Carlos Sanchez is the godfather of stand-up in the Dominican Republic, and he built it from scratch by studying Jerry Seinfeld. With no YouTube and barely any HBO back home, the little monologues Seinfeld did at the top and tail of his show were Carlos's only reference, so he became the first comic in the country to do a full stand-up set. Twenty-plus years later, a whole movement has grown up behind him.

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Stand-up isn't "Bob at the office cracking jokes for money" — and after 29 years in it, comedian Bret Ernst would know. Bret pulls up to 10 for 10 to break down why stand-up is a lifestyle, not a hobby: the trial-and-error grind of turning a set into an actual work of art, and why so many people fundamentally don't get that.

From there he walks through 29 years of watching the business change — catching the tail end of comedy's "development era," when execs would see a 10-minute set and build a sitcom around you, then getting swept into the reality-show and social-media booms. He's convinced it's the best and most oversaturated time ever to be an artist, thinks there are way too many podcasts (says the guy who did one for 20 years), and cops to the one regret that still gets him: never having kids.

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"Just be yourself." "You're funny." "It'll be fine." Emma Willmann will tell you straight up — none of it helps. Comedian Emma Willmann pulls up to 10 for 10 and breaks down the real anatomy of stage fear: the dread that hits harder than nerves, why hosting can feel more nerve-wracking than a set, and why every reassurance your friends offer bounces right off.

From there it's the ones that got away — blowing off Ali Wong before a bus trip to Boston, and brushing off the creator of Girls after auditioning for the show 19 times — plus growing up in Maine, the years-long grind of getting "passed" at The Stand, and the panic attack she had at South by Southwest right after her fiancé kicked her out.

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Check out Derek's new Special, Goodlum, On Tubi Starting July 23rd!

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Comedian and actor Dustin Ybarra sits down for a raw, funny, and surprisingly tender conversation about the craft and the chaos behind it. He opens up about the fear that still hits him before every set, the writing system that sends dead jokes to his personal "graveyard," and the years of hard drinking that ended in seizures and a breakdown on a Vegas stage — plus the recovery-meeting moment with Jay Mohr that turned it all around. Along the way: breaking into acting almost by accident, why he'd rather write material than chase crowd-work clips, the human connection that makes a sober-living crowd his favorite room to play, and how a metal detector named Diggy Smalls became his happy place.

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Pauly Shore sits down with Kieran for an unfiltered conversation about MTV, movies, his mom Mitzi, and why the comedy boom is really about loneliness. Plus: Sam Kinison, Richard Simmons, and why the merch line matters more than the show.

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Join us for a wide-ranging conversation with comedian and entrepreneur Ashley Hesseltine. Ashley shares insights into her journey starting stand-up comedy in Atlanta at age 29, the massive success of her podcast Girls Gotta Eat, and the challenges of running multiple businesses—including a sexual wellness company. We dive into the "dystopian" reality of modern attention spans, the importance of real human connection in comedy, and how she balanced filming a comedy special while planning a three-day wedding.

Check out Ashley's new Special: Here Comes the Bride https://youtu.be/X-zTJOUu9_0?si=4XJB0_-jyVGxH1es

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In this episode of 10 for 10 presented by The Stand, host Eric Andre sits down for a chaotic and wide-ranging conversation. Andre discusses his early days as a jazz student in Boston, his transition to stand-up comedy to avoid heavy lifting, and the unique, fast-paced style of his television show. The interview takes an unexpected turn as the two delve into personal topics, including relationship struggles, the benefits of psychedelics over alcohol, and dealing with anxiety in the entertainment industry.

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Join comedians Pete Lee and Tone Bell live from SXSW for a candid and hilarious conversation hosted by Kieran McCann. The duo dives into everything from their early careers and the comedy club scene to personal stories of resilience, including Pete's viral Tonight Show appearance following a house fire and his unexpected legal battles.

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