✈️ You Be Tripping: Joe DeRosa’s China Adventures

Comedian and sandwich-shop owner Joe DeRosa joins Ari Shaffir to recount two comedy trips to China—full of culture shock, memorable encounters, and several risky decisions.

🇨🇳 China: Comedy Under Watch

• DeRosa visited China for comedy gigs in the early 2000s and again in 2018, performing in Shanghai, Beijing, and a city near Hong Kong.
• Comedy shows were often held in improvised venues, and performers were warned to be careful with sensitive material. DeRosa recalled audience members cautioning him during a joke about cocaine.
• Shanghai struck him as highly modern and “Blade Runner”-like, while parts of Beijing felt much more traditional.

🌃 The Stories He Remembered Most

• Lost after a night out: On his first trip, DeRosa went out late with an American he’d met at a bar, then found himself alone in an unfamiliar city. A helpful cab driver took him to a hotel where someone could translate, then got him safely back to his own hotel.
• Unexpected connections: On a later trip, he found a punk-rock bar in Shanghai run by a Philadelphian. They discovered mutual friends and shared musical connections despite meeting on the other side of the world.
• A risky night out: DeRosa partied with local and expat comics, including using cocaine despite having just been warned to be cautious. He stayed out until morning, then had to perform that evening.
• Following a stranger: In Beijing, he followed a woman on a bicycle who promised to take him to women. She led him and a few others down a wooded road to a karaoke venue, where unexpected charges were demanded. He left without following through and had to find his way back on foot.

DeRosa’s own takeaway: These stories made for memorable adventures, but many of his choices were reckless—and he wouldn’t recommend copying them.

🍜 Food, Language & Culture

• He enjoyed traditional dishes such as Peking duck and gelatin noodles, but couldn’t bring himself to try some strongly scented market foods, including stinky fruit and tofu.
• He found that familiar chains such as McDonald’s offered different menu items in China.
• Language barriers were a constant challenge, and he noted that China’s many dialects can make communication difficult. He found that learning how to say “thank you” was a small but appreciated effort.
• He described China as relatively affordable, while noting that counterfeits and lax enforcement of some bootlegging laws were common in his experience.

📸 What Makes a Trip Memorable?

DeRosa said spectacular sights—like the Great Wall—can be difficult to capture in a photo. The moments he remembers most are often human ones: meeting strangers, sharing a night out, and stumbling into unexpected experiences. Ari and Joe agreed that travel is as much about adventure and connection as sightseeing.

🧭 Travel Advice

• Research common scams before you arrive, especially at the airport.
• Plan how you’ll get from the airport to your hotel, and check typical fares and which taxi services are legitimate.
• Know the local customs and practical details before landing.
• Enjoy the sights—but don’t mistake a strange or risky situation for a good adventure. DeRosa’s stories are entertaining examples of what not to do.

🎤 Closing Conversation

DeRosa also discussed his comedy special, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, which he described as dark but ultimately hopeful. He thanked Ari for encouraging him to keep performing after he considered quitting during COVID, and for urging him to wait until the material was ready before filming. The episode ends with a mention of DeRosa’s touring and his sandwich shop, Joey Roses.