# Episode 57 - GenX Speaks Series: Nick Harrison - The Professor

- Podcast: GenX Adulting Podcast
- Published: 2026-01-26T23:00:00.000Z
- Audio: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2398379/episodes/18573394-episode-57-genx-speaks-series-nick-harrison-the-professor.mp3
- Page: https://genxadultingpodcast.com/transcripts/podcasts/genx-adulting-podcast/episodes/episode-57
- Source: https://genxadultingpodcast.com/episodes/genxadultingpodcastepisode57.html
- People: Nick Harrison (guest), Brian Barker (host), Nicole Barker (host)
- Topics: GenX Speaks

## Summary

In Episode 57 of the GenX Speaks Series, Nick Harrison, also known as 'The Professor,' shares his journey from growing up in Louisiana to becoming a content creator and comedian. He discusses his experiences with family, education, and the impact of social media on his career, highlighting the importance of authenticity and emotional expression.

## Key takeaways

- Nick Harrison identifies as a 'baby Gen X' born in 1980.
- He grew up in a close-knit family in North Louisiana, which shaped his values.
- Nick's early exposure to theater and performance influenced his career path.
- He began creating content during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to significant growth on social media.
- Nick emphasizes the importance of authenticity in content creation.
- He has transitioned from teaching theater to elementary education and back to content creation.
- Nick's experiences with family loss have influenced his emotional perspective and creative work.

## FAQ

### What is Nick Harrison's background?

Nick Harrison, known as 'The Professor,' was born in 1980 in Louisiana and grew up in a close-knit family, which deeply influenced his values and career.

### How did Nick start his content creation journey?

Nick began creating content during the COVID-19 pandemic after being encouraged by a friend, leading to significant growth on platforms like TikTok.

### What themes does Nick emphasize in his work?

Nick emphasizes authenticity and emotional expression in his content, aiming to connect with and uplift his audience.

### What is Nick's teaching experience?

Nick has taught theater at Grambling State University and later transitioned to teaching elementary education, where he focused on English language arts.

### How has family influenced Nick's life and career?

Nick's close family ties and experiences with loss have shaped his emotional perspective and inspired his creative work.


## Referenced links

- [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydmdx-dyR-w)
- [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-57-genx-speaks-series-nick-harrison-the-professor/id1764838823?i=1000746773870)
- [Listen on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Vo8UzRofofzSnobc31n9l)
- [Listen on Buzzsprout](https://www.buzzsprout.com/2398379/episodes/18573394-episode-57-genx-speaks-series-nick-harrison-the-professor)

