Laugh with Me – Episode 97: Dez Pearson (July 20, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this rich and engaging episode, host Jeremy Odem (Jo) sits down with young comedian, content creator, and theater enthusiast Dez Pearson. The conversation dives into what makes Dez laugh, his improvisational approach to creating YouTube content, journey with the Des Moines Young Artist Theater (DeMYAT), inspirations from comedic legends, movie tastes (including a passion for "bad movies"), and insights into his creative process. The episode is both insightful and humorous, providing listeners a glimpse into the mind of a uniquely talented up-and-comer.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Dez Pearson & His Content (03:30–04:41)

• Jeremy presents Dez as a rising content creator from Pizza Crust Studios, describing his work as a mix of parody, shorts, and pilots.
• “I mostly just make what I want to make.” – Dez (03:40)

Content Creation Approach:

• Dez focuses on improvisation. Often, he doesn't script his videos and instead tries to make things funny on the spot (04:08–04:17).
• “I mean mostly the second option. Sometimes I just don’t script videos at all and go full improv.” – Dez (04:08)

2. Newscasting Camp & Skills Gained (04:41–07:55)

• Dez recently attended a summer newscasting camp, adding technical skills (like operating a $900 camera!) and teleprompter reading to his toolkit.

• Learned the behind-the-scenes of teleprompting, and even had to improvise when tech failed: “For the last three sentences we actually did have to look down at some paper copy.” – Dez (06:44)

• Takeaways: Improved skills in camera operation, newscasting, and improvising in technical hiccups.

3. Involvement with DeMYAT (07:55–12:35)

• Dez’s theater journey began with a small part in "Chronicles of Narnia" (Nov 2023), moving quickly into media by making promotional videos when he didn’t make it into the next show ("Finding Nemo Jr.").
• Initiated video segments like “Weekend Update” and contributed to another, “What’s Up Down at DeMYAT,” giving credit to collaborator Isla Bauer.
• “I've seen lots of people at the plays and stuff...come up to me and be like, hey, I've seen your videos.” – Dez (10:35)

Notable Moment:

• Discusses the bureaucracy and copyright of filming plays: “No, we can't, sadly, due to, like, legal issues…unless it’s an original play.” – Dez (12:56)

4. Spotlight: Spongebob the Musical (13:20–14:49)

• Current project: Promotional materials for "Spongebob the Musical," July 25th–August 3rd at DeMYAT.
• “Take that [Spongebob] times 100, and that’s what you get.” – Dez (13:26)

5. Pizza Crust Studios & YouTube Evolution (15:16–19:01)

• Genesis: Started with a love of gaming (Minecraft videos), teaching himself editing as he matured into more complex, multi-camera, and green screen material.

• “At first, I just wanted to be a gaming channel...Now, I do a lot of editing and green screen.” – Dez (16:27–17:11)

• Scripting Process: Uses a free scriptwriting tool (Kit Scenarios) and works with a flexible, mostly bullet-point approach, improvising as he films (17:52–18:39).

6. Improv, Audience, and Age-Appropriate Humor (19:01–20:27)

• Experience with DeMYAT’s “Play in a Day” improvisational project.
• Balances comedy for both kids and adults, targeting “a strong G” rating (20:24).

7. Comedy & Horror: A Shared DNA (20:27–23:35)

• Dez experiments with horror in his shorts, describing its connection to comedy: “Horror and comedy are actually very close…both try to get a reaction out of you.” (21:31)
• Discussion of his horror-comedy series “The Chair with Dez,” focusing on screaming as a comedic device versus true comedic structure.

