1 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:08,879 Speaker 1: In this episode of Newtsworld, comedian and viral sensation Trey 2 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: Kennedy is bringing his fresh brand of humory Hulu this 3 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:16,480 Speaker 1: weekend with the premiere of his comedy special, Trey Kennedy 4 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: Grow Up and Grow Up. Kennedy takes audiences on a 5 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 1: hilarious journey through the ups and downs of adulthood. The 6 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: special was filmed in front of a live, sold out 7 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: audience in Salt Lake City. The family friendly special dives 8 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 1: into the universal theme of growing up, from navigating fatherhood 9 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 1: to reflecting on his own brunt bringing, riffing on what 10 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,480 Speaker 1: makes him and his wife so different, and more, all 11 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 1: while touching on the aspects that all of us could 12 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: use in some growing up. Here to talk about his 13 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: new special, and I have to say this is a 14 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: new one for our podcast, and news World is very 15 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: pleased to welcome my guest, Tray Kennedy. He is an 16 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: entertainer and social media content creator known for his unique 17 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 1: ability to find humor in the everyday aspects of life. 18 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: Is new children's book, How You Got Your Name is 19 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: available now in Amazon and in bookstores everywhere. Cray, welcome 20 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: and thank you for joining me on news World. 21 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 2: Thank you it's a great honor to be here. Good 22 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 2: to meet you, and thanks to the in show. 23 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:29,479 Speaker 1: Yeah, I've always admired comedians for the courage it takes 24 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: to get up in front of an audience. I've tried 25 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 1: occasional in my life. I think humor's really hard, and 26 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: so I have great admiration. 27 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 3: Thank you. 28 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I joked that I don't know if we should 29 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 2: be admired or studied or something. I don't know why 30 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 2: a psychopath would get in, you know, because I was 31 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 2: good at it at the start. So I just get 32 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 2: up there and post a video or try a joke 33 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 2: on stage and no one laughs, and you're kind of like, 34 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 2: why did I do that? But for some reason I 35 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 2: kept going, And so I like to think people are 36 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 2: laughing a little more. 37 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: When did you start doing humor? 38 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 2: Yes, you know, we're all different. My story is I 39 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 2: grew up born and raised in Oklahoma to a great 40 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 2: family and you know, a funny family, and so my 41 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 2: dad was the funny guy. So it was my grandfather, 42 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 2: my grandma. It was always a good time. So I 43 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 2: grew up as like the funny guy, you know, amongst 44 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 2: friends or making my classmates laugh, but never crossed my 45 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 2: mind for a second to do that as a job. 46 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 2: I was just like, I'm funny, that's great. What am 47 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:29,640 Speaker 2: I going to do with my life? If it weren't 48 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 2: for social media, I would have never ever gotten anywhere 49 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 2: near this because I wouldn't have had the courage to 50 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 2: just go to a city and just try stand up. 51 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 3: You know. 52 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 2: I was raised way too practically, get your good degree, 53 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:43,679 Speaker 2: get a job. And social media was my outlet to 54 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 2: kind of try humor amongst people that weren't just my 55 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 2: friends and family. 56 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 3: And had some viral videos. 57 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:51,679 Speaker 1: Which social media? Did you try humor on? 58 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 3: Vine? 59 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 2: Was what started me Vine, which here came and gone 60 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:00,640 Speaker 2: within a few years from twenty thirteen to like twenty seventeen, 61 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 2: the six second videos. I was able to get millions 62 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 2: of followers on there while in college. Even then I 63 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 2: was like, well this is cool, but time to go 64 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 2: get a job. But I just kind of kept making videos. 65 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,799 Speaker 2: And as we know, social media's become what it is 66 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,920 Speaker 2: and it's evolved in all this crazy stuff like touring 67 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 2: and now I have a special on Hulu. 68 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: How are you doing the videos? 69 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,639 Speaker 2: The beginning stage is all the phone. It evolved into 70 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 2: I have a couple of videographers and everything. But you know, 71 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 2: even now, the phones are so good with the camera. 72 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 2: You know, plenty of these kids are making videos just 73 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:33,359 Speaker 2: on their phones again, because I was at a time 74 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 2: where there's a big gap between your phone and a 75 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 2: nice camera, and that GAP's closing. But the start, it 76 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 2: was really old school on the iPhone five, just making 77 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 2: it happen. 