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A
Foreign. Welcome to Mick Unplugged where we ignite potential and fuel purpose. Get ready for raw insights, bold moves and game changing conversations. Buckle up. Here's Mick.
B
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting episode of Mick Unplugged. This one's going to be a little bit different. I'm starting with the public service announcement and a disclosure. If you are driving your car, go ahead and pull over. If you're eating food, put it down. If you are drinking anything, sit the cup or glass down. Because Mick Unplugged and Mick Hunt will not be responsible if you wreck your car or choke on food or water today. Because today's guest is a versatile comedian, a speaker, a a social media influencer, a media personality whose content has taken the Internet by storm over the last several years. Known for his God ain't please rants, he has shared the stage with comedy legends like Kevin Hart, Ricky Smiley, Mike Epps, and many, many more. But beyond the stage, he inspires and uplifts youth, conducting workshops and seminars on high schools and colleges. Ladies and gentlemen, I told you the disclosure in psa. Get ready for an uproarous conversation with my guy. The person I consider top five comedian alive, Mr. Alton Walker. Alton, how you doing today, brother?
A
Man, what's going on, man? What's happening, bro?
B
I'm just trying to be in your world, man.
A
Man, thank you for letting me be in your world. For real, man. I appreciate it. Hey, y'all, excuse the, you know, my background, man. I got. I got stuff falling off and everything on the wall.
B
All good, man.
A
Let's create your own personal studio. So by my sound proof, stuff is falling off and everything. I want a background like yours. I'm like, look at his background.
B
Hey, $5 still goes a long way, bro. $5. And I got you covered. I got you covered, man. So we gave everybody enough time to pull over and to put all their food and drink down. So we gonna get into it, man. Like again, I've been a huge follower of yours probably since the R B workouts, right?
A
Oh, yeah.
B
Taught me the Jodeci step, the KC stuff, right? Yeah, I didn't lose a lot of weight, but. But it was still good, though.
A
I gotta bring it back. So many people want want me to bring it back. I just gotta find the time to do it, man. But nah, that RB workout was amazing.
B
It was great. But when you stopped, I gained all the weight back. I was a. I was a slim 225. Listen, you had it going.
A
That was one of the best Events I ever created in my life, man, we did. Because we did a live, live event. So it was amazing. Sold out every time we did it, man.
B
Man, that's amazing, man. And like, again, one of the top five comedians, in my opinion, in the world. And it's my opinion, so anybody want to argue with me, hold up your phone and do a selfie. Argue with that person you looking at. But when did comedy become a thing and you do more, right? You write, you produce. Like, when did that become a thing for alto?
A
I mean, the first time I got actually paid to do standup, I used to, you know, always host. I was doing, you know, I'm always on. I've been on stage since high school, you know. Well, really before that, you know, I'm a church boys. We always. We've been on stage all my life.
B
Easter Sunday, right?
A
So. But in high school, I was in drama club and I was always a comedic relief, but nobody told me about standup comedy. And I actually did my first standup set in 10th grade, but nobody told me about being a standup comedian. I didn't even know what that was. So when I got around, like, you know, in college, I would host all the time and then, you know, got into radio and I was always host events, but didn't know about stand up comedy. You know, I just thought, hey, I just host. I'm funny, you know. And then somebody asked me, hey, can you do like 15 minutes for $250 or something like that? I was like, oh. And so I got up there and talked for 15 minutes to do whatever, and it worked. It worked, man. So that's when I was like, oh, this is how you do it. Okay. So that's really when I knew that you could make money in comedy, you know? You know, and then of course, you got to figure out the marketing and all that part. But yeah, I mean, I just, I got paid for the first time and I realized, oh, I can make this into a career, to be honest with you.
B
One of the things that I love about you and that I admire about you, though, is that you actually do make it a craft, right? Like, you don't take even the content creation piece. It's not just like, all right, I'm just going to throw some stuff out there. Like, you really hone it in. And I think a lot of people miss that, whether they're a comedian, in their business life, in their personal life, they don't try to master a skill. Yeah, out there, you master that crap, bro.
