JRE 2202 · September 16, 2024

Tom Segura

comedybusinesspsychology

Who is Tom Segura?

Recorded on : September 11, 2024

TLDR — Key Topics and Moments

  • 01Tom Segura discusses his comedy career and the evolution of stand-up in the modern era
  • 02Conversation covers Tom's podcast work with Christina Pazsitsky on Your Mom's House and Two Bears, One Cave
  • 03Tom shares stories about touring, performing, and the challenges of being a working comedian
  • 04Discussion touches on Tom's book I'd Like to Play Alone, Please and his writing process
  • 05Tom and Joe explore the comedy community and relationships with other comedians
  • 06Talk about balancing family life, podcast responsibilities, and stand-up performance schedules

The Show

Tom Segura sits down with Joe on JRE 2202 to talk shop about comedy, podcasting, and the life of a working stand-up. Tom's been grinding for years now, building multiple income streams through his stand-up tours, two podcasts with different co-hosts, and his writing work. The conversation naturally flows between his comedy process, what it takes to keep material fresh, and the unique challenge of being a comedian in an era where everything gets recorded and shared online.

One of the central themes is the grind of modern comedy. Tom talks about the demands of maintaining Your Mom's House with his wife Christina and Two Bears, One Cave with another collaborator, while still hitting the road for stand-up dates. It's a real look at how top-tier comedians structure their careers these days. The podcast game has changed things dramatically compared to when Joe was just starting out, and Tom's navigated that landscape pretty successfully.

Tom gets into his book I'd Like to Play Alone, Please, discussing what it was like putting essays together and how that differs from the immediate feedback loop of stand-up or podcasting. Writing for a book is a slower, more deliberate process, and Tom appreciates that different creative challenge. The essay format gave him space to explore ideas beyond the typical joke structure.

The conversation touches on relationships in the comedy world, touring life, and the reality of trying to maintain a sustainable career as a performer. Tom's honest about the ups and downs, the travel toll, and what keeps him going after all these years in the game.

Key Moments

Tom opens up about his current projects and where he is in his career0:00:00Discussion of podcast work and managing multiple shows with different formats0:10:00Tom talks about his book and the essay-writing process0:35:00Conversation about touring life and the physical demands of being a working comedian1:05:00Tom reflects on comedy community and relationships with other comedians1:45:00

Best Quotes

"Comedy is still the thing that drives me more than anything else"
"Podcasting changed the game for comedians in ways we couldn't have predicted"
"The road is brutal but it's also where you really develop your material"
"Writing essays was a completely different creative challenge than stand-up"
"You have to love this enough to keep doing it even when it's exhausting"

Products and Books Mentioned

Everything brought up in this episode — linked to Amazon.

I'd Like to Play Alone, Please: Essays

Amazon

Tom Segura's collection of essays exploring various aspects of life and comedy.

Your Mom's House Podcast

Amazon

Podcast co-hosted by Tom Segura and his wife Christina Pazsitsky.

Two Bears, One Cave Podcast

Amazon

Podcast co-hosted by Tom Segura.

The Farmer's Dog

Amazon

Fresh dog food delivery service offering 50% off first box.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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