Episode 29: Ideology & Integrity: A Conversation with Comedian Gabe Pacheco

Have you ever chatted with someone who pushed you to consider what it means to go after your creative projects day in and day while staying true to yourself and your values? Is that even possible? And, what does it really look like to grow and evolve your craft with integrity especially in the comedy scene? In this episode, we hear from Gabe Pacheco, a thought-provoking storyteller, performer, podcaster and comic with over a decade of experience performing comedy all over the city and country.  

 

As you’ll come to understand through this conversation, Gabe has a strong sense of values and we often felt like we were chatting with a local philosopher.

 

Topics in this episode include:

• The origins of Gabe’s podcast “Halal Cartels” with co-host Sameer Naseem
• What it means to be in his “third childhood” and on “the bleeding edge of progress”
• The importance of incorporating “grace” into your philosophy as a creative
• The hustle in comedy and how part of showing up consistently is surrounding yourself with others who aspire to be better
• How Gabe landed the gig co-hosting a weekly comedy show at Pete’s Candy Store
• Having an ideology before you start to put yourself out there and knowing the boundaries you won’t cross
• The emergence of transphobia on the comedy scene
• Why it’s important not to hold performers to their past selves and leaving space open for self-critique and growth
• Reflecting on mistakes Gabe has made on stage
• Willingness to abandon a fan base to speak your truth
• Understanding who the gatekeepers are and whether or not your message aligns with theirs as a metric for whether or not you should keep your day job
• Traversing anti-capitalist topics on stage with audiences outside of Brooklyn
• Why it’s important to build, invite and create your community vs waiting for your community to appear 
• Psychedelics and personal growth
• What he loves about living in the city and the connection to people
• How he hates the struggle required for so many to live and stay here
• What utopia of a living situation looks like and means to Gabe
• Why the movie Blade Runner helped shape his world view

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