Adam Conover is currently operating on two distinct tracks. One persona is the satirical figure known for Adam Ruins Everything, which has established him as a prominent voice for the working class in Hollywood. The other is a touring stand up comedian who is now exploring deeply personal material following the end of a fifteen year relationship.
This shift in focus is evident in Big Divorce Energy, a one hour special that was released on his YouTube channel on October 23. For viewers who primarily know him from television or his frequent podcast appearances, this represents a significant departure. Conover explains that he has historically directed his comedy outward, focusing on world issues, history, politics, and science to inform audiences. He notes that he had never truly turned his comedic lens inward before this project.
The new set features candid discussions about dating and sex in the aftermath of his split from illustrator Lisa Hanawalt. Hanawalt, who worked on BoJack Horseman and created the Netflix series Tuca and Bertie, remains a friend to Conover. She even assisted in refining the material, helping him rearrange bits to land specific punchlines. One such joke is described as delightfully crude, a choice that might challenge the expectations of the typically composed Washington DC fan base.
Conover describes the process as a quest to understand his own identity and sexuality. He is particularly interested in exploring what drives straight men in America who identify as such. He argues that sexuality remains a major unexamined frontier and suggests that straight men are the most sexually repressed demographic in society.
Beyond the personal revelations, conversations with Conover inevitably touch on the state of the entertainment industry. During the strikes in 2023, he emerged as a leading advocate for Hollywood unions and an outspoken member of the Writers Guild of America. He has consistently criticized the trend of corporate mergers. Even a month after the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Skydance was finalized, a post describing the deal as a disaster remains pinned at the top of his Instagram page.
Conover maintains that his stance has not changed despite the completion of the acquisition. He states that the industry attempted to stop an impending asteroid but failed. Now, as the consequences become apparent, everyone in the sector must face the fallout. He views the current situation as a direct result of these corporate maneuvers.
Given his strong opinions about the executives who hire him, one might assume his work has suffered. However, Conover does not perceive a negative impact. He points to a long tradition of comedians being antagonistic toward network executives. On Adam Ruins Everything, the show frequently critiqued cable monopolies and advertising models. He believes this is precisely why his audience connects with him. He argues that if companies want access to his viewers, they must accept this dynamic.
Despite his confidence, Conover acknowledges that major studios are not currently seeking his specific brand of comedy. This realization led him to self release the new hour rather than pitching it to traditional networks. He feels that these companies have effectively abandoned his style and pushed him toward new media platforms.
He criticizes executives like David Zaslav, David Ellison, and Ted Sarandos for no longer wanting to pay living wages and provide health insurance for writers in exchange for ownership and monetization of comedy. Instead of that traditional model, Conover notes that he is now forced to build his own independent business on YouTube.