78 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 1: When's the first time you actually did humor for a job. 79 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 2: I graduated college. I was making money through Vine the app, 80 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 2: and honestly enough where I could have paid rent and 81 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,040 Speaker 2: done that, but it was still very much like a 82 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 2: loss is going to last, Like I need to find 83 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 2: a career. So I was applying for jobs while making 84 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 2: the videos. Couldn't really get a job. This is twenty 85 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 2: fifteen where I was trying to tell marketing She's like, 86 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 2: social media is the future, and they were kind of 87 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 2: like whatever, you know, And so that aged twelve for me. 88 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 2: But I couldn't get like your typical job. I was like, 89 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:20,840 Speaker 2: forget it, I'm skinny apartment. I'm gonna try the video thing. 90 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 2: So that was January of twenty seventeen and had a 91 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:27,239 Speaker 2: little ups and downs, but it worked out, and social 92 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 2: media took off, and I took off, and so I 93 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 2: did a couple of your like corporate internships in college, 94 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 2: which is my only cubicle nine to five experience. And 95 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 2: right after college, I just got going with comedy and 96 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 2: been able to make it work. 97 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: How did you get on stage? 98 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,839 Speaker 2: So I've been doing full time social media content for 99 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 2: four or five years at this point, millions of followers. 100 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,720 Speaker 2: And my manager, who so I mentioned at the time, 101 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 2: was you know, beat a good manager. He's like Trey, 102 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 2: I think there's opportunity beyond this. You have this fan base, 103 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 2: you could sell tickets. WME signed the talent agency and 104 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 2: they wanted to book some shows and I was like, 105 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 2: what show. I just make videos in my apartment. I'm 106 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 2: a kid. I don't know what's going on, and they're like, 107 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 2: we should put together show. It's like, well, let me 108 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:12,160 Speaker 2: try it. They got me in the doors at a 109 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 2: few comedy clubs where I could just try it and 110 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 2: start doing five ten minute sets, which went about as 111 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 2: well as you could think. But I saw the potential. 112 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 2: I enjoyed it, so I kept at it. But my 113 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 2: first times at a comic club where I opened, the 114 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,279 Speaker 2: experience come a long way. 115 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:29,839 Speaker 1: It says to me, when you're doing social media, the 116 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 1: audience you're getting are people who've already pre selected you, 117 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 1: and now you're walking into a live audience, and some 118 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: of them may like you, and some of them may 119 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: not get it. 120 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 2: Social media's evolved, you know, back when I was starting. 121 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 2: You know, now with these algorithms, the videos go everywhere. 122 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 2: But ten years ago, six years ago, it was very 123 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 2: much like you see the people you follow those contents, 124 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 2: and it feels less daunting in that way. But when 125 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:55,359 Speaker 2: you're just going up on stage and no one in 126 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,039 Speaker 2: that room's ever heard of you before, you learn really 127 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 2: quick if you're funny or not, for better or for worse. 128 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: I mean, that takes a certain kind of courage. 129 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 2: I don't know to this day. I don't know because 130 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 2: I grew up very, very shy. So I was funny 131 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 2: once we were good friends, but I was kind of 132 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:15,159 Speaker 2: a shy, reserved kid, and that's still very much in me. 133 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 2: And so I'm not this one of these crazy people 134 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,920 Speaker 2: who's like I love being on stage. It's my happy place. 135 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:22,840 Speaker 2: It's very scary for me. I feel like I've been 136 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 2: given a gift. I've gotten better at being on stage. 137 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:29,799 Speaker 2: But my girlfriend at the time. My now wife supported 138 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 2: me to just get up on stage and do that 139 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:35,159 Speaker 2: first set. Thank god, the first one wasn't a total disaster, 140 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 2: so I was able to keep going. But it's the scariest. 141 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: Do we have a comedy club and Naples that we've 142 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 1: been to. Hey, I think about the people who are 143 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 1: on a circuit. 144 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 3: Oh sure, the circuit. 145 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's tough. 146 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 2: I built this tough social media, which was tough in 147 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 2: its own right. But some of these guys who spend decades, yeah, 148 00:06:55,720 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 2: just kind of plug it away doing these shows. They're 149 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 2: built different, truth be told, I don't know how long 150 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 2: I would have done that grind. 151 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 3: You know, I've got a wife and two kids. Now, 152 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 3: it's all that. 153 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 2: So social media lets you kind of expedite the process 154 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 2: a bit. 155 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 3: You go to a comic. 156 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 2: Club the back green State. I don't know what comic 157 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 2: club you're talking about there in Naples. I've done one there. 