This week, Uncle Lazer sits down with comedian Ben Bankas to discuss Ben’s move from Canada to the United States, the competitive comedy scenes, and the different reactions to their jokes. They talk about the impact of social media, creating new material, and the challenges of performing in diverse venues from Canada to Austin. Ben shares his experiences with hecklers, doing physical labor before comedy, and the unique dynamics of bar shows. They also touch on the potential future of AI in comedy and Ben wraps things up as Olivia Chow.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Welcome to the Drunk Uncle's Podcast

01:37 Comedy Scene in Toronto vs. Austin

05:44 The Impact of Social Media on Comedy

12:43 From Oil Rigs to Comedy Stages

16:25 AI and the Future of Comedy

22:40 Freedom of Speech and Comedy

29:17 Dealing with Hecklers and Trolls

31:59 Shoey Challenge and Kicking Out the Heckler

33:13 Canadian Comedy Clubs and Audiences

42:57 The Importance of Testing New Material

43:19 The Austin Comedy Scene

47:31 Reusing Old Jokes and Special Material

49:34 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Shows

LINKS:

Visit BlueChew.com and try your first month of BlueChew FREE when you use promo code UNCLE -- just pay $5 shipping.

Follow Uncle Lazer: https://www.instagram.com/uncle_lazer/

Follow the Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/my_drunk_uncles_podcast/

Follow Ben: https://www.instagram.com/benbankas2

Grab a ticket to a show: https://linktr.ee/UncleLaZer

2/13-2/15 - San Diego, CA

2/20 - Houston, TX

2/27 - New Braunfels, TX

3/4 - Kansas City, MO

3/5 - Omaha, NE

3/6 - Des Moines, IA

4/17-4/19 - Tulsa, OK

4/20 - Little Rock, AR