in a recent episode of Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney, Sean Penn shared a pretty wild and funny story from when he was a teenager growing up in Malibu. The show had a part where they talked about teen stuff, and John Mulaney asked Sean to look back at those days. Sean opened up about how he and his friends were super protective over their local surf spots. They didn’t want outsiders—especially surfers from the Valley—coming in and messing things up.
How They ‘Protected’ Their Surf Spots
Sean didn’t hold back about how serious they got. He said they would actually scare off anyone who wasn’t from their group. And honestly, it got pretty intense. At one point, they threw a Molotov cocktail at someone’s van to keep them away. Looking back, Sean admits that was pretty reckless, but at the time, they felt almost untouchable. Part of that was because some sheriff deputies were family or friends, so they thought they could get away with a lot more than they should have.
Looking Back and Laughing (Kind Of)
When Sean thinks about those days now, he laughs and says, “It seems kind of reckless now.” You can tell he knows how crazy it all sounds, but also how, when you’re young, you feel like nothing can stop you. His story gives a real peek into what life was like for him as a teen—full of fun, some wild moments, and a bit of chaos too.
Where to Watch the Full Episode
This episode came out on May 28, 2025, and besides Sean Penn, it featured comedian Joe Mande and musical guests Sleater-Kinney with Fred Armisen. The show is known for being pretty unpredictable and real, with lots of honest talks and funny surprises. If you want to see it all, the full episode is up now on Netflix.