A
Yeah, man. I Believe if you gonna do it, become a student of whatever you do, you know, I just, you know, and that was with everything when I was, I originally wanted to be a drummer, you know, and I will play, I will play drums for hours and hours and hours just trying to become great at playing drums. I wish I would did it for basketball, but I probably would have been in the NBA. I just didn't know. I didn't have that concept of what hard work can bring to you. But anyway, yeah, man, I believe if you be a student and be consistent and work hard at anything you do, man, you're going to be successful. I really want to know the ins and outs of what comedy is and how to create comedy. Comedy, what makes people laugh. I read books about it, I know formulas about it, you know, I know the ins and out and I'm still learning, you know. So I believe you. You become a master of whatever you want to do or just don't do it at all. Don't half step it, you know, that's how I am, man.
B
And you're the perfect person to answer this question because I have this conversation. I'm a, I'm a huge fan of comedy, of standup comedy, of the writing of comedy. And I tell people all the time, cookout funny and being on stage when people expect you to laugh funny are two totally different things. And you were just kind of elaborating on that too about the reading and the studying for everybody out there, man. Like let them know, just because you funny at a cookout don't mean you can go bless the stage for 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes.
A
They, people act, people do it all the time. They think they could be funny. And I'm like, get on that stage, man. And they get on. They were like, woo. Like it's a lot, it's a lot of social media comedians because you know, they get on stage for the first time and they were like, oh, it ain't what I, what I thought, you know, so. And you still got, you still got some comedians that's just naturally funny. They don't quite know what, like what they are doing, you know, the terminologies or. And they're just great at it. It's some better comedians that's just funny but they don't know what they really doing. They just been doing it for a long time. They've been on stage, they know an audience. But me, I am a student of this thing. I could teach you how to create a joke now, like I can, I know the ins and outs. I know what make people laugh and that's what that will kind of separate comedians, you know what I'm saying? You could tell a comedian that's just goofy, just silly on stage and this and that, and then you could tell a well professional student written comedian you like, oh, no, that took some thought. I'm one of those that like to like, I'm gonna take some thought into every joke, you know what I'm saying?
B
Yep. And another thing that I love about you and your sets, man, you are funny from beginning to end. There are a lot of, I'm gonna say professional famous comedians that, you know, they got a 30, 45 minute set, the first seven minutes or amazing. And then after that it's like, that's all he got. That's all she got. You are literally from second one until when I have to pick my jaw up off the ground, you are that guy from literally beginning to end. And again, like, how do you do that? I know a lot of is the studying, the formulating what you're going to do, but like, how did you get to that level of from minute one to minute 45? I'm tearing their mouth out.
A
Yeah, I mean it's really a lot of stage time, man. Every comedian will tell you, man, I treat comedy like a sport. You know, I created a, like two years ago, I created a thing called the Comedy Gym because I create, I teach, I treat it like a sport. Like Steph Curry shoots thousands of shots a week. Probably he shoots a lot of shots a week. So as a comedian, you have to do these open mics, you have to do stages, you know, so during the week, man, I'm on a stage, you know, whether it's two people in the audience, five people, I found like, we. It's a comedy world where there's open mics and there's different rooms where you can go and work out material and shoot. To be honest with you, Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, they still pop up at these comedy clubs when you don't know. And they'll pop up to work out material. And so that's what I do. Like every set, every joke, I'm working it out. I'm saying it over and over again, saying it over and over again, rearranging things. Okay, I'm listening to an audience, you know, to see what they respond to and whether, okay, do I like that response? Am I okay with that response or how do I respond to their response? You know what I'm saying? How do I react to it, you know, comedy is a two. It's a two. It's a communication. A lot of comedians, they just want people to laugh. They just listen for laughs and that's it. But I listen for reaction. So, you know, it takes time after it takes shooting that shot it takes. Keep shooting, keep working that joke. I'm gonna go hit a stage tonight. Like, I'm still working, still working. And then you get it to different audience. Cause every audience ain't the same. So I've been in rooms where they were playing poker behind me, and the TVs are on. I'm talking about the NBA Finals is home and they playing poker, and we got people coming in front of. It's like, you gotta put yourself in different scenario. White rooms, black rooms, Hispanic, like, just to make sure your material is working. And you dissect it and rearrange it. So that's how I can go from minute one to minute and 20 and keep your attention. And it ain't necessarily about being funny every second. You know, it's just Dave Chappelle says it. It's not all about being funny, but being interesting. You know, if I could keep your attention, that's all that really matters.
B
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. So who are some of your mentors getting into the comedy game?
