Is comedy becoming the last forbidden form of free speech?

On this episode of Dangerous Laughter, A.J. Rice sits down with comedian, producer, satirist, and author Lou Perez to discuss the growing culture of censorship, cancel culture, and why comedy has become one of the last places where uncomfortable truths can still be told.

Drawing from his book, That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore: On the Death and Rebirth of Comedy, Lou explains how political correctness, social media outrage, and cultural pressure have reshaped stand-up comedy, entertainment, and public discourse.

The conversation explores the history of satire—from Lenny Bruce and George Carlin to today's comedians—and asks whether America is entering an era where humor itself has become controversial.

• Why cancel culture changed comedy
• Is free speech under attack?
• Political satire and modern censorship
• The role of comedians in a divided America
• George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, and comedy legends
• Charlie Hebdo and the cost of speaking freely
• Social media outrage and cancel mobs
• Why laughter remains one of freedom's greatest weapons

Whether you're interested in stand-up comedy, politics, free speech, First Amendment rights, political satire, or the future of American culture, this conversation delivers insight, humor, and honest debate.

Guest: Lou Perez
Host: A.J. Rice
Show: Dangerous Laughter

00:00 Intro
01:35 Is Comedy Still Allowed?
09:42 The Death of Comedy
19:58 Cancel Culture & Censorship
31:20 Why Humor Scares Authoritarians
44:15 The Rebirth of Comedy
57:10 Final Thoughts

Official Website
https://www.thelouperez.com/

That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore: On the Death and Rebirth of Comedy
https://www.thelouperez.com/ (Order page with links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, BAM!, Bookshop & IndieBound)

▶️ YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@TheLouPerez

X (Twitter)
https://x.com/TheLouPerez

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thelouperez/

The Lou Perez Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lou-perez-podcast/id1535032081

Substack
https://substack.com/@louperez

▶️ Subscribe on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@DangerousLaughter

Official Website
https://dangerouslaughter.com

The White Privilege Album
https://whiteprivilegealbum.com

The Woking Dead
https://wokingdeadbook.com

The Curse of the Bearded Lady: How the Trans Mafia Whacked American Sanity
https://beardedladybook.com

• (00:00:01) - Dangerous Laughter
• (00:02:29) - Dissecting Dangerous Laughter With Lou Perez
• (00:10:24) - Comedian on Becoming a Jihadi
• (00:15:52) - Lou Perez on his New Comedy
• (00:17:41) - Coming Out of the MFA Closet
• (00:20:07) - Lou Perez on His New Book, The Curse of the Bearded
• (00:21:03) - Celebrities Endorse Dangerous Laughter
• (00:24:26) - Comedian on Louis CK's Trans Jokes
• (00:29:51) - Free Speech and the 2020 election
• (00:36:35) - Kamala on The LA Sparks Locker Room
• (00:40:22) - The Trans Mafia: Cult of the Bearded Lady
• (00:43:05) - DMS: Toxic Masculinity on The DL
• (00:47:47) - Adam Levine on the Democratic Party's Use of Words
• (00:53:57) - Bill Maher on Stephen A. Smith's Support for Rubio
• (00:55:19) - Mike Solana from Pirate Wires: Is the GOP the Party

On this episode of Dangerous Laughter, AJ Rice sits down with Solomon Schmidt, author of A Pen to Change the World: The Life of J.K. Rowling, for a fascinating conversation about the woman behind the Harry Potter phenomenon.

They explore Rowling's journey from struggling single mother to one of the world's most influential authors, the cultural impact of Harry Potter, the controversy surrounding her defense of free speech, cancel culture, gender ideology, and why Rowling has become one of the defining public figures of the modern culture war.

Whether you're a Harry Potter fan, interested in publishing, free expression, or today's political and cultural debates, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

• J.K. Rowling's untold life story
• The making of Harry Potter
• Cancel culture and public backlash
• Free speech in modern society
• Gender ideology and cultural debates
• Literature's influence on politics and culture
• The legacy of one of the world's bestselling authors

Solomon Schmidt
Author of A Pen to Change the World: The Life of J.K. Rowling

Buy the book:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A+Pen+to+Change+the+World+Solomon+Schmidt

AJ Rice
President & CEO of Publius PR

https://ajricepr.com

The Woking Dead
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Woking+Dead+AJ+Rice

The White Privilege Album
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+White+Privilege+Album+AJ+Rice

Dangerous Laughter is the show where politics, culture, comedy, and fearless conversations collide.

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and watch full episodes on YouTube and Rumble.

