I spent a day with DAMIEN HAAS

I spent a day with Damien Haas to learn the truth about his voice acting career and experience with being neurodivergent.

🎙THE PODCAST

🧨HUGE thank you to DAMIEN HAAS

🗯MORE EPISODES…

🎥Crew
▸ Creator, Director, Writer, etc - Anthony Padilla
▸ Executive Producer - Alessandra Catanese
▸ Channel Director/Creative Director: Mike Criscimagna
▸ Producer - Nicole Nourmal
▸ Associate Producer - Joshua Dozier
▸ Director of Photography/Gaffer - Matthew Faulkner
▸ Camera Operator - Garrett Mckenna
▸ Social Media Manager - Mallory Myers
▸ Post Manager: Luke Baker
▸ Editor - Patrick Horba
▸ Editor - Kortney Luby
▸ Sound Mixing - Lila Rowel
▸ Sound Editor - Gareth Hird
▸ Production Assistant - Oliver Wehlander
▸ Senior Manager, Channel & Strategy - Lizzy Jones
▸ Channel Operations Coordinator - Audrey Carganilla

🎵Theme Music Composer - Matt Good AKA The King of Emo

📢BE ON THE SHOW

0:00 INTRO
0:54 SMOSH & DISNEY
5:35 NAVIGATING BEING NEURODIVERGENT
11:43 OTHERNESS IN CHILDHOOD
14:51 VOICE ACTING PLAYTHROUGH
24:41 IMPOSTER SYNDROME
27:48 PERFORMING WITHOUT BEING PERCEIVED
30:12 DELICIOUS IN DUNGEON
32:11 AUTISTIC REPRESENTATION IN MEDIA
35:22 IMMIGRANT UPBRINGING & PURSUING EXCELLENCE
41:45 DAMIEN’S EMPLOYEE REVIEW
43:12 BLOOPER

[Storming_edits]

Damien really helped me feel so much more comfortable and confident about being neurodivergent. The way he’s so comfortable with doing what he loves and being who he is, sometimes on his lives he talks about things I’ve experienced and and makes me feel so much less alone! Love you Damien!

[Wreaknatter]

The cameraman slowly pulling back at 28:15 when Damien starts talking about being uncomfortable with cameras in his face is so nice and considerate.

[Bethydawn]

I work in youth mental health, and Damien, I point you out OFTEN to my kids, when they're worried about using things like fidgets or earplugs in public. You're the person I use to explain to my clients that being neurodiverse doesn't need to mean 'weird' or 'othered', but that it's a very common thing that can fit into your day to day. Not only that, but that it's OKAY to not have your own brand of mental health figured out from day one. You're such a great role model, I'm so grateful that you've stepped into the spotlight and made your voice heard for the neurospicy community!

[silvanusrising]

Damien; I just didn't know why it was so *hard* when the camera was close on my face--
Camera op; *slowly tries to pull the frame back out and hope no one noticed*

[Povlennebo]

I am constantly afraid Damien is gonna leave Smosh, I would respect it and wish him well but also I would be sad not to see him anymore.

[squidwrangler]

damien is a renaissance man through and through; attractive, funny, talented, and emotionally intelligent??? everyone at smosh is incredible tbh, thank you for being so open and sharing your experiences with fame and neurodivergency <3

[DNY]

damien is so articulate in the way he speaks. everything he says is so clear and understandable, and so damn relatable. very talented guy, i wish him all the best in what comes to him

[ItsMaddieJ]

Damien is a of improv; his comedic timing, ability to develop fully-fledged characters in 30 second sketches, self-deprecating humor, and societal critique through comedy all showcase his talent.
Aaand his singing voice is remarkable.

