In this episode of 2 Bears, 1 Cave, Bert Kreischer shares two major life-threatening experiences: a tour bus fire that destroyed everything inside and a blood clot diagnosis requiring strict lifestyle changes. He reflects on how close he came to being trapped in the fire and compares this sudden near-death experience with his wife Leanne's medical crisis, which offered time for reflection. The blood clot diagnosis forced Bert to eliminate alcohol, smoking, and marijuana while on blood thinners, leading him to rely on nicotine and confront his anxiety management strategies.
The episode also covers Bert's comedy career logistics as he prepares for his next special, his physical transformation using Monjaro, and his new focus on sleep optimization. Tom Segura and Bert discuss recent celebrity controversies, including Chappell Roan's security incident at a hotel and the baseless conspiracy theories surrounding Garth Brooks. They also address their own appearances in the Epstein files due to spam marketing emails.

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Bert Kreischer recounts how his comedy tour bus caught fire between Fargo and Cedar Rapids. After a tire blowout stranded the bus in a snowstorm, Bert traveled ahead to make the next show while his driver Dewey stayed behind. The following morning, an electrical fire in the ceiling engulfed the entire bus in flames within 30 seconds. Dewey escaped, but everything inside was destroyed.
Bert reflects on how fatal the incident could have been—if not for the blowout, he would have been asleep in the back of the bus with no viable escape route. He hadn't even known about the escape hatch above his bed, and the back window was too small for him to fit through. The fire destroyed his entire wardrobe, cigars, knives, trophies, medications, and irreplaceable mementos collected on tour. Despite support from fellow comedians like Chris DiStefano and Tim Dillon, Bert notes no replacement could match his custom bus.
Bert contrasts this near-death experience with his wife Leanne's serious medical diagnosis, noting the bus fire would have been instantly fatal with no time for goodbyes, whereas Leanne's experience offered painful but meaningful reflection time. Despite having multiple brushes with death, Bert admits his overall perspective hasn't fundamentally changed, unlike Leanne's, which led to profound shifts in her outlook. The incident drew media attention from outlets like People Magazine and TMZ.
Bert's life changed abruptly after being diagnosed with blood clots and prescribed blood thinners, which came with strict prohibitions—no alcohol, smoking, or weed. Initially angry, especially with his parents in town and holidays approaching, Bert found himself frustrated for the first week before gradually caring less about alcohol. He emphasizes the severity of his condition: "Anything like that happens and I die instantly," as even a simple fall could cause fatal uncontrolled bleeding.
With his usual coping mechanisms off-limits, Bert has shifted to nicotine as a substitute, admitting he thinks about it more often than alcohol. He carries Lucy Breakers as an emergency backup for anxiety, having previously relied on alcohol, marijuana, or [restricted term] to manage panic attacks. Bert describes resorting to unconventional methods during a panic attack on his tour bus—turning on pornography to override his anxiety when no chemical option was available.
Bert marks July 11th as the day he can drink again after six months on blood thinners, joking about throwing a party but expressing uncertainty about whether he'll actually comply with an extension. Despite prolific journaling during forced sobriety and his near-death experience, Bert observes that his underlying perspectives remain largely unchanged, contrasting his experience with loved ones who show more transformation under similar pressures.
Bert Kreischer describes his venue decisions for his next comedy special, initially wanting to move from arenas to theaters where he could perform two shows nightly. After trying this in places like Pensacola, he found the double theater shows exhausting and draining. In contrast, one arena show brings a surge of energy from massive crowds that leaves him pumped. Tom Segura agrees that "the doubles" are what wear performers out.
Bert faces the challenge of trimming his set from an hour and forty-five minutes to fifty or sixty minutes. He acknowledges some stories are weak, particularly those about his children he can't tell anymore and stories featuring Tom Segura. Bert explains that stories with Tom act as a "cheat code" for laughs because audiences react to name recognition rather than genuine content. He's also avoiding material he's already told on podcasts, recognizing that when front-row audience members recognize the bit, it creates awkward moments and diminishes impact.
As Bert prepares to perform at the Mothership Comedy Club, he expresses excitement about trying new material inspired by recent life events. One current bit, which his wife Leanne anticipated would become stage material, is working extremely well with audiences despite his uncertainty about whether it's even appropriate to discuss on stage.
