Club Shay Shay – Brad Williams Part 2

Released April 8, 2026
Host: Shannon Sharpe
Guest: Brad Williams (Comedian)

Episode Overview

In this engaging and laugh-filled follow-up, Shannon Sharpe sits down with stand-up comedian Brad Williams for part two of their conversation. The episode dives deep into Brad's personal and professional experiences as a little person, exploring stories from the comedy circuit, challenging moments with hecklers and fans, Hollywood insights, and heartfelt reflections on family, identity, and empathy. The conversation balances humor with thoughtful commentary, making for both entertaining and meaningful listening.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Meeting Comedy Legends & Being Starstruck

• Meeting Robin Williams
  • Brad recounts the story of when Robin Williams called him “Prozac with a head,” the best compliment he’s ever received.

    “He bursts in the green room, he goes, ‘Oh my God, Mr. Williams, you’re like Prozac with a head.’…That’s the nicest. When I die, Prozac with a head. Right there on the gravestone.” – Brad Williams (02:12)

  • Robin Williams invited Brad to his show and saved seats for him, making him feel special and recognized among peers.
• Starstruck Encounters
  • Brad recalls being starstruck meeting both Robin Williams and Bill Burr. Burr once greeted him with, "You should have headlined it," at a gig, which left Brad both terrified and elated. (04:26)
  • Notable run-ins at the Comedy Store: Quentin Tarantino and Travis Kelce (“Nobody’s perfect” quip from Kelce appreciating his Broncos fandom, 05:24).

Wild Experiences from the Comedy Circuit

• Dangerous Hecklers
  • Brad relives a scary incident in Odessa, TX, where a heckler yelled “Kill the dwarf” at him after being kicked out of a show.

    “It is all about intent with what you say. When people say, should I say dwarf, little person, midget…I go, say what you want. But it’s all about intent.” – Brad Williams (06:49)

• Realities of Heckling
  • Discusses the unpredictable nature of stand-up and what happens when fans take material personally.
  • Shares a funny but awkward story about picking up a fan's phone during his set, only to discover it was a child calling (09:02).

Jokes, Offense, and the Line in Comedy

• Making Fun and the Limits
  • Shannon and Brad explore if any topics or groups are truly off-limits in comedy.
  • Brad defends the right to attempt any joke:

    “There is absolutely nothing that you cannot joke about on stage. There are certainly topics that can be harder to make fun of...” (14:56)

  • Tells of Whitney Cummings' darkly funny abortion joke as a tribute to the value of a well-crafted edgy joke (15:16).
• Dwarf Jokes & Getting Protested
  • Brad shares about being “protested by your own people” for using the word “midget,” but notes many were persuaded after seeing his act (13:16).
  • Notes the evolution of little people jokes:

    “I came up in that time…I don’t get offended at a clever joke…If you have a really original take…and the intent is good, I’m all for it, man.” (17:02)

Empathy, Bullying, and Giving Back

• Empathy & Helping Others
  • Brad shares the story of helping raise funds for Quaden Bayles, a bullied little person who became suicidal (19:11).
  • The GoFundMe, launched to send Quaden to Disneyland, went viral and ended up sending over half a million dollars to anti-bullying charities (24:00).
  • Brad talks about the online backlash and fake news that followed, learning to do "good in the shadows.”

    “That was also another lesson how fast lies and fake news can be spread…So now I’m trying to do…when I do good, I do good in the shadows, right?” (25:47)

Life as a Little Person: Daily Realities & Relationships

• Community & Conventions

  • Brad speaks to the special camaraderie among little people, including the knowing nods and experiences at conventions, which he now shares with his daughter (28:01).

• Dating, Marriage, and Interracial Relationships

  • Brad met his wife (a tall, Chinese taekwondo instructor) on Tinder, after a series of comic mishaps and even a Grindr date for a radio show bit (59:53).
  • On his varied dating history:

    “I had a black girlfriend before. I had a Mexican girlfriend before. A couple of white girlfriends. A lot of little people…Short woman I ever dated was 3'7", tallest was 6'2".” (68:34)

  • Notes that dwarf women do sometimes get upset seeing dwarf men with average-height partners due to the small dating pool (68:44).

• Being a Dad

  • Brad’s daughter is a little person, named Elway—after his beloved Broncos—and he discusses how his own experience helps him parent with insight and humor (76:06).
  • Shares pride that now he writes comebacks for his daughter just as his dad did for him (75:53).

• House Modifications

  • Opens up about growing up without home modifications, forcing him to adapt, and now making his own home more little person-friendly for his daughter (86:09).

Hollywood & Representation

• Acting & Typecasting
  • Brad is selective with film roles, having played both comic and costumed parts, and recently enjoyed working on Spinal Tap 2 (53:08).
  • Discusses frustration toward Peter Dinklage’s stance on Snow White’s dwarves, feeling that activism deprived little people of roles, and points out the strange decision to use CG dwarves instead (55:25).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you want to pick me up, donate $500 to a military charity…we raised a lot of money and it was very cool.” – Brad Williams (26:50)
• On flying first class:

  “Adults hate it when I’m in first class…that’s wasted on you. I can run laps, Shannon, it’s fine.” (31:08)

• On his dating profile and Tinder/Grindr bit:

  “I matched with a very large, redheaded, bearded man who told me to call him Ginger Bear…and then I matched with a five foot seven taekwondo instructor…and we’ve been married eight years.” (59:53–61:21)

• On being outshined by his wife:

  “She’s a fourth-dan black belt…If some shit goes down, you’re gonna look at your woman and be like: handle it. Nah, that’s hot.” (72:41)

• On naming his daughter after John Elway:

  “My wife looks up at our wall…I have a signed John Elway jersey. And she goes, ‘What about Elway?’ And I’m like, oh, I can’t refuse that.” (76:06)

• On the Snow White and representation controversy:

  “Could you imagine if they’re doing 12 Years a Slave and all the slaves are CGI black people?” (56:44)

Important Timestamps

• Robin Williams story: 02:03–03:27
• Bill Burr & Comedy Store run-ins: 04:26–05:24
• Heckler & “Kill the dwarf”: 06:44–07:49
• Making fun of Bieber: 11:21–12:49
• Being protested by little people: 13:16–14:19
• Line in comedy discussion: 14:25–16:57
• Empathy and Quaden Bayles fundraiser: 19:11–24:00
• Protests and fake news after charity efforts: 24:00–26:23
• Family, house modifications, and parenting: 86:09–87:04
• Dinklage & Snow White roles controversy: 55:03–57:14
• Meeting his wife & Tinder/Grindr story: 59:53–61:21
• Naming daughter after Elway: 76:06–77:38
• Daughter’s type of dwarfism & new drug discussion: 79:18–81:57
• Pit bulls & ‘nanny dog’ anecdotes: 84:32–85:59

Tone & Chemistry

The episode maintains a mix of insightful, honest, and riotously funny storytelling. Both Shannon and Brad are raw and candid, unafraid to poke fun at themselves, their professions, and each other, while still sharing deep, personal reflections. The conversation is packed with energy, good-natured teasing, and moments of surprising vulnerability—making for an essential listen for both comedy and sports fans alike.

Summary Takeaway

Part two of Brad Williams’ visit to Club Shay Shay perfectly blends humor and heart. Brad shares rare comedic and personal insight—about adapting to life as a little person, facing stereotypes and hecklers, finding (and defending) representation, and the surprising ways empathy and laughter change lives. The episode is a celebration of overcoming limitations, the value of intent in comedy, and the joy of running with life’s wildest moments.