1 00:00:02,730 --> 00:00:03,710 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 2: Hey, Nazareth, thanks for joining me. Oh, thank you so 3 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:09,500 Speaker 2: much for having me, Michael. What an honor. 4 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 3: Nazareth, the comedian Nazareth is our guest. You were recently 5 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:17,060 Speaker 3: named 2026 Comedian of the Year by Drybar Comedy and 6 00:00:17,100 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 3: Angel Guild. 7 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:18,260 Speaker 2: That's exciting. 8 00:00:19,020 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 3: You were also an author and founder of Laughter for All, 9 00:00:22,020 --> 00:00:25,540 Speaker 3: a national outreach bringing hope and clean comedy to churches 10 00:00:25,700 --> 00:00:29,260 Speaker 3: and communities across the country. You've appeared on Comedy Central, 11 00:00:29,420 --> 00:00:36,180 Speaker 3: ABC Family, And NBC, NazarethUSA.com. 12 00:00:34,220 --> 00:00:34,739 Speaker 2: Is the website. 13 00:00:34,780 --> 00:00:37,900 Speaker 3: I encourage people to check that out. Nazareth, you spend 14 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:42,330 Speaker 3: decades making people laugh while pointing them to Christ. When 15 00:00:42,409 --> 00:00:46,050 Speaker 3: someone asks you what you do, how do you describe 16 00:00:46,070 --> 00:00:46,570 Speaker 3: your calling? 17 00:00:47,470 --> 00:00:54,670 Speaker 2: Wow. I use comedy to heal people and also turn 18 00:00:54,690 --> 00:00:57,530 Speaker 2: their hearts to Christ or their eyes to Christ. That's 19 00:00:57,550 --> 00:00:59,050 Speaker 2: what I want to do. That's what I do in 20 00:00:59,070 --> 00:01:02,030 Speaker 2: my shows. I want people to laugh at something clean 21 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:06,580 Speaker 2: because you know what, Michael? God created humor. See, Satan 22 00:01:06,620 --> 00:01:10,220 Speaker 2: perverted it, but God created humor. And when he created humor, 23 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,940 Speaker 2: he made our bodies secrete certain hormones that will make 24 00:01:14,020 --> 00:01:17,340 Speaker 2: us feel good. And sometimes it's healing to our bodies. 25 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 2: But when you're laughing at something that is not consistent 26 00:01:23,500 --> 00:01:27,870 Speaker 2: with your values, you're not going to laugh. in a 27 00:01:27,930 --> 00:01:30,870 Speaker 2: way that is healing, that your body will relax and 28 00:01:30,890 --> 00:01:33,170 Speaker 2: you can enjoy it because you're like, I shouldn't be 29 00:01:33,190 --> 00:01:36,310 Speaker 2: laughing at this. This is sexual. This is, I don't 30 00:01:36,350 --> 00:01:38,870 Speaker 2: believe in this politically. I don't do this. So you 31 00:01:38,910 --> 00:01:41,929 Speaker 2: don't get the enjoyment. So my goal with my shows 32 00:01:41,990 --> 00:01:46,290 Speaker 2: is people to relax, laugh, and then at the end, 33 00:01:46,550 --> 00:01:48,670 Speaker 2: I get to share the good news of Jesus Christ. 34 00:01:49,090 --> 00:01:52,350 Speaker 2: And maybe some people, I mean, I've seen, I mean, 35 00:01:52,590 --> 00:01:54,250 Speaker 2: we don't want to give numbers, but hundreds of thousands 36 00:01:54,270 --> 00:01:58,050 Speaker 2: of people come forward to receive Christ. That doesn't mean 37 00:01:58,090 --> 00:02:00,710 Speaker 2: that that's all these people that are now are Christian. 38 00:02:01,150 --> 00:02:03,790 Speaker 2: But we have a lot of people who just, it's just, 39 00:02:04,210 --> 00:02:06,930 Speaker 2: we planted a seed in their life and sometimes we 40 00:02:06,950 --> 00:02:10,130 Speaker 2: water it down and that's the goal. I hope at 41 00:02:10,150 --> 00:02:12,870 Speaker 2: the end of the day, not another comedian get the 42 00:02:12,950 --> 00:02:16,350 Speaker 2: points in heaven and get a blender in heaven because 43 00:02:16,389 --> 00:02:19,060 Speaker 2: of that. So that's what I do. That's all I do. 44 00:02:19,190 --> 00:02:23,859 Speaker 2: I want people who want clean, good, godly humor to laugh, 45 00:02:24,460 --> 00:02:28,380 Speaker 2: but invite someone who they don't know they know would 46 00:02:28,419 --> 00:02:31,260 Speaker 2: not come to church with them, they can come and laugh. 