Church of Christ member Brian Bates is one of the cleanest--and hottest--comedians in the country these days. In this episode, he takes us behind the jokes to reveal how a comedian builds rapport and trust with strangers--whether they're in a bar on Saturday night or a church on Sunday afternoon. Could all Christians learn something about the "Jesus way" from stand-up comedians?
Link to Brian Bates's website, including upcoming shows and videos
Link to Ryan Hamilton (a clean comedian that Brian Bates recommends)
Link to Greg Warren (another clean comedian Brian recommends)
Donate to support this ministry of "information and inspiration" at christianchronicle.org/donate
Send your comments, ideas, and suggestions to podcast@christianchronicle.org
Attend the 16th Annual Brotherhood of Men Conference this October 23 - 25 in Dallas, Texas. Click ewhiteministries.com to learn more and register.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
BT Irwin (00:03):
Family and friends, neighbors and, most of all,
strangers.
Welcome to the ChristianChronicle Podcast.
We're bringing you the storiesshaping Church of Christ
congregations and members aroundthe world.
I'm BT Irwin.
May what you are about to hearbless you and honor God.
Our guest today is Brian Bates,one of the top comedians around.
You'll find him performing onstages all over the country.
(00:25):
For example, his next showafter recording this episode
will be at the Grand Ole Opry,followed by gigs at comedy clubs
in North Carolina, oklahoma andTennessee.
He's got his own dry bar comedyseries and often appears on
Laugh USA and Sirius XM radio.
Many folks these days probablyknow him as one of the four
hosts of the Nate Land podcastfeaturing comedians Nate
(00:46):
Vargazzi, dusty Slay and AaronWeber.
Even though he's one of the topcomedy acts, brian is a Church
of Christ kid who often performsat churches.
A couple of summers ago, whenwe first tried to book him, his
calendar was full of shows onChurch of Christ stages.
Ladies and gentlemen, brianBates, but all you guys who are
married know when you know.
Brian Bates (01:05):
You know, and about four years ago I went on a
blind date, didn't even want togo on this date.
My buddy fixed me up.
I went begrudgingly and therewas an immediate connection.
It was different than any othernight I'd ever been a part of.
There were sparks.
We talked all night and I knewthat night I got home that night
night and I knew that night.
I got home that night I calledmy buddy and I said I found her,
(01:26):
I'm going to marry this girl.
And even though I never heardfrom that girl again apparently
she did not feel the same wayGod put my wife in my path.
And that's what I'm saying,guys.
(01:46):
God knows what's best.
He put my wife in my path tohelp me get over the girl in my
dreams.
And the Lord works inmysterious ways.
BT Irwin (02:00):
Brian Bates.
Thanks for stopping by, thanksfor having me.
Okay, so when I told my wifethat I was going to interview
you, the first thing she said,before I even finished the
sentence, was you're not goingto try to be funny, are you?
And I was like no, I promise, Iwill not try to be funny.
I have always been curious.
I watch a lot of comedy.
My favorite comedians oftentalk about their families the
(02:22):
way you do.
Does your wife think you'refunny?
She does.
Brian Bates (02:26):
Now, I'm not trying to be on all the time at home,
that would be exhausting and notpractical.
So I just have my moments.
But she thinks I'm funny.
I mean, yeah, I mean when wedated.
Obviously then I tried harderto be funny, yeah.
But I think she thinks I'mfunny at home, funny with our
(02:49):
daughter, funny, just you know,but obviously everyday life.
You're not trying to outmaterial, you know.
BT Irwin (02:55):
Yeah, there's kind of a second question.
There Is that somebody whopreaches.
I know my wife gets reallynervous whenever I I talk about
her, uh, when preaching, and soI kind of have to run things by
her.
Yeah, I wonder, do comedians,do they kind of have to run
things by their family firstbefore they make a bit about
them?
Brian Bates (03:14):
It depends on who the comedian is and I guess, who
the family member is and whatthe bit is.
I mean, if it's somethingthat's really embarrassing or or
whatever, maybe for mepersonally, um, I usually try it
out first and then sometimes,you know, it just doesn't work
(03:35):
and I never even have to mentionit to my wife, um, if it is a
joke, that I think this has gotpotential, then you know, I'll
mention it to her, to her, um,but she's always been good with
everything I've done.
The key is just to make surethe audience knows.
um, you're either saying it inlove yeah and that you, uh, if
(03:58):
anything, I usually make myselfthe punchline of the joke.
Even if it starts off makingfun of her, it, it ends up with
me being the bigger punchline.
BT Irwin (04:05):
I found that Ranker has you as the sixth funniest
clean comedian of all time andyou beat out Jerry Seinfeld,
jeff Foxworthy, bill Ingvall andSinbad.
So I was listening to anotherinterview you did somewhere else
and you said that comedians arecompetitive.
How does it feel to outrank somany of the household names of
(04:26):
comedies?
Brian Bates (04:27):
Well, that's very funny.
I think the reason I'm so highon that list is because on our
podcast I think ranker can bemanipulated pretty easy and on
our podcast we mentioned somehowthis list.
Um, I think who was number?
BT Irwin (04:47):
one, do you remember?
Oh man, I don't remember.
Brian Bates (04:49):
Actually I was looking for you, so you know, it
was probably nate bargatze itmight, it might have been yeah
and we were somehow talkingabout it and we looked at it and
then, just from our podcast,everyone who listens to our
podcast went on and startedvoting for us.
So I think everyone on ourpodcast was in the top five at
(05:10):
one time and since then it'sgradually changed.
It's an honor, but I knowthere's not much to it.
It's like getting your friendsand family to vote.
BT Irwin (05:21):
Well, if you see a bump after this episode, now
you're going to know why.
Brian Bates (05:24):
Yeah.
BT Irwin (05:25):
Back in that top five.
My wife and I have watched someof your work and I was telling
her I was telling her your storywhat I know about your story.
So my friends and I were all inour forties.
We've gone through some kind ofreset or starting over, that
kind of comes with this age.
Right, I had a health scarelast fall.
I gave up my full-time job andI'm trying some new things, like
(05:47):
pickleball, for example, justto get healthy.
You in your 40s, though I thinkyou were about 43 years old you
were doing well in your careerwhich I think you were in news,
right, yep and you decided totry stand-up comedy at the age
of 43.
Why stand-up comedy at the ageof 43?
Why stand-up comedy instead ofsomething like pickleball?
Brian Bates (06:07):
well, um, 43 is actually when I quit my job, but
I'd already been doing stand-upcomedy for for eight years I
started.
I started when I was 35.
I took a stand-up comedy class,um.
So, uh, my dad passed away inDecember of 2006 and, um, I
(06:29):
spoke at his funeral.
I saw, I shared some funnystories.
I saw the power of um.
How you know, humor, even inthe most difficult times, can
can help people.
The following month, january2007, I saw a standup comedy
class offered um, here inNashville.
It was a four week class and Ithought, you know, just for fun,
(06:50):
I'm just going to go take thisclass.
I'd never met a standupcomedian before.
I certainly didn't think theywere the type of people that you
would have a relationship with.
But the guy who taught theclass was named Rick Roberts.
