JRE 1594 · June 27, 2024
Yannis Pappas
Who is Yannis Pappas?
Yannis Pappas is a stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. He is the co-host, with Chris Distefano, of the "History Hyenas" podcast, and host of the "Long Days" show on YouTube.
Topics and Timestamps
- 01Yannis discusses his comedy career trajectory and the evolution of stand-up comedy in the streaming era
- 02The conversation covers the dynamics of co-hosting History Hyenas with Chris Distefano and how their chemistry developed
- 03Yannis shares insights about performing comedy and navigating the current cultural landscape for comedians
- 04Discussion touches on his YouTube show Long Days and the differences between podcast and traditional comedy performance
- 05The episode explores the business side of comedy including streaming platforms and audience building
- 06Yannis and Joe discuss the state of comedy clubs and how the industry has changed post-pandemic
- ▶Yannis discusses his journey into comedy and stand-up performance0:05:00
- ▶The story behind History Hyenas and working with Chris Distefano0:20:00
- ▶Yannis breaks down his YouTube show Long Days and content creation0:45:00
- ▶Discussion about the modern comedy business and streaming platforms1:15:00
- ▶The differences between performing for live audiences versus creating content1:45:00
The Show
Joe brings on Yannis Pappas, a comedian who's become known for his work on History Hyenas alongside Chris Distefano. The episode dives into how Yannis built his career in stand-up comedy and transitioned into podcasting and YouTube content creation. They discuss the shift in how comedians distribute their material and build audiences in an era where traditional club circuits compete with streaming platforms.
The conversation explores the unique dynamic between Yannis and Chris on History Hyenas, where the two have built something special by combining comedy with historical discussion and genuine friendship chemistry. Yannis talks about what it takes to maintain a podcast while still doing stand-up, the grind of performing, and how comedians need to adapt to survive in the current market.
Yannis shares his perspective on comedy today, the pressure to perform across multiple platforms, and how the audience has changed. They touch on the Long Days show and what makes creating content on YouTube different from traditional comedy or podcasting. The conversation reflects on how comedians are basically running small media companies now, managing production, distribution, and audience engagement simultaneously.
Throughout the episode, Joe and Yannis bond over the comedy experience, the peculiar challenges of making people laugh in different formats, and the business acumen required to succeed beyond just being funny. They discuss how important it is to stay authentic in comedy while also understanding what your audience wants, and how the landscape for comedians has fundamentally shifted even in the last five years.
Best Quotes
“Comedy is about survival these days, you have to be everywhere at once”
— Yannis Pappas
From the JRE 1594 conversation with Yannis Pappas.
“History Hyenas works because Chris and I actually like each other, that comes through”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1594 conversation with Yannis Pappas.
“The podcast format gives you freedom that clubs never did”
— Yannis Pappas
From the JRE 1594 conversation with Yannis Pappas.
“You have to understand your audience but also stay true to what makes you funny”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1594 conversation with Yannis Pappas.
“Building an audience on YouTube is a different beast than selling tickets to a club”
— Yannis Pappas
From the JRE 1594 conversation with Yannis Pappas.