47 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 2: And at the end, they look up to Jesus and go, 48 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:37,500 Speaker 2: if God can change this man's life, if Christianity can 49 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:40,609 Speaker 2: be that cool and we can laugh, then I'm all in. 50 00:02:41,290 --> 00:02:41,790 Speaker 2: Amen to that. 51 00:02:41,830 --> 00:02:44,989 Speaker 3: You've often said that laughter can open hearts in ways 52 00:02:45,030 --> 00:02:47,109 Speaker 3: that a sermon might not. 53 00:02:47,610 --> 00:02:51,910 Speaker 2: Right. How so? What do you mean? Well, when you 54 00:02:51,950 --> 00:02:55,019 Speaker 2: laugh with people, when you're telling jokes, you know, you're 55 00:02:55,060 --> 00:02:58,780 Speaker 2: putting yourself a little bit, not down, but actually opening 56 00:02:58,860 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 2: up yourself. And when you open up yourself to people, 57 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 2: they lower their guard. They kind of feel that, like, hey, 58 00:03:05,690 --> 00:03:08,770 Speaker 2: I know this guy. I trust this guy. And so 59 00:03:08,810 --> 00:03:11,669 Speaker 2: at the end, when I share my, you know, my testimony, 60 00:03:11,710 --> 00:03:14,050 Speaker 2: I share what God has done in my life, it 61 00:03:14,130 --> 00:03:18,290 Speaker 2: hits home with them. It becomes real. Sometimes a sermon 62 00:03:18,330 --> 00:03:21,109 Speaker 2: would just like the pastor's talking about something. I mean, 63 00:03:21,570 --> 00:03:23,290 Speaker 2: At the end of the day, Michael, it's the Holy 64 00:03:23,310 --> 00:03:25,780 Speaker 2: Spirit who does the work. It's not me. It's not comedy. 65 00:03:25,820 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 2: It's not sermon. It's the Lord. So we are reaching 66 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,020 Speaker 2: to people who a sermon would not open their heart. 67 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 3: For people who may be discovering him for the first time, Nazareth, 68 00:03:38,580 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 3: tell us your story. How did a young man, I 69 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,260 Speaker 3: believe you were born in the Middle East, how did 70 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:48,550 Speaker 3: you end up becoming one of America's best known Christian 71 00:03:48,670 --> 00:03:49,790 Speaker 3: clean comedians. 72 00:03:49,810 --> 00:03:53,460 Speaker 2: Briefly tell us your background. Well, a radio station was 73 00:03:53,500 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 2: doing like contests to become a Christian and I was 74 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,180 Speaker 2: color number nine and I won. No, no. Okay. I 75 00:03:59,220 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 2: was born in the land of milk and honey, but 76 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 2: I'm lactose intolerant. I was born in the Holy Land. 77 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:08,430 Speaker 2: At age three, my parents moved to Kuwait. So I 78 00:04:08,490 --> 00:04:11,050 Speaker 2: grew up in a Muslim country as a Christian from 79 00:04:11,090 --> 00:04:15,590 Speaker 2: a Greek Orthodox background, a Christian Greek Orthodox background. and 80 00:04:16,060 --> 00:04:20,700 Speaker 2: grew up in Kuwait, finished high school, came to the 81 00:04:20,779 --> 00:04:24,700 Speaker 2: United States to study at the University of Toledo, Ohio, 82 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:29,260 Speaker 2: because they told me that's the happening place in America, right? No, 83 00:04:29,900 --> 00:04:32,140 Speaker 2: my parents, they wanted me to go to LA or 84 00:04:32,220 --> 00:04:35,779 Speaker 2: to New York because they thought there's drugs there. So 85 00:04:35,820 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 2: the next day at Toledo, my landlord that I rented 86 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 2: the apartment on was a drug dealer. So anyway, that 87 00:04:41,420 --> 00:04:44,650 Speaker 2: started a whole The road of, you know, going to 88 00:04:44,690 --> 00:04:48,070 Speaker 2: college and getting high and drinking and all that. And 89 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 