Ep 109: Influential Origins with Alan Mindel and guest Daniel Spaulding on hmTv

Podcast Title: Influential Origins
Episode 109: Daniel Ryan Spaulding — Comedy, Courage, and Confronting Hypocrisy
Host: Alan Mindel
Guest: Daniel Ryan Spaulding

Description:
In this bold and thought-provoking episode of Influential Origins, comedian and social commentator Daniel Ryan Spaulding joins host Alan Mindel for a raw conversation that blends humor, personal journey, and unapologetic truth-telling.

Daniel shares his upbringing in Canada, his global comedy career, and the personal transformation that led him from the stages of Berlin and Tel Aviv to the heart of Jewish and Israeli advocacy in New York City. He reflects on his viral comedy that challenged stereotypes, his disillusionment with progressive circles post-October 7th, and the backlash he faced for speaking out against antisemitism and defending Western democratic values.

Together, they unpack the dangerous rise of ideological extremism in the West, the manipulation of human rights rhetoric by jihadist sympathizers, and the global silence in the face of rising hatred toward Jews. Spaulding’s insight is both searing and sincere—an artist using his voice to confront moral collapse with courage, clarity, and conviction.

Themes:

• Comedy as social critique
• LGBTQ identity and Middle East conflict
• Viral activism and personal cost
• The failure of Western institutions
• The blurred lines between progressivism and extremism

This is an episode you won’t forget. Listen in as Daniel Ryan Spaulding refuses to be silent—and reminds us why speaking the truth still matters.

Transcript

Episode 109 of Influential Origins with Alan Mindel and guest Daniel Ryan Spaulding, without timestamps:

Alan Mindel: This is Alan Mindel with Influential Origins, and today I have a fantastic guest, Daniel Ryan Spaulding. Daniel, it is really a privilege and an honor to have you here today.

Daniel Spaulding: No problem. Thank you so much for visiting our little center and taking the time.

Alan: So Daniel, tell me about growing up in Vancouver.

Daniel: I grew up in Canada, in a working-class neighborhood during the '90s. I'm not Jewish, and I didn’t really know a lot of Jewish people back then, but I absolutely loved American sitcoms like Seinfeld—those New York-centered shows. I dreamed of one day being part of that world. I also remember learning about the Holocaust extensively in school—Canada fought in both World Wars, so there was a lot of focus on it in our education system. My grandmother had friends who were Holocaust survivors too, so I grew up very aware of antisemitism and how it escalates.

Alan: Your grandfather was from Croatia, right? How did that influence your life?

Daniel: He died when I was a little boy, so I don’t have too many memories. But I lived in Canada until my early 20s and then moved to Europe to pursue stand-up comedy. It was tough to break into the scene in Canada—people are more outdoorsy, and there just isn’t that critical mass to support a vibrant cultural scene. I ended up living in Europe for 12 years, performed in over 50 countries, and spent five of those years in Berlin.

Alan: And you eventually moved to New York?

Daniel: Yeah. In Berlin, I met a lot of Israelis, became friends with them, and started visiting Israel, doing shows there, and getting really connected with Israeli culture. I always loved Jewish people, so when I planned to move to New York—finally getting that Seinfeld meets Sex and the City gay life—I had already made a lot of connections through my Israeli friends.

Alan: And you were about to move on October 16th?

Daniel: Yes, I wrapped up my European tour, which was based on my weight loss journey—I lost over 200 pounds after having sleeve surgery. I did my last show at the National Theater in Tel Aviv on September 30th. Then, October 7th happened. I created a few viral videos right after, calling out Hamas supporters. When I got to New York, I basically started a new life, stepping into this world of Jewish and Israeli advocacy—while continuing my stand-up.

Alan: But you had already established yourself in stand-up.

Daniel: Yeah, I started at 23 in Vancouver. Initially, I wanted to be an actor, but I hated auditioning. Comedy felt more real to me. Most of my career has been in Europe. One of my first viral videos was a reversal skit: “If gay guys said the stuff straight people say”—highlighting how absurd and offensive certain questions are when the roles are flipped.

