Club Shay Shay – Mojo Brookzz Part 2

Host: Shannon Sharpe
Guest: Mo Brooks (Mojo Brookzz)
Air Date: April 1, 2026

Episode Overview

In this rich, candid follow-up conversation, Shannon Sharpe welcomes comedian Mo Brooks (aka Mojo Brookzz) back to “Club Shay Shay.” The episode delves into Mo’s comedic influences, his career journey from social media to comedy clubs, resilience through adversity, generational changes in stand-up, and his experiences with fame, family, and investing. Listeners get a window into both the hustle and the humanity behind Mojo’s comedic persona, with plenty of laughs and heartfelt moments along the way.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Comedic Influences & Mentorship

• Favorite Comedic Actors:

  • Mo Brooks names Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy as his all-time favorites.
  • Also praises up-and-coming comedians like Drewski and “Jack Funny” from Detroit as the next generation of comedic actors.
  • [06:31–07:20]

• Impact of Monique:

  • Monique played a pivotal mentoring role for Mo early in his career, showing him the realities of the business and always offering honest guidance.
  • Notably, Monique separates personal beef from professional advice, encouraging Mo to follow his own path, even if it crosses with people she’s had issues with.
  • Quote: “My fight ain’t your fight.” – Monique, recounted by Mo Brooks [08:06]
  • [07:43–10:17]

The Road to Comedy & Overcoming Adversity

• Origin Story:

  • Mo was inspired by Bernie Mac in fifth grade, but it was the passing of his older sister that truly propelled him onto the stand-up stage. Her final wish was for him to “do something.”
  • Quote: “Promise me that you gonna do something.” – Mo’s sister [12:38]
  • [10:17–12:53]

• Early Stand-Up Experiences:

  • His first show had just four people.
  • Shares a painful bombing story that motivated him to never coast in his craft and to constantly hone his skills (“If you get off stage and somebody asks if you okay, you know what just happened.” – Mo Brooks [16:43]).
  • [14:18–16:56]

Navigating Crowd Work & The Risks

• Interaction & Improvisation:

  • Mo leans heavily on crowd work, sometimes involving audience members’ relationships and making live phone calls for comedic effect.
  • Discusses knowing when to back off if someone’s taking offense: “I always ask God to allow me to be funny and not offensive.” – Mo Brooks [17:41]
  • [16:56–21:10]

• Handling Disruptions & Crazy Experiences:

  • Recalls a woman kissing him on stage without his consent, flipping gender expectations around personal boundaries ([19:12]) and handling situations with humor and self-respect.

Social Media, Comedy OGs & Changing the Game

• Generational Tension:

  • Shannon and Mo discuss why old-school comics sometimes resent younger comics who build an audience quickly on social media.
  • Quote: “Just because you do skits… that don’t not make you valid.” – Mo Brooks [23:06]
  • Mo emphasizes the grind behind viral fame, highlighting eight years of smaller shows before breaking through.

• The Skit-to-Stage Transition:

  • Mo notes that doing online skits and live stand-up are entirely different skills, and only a few (like Desi Banks, DC Young Fly, Country Wayne) have truly mastered both.

• Advice for Young Comics:

  • “Run your race, do the work, take it serious.” – Mo Brooks [36:09–36:22]

• Algorithm & Monetization Reality Checks:

  • Mo describes how quickly social media payouts can drop when algorithms change:
    • “In 2020, I was bringing in about $60 to $80k a month on Facebook… Now they cut that down… you gotta invest that money.” – Mo Brooks [38:30–39:36]
  • Discusses the importance of diversifying income beyond platforms you don’t own.

Camaraderie, Community & Resilience

• Helping Other Comics:

  • Mo recounts encouraging fellow comedian Jack Funny after a bad set, understanding the importance of picking each other up after failures.
  • *“You did the hardest part… go get it again.” – Mo Brooks [42:29]

• Industry Hurdles:

  • Shares how early skepticism about “social media comedians” in clubs made it harder for newer comics to get booked, urging intentionality and hard work.

Acting Aspirations & Film Work

• Transitioning to Acting:

  • Mo talks about acting in Tyler Perry’s Ms. Governor and how Perry rewrote parts for him after seeing his talent, even increasing Mo’s pay.
  • Credits Perry for creating opportunities for Black talent.
  • [43:48–45:43]

• Boundaries and On-Screen Intimacy:

  • Candidly discusses his comfort zone as an actor—sex scenes with women are fine, but draws the line at some roles.
  • Lighthearted debate with Shannon about the “technical difficulties” of intimate scenes and acting professionalism.
  • [49:25–51:29]

• Wild ’n Out Experience:

  • Mo describes being nervous on the show, the shift from competition to just being funny, and Nick Cannon’s encouragement.
  • Praises Nick Cannon’s major role in putting people on.
  • Quote: “Nick should get flowers every day.” – Mo Brooks [53:37]

Family, Fatherhood & Financial Freedom

• Fatherhood:

  • Conversation about putting his daughter in skits, honest co-parenting, and the differences between his own upbringing and how he’s raising his child now. Mo admits he’s a “cream puff” for his daughter but tries to instill values.
  • Touching discussion about the challenges and joys of being a present father.
  • [55:13–63:24]

• Family Relationships & Childhood:

  • Mo describes his parents’ balance—strict father, more lenient mother—and how that shaped his approach to life.
  • Highlights the importance of both discipline and support, and how the lessons of “no” taught him resilience.

