The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

South Beach Sessions – Jo Koy
Date: August 21, 2025
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Guests: Jo Koy

Episode Overview

In this intimate and wide-ranging conversation, comedian Jo Koy joins Dan Le Batard to discuss his remarkable journey from military brat and outsider to one of comedy’s most successful touring acts. Focusing on themes of family, identity, representation, resilience, and the healing power of laughter, Jo Koy opens up about his struggles, motivations, and milestones—culminating in his record-breaking run of arena shows and his key role in representing the Filipino-American community on the world stage.

Key Topics & Insights

1. The Surreal Experience of Comedy Stardom

[01:43–03:11]

• Jo Koy reflects on selling out arenas like the Forum and Madison Square Garden.
  • “It's still just like this, these butterflies in my stomach. I still haven't put a grasp on it." – Jo Koy [02:22]
• He remains “pinch-me” astonished by his success, tied to childhood dreams he never dared to expect.

2. Origins, Influences, and Comedy as Survival

[03:12–08:29]

• Early exposure to Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy cemented Jo’s dream to be a comedian.
  • "There was just something about [Delirious]... especially my age and hearing what he was talking about, I just related to it more." – Jo Koy [03:16]
• As a biracial (Filipino and white) “military kid,” comedy helped him navigate constant family upheaval, relocation, and social challenges.
• Humor became a coping tool for family dysfunction and trauma, especially regarding mental illness in the home.

3. Family, Identity, and Outsider Status

[08:30–16:26]

• Jo Koy describes his family’s struggles and the isolation of growing up mixed-race in areas with little Filipino presence.
• His mother’s pursuit of community through the church, Filipino potlucks, and making her children perform for gatherings fostered Jo’s love for the stage.
  • “They would make the kids perform... That was kind of like my introduction into performing.” – Jo Koy [15:49]
• Comedy and performance became both a family expectation and a method for connection.

4. The Role of Laughter and Intimacy in Jo's Life

[17:02–20:19]

• Laughter is both a crutch and a “blessing.”
  • “It's God's medicine, you know? When you laugh, it's proven, like, you feel better, you live longer.” – Jo Koy [20:19]
• He recounts bonding with comedians like John Lovitz over seeing humor in everything, even dark moments.
• Sometimes accused of using humor to avoid intimacy, Jo embraces laughter as essential to his emotional health.

5. Milestones & Moments of Gratitude

[21:02–23:00]

• Jo Koy highlights sitting in his old seat at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena (formerly the Coliseum) where he saw Eddie Murphy as a teen, now sold out for his own show.
  • “Here I am looking up at the roof, and it's my show now. That was cool.” – Jo Koy [22:49]
• Sharing these moments with his son brought deep meaning.

6. The Uncertainty and Validation of a Comedy Career

[23:00–28:57]

• For years, Jo struggled with legitimacy—balancing others’ skepticism (including his family’s) with his persistence.
  • “Telling someone you're a comedian to this day is like saying you're from Middle Earth.” – Jo Koy [23:00]
• His mother questioned the sustainability of his path, favoring traditional, stable professions.
• Producing the documentary "Nurse Unseen" was a way to celebrate Filipino nurses and bring visibility to his community.

7. Building a Standup Career from the Ground Up

[33:46–36:41]

• Jo Koy describes shunning “two for one” club ticket promos to build a genuine fanbase.
  • “If we do two for ones, and I'm always going to be the Thursday night two for one comic... I’m going to build this on my own.” – Jo Koy [34:17]
• Success came through slow, organic growth and relentless touring.

Signature Stories and Turning Points

8. The 2017 Netflix Special Gamble

[36:25–45:33]

• After being rejected by Netflix, Jo Koy spent his entire savings to independently produce a special (“Live from Seattle”).
  • “Netflix turned me down... but Netflix has been nothing but good to me.” – Jo Koy [36:41]
  • “They were like... 'We just really want you to know that we're not interested.' ... How heartbreaking that is to tell you.” – Jo Koy [40:33]
• He felt devastation and anger, yet responded with even more determination.
• Jo recounts the moment he knew the special would work:
  • “I just said, elevate the feet. Elevate the feet. And when I did that, I was like, oh. I was like, that’s good.” – Jo Koy [43:09]
• Netflix ultimately bought the special after seeing the finished product, validating Jo’s belief in his material and work ethic.