2: then after college, I started a business in Ohio selling 90 00:04:53,420 --> 00:04:56,480 Speaker 2: bait and tackle, clean fish, don't ask me why. And 91 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,900 Speaker 2: then my parents had to leave Kuwait and move to 92 00:04:59,940 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 2: the U.S. And they couldn't handle the cold. They went 93 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:06,820 Speaker 2: from the Arabian Desert to the cold of Ohio. So 94 00:05:07,430 --> 00:05:10,670 Speaker 2: we moved to Southern California. I got three jobs trying 95 00:05:10,710 --> 00:05:13,289 Speaker 2: to take care of my family. Seven days a week, 96 00:05:13,529 --> 00:05:17,310 Speaker 2: no vacations, no sick days, just working hard because I didn't, 97 00:05:17,810 --> 00:05:19,650 Speaker 2: I don't know, I just wanted, I came to this 98 00:05:19,690 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 2: country to assimilate and become a citizen, not depend on 99 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:26,600 Speaker 2: the system that I'm not saying there's anything wrong with 100 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:31,060 Speaker 2: it temporarily. But anyway, so I was working hard. I 101 00:05:31,100 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 2: decided to run a marathon. I don't know why. I 102 00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 2: was smoking, drinking, but I ended up finishing it and 103 00:05:38,260 --> 00:05:42,230 Speaker 2: I always encourage people, don't you know, you're capable of 104 00:05:42,290 --> 00:05:45,930 Speaker 2: doing more than you can ever do. And that day 105 00:05:45,970 --> 00:05:49,070 Speaker 2: when I finished that marathon, I sat there with my 106 00:05:49,150 --> 00:05:51,830 Speaker 2: toes burning and I said, what do I want to 107 00:05:51,870 --> 00:05:54,410 Speaker 2: do in life? That if I don't get beat for it, 108 00:05:54,690 --> 00:05:57,089 Speaker 2: I will still give it my best. And it was 109 00:05:58,550 --> 00:06:02,300 Speaker 2: seeing people laugh. See, some comedians want you to believe, oh, 110 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 2: they're funny, they can write funny. To me, it's when 111 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:09,260 Speaker 2: you laugh, Michael, you forgot about whatever problem you have 112 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:11,690 Speaker 2: in your head. And that's what I wanted to do. 113 00:06:11,730 --> 00:06:14,050 Speaker 2: I wanted to make people laugh. I wanted to see 114 00:06:14,089 --> 00:06:16,370 Speaker 2: people laugh. So the next day I went to the 115 00:06:16,529 --> 00:06:20,630 Speaker 2: LA Cabaret in the Valley in California. I signed up 116 00:06:20,730 --> 00:06:24,589 Speaker 2: at 7 p.m. to do comedy open mic. And it 117 00:06:24,630 --> 00:06:27,170 Speaker 2: was great. 300 people there. By the time I went 118 00:06:27,290 --> 00:06:29,770 Speaker 2: on stage as an open mic-er, they gave me three minutes, 119 00:06:30,350 --> 00:06:33,890 Speaker 2: nine drunks at midnight. Two of them fell off their 120 00:06:33,910 --> 00:06:36,750 Speaker 2: chair laughing. I was doing stupid jokes. I didn't have jokes. 121 00:06:36,860 --> 00:06:39,050 Speaker 2: I was like, People used to say, oh, you're from 122 00:06:39,089 --> 00:06:40,810 Speaker 2: the Middle East. You live in a tent. I go, yeah, 123 00:06:40,830 --> 00:06:43,919 Speaker 2: we had a two-story tent with a two-camel garage. And 124 00:06:43,980 --> 00:06:46,740 Speaker 2: my brother would take kid and Barbie hostages. I sent G.I. 125 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 2: Joe to get them back. People were laughing. And then 126 00:06:49,380 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 2: I go, well, I was at... Remember the last earthquake? 127 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:54,300 Speaker 2: I was at work and the slurping machine fell and 128 00:06:54,339 --> 00:06:56,340 Speaker 2: hit me in the head. I'm glad I had my 129 00:06:56,380 --> 00:06:59,980 Speaker 2: turban on. People are falling off their chairs laughing and go, 130 00:07:00,540 --> 00:07:02,820 Speaker 2: this is it. Next day, I went to the comedy store. 