The Commercial Break — TCB Infomercial: Aaron Weber

Date: March 18, 2025
Hosts: Bryan Green & Kristin Joy Hoadley
Guest: Aaron Weber (Comedian, Co-host of Nateland Podcast)

Episode Overview

This Infomercial Tuesday episode of The Commercial Break welcomes Nashville-based comedian Aaron Weber. Hosts Bryan and Kristin engage with Aaron about his comedy beginnings, the Nashville scene, working with superstar Nate Bargatze, his new half-hour special, as well as the realities of life as a new dad and working comic. True to TCB’s upbeat, chaotic tone, the discussion veers into everything from urgent care experiences and clean comedy to Guinness World Records, cloth diapers, and the oddities of modern life.

Main Discussion Themes & Key Points

1. The Rise of Nashville’s Comedy Scene

• Nashville's Growth
  • Nashville is described as a burgeoning hotbed for comedy, with top comics like Kathleen Madigan, Ron White, and Nate Bargatze now local or regulars.
  • Bryan explains: “Nashville has become quite this little hotbed of comedy… like when Joe Rogan moved to Austin, now everyone’s in Nashville.” (06:14)
• Zanies Comedy Club’s Influence
  • Aaron credits Zanies for fostering young comics with ample stage time and support:
    • “They are so great to young comics… believe in them before they believe in themselves.” (19:08)
• Comedy Festival Buzz
  • Nashville Comedy Festival draws major acts (Kevin Hart, Nikki Glaser, Mark Normand, Jim Jefferies, Wanda Sykes).

2. Aaron’s Relationship with Nate Bargatze & Breaking In

• Mentorship & Collaboration
  • Aaron describes Nate as not just a mentor, but the nucleus of Nashville comedy:
    • “In Nashville especially, Nate is the guy… it’s crazy. I’ve been a part of his universe since 2020.” (17:53)
  • Nate produced Aaron’s first special, and provides recurring opportunities for comics in his sphere.
• Advice from Nate
  • Nate directed Aaron to do a half-hour special instead of a full hour:
    • “Who do you think you are?” (24:13, paraphrasing Nate)
    • “It’s a lot to ask somebody to watch anything for an hour… let alone a comedian they’ve never heard of.” (24:16)
• Being Part of the Community
  • The sense of support, synergy, and “incubator” environment: “All these comedians… making each other better. And you’re a part of that.” (54:45)

3. Aaron’s Comedy Approach: Clean, Relatable, Real

• Clean Comedy and Creative Freedom
  • Aaron didn’t set out to be a ‘clean comic’—it’s a byproduct of his personality and upbringing, not a restriction:
    • “I am saying everything I want to say… it’s just how I am.” (47:59)
    • “Biggest compliment I get is people don’t even notice [my act is clean].” (50:28)
    • He avoids “clean comedy night” labels: “If people know me, they know; but I want anybody to come and not even notice.” (51:17)
• Material Source: Everyday Life
  • Jokes emerge from common experiences (urgent care visits, parenthood, marriage, travel).
• Notable Bit
  • Aaron’s riff on urgent care:
    • “Urgent care is like, ‘Do you have $40? Let’s figure this out together. We don’t know more than you… Let’s tackle this sinus infection as a team, and that’s fun.’” (00:16)

4. The Realities of New Fatherhood

• Life Changes
  • Recent transition to parenthood (“I had a baby… three weeks after shooting the special.” (24:46))
  • Impact on travel and performing:
    • “I want to be home faster… I’m taking the early flights now.” (26:47)
  • Navigating sleep deprivation and rebalancing career/family.