Bert Kreischer has undergone a dramatic physical transformation using Monjaro for weight loss. He no longer weighs himself but tracks progress through measurements, stating he is "smaller than I've ever been." Bert now wears size 36 pants, down from a 40-inch waist, and notes none of his old belts fit anymore.
Despite positive weight loss effects, Bert describes profound digestive changes, including uncontrolled bowel movements that occur instantly when sitting on the toilet, often without warning. He humorously compares this to a pianist instantly playing, describing a feeling where he continues repeatedly yet still feels empty afterward.
Sleep has become a major priority for Bert, who consistently sleeps 10 to 12 hours nightly and takes a daily 5 p.m. nap he considers essential for feeling balanced. He draws inspiration from elite athletes like LeBron James and historical figures like Winston Churchill, arguing that napping and long sleep are optimization, not laziness. Bert's focus on sleep intensified after developing blood clots—he now sets alarms every 45 minutes during flights to do 20 squats each time, totaling 100 to 120 squats per flight to mitigate clot risk.
Jude Law's 11-year-old daughter was having breakfast with her mother when she recognized Chappell Roan and walked by to confirm it was her. After returning to her family excited, Roan's security guard approached and aggressively chastised the child in front of everyone, threatening to report them to the hotel. Tom Segura emphasized this was simply a child admiring someone, not behavior warranting such aggression.
Chappell Roan responded with a bed-filmed video denying she instructed security to approach the woman and child, insisting "that didn't happen" and clarifying the guard wasn't her personal security. However, Bert Kreischer asserts that Roan is widely viewed as rude to fans, referencing her past remarks like "Just because I sing doesn't mean you have access to me." Bert suggests this reputation is why people were quick to believe the incident.
Bert describes seeing non-comedian podcasters discussing as fact the baseless conspiracy theory that Garth Brooks is a serial killer, with Tom Segura noting there's even a book about it. Bert jokes he empathizes with Garth, as both have become subjects of ridiculous rumors—Garth with the serial killer conspiracy, and Bert with being listed in the Epstein files, calling them both "victims of Tom Segura."
Bert revealed he was included in the Jeffrey Epstein files not due to any personal connection, but because Epstein's email contained spam advertisements for his West Palm Improv show in March 2017. Similarly, Gabriel Iglesias told 70,000 people at SoFi Stadium that he appeared in the files because Epstein unsuccessfully tried to get tickets to his sold-out shows in 2014, joking that even diabolical people couldn't attend. The discussion highlighted that comedians like Bob Saget and Tracy Morgan appear in the files purely as recipients of spam marketing emails, regarded humorously as strange trivia rather than anything incriminating.
1-Page Summary
Bert Kreischer recounts the series of events during his comedy tour between Fargo and Cedar Rapids that led to his near-death experience. After performing in Fargo, Bert’s bus suffered a blowout in the middle of a snowstorm, stranding him and his crew an hour outside of town. The driving conditions were hazardous, with icy roads and trucks barreling by. Bert decided to stay with the bus overnight while repairs were organized, as he wanted to ensure he made it to the next show and wanted to stay with all his possessions. The crew advised him to travel ahead to Cedar Rapids so as not to risk missing the show if repairs couldn’t be completed in time.
The following morning, disaster struck: Bert learns from Kyle that the bus caught fire. Dewey, the driver, was alone on the bus waiting for a tire when he heard a pop overhead. Within 15 seconds, the cabin filled with smoke, and in just 30 seconds, the entire bus was engulfed in flames due to an electrical fire in the ceiling. Dewey was able to evacuate but had no time to save any belongings.
Bert reflects on how tragic the event could have been. If not for the tire blowout, Bert would have been asleep in the bus and likely would not have survived. He explains that the front of the bus caught fire first and everyone typically sleeps in the back, making escape impossible. He was unaware of an escape hatch located above his bed—something none of the crew knew about—which increased the risk of fatality in such a situation. The small window in the back was too small for him to fit through, emphasizing that survival would have been highly unlikely had the fire broken out while they were asleep.
The fire destroyed all of Bert’s personal possessions accumulated throughout the tour. He lost his entire wardrobe, including all his clothes, belts, and especially a collection of valued hats. Among the destroyed items were three boxes of new cigars, nine gallons worth in total, various knives he had collected on the road, trophies, medications, and other belongings that made the bus his home on tour. The loss of these items was deeply felt, as Bert emphasizes the extent to which he had settled into life on the bus. Even practical issues arose, like having only one belt that fit and losing all his jeans. The fire erased not just essentials but irreplaceable mementos gathered across his travels.
