Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist

Episode: Nate Bargatze On His Comedy Journey (August 24, 2025)

Recorded at City Winery, NYC, with a live audience

Overview

Willie Geist sits down in front of a live, packed house with comedian Nate Bargatze—the “hottest standup working in the world”—for the first-ever “Sunday Sitdown Live.” Their warm, wide-ranging conversation is a deep dive into Bargatze’s comedic rise from humble Tennessee roots, stories from the road, reflections on family, career-defining moments, and his ambitions to transform Nashville into a new hub of family-friendly entertainment. The episode is full of laughter, self-deprecation, and honest insights about the grind and joy of standup, all wrapped in the easy banter that makes Bargatze a star.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Arrival Stories, Fan Dedication, and Road Trips

• Nate drove from Pennsylvania to NYC due to flight troubles, demonstrating his down-to-earth commitment.
  • Funny highlight: The group’s stop at Sheetz for midnight milkshakes and donuts. Nate humorously details his inevitable surrender to a “peanut butter Hershey cups milkshake.”

  “We were in [Sheetz]. …I mean, a gas station on the road is—there's not much better… Every place I go, McDonald's anywhere I go, large. …It's a bucket size.” (04:47–06:41, NB)

The Vanderbilt Sports Fandom Connection

• Both Willie and Nate share a lifelong (and often painful) love of Vanderbilt sports.
  • Nate’s family ties: mother worked in the ticket office, cousin was an announcer/coach.

  “Being a Vandy fan… when you're going through the times where you're losing—…it's brutal.” (08:14–09:21, NB)

  • Nate reflects on hosting SNL the night Vanderbilt beat Alabama, getting more texts about the game than about Saturday Night Live.

  “A buddy goes, God gave you this day: Vandy beating Alabama, hosting SNL. I mean, I got more text about Vandy than I did SNL.” (09:25, NB)

Comic Success Feels & That “Imposter” Sensation

• Willie lists Nate’s recent career mountain-tops: sold-out arenas, two SNL hostings, Netflix specials (“more than 8 million views”), and a new book/tour.
• Nate addresses how surreal his rise feels, and how success can feel like it’s happening to someone else:

  “It doesn't feel like it's happening to you… It all takes very long, but then it happens very quick. …It's a lot to take in. …Right now you're just kind of, like, in it, and you're just trying to stay as good as you can possibly be.” (11:46–13:19, NB)

The SNL “George Washington” Sketch: A Breakout Moment

• Hosting SNL twice in one year is “almost unheard of.” The “Washington’s Dream” sketch—at first almost cut—became iconic.
  • Nate had to advocate for it, trusting his ability to sell it to a live audience.

  “I was like, I would like to try that one. ...We put it last in dress rehearsal… It destroyed. …That blew up and… got all these views online.” (14:01–16:23, NB)

  • It had a direct, measurable impact: after SNL, ticket sales soared, multiple new shows added.

  “The show that we had to reschedule, we added a show. That's how much it took off.” (17:43, NB)

International Touring

• Nate discusses playing everywhere from Oslo (few hundred) to arenas at home.

  “Oslo will be like, 'I’m killing it right now.' … You go over there… it's just like a mix... It takes you back to the old days.” (18:33–19:25, NB)

Tennessee Roots, Family, and Comedy Seeds

• Growing up in Old Hickory, TN, with a magician father (who still opens for him on tour).

  “Every little boy's dream: travel with your dad when you're 45 years old.” (19:42–20:06, NB)

  • Tour bus life is “not exactly Motley Crüe” but full of “CPAP machines” and early bedtimes.

Getting the Comedy Bug & Parental Support

• Early jokes as a kid; his dad’s comedy-in-magic act was formative.
• Parents were always supportive—even sending magician friends to check up on Nate in NYC as he barked for stage time.

  “My parents… were just very supportive and was like, yeah, go for it.” (22:03–24:47, NB)

Day Jobs and Early Hustle

• Nate worked odd jobs (water meter reader, Applebee’s host) before pursuing comedy.

  • The post-9/11 “defend the water supply” story:

  “They just had us go out there, just a bunch of trucks, 20-year-old idiots sitting out there… waiting for our field.” (25:14–26:38, NB)

• Meeting his wife at Applebee’s (“she was a server, I was the host”)—she “wasn’t sure [Nate] had what it took to be a server."

  “I just needed to get them to a seat and then be like, I need to pray back out of here.” (27:35, NB)

Deciding to Go All-In on Comedy

• Moved to Chicago for improv (quickly learned solo standup was a better fit).
• Early and deliberate choice to work clean:

  “I didn't want them [his parents] to come to a show and… be embarrassed. …So everything I write… I write for them.” (30:20, NB)

  • Inspiration from Seinfeld, Brian Regan, Jim Gaffigan.

Developing a Style: Clean, Self-Deprecating, Never Mean

• Transitioned from jokes to longer stories as years went by.
  • Avoids mean-spirited comedy; makes himself the punchline.

