This week, Alex Hooper joins me for a wildly funny, surprisingly thoughtful conversation about comedy, creativity, and the beautiful chaos of trying to build an artistic life in LA. Alex is a stand-up comedian, actor, and longtime fixture of the Los Angeles comedy scene whose debut special Brace Yourself was recently released through Comedy Dynamics.

Long before the TV credits and festival appearances, Alex was producing rooftop comedy shows in Los Angeles that became so popular they literally got shut down by the cops. We talk about the early grind of stand-up, bombing at open mics, finally getting asked to do shows like The Meltdown, and the weird emotional whiplash of crushing for packed rooms one night and performing for eleven comedians at a bar the next.

We also get into comedy philosophy, jealousy among comics, why peer approval matters so much in stand-up, and the difference between comedians who genuinely love the craft versus people chasing validation. Along the way, Alex shares stories about getting expelled from college, building a comedy show for charity in downtown LA, and learning how to stop being angry all the time and actually enjoy life.

Watch Alex's recent Comedy Special "Brace Yourself"

Catch Alex on Tour!

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