
Hot Breath! (Learn Comedy from the Pros)
Every Monday listeners get exclusive access to the most influential minds in comedy. Award winning comedian and host Joel Byars captures the inspiring stories and insightful techniques behind your favorite comics with interviews NPR describes as "discovering the desire to be a comedian, their craft and their unifying bond found within the world of stand up comedy."
Latest episodes

Dec 4, 2024 • 1h 10min
Corporate Comedy Masterclass with Stephan Dyer
Stephan Dyer returns to the Hot Breath! Podcast to share invaluable insights on how comedians can break into the lucrative world of corporate comedy and potentially earn $100,000 a year. He emphasizes the importance of having at least 20-30 minutes of clean material and being adaptable to various corporate environments, where audiences may have less attention and higher expectations. Dyer also discusses effective strategies for booking gigs, such as leveraging social media, utilizing platforms like Gig Salad, and networking through personal connections. The episode highlights the significance of structuring a show that includes stand-up, improv, and audience engagement to keep corporate crowds entertained. By the end, listeners are equipped with actionable tips to enhance their comedy career and navigate the corporate landscape successfully.Connect with Stephan here: https://www.instagram.com/stephandyer/Join our email list here: https://hotbreathpodcast.com/vipGet the Clean Comedy Workshop here: https://joelbyarscomedy.gumroad.com/l/cleancomedyworkshopJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HotBreathComedyNetwork/Join our Patreon: http://patreon.com/hotbreathpodSubscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/hotbreathpod?sub_confirmation=1Check out our classes and workshops here: https://hotbreathmedia.comTakeaways: To succeed in corporate comedy, focus on clean material and engaging interactions. Utilize your social media network to generate leads for corporate gigs effectively. Diversify your comedy show structure with stand-up, improv, and audience participation. Building trust with clients is crucial; demonstrate your past successes through testimonials. Charge based on the value you provide instead of the time spent performing. Customize your performance based on the client’s needs to enhance audience engagement.

Nov 27, 2024 • 1h 7min
Unlocking the Secrets of Sketch Comedy: Tips from Sam Brown's 20+ Years of Experience
Sketch comedy expert Sam Brown joins us to share all the goods on how to use sketch writing to level up your content game. His decades of experience with the Whitest Kids U Know sketch group and Almost Friday TV make him one of the thought leaders on this topic. This is definitely an episode to share with your comedy friends. Takeaways: In sketch comedy, identifying a strong premise allows for more effective humor development. Writing sketches involves brainstorming and then refining ideas through collaboration and feedback. Comedy is about finding a balance between humor and the impact of social commentary. Creating a supportive environment encourages artists to express their ideas without fear of judgment. Understanding the structure of a sketch is crucial for effective comedic delivery. Don't just aim for shock value; focus on crafting jokes that resonate with audiences. Join our email list herehttps://hotbreath.beehiiv.com/subscribeLinks referenced in this episode:sambrownuniversity.cominfo@sambrownuniversity.com

Nov 26, 2024 • 31min
$100 Joke Contest Winner Mitchell Marroquin - How to Break Stage Fright, Best Writing Techniques + MORE
Despite only doing comedy for one year, Mitchell Marroquin is this month's winner of the $100 Joke Contest. He joins us to share his favorite writing techniques and advice for young comics to overcome stage fright. Get the Black Friday workshops: https://joelbyarscomedy.gumroad.com/l/npubrConnect with Mitchell: https://www.instagram.com/3k_meech/Join our email list here: https://hotbreathpodcast.com/vipJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HotBreathComedyNetwork/Join our Patreon: http://patreon.com/hotbreathpodSubscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/hotbreathpod?sub_confirmation=1Check out our classes and workshops here: https://hotbreathmedia.com

Nov 21, 2024 • 54min
HB! Live #042 - When to start posting clips, How to organize your sets, Deliver more naturally + MORE - comedy podcast
We're back with another Hot Breath! Live answering all of your comedy questions. Don't forget to join our email list for reminders of future livestreams!Join the $100 Joke Contest Waitlist: https://forms.gle/zb9QAWzu8xeQmoMb9Join our email list here: https://hotbreathpodcast.com/vipJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HotBreathComedyNetwork/Join our Patreon: http://patreon.com/hotbreathpodSubscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/hotbreathpod?sub_confirmation=1Check out our classes and workshops here: https://hotbreathmedia.com

Nov 14, 2024 • 58min
HB! Live #041 - Finding Your Comedic Style, The Highs and Lows of Comedy, EPK Tips + MORE
We're back with another Hot Breath! Live answering all of your comedy questions. Don't forget to join our email list for reminders of future livestreams!Apply for the cohort here: https://forms.gle/RUo93sBoRfPNcZH29Join our email list here: https://hotbreathpodcast.com/vipJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HotBreathComedyNetwork/Join our Patreon: http://patreon.com/hotbreathpodSubscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/hotbreathpod?sub_confirmation=1Check out our classes and workshops here: https://hotbreathmedia.comTakeaways: Comedy is a journey, and it's important to find joy in the process rather than just focusing on the end goal. You should keep a journal to jot down things that make you laugh to develop your comedic style. Don't quit; persistence is key in the comedy industry, especially during challenging times. Focus on what you can control, such as your writing and performance opportunities. Consider using a variety of writing tools, from notebooks to digital apps, to capture your ideas. The highs and lows of comedy are universal; every comedian experiences them at some point.