Alan: That video was huge. It helped people see how language matters.

Daniel: Exactly. It was subversive, flipping scripts and challenging authority. BuzzFeed later ran with the concept and created every version—race-based, gender-based. People think it started with them, but it was mine originally.

Alan: Do you think comedy still holds that power?

Daniel: Comedy absolutely has power, but today it's a minefield. Even the gay community feels fragmented. I’ve become disillusioned seeing support for Hamas among LGBTQ activists. It’s like they don’t understand that in Gaza, they’d be executed for being who they are.

Alan: This has become a crisis of logic.

Daniel: Completely. It’s the Marxist, Islamist, queer alliance narrative. This oppressor vs. oppressed framework warps reality. It’s disturbing how far-left ideology has infected academia and demoralized the Western left.

Alan: And some of your post-October 7th videos sparked intense reactions.

Daniel: They did. Like the first one, they challenged authority and sparked conversation. I couldn’t believe how many antisemitic responses I got, especially from people I thought were allies.

Alan: Including in Berlin, where you once thrived.

Daniel: Yes. I created a character that represented a type of Berlin hipster—druggy, woke, disconnected. At the time, it was a popular comedic archetype. But now, that crowd? They’re deranged. I didn’t realize how much Muslim Brotherhood propaganda had taken hold, especially through BDS and anti-Israel distortions of history.

Alan: And now they’re aligned with an ideology that would never accept them.

Daniel: Right. These people champion liberation, but support jihadists who execute gays, silence women, and commit atrocities. The cognitive dissonance is stunning.

Alan: You’ve pointed out how this conflict isn’t just about Israel.

Daniel: It’s a battle for civilization. If Hamas gets away with this, it signals to every terror group—ISIS, Boko Haram, al-Qaeda—that they can do the same. Israel is abiding by international law while Hamas breaks every rule—and yet global institutions like the UN are compromised by corrupt actors and Islamist sympathies.

Alan: This extends to the humanitarian aid system too.

Daniel: Exactly. The UN enabled Hamas to steal aid. Now Israel is directly providing it to civilians, and the UN is outraged. These organizations aren’t trustworthy. Membership doesn’t require a country to respect human rights—just to be a country. Most UN members are dictatorships or autocracies.

Alan: It’s chilling. You’ve spoken about feeling betrayed by celebrities and public figures who stayed silent.

Daniel: Completely betrayed. I didn’t realize how many cowards there were. People who agreed with me privately wouldn’t support me publicly. I was harassed, ostracized, but I always remind myself—I’m not an IDF soldier. I’m not a 19-year-old facing death on the frontlines. I have perspective.

Alan: What’s the point of being an artist if you can’t be honest?

Daniel: That’s the question. Art is supposed to be about truth. Honesty. Integrity. And yet many artists abandoned those values when it mattered most.

Alan: You mentioned seeing a photo of Spielberg refusing to engage with a grieving father…

Daniel: Yes. Ronan Neutra was showing Spielberg a photo of his son, a hostage. Spielberg looked uncomfortable, like he didn’t want to know. That betrayal—from someone who made Schindler’s List—was heartbreaking. These people can’t come to terms with the idea that jihadists are the new Nazis.

Alan: But we have to make distinctions—between Muslims and Islamists.

Daniel: Absolutely. The UAE is Muslim and peaceful. But if someone’s waving a Palestinian flag in NYC calling for jihad—sorry, I don’t want you in my society. I know wonderful Muslims, but jihadist ideology is a poison. And it’s being sold under bohemian, feminist, artistic disguises.

Alan: It’s manipulation—exquisite manipulation.

Daniel: Yes. And in our free society, it always starts with the Jews—but it never ends with the Jews.

Alan: Thank you, Daniel. Your honesty, insight, and courage are so appreciated. You always have a home here.

Daniel: Thank you. I might need it—I might get a fatwa soon.

Alan: Don’t worry. Glen Cove’s got woods. They’ll have a hard time finding you.

Daniel: [Laughs] We’ll figure it out.

Alan: That’s our podcast today.