158 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 2: Some of them are nicer than others. You learn real 159 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 2: quick if you want to do this or not. When 160 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 2: you get off stage and you bombed and you feel 161 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 2: like you aren't funny, and then you go back to 162 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 2: a green room, which is they call it green room 163 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 2: but it's like part of the kitchen and they're like 164 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 2: cooking fries next to you. 165 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 3: They're like, wow, good set, Like what am I doing? 166 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 2: Man? 167 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: Those kind of tours don't you usually do like two 168 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: or three at night? 169 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 3: Yeah? Those kind of the weekends are usually two a night. 170 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: Do you have that sense when you come out onto 171 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: the stage at first minute and you're looking at that audience, 172 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 1: are you comfortable? Are you a little bit worried about 173 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: how's this going to go? 174 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 3: Comfortable? Now I've gotten to that point. 175 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 2: You know that early stages is terrifying because you're just 176 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 2: you're figuring it out. But I truly enjoy it now 177 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 2: and you learned that's still part of it. You go 178 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 2: up sometimes that joke didn't work, You don't let it 179 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 2: bother you because now I've forked up a certain amount 180 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,559 Speaker 2: of confidence that I think I can figure out something 181 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 2: that's funny. But it took me years to build that 182 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 2: up to truly not be fearful of the stage up there. 183 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 2: But now it's really fun and you've learned to almost 184 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 2: appreciate the horrible moments where the audience is like what 185 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 2: is this guy talking about? And you're like, yeah, that 186 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 2: wasn't funny, was it. It's always this act of humility. 187 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 2: It's very humbling profession. 188 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 1: Do you have a fair number of things that you've 189 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:34,199 Speaker 1: dropped over the years that didn't work. 190 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 2: I'll never forget. I've had a number of horror stories. 191 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 2: But the very first time I started, I went up 192 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 2: my third or fourth time ever doing a stand up set, 193 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 2: and it was an all black audience, and I was 194 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:47,079 Speaker 2: kind of like, Okay, I haven't done that. 195 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 3: Before, Let's see how it goes. And it went really, 196 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 3: really well. They were great. 197 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 2: The next weekend, I went back up and it was 198 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 2: another all black audience. So I'm thinking, I mean, I 199 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 2: got these folks figured out, and I started with a joke. 200 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 2: You could hear a pin drop. They're like what, and 201 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 2: I just fell apart. You could start to hear they 202 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:07,839 Speaker 2: were laughing. It's a really low, low moment as a 203 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 2: comedian where you hear laughter, but You're like, they're not 204 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 2: laughing with me, they're laughing at me. They're now making 205 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 2: fun of me. I'm the joke and I just got out. 206 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,079 Speaker 2: I go off stage and just went home thinking why 207 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 2: would I ever do that again? 208 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 3: But I did. For some reason, I tried. 209 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 1: Humor in high school and at one point my fellow 210 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 1: classmates were not very kind, and we're throwing pennies at them. 211 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 3: Yeah that's old school. They're pelatry with pennies. 212 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 1: That's right. I was just thinking, this is really bad. 213 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:57,199 Speaker 2: Now, I guess that's a good thing. Everyone's got Apple Pay. 214 00:09:57,280 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 2: Now they can't chuck their phones at me. 215 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: I was surprised, given how busy you are and how 216 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 1: much that you actually are becoming a national figure as 217 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: a comedian. But you're also, as I understand it, at 218 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: Oklahoma State getting your MBA. 219 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 3: I did. 220 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 2: I did already, Yes, I did already. That was as 221 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 2: I was doing those videos. Kind of still great parents. 222 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 2: My dad was a businessman, so he really encouraged me 223 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 2: and he could see maybe the opportunities. My mom was 224 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 2: your classic like you better get a four point, you 225 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 2: better stay on it. So she was always like, better 226 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 2: do your homework, quit these little videos. What good's that 227 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 2: going to do? So they in a good way. They 228 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 2: pushed me to always have the be okay, but just 229 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 2: keep so. I stuck around and got my MBA, which 230 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:43,720 Speaker 2: sounds impressive, but to be honest, I was just kind 231 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 2: of like, I don't know what else to do, so 232 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 2: I'll just keep doing school. 233 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: Did studying business in that sense help you. 234 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 2: I think it, no question helped me in certain ways 235 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 2: in terms of business. But I think the best thing 236 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 2: you did for me was just and my undergrad was great. 