He was a good Christian manwho's still a friend and mentor
to me, and I feel like he was agodsend because right out of the
(07:12):
gate I had this person that Icould identify with and lean on
and talk to and and help mealong the journey.
So I did it just for fun, likeyou might take, you know,
pickleball, play pickleball in aleague for a month.
But then I really enjoyed it.
I liked the people in the class, so I took the next level and
(07:34):
the next level and then thingsgot competitive and you know
this guy's getting this, andthis guy's getting that, and you
know, and you start to get intoit.
One thing leads to the other.
It's a very long process, buthere we are, 18 years later, and
this is what I'm doing.
BT Irwin (07:49):
It's your full time job.
So you were.
You were working in news by day, yeah, and you were doing stand
up at night.
Brian Bates (07:56):
Yeah, in news by day and you were doing standup
at night, yeah, and I'd moved upto um, um, a management
position in news, cause Istarted in news out of college.
So I was there altogether 19years, almost 20.
And um, it moved up to lowermanagement and had a pretty good
gig there.
But, um, you know, this standupcompany became my passion and
(08:19):
um, when I quit my job at age 43, I was still single.
So I thought, you know, if thisdoesn't work out, I'm only
hurting myself.
Yeah, I'm not hurting anybodyelse, so I'm gonna give it a
shot yeah, and I did.
BT Irwin (08:31):
Did you like?
Can you remember what was thetipping point?
Because it started started outas oh, I'm going to try this.
I suppose it was kind of like ahobby for a while.
And like, when did you think,hmm, I think I could actually
have a future in this.
I may actually want to give upmy day job and do this full time
.
What was that moment whereyou're just like, yeah, this is
(08:52):
it.
There was not one breakthroughmoment.
Brian Bates (08:56):
It was just a series of small successes.
And then somewhere along theway, I guess, my brain shifted
to oh I could actually makemoney doing this.
And then you know you make solittle really in anything when
you first start out, butcertainly something like this.
And it was just shocking thatanyone would pay me $50 to do
(09:19):
this.
But then eventually I'm like Imight could do this.
So I started saving my moneyand I left.
I lived a pretty frugal lifeanyway, I wasn't spending
extravagantly on anything.
And then the last, when Ipinpointed when I wanted to quit
my job the last six monthsbefore I quit I tested to see if
(09:40):
I could live off just my comedyincome and not touch my day job
money.
And I did it and that was kindof an indication to me that I
could make the job.
BT Irwin (09:50):
Yeah, did anybody try to talk you out of this?
Brian Bates (09:55):
Not really.
I mean certainly, like I said,I didn't have a wife, so I
didn't have her to consult with.
But you know, my mom,understandably, was probably a
little concerned, that you know,moms always worry about their
kids, no matter what age theyare.
And I've had this career andstable job with benefits, and
(10:15):
now I'm leaving it to do this.
But at the same time I thinkshe knew that I was passionate
about it and she saw that Iloved it and I was also 43 years
old.
So there's only so much your momcan do or say but you know, if
people doubted it they didn'ttell me publicly.
Everyone was encouraging.
Everyone, to my face at least,was really encouraged me to do
(10:39):
it.
I don't know that there wasanyone who said I shouldn't.
BT Irwin (10:43):
I've always wondered about this.
The only thing I know aboutstarting out at standup comedy
is what I got from watching uh,crashing with yeah on HBO, and I
mean crashing on people'scouches and just being up in the
middle of two o'clock in themorning.
You know five minutes on astage somewhere.
Like do you just, you just takewhatever you can get?
Do you just go out and sellyourself?
(11:05):
Do you hire an agent?
Like, how do you?
How do you get gigs when you'restarting out?
Brian Bates (11:10):
Yeah, it's a really long process and thankfully, in
some ways it's good that youdon't know what you don't know.
You know because now I lookback and I'm like, oh, that's
horrible, some of the things Ihad to do and experience, but
you don't know that in themoment.
And then you do them and theymake you better and you move on.
But I started putting on theselocal shows with other comedians
(11:32):
that were in my comedy classand we would just basically
invite our friends and family tocome, and I don't really think
we were making any money, but itwas just a way for us to get in
front of them on stage.
And then I remember I think Igot the first offer.
Someone reached out to me onMySpace that's how long ago this
(11:53):
was and said they were doing acompany Christmas party and
found my video, I guess onMySpace and you know, wanted to
hire me and I didn't have enoughmaterial to perform at a
Christmas party and I think theywanted an hour and so I got me
(12:14):
and three of my buddies to eachgo do 15.
And, quite frankly, we didn'thave 15.
We had maybe five minutes, buteveryone always exaggerates and
again you don't realize just howbad you are at the moment, and
then I would just eventually getsmall pain shows here and there
and we'd put on our own shows.
One of the big breakthroughs, Iguess, was I remember I always
(12:38):
kept hearing about Henry Cho.
I don't know if you're familiarwith Henry Cho, but he lives in
Nashville and he's a cleancomedian and he's a member of
Church of Christ.
So I had so many friends andcolleagues that would always
mention him or they knew him orthey were friends with him, and
(12:59):
I always wanted to open for himand getting him.
And I finally got to open for Igot the MC for him.
BT Irwin (13:06):
Okay.
Brian Bates (13:08):
At Zany's comedy club here in Nashville about 15
years ago I guess.
And then he offered me somedates and go on the road with
him and I've been doing showsoff and on with him for 15 years
.
Wow yeah, so that was a bigbreakthrough.
And then I started opening forother comedians and started
touring with Nate Bargatze andstarted opening for him on the
(13:32):
road.
Nate's the biggest comedian inthe world now, him on the road.
When you know Nate's thebiggest comedian in the world
now.
But, uh, when I first startedwith him, you know he was doing
comedy clubs, then theaters andthen bigger theaters and then
now he does arenas.
BT Irwin (13:45):
I, uh, I just read Charlie Peacock's autobiography
and one of the things he talksabout in there is that artists
who are Christians includinghimself, uh, don't necessarily
want to be called Christianartists.
They, they, they just want tobe artists who happen to be
Christians.
And he, he tells.
He tells a story in the bookabout sometimes a great musician
becomes a Christian and thechurch expects him to become a
(14:08):
worship minister now.
Or a comedian becomes aChristian and the church expects
him to leave comedy and becomea preacher Right or become
a-unquote.
You know Christian comedian andhit the youth rally circuit.
You perform, you do perform atchurches, but you also perform
at comedy clubs.
You're going to be at the GrandOle Opry.
I mean, do you ever getquestions from folks about why
(14:31):
you don't identify as aquote-unquote Christian comedian
or why you don't just performat churches and youth rallies?
Brian Bates (14:38):
I certainly don't hide from my faith.
I talk about being a Christianin my act, whether I'm at a
church or at a comedy club.
I don't know what people thinkabout that, but I know some
comedians who solely perform inchurches and I think maybe
that's a personal choice forthem, or some people are a
(14:59):
little timid about performing incomedy clubs because it's a
different type of crowd.
It could be a rowdier crowd anda drunk crowd.
You never know what you'redealing with.
