Stay Tranquilo: Comedians Chris Spencer & Ryan Davis on Comedy, Culture Wars & Why Funny Never Retires

Episode Date: February 16, 2026
Guests: Chris Spencer, Ryan Davis
Host: Stay Tranquilo Network

Episode Overview

This lively and candid episode of Stay Tranquilo dives deep into the world of comedy with renowned comedians Chris Spencer and Ryan Davis. The conversation touches on career longevity, the evolving business of stand-up, culture and colorism, the supportive (and competitive) nature of the comedy community, building audience in a digital world, and creating work that transcends generations and boundaries—all while never shying away from hilarious storytelling and honest reflections on the craft.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking the Ice: Culture, Colorism & Climate

• Jokes About Weather and Heritage: The guests start by riffing on the chilly weather, their jackets, and making playful jokes about race and colorism—even among Latinos.
  • "You're half white, so… yeah, you guys don't get cold." — Chris Spencer ([01:13])
  • "There was colorism everywhere." — Ryan Davis ([01:31])
  • "I didn't realize brown versus brown was a whole… every culture has their version." — Chris Spencer ([01:38])
• Colorism Among Latinos: The host and guests touch on identity and how colorism appears in different cultures, highlighting humor as a way to discuss complex topics.

2. Comedy Careers: Passing the Torch (But Still Shooting the Ball)

• Chris’s Career Shift: Chris Spencer compares his career approach to basketball—shifting from an “assist-first” mindset (Magic Johnson) to being more “shoot-first” (Steph Curry/Lamar Jackson) as he focuses on his own projects.
  • "I work with a lot of people. I'm still a point guard, but it's more Steph Curry… I'm thinking, shoot first, pass later… trying to be a little bit more selfish with my career in these last couple of summers I got left." — Chris Spencer ([02:51])
• Comedy’s Tight-Knit Community: Ryan and Chris joke about the hierarchy in comedy, how comedians keep each other in check, and the legacy of helping each other.
  • "If I come over here and see Tiffany, Ryan, Cedric, Dave Chappelle, Mike Epps—I’m sitting here. This is who I am." — Chris Spencer ([03:11])
  • "If he sat somewhere else, we would clown him… You are a stage performer, Chris." — Ryan Davis ([04:14])
• Mentorship and Opportunity: Ryan shares how Chris played a pivotal role in his ascendance, giving him a chance on the series "Black Comedy in America."
  • "I don't get here without him not only being as great as he is, but also having an eye for other people who do. So that's why I love him so much, man." — Ryan Davis ([04:40])

3. Digital vs. Traditional: The New Era of Comedy Specials

• Building Audiences Online: Both discuss how social media shifted the game for comics.
  • "You could be 20 and have two million followers now… my little 75 followers on MySpace didn’t come to no comedy shows back then, man." — Chris Spencer ([05:50])
  • "A lot of the older comedians were jealous. I watched these younger guys… nurture their following but also… perfect their craft." — Chris Spencer ([05:52])
• Strategic Platform Choices: Ryan’s special, "Underrated," is on YouTube by choice.
  • "It's all strategy. Each streaming platform means something different. For me, getting it on YouTube is because this is an introduction… I need as many people as possible to see it." — Ryan Davis ([10:06])
  • "YouTube is easy to pass. I can text it to somebody… it may not do a lot for me in industry, but it gets the hype around… and my tour money goes up." — Ryan Davis ([10:27])
• Industry vs. Mass Reach: Chris and Ryan talk about choosing wider accessibility over traditional “prestige” outlets.
  • "How can we get the masses?" — Chris Spencer ([12:06])

4. The Making and Importance of "Black Comedy in America"

• Star-Powered Docuseries: "Black Comedy in America" features a who’s-who of comedy and is broadcast everywhere, making history and preserving culture.
  • "We talked to people who've done movies, some of the biggest shows ever… and they're telling, like, never told stuff about that experience." — Ryan Davis ([11:57])
  • "Will Smith's in it, Kevin Hart's in it… We have an episode on Def Comedy Jam, and how important Stan Lathan and Russell Simmons were to that project." — Chris Spencer ([13:01])
  • "It was like Wu Tang Clan. It was like all these headliners came together to make this incredible project." — Chris Spencer ([15:27])
• Intent and Audience: The title is both for clarity and to intrigue broader viewers:
  • "The reason it's called Black Comedy in America is cause we're black. It doesn't mean that if you're not black, you shouldn't watch it." — Ryan Davis ([14:06])
  • "Eddie Murphy didn't belong to black people. He was the biggest global… Will Smith, Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle—they don't belong to black people. That is global." — Ryan Davis ([14:39])
• Behind-the-Scenes: Family and friends played roles as producers, making it a true community project.
  • "My wife is a producer on it. Vanessa… and Tiffany… is also an executive producer." — Chris Spencer ([15:21])

