Staying Alive with Jon Gabrus & Adam Pally

Bonus Clip: UCB Origin Stories (w/ Ify Nwadiwe)
Recorded in Austin | Released April 9, 2026

Episode Overview

This bonus episode features an in-depth, candid, and nostalgic detour from the hosts’ regular health and wellness conversations. Jon Gabrus, Adam Pally, and guest Ify Nwadiwe (pronounced “Waddaway” in transcript) share their unique comedic origin stories with the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB). The trio reminisce about their early days navigating the improv scene, discuss the evolution and quirks of UCB in NYC and LA, and reflect on the community, competitiveness, and cultural shifts that shaped their careers and personal growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Finding Community and Early Influences in Improv

• Starting out feeling lost: Adam Pally describes the challenge of breaking into comedy without connections—“You don’t feel connected in any one community, you can kind of feel lost.” (00:49)

• Early inspiration: Echo Kellum & Donald Glover:

  • Ify credits Echo Kellum as a crucial early influence.
  • Matt Apodaca encouraged Ify to listen to Donald Glover’s episode of WTF, where the scarcity of Black improvisers is discussed. This encouraged Ify to pursue UCB.
  • Ify on expectations:
    • “Even though I was nowhere near it, I was half expecting (Donald Glover) to be like, and I hear this guy in Orange County, Ify Waddaway.” (01:54)

• Delusions of grandeur as motivation:

  • “That’s the delusion of grandeur that we all have. You almost arguably need it.” – Ify Nwadiwe & Jon Gabrus (02:17–02:21)
  • “The fact that I’m so delusional about this means I must be obsessed.” – Jon Gabrus (03:02)

2. Representation & Diversity in Improv

• Scarcity of Black improvisers:

  • “Donald said not a lot of Black improvisers.”—Ify (03:31)
  • The lack of representation was both frustrating and motivating for Ify and many others.

• Comparing LA and NY diversity:

  • Ify notes experiencing a more diverse scene upon moving to LA:
    • “In New York, the drama was, there’s no POC performers... I come to LA, and I’m like, they’re here.” (04:25–04:38)

• All-Black “ASSSSCAT” show discourse:

  • “Donald should have done the LA ASSSSCAT, Black History Month. That should be a new rule. If he does one, he has to do the other…” – Adam Pally (04:38–04:47)
  • “I’m gonna text him that right now. LA is pissed.” – Jon Gabrus (04:47–04:49)

3. UCB: Comparing Cultures, Hierarchies & Shifts

• New York vs LA UCB hierarchy:

  • Adam brings a “hot take”:
    • “NY UCB, at least back in the early DCM era, had more of a hierarchy than LA UCB…” (05:54)
    • Ify and Jon agree, noting LA’s more democratized feel due to its newness and influx of transplants.
    • NYU theater kids and old guard created a sense of “ownership” and competition.
      • “I famously say that our Herald team... was the last time that a Herald team was just made up of ‘these are the fun’... After us, it got so much more competitive.” – Ify (08:03)
      • “There just weren’t enough people... if you were still around after Level 3...” – Jon (08:17)

• Anecdotes of making it ‘in the club’:

  • “In LA, you hear like, ‘yeah Andrew Garfield’s in a 101 class... are you gonna big dog Andrew Garfield because you have a couple of guest stars?’” – Adam Pally (06:41)
  • On breaking into teams via connections:
    • Ify: "It's like asking your mom if your friend could sleep over in front of your friend." (09:34)

• Stage time & dedication:

  • Monster Heralds, indie shows, last-minute jams—everyone hustled for time.
  • “You had to go to it. It made people kind of dwindle down who were just... going through the motions.”—Adam Pally (10:43)
  • Success required intention & passion, not just attendance.

4. Growing Careers, Sacrifice, and Peer Transitions

• Making life changes for improv:

  • Ify juggled a salary job and comedy, calling in sick for unpaid auditions until he was suspended and ultimately quit to pursue DCM and improv full-time:
    • “I was calling out a salary job for the whole... for a potential to make a hundred dollars.” – Ify (11:55)

• Peer dynamics & mentorship:

  • Improvisers’ respect is based on talent, not fame:
    • “Fame in an improv green room is the least tradable asset.” – Jon Gabrus (05:48)
    • “Improviser does not care if you’re the most famous or least famous—they will cling to you if you’re funny.” (05:35)

• From van rides to peerage:

  • “In that van is like me, Schwartz, Bobby, and Colton... all those people now to me are like the best of the best. They become peers. But when you were in that van, you’re like, holy shit.” – Jon Gabrus (10:30–10:41)

5. Getting On Stage: The Old UCB Hustle

• Indie team stories and ‘crash shows’:

  • “You’d be like, ‘Hey, do you want to do Walsh’s show? Everyone has to come up with something to do for 90 seconds...’” – Ify (13:25)
  • “If you could do it, you could do it, you know...and get a call if you can hang.” – Jon Gabrus (14:12)

• Rapid Joke About Being “In”:

  • “They’re pretty good about being like, well, you’re in now.” (14:17–14:19)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “That’s the delusion of grandeur that we all have...You almost arguably needed.”—Ify Nwadiwe & Jon Gabrus (02:17)
• “Fame in an improv green room is the least tradable asset.” – Jon Gabrus (05:48)
• “In LA, you’re hearing like, ‘Yeah, Andrew Garfield’s in a 101 class…are you gonna big dog Andrew Garfield because you have a couple of guest stars?’” – Adam Pally (06:41)
• “You had to go to it. It made people dwindle down who were just...going through the motions.” – Adam Pally (10:43)
• “If you could do it, you could do it, you know, and get a call if you can hang.” – Jon Gabrus (14:12)

Key Timestamps

• 00:49 – Adam Pally on feeling lost in comedy, and finding guiding community
• 01:54 – Ify’s pivotal moment hearing Donald Glover’s podcast
• 02:17–03:02 – On ‘delusions of grandeur’ as creative necessity
• 04:25–04:38 – Ify on LA vs NY diversity in improv
• 05:54 – Adam’s “hot take” on UCB hierarchy NY vs LA
• 08:03–08:33 – Ify & Jon on how UCB teams were historically formed
• 09:34 – Ify’s story of becoming part of an all-Black indie team
• 10:30–10:41 – Gabrus on the significance of riding with future stars
• 11:55–12:16 – Ify on quitting his stable job for improv
• 13:25–14:12 – On the old UCB hustle: getting stage time however possible

Takeaways

• The struggles, motivations, and culture shocks of early improv careers are universal, marked by a mix of delusion, hustle, and sudden opportunities.
• Representation and diversity remain key issues, and the evolution between NY and LA improv scenes holds meaningful differences.
• Despite fame or lack thereof, respect and opportunity in UCB’s heyday were earned through dedication and funny—there was no shortcut.
• The episode is filled with humor, nostalgia, and practical wisdom for comedy nerds or anyone fascinated by performance communities.

For fans of comedy, improv, or the UCB legacy, this episode will feel like late-night green room banter: honest, funny, and brimming with the unvarnished realities of 'making it' in comedy.