9. Representation, Identity and Breaking Barriers

[55:14–59:10]

• He expresses deep pride in providing Filipino representation—creating visibility for a community largely absent in mainstream media while transcending cultural lines.
  • “I love being able to say, I'm Filipino... Now I got people like this generation going, 'Yeah, that's us right there.'” – Jo Koy [55:14]
• The journey required breaking through decades of audience and industry bias. For years, ethnic comedians were relegated to "off nights" and derogatory “Asian invasion” themes.
  • “Thursday night is Asian invasion night... I'm not making this up... It was called Asian Invasions.” – Jo Koy [61:08]

10. Sharing Vulnerability and Family Stories

[66:48–74:29]

• Jo Koy explains that it took 14 years before he told personal stories about his mother and Filipino heritage onstage, due to industry and personal barriers.
  • “I was doing the easy Asian comedy... But the stories were like, I would have never in a million years talked about my mom. I just wasn't there yet.” – Jo Koy [65:28]
• He still struggles to address deeper family pain (especially regarding his brother’s mental health) on stage, but values comedy as a form of mass therapy:
  • “I go to therapy, but my best therapy is realizing when I would tell my traumas... we would always end up laughing and relating. Well, I might as well tell these same stories on stage.” – Jo Koy [70:26]

11. Expanding the Limits of Standup

[76:20–79:08]

• Jo Koy readies to become the first comic to headline SoFi Stadium, following in the footsteps of peers like Kevin Hart.
  • “Kevin Hart showed everyone that you could do a stadium… Now look, it’s possible.” – Jo Koy [77:50]
• He expresses gratitude and a sense of duty in modeling what’s possible for others, emphasizing that doubt has no place in his journey.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Success is just being able to do what you want to do.” – Jo Koy [02:52]
• “Laughter was everything. It was always entertainment for us.” – Jo Koy [14:57]
• “Are you always joking around? ...Yes, it's God's medicine.” – Jo Koy [20:19]
• "You're talking about an immigrant that came into this country in the 60s where the racial climate was really hard and tense...I saw my mom do it." – Jo Koy [13:37]
• “Telling someone you’re a comedian to this day is like saying you’re from Middle Earth.” – Jo Koy [23:00]
• “You’ve made it in a career. This comedian has paid for a lot of tuitions.” – Dan Le Batard [26:53]
• “If you doubt, then you might as well not do it... You should always just walk in and be like, yeah, I can walk through this. I can do this. If you fall, you fall—you just get right back up.” – Jo Koy [78:57]

Important Timestamps

• [01:43] – Jo Koy introduced; reflecting on stadium-level success.
• [03:16] – Eddie Murphy’s influence & Jo's childhood dream.
• [08:30/10:39] – Family dysfunction & using laughter as survival.
• [13:59] – Outsider experience & church as community.
• [16:26] – Performing for family gatherings, roots of stage presence.
• [20:19] – Laughter as both medicine and sometimes avoidance.
• [21:50] – The "full-circle" moment: selling out the same arena where he saw Eddie Murphy.
• [26:08] – Parental skepticism and pressure to pursue stable careers.
• [33:46] – Building a career one fan at a time, shunning shortcuts.
• [36:41] – The Netflix special gamble and emotional fallout.
• [40:33] – “We just really want you to know that we're not interested.”
• [43:09] – The key ad-lib that signaled the turning point on his special.
• [55:14] – On Filipino pride and representing his heritage for a new generation.
• [61:08] – Institutional barriers in comedy (“Asian Invasion” nights, etc.)
• [65:28] – The difference between “easy” jokes and authentic storytelling.
• [77:50] – Becoming first comedian to headline SoFi Stadium.

Tone and Style

The episode is marked by Jo Koy’s signature blend of earnest vulnerability and quick, observational humor. Dan Le Batard creates space for candid reflection, leading Jo to dig into complex, sometimes painful family stories with honesty and affection. The mood constantly shifts between poignant and comedic, spotlighting how lived experience is transformed into stage craft and how representation, resilience, and relentless optimism underpin Jo Koy’s rise.

Final Thoughts

This South Beach Session is not just a remarkable portrait of a standup ascendant, but a meaningful exploration of the power of comedy as therapy, bridge, and legacy. For fans, newcomers, and anyone seeking inspiration or insight into the immigrant experience—and the courage it takes to chase a near-impossible dream—Jo Koy’s story delivers with laughter, heart, and profound gratitude.