## Transcript

Welcome to GenX Adultting and today we
have Nick Harrison aka the professor
with us. Welcome Nick.
Hey guys, thank you so much for having
me. I appreciate it.
We are so happy to have you. And our
first question is always, what year were
you born?
I was born in 1980. I am baby Gen X. I'm
right there on the tail end.
You are. You are baby Gen X. Oh my gosh.
So you you actually probably can relate
to the elder millennials too and their
experience in addition to the Gen Xers.
I don't like to say that. Um I I don't
like Don't lump me in with them. It's
not No, please. I
So, here's the deal. Like, I love the
fact that I can be a 45 year old man and
be called a baby. It makes me so happy
because I feel other than that, I feel
old as hell. Like, every day, like
waking up with my back creek, my knees
are hurting as we speak. So, call me a
baby as much as you want, but I'm Gen X
and full on Gen X for life.
I love it. I love it. You're the last
Gen X, right?
Yes. We're the last gen. We're the last
out. We're the last chopper. Nam.
Absolutely. Yes.
I love that. Okay. And where were you
born?
I was born in Minden, Louisiana.
Okay. And so, were your family from
there? Your um grandparents, your mom
and dad?
So, they were we're all from North
Louisiana. That's where my username
online is Mr. Professor 318. The 318
comes from the area code of North
Louisiana because I'm from Garling
originally. I was born in Mend because
that is where uh the best children's
hospital in the area at the time was in
mind. So my mom it was it's about like
20 30 minutes away from where I grew up.
So they drove from there to Mend so I
could be born in a really good hospital.
So that's why that that's where that
comes from. At the time they were the
number one rated children's hospital I
want to say in the country. and she
that's where they wanted to go. So
that's where we went.
What's the closest or the the closest
big city?
Shreport.
Shreport. Okay.
Shreport, Louisiana is like the mind and
shreport are like maybe 15 minutes away
from each other.
Okay, cool. So yeah, that's
how many generations
back in your family um goes for le
Louisiana like your great-grandparents
or great great grandparents. If we're
looking at my mother's side of well
really on both sides of the family, it
goes back to my probably my
great-grandparents.
Uh they were all for like we all grew up
uh my mom and dad were like five minutes
away from each other uh when they were
young.
So my family was in one centralized
location pretty much my entire life.
Like that whole I20 like corridor in the
in North Louisiana. Uh my family's from
like Arcadia, Simsboro,
uh Garling, Rustin. Uh just that whole
little area is where my family came
from. So they're all from that little
that So it like that made family
reunions easy, right? Like everybody's
right there.
So yeah.
So they were only five minutes apart.
Did they grow up together? Did they know
each other?
Well, my mom and dad, yeah, like they
started dating when they were young. And
um I remember uh hearing stories about
how they, you know, met when they were
younger and were together for a while,
but you know, they you know, like some
people do, they drifted apart
and they were not together when I was
born. Well, well, they were together
when I was born, but they were like it
it was it started out as they were uh
you know, drifting apart, not wanting to
be with each other. And so I as a young
man uh I grew up in a single parent
household. You know, I grew up with my
mom, but I again it was a close
community to the point where my mother
and grandmother were literally nextdoor
neighbors. Like we like I could just
walk it was like a duplex. So I walk out
of my door, walk across the front yard
and go over to my grandmother's house.
So, so that was like it was great for a
young kid who, you know, he needed that
structure, needed that family unit
around him
uh to be able to, you know, kind of
function in life.
Uh because my dad was in Houston uh when
I was a kid. So, like having that family
unit and my gr my dad's mom was in
Rustin, which was like five minutes
away. So, I could see her anytime I
wanted to. So it's like
my family I was very big on family and
still am uh from the time I was young to
now and the fact that we were able to
have such have everybody in such a you
know concentrated area was very
beneficial was very important as well.
Absolutely. Now did your parents have
any other children together or are you
their only child?
I'm their only child together now. My
mom and funny story, my mom and dad both
had uh siblings of mine uh out uh before
they started dating each other. And
they're both uh the same age. Uh they're
both in their 50s. They're both Gen X.
Uh they were born a week apart. And this
is before they really even started. Like
they're not siblings. They're not
related to each other in any way, shape,
or form, but they were born a week
apart.
Wow. It's crazy. Crazy. Yeah. Great.
So, your mom and dad each had another
relationship and had children a week
apart
and then they met and had you. So, are
those your your only two siblings?
Uh, my only two blood siblings. Yes.
Blood siblings. Okay. I have not uh
bloodreated.
Okay. And then your dad, did he um was
he ever in your life um growing up or
was he always in Houston?
Well, he was in Houston, but he would
come visit all the time. Like I said, my
uh mother and a lot of my family from my
dad's side was in uh Rustin, Louisiana.
So, he would come and visit on a regular
basis and I would see him a lot and I
would spend entire summers in Houston
with him when I was a child. Uh, so that
was like those summers were always like
a uh like kind of a eyeopening thing for
me because growing up in smalltown
Louisiana and then going to Houston and
spending like an entire summer in this
big city uh sports teams and going to
the Astrodome to watch the Astros
and like watch because the Rockets were
always in the playoffs. So we would
watch the Rockets at the house and it
was just always such just a just a
different world for me going to see him
because that's and he had cable so
that's where I would really watch like
young TV raps and MTV uh when I was a
kid growing up like doing the head level
dad
like that's where I would that's where I
would learn a lot of that stuff. So,
it's like that was a very large part of
my upbringing was even though they
weren't together, still spending time
with my father uh in those kinds of
instances, especially during the
summers.
Well, and it also gave you, like you
said, city life and then you had small
town life in Louisiana. So, you were
exposed to both and so much family in
Louisiana. Now, did he remarry and did
you have family also in Houston through
that?
He did remarry. Uh he remarried when I
was like four or five years old. Uh and
he married my stepmother Connie. Um and
they uh lived a great life together. You
know, I am very appreciative of the home
life that I had with my mother and with
my father because they both taught me uh
different things and different
principles uh that you need coming up,
especially growing up in the 80s like I
did. And uh it was always kind of
different going to visit with him
because I
you know it's the the dynamic was
different because I had uh two step
sisters and a step brother but I don't
call them steps. They're my brothers and
sisters. Uh and being and my uh brother
uh Carlos was always there as well. So,
it's like a house full of kids all the
time uh during the summer, which is not
what I had at home. I had my sister and
we always had a good time together, but
it was just it was just different. It
was a different dynamic.
And being able to grow up in a household
in households like that was great, man.
Uh it was we all love that's where I got
my love of music is from my siblings and
from my dad and my mom because they all
love different music and all of
different genres. uh the rock thing I
came up with on my own because but that
did start in Houston with my dad because
at one point when I was like 12 13 years
old I was able I had my own room and it
had a TV and I walked into the room and
the first thing I did one day was turn
on MTV and I just like I was already
into it. I already loved it but it was
mine now so I could just sit in the room
and watch it whenever I wanted to and
just dive into it. So like cuz my family
was into like hiphop and R&B and all
these things and then I started watching
like you know Guns and Roses. I was like
yeah
I like this.
Give me more of this. I want my EMTV.
You know so it was like
looked good too. Oh, dude. Like, you
talk about like
mid to late 80s and early 90s.
That was the the absolute heyday and the
height of MTV. Like, it was just best,
man. So,
being able to immerse myself in that
kind of stuff was just so cool.
And that's really where a lot of that
got fostered, you know. Well, and I
don't know I don't know about you, but I
didn't have a TV in my I mean, just to
have a TV in your room was a big deal
back then. Like even
TVs weighed 50 pounds was maybe
Yeah, they were huge.
Like it's one of those big old like
console TVs where it's like if you try
to pick it up, it would probably get
crushed underneath it.
So pain to me,
right? Right. So it's but yeah, that
that that was big as a kid. Yeah, it was
I have that. That's that's a So I mean
it just sounds like in both places you
were surrounded by family, surrounded by
positivity, surrounded by um good model
behavior, good examples, and then also
growing up with a single mom and a
sister. I'm assuming that helped you
become very in tune with women in
general because if you live with women
and there's only women in the house, you
just naturally pick up on certain
things.
Oh, 100%. like it's you you have to be
sensitive to
uh the female perspective if you grow up
in a house full of women because it
wasn't just my again my my my
grandfather died when I was like 8 years
old.
So for a large portion of my young life
from like that point till the time I
graduated from uh high school and beyond
I was living and surrounded by women. my
mom, my sister, my grandmother, my aunts
would come by the house all the time. I
had aunts who stayed like around the
corner or like down the street or like a
town away. And they would come, they all
worked, we all work, they all worked at
the same university cuz uh I'm from
Gramling. That's where Grahamling State
University is. My mother and two of my
aunts live worked there.
So they were around us all the time.
Yeah. So, I grew up around women. I'm
not going to ever say that I know women
because that's a lie. But, but at least
I know of women. I'm around them.
They've taught me a lot of things. So, I
was able to kind of tap into my
sensitive side, which was always looked
at in different ways growing up because
you, as you know, growing up in our
generation, it was always rub some dirt
on it. You know, we don't men don't cry,
that kind of thing. But I was raised in
a household where your feelings were
like valued and uh your sensitivity was
valued. So I you know and I carry that
with me today. I was crying this
morning. So over a video on Instagram.
So just so dumb all the time. I'll be in
the doctor's office and I'm crying and
then I'm laughing and if any they don't
know I'm watching Tik Tok and it depends
on the video, you know, because some of
those videos, man, get you. But that's
so unusual. That is so unusual. Most Gen
X men's emotional development was
completely ignored when they were boys.
So, the fact that your the women in your
family created that space for you to
feel safe to express your emotions from
such a young age, you are ahead of the
game. There's no question.
Yeah, it was it was nurtured. It was uh
uh it was encouraged, you know, and
it's it's and I again I I know that cuz
we joke about it all the time where, you
know, boys and even girls in our
generation where if you like skin your
knee, it's like rub some dirt on it or
if you I'll give you something to cry
about, you know, that kind of thing. But
it's like
you it's important to have structure and
it's important to be to to uh be able to
communicate with your parents, your
family, your friends, your emotions and
your feelings. And that's something that
was nurtured for me from a very young
age. And I'm very appreciate
appreciative of it because I've been
able to use those tools with my kids,
you know, and be able to, you know, what
are you what are you feeling? You know,
I have my moments where I'm like, man,
if you don't stop all this, just just
chill out. But
to be able to actually communicate with
them and have those conversations and
say, "Okay, this is what you're feeling.
Tell me about it and I'll tell you how
I'm feeling and we can work it out." So,
it's I was given the tools at an early
age and have been able to use those in
my life now. And I appreciate my mother
and even my father because he had you
know he wasn't one of those well at
times he could be one of those you know
gruff fathers where it's like hey man
you know stop but we were actually able
to communicate and have you he we' have
those talks like your dad will take you
in the car let's go for a ride and you
go driving for like half an hour and
he's just asking you questions about
school and life and all these things
because guys do it differently but I
spent the majority of my time with my my
and she had her way about her of making
sure that I was emotionally supported
and I really appreciate that.
What a gift. Honestly, what a gift. And
you're one of those Gen Xers cuz I know
they're out there. You're one of those
Gen Xers that you did repeat how you
were raised because it was the correct
way you were raised. Like for some of
us, we did we tried to do the opposite
because we didn't have the childhood we
always wanted. So, we tried to give that
for our children. you're just
duplicating it because you were given
that,
right? And I, you know, I've seen like
parents and people because as a I was a
teacher for years and I've seen parents
who try to overcompensate
who, you know, they they feel like they
they weren't nurtured. They didn't get
the things they wanted when they were
kids, so I'm going to give my kid
everything they want. And that's not
always the way to go. You know, you want
to be able to provide for your kids and
give them the kind of things that, you
know, give them a great life, but you
can't overcompensate for a childhood
that you weren't very appreciative of
because that's always going that's not
going to it's not going to turn out well
for the most part. Now, sometimes it's
okay, but sometimes not going to turn
out well. So, it's important
to be able to balance that. Find that
happy medium.
Yeah.
Um, and recognize, you know, therapy
helps and works. You know, a lot of us
like shun therapy and don't want to do
it, but counseling therapy works big
time to with helping with those
emotional scars from when you were a
child.
So, it's, you know, Sherry might punch
me for saying some of these things, but
that's
No, no.
Well, we even talked about her therapy
journey on her episode. So, she was very
open about her therapy. But you're right
because and I do think a lot of Gen Xers
overcompensated to try to make up and it
and part of that was healing trying to
heal their own trauma through doing it
differently for their own kids. So, as
much as it was for their kids,
it was for themselves, too. And as a
result, you could lose the balance.
There's no question about that. And I'm
going to speak I I can say I probably am
one of those for sure. I think I look
back now because now I have a 28 and 25.
Looking at them, I'm like, uh, I did go
overboard in that area. And I tried to
get more balance with my 15-year-old
because I learned, but so much of it was
from my own situation, you know, and I
think a lot of Gen Xers.
So I just I I'm just so admire your mom
and your dad and your family for what
they gave you right from the start
because again for our generation it's
very unusual.
Yeah. I was raised by a village you know
like my mom had so much support
and my dad had support at the house as
well from uh his wife and the kid and my
brothers and sisters. So it's just it's
great to be have it that nurture. Now,
of course, as a younger youngest child,
as because I was the baby uh on both
sides, it was like I feel I felt
neglected at times, but of course, all
younger children and middle children
always feel that way eventually where
it's like, why aren't y'all paying
attention to me? It's but it's
but it was like it's blown out of
proportion a lot of times and it's more
of um I'm feeling I'm hurting in this
moment and I need you to recognize that.
So, it's it's great to be able to look
back on those moments now and assess
where that came from because that's the
only place that's the only way that
healing can actually take place is by
like looking back and assessing and
figuring that stuff out.
Absolutely. So along with this beautiful
support system, um did you still get to
experience that traditional Gen X
childhood of don't come home until the
lights are on and
you are you kidding me? Like so I Okay,
let's get into it. I was on threads the
other day and somebody posted something
about Stranger Things. They were like,
"So Stranger Things takes place in the
80s. Are you telling me that they really
did let y'all just stay out all night
and not really worry about where you
were? And I was like, are you kidding?
We weren't allowed to come home. Like,
some kids were locked out of the house.
Like, I had to explain it to my kids the
other day. I was like, look,
when we were younger,
and I've gotten to that age where I say,
you know, back in my day, when we were
younger, like our parents kicked us out
of the house. Like you come home from
school and unless you were in trouble or
something and you got like bad grades or
they got a call from somebody at the
school, you came home, you changed into
your play clothes and you got out of the
house, go play with your friends, go
down the street, go play basketball, go
do whatever. If you need some water, go
drink it from the holes and I will see
you tonight. But if you ain't if you
don't have your butt back home by the
time the street lights come on, it's
going to be consequences and
repercussions for your actions. So you
like go out, get out of this house, but
get back in this house when it's time to
be back in this house.
So yes, I 100% did, man. I remember
getting left in the woods by my friends
um when I was a kid. I went to go visit
my uncle and they were like, "Let's go
and explore." And we went out in the
woods and I turn around, next thing I
know, I'm the only one there. And I'm
looking around. I didn't panic. Uh for
the most part, I didn't panic. I looked
around. And I was like, "Okay, I need to
find like the light so I can get back to
the house." And I eventually in like 30,
40 minutes, I was able to find my way
out of the woods and walk back home and
all my friends had already gone home to
like eat dinner with their friends. And
I get to my uncle's house. He's like,
"Man, where have you been?" I was like,
"They left me in the woods.
Time find your way out quicker. It's
time for dinner." So
that's your survival survival skills,
though. is that we had to figure stuff
out on our own and then when you did we
were you were told well next time do it
faster you know it's like could you
imagine a kid now in that situation
go
yeah exactly exactly
in like two seconds it's not even a
thing now
but we didn't have those things we
didn't if you were lucky if you had a
compass like we didn't have like those
kinds of things to be able to like guide
our way home. We just had to use those
surv That's why we're feral and that's
why we're still feral now
because of the way that we were raised
and the things that we had to deal with
as children is why we are so ornery now
because of our upbringing is we were
carved out of gr like we were carved out
of granite
and had to like find our way through a
lot of different situations and I'm just
blessed and thankful that I was able to
be a part of those those types of
situations because it may be the man
that I am today.
Yeah. I think Gen Xers we're so
resilient and it's hard to even explain
to someone how deep that goes unless
you're Gen X. The resilience is deep.
It's deep. It's how it's how we can get
through so many weird things in life.
And and other generations will look at
us like how are you still going? It's
like this is just us. We've been going
and grinding from the start and that's
just we don't know any different. We
This is not our first rodeo.
No,
we've been through so many things in the
past that it makes certain things that
people will stress out about now. It's
like
why are you worried about this? Like
just go do this this this.
Well, it's easy for you to say well yes
it's easy for me to say because I've
already experienced it. I've lived that
life friend and I'm trying to help you
out. Just do these things and it's going
it's going to I promise you it's going
to be okay. Just
we all almost died when we were 10.
Yeah.
Oh man. Like those experiences as like a
child is
we so many like there's I Okay. So, I
remember being in junior high and I was
with uh a bunch of people at recess at
school and there was this big tree that
everybody would hang out under. And
across from this tree is a fence and
hanging on this fence was a cable, just
a random cable. Nobody knew why it was
there, what it was powering, what it was
connected to. We just knew it was there.
So they were like, "Hey, why don't you
get on this cable and we'll swing you
and see how far we can fling you."
I was like, "Okay, sure." So me, dummy,
sit down on the cable and again, it's
right here by this tree. So they flung
me and I hit like my I hit the ground
and my face was right next to the roots.
Like I almost hit the tree. I was like
this close from hitting the tree. So I
get back, okay,
why not, dummy? So I sit down on the
cable like three or four dudes just like
swinging this thing and they fling me
and I get even closer to the tree and
before they can convince my dumb butt to
get back on it again, the bell rung and
everybody had to go inside. So yes, and
that I can only I may not be here with
you today.
Yeah.
If it weren't for that school bell. So
we're you know,
you think about it though, there's a
cable hanging from a tree
during recess at school. Like that's
also crazy. That wouldn't be happening
now. Someone would have taken care of
that cable nowadays. Yeah. But
but we live dangerously. We live
dangerously. And honestly, the adults
that we were around were like, "This
it's natural selection. If you're dumb
enough to do it, then hey, we going to
miss you." But
yeah,
you were so right. Okay, so for
elementary school, um,
did you get involved with any sports or
art or clubs in those elementary ages?
Uh, I want to say like later on in
elementary school. Well, that No, that
was junior high. I don't know if it was
elementary school. I didn't really I did
Boy Scouts. I did Boy Scouts when I was
in elementary school. And uh that was
cool for the time that I did it. Uh I
learned a lot. Learned how to I learned
how to sell popcorn,
right?
Yeah. They still do that.
They do what?
Sell popcorn. They still do that. Yeah.
Okay. Sold all kind of popcorn.
Uh yeah, we it was we went camping. It
was a lot of fun, man. Like those were
the kinds of experiences as a kid like
that were encouraged. Like people were
like, "You need to go camping."
Yeah.
If you're going to learn how to survive
in life, you need to learn how to pitch
a tent, learn how to shoot a bow and
arrow, and learn how to kayak and canoe.
I was like, "Yeah, that's what I need to
do." Until I actually did it. I was
like, "Why in the hell am I do what
camping? No. Just send me home. I don't
want
It's hot where you grew up, right? It's
hot here."
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Oh, dude. Like you're camping during the
summer. It's like 100° outside. You're
just sweating like crazy. And then they
want to wake you up
summer with you guys. Oh my gosh.
Oh, dude. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It was all
it was it was harrowing to say the
least. Especially when they want you to
get up at like at when the sun rises
to go to breakfast and I'm like no man
if I was at the house I'd be sleeping
in. This is not the way I want to spend
my summer vacation. Like can we go do
something else? Um, so it's that that
was all like Boy Scouts was the the one
