Today I sat down with Lukas McCrary, stand-up comedian, host of The Absolute Show, and a comedian whose live show blends theater kid energy, absurdist art, and full-throttle stand-up into something totally unhinged and totally original.Lukas opens up about building one of the city’s weirdest and most ambitious live shows from scratch, the chaotic reality of writing for both live crowds and internet attention spans, and what happens when a “Boys vs. Girls” themed episode goes completely off the rails.We talk about balancing stand-up with ensemble work, trying to grow an audience without selling your soul to front-facing videos, and the absolute panic of bombing in front of 200 people. Lukas also shares behind-the-scenes insights on writing sessions, burnout, managing a creative team, and his ultimate goal.Also: how Austin became the new comedy frontier, why slime cannons deserve more respect, and which comic’s cadence Lukas has to actively avoid stealing on stage.If you’re a comic, comedy nerd, or someone who’s ever thought “What if the Eric Andre Show was live and also in Austin?” — this episode is for you.📍 Chapters00:00 – Dad Mode Activated: Beards, Crocs & COVID Style02:52 – Beard Pride… and a Hickey Photo for Mom05:45 – The Birth of The Absolute Show08:38 – Building a Talk Show with a Team11:31 – Absolute Show vs. Eric Andre Show14:24 – Writing Bits for Online vs. Live Audiences17:17 – Editing Burnout & Format Changes20:10 – Slime Cannons, Hot Tubs & Theater Kid Energy23:03 – When The Show Bombs: Lessons from a Dud25:56 – Touring, Stand-Up & Hosting Different Crowds28:49 – Getting Weird On & Off Stage31:42 – The Austin Comedy Scene: Then & Now34:35 – Kill Tony, Rogan & Comedy Freedom37:28 – Creative Theft, Cadence Creep & Comic Influences40:21 – Goals, Growth, and the $500K Dream👇 Follow Lukas McCrary:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucasmccra/🎥 The Absolute Show: https://www.instagram.com/theabsoluteshow/💥 Support the Show & Unlock Bonus ContentPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/thejimmyclifford🧢 Follow Jimmy Clifford: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejimmyclifford/Twitter: https://x.com/notjimcliffordTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejimmyclifford📢 SPONSORSWant to sponsor Pastor Bullsht*? Hit us up: Jimmy@arrogantmenace.com⚠️ DISCLAIMERThe views and jokes expressed are for comedy and entertainment only. Don’t sue us—we're comedians, not your lawyer.

Today I sat down with Pat Dean, comedian, booker, and the reluctant chip liaison of the Velveeta Room, one of Austin’s longest-running and weirdest comedy venues.

Pat opens up about running a club while being a comic, the chaos of Sixth Street crowds, and how a room full of confused tourists can somehow become comedy’s greatest crucible.

We talk about booking comics fairly, why hacky material still kills (and why that’s a problem), and the bizarre art of crowd work in the TikTok era. Pat also shares some behind-the-scenes club stories — including the time Jimmy was supposed to be security at a Joe Rogan show… emphasis on supposed to.

Also: why bombing at Velv feels like existential loneliness, Austin’s comedy explosion post-pandemic, and how many illegal guns one comedy club staff can possess before it's "a bit much."

If you’re a comic, club rat, or just someone wondering how comedy actually gets booked — this episode is for you.

📍 Chapters

00:00 - Meet Pat Dean: Comic, Booker, Chip Guy

00:55 - What It’s Like Running the Velveeta Room

02:05 - Yes, Pat Buys the Chips Himself

04:00 - Pat’s Comedy Origin Story: Northern Virginia to Austin

06:00 - The Velv: Austin’s Lovable C-Club

08:44 - Toughest Room in America? Why the Velv Has a Reputation

10:21 - Bombing So Hard It Feels Lonely

12:10 - Booking Comics: Who Gets the Spots & Why

15:40 - Crowd Work vs Actual Material: The TikTok Era Dilemma

19:00 - Jimmy "Secures" a Joe Rogan Show

21:40 - Guns, Door Guys, and Texas Logic

24:30 - Managing Comics Without Losing Your Own Spot

28:00 - Austin Comedy Before vs After the Boom

30:40 - The Type of Comic Pat Likes to Book (and Avoids)

33:20 - Why Hack Material Still Works (and Why That Sucks)

35:00 - The "Cover Joke" Theory for New Comics

36:45 - Jimmy’s Joke Gets Stolen in New Orleans (By a Friend)

👇 Check Out Pat Dean

📺 Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thelanalaxcorporation/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patdeanrules/

The Velveeta Room: https://www.instagram.com/thevelveetaroom/

💥 Support the Show & Unlock Bonus Content

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thejimmyclifford

🎧 Listen to Pator Bullsh*t

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6bKpv7OqbyBq2tVesZDnUR?si=_atdK0udQmqOX17g_d4_RA

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pastor-bullsh-t/id1820050017

🧢 Follow Jimmy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejimmyclifford/

Twitter: https://x.com/notjimclifford

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejimmyclifford

📢 SPONSORS

Want to sponsor Pastor Bullsht*? Hit us up: Jimmy@arrogantmenace.com

⚠️ DISCLAIMER

The views and jokes expressed are for comedy and entertainment only. Don’t sue us—we're comedians, not your lawyer.

Today I sat down with stand-up comedian, podcaster, and filmmaker Jake Rick, an Austin-based comic known for his viral sketches, green screen wizardry, and work ethic that puts the rest of us to shame.Jake talks about teaching himself editing, directing, and content strategy from scratch. We talk about bombing in stand-up vs. sketch, how to take brutally honest feedback, and why comedy needs a little more harshness and a little less improv clapping.We also get into the making of his full-length web series Get Good, building an audience from the ground up, and how he’s using DeAndre Holmes (aka "hood Sherlock Holmes") to turn sketches into a national tour.Also: online fame vs. live comedy, escaping the startup grind, and why Hollywood can suck it.If you’re a comic, content creator, or someone figuring out how to make your weird ideas work—this episode is for you.📍 Chapters00:00 - Meet Comedian Jake Ricca00:55 - Moving to Austin: Why Comics Are Flocking There01:43 - DIY Sketch Comedy: Learning Filmmaking on YouTube03:37 - Stand-Up Bombing vs Sketch Fails: What Hurts More?06:57 - Turning Harsh Feedback Into Viral Hits08:43 - The DeAndre Holmes Sketch Series: Going Viral Weekly12:00 - Making a Feature-Length Web Series: 'Get Good' Breakdown20:47 - Balancing Startup Life, YouTube Fame & Stand-Up29:32 - Monetizing Comedy: Building a Fanbase & Touring36:40 - Indie vs Industry: Why Jake Wants to Bypass Hollywood👇 Check Out Jake Ricca📺 YouTube: https://jakericca.com/mediakit📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakericcaWeb Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ukzK_x8Qwo💥 Support the Show & Unlock Bonus ContentPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/thejimmyclifford🧢 Follow JimmyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejimmyclifford/Twitter: https://x.com/notjimcliffordTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejimmyclifford📢 SPONSORSWant to sponsor Pastor Bullsht*? Hit us up: Jimmy@arrogantmenace.com⚠️ DISCLAIMERThe views and jokes expressed are for comedy and entertainment only. Don’t sue us—we're comedians, not your lawyer.