A
Well, I'll put it like this. I never had anybody to take me under their wing. Like, nobody really. You know, you got those. When I look at mentors, I look at somebody, you have a relationship that you talk to on consistent basis, probably a couple of times a week. Till this day, I still don't have that I never really had. Now I've had people that poured into me, like Ricky Smiley. You know, I could call him a mentor, but we're not. Like, I don't talk to him all the time. You know what I'm saying? So he's the person that poured into me, and he poured into me a lot. Every time I'm on the show, Ricky Smiley is giving me game. Marcus D. Wiley, Yolanda Adam Morning show. These are cats that I could call and just get answers to, you know what I'm saying? Right now, I'm on tour with Kev on stage. Yep. And although he's only one year older than me, man, I'm learning. I'm learning so much from this guy. So with me, I get my inspiration and my information like that. Now, I would love to have a person to really, really mentor me. But, hey, it just never happened for me. I don't know. Have you ever had a Mentor. I never had one.
B
I do. I have a couple. I believe in having coaches, man, because for me, I have to stay on top of my game and learn from wisdom of other people. So. Absolutely.
A
Yeah. Like, I just never had. And I always wanted somebody to, you know, look out and take me in. Like I said, don't get me wrong, I have people that I can call and get advice from, but when I think of mentorship, I think of really having that. That person that. That's close, that checking on you, making sure you're good. I just never had that, that accountability, partability. I never had it. Never.
B
Okay, well, that's amazing because, bro, like I said, top five, in my opinion, best comedian out there. And that's from top to bottom number. Top five for sure.
A
And speaking on like said and you don't, obviously, I guess I didn't need. Need one. But I do like saying you can have. I guess you could talk, call that mentorship. I guess I just look at mentorship as really, really somebody you can really like. It's a relationship.
B
Once a week we gonna get on the phone, we got schedule conversations or stop talking. Yeah, no, I feel you.
A
So, yeah.
B
So on MC Unplugged, man, we talk about your because that thing that's deeper than your why, right? I tell people all the time, I think your why is superficial, right? Like, your kids are your why. Like, yeah, they should be your why, right? But your because is your purpose. Your because is that thing that every day you're going to check and say, I'm doing this because A, B and C, if I were to say Alton Walker, man, what is your because? What's your purpose? Like, why are you doing really what you do, man?
A
That's a question I have to re. Like, I have to react myself and remind myself all the time. Like it's becoming every day. Like, I know I'm here to. I mean, laughter is medicine. God gave me the gift of laughter and it's in his healing, you know, And I know I'm here to use my gifts and talent to what we call bring glory to him or it ain't. It ain't even. It is a. It's. It really is a God thing. I'm not gonna. Yeah, it's to bring glory to him is to, To. To heal people from their. People are troubled, man. And so I'm really now in my groove of what I'm doing. So if you come to my show, you'll get maybe like 50 something minutes of laughter. And in that last 10 minutes, man. It's inspiring, encouraging words and this and this and that. And when I'm coming to find out, man, people forget about my whole 50 minutes and they remember their last. Like right now I'm on tour with Kev on stage and people will remember my last two minutes, two or three minutes of inspiring words than the, the 20 something minutes that I did of laughter. So I'm, I'm really like in my groove of while I'm here, man, I'm here to heal people, man, you know, through a message, man, to make you laugh, but at the end of the day, make you let you know it's going, you gonna be all right. This is what, you know, everything's good, you know, but for a minute, you know, you, you, you, you wanna do it for the money. I still do comedy for money, but it's all for money. It can, it can really turn. You go down the wrong word road when it's all you're doing is for money. And it's discouraging. I recently realized, man, that man, in this world, nothing can make you happy, man. Nothing, no person, nothing completely can make you happy in this world. And so that's why I kept asking the question and so why am I doing this? You know, if you think about it, everything you accomplish, you get it, you do it, and then it's something else you want, which is like, it's a never ending of happiness because you can't get happiness from things or even a person. So you have to find what you just talked about. The. Because, because if you don't, man, you gonna always look for happiness and things in a person and you're never going to be complete, ever.
B
I agree 1000%. So one of my, my mentors, accountability partners, Carlesta Crumpler, who lives in Atlanta as well too, you know, he challenged me about a year ago talking about happiness and he was like, mick, are you happy? I was like, yeah, I'm really happy. And he said, are you fulfilled? And I was like, dog going at car, Lester, you got me like, no, I'm not fulfilled. He said, people think and chase happiness, but what it really is about is joy and fulfillment. Because that's really what you, you're seeking. That's the, that's the thing that you're really driving for. And that totally changed my perspective on how I wanted to do everything. And starting the podcast, it was like, that's about joy and fulfillment, man, because happiness comes and goes, right? Like nobody, I don't care who you are, you're never happy 24 7. Right? Like, there are moments in the day, in the week that just like, crap, like, I gotta deal with this or I gotta go solve this. You can still be fulfilled. And so for me, that's what it became, man.