thing in elementary school that I
participated in that I always really
enjoyed that. And like anytime we didn't
have a choir per se, but I love to sing.
So whenever we had like school
assemblies or programs, they would ask
me to sing with people, then that was
always cool to be able to do that. But
it was more of like Boy Scouts was the
one thing in elementary school that I
remember like doing. And like there's
some pictures floating around of me on
the internet in my like cub scout
uniform with the hat and the little
kurchchief
that went around your neck and the my
badges and all the stuff. So it's like
that's that's something I do look back
on finally is being in Boy Scout.
Yeah, that's cool.
Now, did you take that into junior high
or did you stop once you hit junior
high? I stopped once I hit junior high.
When I was in junior high, that's when I
started doing beta. Uh I was a nerd like
big time. So doing like the junior beta,
you know, beta where you like the honor
society
kind of like honor society.
That's what like national junior beta
was. And uh Okay. Like doing uh
participating in different stuff and
going to like conferences where you're
like competing with other kids trying to
build towers out of straws and all this
stuff. Like that's that you know that's
what I remember about junior high as far
as like participating. I tried sports in
junior high. I tried I really did and it
just did not work. I remember uh I tried
out for the uh football team and I did
like some of this was in my set at the
beginning like during last year. Well
actually in 24 uh when we started doing
the comedy stuff was I was in junior
high. I tried out for the football team.
Uh they told me to come to practice one
day. I patted up. They put me at
linebacker. They said, "Okay, so what
you're going to do is you're going to be
here and the running back is going to
come through the line and come for you.
You need to tackle him." And the running
back came through the line, came towards
me. Uh you could say that I tackled him.
You could say that he tackled me.
However your perspective, it depends on
your perspective. And after that one
moment, I was like, "Yep, nope. I'm
good. You can have all this stuff. Uh,
coach, where do I need to go to put this
down? Um, where? Like over here? You
want me to go up there? Okay, cool. Uh,
thank you so much for the opportunity.
Goodbye to you. Um, I tried
that was it. That was it for football. I
tried basketball and uh like they had us
doing suicides at the beginning of like
tryyous, you know, suicides where you
like run to the
y'all
my boy. like it was
it was the worst and I did not do well.
Like after one run with the um uh
suicides, the coach came over to me.
He's like, "Hey man, I'm you going to be
my statistician. It's all good. Uh you
can go ahead and I didn't have to leave
that one. I was told to leave that one."
He's like, "Well, we you can you can
still travel with the team. We'll get
you a book. You good with math. You good
with numbers. Go and write this stuff
down in the book, but you can get off my
court." Like, get out of here. This is
Oh my gosh, that is funny. That is
funny.
I have a sports question actually. Did
you go to Gramling State Games as a kid?
I did.
Yeah,
I did with Eddie Robinson.
Eddie Robinson. Yeah.
Winning coach in NCAA.
Yes. Yes. That was
it was being a growing up around that
kind of like legacy and tradition
was huge. You know, that's being there
for some of those monumental moments. uh
like when he became the the winningest
coach in college football history, I was
there at that game. Like I was on the
field while people were like tearing the
goalpost down when he won that game. So
it's like being a part of those kinds of
like of that kind of winning tradition
with like him and Doug Williams and uh
getting to watch Steve McNair when he
played at Alorn
um was huge as a kid uh growing up and
seeing that kind of thing. you know,
Doug Williams coming to your school
and like talking to you after he was
became the uh the first um the first
black quarterback to win Super Bowl MVP,
I think it was,
that was that meant a lot to us, you
know, being a young black kid uh in
during that time. see it's somebody that
was from that went to school in your
town that comes back there and like
gives back and like does autograph
signings and comes speak to the kids. It
means so much and I still have fond
memories of all that stuff.
Have you met Doug Williams?
Have I met him? I
kind of did as a kid when he came to the
school. like we all like met him and
shook his hand and like highfived and
all that stuff,
but I other than that I haven't had like
real personal interaction with Doug.
I've been around him a bunch, but but
he's cool. He's cool, dude.
So, just to go back to the the ba the
betas, you called it
the beta.
Beta the betas. Okay. So, I was
picturing it was kind of like DECA where
you're um competing with like in debate
or
but it sounds like you were building
things. So was
like the bu it was both like it was you
had uh your uh debate, you had your
speech, you had uh like different like
math stuff and building you had uh your
your uh your math your um like filling
out the tests like the assessment thing
for competition for like different
things. Um so it was it it it
encompassed a lot of stuff that the as
they call the smart kids
Yeah.
would always do at school. Uh but now
it's like robotics and like stuff like
that.
But that's you know this it evolved to
those kinds of things but when I was
there it was like speech debate um
writing essays uh all that kind of
thing.
How would you would you say that that
early experience especially with speech
and debate has helped you where you are
now or has helped you along the way just
starting that skill so early?
Oh no question. No question. because
like that's you know that's one of the
things I wanted to do like when I was a
kid and I talk about it all the time
when I was a kid I wanted to be a
stand-up comedian I wanted to be an
actor uh so like the speech part of it
the acting part of it was always fun to
me because that's the kind of thing that
I loved I love public speaking I love
talking in front of people uh as you can
evolved
so being able to do that at a young age
really did help forge where I was going
next. So, yeah, it it 100% helped. Yes,
absolutely.
Were you always outgoing?
Yes. Um
I was always outgoing, but I still had a
little bit of the shyness in me. So, I
wanted to do a lot of stuff, but I would
always question it from the beginning,
like, do I really want to do this?
What are people going to say? what are
they going to think? Uh what will they
what will they say about me? And I had
to get over that at a very early age. I
remember uh being in high school and
trying out for mascot uh for the uh for
the like football, basketball, all the
things. We had never had an official
mascot at my high school. like we had
they just picked somebody to put the
suit on and I was one of the first
people to actually audition for uh the
school mascot. So they had like other
people they had cheerleaders who tried
out. So I would come out after the
cheerleaders did their try out and do my
little dance routine that I had made up
and it was it was just the worst. Like
it was terrible. But I can't like I have
rhythm but I can't dance. And think of
that combination for a second. I have
rhythm but I can't dance. No matter what
you see online, no matter what you see
on my videos, I am a horrible dancer.
I remember one of my dance teachers when
I was in college saying, "Hey, you have
inherent rhythm." Which was basically
her way of saying, "You suck at dancing,
but at least a beat." Uh so we had but
yeah that was uh an early uh memory for
me is like being one of the fir like the
first person to actually try out for
school mascot. And I had to get over
what people thought of me and what guys
would say about you know me trying out
and being a part of the Chilean squad
because quite frankly I was the only guy
to go to chilling camp with them. So,
hey, look,
not the worst thing, right?
Not the worst thing in the world, right?
The worst thing.
What was the mascot?
Is a kitten because
not even a tiger.
It's a kitten
because
so my all of my schools, elementary,
junior high, high school, it was on the
it was on the college campus. So,
they're a lab school.
Oh, wow.
Right. So since the Gram since Grammarly
State was the Tigers, all the younger
there was the kittens.
Like the Gramling kittens, the Gramlin
High School kittens. So
Oh my gosh. So wait, your school was on
the college campus.
We were on the campus. Yes. Like my
junior high and high school were right
across the street from the male
dormitories, which led to a lot of
controversy when I was young.
I'm sure. Right.
Just going to leave it at that.
Yeah, I'm sure. I'm sure. But that's
Wow. So that's Was it really nice? Like
were your Was your school really nice
cuz it was on the college campus?
No. No. No. It It was like this does
both of the the junior high and the high
school were both uh shotgun houses
pretty much like one hallway all the way
down for both of them. Uh they were
okay. They weren't the best, but I mean
I loved the experience. cuz I love being
there. Being on that college campus
again, Graham State University during
that time like the 80s 90s was the hub
of historically black colleges and
universities. Like it was the mecca. It
was the it was they were like what Ohio
State is to some colleges and like stuff
like that. That's what Garland State
University was to historically black
colleges and universities like Gramling,
Southern Hampton, you know, that kind of
thing. So, it was always culturally just
hopping and popping during that time.
You had the big the best uh musicians,
athletes
always coming through to just come hang
out. Like I remember being a kid and
like we were on the campus and the
intramural uh facility was across the
street from our school and somebody told
us one day that uh uh Eddie Winslow from
Family Matters, Darius McCra was at the
intramural just there playing
basketball. He didn't go to school
there, wasn't a student. He was just
there hanging out playing basketball. We
were like, "What? Why? What is this? Is
this a thing?" Okay, sure. Let's do it.
Hey, we
That was cool.
I My first concert was Ice Cube.
Nice.
Uh going to see Ice Cube. Ice Cube
played at my It was at the time the same
place my high school played football
because it was the old college stadium.
So, but it had been repurposed for the
high school and that's where we played
football and that's where the stadium
was. So, we were I went to the concert
and like we were right next to my
school.
What a trip.
Which was which was just weird. It's a
It's real trippy to be at that kind of
concert. Uh and your school is right
there.
Um and getting to see different artists
as they came up like Sinbad when he was
at the height of his popularity in the
80s uh would come and do shows at
Gramling. And so that was growing up in
that kind of environment. I got to see a
lot of what us what Gen X sees
culturally, you know, that's that's what
we like that Salt Simba, Salt and
Pepper, like all these different
musicians and artists and bands that
were like two live crew would come to
Garland like every month. That
Oh, wow.
That's amazing.
You were you were like you were in it at
the peak of it at at a young age. Like
you had
a very young age.
Very young age. Like you were it wasn't
just watching it on MTV. You're like at
my school.
It was right there in my face at all
times. And it was
it was a trip, man, because I would see
it on TV and then next thing you know
it's there like right up the street from
my house.
What a trip. It had to be real. Yeah.
Yeah. Well, so did you get the kitten?
Were you the kitten?
I was. I did. I did. I was for my senior
year. I was the uh I was the school
mascot. Uh which uh some people loved.
Some people thought was just the dumbest
thing ever. But I dove f head first into
it. I loved it because I love to
entertain. Even from that, even from
that time, I just love to entertain,
make people smile, make people happy,
have fun, and uh get out of school
early. So, hey.
Yeah. There you go.
Taking all the boxes
and go to cheerleader camp and be the
only guy.
So, wait, you went to cheerleading camp
because you were the mascot?
Yes. So, they had mascots there, too.
Okay. So, you were like part of the
cheerleader.
Did you talk yourself into that? Like,
hey, I should be at camp or was it like
Oh, no. That was part of the thing. They
were like, "Hey, since you're doing
this, no, next week they're going to
camp. You need to get ready so you can
go to camp." We were there for like a
week. Uh there was a wing espec
specifically for like male cheerleaders
and like guys who were there and uh
there were like five of us and only two
of us liked girls. So, it was one of
those experiences where I was like in
this sea of like cheerleaders like all
the time. And now they had separate
classes for the mascots and what we were
doing together and we always had fun
with our stuff. But there were a lot of
times where it was like gen pop and
everybody was together and and I was
like pitching woo to any cheerleader I
saw like, "Hey, hey, how are you? How
are you doing? I'm single. Hey, what's
going on?
So, where you go to school at? Hey,
what's going on? It was just
my gosh, it was I almost caught
whiplash.
That's awesome.
So, did you did you guys do any um like
would you do pep rallies?
Yes. Uh we did pep rallies uh as
uh you know, as part of the cheerleading
squad, we would do the pep rallies and I
would be a part of like the the uh
formations they would do and some of the
cheers. Uh, sometimes I just get out
there and do my own thing. But that
mascot suit was like it was the hottest
thing ever. Like I'm complet And first
of all, they had just bought a new suit
and it was had the gigantic head and
like the fur all over it and it was just
I was like pouring sweat
inside of it every time we would do a
game. It was the worst. And when we did
basketball, they wouldn't even let me
put the suit on because of it was
indoors. Like it was so hot. So, I would
do like the head and like a t-shirt and
some like sweatpants
and it was it just looked weird at
basketball games. But I again I got to
travel, got to get out of school
early. Uh got to hang out with the girls
and wanted nothing to do with me, but I
was
But were was everyone receptive like
during the pep rallies or during the
games? Like was everyone I feel like
whenever I see mascots, people go crazy
for mascots. Was it like that where
people were just totally into the
kitten?
For people who didn't know who I was.
Yes.
For some of the guys at the school who
knew me, it was it's it's time to mess
with this dude. Like it's time to throw
stuff. It's time to kick him. It's time
to do some of the like like we gonna
mess with him.
But yeah, mostly it was receptive,
especially from like the kids. It was
always fun to like hang out with the
kids and give them high fives like,
"Hey, how you you know?" So, it's that
that was well, I couldn't talk because
of the mascot, but still it was a great
experience and I loved it and a lot of
people loved it, too.
Did you ever get booed?
Not doing that.
Um, there was a moment uh when I was 11.
Um, and I've told this story before.
There was a moment when I was 11 where I
was
we did a pep rally and everybody who
like there were people who were there
who knew that I loved comedy and wanted
to be a stand-up. You know, it was my
dream.
So, I can't remember whether or not I
was asked to do it or I volunteered.
Either way, I was put on the program for
homecoming one year to do a standup set
uh during the pep rally like five 10
minutes and you know do my thing. Now
the only you know most comics when they
have they they're working out new
material they go to an open mic they go
to a comedy club try to work that stuff
out. I had my mom and your mom is always
going to be like, "Oh, baby, that was so
good.
That's so funny. They gonna love it. Oh,
baby, that was so good." And I get up
there and bomb. Like, I bombed hard. And
when you bomb as an 11 year old in front
of your peers, it is traumatic. Like, I
didn't cry. I didn't, you know, run off
and like
I I took it, you know, with a grain of
salt while it was going on. But I did
not want to do that again. So, it took
me until I guess 2024 when we started
when I started doing the comedy thing
and then we started doing the Gen X
comedy tour before I got back on stage
and did comedy again.
Wow.
Wow.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That was
Wow. Uh what uh 33 years between sets?
Is that even the the safe open mic
experience or jumping right in?
Uh well that was well what happened was
um we I got an email from and you're
talking about like a couple years ago
when I got back up there.
No, what I'm saying is you you bombed
when you're 11 then you get back into
it. Did you have to go into kind of a
safe space in a sense to try stuff out
or
Oh, to to do it again like Yeah. Well,
so what hap what it was I had gotten
approached by a comedy club out on the
West Coast to come and do uh 90 minutes
and I was like 90 minutes of what? They
said we don't care. Like you come and do
whatever you want, but I was like no, if
you're if I'm gonna do
if I'm going to be in a at a comedy
club, I'm going to do comedy. So, I
started working with uh some local
comics in New Orleans to uh get some
stuff together. They had a at the time
they had a comedy club here uh uh Comedy
Club Nola or something like that. Uh and
they had an open mic. So, I they were
like, "Yeah, you I will work with you
and then you come to the open mic and
try some of the stuff out." And I did a
couple of open mics. uh tried some stuff
out that worked out before I actually
got on stage and didn't, you know, did
the uh official thing thing. But yes, I
had to have that safe space and I didn't
have the same experience. I didn't get
booed. I didn't get uh chased off of the
stage. Uh it was very receptive and it
was a great confidence booster for what
was next to come. So before you walked
on stage that first time since you were
11, did the time you were 11 flash
before your eyes at all?
Of course. Like it's that was always
prominent uh in my mind uh thinking
about that experience and how it
affected me and I didn't want to have to
experience that again. I but and what it
was was more of a motivator like not to
let this deter me from
uh you know living in my purpose and
walking my path. So it was it it I will
never let that go. uh not in a way of
where I'm like so angry about it or
anything, but it's like I want to always
keep that in my mind as a reminder of
where I was or how where I've come from
because you know some there are some who
would have that experience and then it
would just deter them from never doing
it again. But when the opportunity came,
I was excited and ready to take it on.
And I'm glad that I did because now
we're doing this whole thing.
No, it's amazing. Like, if you could
just go back and tell him, hey, trust
me, everything is going to be great, you
know?
Yeah. Like, hey, man, don't worry about
it. It's gonna be all good.
Exactly. Well, and even after that
experience, you still put yourself out
there. I mean, uh, being in the mascot,
you still got out there even though it
wasn't comedy.
It didn't you didn't drink.
So, and through high school, was your
main activity the mascot or did you do
anything else?
Well, the mascot was the thing I did in
senior year. Uh, I participated in a
couple of other things. I was in chess
club. Uh, I did some other stuff while I
was in school. Uh, in high school
anyway. Uh, I think I want to say I was
in Spanish club, too. barely knew it.
Didn't know a lick of it. Uh but I knew
enough that was passable to be in the
club.
Uh so I want I tried to participate as
much as I could. You know, I would hang
out with my friends a lot because you
know it's guys high school,
we're like trapesing around and
especially as soon as we get licenses,
it's like bye, we out of here.
And so there was a lot of that. But I
tried to participate in as many as in
some of the clubs that I had time for uh
when I was in high school and I did a
lot with my church as well. Uh I was in
the choir uh so we had rehearsals and
all kind of things. I was in the choir
in high school as a matter of fact. So I
did that too and you know I just music
was always a big part of my life even
then. So, you started that in
elementary. You said whenever they
needed someone to sing, you would
participate. And then you continued that
through junior high and through high
school.
Yes, I did. Uh did
what four years of choir in high school.
Um I did BA I was in I was part of the
baseball team in high school again as
well. Uh but that was um uh I was
statistician like I tried out for that
was another one of those situations
where the coach was like, "Yeah, just
come sit on the bench and we're like
marking the book, but you're good to
go." So, it's like I was I was athlete
adjacent in grade school.
Your your high school resume was pretty
pretty full and pretty well-rounded,
you know, if you think about all the
different things you're involved in.
Yeah, for sure. For
an extra. Absolutely. I mean, honestly,
your high school resume sounds like what
kids now do because they do everything
now, right? Like you right
would you consider yourself an
overachiever?
No, not at all. That
Okay.
No. Uh I have you ever been asked that
question before?
You're looking like one on paper.
Well, I' I've never been asked that
question before and I feel silly that
it's like to even consider it. But I
mean, when you when you word it like
that, then sure. Like I was an honor
student. I 3.0 average uh throughout
high school. Um
I
I mean I loved school. I had a lot of
fun uh doing a lot of the stuff, you
know, hanging out with my friends, being
a part of clubs. Yeah.
Uh I didn't love the homework. Uh I got
in trouble a lot in high school. I
remember specifically uh walking into uh
math class one day and I was singing a
song at the top of my lungs. This is
before the bell rung and the teacher
immediately kicked me out of class. I
was like, "Class haven't even started
yet. how can you kick me out? The bell
hasn't even rang yet. She sent me to the
principal's office before class even
officially started. And so I would, you
know, I was a I was a talkative kid, uh,
which would get me in trouble a lot as
well. Um, and I, you know, I hung out
with other honor students who were like
kind of like down, you know, against the
man, which really is more of like
against the principal.
Yes.
But we we spent a lot of time in his
office though, so we got to know each
other real well.
You had like both worlds. You did have
this overachieving side to you. You I'm
I'm going to inform you you did because
I'm listening all the things you did.
Yeah.
And but then you also had this like Gen
X rebellious side doing all the things
like were you ever in a field passed out
drunk like so many of us and your
parents thought you were somewhere else
in high school? No. Uh, I was not in a
field passed out drunk. Um, not not in a
field passed out drunk. I did a lot of
stuff in high school, but it was never
to the point where they couldn't find
where they always knew where I was. They
just didn't know what they knew where I
was, they didn't know what I was doing.
Like, they knew where I was, but they
didn't know what was going on.
So, yeah.
So like yeah cuz I cuz you know like we
had like I told you like my half of my
family worked on the campus
so they had access to me at all times of
the day
so I could I couldn't just like do know
any dumb stuff because they're like
right across the street.
So I had to kind of keep it together
in those instances. But again like I was
hanging out with other honor students
but they were not honorable I guess you
should say.
So We were all like a lot of the stuff
that I participated in in high school
was excuses to get out of class.
Okay.
To be to be honest, like the the mascot
stuff, doing the sports stuff. Like I
was leaving school early all the time
and traveling to places and doing all
these things. I was uh there's what was
it? Um,
we got I like I would do well on
projects like social studies, science
projects and go to uh the
um go to the the state science fair, the
local science fair, all these things and
uh stay in hotel rooms and hang out with
other honor students who were like
