From Trailer Park To Frugal Millionaire | Dusty Slay

Summary

Podcast Summary: From Trailer Park to Frugal Millionaire feat. Dusty Slay

Podcast: George Kamel (Ramsey Network)
Air Date: January 30, 2026
Guest: Dusty Slay (Comedian, Co-host of Nateland Podcast)
Host: George Kamel

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Overview

In this episode, George Kamel sits down with stand-up comedian Dusty Slay to trace Slay’s journey from a humble upbringing in a trailer park to becoming a frugal self-made millionaire. They discuss the impact of childhood financial lessons, the realities of earning and managing money as a comic, the pitfalls of debt, and the importance of simple living and smart saving. Throughout, the conversation is laced with humor and grounded personal finance wisdom.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Growing Up with Scarcity and Family Influence

• Scarcity Mentality: Dusty describes his parents as coming from poor backgrounds, emphasizing the importance of not wasting food and making the most out of little.
  • Quote (Dusty, 05:46): “...when I was a kid, he [dad] would like tear up a chicken leg... if you got a chicken leg for dinner, that was it... you want to fill up, you eat all the chicken. Nothing goes to waste.”
  • Reflections on Fun vs. Savings: Dusty’s mother prioritized experiences and “having a good time” over building financial security.
  • Dusty (07:30): “There was no savings account happening. There was no emergency environment. But we were, you know, having a good time.”

2. Early Money Mistakes and Escaping Debt

• The Trap of Cosigning Loans: Dusty tells a cautionary tale about getting into car debt with his mom as cosigner and feeling trapped in a job he hated.
  • Dusty (08:50): “I got this car payment. Now I’m stuck...”
• Cycle of Negative Equity: He recounts trading in a car, rolling over negative equity, and having high insurance costs due to accidents and tickets.
  • Dusty (10:47): “My insurance got up to 500 a month. More than my payment.”
• Financial Wakeup Call via Sobriety: Dusty realized that quitting drinking and smoking drastically lowered his cost of living, leading to a healthier financial situation.
  • Dusty (11:14): “If I quit drinking and smoking... I barely even need money... So sobriety is your money hack.”

3. Comedy as a Career: Managing Irregular Income

• Keeping Expenses Low: Even during lean times, Dusty maintained a lifestyle that allowed him to avoid debt and weather the uneven income of being a stand-up comic.
  • Dusty (16:59): “Even when I wasn’t making a lot of money in comedy, I kept my expenses low.”
• Smart Money Moves:
  • Saved up and bought a car with cash before moving to Nashville.
  • Rented a cheap attic apartment and split utility costs with roommates.
  • Avoided student debt by not attending college.
  • Started saving for his next car immediately after purchasing his last one in cash.
  • Dusty (19:10): “Whenever I buy a car now, I go ahead and start saving money for the next car.”

4. Transition to Financial Success & Maintaining Frugality

• Windfalls & Management:

  • Discussed getting a Netflix special, management deals, and corporate gigs that finally provided significant income—but kept his lifestyle grounded.
  • Dusty (26:54): “I still live a very kind of broke mentality. Like, it’s all going to go away at any point in time... I think it’s important to live like that.”

• Investing in Real Estate & Land:

  • Buys land as a tangible investment, recalling his dad’s advice:
  • Dusty (19:41): “You always want to buy land because they’re not making any more land.”

5. Unique Money Habits and Splurges

• Quirky Collecting:
  • Dusty confesses he spends on DVDs (physical media), fearing digital content may one day disappear or be censored.
  • Dusty (30:23): “I buy... too many DVDs. I’m really into collecting DVDs... then one day you’ll go, oh, what was that movie? And then you can't find it. And I want to be able to find it.”
• Business Investments:
  • Occasionally splurges on camera equipment to boost his podcast and online content—he classifies these as business expenses.

6. Philosophy on Wealth and Staying Grounded

• Millionaire Milestone:
  • Acknowledges reaching millionaire status on paper (thanks to real estate appreciation among other assets) but says it doesn’t feel different:
  • Dusty (26:32): “Makes me uncomfortable even to say, but... when you have a house, even just appreciation in the Nashville area... we bought a house in 2019, and then the value went up 40%.”
• Maintaining Humility:
  • Emphasizes thankfulness and the principle of little-by-little wealth accumulation.
  • Dusty (29:39): “It's a real blessing... But you know, I’ve always been fine... I’m pretty self-reliant.”

