Non Threatening Boys*: Caleb Hearon Really Cares
“If Drew Afualo and Brittany Broski left the internet forever tomorrow, I’d still want to hang out with them every week.”
“I hate working.” Caleb Hearon tells me between set changes, during our shoot day. “If my bills are paid, my rent is paid and I get offered a job? I turn it down.” The anti-work sentiment is met with a cheer but on reflection, I’m amazed that Caleb manages to prioritise taking me-time, considering his absolutely stacked list of projects. From starring in I Used To Be Funny (2024) alongside Rachel Sennott, hosting a weekly podcast, So True, and bopping about the States for live shows, from an outsider's perspective it seems like Caleb is a workaholic.
The next time we speak, it’s for our formal interview over FaceTime, as Caleb’s left the UK after a two week stint staying in London, and is now with friends in New York for a couple of nights before hitting the road. I bring up our chat on set and I’m met with more enthusiasm for the lazy lifestyle.
Striped sweater: BADRHINO | Glasses: Caleb's own
“I think laziness can be radical. I love being lazy, and I try to do as little as possible. But, unfortunately, I do have a work ethic, so I have to fight against it.” Caleb laughs, “I’ll think I’m being lazy, and then my friends will point out that I’ve been working every day and responding to emails within hours. Growing up poor in the country, you just develop a work ethic because you want to make something of yourself. Now, I’m trying to undo some of that and embrace laziness as a righteous act. It’s important to do nothing sometimes, especially when the world wants you to do everything.”
Caleb’s ability to articulate himself with such clarity makes interviewing him a breeze, but it’s also undoubtedly why he is such a well-liked comic. The viral podcast clip of the Missourian describing a pyjama day prank at high school that went awkwardly awry after a peer informed Caleb that everyone could see his downstairs area in graphic detail during a Bit has been doing the rounds in my WhatsApp chats for a hot minute. In the same breath, a So True snippet in which Caleb excoriates the Republican party for distracting voters with conversations around Drag Queen Story Time while pushing hideous legislation through government similarly found fame on the Instagram Stories of all my favourite mutuals.
Tank top: BADRHINO | Purple shirt: Quillattire | Beaded bracelets & glasses: Caleb's own
“My friends joke that I’m a ‘politician in art’ which I hope is meant nicely. But the truth is, I’m always thinking about politics.” Caleb notes, “I deeply care about what’s happening in the world, and I’m not afraid to speak my mind about it. In fact, I’d rather not have a career at all than have one of those sanitised, ‘keep your mouth shut’ famous careers. That sounds horrible.”
He pauses for a second to contemplate the horrors of a milquetoast output, then adds, “I don’t want my show to just be about goofing around. I want it to feel like real life, where we talk about serious issues, even if they make people uncomfortable. For example, in a recent episode with Nori Reed, she talked about discussing her sexual assault with her therapist. Just hearing words like that can make people uncomfortable, but these are real things that happen. We all experience or are affected by these issues, so it’s important to talk about them. What I love about funny, smart people is how they can switch from discussing something deeply serious, like a brutal takedown of a war, to making fun of my T-shirt in the next moment. That juxtaposition is beautiful, and it’s how people actually are. We try to capture that on the show because it’s important to us.”
Pink, striped top: VINTAGE @ BEYOND RETRO
The So True podcast which, Caleb takes care to note, is not his first podcast series and won’t be his last, has a rotating cast of guests from the cinematic universe of comedians that Caleb has found himself within online which leads to the video clips from each episode raking in millions of views on the regular. From Drew Afualo to Brittany Broski, these internet sensations take turns appearing in one another’s works, much to the delight of the circle shaped Venn diagram of fans that the group has accumulated.
“If Drew and Brittany left the internet forever tomorrow, I’d still want to hang out with them every week.” This is where Caleb gets truly enthusiastic in our conversation – when discussing other people. “Drew and Brittany specifically are just two of the most lovely, brilliant, down-to-earth people. I could honestly cry talking about how lucky I am to have met them and to be their friend. Maybe that’s why people enjoy watching us – we’re actual friends who care about each other. I have that with many other stand-ups too, being part of so many creative communities that are warm and supportive. But collaboration can also be tricky. I never want my friends to feel like I’m only around for their connections or platforms.”
And while that’s a valid worry for anyone who has ever worked with or for a friend that has something beneficial to add to your career, it feels farcical to apply this to such a warm and caring character like Caleb. The space he has carved out for himself online, on screen and on sold out stages across America is one built on an authenticity that is hard to replicate and is always appreciated.
It’s far too easy to get parasocial about the people we follow, especially the ones who make us laugh with their candour and care, but take it from me – Caleb Hearon is a safe bet to invest on in this attention economy we’ve found ourselves in.
Words: Gina Tonic
Photography and Creative Direction: Lewis Vorn
Grooming: Dakota Blacklaws-Lacy
Styling: Amii McIntosh
Non Threatening Boys* is Polyester’s platform for exploring all things masculine. To read more of our work, visit our Dollhouse platform, and subscribe to get Non Threatening Boys* directly to your inbox every other week.
A national hero truly
Love him LOVE THIS