131 00:07:02,860 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 2: Next day, I went to the improv. Next day... And somehow, 132 00:07:06,220 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 2: and I give God the... Now the credit for it, 133 00:07:09,460 --> 00:07:12,180 Speaker 2: I didn't know back then. But God sometimes work in 134 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:14,980 Speaker 2: your life before you come to know him. And it 135 00:07:15,060 --> 00:07:18,060 Speaker 2: was all of a sudden my career just exploded. I 136 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 2: had management the first year. I started doing Vegas. I 137 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:25,300 Speaker 2: started going all over the country doing comedy clubs. The improv, 138 00:07:25,340 --> 00:07:27,740 Speaker 2: which is still the number one comedy club in the country, 139 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 2: gave me a free, you know, new face at the improv. 140 00:07:30,540 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 2: You can go any improv and perform, which is a 141 00:07:33,500 --> 00:07:37,380 Speaker 2: great honor. And then NBC was doing a sitcom for 142 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:39,710 Speaker 2: me called Fish Out of Water, Middle Eastern Man in America. 143 00:07:40,610 --> 00:07:44,190 Speaker 2: And things were great. Everything was great. And then a 144 00:07:44,910 --> 00:07:47,290 Speaker 2: friend of mine said, Naz, would you like to come 145 00:07:47,330 --> 00:07:50,590 Speaker 2: to church with me? I'm like, why not? I'm from 146 00:07:50,630 --> 00:07:54,450 Speaker 2: the Holy Land. We gave you Jesus, right? What did 147 00:07:54,470 --> 00:07:56,610 Speaker 2: the Italian give you? Pizza? What did the French give you? 148 00:07:56,650 --> 00:07:59,310 Speaker 2: Statue of Liberty? What did the Chinese give you? Walmart? 149 00:07:59,550 --> 00:08:01,450 Speaker 2: We gave you Jesus. I said, yeah, of course I'll go. 150 00:08:02,300 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 2: So I went to church. But deep inside, I, you know, 151 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 2: if you're from the Holy Land or from the Middle East, 152 00:08:08,540 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 2: you know there's a God, and you know He's holy, 153 00:08:10,620 --> 00:08:14,260 Speaker 2: and you're not. That's at the given. Here in America, 154 00:08:14,290 --> 00:08:16,510 Speaker 2: they try to argue about it sometimes. No, there is 155 00:08:16,550 --> 00:08:20,350 Speaker 2: a God, He's holy, and you're not. So, I went 156 00:08:20,390 --> 00:08:23,090 Speaker 2: to church with a goal. My heart is so lustful, 157 00:08:23,490 --> 00:08:25,860 Speaker 2: so prideful, and all I wanted to do is become 158 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 2: rich and famous. And I was getting there, but there 159 00:08:28,620 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 2: was this emptiness in my heart. So, when the pastor said, 160 00:08:32,340 --> 00:08:35,310 Speaker 2: I sat by the The tax collectors, the ushers in 161 00:08:35,350 --> 00:08:38,410 Speaker 2: the back of the church, I was nervous. And then 162 00:08:38,929 --> 00:08:41,050 Speaker 2: when the pastor said, come as you are, I went forward. 163 00:08:41,230 --> 00:08:44,180 Speaker 2: Gave my life to Christ. Called my manager, Chuck Harris, 164 00:08:44,220 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 2: Monday morning. I said, I quit. And after 250 F-words 165 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:52,100 Speaker 2: from him, he's like, we have a sitcom. You don't understand. 166 00:08:52,420 --> 00:08:55,370 Speaker 2: You're the next one after. Calls me. You're going to 167 00:08:55,380 --> 00:08:57,429 Speaker 2: be the biggest star in the country. You're going to 168 00:08:57,450 --> 00:09:00,290 Speaker 2: do this. I go, I found Jesus. He goes, you've 169 00:09:00,350 --> 00:09:02,410 Speaker 2: always been a Christian. I go, no, no, no. I 170 00:09:02,429 --> 00:09:04,510 Speaker 2: was a Christian by name, but I found Jesus, and 171 00:09:04,530 --> 00:09:07,189 Speaker 2: this is what I've been looking for. And he was 172 00:09:07,250 --> 00:09:11,910 Speaker 2: convinced after like all these F-words. He goes, you're released. 173 00:09:12,790 --> 00:09:15,290 Speaker 2: I never signed up with a manager after that. And 174 00:09:15,630 --> 00:09:19,830 Speaker 2: I quit comedy for a week. And then my pastor goes, Nazareth, 175 00:09:20,050 --> 00:09:21,650 Speaker 2: why can't you do a comedy show for our church? 