7. Advice to Listeners

• Stay Out of Debt:
  • Dusty (31:45): “Just stay out of debt... Debt scares me so much because interest is insane.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Scarcity and Relishing Simple Pleasures:
  • Dusty (06:33): “They grew up poor. And so then they kind of like, come into this age... of canned foods, and suddenly we have all this abundance.”
• On Escaping Debt through Life Changes:
  • Dusty (11:14): “If I quit drinking and I quit smoking cigarettes, I barely even need money.”
• On Corporate Comedy Gigs:
  • Dusty (21:43): “I told my agent, I’ll take all the corporate gigs you got because they are good money...”
• On Recognition in Comedy:
  • Dusty (22:02): “That’s the thing about comedy... you can be a famous comedian and then people who aren’t that into comedy still have no idea who you are.”
• On Building Wealth Gradually:
  • George (29:17): “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle. But whoever gathers little by little will increase it. And that’s your story.”
• On Simple Living and Gratefulness:
  • Dusty (28:22): “I played in the woods. I played in the creek. I didn’t have a smartphone. I didn’t have an iPad. I just played in the creek. I looked at bugs and crawfish...”
• On Splurging and Hoarding DVDs:
  • Dusty (30:23): “Too many DVDs... I think that streaming services, where everything’s going to streaming... then you can’t find it. And I want to be able to find it.”
• On Debt Aversion:
  • Dusty (31:45): “Debt scares me so much because interest is insane.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• (05:41–07:33) – Childhood in the trailer park, family money habits
• (07:41–11:14) – Early money mistakes: car loans, insurance, quitting vices
• (16:42–18:54) – Managing finances as a broke comedian, moving to Nashville
• (19:10–20:13) – Saving for purchases and debt avoidance
• (21:43–23:31) – Making a living in comedy: corporate gigs, growing success
• (26:17–27:56) – Reaching millionaire status and staying frugal
• (28:18–28:55) – The value of a simple, outdoor childhood
• (30:23–31:20) – Splurging on DVDs and business equipment
• (31:45–32:00) – Final financial advice: stay out of debt

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Final Thoughts

This episode is a sharp, funny, and authentic look at how upbringing shapes our relationship with money, how living below your means and avoiding debt can lead to lasting wealth, and why maintaining humility is most important even as your net worth grows. Dusty’s practical, unglamorous money lessons and George’s relatable approach make this a must-listen for anyone trying to break free from paycheck-to-paycheck living or creative professionals navigating financial uncertainty.

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Find Dusty Slay:

• Netflix Specials: "Wet Heat", "Working Man"
• Podcast: Nateland, We're Having a Good Time
• YouTube/Socials: @DustySlayer
• Live Shows: Regularly at Zany’s and on tour

Host’s Note:
“Like this video and subscribe... this is a good quality podcast... rode around in a Tesla. We went to Bojangles. We even taught the people of Bojangles that it is called Bo Town Roaster.” (Dusty, 32:12)

Transcript

[A]

That's the nice thing about comedy, is you can be a famous comedian and then people who aren't that into comedy still have no idea who you are. You are broke for a long time in comedy until you reach a certain level, and then you're like, oh, wow, there's money to be made here. I still live a very broke mentality. Like, it's all gonna go away at any point in time. If I had gotten money that I have right now when I was in my early 20s, I have been a total wreck. I would have wasted all my money. And that's what you see happen to athletes. They just think the money will always be there. It could all go away.

[B]

If you like jokes, trucker hats, and long hair, you click the right video because today I am joined by one of my favorite standup comedians and a co host of the Nightland podcast, Dusty Slay. Dusty's been featured on the Tonight show with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Comedy Central, and has multiple Netflix specials. His latest called Wet Heat. It's incredible. You got to check it out. And today we're having a good time because we're going to talk about growing up in a trailer park hoas, and what personal finance looks like for a professional comedian. It's all coming up in today's installment of Millionaires in Cars. Getting coffee.

[A]

Okay. Dusty, welcome. Great to see you.

[B]

Come on in.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

The water's warm.

[A]

All right.

[B]

How you doing?

[A]

Oh, I'm doing great.

[B]

Thanks for hanging out with me.

[A]

Yeah, thanks for having me.

[B]

This is a normal experience in a car. You done one of these before?

[A]

Well, you know, I did a. A show on YouTube for a minute where was going to eat hot chicken with people. Oh, that's right. So we would drive in the car a little bit.

[B]

Did that show get canceled by you?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay, well, cancellation.

[A]

I like doing the show, but part of it was, you know, I don't really need to be eating like that all the time. I don't have the best digestion. And so when it would come up, I'd be like, ah, man, I don't really want to eat like that.

[B]

Today I saw your gluten sober, or at least attempting to be.

[A]

Well, I'm not eating bread. I did have a Nutter Butter in the green room. I think that's probably.

[B]

Well, that just ruined. Was that worth it?

[A]

I was worth it.

[B]

You risked it all for the Nutter Butter?

[A]

Well, we'll see. But it's mainly like, you know, just trying to stay away from massive amounts of Bread. I wouldn't want to buy a box of Nutter Butters and take them back to the house.

[B]

But just moderation.

[A]

Have a couple of Nutter Butter cookies in the green room. It's not a big deal.

[B]

No one's gonna know. Yeah, I'm not gonna tell anyone. Yeah, except you just told America right now.

[A]

Yeah, well, you know, the first, I told some people that I wasn't eating bread, and then I was having a fried chicken finger, and somebody goes, well, does that not count as bread? And I go, listen, guys, don't try to get me on technicalities out here.