237 00:10:59,320 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 3: It was fun. 238 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 2: I did fine, But my MBA was my opportunity. I 239 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:07,559 Speaker 2: felt to really grow up. Shout out to the special 240 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 2: on Hulu. But I took that a lot more seriously 241 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 2: and made straight a's and went to every class, and 242 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 2: I think in a good way to learn how to 243 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 2: handle stuff and get stuff done, but also see more 244 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 2: and more of like, I don't think this corporate stuff. 245 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 3: I don't know if it's for me. 246 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 2: I think I really am meant to do something else, 247 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:28,839 Speaker 2: because you hear some of these kids, they're like, I'm 248 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 2: not meant for a desk job. But those people, they 249 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 2: often aren't meant for any job, you know. So I 250 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,959 Speaker 2: wanted to make sure I was truly not supposed to 251 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:39,119 Speaker 2: down that route and pursue this other kind of insane 252 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 2: thing as comedy. 253 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:41,359 Speaker 3: As a kid from Oklahoma. 254 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 1: I was a little surprised to learn that you didn't 255 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: start as a comedian. You started singing Yes, I mean, 256 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: what was that evolution? 257 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:51,680 Speaker 2: Like, well, I have to give a lot of credit 258 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 2: to the singing talent kind of reveal that happened in college. 259 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 2: I grew up, wasn't fully aware I could sing. And 260 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 2: I made some friends in college who are musical and 261 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 2: they're like, you can really sing, and so they encouraged me. 262 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,440 Speaker 2: We kind of meet a couple buddies, formed this little 263 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 2: trio where we'd sing, you know, at coffee shops and 264 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 2: frat houses and sorority houses. While I was at school 265 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 2: just kind of like enjoying that and exploring that, and 266 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:23,319 Speaker 2: I started going viral online for not only being funny, 267 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 2: but for the singing. So I was in my head, 268 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 2: I was like, I think, I mean, I'm the next 269 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 2: justin Timberlake. 270 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 3: I got to. 271 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 2: Pursue this, you know, American Idol called me, the voice 272 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 2: called me to come try out, so I'd go try 273 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 2: out and they tell me no, It's like, why'd you 274 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 2: call me? But you know, I was pursuing that, and 275 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:42,559 Speaker 2: I kept making the content and the comedy just kept 276 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 2: working a little better than the singing, and when it 277 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 2: came down to it, I felt like comedy suits me 278 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 2: better anyway, So I pursued that, but the singing in 279 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 2: the special, I do some comedic singing because I enjoy 280 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 2: it so much. 281 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 3: So it's fun to be able to blend the two. 282 00:12:57,559 --> 00:13:01,199 Speaker 1: You began doing these viral videos. He had one on kids' 283 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 1: names called roll Call in ten Years, which has had 284 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 1: almost six million views. Did you expect anything like that reaction? 285 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:12,280 Speaker 2: You never know what to think with some of these videos. 286 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 2: Some you think are the best videos ever they get 287 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,840 Speaker 2: no views, and sometimes you think they're off when they 288 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 2: get a lot of views. That was definitely one where 289 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 2: I was pretty shocked at how much people love that. 290 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:22,840 Speaker 3: That did. 291 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, six million on YouTube, That did tens of millions 292 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 2: of views other places, Facebook, TikTok. So that one was fun, 293 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 2: and it's great because the bit is I'm doing a 294 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 2: roll call of a classroom and it's like axel Ansley, 295 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:39,200 Speaker 2: Denim Journey. All these new names were seen. And the 296 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 2: best part of that is I didn't really even write that. 297 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:45,680 Speaker 2: I just went to our social security website and picked 298 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 2: the most popular new names of like twenty twenty one. 299 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 2: Wherever I made that video, I just read them off 300 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:54,200 Speaker 2: and made fun of them and it went viral. People 301 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 2: were like this is insane. This is what people are 302 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 2: naming their kids. 303 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: That's wild, and that's still out there pople who are 304 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 1: still going to it. 305 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:02,320 Speaker 3: Oh absolutely. 306 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:04,080 Speaker 2: I've think even reposted a couple of years ago and 307 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 2: it went viral again. It's still very much what's happening now. 308 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 1: Also, you do a podcast, Correct Opinions with Trey Kennedy 309 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 1: and Jake Triplet and you have her something like fifty 310 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: thousand listeners per episode. 