176 00:09:21,670 --> 00:09:23,459 Speaker 2: I'm like, what, are you kidding me? This is a 177 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:27,020 Speaker 2: Southern Baptist church in 1992. I'm like, are you kidding me? 178 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,220 Speaker 2: He goes, why not? He goes, God created humor. I go, 179 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,220 Speaker 2: you're right. So, I decided to do a comedy show. 180 00:09:33,900 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 2: And an old deacon with the Lord right now, he said, Lord, 181 00:09:37,059 --> 00:09:40,679 Speaker 2: use this man's comedy to bring glory to you by 182 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:53,740 Speaker 2: bringing people to Christ and making the body laugh. And 183 00:09:53,750 --> 00:09:58,719 Speaker 2: that has been my mission since. And so I did 184 00:09:58,780 --> 00:10:01,630 Speaker 2: a show. It was great. We started a comedy club 185 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 2: in that church in 1993. And then God started. I'm like, Lord, 186 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 2: how can I try new material? I can't go to 187 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 2: bars or one-nighters. What do I want to do? So 188 00:10:14,940 --> 00:10:18,680 Speaker 2: Chuck Colson at the time, he had a ministry called 189 00:10:18,740 --> 00:10:22,579 Speaker 2: Prison Fellowship. So they say, would you like to come 190 00:10:22,620 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 2: with us to the prison and do some comedy and 191 00:10:25,740 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 2: share your testimony? So that's when I started writing material 192 00:10:29,179 --> 00:10:32,620 Speaker 2: that's good. Because if you're on death row, you don't 193 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:35,540 Speaker 2: have to laugh at my new material. If they laugh, 194 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:40,069 Speaker 2: it's good. So I develop a strong act that's not Christian. 195 00:10:40,309 --> 00:10:42,930 Speaker 2: People think like, because you're a Christian comedian, I'm going 196 00:10:42,950 --> 00:10:45,230 Speaker 2: to tell you, hey, how do you get holy water? 197 00:10:45,690 --> 00:10:47,329 Speaker 2: You boil the hell out of it. No, I don't 198 00:10:47,370 --> 00:10:49,890 Speaker 2: do that kind of jokes. I talk about my life 199 00:10:49,990 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 2: and And I started going and then youth specialty said, hey, 200 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,260 Speaker 2: you want to do all these youth conferences? And then 201 00:10:56,330 --> 00:11:02,689 Speaker 2: I started doing churches. And in 2013, Michael, God was saying, 202 00:11:02,710 --> 00:11:05,030 Speaker 2: you know, I was doing these events and people are 203 00:11:05,070 --> 00:11:08,660 Speaker 2: buying tickets. And at the time, it was like 25, 204 00:11:08,660 --> 00:11:12,620 Speaker 2: 30 bucks a ticket. And I've always had in my 205 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:17,719 Speaker 2: heart sadness for single moms who really have a hard 206 00:11:17,740 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 2: time even paying rent. yet alone take their kids to 207 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:24,660 Speaker 2: a movie. They can't afford the movie ticket. I'm like, 208 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:28,500 Speaker 2: why are these people coming to my show? Those are 209 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:30,459 Speaker 2: the ones I want them to laugh and forget about 210 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 2: the problem. I don't want to risk people. I mean, 211 00:11:33,260 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 2: they can go anywhere. So the Lord put it on 212 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:41,610 Speaker 2: my heart to start doing events for free. And, you know, 213 00:11:41,650 --> 00:11:43,890 Speaker 2: when God works big, he said big. I thought I 214 00:11:43,910 --> 00:11:46,270 Speaker 2: was going to rent like a small, you know, a 215 00:11:46,309 --> 00:11:51,370 