Baron Vaughn on Sexual Hang Ups, Polyamory, Trauma and Mental Health

Comedian and actor Baron Vaughn joins Tristan to talk about a wide range of topics: his self-described sexual hang-ups, what his sex life is like during the pandemic, his experiences with polyamory and conscious monogamy (“I’m a polyamorous person in a monogamous marriage”), trauma and its effect on relationships, his ‘racial baggage’ about seeking mental health support, how depression and anxiety can fuel comedy, the state of media representations of Black folx, and his new podcast Self Quar.

Actor and comedian Baron Vaughn plays Bud Bergstein on Netflix’s Grace & Frankie; he is the voice of Tom Servo in the new Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return  and he is the host of SYFY WIRE’s: The Great Debate. You may have also seen him in Blackish, Girls, Superstore, Arrested Development, Cloverfield and Black Dynamite. As a comedian, Vaughn has toured all over the country performing at festivals, clubs and theaters. He has been featured on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and twice on Conan. He has had a half-hour special on Comedy Central, and co-hosted the Comedy Central stand-up series, The New Negroes, with musician Open Mike Eagle. His two comedy albums, Raised by Cable and Blaxistential Crisis are available on AST Records and iTunes. He is also the host of several podcasts: the philosophy podcast Deep S##! with Baron Vaughn and a new one called Self Quar.