Messed-Up To Set-Ups - A MichaelHalcomb.Live Podcast

Hello, Friend! In Episode 149 of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I’m back in the lab with comedian Casey Peruski. In Part 2 of our chat, we do a live joke-workshopping session. Casey brings in premises about his daughter’s punishment for perfect attendance, his son being asked to provide proof that he was sick, the unexpected costs of high school basketball, and the impossible challenge of disciplining a millionaire college athlete. We look for stronger angles, sharper tags, surprising comparisons, and helpful callbacks. We cover the messy process of writing jokes, bombing, staying true to an idea, and learning why even great comedians have to test material that doesn’t work yet. So, join us for a funny and honest behind-the-scenes look at how comedians find momentum one premise at a time. Of course, none of this means being funny doesn’t matter. The professionalism might help get me through the door, but I still need jokes that work once I get onstage. If that’s the part of the equation you’re working on right now, download my FREE 17-page Joke Blueprint Playbook . It walks through joke-writing process I use to turn ideas into setups and punchlines, and you can grab your copy for free below. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! In Episode 148 of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I’m in the lab with Florida-based comedian, producer, and Dry Bar Comedy performer Casey Peruski. Casey talks about how he went from a first terrifying open mic to producing comedy shows at the Sunrise Theatre for fifteen years, working with major comedians, and building a comedy career while raising a family. We talk about the lessons he’s learned as a comedian and booker, including what producers look for, and why being funny is only part of getting booked. We also get into how professionalism and self-promotion can create momentum, and why comedians who complain, overstay their time, or fail to support themselves may be making their own careers harder. Casey also shares some hilarious and humbling stories about bombing, getting nervous enough to throw up before a show, as well as learning to work clean as a Christian comedian. We also discuss consistency, creating a great experience for audiences, the changing comedy business, and how the internet has opened new doors for comedians willing to build their own platform. It’s an honest, funny, and practical conversation about staying in the game long enough to grow. Tune in! Of course, none of this means being funny doesn’t matter. The professionalism might help get me through the door, but I still need jokes that work once I get onstage. If that’s the part of the equation you’re working on right now, download my FREE 17-page Joke Blueprint Playbook . It walks through joke-writing process I use to turn ideas into setups and punchlines, and you can grab your copy for free below. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! In Episode 146 of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I’m back in the lab with comedian and humor researcher Von Sprecken. We dive back into the psychology of comedy, mental health, confidence, failure, and what it really takes to survive and succeed onstage. We also talk about the dark side of comedy, the strange role of delusion in creative work, how pre-show nerves can become a superpower, why every comedian needs reliable pivots and saves, and how cognitive reframing can help us handle setbacks without spiraling after a performance. Plus, we explore why humor lives somewhere between sense and nonsense and why even AI struggles to understand what makes something truly funny. It’s one of my most thought-provoking conversations on Messed-Up to Set-Ups yet. Tune in! Wanna get better at finding the messed-up stuff hiding inside your own premises? Check out The Joke Writer’s Lab , my online course built to help comedians generate, develop, and strengthen their material. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Why does a joke actually work? That’s a much more complicated question than it initially appears. I recently sat down with comedian and humor researcher Von Sprecken, and what began as a conversation about stand-up quickly became an exploration of psychology, memory, emotion, trauma, cognitive reframing, and what happens when an audience encounters a punchline. It’s exactly the kind of conversation I love because it moves beyond simply asking whether something is funny and starts asking what’s happening underneath the laugh. If you’re interested in comedy, psychology, creativity, or how people process ideas and emotions, there’s a lot to think about in this one. Tune in! Wanna get better at finding what’s hiding inside your own premises? Check out The Joke Writer’s Lab , my online course built to help comedians generate, develop, and strengthen their material. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! In this episode of The Wide Net Podcast, we talk about superpowers that would actually be terrible in real life, laugh through some of the wildest Key and Peele-style college football names you’ve ever heard, and dig into the real difference between watching church online and actually being in church. We also share honest stories about family life, teaching, distraction, and the kind of everyday moments that remind us how much we all need grace. Then we close with a powerful devotion from Genesis 9 that reframes the rainbow as God’s bow, a sign of mercy, covenant, and unshakable commitment when human hearts are still broken. If you want clean humor, brotherhood, practical insight, and a gospel-centered conversation that leaves you encouraged, challenged, and thinking deeper, this episode of The Wide Net Podcast is for you. Tune in! Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! In this episode of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I’m back with Brad Brauser for a live joke-writing session that gets deep into therapy bits, self-trolling, and the weird little voice in your head that can turn a rough day into a laugh. We also dig into a hilariously overinflated Arby’s bit that keeps spiraling into catering chaos, billboard-sized disappointment, false hope, and one of the funniest fast-food takedowns you’ll hear today. If you love comedy that’s honest, smart, clean, and built around real-life frustration, this conversation is packed with punchlines, callbacks, and practical joke writing and editing advice. Tune in! Wanna get better at finding what’s hiding inside your own premises? Check out The Joke Writer’s Lab , my online course built to help comedians generate, develop, and strengthen their material. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! In this episode of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I’m get to hang out with comedian Brad Brauser. This is a super fun, honest, and practical conversation about comedy, joke writing, and the little messes that turn into real laughs. We talk about how Brad got started, why he keeps a daily writing habit, how self-deprecating humor can become a powerful tool, and what it’s like building momentum as both a performer and producer in a smaller market. If you love clean comedy, smart banter, and behind-the-scenes insight into how jokes actually get built, this one’s packed with stories, ideas, and tons of laughs from start to finish. Tune in! If you’re trying to grow as a comedian, I write about what I’m learning along the way. Subscribe to my FREE newsletter for practical ideas on writing, performing, producing, and building momentum. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! In this episode of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I’m joined again by Shannon Sullivan, and we get into some of the most practical and eye-opening conversations I’ve had lately about comedy, mindset, and momentum. Shannon brings her perspective as a nurse and holistic nurse coach to a discussion about why comedians think the way they do, how to handle the emotional hangover after a bad set, and why so much of growth comes down to learning how to stop making every moment mean something bigger than it is. We also talk about noise, boundaries, resilience, and the hidden psychological battles that happen before, during, and after comedian’s step on stage, all in a way that I think will really speak to anyone trying to grow in comedy in particular or life in general. Tune in! AND…if this kind of conversation helps, subscribe to Messed-Up to Set-Ups by clicking the button below. Twice a week, I’m talking with comedians and other interesting people about what it takes to get better at this weird thing we call stand-up. We’re not just workshopping the comedy; we’re workshopping the comedian. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! In this episode of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I’m joined by Shannon Sullivan, a nurse and holistic nurse coach. So, why would I have a nurse on my comedy podcast? Well, she’s an aspiring comedian but, even more than that, she’s interested in the psychology of comedy. So, right from the start we get into the overlap between comedy, mindset, and how comedians can stay grounded when life gets messy. We talk about Shannon’s background, how she moved from traditional nursing into a more holistic approach, and why she’s so fascinated by the way comedians think, process feedback, and turn awkward or painful moments into something funny and meaningful. We also dig into the psychology of bombing, the pressure that can build before and after a set, why crowds are usually rooting for comedians, and how easy it is to let fear, ego, or other people’s noise steal momentum if one’s not careful. It’s a warm, honest conversation about growth, resilience, and learning how to keep moving forward, especially when the story in your head wants to make things bigger than they are. Tune in! Now, one last thing while you’re still here: Recently, I