Speaker 2: small club and do it. He goes, go to San Bernardino, California, 216 00:11:51,390 --> 00:11:54,929 Speaker 2: which is the poorest county in California. And they were 217 00:11:54,950 --> 00:11:57,109 Speaker 2: going through a lot of problems. And I saw a 218 00:11:57,150 --> 00:12:01,150 Speaker 2: small stadium, a baseball stadium, the 66ers. And God said, 219 00:12:01,190 --> 00:12:03,150 Speaker 2: go inside. And when I say God said, I'm not 220 00:12:03,190 --> 00:12:05,850 Speaker 2: saying he was verbally not just go. No, it was 221 00:12:05,870 --> 00:12:08,699 Speaker 2: just like, go ask him. So I went there. I said, hey, 222 00:12:08,740 --> 00:12:13,679 Speaker 2: how much do you rent this stadium for? They go, 223 00:12:14,100 --> 00:12:15,740 Speaker 2: what are you doing? How much are you charging tickets? 224 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:18,290 Speaker 2: I go, it's free. He goes, why? I go, people 225 00:12:18,309 --> 00:12:20,570 Speaker 2: are hurting and I want to give them free toys 226 00:12:20,630 --> 00:12:23,950 Speaker 2: and free food that my friends would donate. They go, 227 00:12:23,990 --> 00:12:26,750 Speaker 2: we'll give it to you for half price, 10 grand. 228 00:12:27,370 --> 00:12:31,330 Speaker 2: I didn't have 10 grand. I said, okay, I'll give 229 00:12:31,350 --> 00:12:34,050 Speaker 2: you a date later. So I'm driving like, Lord, what's 230 00:12:34,090 --> 00:12:36,290 Speaker 2: going on? And then I call a friend of mine. 231 00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:38,929 Speaker 2: He's a business guy. I said, hey, listen, you won't 232 00:12:38,980 --> 00:12:40,719 Speaker 2: believe this, but God told me this. And he said, 233 00:12:40,980 --> 00:12:42,420 Speaker 2: he goes, how much is it going to cost to 234 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:44,940 Speaker 2: put the whole event together? I go with ads and 235 00:12:45,020 --> 00:12:49,689 Speaker 2: everything like that. probably more than $ 40, 000 to have everybody 236 00:12:49,750 --> 00:12:52,430 Speaker 2: and the vendors and the stage and the substance. He goes, okay, 237 00:12:52,690 --> 00:12:55,510 Speaker 2: I'll send you a check tomorrow. And that's how it started. 238 00:12:56,290 --> 00:12:59,130 Speaker 2: And we started doing the stadium. We did it four times. 239 00:12:59,190 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 2: I started doing Vegas, the big amphitheater near Vegas. And 240 00:13:04,980 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 2: then we started doing theaters and then COVID hit and 241 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:11,500 Speaker 2: we have a hard time bringing people. So we started 242 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 2: doing smaller theater. But the goal has always been come, Laugh. 243 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,140 Speaker 2: You don't have to pay. You don't have to worry 244 00:13:19,179 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 2: about it. And invite your friends. And at the end 245 00:13:21,970 --> 00:13:25,010 Speaker 2: of the event, I'm going to share the gospel and 246 00:13:25,050 --> 00:13:27,650 Speaker 2: people get to respond to it. And that's what I've 247 00:13:27,670 --> 00:13:32,569 Speaker 2: been doing for since 2013. And we've had, we've seen people. 248 00:13:32,650 --> 00:13:35,210 Speaker 2: And then now we're sending, you know, I'm sending friends 249 00:13:35,290 --> 00:13:38,170 Speaker 2: of mine who are believers, comedians like me to be 250 00:13:38,210 --> 00:13:43,010 Speaker 2: able to go to homeless centers, recovery groups, rescue mission. 251 00:13:43,050 --> 00:13:45,030 Speaker 2: That's what we do when we're not doing the big events. 252 00:13:45,540 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 2: we're going where laughter is needed the most. And that's 253 00:13:49,300 --> 00:13:52,830 Speaker 2: what laughter for all is all about. But this Saturday, 254 00:13:53,450 --> 00:13:57,650 Speaker 2: we're doing this. And this is the first time, based 255 00:13:57,750 --> 00:14:00,569 Speaker 2: on my board members said, you need to charge money 256 00:14:01,050 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 2: so people can feel the event is worthwhile and they 257 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:08,099 Speaker 2: don't just get 10 tickets and not show up if 258 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,580 Speaker 2: you charge for it. And I almost cried, Michael. I'm like, 259 00:14:11,860 --> 00:14:13,860 Speaker 2: I don't want to charge people. So we made an option. 