311 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 2: We have a great, great podcast with my co host 312 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 2: Jake other comedian Hilarious Skuy. My wife's also on most 313 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 2: of the episodes, which is fun. She's the nice voice 314 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 2: of reason when me and him get going too far 315 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 2: down a a bit. But yeah, we would do that 316 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 2: podcast like five years, have a great, great listener base. 317 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: I mean, that's quite a success just by itself. 318 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 2: I know, it's I've never really known what was coming next, 319 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 2: so I've just tried to try everything. You know, some 320 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 2: stuff didn't work, but it's been fun to have that 321 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 2: podcast go for so long. 322 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: You mentioned your wife's participation, as I understand that she's 323 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:54,239 Speaker 1: a biomedical engineer. 324 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, my wife. It's so crazy. 325 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 2: She went to Georgie Tech, which you know, if you 326 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 2: know is one of the top schools in the entire country. 327 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 2: And I went to o Holoma State, which Gopoke's Proud Cowboy, 328 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 2: not known as one of the best schools in the country. 329 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 2: But I had a great time and got a great 330 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 2: degree there. But it was just funny to hear, you know, 331 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 2: in college, I was like, yeah, I had so much 332 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 2: free time. I goofed off and went viral on social media. 333 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 2: And she was like, I had to do ten hours 334 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 2: on home work every day to be a biomedical engineer. 335 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 2: And she had this like fancy job. As I was like, 336 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 2: have fun to work, honey, I'm gonna stay home and 337 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 2: make skits. 338 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 1: I just say, there's a whole thing here about the 339 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: biomedical engineer in the comedian Oh easily. 340 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 2: It's so funny too, because her world, everyone she knows 341 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 2: are like surgeons and engineers, and she's like, luckily it's 342 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 2: worked out now we can say, well, he's a special 343 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 2: in Hulu. But for years they'd be like, and what 344 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 2: is your you know, what was your boyfriend new? What's 345 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 2: your husband who? She'd be like, well, he's he's doing 346 00:15:57,440 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 2: his best. 347 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 1: Go to a cocktail party at Georgia Tech. You will 348 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: be the only comedian at the cocktail. 349 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 3: Party thousand percent. 350 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 2: So thank god it's gotten to a point where people go, Okay, 351 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 2: I think he can pay his bills because she had 352 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 2: a real challenge there for a number of years to 353 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 2: be like yeah, yeah, Now. 354 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 1: You have sort of a breakthrough in that your new special, 355 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: Trey Kennedy Growing Up is going to be on Hulu. 356 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: How did that come up? I mean, that's a real breakthrough. 357 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 3: Thank you very much. Yeah, I can't believe it. 358 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 2: It's my second special, so my first one we put 359 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:29,400 Speaker 2: on my YouTube a few years ago. 360 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 3: That was great. 361 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 2: This special, it's been years in the making. We toured 362 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 2: it to one hundred plus cities and we shot it 363 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 2: last April in Salt Lake, amazing crowds. It's been a 364 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 2: labor love to get it done. I self produced it all. 365 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 2: We had a great team put that together. My agent 366 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 2: shopped it around all the networks, and Hulu has just 367 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 2: entered into the stand up world. They've got Gaff again 368 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 2: and Bill Burr and a bunch of others and honored 369 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 2: to be anywhere on that lineup too, So they gave 370 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 2: me opportunity. I didn't know what to expect, but I'm 371 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 2: really really pumped in honor. Hulu gave me the chance. 372 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:08,919 Speaker 1: Here's a little sneak peek of Trey Kennedy grow up. 373 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 3: My sister. She came to me. She's like, Trey, don't 374 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:12,119 Speaker 3: kill me. 375 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 2: I want to do a little gender reveal, something simple, 376 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 2: nothing that like birds down the West Coast. And she 377 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:22,919 Speaker 2: was like, Trey, as my one and only sibling, my 378 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 2: big brother, I want you to do the honor. I'm 379 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 2: gonna have the doctor call you at the results, and 380 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 2: then you tell the bakery what color I see to 381 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:33,399 Speaker 2: put inside the cake? 382 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, and Utah. I thought about ruining us. 383 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 2: I thought about it, you know, I asked. I was like, 384 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 2: I'll pay double for yellow. I'll play a double. 385 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 3: What does that mean? He's like, oh, you're having a teletubby. 386 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:50,159 Speaker 3: I don't know. 387 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 2: No, I do my job right. She's there with their husband. 