always out of school. So, we we did a
lot of that because it was an
opportunity to get away, but we were
still using our gifts and talents in
order to be able to do it. So I I I I
understand. I I I understand what you're
saying and I don't disagree, but
like it's like
you're putting in the work and you're
getting results in the work,
right?
You were hustling. That's a future
entrepreneur or something. You were
figuring it out.
It was all a hustle. High school was the
hustle.
It was a hustle. So did you um always
have did you have college on the radar?
Was that something you were raised that
you were automatically going to go to
school after high school? Well, we were
we were like I we I went to high school
on a college campus.
So, it was like
so it was automatic like we were told uh
as seniors like if you like go to
the college then you'll you especially
if you're an honor student, you're going
to get a free you're you're you're going
to get in one two probably going to get
a basically a free ride
if you go.
So, um that's what I did. I ended up
going to Granley State for my um for my
BA and in theater again because I was,
you know, that was something I was
interested in, wanted to do. Uh, you
know, because chick chick chick chick
chick chick chick chick chick chick
chick chick chick chick chick chick
chick chick chick chick chick chick
chick chick chick chick chick chick
chick chick chick chick chick chick
chick chick chick chick chick chick
chicks dig actors. Um but
but I ended up losing I had a
scholarship and lose lost it I want to
say when I was a sophomore because I was
um uh I missed a lot of class and um
wasn't getting the grades I was supposed
to get and cuz I was hanging out with my
friends. I was in the student union
every day and I'd be like, "Oh well, I
don't want to go to class. I'm just just
going to hang out and play cards with
you guys." and sat there and like played
cards and pool and lost my scholarship
and then had to get student aid and now
I have to pay loans all this different
stuff. But it was
that experience was just amazing to me.
It was mesmerizing because the again
Grahamley State University at that time
was like the height of black culture.
So you would have celebrities just
popping up on campus and hanging out and
you would just be like, "Okay, cool.
Let's hang out then." And being around
all of that at that time uh was huge to
me. And it was a big part of like
putting the I don't even want to say it
like putting the stars in my eyes,
but like seeing all this culture and all
these people who came up from this
school and have like become uh
entrepreneurs and actors and musicians
and big-time athletes and you know I
want to do that. I want to get to there
one day. And that's that was a big
driving factor for me moving from high
school to college because college it was
never a thing where it was like yeah I'm
not going to go to college you know
that's that at that time you were going
to college like hey you're graduating
from high school so guess what you're
going to college that's what's going to
happen
and but that wasn't a time where I
didn't want to go like I that was it was
like that place is cool yes I want to go
there. Let's do it. And it was an
amazing experience.
Did you live in the dorms?
No.
So, you lived at home
and and drove into school?
Yes. Like, it was right there. Like we I
would I stayed at home for a while. Then
I got an apartment after I want to say
junior year.
And because my mom didn't want me to
leave, she's like, "You can just stay
with me for as long as you want to. You
don't have to go." I was like, "Mom, I'm
a man. I have to go out on my own and do
my thing." And going out on my own was
moving five minutes away.
For dinner,
right? Like, "Let me know what you
cooking and I'll go I'll come get a
plate."
But it was
it was just the the idea of having your
own apartment and having your own place
when you're in college was really what
it was about for me. and being able to,
you know, have that experience where we
had the parties and had the apartment
and had the people coming over and doing
all the things and being your own person
and not having to worry about sneaking
back in the house at 1:00 in the morning
after you've been partying all night.
Yeah,
it was, you know, so it was and that's
part another reason why I lost my
scholarship. But it was a it was still a
great experience and uh but that was
always something that I wanted to do.
was always it was implemented me in me
uh from the time I was could start
thinking about going to college but
there wasn't a time where I was like I
don't even want to do this
right
that was I wanted to be there and I was
happy to be there
and then with theater did you perform a
lot through those four years in school
yeah I was
uh one of the uh featured like I want to
say from the time I was a freshman to By
the time I was a senior, I may have
missed one show.
Wow.
Oh wow.
Like I would get cast in every show that
was available. I may have missed one and
that was by choice because I and and I I
missed it because but there's two
because there was one show that we did
that was an all female cast. So, I would
work the lighting for that show. And
there was another one where I was like,
"Yeah, I'm just not even going to
audition cuz I want to get ready for
like the next." That was like when I was
a senior and I've been in all the shows.
I was like, "Yeah, I'm not even
auditioning for this show. I'm gonna let
y'all do it. I'm gonna come hang out,
but I'm I'm good. Y'all go do that."
Was it?
So, it was
Go ahead. I was competitive because
there's a there, right? So, I imagine
that was pretty competitive. Yeah, it
was always competitive, especially for
certain roles. Uh I wouldn't always get
the lead. Like I was all most of the
time I was a supporting cast member. I
wasn't always the lead male. Uh which
that kind of stung
then, but I look back on it now and it's
like sometimes you need those utility
guys that are going to make sure that
like that are going to be solid and you
need them to be in that role. Uh I
didn't I was fine with not having a lead
because it was a lot of responsibility
and more lines and I had other stuff to
do with my time. Now there were a lot of
shows where I was the lead actor, the
lead male and it was a lot of
responsibility and I always uh
I always was
eager to shoulder that responsibility
because I wanted to show prove my worth
and show what I could do on stage. And I
had so much fun, you know, doing theater
and like rehearsing and doing these
shows and it was just I I look back on
this so fondly
because
I'm sorry. Go ahead.
No, you're fine. Go ahead.
I was going to say, isn't it because
it's also like a family like a family
atmosphere? All of you theater, the
everyone working together
like more supportive
like a team. I I was so supported from
the beginning. Like I I remember
specifically the first audition that I
went to. Like I had messed up
uh with my major and majored in mass
communication when I really wanted to
major in theater.
So, but it was all in the same building.
So I which kind of messed me up when I
was getting ready to graduate and I had
to graduate during the summer because it
didn't get corrected when it was
supposed to. My my uh not my sponsor.
I'm not your my advisor. Thank you. My
advisor uh didn't pick up on it and
neither did I. So
that's so frustrating. I'm sure your mom
about that. Well, I mean, she was cool
because the curriculums were kind of
similar between Masscom and Theater
because it was all in the arts building.
So, it was just like one or two classes
that I needed to take in order to get
the degree. So, instead of graduating in
the spring, graduated during the summer,
which for me was totally fine. Um, okay.
I
remember that first audition, nobody
knew who I was. Like, all these people
that were in the room to audition were
all theater majors. And then I come walk
in, they're like, and they're looking at
me like, "What? What? It okay." Then I
auditioned and they thought I was good
and I was, you know, which meant a lot
to me. I was like, "These people have
been acting for years." And they all
think I'm a good actor and I've never
done this before. Not professionally,
not in school, none of this. We didn't
have like theater in my school, in my
high school. So I couldn't like do plays
or anything like that. So that was
really my first experiences when I got
in college and like they were pull like
the guys were pulling me aside after the
audition. They like, "Hey man, you want
to go get some dinner or something? You
want to go get lunch? Let's talk. You
you you did a pretty good job." And I
got cast in that first show and we were
off to the races. Like auditioning for
every show, getting cast in every show,
like being there, being able to
participate and hang out and do a lot of
this stuff. It was It meant a lot to me.
that these people who I at the time was
looking up to because they were doing
the thing that I wanted to do saw
something in me, saw a value in me, saw
talent in me, and I was able to parlay
that into like just doing every show
possible. Uh, which was funny because
like people on campus, a lot of people
didn't know who I was, but they knew my
characters. So they would see me on
cameras, they yell out my character
name,
which
then that just felt I I felt like a big
time actor at that point. They're like,
"Hey, thank you for coming to the show.
I appreciate that."
All right.
I'll be doing another one next month.
See you then. All right.
Found your people.
Well,
Right. Right. Right.
Also, I mean, so compared to what you're
doing now, so you started getting
familiar with that where people
recognize you, people uh, you know, know
you as your character or whatever.
That's at a young age. You were already
getting exposed to that. Um, have any of
your fellow um, theater I don't know
what you guys call each other like
alumni?
Alumni. Thank you. Um, have they come to
any of your shows?
Have they come? No, they haven't come to
my shows. We uh, they get the chance to
like uh, a lot of them are on the West
Coast now.
So, we haven't I haven't done uh I've
did like Oh, you know what? No, that's
actually not true. my very first standup
show that I did in San Diego, one of my
uh former co-stars came to the show.
She's living in LA and she she's doing
voice work. She's done some stuff for
Netflix and like other things. She drove
down
to San Diego to come see the show, which
meant a lot to me, you know, because uh
that was
uh a part of my life that I'm just very
thankful for and appreciative of. And
she was actually the person I shared my
first onstage kiss with.
Wow.
So
that made my wife feel weird when she
came to the show.
I was like, "Baby, it's nothing like
there's nothing between us anymore. This
is it was a stage thing.
It's okay. We're acting."
Thank you.
Yes. Acting. There you go. Um that's
awesome though. That's And aren't you
guys going out?
Aren't you hitting California this year?
We are uh we're going to have our first
California show uh coming up this year
and that's that means a lot man like
being able to get out like we there are
some states that we haven't hit yet that
people have been asking for a lot and
Texas and California are the two at the
top of the list and we're actually
hitting both of them this year. So I'm
excited about that because we get to
hang out with the Cali peeps and maybe
my co-star come to that show too.
Yeah. the wife and her can fight.
Just film it.
Be great.
There you go.
Fantastic content. Fantastic content.
Absolutely. Um I'm just thinking about
the fact that you didn't have theater in
high school and didn't perform and then
went for it in college. Like that again.
What drove you? Like was it just
entertainment? Do you just love
entertaining people so much? Do you
think that was the constant drive? So,
well, you guys will get this. Uh, I grew
up watching shows like SNL and the
Living Color.
Yep.
Like that's and watching that stuff and
growing up watching that stuff. That's
what I wanted to do. Like I was in the
mirror as a kid making faces like Jim
Carrey. Well, not a kid during that
time. That was like late 80s, early 90s.
So, like
kind of kidittish.
Yeah. But like it was a a huge
like the huge influence on me is shows
like that and like growing up with like
TV and watching these shows and saying,
you know, I kind I want to do that. I
think I could do those things. And I've
I always wanted to entertain. Always
wanted to, you know, get up in front of
people and make them smile happy and
laugh and all these things. So when I
got the opportunity to do theater in
college, it was I I you know that was
going I was all in like, yeah, let's do
it. Let's get into it. Let's make it
happen. And I,
you know, there was a there were those
moments where it was kind of uh I was
talking about this the other day. I did
a show where I had to be the bad guy and
my mom had never seen me uh play like a
a mean person because I'm just the
nicest person in real life. So when you
see that when she sees that and I get
off a stage and we're in the lobby and I
go talk to my mom and she's like, "Yeah,
you can't come home tonight. um
you're gonna have to like find some
place else to stay or maybe sleep on the
couch because I am so upset with the way
that you treated that girl. Like, mom,
that was a I was playing a character.
It's a part. I wasn't It wasn't me. I
don't care. You don't treat people like
that. You're not coming home. And
and that always
Yeah, that that's always sticks out in
my head with the way that she was like
that. Like it one of the things about
live theater and being on stage is that
you you know people get enthralled in it
because it's right there in their face.
It's visceral. It's not on a screen.
It's like you can reach out and touch
it. So there's a lot of emotion behind
it. I was I did a play
uh when in my senior year uh we did a
collaboration with Louisiana Tech uh
which is a town that's uh college is
like five minutes away in Rustin and
it was called Master Herald and the
Boys. It's it was about a part tide in
South Africa and uh this guy who worked
for a young uh white child
and at one point in the play uh the kid
spits in my face
and we did this on Gramlings campus
and it was like an all black
uh audience so you can imagine
how their emotions were riding high at
that moment. So there are people mad at
me because I let him do it and of course
there are people mad at him because he
did it. Like he had to wait for
everybody to clear out before he could
walk to his car after the show.
Uh we did it at Tech and it was fine,
but at Gramling it was a completely
different animal. So, it's like that's
one of the things that I loved about
theater and still do
is that you get those emotional and
visceral reactions. Yeah.
From people and it it just grabs you.
So, that that that's something that
happened quite a bit while I was doing
it.
It's raw.
It's so raw.
It's actually intense.
Well, yeah. And and and but it's also
that connection is it probably
intoxicating. the whole energy of the
experience with the audience and it's
got to be intoxicating just to have it
right there.
Yeah. Yeah.
Do you enjoy the theater? Like will you
go if like if you're in New York, will
you hit Broadway and do that kind of
thing?
We just we got snowed in in Buffalo a
couple of weeks ago, like right before
the new year and uh we couldn't catch a
flight out of Buffalo. So, uh, a couple
of friends of ours drove, they live in
New York City, so we drove down with
them to, uh, catch a flight out of
LaGuardia. So, we were like, while we're
in town, why don't we try to catch a
show? We went to go see The Book of
Mormon on Broadway.
And it's a fantastic musical. It's so
much fun. And so,
we're in line for The Book of Mormon.
We're walking up, this long line, people
trying to get in. And one of the guys
who's working there sees me. He goes,
"Professor, what's going on, man?" I was
like, "Oh my god, really?" He's like,
"Hey, how many you got with you?" I
said, "There's three other people in
me." He's like, "Come on." And got me to
the express line so I can go ahead and
get into the building. So, it's like
it's moments like that where it's like,
God, man. like it's it comes full circle
because for a theater kid like me who
always dreamed of like being on stage,
being in front of the people to be at a
Broadway show and have people like, "Hey
man, I love your stuff. I love you. I
love your It's just It's such a surreal
moment and very full circle and it was
it was just it was a really cool like
thing."
That's really I've been to a couple of
shows on Broadway like we went to see
Hamilton last year and it's great.
That's really amazing. I just I'm
thinking about, you know, little you
singing in elementary school, little you
getting booed at your first comedy
attempt and then but sticking with it,
doing choir, the mascot, and then um
doing all these shows in college and
starting to get recognized on campus
where people be like, "Hey, hey, to
where you are now, it's like it's phen.
really especially for a Gen Xer
to be where you're at in your life now
because the people older than us started
slowing down by by now in their lives,
right?
But Gen X isn't doing that and you're
such an amazing example of that that
I don't think he's peaked yet.
You haven't even peaked yet, you know?
But it's still tied so much to all this
work you put in
just in the beginning of your life, you
know, and and you haven't even peaked at
this point in your life. It's crazy when
you look at it in a in like a linear
time frame and look from where
everything started out to where it is
now. And the fact that,
you know, you hear about some of these
people like Morgan Freeman who started
really late in life and got big later in
life. And like now you look at myself
and John and Sherry and Kelly and we're
all at this uh stage in our lives where
we're still we're still like going this
way. Like it's still trending upwards
and there's still a lot more to do and
it's it's amazing when you think about
it and it's uh it can be overwhelming
and frightening
when because you know there have been
especially with a show coming up in a
couple of weeks. There have been
mornings where I've woken what I wake up
and I'm like the first thing on my mind
is oh my god uh did I write the right
joke and is my stuff good enough? Am I
are people going to like it? So it's
there's a lot of pressure that comes
along with it as well.
But we were built for this, man. Like
the way that we were brought up and how
we came up, we were built for these
kinds of moments. And I'm I'm so excited
about what's next. Well, there's no
question though that um you and Sherry
and Kelly and John are an inspiration
especially for our generation because I
think you and we'll get to that part
this part current part of your journey
but I just think you're such a great
example of look what you can do. Look
what you can do, you know, and and it's
just so inspiring. Okay.
Um, okay. So, you talked about real
quick, um, how you have the show coming
up in Detroit and you wake up some
mornings like, ah, um, have you ever had
imposter syndrome?
Yes.
Now,
yes. Has that presented more later in
life or did you have it during those
early Well, if you had it during those
early years, was that more just
adolescent based like just being
naturally insecure as a kid and stuff or
Yeah, like I think uh during the time
where I was in like junior high, high
school, elementary school, and even a
bit in college as well. It was more of a
that was a natural response to how
things were going cuz sometimes it would
get crazy and I would just especially,
you know, doing the theater thing, it's
like, am I supposed to be up here? Like,
is this should this be another person's
spot? Did I take some did I do I deserve
to have this role? And
now
it's a lot. It's, you know, social media
is so volatile where the numbers aren't
always consistent. So, you may have a
video that gets millions of views and
you have may may have one that like
bottoms out and you say to yourself,
"Okay, what am I doing wrong? What can I
what do I need to do to fix it? Is this
am I done? Am I is this over or is this
it?
Can I pack it up?" And there are a lot
of times because like later in life for
me I've dealt with imposter syndrome and
body dysmorphia.
So it's like
I have this self-image of myself where
it's like why would anybody want to like
pay attention to me? Why would anybody
want to like who the hell wants to come
see me on stage? Like who wants to come
watch me do comedy? like all you do is
dance around like a fool online. Like
nobody wants to come see that and then
you're ugly. So, so it's like you there
have been times where my self-esteem has
gotten the better of me.
And
you know, we have these conversations
all the time, my wife and I, about how
I, you know, nobody can beat Nick up
like Nick can beat himself up.
And there are a lot of people who deal
with the same thing. But part of my
purpose in what I do in social media is
to be able to be a light in a world that
sometimes can be super super dark.
And I get messages every day from people
who are like, "Man, I'm struggling. I'm
hurting. I have PTSD.
Uh I'm sick. I have these issues and
problems. is there, you know, but you
help me through it. You help me to get
through these things every day and I
know I can go to your page and get a
laugh, smile, and I'm very appreciative
of you for that. And I that's what helps
me to push and keep going is knowing
that I'm not doing it for myself.
There's never been a time on social
media where I was doing it for me. I'm
always doing it for
people that are watching. that person
that's behind the camera that's coming
to the page and coming to watch the
content because they are
they need that ray of sunshine. They
need that light and that's what pushes
me
all the time like so I can
worry about my stuff and I try not to
you know but it's hard to not be able to
worry about your own stuff because you
know you live with it every day. So, you
have these issues that come up and then
you wonder, you know, is like what am I
going to do or how is this going to work
or am I am I even going to be able to
accomplish this or make this happen? And
it's
and the more the bigger it gets, the
more pressure it gets mounted on. But
it's
but it's important to remember that, you
know, I'm a believer. You know, I'm I'm
a I'm a believer in God. And it's
important to know that I'm not doing it
alone. I'm never doing it alone. I
always got somebody with me.
So, it's, you know, that's what has
helped me a lot in uh times where I'm
doubting myself, where I'm down on
myself, where I don't think that I'm
enough. And I'm reminded that I am. I'm
beautiful and wonderfully made exactly
as I am. And there are other people out
there who need me
and need other creators like me, need
us, need the Gen X takeover guys, like
the all of us because we are helping
them through some tough times and tough
moments.
Absolutely. I'm I'm also a believer and
I'm a big, you know, God will put you
where he um wants you to serve and so
you're serving and as much as um you're
an inspiration to your fans, your
followers, your listeners,
you're also finding inspiration from
them when you need it. So, it's kind
it's a beautiful relationship. You know,
you think about it.
That's what I try to tell them all the
time. Like people will say, "Man, thank
you for I'm like, "No, thank you."
because you guys help me as much if not
more
than I help you. Because if you weren't
here, then I wouldn't be doing what I'm
doing.
And I've said since the beginning, if
you keep liking it, I'll keep doing it.
And they haven't stopped liking it. So,
I haven't stopped doing it. I just
How
do you deal with the weight of that?
Right. Is that It's sort of a yin and a
yang, I guess, right? Because there's
pressure there
to
Yeah.
deliver I guess. Right.
Right.
One thing a piece of advice that I
usually give creators who are asking me
like how do you get to that point like
what is it that you do? Uh I just tell
them to be themselves and know that your
people will find you. And that's what I
have to keep reminding myself is that
you know just be who you are your people
will find you. And that has been, you
know, that has helped me a lot
throughout my career in social media is
just, you know, your people are going to
find you, so don't worry about dips.
Don't worry about worries.
Yeah.
Do you take on more pressure though
