JRE 1290 · May 4, 2019
Bryan Callen
Who is Bryan Callen?
Bryan Callen is an actor and stand-up comedian, and together with Brendan Schaub he also hosts “The Fighter & The Kid” podcast. His new stand up special “Complicated Apes” is now available to download on iTunes, Amazon, and various other platforms.
Topics and Timestamps
- 01Bryan Callen discusses his comedy special 'Complicated Apes' and the creative process behind it
- 02Conversation about acting, stand-up comedy, and balancing multiple creative projects
- 03Discussion of The Fighter and The Kid podcast with Brendan Schaub and their dynamic
- 04Bryan shares stories about his experiences in the entertainment industry
- 05Talk about comedy, timing, and what makes material work on stage
- 06Exploration of the comedy world and how comedians develop their craft
- ▶Bryan discusses his new comedy special 'Complicated Apes'0:00:00
- ▶Conversation about The Fighter and The Kid podcast0:15:00
- ▶Bryan talks about his acting career versus stand-up comedy0:30:00
- ▶Discussion of the comedy development process and testing material0:45:00
- ▶Reflection on comedy as a craft and what makes material work1:00:00
The Show
Bryan Callen sits down with Joe to talk about his journey as both an actor and stand-up comedian. The conversation covers his recent comedy special 'Complicated Apes' and what went into creating it. Bryan discusses the grind of stand-up, how material develops, and the constant need to test new jokes in front of live audiences. He talks about the pressures of being funny consistently and the strange reality of making people laugh for a living.
The episode digs into Bryan's work on The Fighter and The Kid podcast with Brendan Schaub, discussing how they maintain the show and what keeps their dynamic fresh. Bryan reflects on his acting career alongside his comedy, explaining how both disciplines require different skill sets but also feed into each other creatively. Joe and Bryan explore the comedy world, touching on how comedians work through material, the importance of bombing on stage as part of the learning process, and what separates good comics from great ones.
Throughout the conversation, Bryan shares various stories and observations about the entertainment industry, his perspective on comedy as an art form, and the constant evolution required to stay relevant in the space. The two discuss the work ethic required to succeed in comedy and why some comedians burn out while others sustain long careers.
Best Quotes
“Stand-up comedy is one of the purest forms of entertainment because it's just you and the audience”
— Bryan Callen
From the JRE 1290 conversation with Bryan Callen.
“You have to bomb to get better at comedy, there's no way around it”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1290 conversation with Bryan Callen.
“The special captures where I'm at right now as a comedian and person”
— Bryan Callen
From the JRE 1290 conversation with Bryan Callen.
“Acting and stand-up feed different parts of my brain”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1290 conversation with Bryan Callen.
“Comedy is about timing and understanding human nature”
— Bryan Callen
From the JRE 1290 conversation with Bryan Callen.
Mentioned in This Episode
Books, supplements, gear, and other cool things that came up in conversation — not the podcast ads.
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