388 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 2: They cut the cake, revealing pink. I scen meaning it's 389 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:02,400 Speaker 2: a baby. Everyone's excited. And then the first thing out 390 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 2: of my sister's mouth, I mean instantaneously, she wants to know. Sometimes, ladies, 391 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:07,440 Speaker 2: you give us too much credit, you do. She was like, Trey, 392 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 2: how hard was it to keep the secret? How hard 393 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:12,919 Speaker 2: was it he was. 394 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 3: The only one you knew in the whole planet. How 395 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:16,199 Speaker 3: hard was it not to tell everyone the gender of 396 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:21,160 Speaker 3: my child? It was like, not hard at all. 397 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 2: Not you cutting the cake reminded me what it was, 398 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 2: so I didn't even. 399 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 3: No one was more surprised than me. Y'all do that 400 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:40,480 Speaker 3: you give. 401 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:41,920 Speaker 2: Us too much credit on weird things like I don't 402 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 2: know wh my sister was picturing. 403 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 3: She's known me her whole life. 404 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 2: What. I'm just hanging out with my boys, like watching 405 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 2: the games. They're all like, hold on, Trey, pause the game, 406 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 2: pause it. We're not watching the second half until you 407 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 2: fess up about the gender of your sister's unborn child. 408 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:03,880 Speaker 2: It's like, you know, I wish I could call her. 409 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 2: I wish, but I locked the key threw it away. 410 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 3: That's not what happened. 411 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 2: Half of my friends if I told her my sister's pregnant, 412 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 2: they'd be like, what sister. I was like, you've met her, dude, 413 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 2: several times. 414 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 1: I would think that writing a special where it's going 415 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 1: to be locked down, it's going to be there primarily 416 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 1: and it has to fit into certain time parameters is 417 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,959 Speaker 1: different than just doing stand up. I mean, I understand 418 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 1: they had to be randomly being funny. But how do 419 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: you undertake writing the jokes and putting together all the 420 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:55,880 Speaker 1: things that go into a special. 421 00:19:56,640 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 2: I do plenty of writing in my office at home, 422 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:02,120 Speaker 2: and so much of my life where oh that pots 423 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:03,680 Speaker 2: my head, I write down a note, and I think 424 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 2: in the early stages it's really just get it on 425 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 2: stage and trying out stuff and like, Okay, that wasn't funny, 426 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 2: I'll work on that, or that's not worth doing again, 427 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:14,199 Speaker 2: or okay, we got something there, let's work on that. 428 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:15,119 Speaker 3: And those early. 429 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 2: Stages you're kind of just doing these shows and putting 430 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 2: together an hour on the stage that's funny. And then 431 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 2: as you tour around, you know, I started to see 432 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 2: this theme of I became a dad, so I talked 433 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:31,199 Speaker 2: a lot about that, and I wanted people to get 434 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 2: to know me more. So I talked about how I 435 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:34,200 Speaker 2: grew up, and I like to make fun of people 436 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 2: and tell them to grow up. So this idea of 437 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 2: grow up I saw a vision. And as you prepare 438 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 2: for the special, I think that becomes less of like 439 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:44,120 Speaker 2: let's just be funny every night, and really more precise, 440 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:46,199 Speaker 2: like all right, this is what's going to be printed 441 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 2: and live on forever. It's time to really technically put 442 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 2: this together, tell the story, and I guess be happy 443 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 2: with the funnel product that's going to be edited and 444 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 2: put out for the rest of the time. 445 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 1: You do that in front of a live audience, right. 446 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, Salt Lake beautiful hall there in Salt Lake, 447 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:06,400 Speaker 2: Bravino Hall, and we had two sold out shows, twenty 448 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:07,879 Speaker 2: five hundred people each. 449 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:09,879 Speaker 3: They were awesome. It was great. 450 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 2: The Mormons. They love a nice, clean white comedian. It 451 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 2: was funny one of the time, so we shot. The 452 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 2: funniest part was I'd have this one punchline where the 453 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:21,720 Speaker 2: jokes about drinking alcohol. I won't ruin it, just watch it. 454 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 2: But it was funny because I said that and Mormons 455 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:27,119 Speaker 2: famously they don't drink a drop of alcohol. Right, So 456 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 2: it was like, that's a joke I'd done a hundred times. 457 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 2: Got a huge laugh, and they're in Salt Lake. They 458 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 2: were kind of like eh. I was like, guys, really quick, listen, 459 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 2: I get it, I get it. We are taping this, 460 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:39,439 Speaker 2: so I'm gonna say it again and just laugh for me, 461 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:42,480 Speaker 2: so I will be honest. Everything's one hundred percent authentic. 462 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 2: But on that one, I said, just give me a laugh, 463 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 2: all right, because I need it. 464 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: I mean, in that sense, if you're shooting a special 465 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:53,159 Speaker 1: like that, could you imagine doing it without a crowd? 466 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 2: Sadly, I kind of can because of COVID. I did 467 00:21:57,040 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 2: a couple virtual cob these shows, or I did even 468 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:04,959 Speaker 2: one kind of like livestream comedy show, which was a mistake. 