Stand-up comedian Jon Carden joins Improvised Intelligence for a wide-ranging conversation about his 14+ years in comedy, growing up on a tobacco farm, joining the Army, surviving a serious Humvee accident, therapy, trauma, parenting, and his journey through the stand-up comedy world. Jon takes us from his childhood in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia to the Army and eventually into stand-up comedy. He talks about moving from Phoenix to Austin in 2021, the Austin comedy scene, Kill Tony, working with Big Jay Oakerson, and what he has learned after more than a decade of performing. We also get into the craft of stand-up comedy: writing jokes, finding your authentic voice, developing perspective, dark comedy, shock comedy, crowd work, stage presence, laughs per minute, timing, silence, and why becoming a better comedian matters more than simply becoming popular online. Jon also discusses the difference between having viral social-media clips and actually building an audience that comes to see you perform, along with the realities of getting booked, navigating the comedy industry, and developing material from real-life experiences. In this episode: • Jon Carden's 14+ years of stand-up comedy• Growing up on a tobacco farm• His childhood in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia• Joining the Army and serving as infantry• His Humvee accident and injury• Therapy and dealing with trauma• Turning difficult experiences into comedy• Finding an authentic comedic voice• Dark comedy vs. shock comedy• Perspective and controversial comedy• Moving from Phoenix to Austin in 2021• The Austin comedy scene• Kill Tony and the modern comedy ecosystem• Working with Big Jay Oakerson• Lessons Jon learned from watching Big Jay perform• How comedians actually write and develop jokes• Crowd work and stage presence• Timing, rhythm, silence and laughs per minute• Parenting and using everyday experiences as comedy material• Social-media followers vs. selling tickets• Viral comedy clips vs. becoming a better comedian• The business and politics of getting booked• Why comedians need to keep improving instead of becoming bitter• Jon's podcast, Tammy's Boy Jon Carden can be found on social media at @goingtothejon. Follow Improvised Intelligence for more conversations with comedians, entertainers, political figures and interesting people from Albuquerque and beyond. Follow Improvised Intelligence:Instagram: @improvisedintelligencepod If you enjoyed the episode, follow the show on Spotify and share this episode with someone who loves stand-up comedy. #JonCarden #StandUpComedy #ComedyPodcast #AustinComedy #Comedian #KillTony #BigJayOakerson #Comedy #StandupComedian #ImprovisedIntelligence