But I think I agree with him inthe sense that I usually
identify as a comedian who is aChristian, instead of labeling
myself a Christian comedian, andnot that I mind if someone
(15:20):
calls me a Christian comedian,because I certainly am that, but
I feel like that you know, notto preach here, but Jesus whole
thing about.
You know he dined with sinnersand preaching to the sick and
not the well, so I feel like Ican maybe be a more influence in
place where not everyone is aChristian.
BT Irwin (15:43):
We Christians we admire Jesus for being the kind
of Christ who could eat with taxcollectors and sinners, go to
the bar, go to the comedy clubon Friday night and interact
with people there, and thenstill show up at synagogue on
Saturday.
He can hang out with anyoneanywhere, and that's what we say
we want to do, but not many ofus actually know how to pull it
off.
(16:03):
But as a comedian, you seem todo what most Christians don't
know how to do.
You can go to a comedy club,which is pretty much a bar one
night.
You can do a show at the Churchof Christ.
The next night you can getsaints and sinners quote unquote
to laugh at life.
So I mean, do comedians havesomething to teach Christians
(16:23):
about how to actually be morelike Jesus in the company they
keep?
Brian Bates (16:27):
I don't know.
I just I have a platform that Iget to share my faith but not
be people over the head about it.
Obviously, if I got preachy inmy act, it probably would not
work in a comedy club If I'mfunny and they genuinely like me
for being funny.
But then also again, I don'tbeat people over the head about
being a Christian but Icertainly let them know and I
(16:49):
don't hide from it and I havesome jokes about being a
Christian in church.
So it's an honor and aprivilege to get to do this.
Sometimes at our church we'vebeen encouraged in our Bible
class to go find someone in ourworkplace that week and talk to
(17:10):
them about Jesus, build arelationship with someone who's
not a Church of Christ member inour workplace and Often people
in my Bible class they don'teven have anyone in their
workplace like that.
They're all of the same beliefor the same faith.
(17:31):
Whereas with me, it's rare thatI do find anyone who believes
the same way I do.
BT Irwin (17:41):
I've watched a lot of your material and I noticed that
you will use bits that I thinkwould everybody in a Church of
Christ audience would understand.
You use those bits in a comedyclub or on a special.
Nobody in the and everybody inthe audience laughs and they
don't hold that against you atall, and so it makes me think
about like how important istrust to a to a standup comedian
(18:06):
.
You seem to be able toestablish an immediate rapport
and trust where the audiencetrusts you enough to say what
you're going to say withoutfeeling like you're going to
bait and switch on them.
Brian Bates (18:16):
Well, if I came out and the first thing I said was,
hey guys, I'm a Christian, I goto so-and-so church and if you
don't, you know, here's why youshould.
Yeah, then that probably mywhole set probably wouldn't go
well Right.
When I first started doingstandup comedy I just had a.
I knew I just a sense that yougot to make fun of yourself
(18:38):
first before you can certainlymake fun of other people.
If you can, if you'veestablished that you have a
sense of humor about yourself,then it really opens some doors
to talk about whatever else andlets down guards and gets people
to like you and kind of leaninto you.
So I don't save anything I talkabout, about my faith or being
(19:03):
a Christian.
I don't save it for the end.
It's some big reveal, it's justright in my set, but I don't
say it right off the top either.
If that makes sense, I kind of,I guess, establish a rapport
with the audience.
BT Irwin (19:18):
The thing I admire so much about comedians is how
relatable they are, like fromthe moment you walk on stage.
If you're good at what you doand you're good at what you Like
, from the moment you walk onstage, if you're good at what
you do and you're good at whatyou do, from the moment you walk
on stage, people, like, seem toidentify with you.
You have that, that rapport,that trust.
You're relatable.
Are there any like you you talkabout when you started taking
standup comedy classes years ago?
(19:39):
Are there without revealingtrade secrets?
Are there things they teach youabout how to make yourself
relatable to all these strangersthat don't even know you and
yet they warm up to you, justlike that.
Brian Bates (19:50):
It's.
I think the key is honesty, ahundred percent honesty.
Uh, really let your guard down,really being vulnerable, but
obviously in a funny way, and,um, if people see that you're
just being honest with them,with yourself or whatever, and
(20:10):
you're uh being vulnerable, andI think it just makes them trust
you more, like this guy's nottrying to sell me on anything
except having a good time.
BT Irwin (20:22):
Yeah, and they're.
They're always willing to goalong with you.
I mean, that's why they'rethere, not always, but ideally.
Brian Bates (20:30):
I mean, I've had some rough shows, some rough
crowds and you know, just likeanything you do, you learn along
the way.
And I look back now and Icringe when I see some of my old
sets, just like I'm sure if youhave videos of you preaching
years ago, you probably feel thesame way.
Just try last week.
Well, me too, really I, um, youalways kind of cringe when you
(20:54):
see yourself doing it, but I've,I've come a long way, just like
anybody.
BT Irwin (20:58):
I have to tell you my wife she has a tell.
When we're watching somethingand she cringes, she touches her
face, she starts touching her,she starts touching her face,
and that's how I know.
And we were watching some ofyour stuff and you were talking
about the time that you wereinvited to do stand up at I
think it was the Wilson CountyAgricultural Livestock
(21:20):
Association and it was anoutdoor pavilion at like two in
the afternoon.
Brian Bates (21:24):
Yes.
BT Irwin (21:25):
Yes, and I looked over and my wife was touching her
face man and turning away.
Brian Bates (21:30):
Yeah, that was a tough one.
I've got a few bombing stories,but that's my kind of go-to
bombing story that I share, andyour mom was there right, my mom
was there Some?
other family members were thereand it was really, was really,
really, really bad and um, Ijust bombed in front of all
these people and then, when itwas over, there's it's an
(21:54):
outdoor picnic pavilion.
There's nowhere to go, there'sno green room to hide in, so I
just had to squeeze in there onone of the benches with the
people who just hated me, andthen they did an auction where
they auctioned off items.
I donated my CD to be auctionedoff.
They started bidding on it.
(22:15):
No one wanted to bid on it.
It was just horrific.
BT Irwin (22:21):
Man, oh man, you've turned it into a bit.
Brian Bates (22:25):
That's one of the best things about being a
stand-up comedian.
Now, when anything bad orembarrassing happens to you
pretty quickly sometimes almostimmediately you're like, okay, I
can at least make this into abit hopefully right, that's
right.
BT Irwin (22:40):
So I I gotta say, one of the things I think makes
comedians so relatable this isjust one of my observations.
You can tell me, if it's true isthat comedians seem to be more
observant of all the littledetails of life that most of us
don't notice until the comedianbrings them up in a bit and then
we're like, yeah, that's right,that's my life too, and and so
(23:00):
when the comedian talks about it, it's funny.
So, like, how do you thinkcomedians uh look at life
compared to the rest of us?
Is it a natural talent or is ita skill that you build, uh, as
you try to come up with bits?
Brian Bates (23:13):
I think it's both.
I think it's just like, uh,being an athlete you're born
with some natural talent butobviously you've got to practice
and practice and practice andthen you just get better at it.
I mean, I think I've alwaysbeen pretty good at observing
(23:34):
and noticing maybe things peoplewouldn't say, or pointing out
flaws.
But then now I've trained mybrain to be observant and always
be thinking about material, orif something happens.
