Podcast Summary: Disgraceful with Grace O'Malley
Episode: Lucas Zelnick: Corporate Strategy & Clickbait Cuckery
Host: Grace O’Malley (with Nora O’Malley)
Guest: Lucas Zelnick
Date: February 5, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of DisGRACEful sees comedian Grace O’Malley joined by up-and-coming comic Lucas Zelnick as he auditions for the coveted co-host seat. The duo dives into topics from the awkward world of comedy crowds and internet criticism to their takes on corporate America, social media, and personal mishaps. With plenty of playfully self-deprecating banter and candid reflections, Lucas and Grace dissect what it means to rise quickly in comedy, handle hecklers, be a “clickbait beta cuck,” and learn to make peace with public perception.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Audience Demographics & Social Media Following
Timestamps: [00:50]–[01:07], [10:35]–[10:53]
- Grace and Lucas immediately riff on audience gender splits, noting that Lucas has a significant female following on TikTok (“It’s very female...which I love.” – Lucas, [00:59]).
- The conversation transitions into audience recognition: while Lucas notices enthusiasm from young women, many fans don’t know his name, just seeing him as “that comic.”
2. Comedy, Identity, and the “Teen Magnet” Label
Timestamps: [01:26]–[02:13]
- Grace teases Lucas about being a “teen heartthrob” and “teen magnet,” sparking a playful dialogue about perceptions vs. reality and how comics are branded online.
“I guess I’m a teen magnet.” – Lucas, [01:43]
3. Football, Community, and American Identity
Timestamps: [03:05]–[04:54]
- Both comics discuss getting into football as a way to feel connected, especially while touring in cities where sports serve as a core source of local identity and belonging.
“If they don’t have the Colts, they have to kill themselves.” – Lucas, on Indianapolis, [03:39]
4. Politics, “Ice” Activism, and Clickbait Cuckery
Timestamps: [07:07]–[10:13]
- The duo highlights their struggles with discussing political issues online (specifically ICE and Gaza), and the backlash that follows any form of activism or commentary.
“You post a modizer, you’re a clickbait beta cuck.” – Grace, relaying DMs she and Lucas have received, [08:54]
- Lucas reflects on posting about social issues and receiving dozens of critical DMs, especially from “red collar moms.”
5. Community-Sourced “Fuck Up” Stories
Timestamps: [11:02]–[14:12]
- Grace shares listener submissions about professional and personal mishaps, prompting candid confessions from both.
- The “Ralph” story (about drunkenly missing a flight and being nicknamed at work), triggers laughs and commiseration about work trips gone wrong.
6. Lucas’s Corporate Past and Comedy Transition
Timestamps: [14:13]–[15:13]
- Lucas talks about his previous job in corporate strategy:
“It was a lot of like, how can we think broadly about the landscape? And then I would just make PowerPoints and say stuff with confidence.” – Lucas, [14:26]
- He admits he was “liked, but not detail-oriented,” and reflects on why corporate life wasn’t for him.
7. Comedy Careers: Touring Before You’re Ready
Timestamps: [27:47]–[30:44]
- Discussion on the pressure to start headlining early and learning comedy hour structure on the fly:
“My goal by the end of the tour was... 35 minutes with just jokes. And then, can I riff for 10?” – Lucas, [29:41]
- Both agree that jumping into headlining has downsides but is necessary for growth, and the audience eventually self-selects for true fans.
8. Hecklers, Crowd Dynamics, and Comic Persona
Timestamps: [31:06]–[43:54]
- Grace worries she’s become “mean onstage” from handling hecklers, while Lucas shares strategies to remain in control and not let negativity steer the show.
“If someone’s being a dumb clown, you’re able to be so nice to them still. I love that.” – Grace ([36:58]), to which Lucas responds it took “a lot of time.”
- Both reflect on the balance between gratitude, maintaining authority, and not alienating crowds.
9. Audience Age, Perception, and Rejection
Timestamps: [69:08]–[73:08]
- Lucas finds performing for college-aged crowds rewarding because they listen intently, while older audiences remind both hosts of their own parents.