A
Yeah. Yeah. And like I said, I'm D name. I don't know if you ever heard of Anthony DeMillo. I'm reading a lot of his stuff, man. And it's been helpful, you know, because when you start chasing the money, I mean, I'm always real with my business. And I say this in my comedy show. Me chasing money. Because, I mean, it was a point where I didn't feel like comedy was working or it wasn't going as fast as I wanted to go, you know? And I remember, like, still being successful on tour. I think I was on tour with Desi and all, but it's just like, my career is not moving like I wanted to move, and it's taking too long to get to that financial place. So I remember I started trading stocks, man. And I ain't gonna lie, that first month, I did well. I was on this dude discord and shout out to him. Dude named Aristotle Investment. He does not. Nothing against what he would do. They would give you calls. They give you. Teach you how to trade. I started doing my own thing, okay? That first month, I made, like, $20,000, man. Was killing it that second month and beyond. And I remember hearing clearly a voice of God saying, look, man, you know? Cause it was getting to a point where. And a lot of times, this is what happens. We get discouraged in our gifts, and we'll try to move to something else. Try to still hold on to our gifts, but we put more attention to that something else. And that's what I was doing. I was giving that more attention. I remember being on my phone, like, doing comedy shows or, you know, at the radio station, where I should be focused. It's like, when I should be focused in the gift, I'm giving it to stocks. And I remember losing. Kept losing money. And God's like, hey, man, it ain't nothing wrong with stocks. But that's not what you. What? That's not what I called you to do. Your millions is in your gifts. And every time you throw yourself in your gift and your talent, you make a lot of money, man. I put it. Look, I lost 100. Over $140,000 in trading stocks, you know, And I made more. Like, I made all that money with comedy, you know what I'm saying? And so I always Encourage people, like, to stay focused. And Because. Because when you're not happy and you're not fulfilled, like you. Like you was talking about, you will go. You will go to other things, and, man, you'll get lost in that thing. It was a dark moment, you know, even now, you know, trying to get out of it. You know, I'd be like, man, I don't know. I don't know how I'm. You know what I'm saying? But God is good. You know, I'm able to eat. I ain't boat. But $140,000. That was an expensive lesson to say, hey, man, get back on your grind and on you. Focus on you and what God created you to do. And everything is going to come. And every time I do it, man, I kill. I made the most money in comedy.
B
Okay.
A
My biggest check has been comedy.
B
Yeah.
A
You know, but like I said, it wasn't moving. Like, I wanted it to move. And that's what happens when you lose focus and you go to something else. So, yeah, $140,000. Lesson to say, alton, get back to the grind of comedy.
B
Yeah. I don't care who you are. $140,000 is. $140,000. Like, that's a big messing.
A
Oh, that was. Oh, I want my money back so bad, man. I want. But I. And I'm getting it back. But it is getting it back. Like, with comedy. Like, I wanted to get it back the way I lost it, and that's why I kept on losing. Cause I'm like, I'm gonna get this back with the stocks.
B
Like, that's why Vegas is what Vegas is. Everybody has that same mentality.
A
Yeah. And. And my. And my girl had to say that, you know, hey, man, you slick gambling. I was like, you know, I hate to say it like that, but yeah, yeah, I would. I was. It became gambling trying to get my money back. You know, at first, it was wealth growing because, you know, I was sticking with the rules. And those who trade stocks and do it the right way, they are successful. Successful. It just ain't my thing. I ain't disciplined enough to do stocks. Not with that. I'm disinfectable. I'm disciplining. But that stock market, no, that ain't me.
B
So what I heard was God wasn't pleased with that.
A
God. And that's what he was. And I remember telling the guys, like, I'm like, well, until you do something else, I'm gonna trade these stocks. And it wasn't him punishing. He wouldn't punish me nothing. Like, it was nothing. I do nothing with punishment. He just know me. And he, like, I'm trying to keep you from losing more. That's just not. Put your focus back on the purpose.
B
Yeah.
A
And when you take your focus off of purpose, you're going to lose. I'm telling you, you're going to lose every time.