[B]

So much judgment.

[A]

I'm not having a sandwich.

[B]

America's going through a lot. God forbid a guy have a chicken tender every once in a while.

[A]

You know, I still am a comic working the road. It's like, what do you want me to do?

[B]

That's true. Eating on the road's gotta be tough.

[A]

You don't have a lot of options, you know?

[B]

And comedy clubs is bar food mostly.

[A]

It's not known for its cuisine.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

In fact, if a comedy club's food's too good, the comedy sucks. Yeah. People are, like, paying attention to their food.

[B]

You gotta check out these tacos.

[A]

Just put some cheese sticks down, and just then you can eat and watch the comedy.

[B]

Well, I went to your show last week at Zany's here in Nashville.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it was fun to see my friend Dr. John DeLoney up there opening for you.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Was that, like a make a wish thing you did for him?

[A]

Yeah, well, you know, he's been at Zany's a lot lately. He just lingers.

[B]

He's just soliciting.

[A]

He just started showing up one day, and now he's there all the time. And. I don't know. I was pumped to have him, though. I felt good.

[B]

Yeah, he did great. I'm proud of him.

[A]

Yeah, you said he was. Because I asked you how was he? Because I said he was like, I can't watch the comics because I. I'm. I'm like. I don't know.

[B]

You're chatting, you're in the green room, you're bopping around.

[A]

But you said he was your favorite of the night.

[B]

Yeah, I hate to admit it, but he was.

[A]

That's great.

[B]

Well, other than you.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You trounced him.

[A]

Well, yeah, I don't really, like. I don't count myself on my show on the bill. Yeah. Okay. Because. Yeah, I'm coming out. I'm doing an hour, so that's unfair.

[B]

Yeah, you got a lot of time to get cooking. Yeah.

[A]

Now it can be. Sometimes somebody does, you know, 10 minutes on a show versus a guy who does an hour and you go, I like that guy who did 10 minutes. And you go, well, that was. He's the brevity. That's 10 minutes.

[B]

Yeah, you got 60. You got. You got 24 good minutes in there.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

36 minutes of filler. I love it. Well, this is our first episode in the new Tesla.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

We had an older one that was 13 years older. Can you go get my bumper? And so you have the privilege.

[A]

Wow. I didn't even know Teslas had been around that long. Yeah.

[B]

2012, man. Wow. So here's the deal. I was excited because I heard you in your set talking about how you're so uncomfortable with these self driving cars and I thought, well, let's have it self drive.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

But then my wife got me suspended. So Tesla punishes you and they don't let you use it for a week if you get enough warnings and strikes.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So now here's what happens when I try to turn it on. That happens.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

I love that our cars have this kind of control over us.

[B]

Yeah, it's really comforting. It makes me feel so much better about it.

[A]

That's why I don't want electric cars, because I feel like they can turn.

[B]

It off at a moment.

[A]

Yeah. The government goes, all right, well, we're gonna go ahead. Your social credit score's gone down and we're gonna have to turn off your driving privileges.

[B]

That was a real episode of Black Mirror. Yeah, that was scary, dude.

[A]

That's the only episode. Saw a black mirror.

[B]

It's all you need.

[A]

It's. Yeah, it's terrifying. Wow.

[B]

Well, let's talk about you growing up in the trailer park. This is a big part of your kind of blue collar storytelling. What was money like for you as a kid? Like, what are the things that you learned subconsciously or consciously from your parents about money?

[A]

I don't really know that I learned a lot about money from my parents.

[B]

Was it were mistakes made or they.

[A]

Just didn't have much? I think both my parents had poor families growing up. Like my dad used to. Like, he probably still does it, but when I was a kid, he would like tear up a chicken leg. Like you could watch him eat a chicken leg and it would be entertaining. Like he would eat as aggressive. He just ate it all. And he would say, well, when I was a kid, we would, you know, if you got a chicken leg for dinner, that was It. That was what you had. You didn't have. You weren't eating a dozen wings and leaving a lot of meat on it. This was it.

[B]

It was like a scarcity mentality. This might be your last meal for a while.

[A]

Ye. Yeah, this is it. So if you want to fill up, you eat all the chicken. So. And then I think my mom grew up in a similar way. They just grew up.

[B]

Nothing goes to waste.

[A]

Yeah, they grew up poor. And so then they kind of like, come into this age, kind of the boomer parents, this age of canned foods, and suddenly we have all this abundance. And then my parents got divorced when I was very young, so they both had good jobs, but, you know, single parents. My mom had no, like, I don't know, she didn' value money in a way. She just wanted to have fun. So we lived in this trailer, but we would go to NASCAR races, we would go to Auburn football games.

[B]

She still wanted the fun experiences and was willing to spend money on that.

[A]

I had, you know, Nintendo, Super Nintendo, PlayStation. Now, my mom might work an extra job to get me the PlayStation, but we had it. I mean, and we were so. We were like, you know, spending money. Yeah. There was no savings account happening. There was no emergency environment.

