In this episode: I interview Rob van Vuuren, a comedian and actor known for his character Namaste Bae. We discuss the origins of the character, the comedy scene in South Africa, and the dangers of certainty and cult-like behavior. Rob shares how he uses comedy to process the absurdity and insanity of everyday life. We also touch on the global appeal of alternative healing and the importance of vulnerability in comedy. Rob discusses his experiences as an artist and comedian, particularly in relation to his character Namaste Bae. He talks about the challenges of creating content and the interesting questions that arise about how people perceive his character. He also discusses the cathartic nature of comedy and the importance of empathy in connecting with audiences.
https://www.instagram.com/robvanvuuren/
https://linktr.ee/robvanvuuren
Rob's stand-up comedy show:
After wildly successful national and international tours and winning the Gold Standard Bank Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival 2023, Namaste Bae: Blessings and Kombucha is back. A healing ceremony unlike any you’ve ever experienced brought to you by the new age satirical guru taking social media by storm. Some say he was born with a bottle of kombucha in one hand and a yoga mat in the other during a Vedic Shadow Planet eclipse. Some say he takes all the psychedelics so you don’t have to. Some say he is still looking for a ticket to Burning Man. Whatever they say, Namaste Bae is the guru you both need and deserve. A self proclaimed oracle of the Mother Scoby, Namaste Bae will help you find yourself inside yourself and with the power of comedic catharsis he will help you give birth to a better version of yourself. Namaste Bae is the globally viral brainchild of multi-award winning South African comedian and actor Rob van Vuuren, and will provide you with a night of healing hilarity and titillating transcendence you won’t forget!

Chapters
00:00 Namaste Bae tries to connect with Mark
03:18 The Origins of Namaste Bae
08:02 Comedy and Insanity in South Africa 
12:45 The Global Appeal and Pitfalls of Alternative Healing
13:44 Embracing Uncertainty and Fallibility
15:10 The Role of Comedy in South Africa
25:13 Finding Clarity and Responding vs Reacting 
28:55 Navigating the Seduction of Fame and Power
32:06 Controlling the Narrative and Assumptions
32:58 The Cathartic Power of Comedy
44:35 Challenging Perceptions through Comedy
52:53 The Fulfillment of the Artistic Journey
59:37 Releasing the Pressure through Comedy
01:01:03 Navigating a Confusing and Polarized World
01:04:09 Staying Curious and Finding Fulfillment as an Artist

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The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

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