B
Every time, Every time. So speaking of God Ain't Please, when did that start? Like, what was the. The mindset of. Of starting? I'm going to say that brand because to me, it's become a brand. Right? So, yeah, so tell us the evolution of that.
A
I would do these things called Sunday services. I would be preaching. I posted a few clips once in a while. But every Sunday, me and my homegirl, she would be like my one member in this Facebook Live, and I'd be preaching about whatever current event went down, and I would just say, and God ain't please, not even knowing I'm doing it. And I just started seeing people in the comments saying. And somebody said, man, I need that T shirt. And so I'm like, okay. So I started doing my rants and just saying, God ain't pleased, you know, And I go. And then I start stuttering, not knowing. I'm like. And. And, and. And I'm not even knowing I'm doing it. That's what everybody. Look, read your comments. And I know some of your comments are like, crazy. And, you know, but some of them comments can make you some money. The R and B workout event came from a comment. I was putting those videos out in that viral video, and somebody said, ooh, I take this class. I was like, created a class. And I remember that first one. I put 50. I just put 50 tickets. Early bird. That junk sold out in like 10 minutes, you know? Cause it was like, man, your comment. So basically, God ain't Please came from the audience saying it came from me saying it, but me paying attention to the audience going back to comedy on that standup. I'm just not just speaking, but I'm listening to responses. Okay, what are they getting? So smack that thing on the T shirt. And now it's a brand.
B
It is totally a brand. My favorite Instagram reels weekly are the God Ink Please clips. Because, bro, you give it to me every time. I even. I even put in the comments, man. Like, there was one time, and the reason I told everybody to put your food and drinks down. We were at dinner and I'm rolling through Instagram and you popped up and obviously, you know, I Usually have the volume down. I always turn the volume up on yours. And I about lost it. I about lost it. And I was like, I'm done. I think that's the comment I put in there too. Like, I'm done. I can't mess with Alton no more. Not this week.
A
And I just like to have fun, man. Like, you know, so a lot of people. Cause my stuff can be edgy. But it is what it is, man.
B
Yeah. Hey, I love it, man. I freaking love it. I love it. And another thing that I love about what you do is you're never bashing anyone, right? It's just you're saying what other people are thinking. It's just. Let me bring it to your attention now.
A
Some I do, I go straight at. But I like when. Because what people think I'm going to say, like they think I'm about to go at them and I don't. You know, that's the thing. So like with the big girls, like, that was the boy. I ain't lizard whites, baby. I love a lizard white, man. But plus size women, baby, shout out to y'all, dude.
B
Because all you see is the picture of her trying to walk through this doorway. And I was like, I gotta hear what you're about to say because I'm about to lose.
A
Yeah, baby. Really? Give My people number 7, 7, 7, 9,000, 311.
B
Yes, sir.
A
And I do that because, you know, also, man, like everything I do have purpose, man. It's a lot of plus size women that are like, you know. Cause this world make you feel like you gotta be a certain size. You gotta be, you know, so, you know, I don't believe in body shaming, so it's to encourage them. And I get a lot of plus sized women in my DM saying, thank you, this and this and that. Like shout out to. And I do. I am attracted to plus size women, especially they got curves and this and this night. I discriminate. I do like plus size women because people like you don't really like them. Yes, I do.
B
Alton Walkershow is his Instagram handle. He does check his DMs. He will respond to you. Ladies. Alton Walkershow on Instagram.
A
Plus size women. Hit me up, baby.
B
So I got to go to another again. I'm going to say it's a brand because it was. You posted it as video of the year. It was my song of the year, man. The crazy thing was I saw it, I think it was, what, in July on the morning Hustle show, right? So I Watched it and I was like, what in the world? And then when he did the clip of it, I was like, that is it. That is my jam. I actually do. I have the audio version. I probably listen to it and like, for one of my cousins, because you guys look alike, like that is literally the ringtone that I have for now. He don't ever call me, but he always texts. But if he were to call, that's what was.
A
That was. And what's crazy about that is when I was going through time where comedy wasn't funny, I mean, it just wasn't fun. I wasn't having fun with comedy. You know, I wouldn't. I didn't feel like I was angle. I felt like I was getting overlooked on a few opportunities, you know, couldn't find nobody to help me on, like I was just in that space. And I just like, you know what, Let me figure this out. Let me get back to the fun of it. As soon I started building, getting back to the fun and the purpose like we've been talking about, that was one of the first videos that I did. It was like, oh, we just gonna have fun, man.
