In this episode of Hot Breath!, we interview Derek Stroup, who shares his journey from struggling with DUIs and living at home to becoming one of the top comics in the game. Derek discusses the grind of comedy, the importance of finding one's identity, and the lessons learned from comedy legends. He emphasizes the significance of emotional connection in joke writing and the evolution of his yelling style on stage. The conversation also touches on the business side of comedy and the value of clean comedy. Derek offers advice for aspiring comedians, encouraging them to write for real audiences and stay true to themselves.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/hotbreathpod
Join our email list: https://hotbreath.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Key Takeaways:
- Find your voice by being yourself—don’t chase someone else’s style.
- Comedy built from real emotion (anger, joy, etc.) hits harder and writes itself.
- Yelling works… when used with peaks and valleys.
- Branding is everything: Know what the audience is buying.
- Clean comedy isn’t a limit—it’s a career unlock.
- “Write jokes for real people, not the back of the room.”
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.