created a new app, a tool I wish I’d have had early on: Comedian Persona Explorer . It can help comedians figure out what they didn’t realize they were missing regarding their persona. Whether you begin with a single report or continue using it as you grow, my goal in creating it is simple: I hope you’ll spend more time becoming the comedian only you can be. Check it out HERE . Along the same lines, let me just say that, if reflections and tools like these are helpful to you, that’s also exactly why I wrote Comedy Mindhacks . My goal isn’t simply to help comedians write better jokes. It’s to help comedians understand the invisible thinking behind better comedy. Every mental model becomes another tool for building momentum, and over time those small shifts in thinking have a way of producing much bigger shifts on stage. This entire book is built around helping comedians identify the mental obstacles, hurdle over them, and boost their momentum. If this article resonated with you, you’ll find a lot more like it inside the book. You can check out sample pages HERE . If you’re not yet a subscriber, use code MH10LIVE at checkout HERE for 10% off. Free subscribers automatically receive 15% off, and paid subscribers receive 35% off because I’m a big believer in rewarding people who invest in themselves. 👉 Click HERE to grab the book. And if you’re ready to double down in a BIGGER way, consider joining my Comedy Vault. It’s my private collection of premium resources, trainings, workshops, and tools designed to help comedians continue growing long after the initial excitement fades. The first bet gets you into the game. Doubling down is what changes who you become.👉 Click HERE to unlock the Comedy Vault. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! In this episode of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, Bassil Kamas is back in the lab! This time, we dig into something every joke writer eventually deals with: What do we do when we know there’s something funny in a premise but we just can’t seem to finish the joke? We work through several of Bassil’s bits in real time, including one about a school fire in Lodi and a wildly dark suicide-hotline premise. Along the way, we explore the gap between expectation and reality, exaggeration, escalation, and what happens when we keep pushing an idea instead of settling for the first punchline. If you’ve ever had a joke that felt like it should work but couldn’t quite figure out what it was missing, this episode gives you a front-row seat to two comedians trying to solve that exact problem. Tune in! Also, I’d love to encourage you to check out a new app I just created, an app I wish I’d have had years ago: Comedian Persona Explorer . Whether you begin with a single report or continue using it as you grow, my goal is simple: I hope you’ll spend less time chasing someone else’s identity and more time becoming the comedian only you can be. Check it out HERE . Along the same lines, let me just say that, if reflections and tools like this are helpful to you, that’s also exactly why I wrote Comedy Mindhacks . My goal isn’t simply to help comedians write better jokes. It’s to help comedians understand the invisible thinking behind better comedy. Every mental model becomes another tool for building momentum, and over time those small shifts in thinking have a way of producing much bigger shifts on stage. This entire book is built around helping comedians identify the mental obstacles, hurdle over them, and boost their momentum. If this article resonated with you, you’ll find a lot more like it inside the book. You can check out sample pages HERE . If you’re not yet a subscriber, use code MH10LIVE at checkout HERE for 10% off. Free subscribers automatically receive 15% off, and paid subscribers receive 35% off because I’m a big believer in rewarding people who invest in themselves. 👉 Click HERE to grab the book. And if you’re ready to double down in a BIGGER way, consider joining my Comedy Vault. It’s my private collection of premium resources, trainings, workshops, and tools designed to help comedians continue growing long after the initial excitement fades. The first bet gets you into the game. Doubling down is what changes who you become.👉 Click HERE to unlock the Comedy Vault. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! In this episode of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I chat with comedian Bassil Kamas about the value of getting in on both sides of a comedy show: Performing and Producing. We get into what comedians can learn from creating opportunities instead of only waiting for them, how producing changes the way we understand audiences and other performers, and why both experiences can make us better comedians. Along the way, we also get into his journey from Iraq to California, explore why the gap between expectation and reality is so important in stand-up, and deal with some dark premises. If you’re trying to build momentum in comedy instead of simply waiting for someone else to give you opportunities, there’s a lot in this one worth thinking about. Tune in! Also, I’d love to encourage you to check out a new app I just created, an app I wish I’d have had years ago: Comedian Persona Explorer . Whether you begin with a single report or continue using it as you grow, my goal is simple: I hope you’ll spend less time chasing someone else’s identity and more time becoming the comedian only you can be. Check it out HERE . Along the same lines, let me just say that, if reflections and tools like this are helpful to you, that’s also exactly why I wrote Comedy Mindhacks . My goal isn’t simply to help comedians write better jokes. It’s to help comedians understand the invisible thinking behind better comedy. Every mental model becomes another tool for building momentum, and over time those small shifts in thinking have a way of producing much bigger shifts on stage. This entire book is built around helping comedians identify the mental obstacles, hurdle over them, and boost their momentum. If this article resonated with you, you’ll find a lot more like it inside the book. You can check out sample pages HERE . If you’re not yet a subscriber, use code MH10LIVE at checkout HERE for 10% off. Free subscribers automatically receive 15% off, and paid subscribers receive 35% off because I’m a big believer in rewarding people who invest in themselves. 👉 Click HERE to grab the book. And if you’re ready to double down in a BIGGER way, consider joining my Comedy Vault. It’s my private collection of premium resources, trainings, workshops, and tools designed to help comedians continue growing long after the initial excitement fades. The first bet gets you into the game. Doubling down is what changes who you become.👉 Click HERE to unlock the Comedy Vault. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

In this episode 139 of Messed-Up to Set-Ups , Paula Jane Newman is back in the lab with me for Part 3 of our chat. In this one, we pull back the curtain once again on the joke writing process. We take rough jokes and premises apart, test punchlines, tighten wording, debate tags, and slowly shape ideas into jokes that might actually work or, at the least, work better. If you've ever wanted to see how comedians think through a joke or a bit instead of just performing the finished version, this episode gives you a front-row seat. Tune in! Also, I’d love to encourage you to check out a new app I just created, an app I wish I’d have had years ago: Comedian Persona Explorer . Whether you begin with a single report or continue using it as you grow, my goal is simple: I hope you’ll spend less time chasing someone else’s identity and more time becoming the comedian only you can be. Check it out HERE . Along the same lines, let me just say that, if reflections and tools like this are helpful to you, that’s also exactly why I wrote Comedy Mindhacks . My goal isn’t simply to help comedians write better jokes. It’s to help comedians understand the invisible thinking behind better comedy. Every mental model becomes another tool for building momentum, and over time those small shifts in thinking have a way of producing much bigger shifts on stage. This entire book is built around helping comedians identify the mental obstacles, hurdle over them, and boost their momentum. If this article resonated with you, you’ll find a lot more like it inside the book. You can check out sample pages HERE . If you’re not yet a subscriber, use code MH10LIVE at checkout HERE for 10% off. Free subscribers automatically receive 15% off, and paid subscribers receive 35% off because I’m a big believer in rewarding people who invest in themselves. 👉 Click HERE to grab the book. And if you’re ready to double down in a BIGGER way, consider joining my Comedy Vault. It’s my private collection of premium resources, trainings, workshops, and tools designed to help comedians continue growing long after the initial excitement fades. The first bet gets you into the game. Doubling down is what changes who you become.👉 Click HERE to unlock the Comedy Vault. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! In Episode 138 of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I’m back with Paula Jane Newman for Part 2 of our conversation, and this one is all about shaping jokes in real time, finding the funny in British-to-American misunderstandings, and turning awkward ideas into stronger punchlines. We workshop everything from Bridgerton and Ted Lasso to auctions, accents, body image, and cultural power dynamics. And somehow…somehow it all keeps circling back to comedy that feels honest and clever and deeply human. This episode is packed with laughs and lots of insight. Tune in! Also, I’d love to encourage you to check out a new app I just created, an app I wish I’d have had years ago: Comedian Persona Explorer . Whether you begin with a single report or continue using it as you grow, my goal is simple: I hope you’ll spend less time chasing someone