B
And it wasn't even, what, a week? And it had over a million views.
A
Well, it's crazy. Cause I posted the first time. It moved, but it didn't move. Yeah, and then what happened was Kendrick Lamar did his concert in la and I said, you know what? I'm gonna drop it again. Because at the time I posted it, it was like, they not like us kind of. It was kind of dying down a little bit. It was still around, but him doing that concert made it come back up. So I dropped it again and that's when it took off.
B
Did we ever give the character a name? I know we gave it.
A
I ain't even gave him a name yet, man. Cause I did a few other videos with him that went well because he's just an old school rapper that rap about old, old people. Like what old people should rap about. You know what I'm saying? That's the whole idea. Those rappers, ripper snappers, man, sometimes. And I learned, like with social media, man, I recently just did it. I pulled a video from 2020, a Christmas video, and reposted it and it went viral. The first time I posted it, it was like 100,000 views. I posted it again. It got over a million views.
B
Yeah, I tell people it's the same thing with books, right? Like you see a book come out, you think it's new, and then you realize, oh, this book was written 20 years ago, but it's just recirculating because something happened, made it relevant, or, you know, the. The social media team or the marketing team decided to push it. Now, like, it's always, I tell everybody, if not if you're trying to be an influencer, because to me, that's hard. Like, you either are. You're not. Like, you don't try to be an influencer, but if you want to test your content, like, test it like it's your content, right? Like, you don't have to say, oh, I posted it once. And now it has to sit there like, nah. If you believe in the material that you have and the things you created, like, it's yours. You own it. Like, you can post it every day if you want to. Right? And I think that's where people make a mistake. It's like, oh, well, you know, I posted it once, and nobody did anything. Nobody commented. I'm like, hey, part of that could be the algorithm. Part of it could have just been like, I know for me, like, I did something, thought it was about to be hot, and then the next day, Joe Biden said, I'm out the race. It was like that killed everything, but then brought it back, like, a month later, and it started taking off.
A
Started taking off. Yeah. I mean, and that's learning, you know, from, like. Cause I do. I will say this going back, I do have a lot of colleagues and peers that, like I said, I really learned a lot with about, you know, I don't know if you ever heard of Shula King. Yeah, Shula came one man, I could call it. And he's a person that, like, he the one that got me really doing. God ain't pleased, like, the way I do it, you know? Cause I used to take a lot. A lot of time. People don't do a lot of content. Cause they take. It takes a. It takes them a long time, you know. But Shula was like, hey, man, stop editing your stuff. Stop redoing it 30 times. Cause I be wanting it so perfect. And I found out the Internet, they hate perfection.
B
Yes. I learned that the hard way, too. Like, I can literally take my phone and just record sitting right here. And it will get more.
A
It will go.
B
Yeah, It'll like, I can spend 45 minutes editing something. The right message, the right voice, the right tone. Nobody cares.
A
Yeah, but let me go. Try to do it. Say it again now.
B
I said, but let me go stumble down the steps and everybody fall out on it.
A
Listen, look, I'm Looking at you right now, content creators, if you're struggling, if you want to get in social media, stop. Don't stop pressuring yourself. Stop making it hard. Stop overthinking. That's the word I was looking for. Stop overthinking.
B
Yes, sir.
A
My most viral videos come from me not overthinking, like, just putting it out there. Don't worry about if it get likes. Don't worry about the comments. Like, you have to start doing this for you what makes me laugh or what I think is funny. Because like I said, you know, it. It'd be the video you spend hours making. And you be like, oh, yeah, man, it's good. Look good. You post that thing. You be like, well, let me take you down and repost it. Post it again. Wait a minute. Whoa, whoa, whoa. And then, like I said, the video where you just talking and being real. Like, that's what I learned about the Internet. Like, they don't like. They hate perfection. They love just authenticity, you know? I think I said that word right.
B
Yeah, so you did. You did well. You did well. So God ain't please, man. Like, I'm gonna start calling him Bishop Gap for God ain't plead Bishop Gap.
A
When Bishop Gap Bishop, that is what.
B
So, again, man, like, I. I know how that one came about. We just talked about the character that we don't have a name for yet.
A
I'm hoping Kendrick give me. Let me open up for the super bowl because I know he heard the song. He had to heard. He had to hear that thing.
B
Let's. Let's put it out there. These people got to be hearing something.
A
Like, it ain't no way that thing went too viral for him not to hear it. So hopefully he'll hit me up like, hey, man, yeah, just open up the Super Bowl. If he do that, man, I might lose my mind.
