JRE 1319 · July 2, 2019
Joey Diaz
Who is Joey Diaz?
Joey “CoCo” Diaz is a Cuban-American stand up comedian and actor. Joey also hosts his own podcast called “The Church of What’s Happening Now”. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv695o3i-JmkUB7tPbtwXDA
Topics and Timestamps
- 01Joey Diaz discusses his journey from poverty and addiction to becoming a successful comedian and actor
- 02Stories about his time in prison, drug dealing, and hitting rock bottom before finding comedy
- 03His approach to stand-up comedy and how he built his career through relentless touring
- 04Joey talks about his podcast Church of What's Happening Now and connecting with fans
- 05Discussion of his Cuban-American background and family influences
- 06His philosophy on overcoming adversity and using hardship as fuel for creativity
- ▶Joey opens up about his difficult childhood and early struggles0:05:00
- ▶Discussion of his time dealing with addiction and prison0:25:00
- ▶How he discovered comedy and used it to turn his life around0:45:00
- ▶Talk about building his stand-up career through consistent touring1:10:00
- ▶Joey discusses Church of What's Happening Now podcast and connecting with his audience1:45:00
The Show
Joe sits down with Joey 'CoCo' Diaz, the Cuban-American comedy machine who's become one of the most authentic voices in stand-up. This isn't your typical rags-to-riches story because Joey's rags were actually rags. He grew up in some seriously rough circumstances, dealt with addiction, did time, and basically hit every bottom you can hit before comedy saved his life.
What makes Joey's story compelling isn't just the struggle itself but his ability to laugh at it and turn it into killer material. He talks about the grind of stand-up comedy in the pre-internet era, hitting dive bars and small clubs night after night, building his reputation through sheer work ethic and authenticity. Joey doesn't sanitize his past or his personality for the mainstream. He's raw, he's direct, and that's exactly why people connect with him.
The podcast game comes up naturally in conversation. Church of What's Happening Now gives Joey a platform to just be himself without any filters, talking to guests and his audience about life, comedy, spirituality, and everything in between. It's become a genuine community for his fans.
Throughout the conversation, Joey emphasizes the role of persistence and refusing to give up despite circumstances that would destroy most people. His background informs everything he does, and rather than shy away from it, he leans into it completely. Comedy became his outlet, his therapy, and eventually his salvation. Joe and Joey have great chemistry, with Joe clearly respecting Joey's authenticity and the real stories that shaped him.
Best Quotes
“Comedy saved my life, bro. It gave me a way to take all that pain and turn it into something that makes people laugh.”
— Joey Diaz
From the JRE 1319 conversation with Joey Diaz.
“You can't fake authenticity. People know when you're real and when you're full of shit.”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1319 conversation with Joey Diaz.
“I had nothing to lose because I already lost everything. That's when you're most dangerous as a comedian.”
— Joey Diaz
From the JRE 1319 conversation with Joey Diaz.
“The work doesn't care about your excuses. You show up and you do the work, that's how you get better.”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1319 conversation with Joey Diaz.
“My past isn't something to be ashamed of, it's my material. It's what makes me who I am.”
— Joey Diaz
From the JRE 1319 conversation with Joey Diaz.
Mentioned in This Episode
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