around I've got a lot of people. You get
these wonderful messages, right? Hey,
you got me through the day, man. You got
me through the week, the month. And you
know that's that feels like that could
you're taking that on in a sense. Now
you've really got to deliver. That's
more what I was thinking. How do you how
do you deal with that side of it?
Well, there's a lot of weight to it and
I just you know I I
I remind myself of my purpose.
Yeah.
And why I do what I do.
Yeah. You know, it's
and the pressure, you know, it's there's
pressure that's going to come with
whatever lane you decide to drive in,
whatever career you decide path you
decide to take. You're going to have
pressure. You know, if you're working in
an office, you have deadlines to meet.
If you're working, I worked as a
teacher. As a teacher, you have the
pressure of I need to teach these kids
and how am I going to reach them? I'm
like what am I going to do to be able to
reach these kids so that they can lead
uh you know wonderful lives and like
have you know great careers ahead of
them and I try to say you know I tell
myself all the time well actually I talk
to God all the time and when I do like
he he's like to stay on the stay on the
path you're doing what you're doing like
keep pushing keep doing what you're
doing it's going to be okay you are
doing the right thing just keep moving
forward
and that's what you have to do. You just
have to keep putting one foot in front
of the other and keep moving forward and
understand that yes there are a lot of
people watching. There's a lot of
pressure that goes along with it. But
you have prepared yourself for this
moment. You have been prepared for this
moment I should say. And to just
don't
stress, don't sweat it. It's okay,
you know, just love on people. Love on
people and they'll love on you. And
well, and I think you alluded to the
authenticity, living, being yourself,
being authentic. You can't go wrong with
that because as long as you're being
authentic, being true to yourself,
um, then you are following along your
path that's been destined for you that
he's that God's put you on. So, you
really can't go wrong. You know, it's
what what's happening is what's supposed
to happen. So,
right. you know purpose.
Yeah. And that and I think I find that
helps with imposter syndrome
is having faith. Faith is a big
counterbalance to imposttor syndrome.
Yes. Faith, being authentic, they all go
hand in hand. Like you people can tell.
One of the things that has helped uh me
be, you know, get followers and likes
and shares and all these things that I'm
who I am. like who I am, the person I am
has never changed.
And I am just like what you see on
screen, the dancing in the grocery
store, the rocking out in the car, like
all these things are things I do on a
regular basis. I'm just filming it. It's
just who I am.
And it's important to be authentic. And
when you're when you are your authentic
self and when you are putting yourself
out there like that, that I think
answers your question of alleviates a
lot of the pressure
because it's not like you're trying to
put on for people. You're not out there
tap dancing for the man or just being
somebody that you're not in order to
maintain. Yeah. Yeah. It's not a show.
It's not a lie. It's not you putting
some out there just to keep, you know,
the the the the socials afloat or to
make, you know, to, you know, for people
to think that you're something that
you're just doing what you're doing
because that's what you do.
And when you're when you're able to do
that, then a lot of the pressure is
alleviated because you don't have to
worry about putting on an act. You're
just being who you are,
right? And then and then the you can um
you have stamina and endurance because
you're not draining yourself by ma uh
curating something that's not authentic.
It takes more energy to curate in
authenticity. Yeah.
Um and to fit into some sort of box or
conform a result than it does to just be
yourself.
You can't
power isn't going to be there if you're
constantly creating something that's
actually not real.
And if you do that, then there's more
pressure that's put upon you because you
have to keep up this facade.
Yeah. Yeah.
You have to keep up this this this this
fake
uh you know mask of what you believe
people should think that you are rather
than being who you actually are and
letting the people who will understand
who you are come to you. And I think
that's one of the things that's wrong
with social media right now is that
there are too many people who are out
there being something that they're not
and rather this rather than just trying
to be who they are and let their people
find them.
Yes. So that's
that'll never be who I am though.
way.
So after college,
um, did you utilize your theater degree
in some way or was that the I mean
obviously you're still doing that now,
but did you utilize it right after
college or what did you what path did
you choose? Well, I tried to I went out
in auditions and uh tried to find like I
did a lot of um like outdoor theater
shows
uh in college um especially in grad
school and
that was cool for the time because it
was just summer like we would do that
stuff during the summer and I tried to
do auditioning and tried auditioning and
doing trying to do stuff but then around
that same time is when my mother's
health started failing.
Um, uh, then that's I ended up having to
come back home to, well, I ended up not
having to, but ended up coming back
home.
Yeah.
To take care of my mother. And
I got a job. I moved in to her house. I
helped her with her things. And that was
uh before she passed away.
So I was back home in North Louisiana.
Um
I ended up teaching uh at the college,
same college I went to uh in the same
theater department that I was in uh as a
professor. That's how I got the nickname
because I worked at Grandma State
and uh taught there for seven years in
the speech and theater department. Um,
and so technically, yes, after I got out
of college, I did use my degree, but I
used it to teach. Um, and that was a
great experience, too. Um, just being
able to use what I learned to help the
next generation of actors and uh uh uh
public speakers to f and find pe and
people who did not think that that was
something that they would be into
helping them to find interest in it
because I taught a lot of um uh intro to
find a performing arts classes with
students who just needed it for a
college credit. So you had football
players, athletes, uh people who just
needed it for whatever major they were
in and they found a love of theater
through the classes that we were
teaching.
Did they stick with it after that class?
Did you have students?
There was there's one that I know did.
Um cuz he's acting professionally now.
He's been in movies and stuff like that.
So it's it's good to know that.
Really?
Yeah. You were able to uh I don't think
so. His name is Orlando Valentino. Um
he's not super big, but he's been in
like a couple of like smaller films and
had some uh guest starring roles on TV,
like some walk-on stuff. So he's
so to know that you've had that kind of
uh influence on
uh people is just it's it's it's
amazing, man. There's nothing like it.
That's awesome. so proud of him
that he stuck with it and that's
something he really dove into wanted to
do
and you know
I love that we just did a shout out for
him too. That's cool.
Shout out to Orlando.
I love that. In a way it's kind of how
you talked about um people coming back
and giving back. People that have made
it and came back to your school and
would give back and inspire. You kind of
did that in a way too. you came back
and in your own way inspired these
students. So, and so you did that for
seven years.
Yes, I did that as grandma say for seven
years and then towards the end of it uh
my heart had always been with uh
teaching kids like younger kids. So I
went back to school and got my degree in
education and uh started teaching
elementary school uh which was a great a
big stark trying a stark contrast to
what I was doing.
I remember specifically going back and
uh you know teaching these kids like
getting a job and
teaching these I started teaching fifth
grade first and uh for the first two
weeks I would like lay in bed and like
just so I'm like my god I don't want to
go do this again cuz these were like
these kids were like running all over me
man and I had to like find my voice and
find my footing and I had again I had
great support system uh with the fellow
my the other teachers who at the school
who I become befriended and become cool
with and they you know they helped me to
kind of find my footing and my voice in
the classroom. So that was an that was a
just
a crazy experience because I did that
for seven years too uh elementary
school. So yeah, that was that was that
was when I started like getting big on
social media was during the time that I
was teaching elementary school because
the pandemic was right in the middle of
all of that.
So okay, it was crazy the whole thing.
So how did you So during this time so
you you taught at um your college for
seven years and you were also taking
care of your mom and then you went back
to school and kept teaching. Was your
mom's still was her health still
suffering through this whole time?
Well, that my mom passed away before I
started going when I before I went back
to school to get my degree. Like, so
what hap how it happened was I was
I came back home, started taking care of
my mom. Uh I was working at a Chili's uh
during that time. uh just looking for a
I needed I did Chili's and I was working
for ESPN radio all at the same time. And
during that time I was waiting on a
table and it was uh a couple of people
who were um working in the theater
department at Gramling and they're like
what are you doing here? Said well I
needed a job. I was taking care of my
mom and all these things. They're like
no you come by. We have a new department
head. bring him your resume. I'm pretty
sure he can find something for you. And
I started out as a costume designer and
I knew nothing about costume design, but
they were just they needed somebody to
do costumes for the shows. So, I stepped
in and did it. And then uh they brought
me back as an adjunct uh as an adjunct
instructor. So, well, that was I was an
adjunct during that time. and then
brought me back as a uh as a full-on
instructor uh slashprofessor
uh during that time and that was
after my mom had passed away. So, my mom
passes away. I'm working at the school.
And then I meet my first wife while I'm
doing that.
And then I go back to school after that
and get my degree in education. And
that's when I go back to teach
elementary school for that seven years.
So that that's all that happened.
What what uh subject did you teach in
elementary school? Uh, English language
arts. So, basically speech in English.
Yeah.
To fifth graders.
Yes.
Fun times.
That's draining. That's right. I got a
tough age.
I taught briefly. Um, and I remember
thinking there's no way I can do this
and come home and raise children because
I'm giving all my energy during the day.
I was depleted whenever I walked in the
door. Depleted.
Right. Yeah. Completely. was is always a
lot to be there that whole day teaching
the kids and but you when you like pour
yourself into education like it's more
like you're never going to get paid
enough because you're there pretty much
the entire day and night like I would
get there
6 something in the morning uh come into
my classroom get prepared uh go out on
duty uh help the kids get across to in
the street or work in the hallway or do
something like that. Then I'd go in and
do my class and be there all day. And
then after school, I would help with
like after school uh extracurricular
stuff or I would like work in my
classroom and get ready for the next
day, get ready for the week and prepare.
And then at one point I started doing
content in my classroom. So I was there
like all day. Uh then I would leave and
go home and just pass out and like like
I'd eat dinner and then go to sleep
then wake up the next morning and do it
all over again.
So it's it was it was very draining.
It Yeah, it takes all of your energy. Um
how old was your mom when she passed
away?
Oh gosh, that's a good question. I do
not remember her exact date. I want to
say she was in her early 50s uh when she
passed.
Yeah, she had complications with uh
diabetes. Um and uh it was like it was
rough, man. Like she was in the hospital
for a for a while and like going in and
out of like facilities and it was tough.
Like she was at home first and then she
move they moved she we could not do
anything more for her at home. Uh, so
she ended up having to go to a hospital
and then she was in an assisted living
facility and it was it was rough, man.
It was rough uh to go through and watch
her go through that.
I can't imagine cuz she was also just so
so young, you know, back when we were
15, we thought that was old and now we
know it's not.
No, it's not at all.
So, are any of your aunts still alive?
her sisters.
Um, my aunts are still alive. Uh, one is
still back at home in Louisiana and the
other one is Texas. My uncles are
almost all gone. Uh, I think there's one
left. So, yeah, it's been it's it's
rough, man. Like when you uh deal with
that on both sides of the family. I lost
my dad last year.
Thank you. It's so it's it's tough, man,
when you lose family members like that
um that you grew up around and that
helped raise you. Uh and and that's
something that we that as a generation a
lot of us deal with.
Yeah.
With our older family members who like
raised us and we came up with uh passing
away. And it's it's a lot to deal with,
but I know like it was we had a
conversation, my wife and I, on Monday
about my mom and she, you know, my my
wife is very, you know, she's very in
tune emotionally to both herself and
myself. And she was talking about how
she wished my mom could still be here to
see, you know, the stuff that I'm doing.
And she wished that she could have seen
my rise and success because my dad got
to see some of it. you know, he was uh
around for like a lot of the the high
moments.
Yeah. And so it's it's crazy uh to to
think about how she but my mom was so
supportive of my career and uh
everything that I was doing and she was
always supportive of me wanting to go
into like acting and entertainment and
theater and things and she would come to
every show that she could and she was
just my biggest cheerleader. So, I I
know that she's watching everything
that's going on right now and she's
looking down and smiling and proud.
100%.
She would be super proud of you,
especially knowing that she she kind of
scolded you for being the mean guy
to now see you making people laugh.
She'd be
joy. Bringing joy to people.
She'd be so happy about it, you know.
Yeah.
She would love that.
She would approve.
Yeah. You know, when we came to your
show in Fort Lauderdale, we sat next to
your brother.
Yes. of my brother Charlie.
Yes.
Is my he is my technically my
stepbrother. Uh but again I don't
subscribe to any of that.
Right.
And him and Rosie I know he was sitting
there near you guys.
Yeah.
They're just the best people, man.
Great people. Yeah. I have a very
supportive and very loving family that,
you know, anytime they get an
opportunity to come to something that's
uh, you know, where I'm around where
they are, they're there. Like my sister
um came to our show in Atlanta that we
did back in uh I want to say the
beginning of 2025
uh in Atlanta. Uh that was that yeah,
that was about a year ago around now, as
a matter of fact. And that was surreal
for me because she know like that was my
sister but my mom. So she was had a
front row seat to a lot of that stuff.
So to see the reclamation project and to
see everything come back full circle for
her and for all of us was just a very
emotional experience and I was so glad
to get to you and I got to give her a
flowers. cuz I had a stand up during the
show and told everybody these stories
like when I was a kid
uh growing up with her like we had
different fathers so we didn't
necessarily look alike. We both had
traits of our mother but we you know we
kind of look a little bit different and
she's a lighter shade than I am. So my
friends would come over to the house and
see her picture on the wall and be like
who is that? That's my sister. She's
like no there's no way she she actually
looks nice. How is that? How are you
related to her? So, you wonder why I
have body dysmorphia problems. Look back
at high school. It's it's those guys.
Oh my gosh.
But it's But that was always like the
the funny thing with me and her was
like, you know, we're we're close now.
We I was just talking to her the other
day. She's just so proud. She wears the
merch all the time and sends me pictures
of her wearing it. She's just so proud.
And I feel like that's the same way my
mom would be if she was still here.
100%. 100%. Yeah. That you mentioned
when you were teaching elementary
around COVID time is when you started
content creation.
Yes.
What motivated that? Like how did that
even happen?
Well, what happened? What had happened
was
um I was teaching and I was hosting
karaoke
uh where I was living in Monroe and
the pandemic hit and I was at k I was uh
at my last karaoke right before
everything was getting ready to shut
down and somebody came by a friend of
mine uh my friend Ricky uh he was like
hey I work with this company that is
doing enrichment for kids when all this
shuts down because the schools are
getting shut down and everybody's going
to go home. So I we did this enrichment
program for the children of frontline
workers like doctors, nurses, uh so they
didn't have to go to their grandparents
who were high risk. So they would bring
them to us. We were in an event like an
old doctor's office that got repurposed
as like a pseudo school for like a
handful of kids.
And it's me and him as administration.
And we had some of our teacher friends
come in and teach the kids. And one of
our teacher, one of my teacher friends
who was there was like, "Hey, you should
get on Tik Tok." Now, in like a month or
so previous to that, I had Tik Tok for a
day and deleted it. Was like, "This I'm
going to get put on a watch list. Like,
somebody's going to come round me up.
This is nothing but teenage kids
dancing. I do not need to be on this
app."
Uh, but I was like, you know what? Cool.
I'll do it. Let's get it in. And I
started on the app. And my first video
was a response to all the videos of
people talking about uh Tiger King,
that wonderful thing that went on during
the the pandemic of that. Oh, yes.
Brilliant. That brilliant piece of
television that everybody was enthralled
with while they were stuck at their
house.
Yeah. of Joe Exotic and his
his clan of people
and it did very like thousands of views.
Uh which to me I was like wow okay cool.
So, I kept creating and kept making
videos and started doing stuff about
music and comedy and uh just trying to
uh pass the time as a teacher who's
locked away in his home other than when
he's going to work with these kids.
and things just started to pick up and I
kept getting like more and more
followers and more and more views and
people seem to really be attracted to
the content because a lot of it was
wrestling based because I'm a huge
wrestling fan and people like were into
it and dug it. So, I started doing more
and started doing stuff. I was making
like 10 to 12 videos a day
uh at home
because I didn't because I was at the
house. I didn't have anything else to
do. I was bored. I just started making
content and like coming up with
different concepts like, "Okay, what can
I do this time? How can I use this
sound? What can I do here?" And I just
kept putting stuff out and it was like
the next thing I know I had like
hundreds of thousands of followers and
I'm like, why what are you doing? Why
why are you watching this?
So,
joy to these people, honestly,
right? Because I was always doing stuff
before I got on TikTok. There was um an
app uh where you would like make these
like uh little short not Vine but it was
something else. Uh where you would make
these little short videos and there was
also Periscope before that and I was
doing Periscope for a while and but Tik
Tok is where everything really started
to pick up. Uh so I started doing that
and then I discovered I find out how I
can like take the Tik Tok videos and put
them on Instagram. I was like let me do
that too.
And then I figured I could put them on
Facebook, too. I like, "Oh, cool. Let me
do that, too." And things are starting
to really pick up and
move. And then we got back to school and
the at the uh end of 2020, beginning of
2021,
and I started doing school-based content
about teachers and stuff like that, and
people were getting into it. Then I
started doing wrestling entrances into
my classroom, which really started to
take off. And like that was one of my
fir one of the first times I've got
videos that got like a million views is
when I was doing stuff like that and it
was like oh my gosh like what is this?
And then uh WWE reached out uh and that
was when I really knew that stuff was
like like this this could be something
this could be something big and that
so it was on from there.
So, what did you do with WWE?
Uh, well, so a lot of the, like I said,
I was doing a lot of entrances, uh,
coming into my classroom, wrestling
entrances of like the Undertaker and
Shawn Michaels and all this stuff. And
one of them had got like they had
started to get really popular. So, WWE
reached out. They slid into my DMs. Uh,
first they started following on TikTok,
which I thought was that was like, this
is it. I'm at the height.
It will never get bigger than this.
Yeah.
And they sent me a message. They're
like, "Yeah, we have this morning show.
We would love for you to come on and
talk about your wrestling interestes."
And I was in the middle of state testing
at the time. And I had a a uh a
paraprofessional teacher in the
classroom with me and I asked him to
watch my class for a second. I need to
go and uh I need to leave the classroom
because I started to get emotional. Then
I went and ducked around a corner and I
started sobbing, just crying because
when you when you're a kid who grew up
watching
that product and like dreaming of doing
something with them one day and then
they reach out to you and say, "Hey,
we'd love for you to come on and do
this, that, and the other." And they
start sharing your content and you get
messages from people that you've always
admired who are like, "Oh my god, this
is fantastic. Thank you for doing this.
Like it's really start to inspire you to
do more and to push and to keep going.
And
that that was the moment that I knew
that I had something. So I went on the
bump. That was it was uh I want to say
spring 2021. It was right before school
let out. I was in New Orleans at a
teacher conference and I they asked me
to come on. So I did it in my hotel
room. It's on YouTube now. And I was in
my hotel room like doing entrances and
talking about wrestling uh in between
seminars about how to be a better
teacher. And uh that was also the that
was also the week that I
But that was that was also the uh first
uh my f the week that I had my first
date with my wife.
Wow. Okay. So So we're hustling
like Oh, it was a big hustle at that
point because I had
big week.
It was crazy. The whole thing was crazy
because she, you know, we live in the
New Orleans area now. The conference in
New Orleans. She lives th this is the
house she was living in when we first
started dating. And so I was like I she
saw a picture of me online me being in
New Orleans. She's like, "Hey, like what
what are you doing in my neck of the
woods?" And I we had known each other
for years and I had always like we'd all
been cool. I was like, "Well, why don't
we go to dinner while I'm in town?"
She's like, "Well, I'm retired from
dating." She I was I just got out of my
I was uh out of my first marriage. She
was out of her first marriage and she's
like I'm I'm not dating anybody anymore.
Let's just go as friends. Just go to the
the classic line the old
that's that's how you throw it out
there. It's like that old line. We'll
just go as friends. And we haven't been
separated from each other ever since. So
cool.
He got her.
He got her. He got her.
I was a kitten once. YEAH.
WELL, WAIT. How
know each other for so many years? When
did you actually meet?
So, like I I talked earlier briefly
about how I worked for ESPN radio. Yes.