Could I make that into a bitand you kind of figure out what
will work and what won't work.
Sometimes absurd things thathappen aren't necessarily the
best stand-up comedy material.
(23:54):
Sometimes it's the littlethings in life that, uh, that
are the funniest.
And I feel like comedians areeither so relatable or they're
kind of absurd to the pointwhere you've never seen someone
like this you know what I meanLike a character almost and like
, wow, this guy has got a wildstory.
(24:17):
Or you're so relatable you feellike they're their best friend.
BT Irwin (24:21):
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
So I I've heard people talkabout comedy as an escape from
real life.
Uh, to you know, something thattakes people's minds off their
everyday world.
But when I listened to comedy,it doesn't really make people
forget their lives or the world.
It seems to make them look attheir lives in the world and
find humor in both, and it seemsto have this power to turn
(24:45):
things that embarrass mostpeople, things like bowel
movements or sex, uh, intothings that make us feel at
least this is me talking feelmore human and connected to
other people, cause everyone'slaughing at it together and
you're like, okay, I'm, we'reall you know, we all experienced
this.
Um, so I've just had thisfeeling of community every time
(25:07):
I've ever gone to real goodcomedy act that I can laugh at
my own life.
Um, I feel relieved.
That's the word I feel, okay,I'm not the only one.
Um, I mean, do you, do you getthat sense?
Do you feel that, when you'reon stage, do you feel that magic
happening and that, that kindof sense of relief and, ah,
we're all humans here together?
Yeah, is that something you tryto to, to lead people into?
Brian Bates (25:31):
I yes, for sure.
I think it's ideally, they'rerelate to it and they think it's
funny because they've they canrelate to it and they've been
through it.
And it's a sense of relief thatrelate to it and they've been
through it, and it's a sense ofrelief that, hey, I'm not alone
in this, other people experiencethis too, or, um, I'm whatever
(25:52):
it is, I'm my situation's worsethan there.
So therefore, they feel reliefin the sense that, well, at
least I'm not as bad as this guyas far as you know, whatever it
is.
I mean, that's the same for ourpodcast.
I do a podcast with NateBargatze called Nate land, and
we take a topic each week and,um, learn about it together.
And I think the success from isbecause people watching again
(26:17):
identify like, oh yeah, most ofus are pretty dumb about most
things if we're being honest andwe kind of learn together.
And then some people just feelmakes it, makes them feel smart
because they're like these guysare idiots at least I know more
than they do.
And stand-up comedy is the sameway.
Um, you know right, I mean Iused to.
When I first started for thefirst, however many years, all
(26:40):
my jokes were about being singleat at my age, you know in my
30s and 40s.
Then I got married and all myjokes were not all but a lot of
my jokes material was aboutbeing newly married and getting
married late in life.
And then I had a child at 50,our first child at 50.
So the last three years it'sbeen a lot of dad jokes, a lot
(27:03):
of material about being a newdad.
BT Irwin (27:05):
All right.
So I know everybody's going towatch your specials.
We're going to link those inthe show notes.
I just I'm always curious.
You're a great comedian.
Number six on Ranker that'sgoing to go on after this
episode comes out.
Yeah, who do you?
Who are your favorite comediansright now?
Like, who would you recommendpeople?
Brian Bates (27:32):
Who do you think Ryan Bates watch and listen to
these days?
I've mentioned him numeroustimes already on this, but and
now it kind of seems like theobvious answer Nate Bargatze.
But I've been recommending himfor 15 years when no one knew
who he was.
Nate is so funny, so relatable,so clean and now everybody's
learning about him, but I wouldstill put him on there.
Aaron weber he's another one ofmy co-hosts on the podcast, but
he's very funny.
(27:52):
Uh, clean comedian.
I like clean comedians.
I know that's I like allcomedians, don't get me wrong.
Some of I think there's somenot clean comedians I think are
very funny, but I tend to leantoward the clean ones.
So I was trying to think ofsome maybe not household names.
Oh, here's one Ryan Hamilton.
Ryan Hamilton is a very, veryfunny standup comedian.
(28:16):
He's had some success out there, but he's certainly not a
household name.
But whenever I see him performI'm like wow, this guy is so
good.
BT Irwin (28:27):
Ryan Hamilton.
Everybody heard from him herefirst.
Brian Bates (28:30):
Okay, yeah, ryan Hamilton, he's great.
Greg Warren's another one.
Greg Warren, very funny, cleanstand-up comedian.
BT Irwin (28:37):
Okay, everybody, You've got some comedy to watch
and you've got some rancorupdates to go make for Brian
Bates, who is one of the topcomedians in the country.
If you're listening to this inJune 2025, you can catch him on
June 29 at the grand old Opry.
How many times have you donethe Opry?
Brian Bates (28:54):
I think this will be either my 13th or 14th
appearance.
BT Irwin (28:58):
My goodness, my goodness.
What was it like the first timeyou stood up?
Brian Bates (29:02):
It was so great.
Um, they really treat youwonderful.
They have an assigned parkingspot for you when you pull in,
they have a film crew that kindof follows you around to capture
your first time there and thenwhen they introduce you, they
tell the audience that this ismaking the Opry debut.
So the audience is behind youand it's just so great being out
(29:23):
there on that stage and theGrand Ole Opry it's just a great
venue great acoustics, greatcrowd.
I mean the Opry House holdsover 4,000 people, so it's a big
venue.
BT Irwin (29:36):
Yeah, you're going to be at the Grand Ole Opry House
on the 29th.
Yes, because they move it tothe Ryman some months of the
year.
Brian Bates (29:44):
They do, they do and I've done the.
I've performed at the Ryman afew times for other shows, but
never for the Grand Ole Opry.
Every time I've done the Opryit's been at the Opry house.
BT Irwin (29:55):
Okay.
Well, that's where Brian Batesis going to be on June 29.
And then he's hitting the roadfor the month of July, right, so
you'll be in, I think, northCarolina, oklahoma.
Brian Bates (30:04):
I'm in Raleigh, north Carolina, on July 6th and
Chattanooga, tennessee, july 9thand then July 25th, I believe,
hattiesburg, mississippi, and myown show in Nashville at Zany's
Comedy Club July 29th Okay.
BT Irwin (30:23):
If he's near you, everybody go check out Brian
Bates.
Brian, thanks for being on theshow, Thanks for having me.
We hope that something youheard in this episode encouraged
, enlightened or enriched you insome way.
If it did, thanks be to God andplease pay it forward.
Subscribe to this podcast andshare it with a friend.
Recommend and review itwherever you listen to your
favorite podcasts.
Your subscription,recommendation and review help
(30:45):
us reach more people.
Please send your comments,ideas and suggestions to podcast
at christianchronicleorg.
And don't forget our ministry toinform and inspire Christians
and congregations around theworld is a non-profit ministry
that relies on your generosity.
So if you like this show andyou want to keep it going and
make it even better, please makea tax-deductible gift to the
(31:07):
Christian Chronicle atchristianchronicleorg slash
donate.
The Christian Chronicle podcastis a production of the
Christian Chronicle Incorporated, informing and inspiring Church
of Christ congregations,members and ministries around
the world since 1943.
