they were killed by ICE agents. They were trying to fulfill or find their purpose as the adults in the room, as the generation most capable of protecting those in need.
Arguing about this is anti-human, anti-life, anti-American. “FAFO” is such a heartless reaction to death. Whatever your belief system is, whoever imbued you with your values, to not allow good faith efforts to protect the weak and protest the unjust is a betrayal.
Even in the most generous accepting of the federal agents’ narratives, which I do not accept from the footage I’ve seen, but even if I did, the callousness with which these victims have been treated after the fact is unacceptable. I believe we all know that.
I believe we all know that Renee Good and Alex Pretti were trying to help. I also believe we all know that firing at someone’s back when you have them on the ground, or firing at a car even after it drives away from you, is not trying to help. I don’t know if it was hate or fear driving those decisions, but it was not purpose. It was not love for your fellow man.
I’ve been to a handful of protests and I’ve been an observer at homeless encampment sweeps, where we acted as deterrents to human rights violations by law enforcement or sanitation services. The question you always ask yourself in those situations is, “Am I prepared to be arrested today?” Many times, I felt like the answer to that question was no. I cared, but I didn’t feel stable or mature or called enough to do that.
As I’ve gotten older, that answer has changed. I believe Renee Good and Alex Pretti asked themselves that question and were comfortable with their answers. But they didn’t know the question had changed too.
This cannot be the norm. We have to see this. We all have to be the adults.
Inspirations (formerly recs)
My mom! It’s her birthday, and she taught me to be nice to people and not freak out even when you’re freaking out. Those have both been useful skills. If you wanna have an Alexis week, watch this video on identifying backyard birds. She loves birding and I am trying to hopefully get into that passion one day too.
Bernie Sanders. Yeah, yeah. Manbun guy likes Bernie Sanders. What else is new? But I really like that he goes on Theo Von’s podcast, which he did again recently. I think Theo probably has a more politically diverse listener-base than the zeitgeist would indicate, but there are certainly conservative folks who listen. I think Bernie is messaging them in a no-nonsense, practical way that is good for the country and unity in general. Also, Bernie is always surprised when Theo’s producer pulls something up on the screen. This is obviously such a normal podcast trope by now, but it made me think about how actually present people are able to be in these “long-form conversation” podcasts if they’re being interrupted by the “can you bring that up?” guy every five minutes.
Adam Friendland. I am so jealous of the space he has carved out for himself as a podcaster and really enjoyed his episode with Jon Favreau.
Marisa Abela/Harry Lawtey. I started watching Industry this week, and I really like the whole show—It’s the petty-smart-but-not-as-smart-as-they-thing-they-are cringe of Succession with the horniness of Euphoria— and JEEZ LOUISE, the yearn-chemistry of Abela and Lawtey is insane. Everyone’s great. Cannot believe I might consider wearing merch of a fictional bank in the future.
Alright. That’s all. Much, much love to everyone to get through this time.
Julian
P.S. Here is a nice dog to cleanse your palate
