Dave Holmes Isn't Waiting for Permission

Dave Holmes became one of the most recognizable faces on MTV after losing the network’s Wanna Be a VJ competition to Jesse Camp. But losing the contest was only the beginning. In this episode, Dave explains why he entered the competition without expecting to appear on television, much less begin an entirely new career. He remembers recognizing that Jesse would probably win and deciding that his own goal should be to “lose well,” meet the right people and find another way into the building. That opportunity did not happen automatically. Dave left the wrap party with a stack of business cards and one thought: “They will forget if you let them forget.” He began calling MTV executives at 9:01 the following Monday morning, landed meetings and eventually turned a writing opportunity into an on-camera role. Dave and Marc also compare their experiences in traditional television and examine how dramatically the media business has changed. They discuss the decline of the professional television host, the increasing demand for established celebrities, the return of live programming and the creative freedom offered by social media and independent publishing. Later, the conversation turns to political and cultural commentary. Dave explains why he has stopped watching programs that make him feel like he is “being yelled at by someone I agree with,” and why he tries to approach difficult subjects with humor and perspective. He also shares how growing up in a conservative family influences the way he communicates, especially when he asks himself how he would explain an issue to his mother. Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open: Making things without waiting for permission 00:35 - Introducing Dave Holmes 01:41 - Dave and Marc begin their first conversation 02:52 - Reinventing yourself as the media landscape changes 04:29 - Overcoming the instinct to ask a gatekeeper for permission 06:34 - How MTV’s controlled chaos prepared Dave for social media 07:57 - Leaving advertising and auditioning for MTV 10:24 - Recognizing that Jesse Camp would win and deciding to “lose well” 12:10 - “They will forget if you let them forget” 15:17 - Believing creative careers were meant for other people 18:08 - Knowing an MTV career could only last so long 19:36 - How celebrity casting changed the professional-host business 24:35 - Looking back at MTV footage and interviewing Joe Strummer 27:14 - Leaving office life and arriving at the MTV Beach House 29:15 - Why Dave loved loosely structured live television 31:20 - The live comedy game show Dave still hopes to revive 32:37 - Celebrity Says and the TV Guide Network scroll 33:27 - Tom Hanks repeatedly making the same joke 34:08 - The possible return of live entertainment 35:16 - Marc’s social-media breakthrough after the Kendrick Lamar halftime show 36:57 - Using massive platforms as a force for good 37:27 - Being “yelled at by someone I agree with” 38:48 - How Twitter became “a trash can that’s on fire” 40:35 - Writers, influencers and a camera-equipped Dyson toothbrush 42:33 - The challenge of working with brands without feeling inauthentic 44:07 - What happens when creative experimentation becomes a source of income 44:51 - Substack and the value of supporting independent voices 47:27 - Dave’s off-the-cuff process for making social videos 49:31 - How Dave’s conservative family shapes his political commentary 50:48 - Asking, “How would I make this make sense to Mom?” 52:43 - Where to follow Dave, including his memorable TikTok username Resources and links Dave Holmes on Instagram Cocksure, Dave’s Substack Dave’s writing for Esquire Party of One: A Memoir in 21 Songs Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.