Podcast Summary: Chente Ydrach – JOSUE COMEDY: HACER STAND UP FAMILIAR EN EL CHOLI Y COCA COLA MUSIC HALL

Episode Date: October 8, 2025
Host: Chente Ydrach
Guest: Josué Comedy (w/ contributions from Kiko Rivera)

Episode Overview

This episode of "Masacote" finds Chente Ydrach sitting down with Josué Comedy, a stand-up comedian known for his clean, family-oriented humor and for packing theaters such as the Choliseo (Coliseo de Puerto Rico) and Coca Cola Music Hall. They discuss the journey of building a career in standup, the evolution and challenges of performing family-friendly comedy in Puerto Rico, insights into production logistics, the nuances of stand-up versus crowdwork, and trends in film comedy. Kiko Rivera joins the conversation with commentary and personal experiences in the local comedy scene.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Josué Comedy’s Career Path (00:01 – 13:10)

• Early Podcast Memories: Chente and Josué reminisce about their first podcast collaboration post-Hurricane María, highlighting the humble beginnings and technical struggles (00:01–01:49).
• Touring Success: Josué talks about his current theater tour "Hay Que Cruz," which has been selling out venues across Puerto Rico, noting upcoming performances and the scale of his shows (01:57–02:29).
• Favorite Theaters: Discussion about unique venues, like Bellas Artes in Humacao and Mayagüez, including their architectural quirks and how they impact comedy shows (02:29–04:34).
• Content Style: Josué emphasizes his commitment to family-oriented, clean comedy and how it differentiates him in the Puerto Rican comedy scene (05:23–06:02).

Quote:
"Hacer reír no es cosa fácil." – Josué Comedy (05:46)

2. Stand Up in Large Venues: Choli & Coca Cola Music Hall (06:18 – 11:09)

• Making History: Josué reflects on performing and selling out Puerto Rico’s biggest venues with family-friendly comedy, sharing technical challenges with seating, production, and audience experience (06:18–07:22).
• Developing Material: He explains how real-life experiences and notes on his phone serve as seeds for routines (07:25–07:41).
• His Evolution: Transitioning from TV persona (notably, Chef Caco) to personal, stand-up format—shedding previous characters to establish "voice" (07:54–09:38).

Quote:
"Quería hacer comedia como yo, fuera de personaje, que es lo que me gusta. Y por eso ese primer show se llama 'Yo como Yo'." – Josué Comedy (08:49)

3. Finding His Voice as a Clean Comedian (11:13 – 14:14)

• Origin Story: Josué’s church and faith background influenced his dream to create clean comedy. Entering mainstream media, he initially adapted to less wholesome styles to "fit in," then pivoted back to his own purpose, embracing family-friendly content despite industry pressures (11:53–14:14).
• Exploration and Confidence: Finding confidence in his comedic voice took time, experimentation, and a return to what he felt most authentic performing.

Quote:
"Cuando encuentras ese propósito… te sientes bien con lo que estás haciendo." – Josué Comedy (13:47)

4. Clean Comedy as a Business Model (15:42 – 16:36)

• Family Appeal: Josué draws crowds comprised of entire families, not just individuals or couples, doubling or tripling standard ticket sales per order.
• Career Aspirations: He aims to expand his reach to Latino communities across the U.S., aspiring to the level of comedians like George Harris (16:39–17:04).

5. Recording, Releasing, and Re-using Material (17:22 – 24:36)

• Specials & Clips: Josué records his big venue specials more for content clips and less for full releases, but found unexpectedly strong results renting a small-venue show online during the pandemic (17:22–17:59).
• Virality’s Power: A viral teacher strike routine ("Chavito Bello, un peseta, mi retiro se respeta") greatly amplified his ticket sales. Both he and Chente discuss balancing sharing material online with keeping routines fresh for live audiences (19:36–21:59).