else’s identity and more time becoming the comedian only you can be. Check it out HERE . Along the same lines, let me just say that, if reflections and tools like this are helpful to you, that’s also exactly why I wrote Comedy Mindhacks . My goal isn’t simply to help comedians write better jokes. It’s to help comedians understand the invisible thinking behind better comedy. Every mental model becomes another tool for building momentum, and over time those small shifts in thinking have a way of producing much bigger shifts on stage. This entire book is built around helping comedians identify the mental obstacles, hurdle over them, and boost their momentum. If this article resonated with you, you’ll find a lot more like it inside the book. You can check out sample pages HERE . If you’re not yet a subscriber, use code MH10LIVE at checkout HERE for 10% off. Free subscribers automatically receive 15% off, and paid subscribers receive 35% off because I’m a big believer in rewarding people who invest in themselves. 👉 Click HERE to grab the book. And if you’re ready to double down in a BIGGER way, consider joining my Comedy Vault. It’s my private collection of premium resources, trainings, workshops, and tools designed to help comedians continue growing long after the initial excitement fades. The first bet gets you into the game. Doubling down is what changes who you become.👉 Click HERE to unlock the Comedy Vault. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! Welcome to Episode 137 of Messed-Up to Set-Ups! In this first part of three (something that’s never happened on the podcast before!), I kick off my conversation with the absolutely hilarious Paula Jane Newman. We start by diving into her comedy origin story which is pretty fascinating. We get into her journey from England to the United States and discuss the unlikely path that led her into stand-up, acting, and wellness-focused humor. Along the way, Paula opens up about the pain, resilience, and personal growth that shaped her, plus we dig into how laughter became more than just entertainment to her; it became recognition, connection, and a real source of healing. If you’re into clean comedy, honest storytelling, and conversations with purpose, you’re going to love the way this episode sets the stage for everything that follows. Tune in! Also, I’d love to encourage you to check out a new app I just created, an app I wish I’d have had years ago: Comedian Persona Explorer . Whether you begin with a single report or continue using it as you grow, my goal is simple: I hope you’ll spend less time chasing someone else’s identity and more time becoming the comedian only you can be. Check it out HERE . Along the same lines, let me just say that, if reflections and tools like this are helpful to you, that’s also exactly why I wrote Comedy Mindhacks . My goal isn’t simply to help comedians write better jokes. It’s to help comedians understand the invisible thinking behind better comedy. Every mental model becomes another tool for building momentum, and over time those small shifts in thinking have a way of producing much bigger shifts on stage. This entire book is built around helping comedians identify the mental obstacles, hurdle over them, and boost their momentum. If this article resonated with you, you’ll find a lot more like it inside the book. You can check out sample pages HERE . If you’re not yet a subscriber, use code MH10LIVE at checkout HERE for 10% off. Free subscribers automatically receive 15% off, and paid subscribers receive 35% off because I’m a big believer in rewarding people who invest in themselves. 👉 Click HERE to grab the book. And if you’re ready to double down in a BIGGER way, consider joining my Comedy Vault. It’s my private collection of premium resources, trainings, workshops, and tools designed to help comedians continue growing long after the initial excitement fades. The first bet gets you into the game. Doubling down is what changes who you become.👉 Click HERE to unlock the Comedy Vault. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! In this episode of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I sit down again with comedian Chris Crawford for a hilarious live joke-workshopping session. In this one, we build, punch up, and reshape ideas in real time. We get into names, wordplay, farts, potlucks, and a nice little bit that keeps getting sharper as we go. If you love clean comedy, joke construction, and seeing how a premise goes from rough idea to something actually usable, this one is packed with laughs and practical takeaways. Messed-Up to Set-Ups is all about momentum through honest creative work, and this episode gives you a front-row seat to the process. Tune in! Just as I show in this video, one of my main goals is to help comedians write better jokes. But I also want to help comedians understand the invisible thinking behind better comedy and build momentum. I want to help them generate small shifts in their everyday thinking that’ll produce bigger shifts on stage. That’s exactly why I wrote Comedy Mindhacks . This entire book is built around helping comedians identify the mental obstacles, hurdle over them, and boost their momentum. If this article resonated with you, you’ll find a lot more like it inside the book. You can check out sample pages HERE . If you’re not yet a subscriber, use code MH10LIVE at checkout HERE for 10% off. Free subscribers automatically receive 15% off, and paid subscribers receive 35% off because I’m a big believer in rewarding people who invest in themselves. 