Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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Derek Stroup joins Joel Byars on Hot Breath! to share how he went from two DUIs and empty rooms to opening for Nate Bargatze, Bert Kreischer, Ron White, Jon Crist, Josh Blue, and Larry the Cable Guy. We get into getting passed at the Comedy Cellar without going up, why clean comedy made him better, fixing the yelling with peaks and valleys, writing for real people, and the road lessons that actually move tickets. He also breaks down the reptile shop bomb, hating his Dry Bar special, quitting mid set while test-running jokes for Ron White, and how Nate’s Christmas special bump changed his momentum.
Follow Derek:
Instagram: @DerekYells
TikTok: @DerekYells
If this episode helps you, subscribe and drop your favorite takeaway in the comments, then share it with a comic who needs the push.
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, momentum shift, old school grind
03:00 Worst shows, Mall of America and the reptile shop
07:00 Lessons from headliners, Nate, Bert, Ron, Jon Crist, Josh Blue, Larry
12:00 Brand and business, bring the crowd to you
15:00 Finding voice, southern identity, no code switching
18:00 The yell origin, fixing it with peaks and valleys
22:00 Writing from emotion, premise first, don’t lock bits too early
26:00 Ron White story, paid to bomb, quitting mid set
30:00 Clean comedy shift, Nate’s Christmas bump, results
34:00 Real crowd writing, closing advice, where to follow
Subscribe for more tips here: youtube.com/c/HotBreathPod?sub_confirmation=1
Derek Stroup joins Joel Byars on Hot Breath! to share how he went from two DUIs and empty rooms to opening for Nate Bargatze, Bert Kreischer, Ron White, Jon Crist, Josh Blue, and Larry the Cable Guy. We get into getting passed at the Comedy Cellar without going up, why clean comedy made him better, fixing the yelling with peaks and valleys, writing for real people, and the road lessons that actually move tickets. He also breaks down the reptile shop bomb, hating his Dry Bar special, quitting mid set while test-running jokes for Ron White, and how Nate’s Christmas special bump changed his momentum.
Follow Derek:
Instagram: @DerekYells
TikTok: @DerekYells
If this episode helps you, subscribe and drop your favorite takeaway in the comments, then share it with a comic who needs the push.
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, momentum shift, old school grind
03:00 Worst shows, Mall of America and the reptile shop
07:00 Lessons from headliners, Nate, Bert, Ron, Jon Crist, Josh Blue, Larry
12:00 Brand and business, bring the crowd to you
15:00 Finding voice, southern identity, no code switching
18:00 The yell origin, fixing it with peaks and valleys
22:00 Writing from emotion, premise first, don’t lock bits too early
26:00 Ron White story, paid to bomb, quitting mid set
30:00 Clean comedy shift, Nate’s Christmas bump, results
34:00 Real crowd writing, closing advice, where to follow