Bert shares that the outpouring of support from friends and fellow comedians touched him deeply. Chris DiStefano was the first to reach out, understanding how much Bert loved the bus, and Tim Dillon made jokes to help lighten the mood. However, Bert also notes that no replacement could match the custom bus he created, despite offers to rent or buy other buses.
Bert candidly reflects on his brush with death ...
Bert's Tour Bus Fire: Near-Death Experience and Losses
Bert Kreischer’s life changes abruptly following the diagnosis of blood clots. Doctors put him on blood thinners, which not only treat the clots but come with strict lifestyle restrictions—no alcohol, smoking, or weed. Bert recollects that his initial reaction was anger, particularly as the decision came during a busy period, with his parents in town and the holidays approaching. At first, he briefly considered combining a cocktail with his prescribed [restricted term] to achieve a deep sleep, but quickly realized he was strictly forbidden from drinking. For the first week, frustration dominated his thoughts, but over time he found himself caring less about alcohol.
The severity of Bert’s condition means the restrictions are not optional. Bert underscores the risks of being on blood thinners: “Anything like that happens and I die instantly.” Even a simple fall could be fatal, as excessive bleeding would become uncontrollable. He therefore avoids alcohol, weed, and anything else that could elevate his risk of injury. The vulnerability forced by his condition brings anxiety around his personal safety and participation in normal activities—he jokes that even enthusiastic clapping is off-limits.
With his usual vices off-limits, Bert turns increasingly to nicotine as a substitute. He admits to thinking about nicotine more often than alcohol and becomes candid about his dependence, referencing daily use of products like Lucy Breakers. Previously, Bert’s pattern was to rely on alcohol, marijuana, weed, or [restricted term] for managing anxiety and panic. Now that these are unavailable, he stocks nicotine as an emergency backup option, highlighting how challenging it is to avoid all substances that previously helped him cope.
The restriction from familiar coping tools leaves Bert seeking other outlets for anxiety. He describes a panic attack on his tour bus in which he cycled mentally through his banned options before landing on an improvised solution—turning on pornography. The arousal and stimulation prove strong enough to override his anxiety, temporarily shifting his focus. He details using this method more than once as a practical, if unconventional, distraction when panic strikes and no chemical crutch is available. Bert admits to frequently checking that he has his Lucy Breakers nearby, especially during high-anxiety situations like plane travel, underscoring his ongoing search f ...
Bert's Health Crisis: Blood Clots, Thinners, and Lifestyle Restrictions (No Alcohol, Smoking, Weed)
Bert Kreischer describes his recent experiences and decisions in planning his stand-up comedy tour. Preparing for his next special, he communicated to his agents that he wanted to move away from doing arenas, which typically only allow for one show per night, and instead pursue theaters where he could perform two shows each evening. After trying this, Bert found the double theater shows in places like Pensacola exhausting, calling the experience aggressive and draining. In contrast, he says performing one arena show brings a surge of energy from the massive cheering crowd, which leaves him pumped after just one performance. Bert admits arenas energize him, while theaters, especially with double shows, are physically and mentally taxing. Tom Segura agrees, remarking that “the doubles” are what wear performers out.
Bert faces the challenge of tightening his set from an hour and forty-five minutes of material to a concise fifty or sixty-minute show. He acknowledges that some stories in his repertoire are weak, pointing specifically to stories about his children that he feels he can’t tell anymore, and stories involving his friend and podcast co-host Tom Segura. Bert explains that stories featuring Tom act as a “cheat code” for laughs—audiences react enthusiastically just at Tom’s mention because they’re familiar with him, but this reduces the material’s genuine impact. Recognizing this, Bert is removing stories about Tom and other comedians that rely on audience recognition.
Bert also avoids repeating material that he has already told on podcasts. Even when certain podcast-originated stories kill on stage, Bert realizes that when someone in the front row recognizes the bit, it introduces an awkward moment and diminishes the story’s effect. He notes that avoiding recycled content keeps the show fresh for everyone. ...