Notable Quote:

• “There's a way to comedy. It's the setup, the build, and the punchline. And it's not just randomly screaming.” – Dez (22:21)

8. Long-Form Ambitions & Documentary Projects (23:49–26:22)

• Plans for longer videos, including a documentary-style interview with his great-grandma about living through World War II and historical events.
• “It doesn’t have the talking heads or anything. It’s just a one-on-one interview...It's kind of funny at moments, but it’s not really a comedy.” – Dez (25:51–26:06)

9. Influences: Andy Samberg, The Lonely Island, Weird Al (31:07–39:35)

Andy Samberg (31:07):

• Major influence, discovered via Lonely Island’s “I’m On A Boat,” later obsessed with "Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” and “Hot Rod.”
• “He’s the only reason I’m still alive…I like his absurd comedy style.” – Dez (37:32)

Weird Al (38:35):

• Admires his original (not just parody) work. “He doesn’t just do parodies...my favorite song—Dare to be Stupid—isn’t even a parody.” – Dez (39:20)
• Emphasizes Weird Al’s kindness and sincerity (38:35–39:20).

10. Favorite TV Shows & Feuds (40:01–44:00)

• Dez’s Top 5: Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Rec, SNL, Futurama, The Good Place.
• Comedic back-and-forth about Ted Danson and “The Good Place,” with Jeremy revealing a long-standing (joking) feud against Ted Danson in favor of Steve Guttenberg (43:54).

11. Bad Movies: A Love Affair (47:08–50:59)

• Favorite “so bad it’s good” movies, including:
  • Super Mario Bros. (1993) – “That thing traumatized me.” – Dez (47:32)
  • Bats – “It is 100% bats, 0% logic.” – Dez (48:39)
  • Tammy and the T. Rex – Ridiculous plot where a teen’s brain is put into an animatronic dinosaur (49:56).
• “If you have a bad movie that nobody wants to see, I can advertise it.” – Dez (50:59)

12. Collecting: Games, Figures, and More (53:45–59:49)

• Brought a “show and tell” box, highlighting:

  • Rare Deadpool Xbox game
  • Deadpool action figure & Funko Pop
  • Master Chief (Halo) figure
  • 3D printed Alien chestburster

• Stories behind the collectibles, including explaining Jay’s, a beloved local comic/video game store.

13. Upcoming Projects and Aspirations (60:38–65:25)

• Working on a feature-length comedy-crime film (set in Arizona, crime duo gets caught up in a criminal family).
• “They don’t solve crime—they are crime.” – Dez, describing his film’s twist on the buddy comedy genre (61:57)
• Developing a mockumentary-style web miniseries, “Roomies,” inspired by sitcoms and focused on quirky housemates navigating life together (63:40).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Horror and comedy are actually very close…they both try to get a reaction out of you.” (Dez, 21:31)
• “There's a way to comedy. It's the setup, the build, and the punchline.” (Dez, 22:21)
• “He’s the only reason I’m still alive, I’m going to say. I’m just joking.” (Dez on Andy Samberg, 37:32)
• “That thing traumatized me…Yoshi was literally just a dinosaur.” (Dez on Super Mario Bros. 1993, 47:32)
• “If you have a bad movie that nobody wants to see, I can advertise it.” (Dez, 50:59)
• “They don’t solve crime—they are crime.” (Dez on his film, 61:57)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Meet Dez & YouTube Origins: 03:30–04:41
• Newscasting Camp & DeMYAT Involvement: 04:41–12:35
• Spongebob the Musical Talk: 13:20–14:49
• YouTube Growth & Editing: 15:16–19:01
• Comedy, Improv & Horror Discussion: 19:01–23:35
• Inspiration: Andy Samberg & Weird Al: 31:07–39:35
• Top Comedy Shows, Movie Taste & Collecting: 40:01–59:49
• Current/Future Creative Projects: 60:38–65:25

Tone, Style, and Atmosphere

Jeremy Odem’s conversational, witty style keeps the episode lively. Dez’s youthful honesty, quick humor, and deep pop culture knowledge create a show that’s insightful but always playful. Their mutual love of comedy and movies bridges generational gaps, with Dez’s creative energy shining throughout.

Final Takeaways

• Dez Pearson is a creative force combining comedy, improv, theater, and new media, taking inspiration from icons like Andy Samberg and Weird Al.
• His independent approach to content creation, along with hands-on experience in theater promotions, sets him apart as a rising comedic talent.
• The episode offers laughs, inspiration, and a behind-the-scenes look at Gen Z humor, creative ambitions, and the joy of making people laugh—with, not at, you.