[B]

But, you know.

[A]

Yeah, but we were, you know, we're.

[B]

Having a good time.

[A]

Having a good time. Absolutely. We're having a good time.

[B]

So what's something you learned about money the hard way? Were there any mistakes you made along the way? They're like, dang it.

[A]

That was a.

[B]

That had some zeros on the end. That one stung well. Yeah.

[A]

Oh, yeah. My mom got me. I had. She had a car. It was a 1982 Buick LeSabre that she had. This was, you know, 2000.

[B]

That was a hot car.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, I wish I still had it, too. I would have loved to have that car now. But I got a job as a pesticide salesman. So I was going to Lowe's and Home Depot selling pesticides. So I needed a more efficient car. The Buick was not a good gas.

[B]

Car, not a good pest control sales car.

[A]

Right. It looked. I mean, it fit the part. You roll up and you're like, this.

[B]

Guy'S definitely about to sell me some pest control.

[A]

Yes. But I needed a car with. It got better gas mileage, so I had no credit. I had never had a loan. So I couldn't. I couldn't get any car dealership to sell me a car. So I finally went to, like, Enterprise and they would sell me a car. But my mom had to co sign with me. Oh. So then I got into it and I had this car now, and I had this debt. And then I hated the job. I wanted to quit the job. But then I was like, ah, I got this car payment. Now I'm stuck.

[B]

Do you remember like the payment or.

[A]

The loan it was. It's probably 250, 300 bucks a month. But, you know, I probably could have. But just in my mind, I'm like, now I'm trapped.

[B]

You felt the stress of you had to make this payment, so you have to keep the job.

[A]

And I remember telling my friend, I go, if my mom wasn't co signed with me on this, I would just let it go, just let it get repoed. I would let the bank repo it. And then my friend, he goes, and that's why they wanted you to have a co signer. And I go, ah, yeah, that makes sense.

[B]

That's when he fully understood what co signing meant. Yeah, we don't trust this guy.

[A]

Yeah, I got.

[B]

We need a responsible adult in the mix here.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Goodness gracious. So you co signed, you got the car cosigned? Did you pay it off? What happened with it?

[A]

Well, I, I ended up trading it in. Had. It was starting to fall apart. I wrecked it three or four times and I flooded it. I used to drink a lot and.

[B]

Is that part of the flooding? Did you drive into a river?

[A]

I lived in Charleston, South Carolina, and Charleston would flood a lot. Like when it, you know, any amount of heavy rain downtown would flood. And I was out, you know, late at night drinking, and I was driving home, which you shouldn't do. This is before Uber and Lyft, you know, so we, that was our excuse, you know, you would go, well, sure, you'll give me a ride home tonight, but are you gonna drive me back to my car in the morning so I can get to work? I mean, come on, guys. There's been enough mistakes made here already to where I have to keep justifying these mistakes. Yeah. So I traded in. It was a Dodge Avenger. I traded it in, carried over a negative equity onto my new car.

[B]

Heard this story before.

[A]

So the moment I drove off the lot, I already owed more money on the car than it was worth immediately underwater. And I wanted to quit the job, so. And. And then. Oh. On top of that, my insurance was so expensive because I had had a lot of wrecks and tickets.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

My insurance got up to 500amonth.

[B]

More than your payment.

[A]

More than my payment. And I had to, I switched Companies and got it down to 300amonth, but still more than my payment.

[B]

Dang.

[A]

So I quit drinking. And then I just. My whole life I was able to figure out. My whole life I go, oh, I live downtown. I could quit the job if I sold the car.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then if I quit drinking and I quit smoking cigarettes, I barely even need money.

[B]

Because you got rid of the vices that were costing you your paychecks. Yeah.

[A]

And then I could just wait tables. I could walk to work. And I go, oh, well, that's the answer.

[B]

So sobriety is your money hack. Yeah, that's it. All right, we need to add that. That's good material.

[A]

I mean, quit drinking. Yeah, I mean, quit drinking is the.

[B]

Amount of money you spend on vices.

[A]

Drinking's the dumbest thing.

[B]

Well, speaking of drinking, we're gonna drink some coffee today, if that's okay. And I'm gonna take you to one of my favorite coffee shops, Bo town roasters.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

You ever get coffee from a Bojangles?

[A]

I'm sure I have. I know I've eate biscuits from Bojangles.

[B]

Hello, I'm looking for some botown roasters coffee.

[C]

I'm sorry, what was that?

[B]

Botown roasters coffee.

[C]

I'm sorry, I've never heard of that.

[B]

Do you guys not have coffee? You have coffee?

[C]

Yeah, we have regular coffee. I've just never heard that before.

[B]

I thought that's what it was called, was Bowtown roasters. I thought it had a cool name.

[C]

Okay, that would be a lot cooler than.

[B]

What kind of coffee drinks do you have? Is that on the menu here or.

[C]

No, just regular black coffee. We have regular decaf.

[B]

I'm a simple man. I'll do just a black coffee and then whatever my friend here would like.