5. Legacy Films & What Couldn’t Be Made Today

• Making "Don't Be a Menace": Chris shares stories from the making of the comedy classic, how much was left on the cutting room floor, and the joy of true ensemble comedy.
  • "People would stay on the set even when they weren't shooting… We laughed all day." — Chris Spencer ([16:25])
  • "One of the funniest stories, we really shot in the hood. We got ran up out the hood… had to pay for shooting in the hood!" — Chris Spencer ([16:58])
• Cultural Sensitivities Then and Now: They reflect on how the film’s edgy humor might not fly in today’s climate but also why their brand of comedy still matters.
  • "You couldn't release that movie today. People would be in a bond." — Chris Spencer ([19:18])
  • "I would release that movie today, though. I invite criticism for some reason." — Ryan Davis ([19:32])

6. The Secret Sauce: Why Comedy Endures

• Chemistry Over Platform or Era: Both comedians trace enduring comedic value to authenticity and community.
  • "There are people who are not funny offstage; this dude [Ryan] is funny everywhere." — Chris Spencer ([08:37])
  • "To get a Chris Spencer cosign is a real thing… we love him so much." — Ryan Davis ([04:41])

7. Where to Watch, Listen, & Find More

• Specials, Docuseries, and More:
  • Chris Spencer’s Goat Adjacent – Hulu ([07:57])
  • Ryan Davis’s Underrated – YouTube ([09:22])
  • Black Comedy in America docuseries – multiple apps and platforms; LOL Network ([14:02])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Colorism and Culture:
  "I didn't realize brown versus brown was a whole… every culture has their version."
  — Chris Spencer ([01:38])

• On Career Strategy:
  "I'm thinking shoot first, pass later… I'm trying to be a little bit more selfish with my career in these last couple of summers I got left."
  — Chris Spencer ([02:51])

• On Mentorship & Community:
  "Yo, to get a Chris Spencer cosign is a real thing. But, yeah, like, I’m super proud… it means a lot."
  — Ryan Davis ([04:41])

• On the Changing Industry:
  "You could be 20 and have 2 million followers now… my little 75 followers on MySpace didn’t come to no comedy shows back then, man."
  — Chris Spencer ([05:50])

• On Comedy’s Reach:
  "Eddie Murphy didn't belong to black people. He was the biggest… global. Will Smith, Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle—they don't belong to black people. That is global."
  — Ryan Davis ([14:39])

• On the Making of a Classic:
  "One of the funniest stories, we really shot in the hood… we got ran up out the hood… had to pay for shooting in the hood!"
  — Chris Spencer ([16:58])

• On Timelessness:
  "If you ever get a chance to see [‘Don’t Be a Menace’], stop what you're doing and watch it… I promise you."
  — Ryan Davis ([20:48])

Segment Timestamps

| Topic | Timestamps | |----------------------------------|---------------| | Opening Banter, Colorism | 01:00–02:03 | | Comedy Career Analogies, Role | 02:45–03:40 | | Comedy Community & Mentorship | 04:13–05:37 | | Social Media & Building Audience | 05:50–06:16 | | The Power of Online Platforms | 09:22–10:58 | | Black Comedy in America Doc | 11:13–15:27 | | "Don’t Be a Menace" Stories | 16:10–19:18 | | Edgy Comedy, Today’s Climate | 19:18–19:46 | | Closing Plugs & Sign-off | 21:05–21:50 |

Closing Thoughts

Throughout the episode, Chris Spencer and Ryan Davis blend sharp insight with riotous humor, offering a behind-the-scenes look at not just how to survive, but thrive in comedy’s ever-evolving landscape. They champion the importance of legacy, adaptability, and, most importantly, lifting up the next generation—while never losing sight of why funny never really retires.

Where to Watch:

• Goat Adjacent (Chris Spencer) – Hulu
• Underrated (Ryan Davis) – YouTube
• Black Comedy in America – LOL Network, Roku, YouTube, and many more