The Christian Chronicle'smanaging editor is Audrey
Jackson, editor-in-chief BobbyRoss Jr and executive director
(31:28):
and CEO Eric Triggestad.
The Christian Chronicle podcastis written, directed, hosted
and edited by BT Irwin and isproduced by James Flanagan at
Podcast your Voice Studios inthe Motor City, detroit,
michigan, usa.
Until next time.
May grace and peace be yours inabundance.
Family and friends, neighbors and, most of all,
strangers.
Welcome to the ChristianChronicle Podcast.
We're bringing you the storiesshaping Church of Christ
congregations and members aroundthe world.
I'm BT Irwin.
May what you are about to hearbless you and honor God.
Our guest today is Brian Bates,one of the top comedians around.
You'll find him performing onstages all over the country.
(00:25):
For example, his next showafter recording this episode
will be at the Grand Ole Opry,followed by gigs at comedy clubs
in North Carolina, oklahoma andTennessee.
He's got his own dry bar comedyseries and often appears on
Laugh USA and Sirius XM radio.
Many folks these days probablyknow him as one of the four
hosts of the Nate Land podcastfeaturing comedians Nate
(00:46):
Vargazzi, dusty Slay and AaronWeber.
Even though he's one of the topcomedy acts, brian is a Church
of Christ kid who often performsat churches.
A couple of summers ago, whenwe first tried to book him, his
calendar was full of shows onChurch of Christ stages.
Ladies and gentlemen, brianBates, but all you guys who are
married know when you know.
Brian Bates (01:05):
You know, and about four years ago I went on a
blind date, didn't even want togo on this date.
My buddy fixed me up.
I went begrudgingly and therewas an immediate connection.
It was different than any othernight I'd ever been a part of.
There were sparks.
We talked all night and I knewthat night I got home that night
night and I knew that night.
I got home that night I calledmy buddy and I said I found her,
(01:26):
I'm going to marry this girl.
And even though I never heardfrom that girl again apparently
she did not feel the same wayGod put my wife in my path.
And that's what I'm saying,guys.
(01:46):
God knows what's best.
He put my wife in my path tohelp me get over the girl in my
dreams.
And the Lord works inmysterious ways.
BT Irwin (02:00):
Brian Bates.
Thanks for stopping by, thanksfor having me.
Okay, so when I told my wifethat I was going to interview
you, the first thing she said,before I even finished the
sentence, was you're not goingto try to be funny, are you?
And I was like no, I promise, Iwill not try to be funny.
I have always been curious.
I watch a lot of comedy.
My favorite comedians oftentalk about their families the
(02:22):
way you do.
Does your wife think you'refunny?
She does.
Brian Bates (02:26):
Now, I'm not trying to be on all the time at home,
that would be exhausting and notpractical.
So I just have my moments.
But she thinks I'm funny.
I mean, yeah, I mean when wedated.
Obviously then I tried harderto be funny, yeah.
But I think she thinks I'mfunny at home, funny with our
(02:49):
daughter, funny, just you know,but obviously everyday life.
You're not trying to outmaterial, you know.
BT Irwin (02:55):
Yeah, there's kind of a second question.
There Is that somebody whopreaches.
I know my wife gets reallynervous whenever I I talk about
her, uh, when preaching, and soI kind of have to run things by
her.
Yeah, I wonder, do comedians,do they kind of have to run
things by their family firstbefore they make a bit about
them?
Brian Bates (03:14):
It depends on who the comedian is and I guess, who
the family member is and whatthe bit is.
I mean, if it's somethingthat's really embarrassing or or
whatever, maybe for mepersonally, um, I usually try it
out first and then sometimes,you know, it just doesn't work
(03:35):
and I never even have to mentionit to my wife, um, if it is a
joke, that I think this has gotpotential, then you know, I'll
mention it to her, to her, um,but she's always been good with
everything I've done.
The key is just to make surethe audience knows.
um, you're either saying it inlove yeah and that you, uh, if
(03:58):
anything, I usually make myselfthe punchline of the joke.
Even if it starts off makingfun of her, it, it ends up with
me being the bigger punchline.
BT Irwin (04:05):
I found that Ranker has you as the sixth funniest
clean comedian of all time andyou beat out Jerry Seinfeld,
jeff Foxworthy, bill Ingvall andSinbad.
So I was listening to anotherinterview you did somewhere else
and you said that comedians arecompetitive.
How does it feel to outrank somany of the household names of
(04:26):
comedies?
Brian Bates (04:27):
Well, that's very funny.
I think the reason I'm so highon that list is because on our
podcast I think ranker can bemanipulated pretty easy and on
our podcast we mentioned somehowthis list.
Um, I think who was number?
BT Irwin (04:47):
one, do you remember?
Oh man, I don't remember.
Brian Bates (04:49):
Actually I was looking for you, so you know, it
was probably nate bargatze itmight, it might have been yeah
and we were somehow talkingabout it and we looked at it and
then, just from our podcast,everyone who listens to our
podcast went on and startedvoting for us.
So I think everyone on ourpodcast was in the top five at
(05:10):
one time and since then it'sgradually changed.
It's an honor, but I knowthere's not much to it.
It's like getting your friendsand family to vote.
BT Irwin (05:21):
Well, if you see a bump after this episode, now
you're going to know why.
Brian Bates (05:24):
Yeah.
BT Irwin (05:25):
Back in that top five.
My wife and I have watched someof your work and I was telling
her I was telling her your storywhat I know about your story.
So my friends and I were all inour forties.
We've gone through some kind ofreset or starting over, that
kind of comes with this age.
Right, I had a health scarelast fall.
I gave up my full-time job andI'm trying some new things, like
(05:47):
pickleball, for example, justto get healthy.
You in your 40s, though I thinkyou were about 43 years old you
were doing well in your careerwhich I think you were in news,
right, yep and you decided totry stand-up comedy at the age
of 43.
Why stand-up comedy at the ageof 43?
Why stand-up comedy instead ofsomething like pickleball?
Brian Bates (06:07):
well, um, 43 is actually when I quit my job, but
I'd already been doing stand-upcomedy for for eight years I
started.
I started when I was 35.
I took a stand-up comedy class,um.
So, uh, my dad passed away inDecember of 2006 and, um, I
(06:29):
spoke at his funeral.
I saw, I shared some funnystories.
I saw the power of um.
How you know, humor, even inthe most difficult times, can
can help people.
The following month, january2007, I saw a standup comedy
class offered um, here inNashville.
It was a four week class and Ithought, you know, just for fun,
(06:50):
I'm just going to go take thisclass.
I'd never met a standupcomedian before.
I certainly didn't think theywere the type of people that you
would have a relationship with.
But the guy who taught theclass was named Rick Roberts.
He was a good Christian manwho's still a friend and mentor
to me, and I feel like he was agodsend because right out of the
(07:12):
gate I had this person that Icould identify with and lean on
and talk to and and help mealong the journey.
So I did it just for fun, likeyou might take, you know,
pickleball, play pickleball in aleague for a month.
But then I really enjoyed it.
I liked the people in the class, so I took the next level and
(07:34):
the next level and then thingsgot competitive and you know
this guy's getting this, andthis guy's getting that, and you
know, and you start to get intoit.