And I worked for a ESPN radio uh station
in North Louisiana that covered like the
Saints and the Pelicans and all this
stuff. They also did high school sports.
So the there was a high school team that
they were covering. Uh I did
uh sideline reporting and did football
stuff. So they asked me to do the
sideline reporting for this team while
they were trying to make a run through
the playoffs. And she was the athletic
trainer for the team.
So we had met through that, but we were
just friends like I said because she was
married at the time. I was married at
the time. So we were just friends. Then
later, years later down the road,
uh she like we stay Facebook friends and
she had seen like all the stuff I was
doing online. Uh she sent me a message
uh while I was uh in her neck of the
woods and you know was like, "Hey, what
are you doing around here?" And that I
saw that as my opportunity, as my shot
and much like Alexander Alexander
Hamilton, I will not I was not going to
throw away my shot. So, I I messaged her
and set up a date and we uh just went on
this wonderful date uh the day after I
did the thing with WWE. So, that was a a
a really a turning point in my life was
that week and um like I said, we've been
together ever since. and now she's a
part of the family business and all the
things and but that was around the time
where everything was starting to get
much bigger than I
so and she had children right from her
first marriage
yes
did she have son daughters what
sonaughter yes 8-year-old son
12-year-old daughter yes
and then did you have children
I have a yes my pre I have a 15-year-old
son yes
okay so you guys then became from a
blended family.
Yes.
How long did you guys date before you
got married?
So, we started dating in 21. We got
married in 23, so two years.
Okay. And
how how has the blended family gone?
Great. I mean, uh like I said, my son is
um my my my 15-year-old, he's with his
mom in North Louisiana. Uh the other two
uh the 12 and the eight are here with us
and it's gone well. you know, I as as
a bonus dad, as we call it, uh I've
tried to
uh you know, instill
some life lessons from the kids that
I've learned as a young man, but still
make room for their parents, like their
mom and their dad, because that's how
you effectively co-parent is don't try
to overstep, don't try to push too hard,
but still, you know, there's a respect
that is still that still should be there
and that is there and that's what we try
to instill in our kids.
You sound like a wonderful stepfather.
That's another rare thing. Speaking of
someone who had two um No, that's the
fact that you are able to recognize that
is is amazing and and I'm going to
attribute that back to your mom and the
village that raised you, honestly.
Yeah. because it's it's hard like it
takes it's it's hard to try to adjust
like we're we're in a groove right now
but I've been here for a couple years
and it's like it's cuz we'll have been
dating we'll have been together me and
my wife talk about it uh in uh May it'll
be what five years
because we started at 21 it'll be five
years in May we have been married for
four in August
so it's like we've been around each
other for long enough to kind of know
each other's quirks and how everybody
works. So, it's important to give space
and give grace in certain instances. But
at the beginning it was hard for me to
do that because coming from where I was
and you know having a son and raising
him a certain way and then coming into
this household and the parenting styles
weren't really the same. So we had to,
you know, find our compromises and find
those happy mediums to where those
things work. And it takes time. It's not
something that happens overnight. And
that's what we had to do in order to
make this a functional household. And
again, I think we're at a place now
where we've really caught that groove,
but it wasn't always like that. And we
just had to find we we everybody had to
find their
com their place of comfort.
And I think that we've definitely found
that now.
That's amazing. Honestly, and and
they're eight and 12. I mean, they're
busy. You're in it. Like, there's a lot
going on. Even when it's in the best
sit, like, if it's even the mother and
the father and all that, it's chaos. So,
the fact that you've been able to find
your groove as a blended family during
these ages. Now, does your son also come
and visit and stay with you?
Yes, all the time. Well, as much as he
can. Uh, you know, he's got school and
he's got all his extracurriculars and
he's got his friends. So, he was just
here with us for Christmas.
and just getting the chance to hang out
with him and see how he's grown. He's
taller than me now, so I hate him. Uh,
but other than that, it's just it's it's
it's always great to be around him
because he is, you know, he is of my
he's my blood. Like that's Yeah.
You know, that's so it's
he he looks like me, which is bizarre.
And you know, I look at old pictures of
me cuz he's like kind of like
slender
and tall and it reminds me of me when I
was like in college because that was the
last time I was under 200 lb. So, and I
look at those old pictures of me and the
way that I looked and I look at him and
I'm like, that's
one and the same. They're the same.
Yeah. Yeah. So, it's it's always wild to
be to see that and to see how he's
grown. He's got his uh learner's permit
now.
Yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, this is your first
one driving. Oh, yeah. It's a whole
thing.
That's And then when the next one then
you age.
Yeah. Yeah. Get ready.
Yeah. Cuz then once she gets her once
she gets her learn learning permit, I'm
going to be a old hand at it.
But now it's like, oh gosh, this is
now it's very crazy. Now, have any of
them come to see your shows? Do they
come to like when you're close local?
So, my kids have seen the the the the
Aiden and 12 have seen some parts of it
because they came on the cruise with us.
Oh, right. Did the cruise in November.
Yeah.
Swingers cruise.
They've No. Uh,
no. That and that's a whole story. So,
I'm going to end up telling that one on
the uh I was just talking thinking about
that the other day and I've been working
on new material and I totally forgot
about that and I'm going to put it in
the new stuff for this year cuz I
mentioned it while we were in Lauderdale
that show
and that's it's but I'm going to dig
deep into it because I've been doing
research not because I want to get on
the cruise like for those of you who are
watching and have no idea what we're
talking about.
I know that's the best part. They came
to the these wonderful people came to a
show uh in Fort Lauderdale that we were
doing for the Gen X Takeover Tour and
the hotel that we were staying in for
the show had a bunch of people who were
going on a swinger cruise staying in the
hotel and that was a whole experience
and the cruise line that they're on if
you go to their website you will be
amazed, shocked and disgusted all at the
same time.
Really?
Oh my gosh. Like the the uh open play
areas that are clothing optional, you
know, that kind of stuff. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So then Yeah.
And these were the people that were in
the hotel with my children. So yeah,
that was uh
that was um that was a lot. But yeah,
they they were on the cruise with us and
got to see like the ending part like
some of the uh the sing along and that
kind of stuff because there were
something like I keep my set pretty
clean. Uh I don't curse much. I think I
use like one or two words maybe. Uh and
the theme the theme thematic stuff isn't
that bad. Uh but everybody else
Yeah, we were there. Oh, like like not
not really much that the kids can watch
of that. So, they've seen some of the
stuff and uh but I think that uh there
will be a time where I do a show cuz I'm
supposed to be there's a comedian friend
of mine that's coming to do a show here
not too far from where I am and she just
asked me the other day to open for her.
So, I think that's a show where they
actually be able to come to and hang out
because that'll be a pretty much a clean
show. And I look forward to that cuz I I
I would love for the kids to come and
like they've seen the videos and they
watch the stuff that I do online, but to
come and watch me do my thing on stage,
I think would be a great experience.
Well, yeah, as we talked about before,
the live experience is like no other.
Um,
so
that week where you were on WWE and you
met your wife, um, was there a shift
career-wise in after that moment for
you? Did because you were also still
teaching,
right? Somewhat. I mean there was
right after that
uh I went back and was teaching and then
an opportunity came up uh to go into
administration
in a junior high and I
jumped at the opportunity to apply and
my wife who was my girlfriend at the
time actually helped me apply for it but
she was living here I was living up
there. I talked about coming to move
down here and teaching and she, you
know, it was early in the relationship.
She was like, "Whoa, hold up. I'm not
there yet. We're good. You can stay
where you are." And then she helps me uh
to apply for this job. And I get the job
and she immediately is sobbing and sad
and crying cuz he's like, "Then you're
not going to be able to be here." It's
like, "I just tried to come there and
you told me not to."
So it was that was uh an experience. Uh
and I did that for a year
the administration and uh after that at
the end of that of that year I was like
you know
and I'm not even talking about the just
the administration part just the
education part in general. I was like
I'm I'm kind of done. Um because that
was I was getting close to a million
followers on Tik Tok and um it had
started to be
uh not necessarily lucrative but it it I
was doing pretty good
uh with socials and like the funds that
were coming from them.
That would have been surreal to have a
million people following you.
It was crazy.
You remember the moment it switched? I
do. So I re I effectively retired from
uh education right before that like I
had was done and I told my uh that I
told Lisa my wife that I would I was
willing to move from where I was to come
here to be with her
and I moved here. Uh, and then sometime
that summer, we were at a swim meet for
my nieces and ne Well, they weren't my
nieces and nephews at the time, but they
are now.
And we were just watching to watch it
turn over
and then it finally turned over and I
went, this is kind of like the whole WWE
thing. I went to the parking lot and
went to the car and just started balling
my eyes out
because it was like that. It was never
part of the plan. Like this again was
something to cure the boredom from
COVID. It was never part of the plan to
like be successful and to
turn it into a career and have a million
people like follow my account and like
be into my stuff and like want to
continue watching it. It was just it was
just different. It was surreal. It was
crazy. And
I remember that fondly because
like I had to go back in and my face was
like my eyes were red and you could tell
that I've been crying and my
father-in-law is sitting there and it's
like
what is wrong with him? Like why is he
wrong with this guy?
Is he okay? Like what's this is who you
want to like this guy.
So he was So it was very it was crazy
because they all my my in-laws all knew
what was going on with the social media
stuff, but they could never like it was
kind it was like it was a thing of like
so you make like you make money from
that like is this
your career is making dumb videos in the
internet? Like
how is that sustainable? like,
mhm,
how are you going to support,
you know, your your your wife, my
daughter? Like, how are you going to do
that? So, then, uh, things started to
pick up and he's like, "Oh, you're going
to support it like that?" Okay, cool.
Good to know, buddy. You keep doing your
thing.
Yeah.
So, it's But it's it was that was a
crazy day. It was a crazy time because
everything seemed to be happening so
fast like everything was moving because
I did that I got a million followers and
not too long after that we were married
and then I I decided to I had already
decided to retire and do all not do any
more uh teaching and I found a job doing
ESPN radio here
uh because of my connections with the
previous job doing ESPN radio and that
was when I was like okay it's just going
to be this and social media and that's
how I'm going to make my living and
radio doesn't pay jack. So there were
times where I was like am I doing the
right thing by putting all my eggs into
these baskets or into this basket?
And then about a year later,
um, I ended up leaving the ESPN job and
just doing social media full-time. And I
was like, "This is all I'm going to do."
And I bet on myself. And sometimes you
have to take those leaps of faith and
bet on yourself and say, "Well, if this
is what I want to do, if this is what
I'm" And thank God I had the support of
my wife in this cuz she was the one who
was mainly like, "You should just do
this." Like why are you trying to hold
on to this thing? Because and part of it
was that and again being the in our age
range being in this generation you were
raised to think of conventional jobs
like if you if you have a job you're
getting up in the morning and you're
going to an office or you're going to do
this you're going to do that. You're not
sitting in front of a camera and talking
to no one and posting it online and
making money from it. That is not a job.
that is a hobby, that is uh your an
extracurricular, that is not a job.
And I had to get out of that mindset if
I was going to support my family.
Yeah.
Just had to like if this is what you're
going to do, this is your this is your
job. So go do your job.
Thankfully, I've been able to
not only survive but thrive
uh in this profession and it is because
of the love and support of a lot of
people and it starts at home and goes
out to the interwebs. So, I'm just very
thankful to be in the position that I'm
in and that people have accepted this
being my job. I mean the courage though.
I mean, can we just acknowledge the
courage that it takes to take that leap,
to bet on yourself, especially from our
generation, um to do the unconventional
thing, to be progressive enough to do
the unconventional thing, to see the big
picture and um see beyond what we've
been trained to think in our generation
because this is progressive what you're
doing. like this. What you're doing
sounds totally normal to a Gen Z,
but for a Gen X,
it's like
so foreign and such a leap of faith.
Talk about faith. I'm sure you prayed on
it. Um
Oh, yeah.
Yeah. But I just that's why I say so in
you're so inspiring
especially for people our age because
when we see people like you
um and your co-stars on the tour um
doing what you're doing and actually
betting on yourselves and truly
authentically chasing your dreams. It it
inspires us to do the same
and it's that means a lot
honestly. I think what's cool too though
is that you recognize it and you
celebrate it to to leave the swim meet
and go cry. You I mean that's pretty
cool.
You appreciate the moment gives me
goosebumps thinking about it. You
recognize this the importance of this
moment something you've been working at.
We haven't touched on that. We we've
been joking it's the hustle, but you've
been working your ass off you right.
you've been you've had your background
in and history of your the jobs you've
done and with teaching in Chili's the
ESPN radio.
I mean that's you're working your ass
off like you just woke up and it's like
oh I got lucky. Uh you've been you've
been grinding.
Yeah.
And there are people who who think that
they
like they look at people online and
they're like well you just woke up one
day and turned the camera and that's how
this happened. But in order to be
successful, like if you're if you get to
a certain a certain place in social
media, it's not because you just lucked
into it.
It's it takes hard work to sustain it
because there are people who do just
turn on the camera and made like one or
two videos that like blew up and the
next thing you know they're like like
the Hakua girl like she did nothing. She
did nothing
with that, but you know it like I feel
like she Yeah, she turned it into a
viral thing, but then I don't think she
utilized that opportunity in any way
really once.
Well, she did podcast and all this stuff
like that, but then she started doing
the crypto thing and that's where
everything took a turn. Like yes,
you have these people who find their
like literal 15 minutes of fame and the
next thing you know you're like what
happened to them?
Yeah.
In order to sustain it, you've got to
work. You've got to hustle. You've got
to
speed and lucky in some in some points,
you know, but for the most part, it's
like grinding and making sure that
you're striking while the iron is hot,
you know. That's kind of how this tour
came about that we're all individually
doing well. And then we see this
opportunity to go into a whole new like
for like medium and a whole new a whole
new thing and be able to reach out to
our people while doing it and continue
to build on the successes that we've
already had.
You have to be able to recognize
these different pockets of your career
that are where you can be successful and
build on those things. And that's what
has helped to make it sustainable, to
make it an actual career, an actual
business. you know, we
like doing like doing the content and
then in the middle of like things
starting to get big saying, "Hey, what
if we put out a merch line?" And then
you start putting out the merch and it
supports the content and then you have
another
revenue stream on top of what you're
already doing with the social media
and then you go into, well, hey, what if
we did this? What if we did that? What
about this thing? you know, and that's
how it becomes sustainable. Well, you
don't just you're not you're not just a
tick tocker, you're not just an
influencer,
you're also a an entertainer, you're
also uh in it's your business, it's your
job. So, you're building that brand and
you're building that business into
something that will down the line
make your children's children
comfortable. You know what I'm saying?
Right.
So, it's like,
but it's it all starts with
recognizing where you are and saying,
"Okay, how can I build on this?"
Yeah.
And that's where some people fall off.
you treated and and like what you're
just describing, you treat you took it
and you treated it like an a business.
You made it your job and you treated it
like a business and you put in the work
and the grind and the hustle and no one
knows grind like Gen X. But once you hit
you hit that million and you got married
um from did when did other opport like
you went on WWE and you were doing
social media. When did other
opportunities start coming in that was
different than that?
Well, it opportunities were always
coming in because of like brand deals
and stuff like that where you get the
opportunities to like um work with
brands to promote their product. And
we've had a couple of different brand
deals over the years with uh Aala, the
water bottles like the one I'm drinking
out of now. um and a couple of other
brands that have like reached out and
we've been able to do stuff with them.
Uh I was on a TV show um it was what two
year two three years ago a show called
Hot Wheels Ultimate Challenge was a
reality television show
Ultimate Challenge.
Okay.
That I did on uh it was on NBC. Uh it
was like a summer show on NBC. Um, I was
working with, uh, ESPN radio here in New
Orleans area and I got a phone call, uh,
driving between, um, spots where I was
doing stuff. Um, and
this, uh, casting agent was like, "Hey,
um, we're doing this TV show and we'd
love for you to be a part of it."
They're like, "Well, I just so you know,
like I played with Hot Wheels as a kid,
but I'm a grown adult now, so I don't
know what I would be able to do."
They're like, "No, it's a competition
show. Go look at this material online.
Fill out the uh application and uh
hopefully somebody will be in touch."
Like the next day, got a phone call
like, "Yeah, we love you. We want you to
be on the show. Uh you have to go
through this intake process." and I did
all the uh the uh interviews and the
questions and the things and got called
to be cast in the show and flew to
England for a month.
Wow.
Wow.
Film this TV show
was it was surreal, man. Because like
they I don't know why they didn't do it
in the States. And I'm not going to
question it. I'm just going to go. So
they were like, "Yeah." And so when
during the intake, when I got cast, they
were like, "Yeah, show's going to be in
England. Uh, you need to get your
passport, get everything together." So
they expedited my passport. I hopped on
a plane and flew to England and it was
we were I was we were in in Manchester.
Um, I was only scheduled to do one
episode, but it was it's a competition
show. So, if you won your episode, you
were available to you were eligible to
be in the finale.
So, I won my episode.
Like a reality show?
Yes. Okay.
Yeah. It's like a reality competition
show where like they brought in all
these people to compete against each
other building uh cars, building
life-size Hot Wheels out of cars from
their past. Oh wow.
So I chose the car that my dad would
drive me to Houston in when I was a kid
as the car that I want. It was a Monte
Carlo and they uh we pimped it out. It
was all gold all there's a gold wrap all
around it. Uh 26 inch rims, a dance
floor in the back. And here here's how
things come full circle.
So, I'm doing the show. I'm on set.
One of the hosts of the show comes up to
me and he's like, "Hey, so you got T pay
sharing your stuff on Instagram, right?"
I said,
"What are you talking about?" He's like,
"Yeah, Tay shared one of your videos to
his Instagram."
And we weren't allowed to have phones on
set, but I snuck my phone on set to uh
check out what he was talking about. And
lo and behold, and I'm so glad that I
because it was in his stories. So if I
hadn't seen it when he told me about it,
it would have been gone.
Yeah.
So I got the chance to see it. I was
like, "Wow, this is insane."
And then we're film in the middle of
filming the episode and some of the
episodes had special guest judges. It
was on NBC. So, Terry Cruz was a special
guest judge for one episode. I think
Anthony Anderson came in and did his
episode. And uh for my episode, they had
um Big E was a big wrestler in the WWE.
And so, it's like they knew that it's
wrestling, right? Right. Like, so this
is
it's just it was just a big deal for me
and they're telling me in the like
people are coming up and telling me that
like E has been talking about me in like
the trailer backstage. He's like,
"Yeah." So they're like there's a big
wrestler fan that's on the show. This
guy uh Nick Harrison, oh yeah, I know
him. He does all the interest and stuff,
right? He's great. So getting the chance
to like and we had mutual friends
through like you know the business and
stuff. So getting to talk to him and
hang out with him during that the
filming of that was very cool and just
really surreal. And I I won my episode.
Nice.
And so everybody who won their episode
was like waiting for that phone call.
And like for me it was like they were
picking the fin people for the finale
right after I got finished filming my
episode. So I was scheduled to fly out
of England. I already had my my bags
packed, had my tickets, the whole nine.
And they were like, "Well, you just wait
to find out if you get a phone call
because if you get a phone call, you
need to stay for another two weeks."
So I'm in my hotel room. Everybody's
like messaging back and forth on
WhatsApp. Uh, and they're like, "Did you
get your call yet? Did you get your call
yet?" Then people start messaging me
saying, "Hey, we just got the call that
we did not make the finale. So, it's
probably going to be you because there
was a bunch of people who were filming
the show who were still in England at
the time. And some people had already
filmed their episodes and they were
already back in the States. So, the
people who were coming back from the
States had already been called to fly
back for the finale.
And the only person that was still in
England at the time that was in the
finale was me.
So it's me and two other people. Uh and
then the f talk about Gen X. The uh
finale was judged by Jay Leno.
Oh my gosh. And he loves cars.
Oh yes.
Yes. Yes. Yes. So it was
so like this this person who a former
host of the Tonight Show, somebody who I
