Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
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Caitlin Peluffo tells Joel Byers how she went from grinding 30+ open mics a week to crushing at the Comedy Cellar—while keeping her act protected in a clip-drunk world. She breaks down actionable goal-setting (not dream credits), balancing clean vs. dirty, why she won’t chase crowd-work virality, and the habits (structure, therapy, sobriety, gym) that keep the funny sharp.
Plus: the whiskey-throw heckler story, her three-strike rule, and the meet-and-greet tactic she learned touring with Fortune Feimster and Matteo Lane.
What you’ll learn:
- Clean when it pays, dirty when it slays—how to rewrite without losing yourself
- Why protecting new material grows fans who return
- A simple crowd control framework (playful shut-down → sincere warning → bounce)
- The pre-show ritual that primes presence and consistency
- How to write on stage—and the hour-per-week stage-time hack
- Touring lessons from Fortune & Matteo: build markets, shake hands, stay humble
On tour now + SPECIAL TAPING: Caitlin is on tour and taping her new special on Oct 20. Follow @CaitlinPalufo for tickets and dates.
If this helped, drop your takeaway in the comments and share it with a comic who needs the nudge.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Subscribe for more comedy interviews and tips: youtube.com/c/HotBreathPod?sub_confirmation=1
Join our email list: hotbreathpodcast.com/vip
Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/HotBreathComedyNetwork
Patreon: patreon.com/hotbreathpod
Classes and workshops: hotbreathmedia.com
00:00 Intro
00:40 Mindset & Goals
03:30 Building the Hour (YouTube)
06:20 Clean vs. Dirty
08:50 Crowd Work & Clips
11:30 Process & Rituals
14:20 Bomb & Hecklers
17:10 Touring & Mentors
19:40 Special Taping (Oct 20) + Outro
Subscribe for more tips here: youtube.com/c/HotBreathPod?sub_confirmation=1
Caitlin Peluffo tells Joel Byers how she went from grinding 30+ open mics a week to crushing at the Comedy Cellar—while keeping her act protected in a clip-drunk world. She breaks down actionable goal-setting (not dream credits), balancing clean vs. dirty, why she won’t chase crowd-work virality, and the habits (structure, therapy, sobriety, gym) that keep the funny sharp.
Plus: the whiskey-throw heckler story, her three-strike rule, and the meet-and-greet tactic she learned touring with Fortune Feimster and Matteo Lane.
What you’ll learn:
- Clean when it pays, dirty when it slays—how to rewrite without losing yourself
- Why protecting new material grows fans who return
- A simple crowd control framework (playful shut-down → sincere warning → bounce)
- The pre-show ritual that primes presence and consistency
- How to write on stage—and the hour-per-week stage-time hack
- Touring lessons from Fortune & Matteo: build markets, shake hands, stay humble
On tour now + SPECIAL TAPING: Caitlin is on tour and taping her new special on Oct 20. Follow @CaitlinPalufo for tickets and dates.
If this helped, drop your takeaway in the comments and share it with a comic who needs the nudge.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Subscribe for more comedy interviews and tips: youtube.com/c/HotBreathPod?sub_confirmation=1
Join our email list: hotbreathpodcast.com/vip
Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/HotBreathComedyNetwork
Patreon: patreon.com/hotbreathpod
Classes and workshops: hotbreathmedia.com
00:00 Intro
00:40 Mindset & Goals
03:30 Building the Hour (YouTube)
06:20 Clean vs. Dirty
08:50 Crowd Work & Clips
11:30 Process & Rituals
14:20 Bomb & Hecklers
17:10 Touring & Mentors
19:40 Special Taping (Oct 20) + Outro