One thing leads to the other.
It's a very long process, buthere we are, 18 years later, and
this is what I'm doing.
BT Irwin (07:49):
It's your full time job.
So you were.
You were working in news by day, yeah, and you were doing stand
up at night.
Brian Bates (07:56):
Yeah, in news by day and you were doing standup
at night, yeah, and I'd moved upto um, um, a management
position in news, cause Istarted in news out of college.
So I was there altogether 19years, almost 20.
And um, it moved up to lowermanagement and had a pretty good
gig there.
But, um, you know, this standupcompany became my passion and
(08:19):
um, when I quit my job at age 43, I was still single.
So I thought, you know, if thisdoesn't work out, I'm only
hurting myself.
Yeah, I'm not hurting anybodyelse, so I'm gonna give it a
shot yeah, and I did.
BT Irwin (08:31):
Did you like?
Can you remember what was thetipping point?
Because it started started outas oh, I'm going to try this.
I suppose it was kind of like ahobby for a while.
And like, when did you think,hmm, I think I could actually
have a future in this.
I may actually want to give upmy day job and do this full time
.
What was that moment whereyou're just like, yeah, this is
(08:52):
it.
There was not one breakthroughmoment.
Brian Bates (08:56):
It was just a series of small successes.
And then somewhere along theway, I guess, my brain shifted
to oh I could actually makemoney doing this.
And then you know you make solittle really in anything when
you first start out, butcertainly something like this.
And it was just shocking thatanyone would pay me $50 to do
(09:19):
this.
But then eventually I'm like Imight could do this.
So I started saving my moneyand I left.
I lived a pretty frugal lifeanyway, I wasn't spending
extravagantly on anything.
And then the last, when Ipinpointed when I wanted to quit
my job the last six monthsbefore I quit I tested to see if
(09:40):
I could live off just my comedyincome and not touch my day job
money.
And I did it and that was kindof an indication to me that I
could make the job.
BT Irwin (09:50):
Yeah, did anybody try to talk you out of this?
Brian Bates (09:55):
Not really.
I mean certainly, like I said,I didn't have a wife, so I
didn't have her to consult with.
But you know, my mom,understandably, was probably a
little concerned, that you know,moms always worry about their
kids, no matter what age theyare.
And I've had this career andstable job with benefits, and
(10:15):
now I'm leaving it to do this.
But at the same time I thinkshe knew that I was passionate
about it and she saw that Iloved it and I was also 43 years
old.
So there's only so much your momcan do or say but you know, if
people doubted it they didn'ttell me publicly.
Everyone was encouraging.
Everyone, to my face at least,was really encouraged me to do
(10:39):
it.
I don't know that there wasanyone who said I shouldn't.
BT Irwin (10:43):
I've always wondered about this.
The only thing I know aboutstarting out at standup comedy
is what I got from watching uh,crashing with yeah on HBO, and I
mean crashing on people'scouches and just being up in the
middle of two o'clock in themorning.
You know five minutes on astage somewhere.
Like do you just, you just takewhatever you can get?
Do you just go out and sellyourself?
(11:05):
Do you hire an agent?
Like, how do you?
How do you get gigs when you'restarting out?
Brian Bates (11:10):
Yeah, it's a really long process and thankfully, in
some ways it's good that youdon't know what you don't know.
You know because now I lookback and I'm like, oh, that's
horrible, some of the things Ihad to do and experience, but
you don't know that in themoment.
And then you do them and theymake you better and you move on.
But I started putting on theselocal shows with other comedians
(11:32):
that were in my comedy classand we would just basically
invite our friends and family tocome, and I don't really think
we were making any money, but itwas just a way for us to get in
front of them on stage.
And then I remember I think Igot the first offer.
Someone reached out to me onMySpace that's how long ago this
(11:53):
was and said they were doing acompany Christmas party and
found my video, I guess onMySpace and you know, wanted to
hire me and I didn't have enoughmaterial to perform at a
Christmas party and I think theywanted an hour and so I got me
(12:14):
and three of my buddies to eachgo do 15.
And, quite frankly, we didn'thave 15.
We had maybe five minutes, buteveryone always exaggerates and
again you don't realize just howbad you are at the moment, and
then I would just eventually getsmall pain shows here and there
and we'd put on our own shows.
One of the big breakthroughs, Iguess, was I remember I always
(12:38):
kept hearing about Henry Cho.
I don't know if you're familiarwith Henry Cho, but he lives in
Nashville and he's a cleancomedian and he's a member of
Church of Christ.
So I had so many friends andcolleagues that would always
mention him or they knew him orthey were friends with him, and
(12:59):
I always wanted to open for himand getting him.
And I finally got to open for Igot the MC for him.
BT Irwin (13:06):
Okay.
Brian Bates (13:08):
At Zany's comedy club here in Nashville about 15
years ago I guess.
And then he offered me somedates and go on the road with
him and I've been doing showsoff and on with him for 15 years
.
Wow yeah, so that was a bigbreakthrough.
And then I started opening forother comedians and started
touring with Nate Bargatze andstarted opening for him on the
(13:32):
road.
Nate's the biggest comedian inthe world now, him on the road.
When you know Nate's thebiggest comedian in the world
now.
But, uh, when I first startedwith him, you know he was doing
comedy clubs, then theaters andthen bigger theaters and then
now he does arenas.
BT Irwin (13:45):
I, uh, I just read Charlie Peacock's autobiography
and one of the things he talksabout in there is that artists
who are Christians includinghimself, uh, don't necessarily
want to be called Christianartists.
They, they, they just want tobe artists who happen to be
Christians.
And he, he tells.
He tells a story in the bookabout sometimes a great musician
becomes a Christian and thechurch expects him to become a
(14:08):
worship minister now.
Or a comedian becomes aChristian and the church expects
him to leave comedy and becomea preacher Right or become
a-unquote.
You know Christian comedian andhit the youth rally circuit.
You perform, you do perform atchurches, but you also perform
at comedy clubs.
You're going to be at the GrandOle Opry.
I mean, do you ever getquestions from folks about why
(14:31):
you don't identify as aquote-unquote Christian comedian
or why you don't just performat churches and youth rallies?
Brian Bates (14:38):
I certainly don't hide from my faith.
I talk about being a Christianin my act, whether I'm at a
church or at a comedy club.
I don't know what people thinkabout that, but I know some
comedians who solely perform inchurches and I think maybe
that's a personal choice forthem, or some people are a
(14:59):
little timid about performing incomedy clubs because it's a
different type of crowd.
It could be a rowdier crowd anda drunk crowd.
You never know what you'redealing with.
But I think I agree with him inthe sense that I usually
identify as a comedian who is aChristian, instead of labeling
myself a Christian comedian, andnot that I mind if someone
(15:20):
calls me a Christian comedian,because I certainly am that, but
I feel like that you know, notto preach here, but Jesus whole
thing about.
You know he dined with sinnersand preaching to the sick and
not the well, so I feel like Ican maybe be a more influence in
place where not everyone is aChristian.
BT Irwin (15:43):
We Christians we admire Jesus for being the kind
of Christ who could eat with taxcollectors and sinners, go to
the bar, go to the comedy clubon Friday night and interact
with people there, and thenstill show up at synagogue on
Saturday.