B
Well, I want to see you lose your mind. What mind you got left? I want to see you lose it. I want to see you lose it. Hey, so, man, again, just honored to have you on, man. Is there anything you want to leave the people with today?
A
I mean, again, man, we. What I really want people to do, especially for 2025, man, is to really own your greatness, man. That's what I'm on. I was raised a Christian church world, and a lot of time in the church world. We take being humble or humility to a whole nother level. We take that. I mean, we. I mean, we take humble to let people just walk over you type stuff, you know, because we don't want to outshine people. So, you know, humble. Humble. And humility to us is stay low. Like, you know, be great, but don't talk about it. You know, when somebody say, you good? Oh, man, you know, nah, nah, nah, nah. You know, And I'm at a place where I'm not dimming my light for anybody. You know, I'm not giving my light to make you feel comfortable around me or to make you feel better or feel, you know, I'm not doing that no more. And where I got it from is when Jesus. When they looked at Jesus and said, who are you? He said, I am. You know, like. Like, all right, say that to somebody now. Like, if I came, you ask me. Okay, alto. Who are you, man? I hear, though, you know, you'll be like, man, this dude is cocky. You know, he's. But. And that's what they did. They thought Jesus was like, man, they were like, who are. Who you think you is to say that? But in reality, he wasn't lying to the Christian world. He's the son of God. So he was telling the truth. I am. I am that I am. And so when I looked at that, I'm like, why are we not like that? Why are we not moving around like I am? You know? And the reason why I put emphasis on that, because if Jesus doesn't know who he is, he can't do the miracles that he performs, so he miss out on all those opportunities to be God. And I feel like when we move around and we don't know our greatness, we don't know that I am, we will miss out on opportunities. We won't see them because we don't understand how great we are because we don't think we good enough for it. So I'm going around this world and like, hey, own your greatness. Be great and don't apologize for it. Don't dim your life for nobody. Stop making people feel good. No, listen, when they look at you and say, who you are, I am, and own it. I've been looking at your stuff. It looks good. I don't know how much work you put in, how much study you put behind podcasts, but you know what you doing, man? And never, ever again dim your light. And I know you probably not doing it, but, man, own it. You great at this. This is what you do, man. And it looks amazing, bro. And I'm proud of you. And I can't wait to see how you take over 2 to 25. I like that you said, hey, man, I Got the number one podcast. That's what I'm talking about. Let's get it.
B
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I needed that message today.
A
God dog it. I'm sick of this. You will try to be like you ain't who you are. I'm sick of it, man.
B
I needed it today.
A
Reverend, listen, is that it's your time and it's only your time. And sometimes we'll miss our time because again, we forget how great we are. And you're not great because you're great because God created you, but you're great because you put the time and effort in it.
B
Yes, sir.
A
That's why you great. That's why you're great. Yes. You naturally talented. With me, yes, I'm naturally talented. LeBron is naturally talented, but what makes him great is the effort and time that he put in it. And that's why you say I am great. Not because it's by accident. It's because I put the work in to get to this greatness. So that's what I want to leave people sick of. This Bishop Gap.
B
I needed that one, brother. I needed that one.
A
Let's get it, man.
B
Man. So again, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. This won't be the last. We'll do something in person. We'll go out to the studios at Urban1 and record some in person stuff, too.
A
Maybe, man. We'd love to, man.
B
We'll do something, bro. I appreciate you more than you know, man.
A
I appreciate you having me, man.
B
Absolutely. For all the listeners and viewers, remember, your because is your superpower. Go unleash it.
A
Thank you for tuning in to Mick Unplugged. Keep pushing your limits, embracing your purpose and chasing greatness. Until next time, stay unstoppable.
Podcast Summary: Mick Unplugged – "I Went from ZERO to VIRAL with Alton Walker's Tips!"
Introduction
In the January 23, 2025 episode of "Mick Unplugged," host Mick Hunt sits down with the multifaceted comedian, speaker, and social media influencer Alton Walker. Known for his viral content and impactful messages, Alton shares his journey from humble beginnings to internet stardom, providing listeners with invaluable insights into mastering comedy, building authentic content, and embracing one's true purpose.
Alton Walker's Journey in Comedy
Alton's foray into comedy began unexpectedly during his high school years. Despite being active in drama club and serving as the comedic relief, he initially had no awareness of stand-up comedy as a distinct art form. It wasn't until college that Alton was approached to perform stand-up professionally, marking the true beginning of his comedy career.