469 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:05,960 Speaker 3: I shouldn't have this. 470 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 2: We were all so bored and nothing to do. So 471 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:10,360 Speaker 2: it was like you could watch online as I did 472 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 2: a show to no one. You could watch it virtually. 473 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 2: And that was, like you said, it, really, stand up 474 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 2: really shouldn't be done unless you have people in the 475 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 2: room that are feeding off the energy. 476 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:23,880 Speaker 1: But do you find out you need the feedback from 477 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:27,880 Speaker 1: the crowd to sustain the momentum and to sustain you're adrenaline. 478 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 3: I think you can kind of do it. 479 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:33,280 Speaker 2: But yeah, I think stand up's really really fun in 480 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 2: that regard where there's not much else. You know, with music, 481 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 2: it's like you can kind of play music anywhere, and 482 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 2: that's great, But stand up really is this medium where 483 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 2: it's you and the crowd. You're both involved. You talk 484 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:48,200 Speaker 2: to them, you listen to them, you react to them. 485 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 2: I think that's what makes us so exciting. 486 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:55,359 Speaker 1: If you watch President Trump, he needs that crowd. I 487 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:57,640 Speaker 1: tell people he's avoid Villa, and I mean he's one 488 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 1: third humor, one third really serious, and once they're just random. 489 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 3: Yeah. 490 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 2: You hear comedians say like he's funny, like he could 491 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 2: do it if he wanted. I mean, there's no question, 492 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:11,159 Speaker 2: like him or not that he has a pretty impressive 493 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 2: talent for feeding off crowds and entertaining. 494 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,879 Speaker 1: Yeah, so he actually gains energy. I mean people wonder 495 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 1: how he can do these hour and a half. During 496 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:21,720 Speaker 1: the campaign, he was doing three a day. 497 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 2: That's what blows my mind because there's two types of comedians. 498 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:27,679 Speaker 2: I'm the one where I have my hour, I have 499 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 2: at planned, I'm doing it and I'm done. And then 500 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 2: some of these comedians are President Trump. They look up 501 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:36,400 Speaker 2: and they've been talking for three hours. They're just having 502 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:38,439 Speaker 2: the time of their life up there. I don't know 503 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:39,840 Speaker 2: how they do it. It's unreal. 504 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:43,879 Speaker 1: I think that's their ability to get the energy reflow 505 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:48,720 Speaker 1: from the audience. So they actually gained strength, which is 506 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:51,399 Speaker 1: a little scary if you think about it. 507 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 3: It is. 508 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 2: Trust me, I do not I get off stage and 509 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 2: I'm like, oh my gosh, that was exhausting in a 510 00:23:57,040 --> 00:23:57,640 Speaker 2: good way. 511 00:23:57,640 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 1: Because you're right, they're two different styles. But let me 512 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 1: jump totally different thing. You have a new project, which 513 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:05,919 Speaker 1: is a children's book, How You Got Your Name? What 514 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 1: led you to go from comedy to writing for children? 515 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 2: Well, I just had my second child, so very much 516 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:16,440 Speaker 2: in this world reading books to my oldest, I got 517 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:19,240 Speaker 2: the opportunity. I thought it was great, and as a comedian, 518 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:22,440 Speaker 2: it is supposed to be a goofy, silly book for kids, 519 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 2: and so How You Got Your Name. It's been out 520 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 2: for a month or so now. I think people are 521 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 2: really enjoying it. And I really wanted to write a 522 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 2: book that was fun for the parents as well with 523 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,120 Speaker 2: the kids, to keep it kind of fresh, interactive, because 524 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 2: I know as a parent you read some of these 525 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 2: books over and over and over again you're like, oh 526 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:41,119 Speaker 2: my gosh, so mine's meant to be silly, fun and 527 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 2: How You Got Your Name kind of playing on the video, 528 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 2: we talked about the role calls and the silly names. 529 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 2: It's playing into that culture where it follows the story 530 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:50,920 Speaker 2: of a kid all these ideas for some crazy name, 531 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 2: and at the end it explains how he got his 532 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 2: name and gives you opportunity to explain to your kid 533 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:56,200 Speaker 2: how they got there. 534 00:24:56,880 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 1: Was writing a book different than developing comedy. 535 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,240 Speaker 2: A children's book for sure, because I have hopes to 536 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 2: write my own book book one day, but a children's book. 537 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:11,520 Speaker 2: My first pass at it was kind of like it 538 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 2: was too adult humor. It was like insulting children's names, 539 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:16,640 Speaker 2: and they're like, well, this is for four year olds. 540 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:19,440 Speaker 2: You can't just teach them to make fun of kids. 541 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:22,080 Speaker 2: I was like, all right, fair enough. So we had 542 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:24,919 Speaker 2: to lighten it up and make it really wholesome for 543 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:27,159 Speaker 2: the young kids. So I had to learn that a 544 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:29,920 Speaker 2: little bit pull in the reins, but like with anything, 545 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 2: it's just being creative, which is what I really enjoyed doing. 