260 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 2: I said, hey, listen, It's $ 15, but if you don't 261 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:20,570 Speaker 2: have any money, you're my guest. And right now, as 262 00:14:20,610 --> 00:14:23,870 Speaker 2: of today, I have over 1,000 tickets. They're coming for free. 263 00:14:24,570 --> 00:14:27,590 Speaker 2: I love it. There's a few hundred people who bought tickets. 264 00:14:27,790 --> 00:14:30,990 Speaker 2: That's fine. Thank you for the support. But on Saturday, 265 00:14:31,410 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 2: if you're within 50 miles from Corona, California, Southern California, 266 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 2: you're welcome to come. If you don't have any money, 267 00:14:40,860 --> 00:14:43,180 Speaker 2: you don't have to pay. We don't care. Just go 268 00:14:43,260 --> 00:14:46,300 Speaker 2: to the tickets and there's a ticket that says, it says, 269 00:14:46,700 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 2: times are hard. Pick your tickets, how many you want. 270 00:14:50,620 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 2: And if you can afford it, you can buy. And 271 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:55,590 Speaker 2: if you can afford to buy 50 tickets for other people, 272 00:14:55,650 --> 00:14:58,450 Speaker 2: you can do it. So that's, we've never seen this 273 00:14:58,510 --> 00:15:01,870 Speaker 2: happen before where you do a concert and people buy tickets, 274 00:15:02,190 --> 00:15:04,150 Speaker 2: but people who don't have the money can come for free. 275 00:15:04,950 --> 00:15:07,990 Speaker 2: No question asked. And I just got a call yesterday 276 00:15:08,050 --> 00:15:11,590 Speaker 2: and this has really broke my heart. And my wife 277 00:15:11,630 --> 00:15:14,690 Speaker 2: was like, what's wrong, Naz? I go, this care called. 278 00:15:14,710 --> 00:15:17,590 Speaker 2: She goes, her friends are all coming. They bought tickets. 279 00:15:18,030 --> 00:15:20,270 Speaker 2: But because she didn't have a job, she got a 280 00:15:20,310 --> 00:15:23,010 Speaker 2: free ticket. She goes, am I going to sit all 281 00:15:23,050 --> 00:15:26,710 Speaker 2: the way in the back? And I'm like, it's first come, 282 00:15:26,750 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 2: first serve. There's no VIPs. I said, you're our VIP. 283 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:32,750 Speaker 2: You come early. You sit wherever you want. And that's 284 00:15:32,820 --> 00:15:35,660 Speaker 2: my goal. And my prayer, Michael, at the end of 285 00:15:35,700 --> 00:15:40,190 Speaker 2: the show, that people understand who invited their neighbor, their friends, 286 00:15:40,250 --> 00:15:46,300 Speaker 2: their coworker, that that person would say, wow, Christians are cool. Yeah. 287 00:15:47,220 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 2: You know what? There's something in my heart that starts 288 00:15:49,580 --> 00:15:52,420 Speaker 2: stirring right now. I need to know more about God. 289 00:15:52,500 --> 00:15:55,900 Speaker 2: I need to see God. Or maybe they go, I've 290 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:58,570 Speaker 2: been putting God away. Maybe today is the day I'm 291 00:15:58,590 --> 00:16:01,370 Speaker 2: going to go forward and turn my life to Christ. 292 00:16:02,030 --> 00:16:06,090 Speaker 3: That's at Crossroads Church in Corona, California, Saturday, June 27th, 293 00:16:06,270 --> 00:16:06,630 Speaker 3: I believe. 294 00:16:06,670 --> 00:16:06,790 Speaker 2: Yeah. 295 00:16:07,570 --> 00:16:11,130 Speaker 3: NazarethUSA.com is the website and you have other shows coming 296 00:16:11,190 --> 00:16:13,790 Speaker 3: up as well that people can find out more information about. 