[A]

I'll have a black coffee as well.

[B]

Two black coffees.

[C]

Yes, two black coffees. All right.

[B]

That's it.

[C]

Okay, you're in luck. I just brewed a fresh pie.

[B]

Oh, I was gonna ask, but I didn't want to seem pretentious.

[C]

No, you're good. You're good. Anything else for you?

[B]

That'll be it.

[C]

All right, I'll have your total. The window.

[B]

All right. Thank you.

[C]

Thank you.

[B]

I didn't ask if you wanted a chicken tender.

[A]

Well, I did, but I figure this is your car. I don't need to get fried crumbs all over the car.

[B]

I don't judge. You know, it's 5:00' clock somewhere.

[A]

Yeah, well, where are we at? What part of the city are we?

[B]

We are in spring hill, Tennessee.

[A]

Cause you don't hear friendly people at Bojangles like, you. Just.

[B]

I mean, no, Spring hill Bojangles hits different. The nicest people.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Look at them in there.

[A]

I mean, some bojangles I've been to.

[B]

This is like waffle house with a drive through.

[A]

They'd be like, what the are you talking about?

[B]

They're still talking about Bowtown roasters in there. I was. I think the team trolled me. They said, we're going to Bowtown roasters. So in my head I keep talking about botan roasters.

[A]

They should go ahead and pick that up.

[B]

Yeah, I think if you Google Bowtown roasters, it'll pop up.

[A]

I think we should tell her to take that to corporate. Yeah.

[C]

Hey, guys.

[A]

Hello.

[B]

Look, look, read what's on the cup.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, I know. I just told her it says botan roaster.

[B]

I feel vindicated. I thought I was crazy.

[A]

Okay, we were about to tell you to pitch that to corporate.

[B]

Yeah. I was like, we gotta get corporate on this to get botown roasters in place.

[C]

It's pretty cool.

[B]

Okay, there's the card.

[A]

Here's my coffee.

[B]

Thank you. That's for you.

[A]

Botan roasters. Yeah.

[B]

Make sure that lid's on.

[A]

That would be bad.

[B]

We don't need a McDonald's.

[A]

Situation would be so bad. Thank you.

[B]

All right, I'll take a receipt with that as well. You keep receipts?

[A]

Are you a receipt guy? Yeah.

[B]

Do you find that, like, there's no rhyme or reason for when you ask or don't want a receipt? Thank you so much.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

I feel like it's so random, like.

[A]

You want a receipt.

[B]

And sometimes I'll just be like, yeah, you know what? I will take a receipt.

[A]

Yeah. Well, it feels like the right thing to do. I do keep some receipts. I should keep more receipts than I do. And probably my business manager would like it if I just said yes to that question. Yeah, but.

[B]

Cause for business reasons.

[A]

Yes, I'm not. It's a write off. Yes. I'm not the best about keeping the receipts, but I do try to do it.

[B]

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[A]

Well, this is a thing for me. I feel like I've never, like, had a lot of money, but I never been broke. Like, even when I wasn't making a lot of money in comedy, I, like, kept my expenses low.

[B]

Right, you lived on less than you made.

[A]

Yeah. Like when I moved to Nashville, like, before I left Charleston, I saved up money and I bought a car with cash. I bought the Volvo with cash.

[B]

Nice.

[A]

And I moved to Nashville. My dad used to work for Aflac, and when I was born, they gave me two shares of Aflac stock.

[B]

Two.

[A]

Two.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And then by the time I left, I was, you know, 30, and it had split to a certain amount of Shares.

[B]

It was now like 45 shares or something.

[A]

Something. It was worth $2,000. And I. I just sol, like I said, if in my life, this first 30 years, it's taken this long to get to 2,000, the next 30, let's say it doubles.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I said, I'd like to believe that by the time I'm 60, that amount of money is worth less to me than it would be right now.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's how I justified selling it. And I sold it, and I used it to buy this car. I had more money to put into it, but. But I used that money to put that into the car and move to Nashville. And I got an apartment in Nashville for $250 a month. It was an attic apartment, so I had no car payment. My rent was 250. My bills were very low because I was living in a house with five other people. So we split all bills six ways.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

And, yeah, so I was, like, able to work for very little money.

[B]

You didn't need to make a lot off comedy to make a living from it.

[A]

Yeah. And then I was single. I had no kids.

[B]

Simpler times.

[A]

No debt. Because I didn't go to college, so I got no student loan debt. All my debts were paid for. When I did eventually sell the car that I was underwater. And I actually, when I sold the car, I had to pay money. I made no money off the car. I sold it and then had to put a little of my own money into the overall loan to pay it off.

[B]

Because you were a little bit underwater.

[A]

But it was totally worth it. It.

[B]

So now are you still debt avoidant?

[A]

I am. I have a mortgage, but that's it.

[B]

Nice.

[A]

The moment I bought the Volvo, I started saving up money to buy my next car so I could pay it with cash.

[B]

Just sort of start your own little sinking fund there.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

You can avoid the loan. That's amazing.

