David Huntsberger
Standup delivered as an absurd, unhurried college lecture on human biology.
1 special · 2015
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David Huntsberger delivers standup at the unhurried pace of a substitute teacher who scrapped the syllabus to explain how the universe actually works. He rarely steps away from the mic stand, unfolding conceptual premises with a relaxed cadence. He doesn’t rush to the punchline. Instead, he builds elaborate, slightly absurd arguments about human biology, the limits of technology, or the bizarre reality of conscious thought.
Specials
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An animated, highly cerebral stand-up set about the human mind.
Stand Up! Records · 57 min
On stage
He is a veteran of the alt-comedy podcast boom who built his act around the overlap between standup and science. He frequently plays to crowds that want to think as much as they want to laugh. He will project abstract animation on a screen next to him while he performs, trusting his dry delivery to hold the room’s attention against the moving colors.
His material zooms out. He ignores the confessional, personal storytelling common in modern standup. Instead, he views humanity from a macro level. He analyzes evolutionary quirks and petty biases as if he were taking notes for a sociology paper. He will break down why humans think they can win a physical fight against a mosquito, delivering the argument with total detachment. The risk of this approach is that a set can occasionally drift toward a lecture. But Huntsberger leans into that risk, using his quiet, measured voice to make the scale of the universe sound like a practical joke.
He has a degree in civil engineering and spent years co-hosting the Professor Blastoff podcast with Tig Notaro and Kyle Dunnigan, a background that entirely explains his preoccupation with the mechanics of the physical world.
Turning points
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2011–2015
Launch and Success of Professor Blastoff
David Huntsberger teamed up with Tig Notaro and Kyle Dunnigan to create Professor Blastoff on Earwolf, which premiered at #1 on iTunes, ran for 217 episodes, and developed a major comedy following.
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Release of Animated Special One-Headed Beast
Huntsberger art directed and performed an hour-long standup special funded via Kickstarter that integrated animation from over twenty global artists and was later acquired by Comedy Dynamics.
At a glance
- Born
- , Reno, Nevada
- On stage
- since 2003
- Style
- observational, surreal, absurdist
- Breakout
- One-Headed Beast
- Topics
- Elsewhere
- Website, Wikipedia
Fans also like
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Kyle Dunnigan
Co-hosted Professor Blastoff for four years, sharing a dynamic rooted in absurd, conversational comedy and improv.
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Tig NotaroCo-hosted Professor Blastoff and collaborated on projects like The Tig Series and One Mississippi, sharing an affinity for dry, offbeat comedic exploration.
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Doug Benson
Frequently tours together and regularly features on Benson's projects, including Doug Loves Movies and writing on The Benson Interruption.
Podcasts
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Professor Blastoff · co-host
A weekly comedy podcast covering scientific, philosophical, and metaphysical topics where the hosts explore subjects determined by the fictional Professor R.L. Blastoff.
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The Space Cave · host
A podcast where David sits down with scientists and academics over beers to discuss science, life, and the universe.
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Intercepts · host
A scripted sketch comedy podcast written, recorded, produced, and edited by David Huntsberger featuring intercepted interactions from a dark cloud.
Also on screen
- Reactor
- One-Headed Beast
- Welcome to Bridgetown
- One Mississippi
- Big Nothingness
A clip to start with
A clip of David Huntsberger