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

Episode: We're playing for keeps in 2026!
Date: January 6, 2026
Hosts: Joey Coco Diaz & Lee Syatt
Location: Live from NYC

Episode Overview

This high-energy, laughter-filled episode kicks off the new year with Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt covering everything from Lee’s recent Vegas honeymoon to their philosophies on discipline, comedy, family, and aging. The conversation ranges from hilarious Vegas buffet stories to deeply honest reflection on the realities of stand-up comedy, longevity, and finding happiness in life’s routines. The episode’s title—“We’re playing for keeps in 2026!”—reflects Joey’s motivational attitude about commitment, discipline, and not letting life pass you by.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lee’s Vegas Hotel Adventure & the Power of Tipping

• Lee tells the story of slipping a $100 bill to a hotel worker, scoring a massive room upgrade, chocolates, and $150 in credit.

  “I gave him 100 bucks and he gave me that. He sent chocolates up to the room and he gave me 150 in credit. So I made money on it.” – Lee (00:29)

• Joey reminisces about old-school New York restaurant tipping culture, comparing $50 and $100 bills' power.

  “Money talks and bullshit walks. ... Just give him the fucking 50 bucks, get the nicest table, you make his day.” – Joey (01:32)

2. Vegas Buffets, the State of Vegas, and ‘Lizard Meat’

• Lee indulges at Caesars' buffet, while Joey paints a vivid, comedic portrait of questionable buffet meats (“lizard meat”) and rougher spots like Circus Circus.
• Discussion about how Vegas has changed—more expensive, long lines everywhere, and upcharges for basic amenities.

  “There was a time when parking was free... Now, 100 bucks a person... And you’re not getting much for it.” – Lee (06:21)

3. Nostalgia and Change in Comedy Lifestyle

• Joey and Lee talk about how lifestyles have changed, especially for comedians. The hustle of constant road gigs, sketchy hotels, and eating bad food has given way to more selective, mindful choices.

  “2019, four weeks in a row I went on the road and I shot a movie. ... I think part of the mental health issue I had…was separating my life from that old life.” – Joey (15:11)

4. On Discipline, Sacrifice, and Comedy as a Calling

• Joey emphasizes the discipline it takes to succeed in stand-up. Personal sacrifices, missed family parties, constant writing, and always putting the work first.
• Notable Quote:

  “You’re playing for keeps. ... If you came into my life at the wrong time...we would have been on...Ask my wife how intense I was about comedy. ... You’re in it, man. … To me, that’s worth a million dollars.” – Joey (24:25–25:28)

• Joey shares how holding onto the discipline for comedy even trumped his former addictions.

  “Everything else in my life I didn’t do to the T. Comedy, I did to the T.” – Joey (35:24)

5. Perspective on Trends, Travel, and Aging

• The hosts lampoon people who follow trends blindly (Disney adults, pizza fads, designer sneakers).

  “People jump on trends. I am not going to jump on a trend. ... I will do it on purpose to prove to you that I can live without that.” – Joey (45:05)

• Joey outlines his resistance to peer pressure and his pride in not needing to “do what everyone else does.”
• On aging, routine, and health, Joey openly discusses physical decline but frames it with gratitude and humor.

  “I’m gonna be 63 next month. ... I’m just lucky. Every day that I get up, like, I’m just, like, grateful that I just make it to the shower and I fucking eat breakfast with my wife.” – Joey (74:41)

6. Family, Legacy, and Joey’s Daughter

• Joey is proud of his daughter Mercy turning 13 and pursuing diverse interests—softball and stand-up bass.

  “She’s into this shit too...She plays the stand up bass ... I watch her and I’m like, who knows how to play this?” – Joey (60:32)

• Reflections on parenting, genetics, and passing down both good and bad habits.
• Discussion on discipline: Passing up bad opportunities because of greater respect for comedy and personal growth.

7. Honest Talk on Hard Times and Resilience

• Both hosts touch on personal disappointments, mental health, and the pain of losing friends, but always come back to comedy as salvation and therapy.

  “But if you quit comedy, they won.” – Joey (28:12)

8. Riffs on Travel, Honeymoons, and “Marrying Rich”

• Joey teases Lee relentlessly about his seating choices on planes, his in-laws’ imagined millions, and how “you marry rich, you fly first class” is a principle.

  “No more coach tickets. You married into money. Hindu money. ... I married your daughter, that’s it. I’m not living like this now.” – Joey (85:56)

• This playful mockery exemplifies the show’s combative but affectionate tone.

Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Joey on tipping culture (01:32):

  “Money talks and bullshit walks...Just give him the fucking 50 bucks, get the nicest table, you make his day.”

• Joey on discipline for comedy (24:25):

  “You gotta force yourself and you’re gonna make people unhappy with your decisions. But you’re playing for keeps. ... And you know what, man? I wake up in the mornings now and I don’t have to rush out of the house. And to me, that’s worth a million dollars.”

• Joey on trends and resisting fads (45:05):

  “People jump on trends. I am not going to jump on a trend. ... I will do it on purpose to prove to you that I can live without that. That’s the discipline, right? I could live without that.”

• Joey on aging and gratitude (74:41):

  “I’m gonna be 63 next month...I’m just lucky. Every day that I get up, like, I’m just, like, grateful that I just make it to the shower and I fucking eat breakfast with my wife.”

• Joey on family and personal growth (60:32):

  “She’s into this shit too...She plays the stand up bass ... I watch her and I’m like, who knows how to play this?”

Important Segment Timestamps

• Hotel tipping and Vegas stories: 00:20–03:48
• Buffet culture and Vegas changes: 03:48–07:30
• Discussion on discipline, old comedy life: 10:48–19:53
• On purpose, sacrifice, and not quitting: 24:25–30:43
• Lee opens up about personal disappointment: 27:34–28:12
• Trends & travel, “pizza culture” and Disney adults: 43:43–51:54
• Family, aging, and Joey’s daughter: 59:32–62:00
• Philosophy on aging, fitness, and health: 62:00–66:34
• Travel and the joke about flying coach vs. first class: 80:52–85:56

Tone & Episode Vibe

Throughout, the tone is irreverent, nostalgic, and brutally honest—packed with Joey’s signature expletives, streetwise wisdom, and Lee’s self-deprecating humor. The rapport is filled with raucous laughter and sharp jabs, always underpinned by genuine affection and respect between the hosts.

For the First-Time Listener

If you’ve never tuned in before, this episode is classic “Church”: hilarious stories, unfiltered personal philosophy, and the most honest behind-the-scenes talk about comedy’s sacrifices and rewards.

Highlight Reel

• Tipping your way to an upgraded life.
• Dissecting America’s baffling love of buffets, Disney, and pizza fads.
• A masterclass on the discipline comedy demands—and the price it extracts.
• Joey’s honest take on aging, contentment, and why sometimes flying coach just isn’t in the cards (especially if you “married rich”).
• The ultimate message: Play for keeps, don’t quit on your calling, and always find that laughter, even in life’s hard moments.

For more fun and tough love—“Stay black, see you next week!”