• (00:00:01) - Dangerous Laughter
• (00:03:03) - Interviewing Harry Potter Fan Solomon Schmidt
• (00:06:08) - Harry Potter: The Story of JK Rowling
• (00:10:49) - Bookmark: History Bites for Kids
• (00:15:48) - Neville on Harry Potter's Biography
• (00:18:34) - J.K. Rowling on Threats
• (00:22:44) - A.J. Rice on Harry Potter and A Pen to Change
• (00:28:08) - The Harpy in Harry Potter
• (00:29:19) - How The Making of Harry Potter Started
• (00:33:53) - JK Rowling on her New Book 'The Casual Vacancy'
• (00:40:39) - Harry Potter Cast and Fans React to Emma Watson's Coming Out
• (00:45:14) - Cursed Is the Bearded Lady: The Cult of the Trans
• (00:48:05) - J.K. Rowling: Book Bans
• (00:54:39) - UK Supreme Court: The definition of a woman is based on biological
• (00:59:51) - "Sorting Hat"
• (01:00:37) - How to Pass the Hogwarts SAT
• (01:01:27) - The Name of Harry Potter's Prison
• (01:02:16) - Fluffy the Philosopher's Mask
• (01:02:48) - What publication constantly lies, exaggerates and manipulates the public perception
• (01:03:35) - 10 Questions You Will Never Forget About JK Rowling
• (01:04:36) - Which Character Kills Bellatrix Lestrange in Harry Potter and
• (01:05:33) - What Is Voldemort's Real Full Name?
• (01:06:17) - How Much Do You Know About Harry Potter?
• (01:07:28) - Nerd Verse: Who Are The Founders of Hogwarts?
• (01:09:15) - Harry Potter: The Moral Truth of the Book

What happens when losing your freedom becomes the catalyst for a new mission?

In this compelling episode of Dangerous Laughter, host A.J. Rice welcomes John Strand—author of Patriot Plea, former January 6 defendant, and congressional candidate—for a wide-ranging conversation about resilience, public life, and the experiences that shaped his campaign for Congress. Strand discusses his account of January 6, his time in federal prison, the lessons he says he learned through adversity, and why he believes now is the time to seek public office. His book, Patriot Plea, chronicles those experiences and his perspective on government, justice, and the future of America.

• John Strand's perspective on January 6
• Life inside federal prison
• The story behind Patriot Plea
• Why he's running for Congress
• Free speech and constitutional rights
• Political discourse and the future of America
• Faith, resilience, and public service

Website: https://dangerouslaughter.com

Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/DangerousLaughter

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DangerousLaughterShow

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dangerous-laughter/id1896879288

❌ X: https://x.com/DLaughShow

Campaign Website: https://johnstrand.com

Patriot Plea: The J6 Journey of a Political Prisoner in the Divided States of America

Official Book: https://patriotplea.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1510786988

❌ X: https://x.com/JohnStrandUSA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnstrandusa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnStrandUSA

Website: https://ajricepr.com

Books: https://ajricepr.com/books

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0D4C64R9R

❌ X: https://x.com/PubliusPR

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/publiuspr_dc/

Substack: https://publiusnationalpost.substack.com/

If you enjoyed this conversation, follow, rate, review, and share Dangerous Laughter on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us bring more in-depth conversations with today's leading authors, journalists, policymakers, and cultural voices.

• (00:00:01) - Dangerous Laughing Ship Destruct
• (00:01:34) - Derek Zoo on The New York Times
• (00:02:19) - John Strand on Being a Political Prisoner
• (00:03:55) - Talking to Anthony Bourdain
• (00:04:59) - The John Strand Origin Story
• (00:07:52) - In the Elevator With Amy Poehler
• (00:08:57) - Andrew Breitbart on Creativity and the Right
• (00:14:02) - What is WOKE?
• (00:15:58) - John on His Three Albums
• (00:16:23) - A.J. on Extremism
• (00:17:40) - Disguised as John Kreese
• (00:19:00) - Distracted Laughter
• (00:19:38) - Three Albums You'd Take On The Desert Island
• (00:20:59) - Patriot Plea: My Story
• (00:25:51) - Guantanamo inmate on solitary confinement
• (00:30:02) - Patriot Plea
• (00:31:54) - If You Could Time Travel Back to January 6th
• (00:35:52) - Dangerous Laughter
• (00:40:53) - John Strand for Congress in Florida's 19th Congressional District
• (00:46:41) - Congressman John Strand on Trump
• (00:47:51) - Florida's 19th Congressional District
• (00:53:37) - Dangerous Laugh