Stand-Up Comedy: Theater vs. Arena Logistics, Material Quality, Performance
Bert Kreischer has undergone a dramatic physical transformation while using Monjaro, a medication for weight loss. He states that he no longer weighs himself but instead tracks his progress through measurements. Bert notes that he is now "smaller than I've ever been," though he acknowledges he is not at his strongest, he's still "pretty strong." When asked about his waist size, Bert reports that he wears a size 36, down from larger pants with a 40-inch waist. Bert also mentions none of his old belts fit him anymore, emphasizing the significant reduction in his size. This indicates that Monjaro has substantially contributed to his weight loss and changed his approach toward self-monitoring, shifting to using clothing sizes and general measurements in place of scale weight.
Despite the positive effects on his weight, Bert describes profound digestive changes linked to Monjaro. He shares that the medication causes him to have uncontrolled bowel movements, often resulting in instant, unplanned defecation when simply sitting on the toilet. Bert humorously likens this sensation to a pianist instantly playing, highlighting the lack of warning before bowel movements begin. This occurs even when he doesn't feel the need to go, describing a feeling where he continues pooping repeatedly yet still feels entirely empty afterward. These descriptions suggest Monjaro powerfully affects his digestive system, fundamentally altering regular bowel function and sensation.
Sleep has become a major priority for Bert, complementing the lifestyle changes induced by Monjaro. He consistently sleeps about 10 to 12 hours every night. Bert also values a daily nap at 5 p.m., which he considers essential, often falling asleep for his nap within five minutes. Missing a nap leaves him feeling off-balance, as he claims napping "resets everything" for him. Bert draws inspiration from elite athletes such as LeBron James, Usain Bolt, and Roger Federer, all known for prioritizing napping and sleep for recovery and performanc ...
Health and Lifestyle Changes From Monjaro (Weight Loss, Digestion, Sleep)
Jude Law's ex-wife and her new husband, a footballer, were having breakfast with Jude Law's 11-year-old daughter at a hotel when the incident took place. The daughter recognized Chappell Roan and, excited, walked by Roan's table to confirm it was her. After confirming, she returned to her family and "kind of freaks out." At this point, Chappell Roan's security guard approached the family, particularly chastising the 11-year-old in front of everyone, and threatened to report them to the hotel. The guard's manner was described as extremely aggressive toward the child. Tom Segura emphasized that it was simply a child admiring someone, not an act warranting such aggression.
Bert Kreischer pointed out that the story is getting attention primarily because it involved Jude Law’s daughter, noting that with her family's fame, she understands what it means for someone to be recognized and likely wouldn’t behave disruptively toward celebrities. He suggested the incident might not have become widely discussed if it had involved a less famous child's family.
Chappell Roan addressed the situation with a video filmed while lying in bed, in which she denied instructing the security guard to confront the woman and child. In her video, Roan insisted, "that didn’t happen," and "I would never do [that]." She clarified that the guard was not her personal security, she didn’t see the woman or child, and did not interact with them. Roan stated it was unfair for security to assume something negative based on her perceived reputation.
Bert Kreischer elaborated on Roan’s reputation, asserting that she is widely viewed as rude to fans, referencing past remarks she’s made such as, "Just because I sing doesn't mean you have access to me. You're not allowed to come up to me and say hi... Know your place. I'm the artist. You're my fan." Bert said that this reputation is why people were quick to believe the breakfast incident. He compared this to broader patterns seen in other celebrity stories where a public reputation influences how incidents are perceived.
Bert Kreischer described seeing a video of non-comedian podcasters discussing and treating as fact the conspiratorial claim that Garth Brooks is a serial killer. Tom Segura mentioned there is even a book written about this baseless theory, highlighting how far this hoax has traveled beyond comedic intent into more serious but unfounded discourse.
Bert Kreischer said he empathizes with Garth Brooks, as both have become subjects of ridiculous rumors—Garth with the serial killer conspiracy, and Bert with being listed in the Epstein files. Bert jokes that he and Garth are both "victims of Tom Segura," whose comedic material has spurred various internet rumors about both men.
Bert Kreischer revealed he was included in the Jeffrey Epstein files not due to any personal connection, but because Epstein's email contained spam advertisements for h ...
Celebrity Controversies: Chappell Roan Security Incident, Garth Brooks Conspiracy Theories, Jeffrey Epstein Files Discovery
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