JRE 2098 · June 27, 2024

Matt McCusker & Shane Gillis

comedypodcastingstand-upentertainmentbusiness

Who is Matt McCusker & Shane Gillis?

Shane Gillis and Matt McCusker are stand-up comics and the hosts of "Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast." Catch Matt's comedy special "At the Speed of Light" on YouTube. Shane's latest special, "Beautiful Dogs," is on Netflix. www.mattmccusker.com www.shanemgillis.com

Topics and Timestamps

01Matt McCusker and Shane Gillis discuss their podcast Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast and the comedy circuit
02The comedians talk about their latest specials and their approach to stand-up comedy
03Discussion of the challenges and rewards of being a working comedian in today's entertainment landscape
04Matt and Shane share stories from touring and performing comedy across the country
05They discuss the dynamics of podcasting versus stand-up and how each format shapes their material
06Conversation about the comedy community, relationships with other comedians, and the evolution of their careers
▶Shane and Matt introduce themselves and their podcast0:00:00
▶Discussion of their recent comedy specials and creative process0:15:00
▶Conversation about the comedy touring circuit and regional differences0:35:00
▶Talk about balancing podcasting with stand-up comedy careers1:00:00
▶Reflections on how the comedy landscape has changed with podcasts and social media1:45:00

The Show

Joe sits down with two of the podcast world's funniest guys, Shane Gillis and Matt McCusker, who together host Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast. The conversation centers around what it means to be a working comedian in 2024, juggling the demands of stand-up touring with the growing demands of podcast production. Shane just released his Netflix special Beautiful Dogs, while Matt has At the Speed of Light available on YouTube, and they dive into the creative process behind each project.

The three of them talk about the grind of comedy, the weird reality of building an audience online while also maintaining credibility in the stand-up world. There's a genuine chemistry between Matt and Shane that comes through immediately, and Joe clearly enjoys riffing with both of them. They touch on how podcasting has completely changed the comedy landscape, giving comedians direct access to audiences without needing traditional gatekeepers. Both comics are at interesting points in their careers where they have significant podcast audiences but are still committed to the craft of stand-up performance.

Much of the conversation revolves around the minutiae of touring, the regional differences in comedy, and how you have to adjust your material depending on where you're performing. They discuss the particular challenges of being a comic right now, where you're expected to produce content constantly across multiple platforms while also developing tight hour-long specials. The episode has that casual, friend-hanging-out energy that makes JRE episodes with comedians so compelling. Joe, Shane, and Matt just riff on the state of comedy, where the industry is heading, and what it takes to actually make a living doing this.