In this episode of Hot Breath!, we interview Derek Stroup, who shares his journey from struggling with DUIs and living at home to becoming one of the top comics in the game. Derek discusses the grind of comedy, the importance of finding one's identity, and the lessons learned from comedy legends. He emphasizes the significance of emotional connection in joke writing and the evolution of his yelling style on stage. The conversation also touches on the business side of comedy and the value of clean comedy. Derek offers advice for aspiring comedians, encouraging them to write for real audiences and stay true to themselves.

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Key Takeaways:

• Find your voice by being yourself—don’t chase someone else’s style.
• Comedy built from real emotion (anger, joy, etc.) hits harder and writes itself.
• Yelling works… when used with peaks and valleys.
• Branding is everything: Know what the audience is buying.
• Clean comedy isn’t a limit—it’s a career unlock.
• “Write jokes for real people, not the back of the room.”