  “I don't want anybody to think I'm ever better than them… I'll make fun of me. You can laugh with me or laugh at me.” (37:06, NB)

Big Breakthroughs and Career Leaps

• First late-night TV (Conan), then Jimmy Fallon (who spotted him at the Stand comedy club).
  • Developing a TV show, then SNL—each took Nate to new levels.

  “Comedy Central had a really good system …they really developed comedians. …there's not a ton of that anymore now.” (39:57–41:19, NB)

Full-Circle & Nashville Pride

• Shares stories about working at Opryland as a teen; now starring at the Grand Ol’ Opry for big network specials.
• Donated a new gym to his alma mater; “got cut all four years” from the basketball team (even when his dad was coach).

  “Now your name’s on it… So, yeah, I think I'm on the team!” (44:23–45:49, NB)

Nateland: Family-Friendly Creative Vision

• Nateland (his media company/podcast/aspiring movie studio) aims to fill Hollywood’s family entertainment void.

  “When you go on the road…there’s not much…for families to even go to. …So the idea with Nateland was… I want y’ all to watch it as a family.” (47:41–50:09, NB)

• Discusses “legacy,” wanting to step back from performing and help develop new comedic voices and content:

  “I know what I need to do as Nateland… I got to get some movies going… My plan is to step away… There needs to be someone else.” (51:16–54:05, NB)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On performing for nearly empty rooms and bombing:

  “We did a show for one guy once… He was a wonderful person. He did have a great laugh—but he was the only one there.” (55:47, NB)

  • On a particularly rough bomb after everyone else did great:

  “I had a button-down shirt tucked in. …I blamed it all on that. …Never wore that shirt after that.” (55:47–56:57, NB)

• On late-in-life “overnight” fame:

  “No one makes it in the middle. You either make it at 20 or 40—a theory with that.” (57:08, NB)

• On his wife’s unwavering support:

  “She's been much more important than I probably have given her credit for. …That's the only way I could even have the success.” (58:59, NB)

• Favorite place in Nashville?

  “San Antonio Taco Co. on 21st …I get two steak tacos, two bean tacos and queso—with chips, gotta splurge for the chips.” (69:09–69:46, NB)

• Audience Q&A fun:

  • Man crush: “Kiefer Sutherland. I don’t know if he knows I’m a comedian. He just told me he loved me before he left.” (61:23–62:13, NB)
  • On using personal family material: “I will always tell them. …I’ll never do anything to make… I really backed off talking about my daughter…” (64:31–65:45, NB)
  • On writing and remembering material: “It’s exactly like a song… sometimes you do, and you just got a bell on it. …You just—‘I got nothing.’” (66:14–67:35, NB)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------|-----------------------| | Live Show Intro & Nate’s Road to NYC | 03:58–07:19 | | Vanderbilt Fandom & SNL Night | 07:19–10:53 | | On Imposter Syndrome & Success | 11:10–13:19 | | SNL George Washington Sketch Story | 13:19–15:41 | | Touring—US and International | 18:05–19:25 | | Early Years, Dad as Magician, Influences | 19:25–24:47 | | Applebee’s, Meeting His Wife, Early Jobs | 27:19–28:06 | | Starting Comedy, Clean Material | 29:14–32:45 | | Heroes: Seinfeld, Regan, Gaffigan | 32:45–35:54 | | Style: Self-Deprecation, Not Mean | 36:08–38:13 | | Breakthroughs: Conan, Fallon, SNL | 39:57–41:19 | | Full Circle: Opryland & Nashville | 41:42–45:49 | | Nateland Vision/Family Entertainment | 47:41–54:05 | | Audience Q&A | 54:39–71:47 |

Memorable Audience Q&A

• First time realizing he was funny:

  “At a high school party… just ranting about some story… That was like the first kind of stand up set.” (55:16, NB)

• Worst on-stage bomb:

  “Crowd was sold out… I bombed so hard… I had a button-down shirt tucked in… never wore that shirt after that.” (55:47–56:57, NB)

• How does he find material?

  “Sometimes you realize [the moment], sometimes you have like a little—you have it… then just find out where it’s gonna go.” (62:55, NB)

Tone

The episode is full of gratitude, humility, and laid-back Southern charm. Bargatze and Geist riff off each other in a genuine, conversational flow, mixing crowd-pleasing stories and honest reflection in a way that feels inclusive and celebratory. The live audience energy is palpable, and there are laughs in every minute.

Conclusion

A warm, funny, and insightful exploration of Nate Bargatze's comedic journey, laced with tales of family, humble beginnings, and an eye toward building something bigger for the next generation. For fans (old and new), this is the perfect primer on why Bargatze is beloved both on stage and off.

For more:

• Watch for the broadcast version on "Sunday TODAY" (NBC)
• Look out for Nate’s new book, Big Dumb Stories from a Simpler Mind
• Check out Nateland podcast and future tour dates for more Bargatze

Host:
Willie Geist
Guest:
Nate Bargatze

End of summary