Nov 7, 2024 • 55min
HB! Live #040 - Our Favorite Pens, How to Break Writer's Block, Hosting Tips + MORE
We're back with another Hot Breath! Live answering all of your comedy questions. Don't forget to join our email list for reminders of future livestreams!Takeaways: Engage your audience by sharing personal stories about your journey in comedy. Prioritize writing and refining your material to ensure you maximize every performance. When hosting, focus on creating a positive atmosphere for performers and the audience. Make use of different writing mediums and techniques to spark creativity and inspiration. Aim for three laughs per minute in your set to maintain audience engagement. + MOREGet the Writer's Block workshop: https://joelbyarscomedy.gumroad.com/l/writedailyJoin our email list here: https://hotbreathpodcast.com/vipJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HotBreathComedyNetwork/Join our Patreon: http://patreon.com/hotbreathpodSubscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/hotbreathpod?sub_confirmation=1Check out our classes and workshops here: https://hotbreathmedia.com

Oct 31, 2024 • 56min
The AI Comedy Playbook with Mike Todasco: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Comedians
AI is a hot topic right now, so we’re bringing on former Senior Director of Innovation at PayPal Mike Todasco to give us a crash course on using AI to level up our comedy. His team actually reached out to us about coming on the show so we’re getting first dibs on cutting edge AI insights. Topics Covered: AI tools for comediansHow to get booked using AIJoke writing with AI+MORE Connect with Mike on Linked-In here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todasco/Join the $100 Joke Contest waitlist here: https://forms.gle/2jfsVMfw5SAXJ4o99Watch Yoshee's special here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwydfG2Qo50Join our email list here: https://hotbreathpodcast.com/vipJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HotBreathComedyNetwork/Join our Patreon: http://patreon.com/hotbreathpodSubscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/hotbreathpod?sub_confirmation=1Check out our classes and workshops here: https://hotbreathmedia.com

Oct 29, 2024 • 17min
$100 Joke Contest Winner Bob Kirk - How to Write New Jokes FAST!
The October winner of our $100 Joke Contest Bob Kirk joins us to share how he wrote such a killer new set in just two weeks. Definitely worth listening if you're looking to level up your comedy writing output. Join the waitlist for next month's contest here: https://forms.gle/wwdML1qot8t5PAeH8YouTube: Bob Kirk Comedyhttps://www.youtube.com/@BobKirkComedy/shortsTikTok: @bobkirkcomedyhttps://www.tiktok.com/@bobkirkcomedyFacebook: Bob Kirk Comedyhttps://www.facebook.com/people/Bob-Kirk-Comedy/100081179486384/Instagram: @bobkirk.comedyhttps://www.instagram.com/bobkirk.comedy/ Join our email list here: https://hotbreathpodcast.com/vipJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HotBreathComedyNetwork/Join our Patreon: http://patreon.com/hotbreathpodSubscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/hotbreathpod?sub_confirmation=1Check out our classes and workshops here: https://hotbreathmedia.com

Oct 26, 2024 • 49min
HB! Live #039 - Marketing Your Comedy, Finding Authenticity on Stage, + MORE
We're back with another Hot Breath! Live answering all of your comedy questions. Don't forget to join our email list for reminders of future livestreams!Join Yoshee's live special premiere here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwydfG2Qo50Watch the $100 Joke Contest here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFmW-Y3qhiAJoin our email list here: https://hotbreathpodcast.com/vipJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HotBreathComedyNetwork/Key Takeaways:The importance of scheduling regular writing sessions to maintain creativity and inspiration.Utilizing feedback from fellow comedians can significantly enhance your material and performance.Marketing your special is as crucial as the content; start promoting early and effectively.Collaboration with others in the industry can open up new opportunities and insights.Being authentic in your comedy will resonate more with diverse audiences than pandering.Embrace the process of improvement, focusing on getting 1% better with each performance.Join our Patreon: http://patreon.com/hotbreathpodSubscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/hotbreathpod?sub_confirmation=1Check out our classes and workshops here: https://hotbreathmedia.com

Oct 10, 2024 • 1h 7min
HB! Live #038 - How Benny Blue Turned His Mother's Funeral into Stand-Up Special
Join us for a deep dive into the unique approach to comedy with Benny Blue, who shares insights on his groundbreaking special, "Live from My Mother's Funeral." This episode explores the intersection of humor and grief, highlighting how Benny transformed a deeply personal experience into a captivating performance that resonates with audiences. He discusses the creative process behind his special, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and finding your unique voice in comedy. Benny also reflects on the challenges of navigating the competitive landscape of stand-up, particularly in major markets like Los Angeles, and offers valuable advice for aspiring comedians looking to hone their craft. Watch Benny's special here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrVl7ggCc7I&t=966sJoin our email list here: https://hotbreathpodcast.com/vipJoin our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HotBreathComedyNetwork/Join our Patreon: http://patreon.com/hotbreathpodSubscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/hotbreathpod?sub_confirmation=1Check out our classes and workshops here: https://hotbreathmedia.com