5. Comedy, Career, and Growth

• Favorite Clubs and Cities
  • Zanies (Nashville), Comedy Works (Denver), and The Grove (Lowell, Arkansas—a “surprisingly nice, affluent part of the country”). (41:15)
• Unique Gigs
  • Grand Ole Opry’s youngest comedian (55:31)
  • Stand-up gig at Notre Dame reunion—Aaron behind a podium in a hockey arena for MBAs and hedge-fund types:
    • “As if they found a list of everything to ensure a comedy show would go bad… terrible sound, terrible lighting…” (30:38)
• Guinness World Record
  • Participated in “longest continuous standup comedy show”—10 days, 24/7. “I did sets at 3:30 in the morning, then went back to work.” (56:11)

6. Generational Differences & Technological Shifts

• Children & Tech
  • Stories of kids expecting instant satisfaction (no ad tolerance, digital nativity), and the nostalgia for things like Encyclopedia Britannica:
    • “My children… will never have the joy of Encyclopedia Britannica… or have to watch a commercial if they don’t want.” (57:18)
  • “It’s insane. They picked it up, understood [a phone] intuitively… it was scary almost.” (58:41)
• Physical Side Effects of Tech
  • “Our pinky is a little bent now from holding the phone…” (59:01)

7. Funny, Genuine Moments & Notable Quotes

• Quips on Kid Rock:
  • “I watched a two-hour video… by the time Kid Rock gets up there, it’s a weird vibe… the crowd is non-reactionary… Kid’s out there in full furs jumping around the stage like a three-year-old.” (13:47)
• Clean Comedy Label:
  • “If people know me, they know [it’s clean] but I want anybody to come and they won’t even notice.” (51:17)
• Comedy Special Length:
  • “It’s way better for people to go, ‘That felt short,’ than ‘that was a little long.’” (52:11)
• On Cloth Diapers:
  • “I was raised on cloth diapers… pictures of me look ridiculous. Enormous.” (33:45)
• Travel Tales:
  • Planning dates with the baby: “Go on as many dates as you can right now… you get another six months, it’s a whole different situation.” (36:42)
• Cold Showers & Trends:
  • On refusing “wellness” fads: “My mind is so strong that I can’t convince it I have to do this.” (37:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:16] Aaron's urgent care riff: “Do you have $40? Let’s figure this out together.”
• [03:30] Nashville Comedy Festival & rise of the city’s scene
• [17:53] Aaron describes relationship with Nate Bargatze; mentorship
• [19:08] Zanies Comedy Club’s impact on Nashville comedy
• [24:05] The special: why a half-hour, not a full hour, per Nate’s advice
• [26:30] Aaron on new fatherhood, balancing work and home
• [30:38] Stand-up at Notre Dame reunion in a hockey arena: “Everything to ensure a comedy show would go bad.”
• [41:15] Fave places to perform: The Grove (Lowell, AR), Comedy Works (Denver)
• [47:59] Clean comedy approach: “I am saying everything I want to say… it’s just how I am.”
• [50:28] On receiving the compliment that folks don’t notice he’s clean
• [55:31] Grand Ole Opry’s youngest comedian; Guinness World Record show
• [57:18] Kids and commercials—difference in generations
• [59:01] “Pinky is a little bent now [from holding a phone]…”
• [60:01] Plug for Aaron’s special and where to see him

Memorable Moments/Highlights

• Aaron’s urgent care bit about filling out forms and Sudafed (00:16)
• Stories about cloth diapers and embracing secondhand kid gear—with self-deprecating Southern humor
• Hilarity describing cold shower/“wellness” fads—“My mind is so strong I can’t convince it I have to do this.” (37:32)
• Comedy at Notre Dame reunion: terrible sound, podium on a hockey rink, crowd of MBAs
• Reflections on generational change—from Encyclopedia Brittanica to touchscreens
• Aaron’s perspective on growth: “Comedy is a long game… this might take 15, 20 years… so enjoy the process.” (54:45)

Conclusion

The episode spotlights Aaron Weber as an example of Nashville’s comedic ascent—a thoughtful, genuinely funny new dad deftly balancing family, a clean and smart comedic voice, and a growing standup career. With mentor Nate Bargatze’s backing and a home at Zanies and the Nateland podcast, Aaron represents a new wave of comedians thriving outside the L.A./NYC mold. The episode is rich in laughter and relatability, offering listeners a glimpse into comedy’s backstage and the weird, wonderful chaos of life.

**Aaron Weber's Comedy Special “Specialty Dish” is now available on YouTube.

Find links & upcoming tour dates in the show notes.**

Key quote to sum it up:
"It’s way better for people to go, ‘That felt short,’ than ‘that was a little long.’" — Aaron Weber (52:11)