546 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 2: And so it was a nice new project and experience 547 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 2: and really proud of what we ended up with. 548 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 1: What do you hope kids and their parents take away 549 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:42,399 Speaker 1: from How You Got Your Name? 550 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:44,919 Speaker 2: The wholesome kind of payoff at the end is you 551 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:47,320 Speaker 2: get a moment to explain your child how they got 552 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:48,639 Speaker 2: their name. And you know, I think a lot of 553 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:51,639 Speaker 2: folks have a good reason behind that, and it has 554 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 2: a nice nod to how your parents know your name. 555 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:57,760 Speaker 2: It's special for reason, it's your name. God knows your name, 556 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:01,119 Speaker 2: and that's the sweet payoff. I don't see a lot 557 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:04,720 Speaker 2: of books out there sharing that message. So hopefully that's 558 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:07,280 Speaker 2: a cool moment between kids and parents, and the first 559 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 2: ninety five percent of the book is just hopefully a 560 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:10,160 Speaker 2: lot of fun. 561 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:13,280 Speaker 1: Okay, So since you wrote a book about the significance 562 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 1: of names, how did you and your wife choose the 563 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:16,840 Speaker 1: names for your own children. 564 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:19,440 Speaker 2: We have good reasons. Thank god, we have two kids. 565 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:21,159 Speaker 2: We want more. So we were joking like we got 566 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 2: to have good reasons for these next kids because the 567 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:27,439 Speaker 2: first two they're family names. My son is Thomas the fourth, 568 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 2: so I'm Thomas the third. 569 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:30,879 Speaker 3: That's why I go by Trey. 570 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:34,760 Speaker 2: And my daughter's name is Eva, and that's one of 571 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 2: my wife's family name, like one of her great grandmothers 572 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 2: the family really looked up to. So both family names nice, easy, 573 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 2: you can pronounce them, you can spell them. 574 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:45,600 Speaker 3: We're proud of them. 575 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 1: How old are your children? 576 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:49,680 Speaker 3: Two and four months? 577 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:50,320 Speaker 1: Wow? 578 00:26:50,560 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, congratulations, thank you very much. It's been fun. 579 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 1: We have a great family of a very smart wife, 580 00:26:56,720 --> 00:26:59,119 Speaker 1: and you have a special on TV. I mean life's 581 00:26:59,119 --> 00:26:59,640 Speaker 1: pretty good. 582 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:01,439 Speaker 3: It's very very good. I'm blessed. 583 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:04,120 Speaker 2: I graduated college about ten years ago, and I would 584 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:06,720 Speaker 2: have never ever guessed any of those things will be true. 585 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:08,520 Speaker 2: So very fortunately, very grateful. 586 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,320 Speaker 1: We talk a lot about cheerful persistence, and you're a 587 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:12,439 Speaker 1: pretty good example of it. 588 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 3: Thank you, sir. I really appreciate it. 589 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 1: I want to thank you for joining me. Your new 590 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 1: comedy special, Trey Kennedy grow Up is available to watch 591 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:23,040 Speaker 1: on Hulu now. In your new children's book, How You 592 00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 1: Got Your Name is available now in Amazon and in 593 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 1: bookstores everywhere. We're going to feature a link to buy 594 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 1: it on our show page. And I want to let 595 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:33,880 Speaker 1: our listeners know they can keep up with all you're doing, 596 00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:37,440 Speaker 1: which is a lot, by visiting your website Trey Kennedy 597 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:40,399 Speaker 1: dot com, or by following you on any of your 598 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:42,920 Speaker 1: social media platforms. This has been a lot of fun, 599 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:44,840 Speaker 1: and I really appreciate you doing it. 600 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:47,399 Speaker 2: Thank you. I had a great time. Thanks for having me. 601 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:49,359 Speaker 2: It's great to meet you. I really appreciate it me 602 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:49,880 Speaker 2: so much. 603 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:56,640 Speaker 1: Thank you. To my guest, Trey Kennedy, you can get 604 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:59,719 Speaker 1: a link to watch his new comedy special, Trey Kennedy 605 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:04,360 Speaker 1: up on Hulu on our show page at newtsworld dot com. 606 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 1: NEWT World is produced by Gengish three sixty and iHeartMedia. 607 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 1: Our executive producer is Guernsey Sloan. Our researcher is Rachel Peterson. 608 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:16,640 Speaker 1: The artwork for the show was created by Steve Penley. 609 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:20,119 Speaker 1: Special thanks the team a Ginglish three sixty. If you've 610 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:23,080 Speaker 1: been enjoying Nutsworld, I hope you'll go to Apple Podcast 611 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 1: and both rate us with five stars and give us 612 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 1: a review so others can learn what it's all about. 613 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 1: Right now, listeners of newts World can sign up from 614 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:36,159 Speaker 1: a three free weekly columns at gingishtree sixty dot com 615 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 1: slash newsletter. I'm Newt Gingrich. This is Nutsworld