The Church of What's Happening Now: The New Testament

Episode: To live life, is to learn

Date: January 13, 2026
Host: Joey Coco Diaz
Co-host: Lee Syatt
Location: Live from NYC

Overview

This episode of “The Church of What’s Happening Now: The New Testament” is a loose, raucous, and deeply personal conversation between Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt. The main theme centers around the purpose of living—summed up by Joey as: “to live life is to learn”—with rich discussions about stand-up comedy, intention, personal growth, the state of the streets, legal/political commentary, the evolution of podcasting, and heartfelt reflections on their journey together as friends, comics, and podcasters.

Key Discussion Points

Comedy, Intention, and Growth

• Purpose and Intention in Stand-Up:

  • Joey stresses the need for comics to hit the stage with intention, comparing his younger, aimless approach to his current, focused process (08:28).
    • Quote: “I never went up there with...another word for purpose...Intention.” —Joey (08:28)
  • He reflects on shifting priorities as an older comic: maximizing quality over quantity in performances, and not chasing the late-night grind anymore.
  • The analogy with Jiu Jitsu: even as he ages, it’s about “little victories” and surviving, not “razzle dazzle” or proving himself (09:21).
    • Quote: “I get little victories. I get a hook in and I sweep you. Oh my god. And you’re done for the day.” —Joey (09:21)

• Comedy as Process of Learning:

  • Joey highlights that trying and failing is crucial to growth. He’s not afraid of bombing if it means testing and improving a joke (10:31).
  • Intentionally using each set, spot, or late-night walk to create or refine material.

Life Lessons and Aging

• Adapting with Age:
  • Joey talks about needing naps, fewer nights out, and more structure compared to the “Nomad Dog” days (11:30, 12:42).
    • Quote: "I take a nap every day and sometimes two naps a day.” (12:42)
  • He shares a longing for purposeful social connections (“I just want love in this room…I want people who breathe for one another.”) and apologizes to Lee for past harshness (24:08).

Street Smarts and Social Commentary

• On Societal Changes and Respect:

  • Joey fiercely defends the code of respect, claiming: “the street doesn’t lie and it never fucking changes” (25:28).
  • He rails against the erosion of due process in high-profile cases, especially relating to recent policing/ICE actions (35:05).
    • Quote: “Everything in life changes except the movement of the street.”
  • Discusses how, as a “criminal,” he’s always respected the law’s process and criticizes how modern authorities jump to condemn without details (35:05–36:00).

• On Police, ICE, and Violence:

  • Heated discussion about police shootings and government messaging—frustration at public lies, lack of empathy, and government overreach (37:51–46:13).
    • Quote: "Now, to me, that looked like stone cold murder. And it’s our government getting a little bit more comfortable...with comfortable.” —Joey (44:54)
  • Joey underscores his perspective as someone who’s lived on both sides of legality, insisting the sanctity of due process is being lost.

The Business & Culture of Comedy

• On Pay and Comic "Unionization":

  • The exploitative nature of comedy club pay, the failure of comic unions, and undercutting as a perpetual issue (17:21–18:24).
    • Quote: “Because we’re whores...You and I both know if a booker calls me right fucking now...By the time I hit that door, George will call that same guy and go, hey, I’ll do it for 300.” —Joey (17:21)

• On the Flood of New Comics:

  • Both note the oversaturation of stand-up and open mics, and how today’s scene is very different from their early years (22:00–22:28).

Reflections on the Podcasting Landscape

• Podcasting, Authenticity, and the Golden Globes:
  • Joey and Lee lament the “corporatization” of podcasting, bemoaning that major awards favor celebrity-driven, team-produced shows over grassroots, chaotic, authentic pods like theirs (57:46–84:15).
    • Quote: “When you listen to these podcasts, like, they’re scripted, there’s meetings, there’s teams of people...it was like a real, kind of, like, zoom into, like, our lives.” —Lee (83:23)
    • Joey reminisces about the freedom, chaos, and familial nature of their early podcasts.
  • Joke about the industry: “They did a Golden Globe for a fucking podcast…It’s like winning defensive player of the year and Lawrence Taylor got more votes than you did…” —Joey (59:04)

Nostalgia & Storytelling

• Old Stories and the Evolution of Their Friendship:

  • The memorable early days—road gigs, wild edible nights, and learning as they went (86:18–88:26).
    • Quote: "To live life is to learn. It's not all gonna be good. It's everything." —Joey (88:26)
  • Joey details how their podcast began with him sharing criminal stories to get ahead of possible “dirt,” and then became more about mentoring Lee (98:12–103:58).
    • Quote: “That podcast, it became the Education of Lee. So through my stories, Lee would listen and sit there with his jaw dropped…” —Joey (98:12)

• The Art of Listening—In Comedy and Life:

  • Joey discusses the rarely-acknowledged skill of “listening to the audience” for comics, learning from laughter, sighs, and groans (112:50–116:09).
    • Quote: “You have to listen to the audience...Dog size reliefs. Ha. Oh my god. I can’t believe he said that. Those little things that you don’t hear and you’re not supposed to hear, but you—being the bad motherfucker that you are—you hear.” —Joey (112:50)
  • Tweaking as a comic—the never-ending process of improvement (“200 tweaks”; 116:10–119:32).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Highlight | |---|---|---| | 08:28 | Joey | “Intention. Another word for intention. So again, you're 38...” | 09:21 | Joey | “I get little victories. I get a hook in and I sweep you. Oh, my God.” | 10:31 | Joey | “That was my intention for the night, was to tighten up that joke...” | 12:42 | Joey | “I take a nap every day and sometimes two naps a day.” | 17:21 | Joey | “Because we’re whores...comic union never worked...somebody will suck your dick for $10 eventually if you keep asking.” | 25:28 | Joey | “Everything in life changes except the movement of the street.” | 35:05 | Joey | “This country’s built on laws...What is that called? Due process.” | 44:54 | Joey | “Now, to me, that looked like stone cold murder. And it’s our government getting a little bit more comfortable with comfortable.” | 59:04 | Joey | “It’s like winning defensive player of the year and Lawrence Taylor got more votes than you did and did double and you. They got suspended for doing blow.” | 83:23 | Lee | “When you listen to these podcasts, like, they’re scripted, there’s meetings, there’s teams of people...it was like a real, kind of, like, zoom into, like, our lives.” | 88:26 | Joey | “To live life is to learn. It's not all gonna be good. It's everything...” | 112:50 | Joey | “You have to listen to the audience...Dog size reliefs. Ha. Oh my god. I can’t believe he said that...” | 119:01 | Joey | “...that little question [to the audience]. As soon as you ask a question, you’re weak. You just lost the battle.” | 120:54 | Joey | “It’s over now. That’s it. Why even think about it?” | 121:59 | Joey | “I told you. I went to that open mic and it was a lot different and it just reminded you...what your life has become, and how much fun it used to be.”

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Marijuana, Comedy, and Social Norms: 00:24–04:07
  (Joey and Lee riff about marijuana stigma, the creativity boost it brings to comedy, and changing social attitudes.)
• Intention in Stand-Up & Learning Process: 08:28–11:09
  (Joey’s advice on bringing intention and purpose to each set.)
• Comic Union and Pay Stories: 17:13–22:00
  (The futility of comedy unionization and insider stories on the economics of stand-up.)
• Personal Growth, Apologies, and Friendship: 24:08–25:28
  (Joey’s apology to Lee and his views on his inner circle in later life.)
• Law, Street Sense, and Commentary on ICE Incident: 25:28–46:13
  (Joey’s rant on respect, street wisdom, and the justice system.)
• Podcast Awards and Corporate Shift in Podcasting: 57:44–84:15
  (The Golden Globes, authentic podcasting vs. mainstream, and the hidden Hollywood system.)
• Nostalgia and Old Podcasting Days: 86:18–92:18
  (Storytelling about the wild early podcast years, live shows, and explosive edible tales.)
• The Education of Lee & Life Lessons: 97:25–103:58
  (Joey’s stories as a tool for Lee’s learning, and the importance of getting personal history out.)
• Listening as a Comic and Act Tweaking: 112:46–119:32
  (On effective stand-up, learning from and reading the audience, and refining performance over time.)

Tone & Style

• Brash, unfiltered, and fiercely honest—replete with colorful language.
• A blend of nostalgia, wisdom, comedic bravado, world-weariness, and affectionate ribbing.
• Heavy on storytelling, with philosophical asides, political skepticism, and raw reflections on aging.

Closing Thoughts

“To live life is to learn” stands as the throughline of the episode: embracing mistakes, seeking growth, and honoring the unpredictable journey of comedy, friendship, and streetwise living. Joey and Lee’s reminiscences, bold opinions, and genuine care for one another make this episode both a time capsule and a masterclass in comedy, humility, and adaptation.