Podcast Summary: The Church of What's Happening Now #754 — Josh Potter

Podcast: The Church of What's Happening Now: The New Testament
Episode: #754 – Josh Potter
Host: Joey “Coco” Diaz, Lee Syatt
Guest: Josh Potter
Date: January 23, 2020

Episode Overview

This episode is a lighthearted, candid, and authentic deep-dive into the realities of pursuing stand-up comedy, with a special focus on Buffalo, the grind of life on the road, and the quirks and characters of comedy club culture. Joey Diaz, Lee Syatt, and comedian Josh Potter share war stories, discuss the state of comedy scenes, reminisce about Buffalo's heyday, and touch on friendship, struggle, and resilience in the comedy world.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Buffalo Memories and Love for the City

• Joey and Lee’s Buffalo Stories: The hosts share personal memories related to Buffalo—food, culture, and sports, noting the city’s resilience after industrial decline and the exodus of companies like Fisher Price (“Buffalo has always been just so fucking… I have such a connection to Buffalo. That’s like my connection to Jersey.” — Lee, 10:18).
• Comedy Club Life: Recollections of Buffalo’s evolving comedy scene—clubs like Funny Bone, the Anchor Bar, Duff’s, and Helium (“Buffalo needed a comedy room in a desperate way. And Buffalo supports comedy. Like, they fucking support comedy.” — Lee, 26:58).

2. The Grind and Sacrifice of Comedy

• The Hustle: Raw stories about sleeping in cars, long bus rides, and living paycheck-to-paycheck in pursuit of stage time (“People really never know. And if you look back at those times, you’re like, was I fucking crazy? Like, what would make you drive and sleep in your fucking car? It's a love.” — Lee, 49:19).
• Growth Through Hardship: The emotional highs and lows, from bombed sets during playoff games, to the thrill of getting your break (“It was the longest 25 minutes of my life… it was just think of getting punched in the face 25 minutes.” — Lee, 37:01).

3. Comedy as Community & Family

• Mentorship & Loyalty: Joey and Lee express both tough love and pride in Josh's perseverance in LA. Joey also reflects on the importance of helping fellow comics in need (“I tell people… you need something, you come see me. I don’t want you sucking dick. I don’t want you doing nothing you don’t need to do…” — Joey, 77:57).
• Mutual Support: Stories of passing gigs, sharing rides, and small but vital acts of kindness (fronting money for Ubers, giving leftover food, etc.).

4. The Darker Side: Club Owners, Industry Stories, and Life on the Fringe

• Unsavory Characters: Memorable portraits of club owners, and staff “on drugs,” and run-ins with colorful personalities—a mix of fondness, caution, and gallows humor.
• The “Comedy Condo” Life: Honest conversations about the realities, dangers, and quirks of living in comedy club-provided condos.

5. Vulnerability, Scandal, and the Modern Comedy Landscape

• Being Real With Listeners: Joey affirms the importance of honesty and authenticity for attracting and maintaining a loyal audience (“I’m happy that I was always very vulnerable with you guys. From day one… Like, people telling you stories, people letting you know that it’s okay to be human.” — Joey, 73:59).
• Recent Controversies: The hosts touch on issues like old podcast content resurfacing (“They fired a kid off a Saturday Night Live because something he said in episode 280 of some episode that somebody dug up.” — Lee, 68:25), and the complexities of accountability and context.
• Sexual Misconduct in Comedy: Brief but blunt mentions of scandals involving people they know—always with a mix of harsh realism, dark humor, and a compartmentalized take.

6. Comedy and Life Lessons

• The Value of Struggle: Consistent themes of making something out of nothing, the value of pushing through doubt, and the importance of choosing passion over stability.
• Traditionalism vs. Trendiness: Joey’s aversion to unnecessary novelty (Viagra, fusion foods, pineapple pizza), preferring “the original stuff” and maintaining respect for tradition—whether wings or comedy.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Buffalo’s Spirit:
  “Buffalo has always been just so fucking… I have such a connection to Buffalo. That’s like my connection to Jersey.” — Lee (10:18)

• On Surviving the Comedy Road:
  “People really never know. And if you look back at those times, you’re like, was I fucking crazy? Like, what would make you drive and sleep in your fucking car? It's a love.” — Lee (49:19)

• On Comedy Resilience:
  “It was the longest 25 minutes of my life… just think of getting punched in the face 25 minutes.” — Lee (37:01)

• Joey’s Philosophy on Support:
  “You need something, you come see me. I don't want you sucking dick... I'll give you seven. You know what I'm saying?” — Joey (77:51)

• On Living for Comedy, Not Sales:
  “The sales thing, I’m like, oh, no, I don’t want that job… But for this? The grind? Yeah.” — Josh (55:02)

• On Being Open With Fans:
  “I’m happy that I was always very vulnerable with you guys. From day one… Like, people telling you stories, people letting you know that it’s okay to be human.” — Joey (73:59)

• The Buffalo Food Experience:
  “You’re biting into a drumstick wing like you’re eating steroids and you don’t give a fuck.” — Lee (12:39)

• Josh on his eyesight and adjusting to LA:
  “I don’t drive anymore. I sold my car… Plus I’m going blind, so I probably shouldn’t drive anyway, you know.” — Josh (45:10)

Notable Segments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |-------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:39 | Introduction of Josh Potter & praise from Lee | | 07:42-11:44 | Prison acid trip stories, Buffalo reminiscence | | 12:36-16:13 | Buffalo’s comedy clubs, food traditions, wings, club culture | | 26:55-31:00 | Josh’s career arc: Buffalo, Cleveland, Helium Comedy Club | | 31:08-38:31 | The nightmare of performing during a local team’s playoff game | | 41:13-47:26 | Josh’s radio career, shift to full-time stand-up, struggles | | 49:19-50:28 | Sacrifices for comedy, car living stories | | 68:20-73:59 | Scandals in comedy, the importance of honesty with fans | | 77:50-80:11 | Acts of kindness, community, support for other comics |

Additional Highlights

• Food & Buffalo Staples: Joey’s and Lee’s love for traditional Buffalo wings (Frank’s hot sauce and butter only!), blue cheese, beef on weck, and Wegmans.
• Sports Culture: Major theme of how Buffalo’s sports obsession deeply affects entertainment and comedy bookings.
• Comedy Generations: Reflections on past and present club owners, shifting opportunities, and the evolution of the scene.
• Josh’s Next Moves: Josh promotes his upcoming headlining spots and talks about his future plans in LA and podcasting (80:30).

Tone & Language

The episode is filled with Joey’s trademark brash, unfiltered style, peppered with dark humor and honest, explicit observations. There’s a strong camaraderie—a sense of “insider” conversation, with references and language true to the comedians’ backgrounds and experiences.

Final Takeaway

This episode is a gritty, affectionate snapshot of the stand-up comedy lifestyle: the struggle, the grind, the love for home towns like Buffalo, and the unbreakable bonds forged through hardships. It’s as much about survival, loyalty, and authenticity as it is about making people laugh.

For listeners new to the episode:
You’ll walk away with a real sense of what it means to chase comedy not for fame, but for love of the art and the family you find along the way. The episode is rich with “inside baseball” stories, honest talk about the industry, and genuine laughs amid the struggle.