He's just so incredibly witty and talented, relatable and down to earth while still appearing confident.
He elevates every video he's in. ✨️

[vasseurbeauty]

That’s my step brother!!! So proud of you ❤❤

[lorianne]

“Autism is not a thing to fix.” LOVE THIS SO MUCH! As a mother to a grown son (23) with autism, this was (and is) my battle cry. Asking for accommodations/modifications is not asking to change/fix him, but to give him the tools to perform/live to the best of his ability. Damien saying this so succinctly just freaking made my day 😊❤

[therickster]

Now this is a father and stepson bonding time!

[randall]

Really nice of the camera man zooming out when Damien mentioned about his struggles with camera too close.

[harlequinngirl_]

The camera work when Damien is talking about his difficulty & insecurity with being on camera is impeccable. The way it relaxes into a less harsh close up as he’s articulating his point is just so satisfying!

[CMJDT]

Having Damien on Smosh is so important for so many people, I think. It helps those of us who have always felt "othered, " those who feel like outsiders, know that maybe someday we too can be accepted and be a part of something bigger. When I first started watching Smosh, I noticed he was different, but not in a bad way. He soon became my favorite cast member.

I know a lot of people may not prefer him, and maybe his differentness can cause issues behind the scenes at times, but it's really hard to try to conform when you're just not always able to notice the cues and realize how you're impacting others by not conforming. Often, I myself don't notice how I've impacted someone else/failed to meet their expectations until way later when I have time to think about it. A lot of us with the 'tism struggle and and want to try to at least meet the other person(s) we're interfacing with half way. But it also goes both ways, and a lot of time society doesn't want to bother with trying to accommodate. Or it's hard for the non-neurodivergent to understand the othered and they don't even try many times.

I have to admit, I felt a bit sad, left out, and angry when Damien stopped appearing on Smosh as much. Maybe he needed time off for a reset. Maybe the reorganization of things behind the scenes affected his appearances. I just know that he stopped being a main focus and things were taken in a different direction. Because of the pain I felt from being what I saw as being excluded again (through the proxy of Damien), I almost stopped watching. But I kept going, hoping things would even out and Smosh would find its footing again.

In the end, I hope Damien continues to appear on Smosh as a symbol that yes, people who are othered, people who are different, people who have been left out can be successful despite and through their struggles and differences.

[aleajohnson]

I like that Anthony is asking questions to try an learn an understand damien rather then asking to assume things. Damien is a great personality online an is just fun to watch... these two people would be great BFFs

[torijeri]

Oh my god that part about being triggered by being misunderstood is so relatable as an autistic person. I’ve been constantly misunderstood since I was a child by everyone even close family members and friends so I totally understand how triggering that can be on a large scale for Damien. I can’t even watch tv shows or films where people are wrongfully accused or framed by someone else without feeling so viscerally angry. the only way I can enjoy those is if i know there’s vindication in the end.

I was always misunderstood and was assigned motives behind my words and actions by others that I didn’t feel or have. It’s very frustrating to genuinely compliment someone but because I don’t understand how to change the tone of my voice, they assume i’m not being genuine. I’ve tried to learn how to mask in this area but i’m not always successful at it.

[PFairVoice]

A specific Damien sketch WAS the thing that brought me back to Smosh entirely!
It was like 5 or 6 years ago, someone reposted a sketch from TNTL episode 9 on 9gag (back when I still went there lol) when Damien was a guest (where he plays a detective and does his first "What I'm trying to say is you're under arrest" at the end). I thought that was very funny and checked out where it was from and turned out, it was from this new Smosh. And it got me into TNTL, which got me back into Smosh altogether over time. Damien really deserves all the recognition! I've been watching so much Smosh since then!

[theimprovedbore]

as someone who also has ADHD, OCD, and possibly autism, Damien's been someone who I've admired for a while. I'm glad things are going well for him.

[sweetmother]

“Getting to know” Damien has really helped me find ways to understand my three autistic children. They are 22, 18, and 3 and all present, stim and mask in different ways

[tonjibyrd]

Damien seems so genuine and kindhearted. He’s obviously hilarious and very talented but it was nice to hear a little more about how he navigates the world.