He can hang out with anyoneanywhere, and that's what we say
we want to do, but not many ofus actually know how to pull it
off.
(16:03):
But as a comedian, you seem todo what most Christians don't
know how to do.
You can go to a comedy club,which is pretty much a bar one
night.
You can do a show at the Churchof Christ.
The next night you can getsaints and sinners quote unquote
to laugh at life.
So I mean, do comedians havesomething to teach Christians
(16:23):
about how to actually be morelike Jesus in the company they
keep?
Brian Bates (16:27):
I don't know.
I just I have a platform that Iget to share my faith but not
be people over the head about it.
Obviously, if I got preachy inmy act, it probably would not
work in a comedy club If I'mfunny and they genuinely like me
for being funny.
But then also again, I don'tbeat people over the head about
being a Christian but Icertainly let them know and I
(16:49):
don't hide from it and I havesome jokes about being a
Christian in church.
So it's an honor and aprivilege to get to do this.
Sometimes at our church we'vebeen encouraged in our Bible
class to go find someone in ourworkplace that week and talk to
(17:10):
them about Jesus, build arelationship with someone who's
not a Church of Christ member inour workplace and Often people
in my Bible class they don'teven have anyone in their
workplace like that.
They're all of the same beliefor the same faith.
(17:31):
Whereas with me, it's rare thatI do find anyone who believes
the same way I do.
BT Irwin (17:41):
I've watched a lot of your material and I noticed that
you will use bits that I thinkwould everybody in a Church of
Christ audience would understand.
You use those bits in a comedyclub or on a special.
Nobody in the and everybody inthe audience laughs and they
don't hold that against you atall, and so it makes me think
about like how important istrust to a to a standup comedian
(18:06):
.
You seem to be able toestablish an immediate rapport
and trust where the audiencetrusts you enough to say what
you're going to say withoutfeeling like you're going to
bait and switch on them.
Brian Bates (18:16):
Well, if I came out and the first thing I said was,
hey guys, I'm a Christian, I goto so-and-so church and if you
don't, you know, here's why youshould.
Yeah, then that probably mywhole set probably wouldn't go
well Right.
When I first started doingstandup comedy I just had a.
I knew I just a sense that yougot to make fun of yourself
(18:38):
first before you can certainlymake fun of other people.
If you can, if you'veestablished that you have a
sense of humor about yourself,then it really opens some doors
to talk about whatever else andlets down guards and gets people
to like you and kind of leaninto you.
So I don't save anything I talkabout, about my faith or being
(19:03):
a Christian.
I don't save it for the end.
It's some big reveal, it's justright in my set, but I don't
say it right off the top either.
If that makes sense, I kind of,I guess, establish a rapport
with the audience.
BT Irwin (19:18):
The thing I admire so much about comedians is how
relatable they are, like fromthe moment you walk on stage.
If you're good at what you doand you're good at what you Like
, from the moment you walk onstage, if you're good at what
you do and you're good at whatyou do, from the moment you walk
on stage, people, like, seem toidentify with you.
You have that, that rapport,that trust.
You're relatable.
Are there any like you you talkabout when you started taking
standup comedy classes years ago?
(19:39):
Are there without revealingtrade secrets?
Are there things they teach youabout how to make yourself
relatable to all these strangersthat don't even know you and
yet they warm up to you, justlike that.
Brian Bates (19:50):
It's.
I think the key is honesty, ahundred percent honesty.
Uh, really let your guard down,really being vulnerable, but
obviously in a funny way, and,um, if people see that you're
just being honest with them,with yourself or whatever, and
(20:10):
you're uh being vulnerable, andI think it just makes them trust
you more, like this guy's nottrying to sell me on anything
except having a good time.
BT Irwin (20:22):
Yeah, and they're.
They're always willing to goalong with you.
I mean, that's why they'rethere, not always, but ideally.
Brian Bates (20:30):
I mean, I've had some rough shows, some rough
crowds and you know, just likeanything you do, you learn along
the way.
And I look back now and Icringe when I see some of my old
sets, just like I'm sure if youhave videos of you preaching
years ago, you probably feel thesame way.
Just try last week.
Well, me too, really I, um, youalways kind of cringe when you
(20:54):
see yourself doing it, but I've,I've come a long way, just like
anybody.
BT Irwin (20:58):
I have to tell you my wife she has a tell.
When we're watching somethingand she cringes, she touches her
face, she starts touching her,she starts touching her face,
and that's how I know.
And we were watching some ofyour stuff and you were talking
about the time that you wereinvited to do stand up at I
think it was the Wilson CountyAgricultural Livestock
(21:20):
Association and it was anoutdoor pavilion at like two in
the afternoon.
Brian Bates (21:24):
Yes.
BT Irwin (21:25):
Yes, and I looked over and my wife was touching her
face man and turning away.
Brian Bates (21:30):
Yeah, that was a tough one.
I've got a few bombing stories,but that's my kind of go-to
bombing story that I share, andyour mom was there right, my mom
was there Some?
other family members were thereand it was really, was really,
really, really bad and um, Ijust bombed in front of all
these people and then, when itwas over, there's it's an
(21:54):
outdoor picnic pavilion.
There's nowhere to go, there'sno green room to hide in, so I
just had to squeeze in there onone of the benches with the
people who just hated me, andthen they did an auction where
they auctioned off items.
I donated my CD to be auctionedoff.
They started bidding on it.
(22:15):
No one wanted to bid on it.
It was just horrific.
BT Irwin (22:21):
Man, oh man, you've turned it into a bit.
Brian Bates (22:25):
That's one of the best things about being a
stand-up comedian.
Now, when anything bad orembarrassing happens to you
pretty quickly sometimes almostimmediately you're like, okay, I
can at least make this into abit hopefully right, that's
right.
BT Irwin (22:40):
So I I gotta say, one of the things I think makes
comedians so relatable this isjust one of my observations.
You can tell me, if it's true isthat comedians seem to be more
observant of all the littledetails of life that most of us
don't notice until the comedianbrings them up in a bit and then
we're like, yeah, that's right,that's my life too, and and so
(23:00):
when the comedian talks about it, it's funny.
So, like, how do you thinkcomedians uh look at life
compared to the rest of us?
Is it a natural talent or is ita skill that you build, uh, as
you try to come up with bits?
Brian Bates (23:13):
I think it's both.
I think it's just like, uh,being an athlete you're born
with some natural talent butobviously you've got to practice
and practice and practice andthen you just get better at it.
I mean, I think I've alwaysbeen pretty good at observing
(23:34):
and noticing maybe things peoplewouldn't say, or pointing out
flaws.
But then now I've trained mybrain to be observant and always
be thinking about material, orif something happens.
Could I make that into a bitand you kind of figure out what
will work and what won't work.
Sometimes absurd things thathappen aren't necessarily the
best stand-up comedy material.
(23:54):
Sometimes it's the littlethings in life that, uh, that
are the funniest.
And I feel like comedians areeither so relatable or they're
kind of absurd to the pointwhere you've never seen someone
like this you know what I meanLike a character almost and like
, wow, this guy has got a wildstory.