"I did my first standup set in 10th grade, but nobody told me about being a standup comedian." [03:31]
This early exposure set the foundation for Alton's dedication to the craft, transforming what he once saw as mere hosting into a viable career path.
Mastering the Craft of Comedy
Alton emphasizes that comedy is more than just making people laugh; it's a disciplined craft that requires continuous learning and refinement. He likens his approach to that of a professional athlete, comparing his rigorous practice to Steph Curry's shooting regimen.
"I treat comedy like a sport. You have to do these open mics, you have to do stages." [08:28]
To further hone his skills, Alton founded the Comedy Gym, a space dedicated to practicing and perfecting comedic material. He believes that understanding the intricacies of joke creation and audience engagement is what sets seasoned comedians apart from amateurs.
Building Authentic Content: From Authenticity to Virality
One of the pivotal lessons Alton shares is the importance of authenticity in content creation. He stresses that overthinking and excessive editing can hinder a video's potential to go viral.
"Don't overthink. Stop overthinking. Stop making it hard." [32:11]
Alton's approach is to produce content that resonates personally, focusing on what he finds genuinely funny rather than chasing perfection. This authenticity not only makes his content more relatable but also significantly increases its viral potential.
The Genesis of "God Ain't Pleased"
"God Ain't Pleased" originated organically from Alton's live interactions. Initially, it was a spontaneous remark during his Sunday services and Facebook Live sessions. The phrase quickly gained traction as audience members began requesting merchandise, leading to its evolution into a full-fledged brand.
"God ain't please came from the audience saying I was doing it, but me paying attention to the audience." [24:26]
This brand encapsulates Alton's ability to listen to his audience and translate their feedback into impactful content, reinforcing the symbiotic relationship between creator and viewer.
Purpose Over Profit: Finding Fulfillment in Comedy
Alton delves deep into the concept of moving from a superficial 'why' to a profound 'because.' He articulates that his primary purpose is to use laughter as a healing tool, bringing glory to God and providing inspiration alongside humor.
"I'm here to heal people through a message, to make you laugh, but at the end of the day, make you let you know it's going to be all right." [16:30]
This shift from monetary motivation to purpose-driven work not only enhances his personal fulfillment but also enriches the quality and impact of his performances.
Lessons from Financial Ventures: The Stock Market Experience
Alton candidly shares his foray into stock trading as an attempt to achieve financial stability outside of comedy. Despite initial successes, he ultimately lost over $140,000, a sobering lesson that reinforced his dedication to his true passion.
"Every time you throw yourself in your gift and your talent, you make a lot of money." [20:37]
This experience underscored the importance of staying true to one's purpose and the pitfalls of diverting focus purely for financial gain.
Mentorship and Learning in the Comedy World
While Alton acknowledges the absence of a formal mentor in his journey, he credits influential figures like Ricky Smiley, Marcus D. Wiley, Yolanda Adams, and Kevin Hart for their indirect mentorship through collaborations and professional interactions.
"I'm on tour with Kev on stage. And although he's only one year older than me, I'm learning so much from this guy." [11:05]
Alton underscores the value of continuous learning and seeking wisdom from peers within the industry.
Embracing Greatness: Alton's Empowering Message
Towards the end of the episode, Alton delivers a powerful message urging listeners to own their greatness and refuse to dim their light for others. Drawing inspiration from his Christian upbringing, he emphasizes the importance of self-belief and recognizing one's inherent worth.
"Own your greatness. Be great and don't apologize for it. Don't dim your light for nobody." [37:06]
This message serves as a motivational cornerstone, encouraging individuals to fully embrace their potential and pursue their passions with unwavering confidence.
Conclusion
In this engaging episode of "Mick Unplugged," Alton Walker provides a comprehensive look into the life of a modern comedian who seamlessly blends humor with purpose. From mastering the craft of comedy and building authentic content to embracing one's true purpose and overcoming financial missteps, Alton's insights offer valuable lessons for leaders, creators, and anyone striving to make a meaningful impact. His final words resonate as a call to action for listeners to harness their inherent strengths and pursue their goals with dedication and authenticity.
"Keep pushing your limits, embracing your purpose and chasing greatness. Until next time, stay unstoppable." [38:33]
Subscribe to "Mick Unplugged" and embark on a transformative journey towards personal and professional fulfillment through the principles of modern leadership.