[A]

And then that's what I've done every time. Whenever I buy a car now, I go ahead and start saving money for the next car.

[B]

So how have your money principles changed as you become more successful? And, you know, you have the Netflix special, like, you get a windfall of money. Like, what do you do with that now?

[A]

Well, now I just try to save money. I mean, you know, you know, it's hard to not spend money, but I just try to not buy unnecessary things. Like, I bought some land in McMinnville.

[B]

You like. You like to have some land?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You have a whole series on your YouTube channel about living off the land.

[A]

Yeah. You know, my dad called the land right name. Yes. My dad used to always say it's a cliched statement, but I heard it a lot as a kid where it's like, you know, you always want to buy land because they're not making any more land.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

You know, but.

[B]

So you got land, you got the. Your house, and you recently moved. You were not in a neighborhood then. You were in a neighborhood. Now you're not in a neighborhood.

[A]

Yeah, I was in a neighborhood for five years, and then I found a house just down the street for.

[B]

With three acres that was beyond the purview of the hoa yes. What do you have beef with the hoa? Did they ever find you?

[A]

They did. Well, they attempt. They, they threatened to find me a couple of times.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

But I would, you know, I'd always do what they say. And I don't hate the hoa, at least not mine, because they were okay.

[B]

All right.

[A]

But the long.

[B]

They weren't like, hall monitor level.

[A]

No. But the longer I stayed there, the more they started to be like that.

[B]

What is the, like, lowest paying gig you've ever done? You've ever done? I mean, obviously there's free, but was there one that you were like, I really probably shouldn't have said yes. Like, this was a regretful decision.

[A]

Oh, yeah. Well, I mean, there's lots of them. And I feel like the, the further you go along, the more you start. You have to start doing this. You go, what's the amount of money? Like now I have an agent and a manager, and they, they handle the negotiations. Yeah. And I'm, I'm happy with all of those things, but when I was still doing it myself, I had to reach a point where I go, what's the amount of money that I. That I'll accept that I won't hate that I'm having to leave the house to do. Right. If I go, oh, yeah, I'll do it. Yeah, 50 bucks. Yeah, that's fine. And then when it comes time to do the show, I go, I wish.

[B]

I didn't seething with resentment.

[A]

Yes. So you have to start setting an amount.

[B]

Then on the other side, a lot of comedians, they make their actual living off of, like, corporate gigs that can be soul sucking. What has your experience been with that?

[A]

Well, yeah, I think it's good to have a balance. I. I told, told my agent, I'll take all the corporate gigs you got because they are good money and you.

[B]

Win them over because these people are forced to be there These employees usually.

[A]

Sometimes they're like, I don't want to.

[B]

Sit in front of this. See this? Who's this guy? But now, is it more? Are they excited to see you?

[A]

Sometimes it's like, you know, that's the thing about comedy. That's the nice thing about comedy is you can be like a famous comedian and then people who aren't that into comedy still have no idea who you are. Yeah, like when.

[B]

I'm sure Nate still runs into that. Oh, yeah, he's a legend in the comedy world. But outside of that, you go, who?

[A]

Right. I mean, when I first signed with my manager, she was managing Sebastian Maniscalco, Bert Kreischer. And I remember telling my mom, I go, yeah, the manager I got, she also manages Sebastian. And my mom's like, huh?

[B]

You know, like, it's Sebastian Maniscalco.

[A]

He's like, he sold out Madison Square Garden, like six shows in a row.

[B]

Yeah. Do you guys talk about money in the comedy world?

[A]

Like, is that a thing?

[B]

That is a point of conversation.

[A]

Well, you know, yeah. I mean, you know, because there is, you know, money to be made in comedy. It's like, you know, you see a lot of open micrs, you know, on the Internet going, oh, you know, I'm a comic, so I'm broke. And it's like, well, you know, you are broke for a long time in comedy until you reach a certain level and then you're like, oh, wow, there's money to be made here.

[B]

Yeah. What was that point for you? Was there a moment that you were like, oh, things are different now. Like, I, I have officially made it because it feels like death by a thousand cuts. Like, you do a late night show, it's not like the next day people are knocking down your door.

[A]

Right? Well, it, it is little by little.

[B]

And.

[A]

You know, I noticed money going up, you know, all along the way. But yeah, once I did a couple of late nights, did Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal. I got, you know, management agents. And that's where it's like, it gets real. Okay, you guys know how to go.

[B]

Once you sign that contract with the management, you went, oh, it's a different ball game now.

[A]

Yes, I remember I got a Sheetz corporate gig for the gas station sheets and it was a week long event. I would do three shows, but I could hang out at the resort all week. And it was, you know, big money. But it's, you know, it's still a big money gig. But at the time it was like life changing. I was like, okay, now we're talking. Now things are turning around here. But immediately when I did jfl, I got. I talked to ABC about writing a sitcom. The sitcom never happened, but we wrote a script and I got a holding deal.

[B]

Oh, nice.