grew up watching on TV is hanging out in
my garage while I'm trying to build a
car and telling me dirty jokes.
Like it was one of the most surreal
moments of my life where I'm just
standing there Jay Leno like in between
shooting is like, "Hey, this nun, she's
doing this and blah blah blah blah." And
they ask her where she got the milk
from. And it's like, oh my god, what
what is happening right now.
I'm building a custom like car like a
Firebird. They gave me I I had Smokeoky
and the Bandit car for my Brian's
favorite movie.
Yeah, I love that car.
So I I end up getting the Smokeoky and
the Bandit car and kind of made tribute
to Smoky and the Bandit. It was black
and gold and
had all these little things on it. It's
very cool. and uh Jay
uh just it's just the whole experience
was just nuts and uh I ended up losing I
came in second place. Um so the winner
got their uh car turned into a Hot Wheel
like an actual Hot Wheel that went into
the stores and also won like 50 grand or
something. So I did not win but the
recognition from being you know that's a
thing to add to the resume. I just my TV
show blah blah
I got I DB page is right here blah blah
and so I go back home and
unrelated to the whole thing of being on
TV but right after I got back home like
a couple months after that my Instagram
starts popping off and within between
then like at the time I got back home I
had like 30,000
what year was that? This was 20 this
it's 2026 now. So I want to say it was
2023
when that was.
Okay.
Because yeah like it's it it's it's
crazy how it all just popped off like
that.
And popped off first and then you went
and you had this experience over in
England. You get back and now your
Instagram's popping off like the Tik Tok
was popping off.
Yes. And uh within the it was it was at
30,000 at that time and then next thing
you know by next year it was at a
million.
Wow.
Wow.
Okay.
Which was just incredible. It's crazy.
What about Facebook?
Facebook uh gradually got there. It
started like churning and then uh I want
to say the year after that is when
Facebook hit a million.
So, by 2024, you were a million on all
three.
Yes. Hey, going back to Jay, uh, did you
make a connection with him at all? Like,
we were just talking about him this
morning. He was talking about how his
wife is suffering from dementia and you
know, people in Hollywood are like, "Are
you getting a girlfriend?" And he's
like, "No, no way. I married to this my
wife for 45 years or whatever."
He come he's a good guy, right? Is he
pretty decent dude?
Yeah. from uh from what the short
experience that I had with him because
he was only on set for like a day or
two.
Uh but from the experience that I had
with him, he was just very affable and
just a great easy guy to talk to and you
know imparting wisdom on everybody who
would come up and talk to him. like it
was it was just really cool to be around
him like you know that being in this
kind of uh in this line of work and
being in you know what we do it's always
incredible to be able to make
connections with people who are in the
entertainment industry and thankfully
I've been able to make a lot of
connections over the past couple of
years kind of like that and some a
little bit deeper.
Yeah. So as your numbers were
increasing, were there other
opportunities that presented themselves
like after the reality show
somewhat? I mean you had people who
would like come with different
opportunities to do things like
advertising and um as far as like
television shows and stuff like that.
Nothing uh immediately after that. Um
there were some glimpses like there were
offers that were made that just did not
work out at the time.
Uh but you know, people are always
watching because they told us like when
they uh when we got cast for the show,
they're like, "Welcome to the uh the the
the the family of because that's NBC is
like Bravo and E and all this other
stuff." So they're like, "If there are
other opportunities that come up with
some of these things and you're right
for it, then we will let you know." So
there were the offer is the offer was
always extended, but some stuff just
wasn't it wasn't right at the time. Uh
but we're all like we're always open for
opportunities like
So was the next big move uh Gen X
takeover tour like how that all began?
So the four of you are Dadbod Veteran
Slim Sherry Kelly Mano and you are all
prominent on social media and I know
Justin Ruples your MC all prominent on
social media. Were you friends before
this
um
project?
Sherry and I were cool. Um and I knew of
Kelly. I didn't really know uh John at
the time. What what what it was is that
there was a an awards show in Vegas uh
Choice Awards. Uh they're not doing it
this year, but uh at the time in 2024,
uh they were and Sherry and I both went
to the award show.
Uh we had been cool on social media and
like talked back and forth and we were
both like, "Are you going to the are you
going to your choice? Are you going to
your choice?" And like, "Yeah." So we
got to link up when we get there. And we
did and we like had breakfast like every
day we had breakfast together and like
just hanging out and just talking about
stuff that we wanted to do because
Sherry always Sherry's a a dreamer and
she has these huge ideas of stuff that
she wants to do and she had just done
her cruise
and she was like I want to do something
else.
Let's try to get together and do
something. So, we stayed in contact and
then uh part one of the ideas was like,
let's just get together with a couple
other creators and make content. So, we
were going to get like an Airbnb
somewhere and just get together and like
make videos with other like Gen X
creators. Now, I we both knew Kelly and
she knew John. So, we made phone calls
and like interacted with each other.
And the next thing you know, uh, we're
like, "Okay, well, let's get an Airbnb
in Vegas, Vegas, and just hang out." Not
Vegas, uh, Nashville and hang out. And
we were like, "Bet." Now, in between the
time of, uh, us coming up with the idea
or really us talking about doing
something, um, the, uh, I got the
standup opportunity on the West Coast,
so I'm preparing to do that. So, the
idea gets floated to do a standup show
or do a comedy show.
Everybody else is like, "I'm not a
comedian. I have no idea what I would do
with that." But my wife, Sherry's wife,
are both like, "Y'all are crazy if
you're going to go to Nashville and not
do something with your people,
like hang out with everybody."
So,
we rent out a comedy club in Nashville,
Third Coast Comedy Club, and go and
decide to go and do a comedy show. Uh,
something that none of us e neither of
us had ever done before as like a just
like like I had done it uh because of
the the offer that had come up, but we
had never like nothing like this.
Yeah. Yeah.
So, we rented out the comedy club and
did a comedy show and then we uh made a
deal with uh this like adult play place
in downtown Nashville called Pins where
you just go there and like they have uh
video games and pinball and uh pin
bowling and giant jingga and all this
other stuff. You just go and do all
these things. And um we did an after
party afterwards for some people and
that we that that like that was the one
of the most surreal experience I've ever
had before in my life because all four
of us
we go to this place and we end up all
being separated from each other and
these lines of people start forming to
like take pictures and get autographs
and like talk to us and it's just crazy
because the lines are going all the way
around the building. Like Sherry had
like three different lines because of
where she was standing. Three different
lines were like coming to her at the
same time. And thankfully we uh John who
was the security guy uh had thought we
all well we thought all thought of like
making sure that we had security with
us. Yeah.
While we were there. Uh, and it was it's
just it's really just the way that all
that happened and then we were like,
well, we should do this again.
You know, yeah, this has been successful
and people are like enjoying it, so
let's do it again. So, we did another
show in Cleveland a couple of months
after that
and packed the place out. It was at a
piano bar and we packed the place out.
We did the comedy thing and then we
started dancing on the pianos and sing
with everybody and doing karaoke uh at
the end of the night where it was like
just we just danced the night away and
it was amazing. And then that's where it
started to really sink in that this is
something that we need to just keep
doing like let's do a tour. So we just
thought of like different like we all
thought of like our pl our cities where
we lived. So, we of course wanted to do
Atlanta, we wanted to do do New Orleans,
wanted to do St. Louis, uh, wanted to do
Charleston because that's where John was
living at the time, and Vegas because we
were all planning on going to the Cheer
Choice Awards cuz John and Kelly hadn't
been
and Sherry and I had. So, we were like,
let's do let's all go to the Cheer
Choice Awards. Let's do uh let's do a
show there and do all these things.
And so it turned into a tour and it kept
getting bigger. You know, when we were
when we did the show in Atlanta at the
beginning of 2025,
that was when
we got approached by a booking agent who
was like, I want to help you guys. And
he brought Justin along. And then Justin
became the host uh starting in was I
starting in Vegas even New Orleans. It
was starting in New Orleans actually.
And it became uh what it is now like and
just kept building. It kept getting
bigger. It's just crazy how it all
started. But yeah, like it all started
from just me and Sherry wanting to hang
out
in Vegas
at the Your Choice Awards and then
Right.
I mean that was Destiny right obviously
right there. But um in Nashville, was
that your first time having that much
exposure in real life to your fans?
Yes. Having that much. Now again, I had
done those shows in uh we did a show in
San Diego. I did a show in uh Arizona.
Uh that was just me and we did a two
live recordings of my wife and I's
podcast hanging with the Harrisons
um during those shows. But the first
show had like 10 people
and then the second show had maybe 50.
Uh so it was like there were people
there but not to that degree. Uh we um
the Nashville show, the first show that
we all did together. We planned this
show and we're like nobody nobody's
going to want to come and see this
thing. And it sold out in like 24 hours.
And how how many people were at that
show?
It was uh the first show I want to say
was like somewhere around a hundred.
Okay.
So, it sold out in like 24 hours and
then the next show we we and then the
comedy club calls us and asks us if we
need help selling tickets. We're like,
"No, it already sold out." So, they
said, "Oh, cool. Do you want to do
another show?" So, we ended up doing a
second show uh that was like a a matinea
type show.
So, we did two shows back to back, then
did the afterparty afterwards and we
were all spent like I there was a lot of
Advil taken that night uh after doing
all those things cuz we were just
absolutely dog tired.
I can't even imagine because getting up
there and doing a performance that
you're putting so much you're projecting
so much of yourself, right? and and so
much energy doing it twice when you
weren't expecting to and then saying
after and having all of that energy
coming towards you, all of that love and
adoration, but it's still energy, right,
that you're absorbing. Um, and that was
your first time that had to Did you ever
have like a panic attack a little bit?
Was there a moment where you were like
freaking out? Um
before yeah because knowing that I would
had to get up and do this and then do it
again and then have the afterparty
afterwards. Like there was a time before
where I was kind of freaking out. Then
there was a time afterwards
um where we're all at the house and I'm
dead tired and we're all just looking at
each other like we really just did this.
like this is a thing that just happened
and
they it was we did not expect it to be
as big as it was or as amazing as it
was. And it's still to this day for at
least for me it's always crazy to walk
on stage and see like a sea of people
and be like y'all are here to see us.
That's stupid. Like what are you doing?
Like why? this us me this why and but
it's it's amazing all at the same time
like it's crazy and surreal but it's
also amazing to be
in the position to where people will
want to come and see something like that
and they keep coming back which is like
I was looking at the numbers for our
first show in Detroit uh and I was like
wow this is wow all All right. So, we're
still doing
Detroit.
Uh, we're at the Music Hall uh in Greek
Town, right next to what? Hollywood
Casino.
Okay, cool.
You know what though? I've thought about
it because we went and saw you guys in
Lauderdale and um I've been I was
thinking about you guys a lot after that
and besides the incredible talent that
was up on the stage and um that's
obvious.
Thank you. But, uh, I think
you guys are I think the reason that you
resonate so much with our generation is
you help us feel seen and we were never
seen
and right, we're the forgotten
generation in a lot of ways. Um, or they
skip over us. They talk about Gen Z,
millennial, go right to Boomer. They
forget.
And I feel like you're one of the f
first,
how do I put it? You're really one of
the first prominent
groups of people to just do something
just for us and talk about subject
matters that completely resonate for
with us. And you've curated something
just for us. And no one inherently no
one has done that for our generation or
a lot of us as children no one did that
for us. So I think when people come to
see you guys even though everyone's
laughing and it's so funny again I think
there's just so much um so much to
feeling seen and being able to feel like
you're in a like-minded space and oh my
gosh it it wasn't just me who went
through that. You went through it too.
But you guys bring humor to so much of
it. So, it's so much more than just a
comedy show in my opinion. I don't know
if that makes sense.
It does. And that's why we do it. I
mean, it's it's not just a comedy show.
It's a safe space.
Yes.
Yes.
It's an opportunity for
people who have feel as though they have
not been seen, has not been heard to
because that's what we are like. That's
That's what social media is or that's
what it has been for me at least is an
opportunity to connect
because you have so many people who have
gone to social media over the past like
when we first started doing the tour we
were in Nashville we had a bunch of
people who were like this is the first
time I've left my house since co
because I'm just I haven't wanted to go
anywhere I haven't wanted to be anywhere
And but we saw you guys were doing this
and we were like we got to be there for
this.
Yeah. And to have that opportunity and
to see how it has grown and see how many
people continue to say, "Hey,
you are
you've done so much to help me get
through these tough times. you've done
so much to
like I know I can go to your page for a
smile and for a laugh and all of us that
are on this tour have had that
opportunity and had that interaction
with people.
So to be able to
reach out and touch the people and give
back and hug and shake hands and take
pictures and talk to people. It has been
a an honor and a joy to be able to do
that because there's so many people who
that's what they're looking for
connection.
Yeah.
And the people they see on Tik Tok,
Instagram, Facebook, they consider them
to be their friends. Like they're like
we you say the things that I want to
say. You listen to the music that I
listen to and you relate to the things
that I relate to because of the way that
we were brought up, the way that we grew
up, the where we came from.
Yeah. And it means a lot because that's
part of the purpose
is to reach these people and to love on
them and to let them know that they are
not alone because there's so many
opportunities that we have in this world
and so many ways that we can feel alone
and feel as though nobody's listening to
me, nobody's looking out for me, nobody
understands me, And then you have these
people that you see on your phone or on
your computer where you're like, "Wow,
yes, I get that because I've experienced
the same thing." And now you get the
opportunity to go see them, to go talk
to them, to reach out to them and let
them know in person what they have meant
to you. And that's what it means to me
as well that I get to reach out to these
people that John gets to reach out to
these people that Sherry that Kelly that
Justin gets to reach out to that Jojo
gets to reach out to these people that
have felt so alone and say you're not
alone. We're here with you. We love you.
We are here to support you and we're
going to get through this thing
together.
Yeah. So, it means a lot to be able to
have that opportunity. And I'm so
thankful and blessed that there are
people who get it because not everybody
gets it, man. Like, nobody not everybody
gets that why we do what we do and why
we try to reach out to people. But when
you are able to show
what you mean and show what these people
mean to you, it means the world. Just
means the world.
Well, I think that also um is why you
it's it's sustaining and you're finding
such success because it's coming from
such a meaningful place, a good place,
an authentic place. And as we talked
about before, people feel that. they
know they can spot a phony or not. And
um so I think because of the meaning
behind it is why it continues to draw
people in as well. And I just think it's
so just perfect that Gen Xers are
showing up for Gen Xers. You know, you
guys are showing up for us. You're
having our back.
And um that's just such our generation.
It's like we got you. you guys got us,
you know, and you're giving us a space
to come and like you said, a safe space.
But Gen Xers created that for Gen Xers.
And I think it's just the coolest thing.
Honestly, I love that this random moment
between you and Sherry, then this random
thing in Nashville, like it was
destined. There was no way this wasn't
going to happen. But I love I love
seeing it just continue to take off
because it's so positive. It's so good.
And that's what you guys are all about.
It's just so good. So,
it was meant to be, man. Like, it was
meant for This is And we talk about all
the time how special this is, you know?
This was not a coincidence. Like,
we were all connected for a reason. And
this is part of the reason as to why we
were all connected. It's
crazy to think of how it all started
because again, this was like I gotta
give Sherry her flowers and give her
credit because this is a lot of this is
her brainchild and she will say like she
will punch me in the face for trying to
give her credit for something because,
you know, we're we're a unit. We're a
team. We're a family. the four of us,
the five of us, the six of us, the whole
crew. Like, we have, you know, people
working behind the scenes, our spouses
who have been so supportive of
everything that we're doing. We are a we
the the chat that we have between us and
our phones is called the Gen X family
chat because we're a family and we're
we're but it it's not a it's not an
individual thing like it's not a thing
where it's like, well, I did this or I
did that. we came together and were able
to do something really special. And I'm
so fortunate and thankful to be
surrounded by so many talented people
who get it. And we've been able to carve
out this this niche.
And there are like so many people all
over the world, not just around the
country, but all over the world who
support it and who want to be a part of
it and they are all invited to get on
this genetics train and uh and don't
tell them we're going to stop it. One
thing I noticed when we went to your
show, I'm not the most outgoing person.
I don't leave the house too much because
I was so busy.
No. But to go to your guys' show and to
see, you know, a bunch of people our
age, our generation, hanging on every
word, completely dialed into everything
you guys are saying. But and that was
cool. But then after the show, the
generosity of you guys interacting with
the crowd and taking pictures, making
sure everybody who wanted a picture got
a picture and so willingly and and
standing there with a all all types of
people. I think that's cool. I think
that does resonate. I think that that
goes so far and it it's it lines up with
what you're saying. You're you are there
for the fans, for the people, the
supporters.
So, it's I thought that was cool.
Yeah, it was.
Yeah,
that's why we do it. It's like we're not
doing it for ourselves. This is not a
self We're not grandstanding. We're not
This not a self uh appreciating thing.
This is more of reaching out to the
people, you know, because we get
messages every day. Are you coming here?
Are you coming there? can I would love
to come see your show.
Like for example, when I landed in Miami
that weekend to get ready for that show
and for the cruise, uh I get off the
plane, we're at baggage claim,
tired, just out of it. This guy and his
wife stop me and they're like, "Hey, you
are that guy. We love you. I love your
content and I'm also a Bills fan because
the Bills were playing the Dolphins that
weekend in Miami and I'm a huge Buffalo
Bills fan.
They stop me. I'm like, "Hey, are you
guys doing anything tomorrow? Uh, let me
get you some tickets. Come to the show."
And they I've never done that. Like just
told somebody who I see like like a
random person on a plane, "Hey, come to
the show. We'd love to see you out
there." and they straight up came to the
show and we took pictures and hung out
and he was like pointing to me while I
was on stage and I pointed back to him
and that's an experience that he's going
to talk about.
Yeah.
For God knows how long.
Yeah.
And that's what it's about, man. Like
the support from people that follow and
that come to the shows and like comment
on the content. that has been the
greatest thing and you've given me so
many great experiences. I want to be
able to give you as many great
experiences as I possibly can.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, that's what it's about, man. That's
what it's all about.
So, what was it like performing in
Vegas?
It's a dream dream come true. Um because
again growing up in our generation like
you watched like Johnny Carson and all
these guys and you you w like for me it
was the rap pack you know like Frank
Sammy Dean all these people hanging out
on the Vegas strip
like Oceans 11 all this stuff.
Yeah. Like that is what I grew up with.
And to be able to say that I performed a
show at the Palms in front of a packed
house
and put on my glitter jacket and sung
songs and did my whole lounge act in
Vegas in front of all these people
because that's what I like for my part
of the show. When we did that show at
the Palms, I came out singing and then
did comedy and then sang another song
and then did some more comedy and did
some crowd work and went out into the
crowd and talk to the people because for
me that's what Vegas it is. That's what
it embodied,
you know. And growing up watching that
kind of thing, I wanted to do it too
because this was my opportunity to be
able to do it. And to do that was just
one of the highlights of my career
without question. To be able to say I
played the Palms is just surreal. It's a
crazy moment.
What's cool is like if you go to
Nashville, it's the mecca for tremendous
music. When you go to Vegas, it's the
mecca for tremendous performances.
And you got to do that. That's
both.
Yeah.
Yeah. It's to be to be able to do that
kind of thing
in uh like in Vegas and in Nashville and
to like go to all these like this year
we're doing we're going to be in Chicago
and Indianapolis and I get to go to
Buffalo and that to me is
I I really don't know what I'm going to
do with myself. Like again I was just in
Buffalo a couple weeks ago. I'm a huge
Bills fan. And I've been to Buffalo
multiple times and have a lot of friends
there and just love the city just a ton.
So to be able to go and perform there is
very special to me. To be able to go to
Chicago, you know, the second city
where, you know, like so many comedians
have come from, like Chicago is a big
comedy hub. And to be able to go to
Chicago and perform uh and do standup is
again to just blows my mind. Like
we
have been to a lot of great cities and
we'll be to a bunch of more a bunch