• Generational Differences in Parenting:

  • Shannon and Mo debate the merits of letting adult children stay at home longer and reflect on expectations—in many Black families, 18 often means moving out.
  • Mo challenges that norm: “If I love you, why am I gonna send you out there today and I know you’re not ready?” – Mo Brooks [71:46]

Fame, Friendship & Community

• Public Recognition & Viral Moments:

  • Shannon shares how people now know him more for TV/podcasting than football.
  • Humorous recounting of being caught on camera at the airport with a small dog, highlighting how fame brings new forms of scrutiny and exposure.

• Chicago, Sports, and Local Pride

  • Discussion about the Chicago Bears possibly relocating and whether a cold-weather advantage still matters. Mo voices support for keeping the team local and authentic—even if he admits a dome would make cold games easier for fans.
  • Admiration for new Bears QB Caleb Williams, dismissing concerns about his painted nails and rooting for his continued success.
  • Talks about outgoing Justin Fields, his resilience, and why he didn’t get a fair shot in Chicago.
  • [78:17–82:08]

• Collaborations, Influencers & Community

  • Mo comments on collaborating with Desi Banks and potentially others, emphasizing the need for young comics to move beyond “influencer” status to build sustainable careers.
  • Warns that social media virality is fleeting if you don’t build real-world skills and assets.

• Navigating Success, Money, and Hometown Pressure

  • Talks openly about the wave of “support requests” that come with returning home for big shows—how everyone wants a favor or a free ticket when you make it.
  • “When I’m at home, you gotta buy a ticket.” – Mo Brooks (adopted from Chico Bean, [91:45–92:14])

Life Beyond Comedy

• Giving Flowers & Supporting Others

  • Expresses joy at seeing friends (like Mr. Tyndenism) succeed and readiness to support them, even offering to invest in their ventures.

• What’s Next for Mojo?

  • Mo reveals he’s writing movies, stepping into his “Eddie Murphy bag” by playing multiple roles, and is actively shopping a new film project to top streaming platforms.
  • Credits both Eddie Murphy and Ice Cube as career role models.
  • [93:14–93:56]

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------| | 08:06 | “My fight ain’t your fight.” (on Monique’s advice about navigating industry beefs) | Mo Brooks | | 12:38 | “Promise me that you gonna do something.” (his sister’s last wish motivating his comedic career) | Mo Brooks | | 16:43 | “If you get off stage and somebody asks if you okay, you know what just happened.” | Mo Brooks | | 17:41 | “I always ask God to allow me to be funny and not offensive.” | Mo Brooks | | 23:06 | “Just because you do skits… that don’t not make you valid.” | Mo Brooks | | 36:09 | “Don’t put that pressure on yourself… Run your race, do the work, take it serious.” | Mo Brooks | | 38:30 | “In 2020, I was bringing in about $60 to $80k a month on Facebook…Now they cut that down…” | Mo Brooks | | 42:29 | “You did the hardest part… go get it again.” (encouraging Jack Funny after bombing) | Mo Brooks | | 43:48 | “Tp [Tyler Perry], just a quick story about him… he’s always looking at, you know, to give people that look like us the opportunity.” | Mo Brooks | | 49:25 | “Yeah, there’s a lot of stuff I won’t do on camera. I ain’t kissing no man.” | Mo Brooks | | 53:37 | “Nick should get flowers every day. Nick put a lot of people on.” | Mo Brooks | | 71:46 | “If I love you, why am I gonna send you out there today and I know you’re not ready?” | Mo Brooks | | 91:45 | “You can come see me for free anywhere in the world… but when I’m at home, you gotta buy a ticket.” | Mo Brooks |

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [06:31] – Mo’s Favorite Comedic Actors, Then & Now
• [07:43] – What Monique Taught Mo About the Business
• [10:17] – The Personal Story That Kicked Off His Comedy Career
• [16:56] – Handling Crowd Work and Onstage Disruptions
• [21:10] – Making Phone Calls to Audience Members’ Partners (Crowd Work)
• [22:25] – Social Media vs Club Comedy: Tension with OGs
• [38:30] – Making (and Losing) Money as a Social Media Comic
• [42:29] – Picking Up Other Comics After They Bomb
• [43:48] – Acting in Tyler Perry Projects
• [49:25] – On-Screen Boundaries as an Actor
• [53:37] – Giving Flowers to Nick Cannon
• [55:15] – Raising His Daughter & Co-Parenting
• [61:42] – Parenting Differences Across Generations
• [71:46] – When Should Kids Leave Home?
• [75:24] – Shannon on Being Recognized Now as a TV Personality
• [78:17] – Chicago Bears Stadium & Caleb Williams
• [87:07] – Mo’s All-Time Top Five Chicago Rappers
• [88:46] – Dealing With Gang Culture as a Youth
• [91:45] – Free Tickets for Home Shows? Not Anymore!
• [93:14] – Movies, Special, and What’s Next for Mojo

Episode Tone

The tone is open, irreverent, and often hilarious—Shannon and Mo rib each other like old friends, but dig deep on topics like grief, resilience, ego, community, and generational wisdom. Mo brings candid honesty and humility, while Shannon strikes a balance between hosting, mentoring, and sharing his own experiences in ways that ground the conversation.

For New Listeners

Whether you know Mojo Brookzz from his viral sketches or this is your first time hearing his story, this episode is a rollercoaster through the modern stand-up landscape—from the grind behind the glamour to family roots, evolving the art, and plotting new creative ambitions. Both fans and aspiring comics will find hard-won insights, behind-the-scenes wisdom, and a lot of heart.

End of Summary