[A]

So you still got some money. I had a animated show that I was working on for Hulu. That show never got made, but I got. Still got some money. So, you know, there is money to be made. And, you know, people get tired of hearing about comics talk about being clean. You know, they. Especially if you're like a dirty comic you like almost that you almost like mock clean comics. But so many gigs I've gotten are because I can be clean.

[B]

You don't have to like censor and edit it. It's just, this is who I am. I don't need to. I can do it tomorrow.

[A]

I mean, depending on the gig, you know, I may not do my weed jokes or there's a couple of jokes that I.

[B]

It's a bar mitzvah. Let's cut the drug references.

[A]

Yeah, but you know, but for the most part, it's like, yeah, I can just do my show.

[B]

We'll get back to Dusty in just a sec. But one more thing. I almost forgot to tell you about my pants. Okay. These men's bamboo joggers from Cozy Earth Chef's Kiss, and they're a sponsor of today's video. When I get home after a long, exhausting day of churning out content to feed the beast and satisfy your hungry minds, I am ready to just relax. Now, unfortunately, I have two kids under three and a crippled dog. And another dog, so it's not really possible. But wearing these joggers, it's as close as I can get, okay? And if you want to check them out for yourself, nobody's stopping you, okay? They got even more where that came from. The bedding, the sleep sets, the men's everywhere pants, the socks, really just about anything they make. And you can get 20% off by going to cozyearth.com george and use promo code George. Or click the link in the description. So do you remember the point where you became like a millionaire on paper? Because, you know, we talk about net worth. It's not like you have a million dollars sitting in a cash account. But was there a point you said, oh, my real estate, the land plus my home plus my savings and investments and my cars. Like, wow, like did added up on paper.

[A]

Well, yeah. I mean, your business manager just reports.

[B]

Like, hey, just to hear, FYI, here's your net worth.

[A]

Well, Yeah. I think, you know, it's like, it's even. Makes me uncomfortable even to say, but it's like. Yeah. When you, you know, you have a.

[B]

House, even just appreciation in the Nashville.

[A]

Area in the last five years. Well, that's. That's the thing. We bought a house in 2019, and then the value went up to 40%. Went up 40% right away.

[B]

That's about the best investment you have made.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, it's a pretty amazing feeling. I don't think it.

[B]

That you didn't wake up different the next day.

[A]

No, I mean, because I still live a very kind of broke mentality. Like it's all going to go away at any point in time, but. And I. I think it's important to live like that because, you know, you see, athletes. Happens to them, where they get money. Like, if I had gotten money that I have right now when I was in my early 20s, I would have been a total wreck. Yeah.

[B]

You couldn't have handled it.

[A]

I needed to go through a whole maturity phase, like the Bible. I needed to spend my time in the desert before I could go into the promised land, because I would have been a wreck. I would have wasted all my money. And that's what you see happen to athletes. It's not. They just think the money will always be there. And I know that it could all go away. Something could happen. You could lose your gigs. Or maybe everybody suddenly is broke and they can't even come to shows.

[B]

Yeah. Feel like big recession and just entertainment is a luxury. Yeah.

[A]

So I try to live in a way that's wisdom. How do I make sure that, you know, I'm not, you know, or my kids even are not. Not in some suffering place. But also just back to. At the beginning. I mean, growing up with my mom, it was me and my mom and my two sisters in a trailer. We had a blast. Yeah. So just.

[B]

You lacked for nothing. Just. Just because it was a trailer park, you didn't have, you know, millions of dollars.

[A]

Yeah. I played in the woods. I played in the creek. I didn't have a smartphone. I didn't have an iPad. I just played in the creek. I looked at bugs and crawfish and.

[B]

Are you trying to raise your kids like that now?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

To where they're not, like, wanting more stuff.

[A]

Yeah. We don't. Well, it's. I think I've missed that boat already. Stuff. But. But I do get them outside at McMinnville. We have a creek. It's very important for me to get them outside and show them bugs. And we do that kind of thing.

[B]

Bugs are very. I think people underestimate the importance of bugs.

[A]

Yeah, I mean, I'm all about bugs and animals and bird watching.

[B]

That's something. Bird looking, I guess you call it.

[A]

Yes, just looking at them.

[B]

Watch. Is watching feel too intense for you?

[A]

Well, you know, as I say in the joke, I mean there is a difference. I mean it's like, hey, you looking at that girl over there? Nah, I'm watching.

[B]

Yeah, the creepy factor goes way up.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Well, I love that. This reminded me of the verse from Proverbs. Proverbs 13:11. Wealth gained hastily will dwindle. But whoever gathers little by little will increase it. And that's your story. If you had a bunch of money early on that you just fell into, you would have squandered it. It would have been gone like a young athlete. But now you've gained it little by little. You're keeping it because you worked really hard for it.