👉 Click HERE to grab the book. And if you’re ready to double down in a BIGGER way, consider joining my Comedy Vault. It’s my private collection of premium resources, trainings, workshops, and tools designed to help comedians continue growing long after the initial excitement fades. The first bet gets you into the game. Doubling down is what changes who you become.👉 Click HERE to unlock the Comedy Vault. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! In this episode of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I sit down with Texas-based comedian, Chris Crawford, for a funny, thoughtful conversation about clean comedy, finding your voice, and building momentum without compromising who you are. We talk about his military background, how he accidentally got pulled into stand-up, why he chose to go fully clean, and what it takes to build a comedy career in the right rooms with the right people. Tune in! Along the same lines, let me just say that, if reflections like this are helpful to you, that’s exactly why I wrote Comedy Mindhacks . My goal isn’t simply to help comedians write better jokes. It’s to help comedians understand the invisible thinking behind better comedy. Every mental model becomes another tool for building momentum, and over time those small shifts in thinking have a way of producing much bigger shifts on stage. This entire book is built around helping comedians identify the mental obstacles, hurdle over them, and boost their momentum. If this article resonated with you, you’ll find a lot more like it inside the book. You can check out sample pages HERE . If you’re not yet a subscriber, use code MH10LIVE at checkout HERE for 10% off. Free subscribers automatically receive 15% off, and paid subscribers receive 35% off because I’m a big believer in rewarding people who invest in themselves. 👉 Click HERE to grab the book. And if you’re ready to double down in a BIGGER way, consider joining my Comedy Vault. It’s my private collection of premium resources, trainings, workshops, and tools designed to help comedians continue growing long after the initial excitement fades. The first bet gets you into the game. Doubling down is what changes who you become.👉 Click HERE to unlock the Comedy Vault. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! In this episode of Messed-Up To Set-Ups , comedian Demoine Kinney is back in the lab. This episode feels like something of a masterclass in blending stand-up comedy with real-life grit. We workshop some jokes about Demoine running for office and going up against a local cheesecake lady and the strangest funeral services you’ve ever heard of (he owns a funeral home business). From battling self-doubt to working new content, Demoine, who’s also the only comedian I know that brings a saxophone on stage, also shares how his eclectic life fuels his comedy. Y’all, this one’s really good. Tune in! One last thing… I’d love for you to check out my new book: Comedy Mindhacks: 100 Mental Shifts To Help Comedians & Creatives Succeed . This entire book is built around helping comedians identify the mental obstacles, hurdle over them, and boost their momentum. Again, if this podcast resonated with you, you’ll find similar tips inside the book. You can check out sample pages HERE . If you’re not yet a subscriber, use code MH10LIVE at checkout HERE for 10% off. Free subscribers automatically receive 15% off, and paid subscribers receive 35% off because I’m a big believer in rewarding people who invest in themselves. 👉 Click HERE to grab the book. And if you’re ready to double down in a BIGGER way, consider joining my Comedy Vault. It’s my private collection of premium resources, trainings, workshops, and tools designed to help comedians continue growing long after the initial excitement fades. The first bet gets you into the game. Doubling down is what changes who you become.👉 Click HERE to unlock the Comedy Vault. