Joey Diaz
A sweaty, profane storyteller mining a lifetime of bad decisions.
1 special · 2016
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A Joey Diaz set feels less like a comedy show and more like being cornered at a diner by a guy who just beat a grand larceny charge. He breathes heavily into the microphone, pauses to hack up a ragged cough, and curses at the crowd before launching into a twenty-minute saga about a botched drug deal in 1984. He works himself into a physical frenzy on stage, sweating through his shirt as he acts out both sides of an argument outside a New Jersey strip club. He does not use a setup-punch rhythm. He just talks, letting a story get louder and faster until it boils over.
Specials
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An hour of loud, unpolished Jersey storytelling from a reformed scoundrel.
Seeso · 57 min
On stage
For years, Diaz occupied a mythic space in the Los Angeles comedy podcast scene. He was the guy other comics told stories about, a chaotic force who could take over a room just by refusing to lower his volume. He plays theaters to fans who show up specifically to watch him hold court.
Without his specific delivery, his stories are just long accounts of bad behavior. On stage, growled into a microphone, they become strangely engaging. He does not bother with tight transitions or clever wordplay. When a tangent loses steam, he just leans forward and yells his way through it, throwing out a string of insults until the crowd catches up.
Born in Cuba and raised in North Bergen, New Jersey, his entire perspective is anchored in the local hustles of his youth. His long-running podcasts, including The Church of What’s Happening Now, built an audience of people who just want to listen to him talk about the neighborhood guys he used to know.
Turning points
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1988–1989
Standup Origins Behind Bars
While serving 16 months in prison, Diaz began performing stand-up comedy sets for fellow inmates whenever the movie projector broke down.
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Surge via The Joe Rogan Experience
Diaz started making regular appearances on Joe Rogan's podcast, which introduced his storytelling to a massive audience and transformed his career.
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Debut One-Hour Special Sociably Unacceptable
Diaz released his debut one-hour stand-up special via Seeso and Comedy Dynamics.
At a glance
- Born
- , Havana, Cuba
- On stage
- since 1991
- Style
- blue comedy, storytelling
- Breakout
- Sociably Unacceptable
- Influences
- Richard Pryor
- Topics
- Elsewhere
- Website, Wikipedia
Fans also like
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Joe RoganA longtime creative partner and podcast host whose platform helped introduce Diaz's raw storytelling style to a mainstream audience.
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Ari Shaffir
A scene peer and collaborator on This Is Not Happening who shares an unfiltered, explicit approach to personal narrative comedy.
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Big Jay OakersonA stylistic peer working in the realm of gritty, dirty, and deeply personal storytelling standup.
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Bert KreischerA fellow podcast scene contemporary who also emphasizes extended, wild autobiographical story routines.
Podcasts
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The Church of What's Happening Now · host
Bi-weekly comedy podcast hosted by Diaz alongside Lee Syatt.
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Uncle Joey's Joint · host
Podcast hosted by Joey Diaz following the conclusion of The Church of What's Happening Now.
Also on screen
- BASEketball
- The Longest Yard
- Grudge Match
- 2014–2016
- Maron
- Rules Don't Apply
A clip to start with
A clip of Joey Diaz