[A]

Yeah. And it's, I mean, it's a real blessing. I mean, you know, I don't take it for granted. I, you know, I all the time and give thanks for the things that I have because it's amazing. I mean, I remember, you know, like I say, I feel like I don't feel like I've ever been broke. Even though there have been times where I, you know, I got a little worried about this or that because I'm like, I don't really have any money. If this car breaks down, I'm gonna be in, I'm gonna be in a, a real situation. But you know, I've always been fine and people, there's not people bailing me out. I've just always been fine.

[B]

But you're pretty self reliant.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

What is something you splurged on recently that like younger Dusty would be shocked by?

[A]

Well, I buy. This is what I buy. Too many DVDs. I'm really into collecting, collecting DVDs.

[B]

Are you watching them or do you just like to collect them?

[A]

I don't know. I do a little of both. But I mainly collect them mostly looking. This is what I think. I think that streaming services, where all. Everything's going to streaming services and then nobody will have any physical media. And then one day you'll go, oh, what was that movie? And then you.

[B]

Nobody can find it.

[A]

And then you can't find it. And I want to be able to find it.

[B]

Wow, really? This is a future casting for like an apocalyptic world where. How are we Going to watch Shazam.

[A]

Exactly. So every time I think of a movie or I think of something, I go, oh, they'll probably ban this movie. I'll go and buy it.

[B]

You think it's a bannable? It's like books. Like, we gotta get this book before they burn them all.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, I try to do that too, but. And then sometimes, like, camera equipment, I'll splurge a bit on camera equipment. Trying to do podcast and increase the.

[B]

Quality, get more viewers and subscribers. We're all hustling out here trying to get those viewers and subscribers.

[A]

Yeah. You know, and I. But it's also a business expense. Right. Because you're, you know, I have my podcast monetized. I do different videos. My social media is monetized. So it does come back to me.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. There's a boomerang effect there.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Well, as we wrap, do you have any financial advice for all the people watching?

[A]

Well, I would say yeah. I mean, just stay out of debt. You know, if you listen to any Dave Ramsey things, which I have in the past, it is all about staying out of debt. Debt scares me so much because interest is insane.

[B]

Well, here's the deal. If you ask my viewers for a like and subscribe, you can promote whatever you want. So just do your best plea.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Get them to hit the like button on this video and share it so that this video can go bananas.

[A]

Oh, yeah. Well, like this video and subscribe to this channel because, you know, this is a good video. This has been a good quality podcast that we put together. We rode around in a Tesla. We went to Bojangles. We even taught the people of Bojangles that it is called Bo Town Roaster. They go, sir, we don't know what you're talking about. And then they hand us a cup with it on there with the biggest font possible. The lady just brewed a fresh pot.

[B]

She said, I appreciate it, and can I say I'm gonna rate this a 2 out of 10.

[A]

It's not the worst coffee I've ever had, I'll say that. That's for sure.

[B]

It's okay. But for a fresh pot, I thought.

[A]

It would be better. Yeah. Well, I. I'll be honest with you. I didn't expect much out of it, but same. It was. It was pretty good. It was coffee. And. And. But yeah. So like it. Because if you like this, there's probably other podcast on this channel that you're also gonna like.

[B]

That's true. I rode around with Dr. John DeLoney. We did this we had a great time. My bumper fell off. Oh, it was a big moment.

[A]

Yeah. That's fun.

[B]

And I want to mention your latest special, Wet Heat on Netflix. Fantastic. You've got your own YouTube channel. It's very successful. You have Nateland podcast.

[A]

Yeah. I got my own podcast called the.

[B]

We're Having a Good Time podcast, which is also fantastic. It feels like a diary. You're very vulnerable on there.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Telling us about your digestive issues. Yeah, I love it.

[A]

My wife listens to it sometimes and she goes, I don't know that people want to hear all this stuff. And I don't know that they do either, but I don't know what else to talk about.

[B]

Well, at this point, it's an outlet so that she doesn't have to hear about it.

[A]

Exactly, exactly. And I got, you know, should be thankful I'm on all the social medias at Dusty Slayer. Yeah. Wet Heat. I feel like Wet Heat has gotten a little lost because I have a special on there called Working Man. Yeah.

[B]

That's also fantastic.

[A]

And they're both on Netflix right now. And I feel like Wet Heat kind of got buried, even though I think Wet Heat is better. Yeah, I think it's a better.

[B]

The way you tied it all together at the end. It was masterful.

[A]

Yeah. Thank you.

[B]

And so everyone should go check that out. If you don't have Netflix. I'm sorry, but he has a lot of great content on YouTube, so check that all out and see him in person as well.

[A]

Yeah. Zany's every month.

[B]

I always try to. To make it if I can. So, Dusty, thank you so much. Did we have a good time?

[A]

We had a good time. We're having a good time.

[B]

We're always having a. We had it. It's present tense and past tense.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Huge thanks to Dusty for joining me today. If you want to check out his work, go to Netflix, check out Wet Heat, or go to his website and find him live and in person, on tour, in your area. And if you love this episode, be sure to watch this one. Coming up next with my friend Dr. John Deloney, where it became painfully clear I needed a new car. Thanks for watching. We'll see you next time.