Rich Vos

Who is Rich Vos?

Rich Vos is a standup comic, writer, and actor. He's the host, along with his wife Bonnie McFarland, of the podcasts "My Wife Hates Me," and "For Worse." Catch his most recent special, "Rich Vos: Anonymous," on Youtube.

Topics and Timestamps

• 01Rich Vos discusses his journey in stand-up comedy and how he built his career over decades
• 02He talks about his podcasts with his wife Bonnie McFarland and the dynamics of their relationship
• 03Rich shares stories about his recent comedy special 'Rich Vos: Anonymous' and the creative process
• 04Discussion about the current state of comedy and how the industry has changed
• 05Rich opens up about personal struggles and how comedy has been therapeutic for him
• 06The conversation touches on the business side of comedy, touring, and building an audience
• ▶Rich discusses his decades-long career in stand-up comedy0:05:30
• ▶Conversation about podcasting with his wife Bonnie McFarland0:22:15
• ▶Rich talks about his comedy special Anonymous and the creative process0:38:45
• ▶Discussion about how the comedy industry and stand-up landscape has evolved0:54:20
• ▶Rich opens up about personal challenges and using comedy as therapy1:15:00

The Show

In this episode of the JRE, Joe sits down with Rich Vos, one of the most prolific stand-up comedians in the game. Rich has been grinding in comedy for decades, and he brings that veteran perspective to the conversation. He's not some flashy newcomer trying to prove something. This is a guy who's paid his dues, worked the clubs, and built a real career in stand-up.

Rich and Joe dig into what it takes to actually make it as a comedian. It's not glamorous. You're driving across the country, playing small clubs, dealing with hecklers, and constantly refining your material. Rich talks about the grind with a kind of matter-of-fact attitude. This is just how you do it if you want to be a real comedian. He's not complaining, but he's also not sugar coating the reality of it.

The conversation shifts to Rich's podcasts with his wife Bonnie McFarland. My Wife Hates Me and For Worse both play on their dynamic as a married couple in comedy. Rich is open about how their relationship works, the humor they find in it, and how they've managed to build something together in an industry that can be pretty isolating. There's real affection there, but also that comedic honesty about the friction points that come with marriage.

Rich discusses his recent special Anonymous and what went into creating it. For him, comedy is about capturing truth and finding the funny in real human experience. He's not doing bits about trending topics or trying to stay relevant through social media. He's a traditional stand-up in that sense, focused on the craft of writing jokes and delivering them on stage.

The conversation touches on how comedy has changed over the years. Rich has perspective on this because he's been doing it through multiple eras. The internet changed things. Comedy specials on streaming services changed things. But the fundamentals remain the same. You still need material that lands, and you still need to connect with an audience.

Throughout the episode, Rich is funny but also surprisingly vulnerable. Comedy has been his outlet for processing life. He's dealt with real struggles, and instead of pretending everything is fine, he's turned it into material. That's real comedy. That's what separates people who just tell jokes from people who are actually comedians.

Best Quotes

Mentioned in This Episode

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