297 00:16:13,820 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 3: I was going to ask you, it seems like clean 298 00:16:15,620 --> 00:16:17,940 Speaker 3: comedy is kind of having a moment in America right now. 299 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 3: Of course, Nate Bargatze is kind of the biggest one, 300 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 3: but there are many, many clean comedians right now that 301 00:16:23,220 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 3: are getting lots of attention. You're one of them. Why 302 00:16:26,420 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 3: do you think clean comedy is so popular right now? 303 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:33,250 Speaker 2: Why is it having a resurgence? I'll tell you why. 304 00:16:33,350 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 2: I think I think when I started in the 90s, 305 00:16:37,250 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 2: in the early 90s, people, if you notice the language 306 00:16:42,220 --> 00:16:46,620 Speaker 2: that people use now, people in the 90s weren't saying 307 00:16:47,740 --> 00:16:52,460 Speaker 2: the F words all the time and doing this sexual 308 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:58,060 Speaker 2: stuff and all that. And now, there's no envelope to push. 309 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:02,250 Speaker 2: People used to push the envelope and try risque material 310 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 2: or Or very aggressive or racist material. And they get 311 00:17:06,780 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 2: away with it. People laugh because they don't hear it 312 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 2: on TV. They don't hear it anywhere. But now with 313 00:17:11,780 --> 00:17:15,180 Speaker 2: social media, everything is out there. There's no envelope to push. 314 00:17:15,220 --> 00:17:17,980 Speaker 2: How far can you go? I mean, people are... So 315 00:17:18,820 --> 00:17:22,160 Speaker 2: some comedians are finding out, wait a minute. I need 316 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:26,350 Speaker 2: to start working clean because I'll get more work. Because, 317 00:17:26,810 --> 00:17:29,619 Speaker 2: you know, if you do clean, corporate America will hire you. 318 00:17:29,670 --> 00:17:33,350 Speaker 2: And corporates pay a lot more than clubs. So... When 319 00:17:33,410 --> 00:17:35,910 Speaker 2: I started doing, you know, came to Christ, started doing 320 00:17:35,970 --> 00:17:40,470 Speaker 2: comedy clean and stuff, there weren't many comedians doing it. 321 00:17:40,850 --> 00:17:43,949 Speaker 2: Now there's a lot of them and there's a market 322 00:17:44,010 --> 00:17:47,430 Speaker 2: for it. Clubs are no longer the place where you 323 00:17:47,970 --> 00:17:50,460 Speaker 2: make money as a comedian. You can then do theaters. 324 00:17:50,500 --> 00:17:53,860 Speaker 2: You can do all these different things. So, I don't know. 325 00:17:54,380 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 2: I'm glad it is. I'm glad it is. And, you know, 326 00:17:57,700 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 2: Angel Studios who came up with Dry Bar Comedy, that's 327 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:05,570 Speaker 2: a great idea. Now, Not every comedian in there is clean. 328 00:18:05,630 --> 00:18:08,350 Speaker 2: So that's the thing. It's like, you watch this comic, 329 00:18:08,390 --> 00:18:10,129 Speaker 2: he's doing 30 Minutes Clean, go, oh, I'm going to 330 00:18:10,150 --> 00:18:15,070 Speaker 2: go see him. And you'll be shocked. Watch out. But 331 00:18:15,590 --> 00:18:18,430 Speaker 2: a lot of my Christian comedy friends are on this show, 332 00:18:18,490 --> 00:18:20,780 Speaker 2: and we've done it. So some of us, you can 333 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:25,260 Speaker 2: tell from the language of the comedian if they're Christians 334 00:18:25,340 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 2: or not, or saved or not. But clean comedy is good. 335 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 2: I'm happy for them. 336 00:18:33,570 --> 00:18:36,250 Speaker 1: If you enjoyed today's interview, please make sure to subscribe 337 00:18:36,290 --> 00:18:38,649 Speaker 1: and share the episode with a friend. A big thanks 338 00:18:38,950 --> 00:18:41,170 Speaker 1: to the team at Life Audio for their partnership with 339 00:18:41,290 --> 00:18:44,639 Speaker 1: us on the podcast. If you go to lifeaudio.com, you 340 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:49,260 Speaker 1: will find dozens of other faith-centered podcasts in their network. 341 00:18:49,780 --> 00:18:50,360 Speaker 2: See you next time.