“Any dad in the audience just turns into my dad.” – Grace, [72:16]
- Both share stories of being rejected by college improv groups and how missteps in early comedy shaped their confidence.
10. Summer Camp Memories & Personal Growth
Timestamps: [53:53]–[56:50]
- Lucas describes his formative summers at Jewish camp – from “king of summer camp” to crushes and his first, awkward sexual experiences.
“Camp was like the first time I really felt, like, some confidence being me.” – Lucas, [56:44]
11. Rapid-Fire Game: Takes on Random Topics
Timestamps: [51:30]–[54:50]
- The hosts run through quick takes on everything from Broadway Video (“No comment.” – Lucas, [51:41]) to taking edibles on airplanes and the anxiety that comes with it.
- Notably, Lucas riffs on dating in the neighborhood:
“Mistake. Recipe for anxiety walks.” – Lucas, [52:23]
12. Local News Pranks: The Neck Brace Incident
Timestamps: [64:05]–[68:45]
- Lucas tells the story of faking an injury with a neck brace for a local Dallas TV segment, both for content and to mildly troll the morning show.
“I said I was pro-choice at the show last night. A bunch of people tried to abort me.” – Lucas, [65:36]
- He reflects on the discomfort and guilt, and why sometimes pranks aren’t worth the awkward post-interview fallout.
13. Disgraceful Receipts: Deep Dives into Lucas’s Past
Timestamps: [78:21]–[82:41]
- With Nora’s research, Grace exposes old photos of Lucas at Stanford, at Patreon (regretting not taking equity “I would have been a billionaire” – [79:25]), and a Saks Fifth Ave family shoot.
- Lucas reacts with embarrassment and deadpan deflection throughout.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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“If they don’t have the Colts, they have to kill themselves.” – Lucas, on the importance of football for local identity [03:39]
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“You post a modizer, you’re a clickbait beta cuck.” – Grace, reciting hate DMs about political posts [08:54]
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“I would just make PowerPoints and say stuff in such a way that sounded like I was confident.” – Lucas, on being a corporate strategist [14:26]
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“No matter how bad it goes, someone had a good time. No matter how good it goes, someone had a bad time.” – Lucas, on audience perception [47:49]
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“Camp was like the first time that I really felt, like, some confidence being me. Like, it felt so good.” – Lucas, on summer camp memories [56:44]
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“I said I was pro-choice at the show last night. A bunch of people tried to abort me.” – Lucas, on trolling local Dallas news [65:36]
Important Timestamps
- [01:07] – Lucas enters; banter about social media following and “teen magnet” label
- [03:05–04:54] – Football, community, and cultural bonding
- [08:27–10:13] – Handling backlash from political comedy & activism
- [11:02–14:12] – Listener “fuck up” stories and corporate party mishaps
- [27:47–30:44] – Starting comedy headlining tours early, structuring an hour, confidence building
- [31:06–43:54] – Audience disruptions, heckler tactics, crowd work wisdom
- [53:53–56:50] – Summer camp, adolescence, first crushes, confidence
- [64:05–68:45] – The infamous “neck brace” news prank story
- [78:21–82:41] – Disgraceful Receipts: old photos, regrets, family
Tone & Flow
Throughout the episode, the dialogue is fast, sharp, sardonic, and vulnerable in bursts. Both Grace and Lucas lean into their neuroses and comedic self-doubt, giving listeners a candid peek behind the curtain of two New York comics navigating modern fame. Lucas’s blend of self-deprecating honesty (“People don’t like me on podcasts usually.” – [83:04]) and Grace’s supportive ribbing create a rapport that is alternately playful, bracingly real, and refreshingly frank.
Conclusion
This episode succeeds as a microcosm of contemporary comedy—balancing online infamy, audience turbulence, and personal history. For comics, fans, or anyone curious about the business, DisGRACEful delivers both genuine advice and plenty of laughs, anchored by two comics who aren’t afraid to cringe at themselves.
Shout-outs & Plugs:
- Find Lucas on all socials & at lucaszelnick.com ([83:32])
- Grace’s tour & podcast updates via her social channels