(24:17):
Or you're so relatable you feellike they're their best friend.
BT Irwin (24:21):
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
So I I've heard people talkabout comedy as an escape from
real life.
Uh, to you know, something thattakes people's minds off their
everyday world.
But when I listened to comedy,it doesn't really make people
forget their lives or the world.
It seems to make them look attheir lives in the world and
find humor in both, and it seemsto have this power to turn
(24:45):
things that embarrass mostpeople, things like bowel
movements or sex, uh, intothings that make us feel at
least this is me talking feelmore human and connected to
other people, cause everyone'slaughing at it together and
you're like, okay, I'm, we'reall you know, we all experienced
this.
Um, so I've just had thisfeeling of community every time
(25:07):
I've ever gone to real goodcomedy act that I can laugh at
my own life.
Um, I feel relieved.
That's the word I feel, okay,I'm not the only one.
Um, I mean, do you, do you getthat sense?
Do you feel that, when you'reon stage, do you feel that magic
happening and that, that kindof sense of relief and, ah,
we're all humans here together?
Yeah, is that something you tryto to, to lead people into?
Brian Bates (25:31):
I yes, for sure.
I think it's ideally, they'rerelate to it and they think it's
funny because they've they canrelate to it and they've been
through it.
And it's a sense of relief thatrelate to it and they've been
through it, and it's a sense ofrelief that, hey, I'm not alone
in this, other people experiencethis too, or, um, I'm whatever
(25:52):
it is, I'm my situation's worsethan there.
So therefore, they feel reliefin the sense that, well, at
least I'm not as bad as this guyas far as you know, whatever it
is.
I mean, that's the same for ourpodcast.
I do a podcast with NateBargatze called Nate land, and
we take a topic each week and,um, learn about it together.
And I think the success from isbecause people watching again
(26:17):
identify like, oh yeah, most ofus are pretty dumb about most
things if we're being honest andwe kind of learn together.
And then some people just feelmakes it, makes them feel smart
because they're like these guysare idiots at least I know more
than they do.
And stand-up comedy is the sameway.
Um, you know right, I mean Iused to.
When I first started for thefirst, however many years, all
(26:40):
my jokes were about being singleat at my age, you know in my
30s and 40s.
Then I got married and all myjokes were not all but a lot of
my jokes material was aboutbeing newly married and getting
married late in life.
And then I had a child at 50,our first child at 50.
So the last three years it'sbeen a lot of dad jokes, a lot
(27:03):
of material about being a newdad.
BT Irwin (27:05):
All right.
So I know everybody's going towatch your specials.
We're going to link those inthe show notes.
I just I'm always curious.
You're a great comedian.
Number six on Ranker that'sgoing to go on after this
episode comes out.
Yeah, who do you?
Who are your favorite comediansright now?
Like, who would you recommendpeople?
Brian Bates (27:32):
Who do you think Ryan Bates watch and listen to
these days?
I've mentioned him numeroustimes already on this, but and
now it kind of seems like theobvious answer Nate Bargatze.
But I've been recommending himfor 15 years when no one knew
who he was.
Nate is so funny, so relatable,so clean and now everybody's
learning about him, but I wouldstill put him on there.
Aaron weber he's another one ofmy co-hosts on the podcast, but
he's very funny.
(27:52):
Uh, clean comedian.
I like clean comedians.
I know that's I like allcomedians, don't get me wrong.
Some of I think there's somenot clean comedians I think are
very funny, but I tend to leantoward the clean ones.
So I was trying to think ofsome maybe not household names.
Oh, here's one Ryan Hamilton.
Ryan Hamilton is a very, veryfunny standup comedian.
(28:16):
He's had some success out there, but he's certainly not a
household name.
But whenever I see him performI'm like wow, this guy is so
good.
BT Irwin (28:27):
Ryan Hamilton.
Everybody heard from him herefirst.
Brian Bates (28:30):
Okay, yeah, ryan Hamilton, he's great.
Greg Warren's another one.
Greg Warren, very funny, cleanstand-up comedian.
BT Irwin (28:37):
Okay, everybody, You've got some comedy to watch
and you've got some rancorupdates to go make for Brian
Bates, who is one of the topcomedians in the country.
If you're listening to this inJune 2025, you can catch him on
June 29 at the grand old Opry.
How many times have you donethe Opry?
Brian Bates (28:54):
I think this will be either my 13th or 14th
appearance.
BT Irwin (28:58):
My goodness, my goodness.
What was it like the first timeyou stood up?
Brian Bates (29:02):
It was so great.
Um, they really treat youwonderful.
They have an assigned parkingspot for you when you pull in,
they have a film crew that kindof follows you around to capture
your first time there and thenwhen they introduce you, they
tell the audience that this ismaking the Opry debut.
So the audience is behind youand it's just so great being out
(29:23):
there on that stage and theGrand Ole Opry it's just a great
venue great acoustics, greatcrowd.
I mean the Opry House holdsover 4,000 people, so it's a big
venue.
BT Irwin (29:36):
Yeah, you're going to be at the Grand Ole Opry House
on the 29th.
Yes, because they move it tothe Ryman some months of the
year.
Brian Bates (29:44):
They do, they do and I've done the.
I've performed at the Ryman afew times for other shows, but
never for the Grand Ole Opry.
Every time I've done the Opryit's been at the Opry house.
BT Irwin (29:55):
Okay.
Well, that's where Brian Batesis going to be on June 29.
And then he's hitting the roadfor the month of July, right, so
you'll be in, I think, northCarolina, oklahoma.
Brian Bates (30:04):
I'm in Raleigh, north Carolina, on July 6th and
Chattanooga, tennessee, july 9thand then July 25th, I believe,
hattiesburg, mississippi, and myown show in Nashville at Zany's
Comedy Club July 29th Okay.
BT Irwin (30:23):
If he's near you, everybody go check out Brian
Bates.
Brian, thanks for being on theshow, Thanks for having me.
We hope that something youheard in this episode encouraged
, enlightened or enriched you insome way.
If it did, thanks be to God andplease pay it forward.
Subscribe to this podcast andshare it with a friend.
Recommend and review itwherever you listen to your
favorite podcasts.
Your subscription,recommendation and review help
(30:45):
us reach more people.
Please send your comments,ideas and suggestions to podcast
at christianchronicleorg.
And don't forget our ministry toinform and inspire Christians
and congregations around theworld is a non-profit ministry
that relies on your generosity.
So if you like this show andyou want to keep it going and
make it even better, please makea tax-deductible gift to the
(31:07):
Christian Chronicle atchristianchronicleorg slash
donate.
The Christian Chronicle podcastis a production of the
Christian Chronicle Incorporated, informing and inspiring Church
of Christ congregations,members and ministries around
the world since 1943.
The Christian Chronicle'smanaging editor is Audrey
Jackson, editor-in-chief BobbyRoss Jr and executive director
(31:28):
and CEO Eric Triggestad.
The Christian Chronicle podcastis written, directed, hosted
and edited by BT Irwin and isproduced by James Flanagan at
Podcast your Voice Studios inthe Motor City, detroit,
michigan, usa.
Until next time.
May grace and peace be yours inabundance.
Popular Podcasts
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.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.