Quote:
"Es como la música... la gente te va a cantar la canción que se conoce." – Josué Comedy (21:25)

6. Crafting the Live Experience: Crowdwork & Impro (29:54 – 32:35)

• Crowdwork Trends: Mixed feelings about the rise of crowdwork clips on social media—good for quick content and engagement, but Josué prefers structured shows and uses crowdwork sparingly (29:54–32:12).
• Improvisation Respect: Josué expresses high respect for improvisational comedians, admitting he prefers preparation over pure improv (28:53–29:22).

Quote:
"Pienso que también tiene que haber algo de improvisación ahí para tú poder ser efectivo con el crowdwork." – Josué Comedy (30:12)

7. Technical and Emotional Challenges of Large Venues (33:22 – 36:15)

• Choliseo Logistics: The leap of faith required to book the Choli; Josué attributes his success to both meticulous planning and his faith. He details production worries, especially regarding sound and audience connection (33:22–35:06).
• Sound Engineering: Discusses the importance of hearing audience reactions—rejecting in-ear monitors to stay connected to the room (35:06–36:15).

8. Pre-Show Rituals & Stage Nerves (37:16 – 38:58)

• Preparation: Josué prefers a packed, lively dressing room, punctuated by group prayer, versus solitude (37:16–37:35).
• Stage Fright: Both Chente and Josué discuss persistent pre-show self-doubt, especially before first performances and private shows (38:38–39:40).

9. Grassroots Promotion & the Struggle to Sell Tickets (43:06 – 47:33)

• Early Hustle: Josué shares vivid stories about grassroots promotion: putting up flyers, cold-selling tickets in malls and flea markets, and managing reservations by hand, revealing the grinding work behind today’s success (43:06–47:33).

Quote:
"Yo me iba al pulguero... y en todos los carros yo ponía flyers, salía con los dedos negros de tanto wiper que levantaba." – Josué Comedy (44:45)

10. State of Comedy in Cinema (48:47 – 52:48)

• Trend Analysis: The group analyzes the decline of classic comedies in theaters, noting a shift from fantastical comedies (e.g., Ace Ventura) to more grounded, realistic humor that may resonate less on the big screen (49:07–51:55).
• Family Time: Josué notes his moviegoing is now focused on kids' films with his family (52:15), reflecting his current stage of life.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Differentiating Clean Comedy:
  "Hay mucha gente que piensa que la comedia para adultos es que simplemente hablan malo. Y no, tú puedes hacer comedia para adultos sin hablar mal." – Josué Comedy (15:42)

• On Audience Connection:
  "Las risas son parte del show… las pausas, ¿cuánto dura esta pausa?" – Josué Comedy (36:05–36:11)

• On Hustle:
  "Ponía el Chef Caco abajo para que la gente supiera que era yo... y en todos los carros yo ponía flyers." – Josué Comedy (44:45)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Early podcast nostalgia: 00:01–01:49
• Touring and favorite venues: 01:57–04:34
• The shift to clean comedy: 11:53–14:14
• Viral routines and recording shows: 17:22–21:59
• Crowdwork in modern stand-up: 29:54–32:12
• Choliseo experience and production: 33:22–36:15
• Pre-show rituals and nerves: 37:16–38:58
• Grassroots promotion stories: 43:06–47:33
• Cinema comedy trends: 48:47–52:48

Closing Notes

The episode provides an in-depth, candid look at the realities and rewards of a career in comedy—particularly for those blazing a positive, family-friendly path. Josué’s experiences underscore the importance of authenticity, audience connection, hustle, and the evolving demands of both the comedy and entertainment industry at large. For those seeking to build a career in comedy, or those who value clean, uplifting humor, Josué Comedy’s story and perspective provide both guidance and inspiration.

Show Plugs:

• Josué Comedy tour dates and tickets: josuecomedy.com
• Kiko Rivera’s show “Entrégate” at Teatro Tapia, Dec 13, 2025.
• Chente Ydrach: Stand-up tour dates at Gallimbo.com