more. Like performing in New Orleans was
big for me because Louisiana is my home.
Um so that like it's right like an hour
away from where I am. So to be able to
perform there in front of a like family
and friends was just great. And to be
able to do like what I'm going to what
we're going to do this year and then
doing the cruise was awesome too because
my entire family was here when I was my
son my eldest son was supposed to be
there but he had school things and
couldn't make it.
But the the the other two kids were
there. My in-laws were there. Uh my wife
was there with me. the whole time. And
to be able to experience that and for
them to see like how big this thing has
become because we really like when we
talk about takeover, we took over that
freaking boat.
And just every time they turned around,
like people were asking for pictures or
stopping to talk to me. Hey man, I love
your content. Cuz what was crazy was it
wasn't just our people. Like there were
people who were just there to be on the
cruise that didn't even know that we
were gonna be there who were like, "Oh
my god, what are you doing here? We love
you." So we got it from all sides, which
for my my wife got tiring at one point,
but for me it was like, "Oh my god, this
is crazy."
Yeah. Yeah.
And my and my father-in-law, who at one
time was wondering how I was going to
support his daughter to be able to see
all of that, was like, "Okay, celebrity,
I see you." Yeah.
So, it's just
it's a it's the way that everything has
kind of like happened and unfolded has
been absolutely surreal, but I do not
take any of it for granted because
again, I'm walking in my purpose. It's
where I'm supposed to be. And there are
huge things that are coming up this year
that I would have never guessed were
going to happen. Uh but I am again
fortunate and blessed and excited for
what's to come.
You know, I was thinking about um one
thing that we grew up with was variety
shows and they don't really have those
anymore. If you think about it, there
aren't variety shows on TV anymore. And
you guys are kind of it's very um into
that
perfect that Gen X your Gen X show is a
like a variety show. you're kind of
going old school for all of us. It's
what we grew up with and you're kind of
bringing it back. But live and touring
as a variety show, that's not really a
thing anymore. So, you're kind of
bringing it back, which is cool.
Like, as a kid, I grew up with uh shows
like uh Rowan and Martin's Laughing.
Yeah.
Uh the Smothers Brothers
um
and Living Color like these were the
kind of show Cara Bernett. Yes. like
that was that was it for us. Like the
the variety show doesn't exist anymore.
It's not a thing.
And but that is what we've tried to
incorporate with uh our show. Like we
have a live musician on stage
who plays live music throughout the
throughout the show and like opens up
the show with music. Uh when we were in
Charleston, I've become dear friends
with Evan McCain and he's from
Charleston. He actually came to the show
and performed with us uh at the end of
the show and came out his thing I'll be
and did the the whole the the sing along
at the end of the show with us and came
and out and talked to people. It was it
was it was it was amazing man and I was
so thankful to him. That's my brother
from another mother. That's my guy. So
for him to come out and do something
like that really meant a lot and it
really kind of was a an eye openener for
us because it kind of showed us where we
were
where it's like yeah now we've got
special guests coming to the show who
Yeah. Yeah.
Come on guys. So it's
you've not you've not peaked yet. You
guys are still going.
When did
there still so much to
you met Donnie Wahlberg right? When did
you meet him? So I met Don
gosh was that 24 too? That might have
been 24 as well. Um so he did like you
know uh New Kids on the Block has been
on tour and doing stuff. Uh they were on
their uh Magic Summer tour and he had
become a fan of the content. All the
guys had pretty much because I had done
like some New Kids on the Block videos
and uh some of the blockheads you know
were like they they are a cult man. They
share everything and just throw stuff
out there. They always tag the guys in
videos if it gets popular and something
they think is cool. So, uh, he had seen
some of the content, was like, "Hey,
man. I want you to come out to a show.
Please be our guest." And we went to
this show in, uh, Austin, Texas. Uh, it
was at a a a motor
a a racetrack that was out in Austin.
And uh we got to go to the show and it
was um DJ Jazzy Jeff, Paul Abdul,
and
New Kids on the Block, which was like it
took me back to to childhood. I was
like, "Yes,
this this is my kind of show."
Um and we get there and there, of
course, there are people who are like,
"Oh my god, you're that guy." uh to the
point where like they're lining up for
the VIP and I'm walking over to go
backstage and there like people who are
getting out of line in the VIP to come
and take pictures with me
which was a surreal moment. I'm like a
I'm at I'm at a New Kids on the Block
concert and a line is forming of people
who want to take pictures with me. This
is
ridiculous. So,
we get backstage and everybody's getting
ready and I see like Joey and
Jordan and Jonathan and Danny and then
uh Donnie comes out and he just gives me
this gigantic hug and we sit and chat
for a second. You know, Donniey's big on
content, too. So, he makes a video with
me while we're standing backstage.
And um you know, they do this big thing
uh before the show where they get
together and do a prayer and they asked
me to lead it. And that was
I like there are moments in my career
and in my life that I can think of and
it's hard to top that one. Like that was
crazy and
but it was just
it was amazing. It was amazing. So we we
prayed with the guys and then they went
out to the on this to the you know went
backstage to go get ready for the show
and we went out into the crowd. Uh a
little bit before that
I got a text message from somebody
backstage. They were like, "Do you
know," and my wife would never forgive
me for this, by the way. Uh they were
like, "Do you know Summertime by DJ Jazz
and Jeff and the Fresh Prince?" I was
like, "I kind of know it. Uh I could,
you know, I I'm okay with it." Uh she
and they were like, "Well, you know,
don't worry about it then." But they
have some during that tour, they would
bring somebody from the crowd on stage
to do the first verse of Summertime with
them and DJ Jazzy Jeff. So they were
asking me because they wanted me to come
on stage and do that and I was like I
don't know the song. So my wife to this
day still wants to choke me for that.
That is awesome though. That is awesome.
So
I love how you recognize the moment. I
think that's cool.
You're present.
You're Yeah. you're in the moment and
recognize it.
That's I can't be anything but like it's
you have when you there's something to
be said about being self-aware in
moments like that
where you re you recognize where you
are, who you are, and what the moment
means and just taking it in. And my
wife, I have to give her credit for
this. My wife has been very good at
keeping me grounded and making sure that
I appreciate and take the moment in and
don't just take it for granted because I
might be, you know, I could be in the
middle of the moment and be on to the
next thing like how can I do this this
this she's like no take a breath
understand like look at where you are
and moments like that are like moments
where you you you have to be able to
look at where you are and I have I to
this day again just a surreal moment
that I will never forget. And now like
we're going to hang out with them uh
next month at their residency in Vegas.
Really?
Yeah. Like they're you know they're
doing the residency at the I think the
MGM Grand and we're going to go hang out
with them in Vegas and it's
the Gen X tour or you and your wife. me
and my wife are going to hang out with
uh because like Donnie has be like
it's crazy to think of the people who
I've like encountered while on this
journey I could say well they're friends
like Donnie has become a friend and if
you I went back to adolescent childhood
Nick and told him hey by the way this
dude from New Kids on the Block that's
gonna be one of your boys like shut up
get out of here no that's not a thing
but It's it's a thing like we awesome.
That's
I'm going to tell you a quick Donny
story. Um
so I am like I told you I'm a part of a
marching troop here in New Orleans uh
that marches in Marty Gro parades.
Uh they're called the Mandy Milkshakers.
My wife is a Mandy. I'm a milkman. We're
like security that walks along with them
while they're on the parade route. They
dress up as like pinup housewives and
polka dot dresses and pearls. and go and
march in these Marty GR parades.
So, a lot of the ladies are Gen X and
they are huge New Kids on the Block
fans. Like, there are a couple of them
that are like one of them has a tattoo
that says New Kids on the Block on her
arm. So, I took a picture of the tattoo
and I sent it to Donnie and he
immediately FaceTimed back.
Wow. And like he sat there and talked to
her. She's in tears like crying. He
talked to her. There were some other
girls who recognized what was going on
and they ran over to the phone. IT WAS
LIKE, "OH MY GOD, IT'S DADDY." AND
THEY'RE JUST they're going crazy and
he's just pouring love on them. And he
took pictures and sent them to me like
screenshots that I could give to her so
that she can have them. And it's like
that's just the dude he is, man. He's
just the nicest guy ever. So to be able
to say that he's my that's my But like
it's the whole spectrum of like him and
uh uh uh Edwin McCain who that's my guy
and like all these people who I've met
who I've been able to become friends
with. It's just so surreal, man.
Because like it's
it was again it was never the a part of
the plan. And that wasn't what it was
was what what was supposed to happen and
this is where we are. And I it's hard
for me to believe that this is like our
reality because I know that
from northern Louisiana
just some kid from northern Louis
Louisiana that's living the freaking
dream.
That's all it is.
I'm sure you you've been on social media
so long you've seen the saying we we
made the right person famous. And I
think there's a there's a group of
people you feel that way about and and
you're you're that person
Kelly and John%
Johnny Wahberg also right so he we made
the right person famous so when someone
like you and someone like him connect
more good things you facilitated that
for that woman with him so between the
two of you look what you guys do so
that's where that feeling of that's the
reason again this is all coming your way
is because it's
for you it's coming from such a good
place such an authentic place
so it's just going to continue to create
that
but I but not to say it's not surreal
because I can't even imagine
dude it's still surreal like I nothing
again nothing happens by chance
no
doesn't happen by chance like this is
where we're like we're in the places
that we're supposed to being we're
playing the parts that we're supposed to
play, but it's still
crazy to think that this this is a
reality that this is my life.
Have you met any um of your W besides
the uh Big E, have you met any other WWE
guys?
Yes. Um, I had the opportunity to um go
because I uh one of my a buddy of mine
is um uh um uh gosh uh Austin Romero
Mike Rome is what he's called on TV and
he is an announcer. He was on uh Raw and
Smackdown, but now he's on NXT, which is
their uh training program that's still
on TV. It's on the CW on Tuesdays. and
Mike was doing uh Smackdown I think and
I got the chance to hang out with him
after the show and we like walked
backstage and I got to see all these
other people and like I've had the
opportunity to like do stuff with AEW
and there's some uh guys who were there
uh who I've followed for years who I got
to meet and hang out with and like
there's some who I like talk back and
forth with on like socials and have
become friends with and cool with. So,
it's like I'm still connected with a
good number of those guys and it's I'm
thankful to be have that connection
because, you know, it's it's cool to be
able to like talk to them and they, you
know, again, another group of people who
get it because they're in the spotlight
every day. And to have people who you
can bounce some of this stuff off of and
like talk to, it's really special and
means a lot. And what an amazing
childhood dream to have it come full
circle to where you're at now in
connection with all these guys. I mean,
that's just Did you ever meet Ho Hogan?
No, I didn't.
Have you met any uh Buffalo Bills like
Josh Allen or any of those guys?
I have not met Josh Allen. Uh I met Josh
Allen's mom and dad. Uh, I was in
Seattle for a game last year and met his
mom and dad while I was at a tailgate
and got to meet uh Eric Wood who was um
a former Bills player who uh now does
the radio for them. And uh Kyle Williams
I got a chance to meet. Uh Kyle is a
former Bill. Uh he's from North
Louisiana. He's from Rustin. He knows my
wife. Um she
um she as an athletic trainer, young
athletic trainer, she was one of the
first people to wrap his ankle when he
played high school ball. So like that's
why I married her because she touched
the bill. Uh
how did you become a Bills?
Yeah.
Uh so uh Super Bowl 25 was the uh game
the wide ride game between the Bills and
the Giants. Uh that was the first uh NFL
game I watched in full. Uh I watched it
with my uncle when I was a kid and I
just became enamored with the team then.
That was what uh
Giants won though, right?
Yeah. Because uh the Bills missed a
field goal at the end of the game.
They were cursed during that generation.
But no, they went to four Super Bowls in
a row. Yeah. And that was the first one.
Brian's a Giants. I'm a Giants fan.
Yeah. But I like the Bills. I really
like Josh Allen. I He's amazing, man.
Gee, he l I'm I was rooting for the Jags
because I do like Trevor Lawrence. I've
been following him since high school,
but I mean and Josh got beat up last
week, man. Geez.
Oh, man. He got absolutely crushed. But,
you know, that's
that's the toughness that, you know, you
get from a guy like him and from a town
like Buffalo. And
yeah,
to see him kind of uh push through the
pain and push through all the things to
be able to uh lead them to victory in
that game and literally, you know, put
the team on his back in that last
quarter was astonishing to watch and
he's going to have probably going to
have to do it again this week if they
want to beat Denver
u tomorrow as a matter of fact. So, I'm
looking forward to that game. I'm
nervous as hell, but I'm I'm I'm excited
about it. You know, we we represent the
Bills in this house. Cool. Bill Mafia.
One of my best friends uh was a Buffalo
Bills cheerleader and she actually she
did a episode um and talked about her
time. Yeah. As a Buffalo Bills cheerle
she grew up in Buffalo. Born in Buffalo,
goes up there so regular. Her family's
up there. But what's so funny is when we
um released her episode, how many
Buffalo people, we got so much
engagement, the the loyalty from the
Buffalo fans, Buffalo Mafia, just all of
it. People that live in Buffalo, there's
just it's such a special community. And
that was our first exposure to that,
which is so many people. Yeah. They
you know, so it's And then we've had
another um guest on from Buffalo. And
they're just it's just special people,
you know, good people up there.
So, the first
So, okay.
So, uh the first big outing that my wife
and I had when we were dating was at a
Bills game. Uh the Bills played the
Saints for Thanksgiving a couple of
years ago and uh I got us tickets
to go and check out the game and it was
it was just great to to expose her to
that because at the time she was a
Saints fan. Uh, I have converted her uh
to Buffalo. Go Bills. And so a lot of
the Bills mafia that I talked to over
like social media for years uh were at
that game and we all hung out and
partied before and then after the game
we were hanging out on uh Bourbon Street
and somebody was like, "So when was the
last time you were in Buffalo?" And I
said, "I've never been to Buffalo." And
they were like, "You're kidding me.
You've never been. you've been a big fan
for this long. You've never been to
Buffalo. I said, "No." So, they said,
"You know what? There's a game coming up
in a couple weeks. I'm not going to be
able to go. So, I want you to have the
tickets. All you have to do is get
there."
Wow.
So, uh and there's another creator, uh
who recently had an experience just like
that with, uh Bill's fans who they were
like, "Yeah, you never been to Buffalo.
Here's some tickets. Just get to the
game. Just get to Buffalo and you can
go." And it was an amazing experience
for me. One, to be able to hang out with
all these people that I had known online
for years, but had never met in person.
And two, to experience the generosity
that they exude on a regular basis
firsthand. Because this these are the
people who, you know, when an opposing
player gets injured, they donate money
to his charity and like, you know, send
their best wishes and like this just a a
fan base of just one. As a matter of
fact, the guy that does the Bills Mafia
merch, Dell Reed, he's one of the uh
originators of the Bills Mafia years ago
on Twitter uh to where it is now.
Is that they are the distributor of my
merchandise.
like this comes from all this stuff
comes from like Bill's Mafia. It's I
don't just like it's not just a a you
know a fan thing for me. It's a family
thing and that has been
just an amazing part of this journey for
me is that we are able to
partner with Bill's Mafia in a way like
that and be able to work do our
philanthropy and like they do because a
portion of the proceeds from their merch
goes to charitable organizations. So now
a portion of the proceeds from my merch
goes to charitable organizations. So
it's just
it it's it's such it's just all of it's
every time we encounter anyone who's a
Bills fan who's from Buffalo, they're
good people. It's just a good good
community, good organization, and the
loyalty.
Like my my girlfriend, she wears the
hat, the big hat and all the whole
thing. Like it's the it's it's really an
amazing thing. So before I ask my last
question, Brian, do you have any more
questions?
I do. Uh, just to go back to your I
think it was 33 years you said after you
bombed as an 11year-old, you got back up
on the stage in San Diego. Your friend
came down
and you had to do 90 minutes.
Did you actually Did you have to do 90
minutes? And how did that go? How did
what was that like to get back on stage
after all those years? 90 minutes seems
like a hell of a long time. Yeah.
Yeah. Well, I ended up doing a I think a
something around a 20 30 minute set uh
of comedy and then uh we like my wife
and I have a podcast that we did at the
time and we're going to start back doing
it uh here soon called Hanging with the
Harrisons where it's just basically us
chatting uh for about an hour. So, we
did uh around 20 minutes, 20 30 minutes
of standup and then we did our podcast
right after that, which was like getting
back up and doing the standup uh in
front of a crowd like that was crazy.
And I I had so many emotions that were
going on in my
head and my body at the time.
and to
be back on stage to be doing comedy
again after
33 years of like thinking of that one
moment where I just was like done was
it was emotional very emotional and the
fact that I was able to have like
friends and my wife and uh my old
college friend uh there as well, meant a
lot to me and having that support system
there was part of what helped get me
through that. And I look at that as the
moment where a lot of what's going on
right now really started to like
catapult and go in an upward motion. So,
it's it was a very surreal and emotional
moment, but I wouldn't have traded it
for the world.
Yeah. Cool. Do you have any other
questions?
No. I mean, I I the one thing I keep
coming back to is just the fact that
you're in the moment and present all the
time and you appreciate everything
that's happening and I I I have to think
I I'm just thinking you're you grew up
as this kid in Northern Louisiana and
you've just taken on life and it's I
just find that interesting. I'm I it's
it's fascinating. It's cool. It's It's
uh inspirational. I think it's it's
motivational. You've you've taken on the
world and and you're making it happen
and it's cool. And you're making
connections with genuine connections
with a lot of people. I I just think
that's cool.
Yeah, it's it is. I I I can't That's a
great word to describe it. I'm not even
going to lie.
My last question is always, where do you
see yourself in five years?
Um,
where do I see myself in five years?
I see myself
continuing to spread light.
I see myself whatever I'm doing because
I like I I fully believe
that social media is not the end all be
all. That there is
something out there for me, a purpose
out there for me that goes beyond
this.
But whatever that thing is, I see myself
spreading light, making people happy,
loving on my wife and kids,
and continuing to spread positivity
in every single corner of the world.
I see myself
taking what I've learned and using it to
help the next generation succeed.
And I see myself
being happy.
That's perfect. I love that. That that's
might be one of the best answers to that
question. I have to be honest with you.
That was perfect. I love that. I wish
that all for you, Northern Light.
And I think it's all it's all going to
happen for you. I we can't thank you
enough for coming on and sharing so much
time with us, sharing your story. We
can't thank you enough because we know
you're so busy and you have so much on
your plate. that you took the time out
to spend with us and and for our
listeners to share your story um to give
more of yourself to your fans who listen
to this. You know, I I know that they
are going to hang on every word and love
every minute of it and it continue to be
such an inspiration not only to our
generation but to the younger
generations to show when you hit this
point in life, it's not the end, it's
just the beginning. because like we
said, you're still going. So, thank you.
Yeah, thank you.
Hey, thank you guys for having me. It
has been an absolute joy. Uh because
we've this has been like therapy for me
because we've touched on a lot of stuff
that I haven't thought about in a while.
I'm like, "Wow, that that's that makes a
lot of sense as to where I am now
because of where I all of this started
and came from." And to be able to go
back through those moments and to relive
them and to hash them out has given me a
lot of perspective that I I probably
really needed right now. So, thank you
so much. I appreciate it. Thank you for
having me. And uh if nobody's told you
guys before today, I should say, you are
loved. You're appreciated. You're
important. You're more than enough
exactly as you are. And always remember
to be great. This has been a wonderful
experience. Bless you guys. Thank you so
much. We'll see you on the road.
For sure. For sure. It's just Thank you
so much. And to our listeners, we are
going to put um in the show notes
everywhere you can find Nick and also
the Gen X Takeover Tour um connect the
information there so you can find out
the dates where they're going to be. But
everything you want to know, every way
you want to connect with him will be in
the show notes. So, um, please check all
of that out. Especially if this is your
first time hearing about Nick and about
Gen X Takeover Tour, you have got to
check this out. It's a whole world of
amazing, amazing, positive experiences
and um, you will absolutely love it. So,
again, thank you. Thank your wife for
giving this time with us
and the kids for giving up.
And the kids,
the kids ain't too much worried about
it, but her, she's like
I know. I know. So, please thank her in
advance. And again, I like you just
said, I see you from the start to hear
it all makes sense. It's all connected
and it makes perfect sense to me why
you're continuing to find such such
success in what you're doing. So, um
we're honored that you you shared your
story with us and with our listeners.
So, thank you again.
Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
And to our listeners, we always welcome
any comments and questions. And if you
have any comments or questions for Nick,
we will make sure that he sees them if
you leave them. And we will see you next
time. Bye.