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! In this episode of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I sit down with the one and only Demoine Kinney for a hilarious, honest, and surprisingly inspiring conversation about comedy, creativity, and the wild road that led him from a small town in South Carolina to Atlanta stages, saxophone in hand. We talk about navigating many of comedy’s hidden battles (pressure, self-doubt, etc.) and discuss the mentors who shaped Demoine, the discipline behind writing every day, and the power of staying true to your voice when everybody wants to box you in. For anybody chasing growth in comedy or in life, my advice is: Tune in! One last thing… I’d love for you to check out my new book: Comedy Mindhacks: 100 Mental Shifts To Help Comedians & Creatives Succeed . This entire book is built around helping comedians identify the mental obstacles, hurdle over them, and boost their momentum. Again, if this article resonated with you, you’ll find a lot more like it inside the book. You can check out sample pages HERE . If you’re not yet a subscriber, use code MH10LIVE at checkout HERE for 10% off. Free subscribers automatically receive 15% off, and paid subscribers receive 35% off because I’m a big believer in rewarding people who invest in themselves. 👉 Click HERE to grab the book. And if you’re ready to double down in a BIGGER way, consider joining my Comedy Vault. It’s my private collection of premium resources, trainings, workshops, and tools designed to help comedians continue growing long after the initial excitement fades. The first bet gets you into the game. Doubling down is what changes who you become.👉 Click HERE to unlock the Comedy Vault. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! In this episode of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I’m back in the lab with Queen Aaliyah. In this one, we spend most of our time doing what comedians do best: Turning absurd real-life problems into something hilarious and relatable. Aaliyah brings some true stories about a job interview and a crazy dating mishap, and we workshop them together to turn them into jokes. Live and in real time, we put on display the art of finding punchlines in life’s messy situations. And we do it all while talking through the craft of clean comedy, storytelling, and the momentum that keeps a comic growing. If you’re curious about how comedians work and you love laughing, this one’s for you. Tune in! And, hey, if you’re looking for a place to grow your skillset, I recently published Comedy Mindhacks: 100 Mental Shifts To Help Comedians & Creatives Succeed for exactly that reason. This entire book is built around helping comedians identify the mental obstacles that quietly slow their growth and steal their momentum. If this article resonated with you, I think you’ll find a lot more of that inside the book. You can check out sample pages HERE . If you’re not yet a subscriber, use code MH10LIVE at checkout HERE for 10% off. Free subscribers automatically receive 15% off, and paid subscribers receive 35% off because I’m a big believer in rewarding people who invest in themselves. 👉 Click HERE to grab the book. And if you’re ready to double down in a BIGGER way, consider joining my Comedy Vault. It’s my private collection of premium resources, trainings, workshops, and tools designed to help comedians continue growing long after the initial excitement fades. The first bet gets you into the game. Doubling down is what changes who you become.👉 Click HERE to unlock the Comedy Vault. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

Hello, Friend! It’s episode 131 of the Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I sit down with the absolutely brilliant and hilarious Queen Aaliyah Ford. Our conversation is jam-packed with comedy wisdom, clean humor, real-life stories, and shared laughs as we talk about the grind of stand-up, the power of collaboration, and what it takes to keep growing without losing your voice. We get into Queen Aaliyah’s name, her Chicago roots, her move to North Carolina, the early days of building a room and earning respect, why bully crowd work misses the mark, how family chaos became comedy gold, and the kind of momentum that keeps a comedian moving forward. At its heart, this is an honest conversation about laughter, craft, and staying sharp. Tune in! And, hey, if you’re looking for a place to grow your skillset, I recently published Comedy Mindhacks: 100 Mental Shifts To Help Comedians & Creatives Succeed for exactly that reason. This entire book is built around helping comedians identify the mental obstacles that quietly slow their growth and steal their momentum. If this article resonated with you, I think you’ll find a lot more of that inside the book. You can check out sample pages HERE . If you’re not yet a subscriber, use code MH10LIVE at checkout HERE for 10% off. Free subscribers automatically receive 15% off, and paid subscribers receive 35% off because I’m a big believer in rewarding people who invest in themselves. 👉 Click HERE to grab the book. And if you’re ready to double down in a BIGGER way, consider joining my Comedy Vault. It’s my private collection of premium resources, trainings, workshops, and tools designed to help comedians continue growing long after the initial excitement fades. The first bet gets you into the game. Doubling down is what changes who you become.👉 Click HERE to unlock the Comedy Vault. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe