Industry Standard w/ Barry Katz

The Industry Blue print sits down with legendary broadcaster Larry King to explore the life, career, and curiosity behind one of the most recognizable interviewers in history. From his humble beginnings in radio to hosting Larry King Live on CNN for 25 years, King built a legacy by asking simple questions that opened the door to extraordinary conversations with presidents, celebrities, and some of...

Big Jay Oakerson is a product of both Philadelphia and New York, two cities that shaped his voice, his comedy, and his approach to the business. A longtime fixture of the New York comedy scene, Jay came up learning first-hand from the comedians he looked up to, absorbing the lessons, stories, and hard-earned knowledge of his idols while carving out his own path. Now a veteran comedian, podcaster,...

Nate Jackson is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and entrepreneur from Tacoma, Washington. He began performing locally before creating the Super Funny Comedy Show and eventually opening the Super Funny Comedy Club, establishing himself as both a performer and a force in the comedy community. As his career grew, Jackson became known for his high energy crowd work, which helped him build a massiv...

Rick Messina has spent decades behind the scenes of the comedy business as a producer, manager, and talent representative, helping guide the careers of some of comedy’s most talented performers, including Tim Allen. In this episode, Rick takes us inside his career and the world of comedy management, from discovering and developing talent to navigating relationships, the business side of the indust...

In this episode Industry Standard, Eddie takes us behind the scenes of the comedy business, from the complicated relationship between managers and clients to how he sees the industry as a whole. He opens up about his own Achilles heel, what he would change about his life, and the moments in his career that make him most proud. We also get a behind the scenes look at Eddie’s creative process, inclu...

Yakov Smirnoff came to America from the Soviet Union in 1977 with little money and limited English, determined to build a new life. He started out working as a bartender before finding his way into stand up comedy, where he turned the culture shock of being an immigrant into his greatest source of material. His career took him from comedy clubs to The Tonight Show, Night Court, and his own sitcom...

Questions on this week's episode of Ask Me Anything #22 How should a new comic in 2026 be thinking about building stage time, clubs, festivals, podcast or something else entirely? How long do you have to pound the pavement as a comic before you start making it? What's a fair deal structure today between comics and managers, and where do you see comics get taken advantage of? How do you lev...

Josh Adam Meyers is a comedian with the energy of a rock star and the instincts of a stand up. His comedy is loud, unpredictable, personal, and built around a fearless stage presence. He’s spent years carving out his own lane in comedy, bringing together storytelling, absurdity, music, and an unapologetic point of view. He’s also the creator of The Goddamn Comedy Jam, proving that for Josh, comedy...

Zoe Friedman has spent decades helping shape the comedy industry from behind the scenes. From discovering and developing stand up talent to booking for The Late Show with David Letterman , leading talent development at Comedy Central, and working with Jimmy Kimmel Live! Her influence has reached every level of comedy. Today, as the co-founder and CEO of Comedy Gives Back, she continues to advocate...

Questions answered in this episode of Ask Me Anything: What are the tells in a tape or video link that immediately signal real comic maturity to you? When a comedian earns a one-month residency by getting passed, booking an audition, or winning a contest, what does that mean for their career? I'll be doing my first comedy club audition this summer — what key advice do you have? Do you think yo...

Adam Conover started out doing sketch comedy and stand-up before landing at CollegeHumor, where his sharp, curious style quickly stood out. That eventually led to Adam Ruins Everything, the show that put him on the map and helped carve out his unique voice, mixing comedy with a love of asking questions and challenging conventional wisdom.

Earthquake, is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and radio personality known for his commanding stage presence, booming voice, and sharp observations on everyday life. Before comedy, he served in the U.S. Air Force and worked various jobs while developing his act. He built his career by touring relentlessly, becoming one of the most respected comedians on the road long before mainstream fame....

Yohay Sponder is an Israeli stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer who has become one of the most recognizable English-language comedians to emerge from Israel. Sponder began performing stand-up after his military service and quickly established himself at clubs throughout Tel Aviv. His performances have earned him a worldwide audience, making him one of the leading voices in contemporary...

In this episode, we talk about the challenges of producing complex shows, the difference between who comedians are onstage and offstage, and what it’s like working with agents from a manager’s perspective.

In this episode, Faizon Love reflects on starting stand up comedy at just 15 years old, pursuing a career before his family even knew he was performing. He shares stories from his early days at the legendary Apollo Theater with Steve Harvey, the lessons he learned coming up in the business, and what it was like working alongside Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart on film sets. It’s a conversation about t...

In this episode, we sit down with Erica Rhodes to discuss the experiences that led her into comedy, including how a failed audition unexpectedly pushed her toward performing at her first open mic. She shares how she displayed natural comic timing from a young age and how those early experiences helped shape her path as a comedian. We talk about the impact of her popular Don’t Tell Comedy sets and...

A highlight of this week's episode covers years of producing comedy shows and how carefully building a lineup can shape the entire energy of a night. Producing your own show isn’t just booking funny people , it’s understanding rhythm, momentum, tone, and audience psychology. Creating a lineup is almost like arranging scenes in a movie or album. Overall vibe of the episode explains how comedy is bo...

Lahna Turner is a stand up comedian, writer, musician, and filmmaker whose career has been deeply shaped by the balance between comedy, motherhood, and life on the road. Known for blending personal storytelling with music and sharp observational humor, Turner built a career while also raising a family alongside her late husband, comedian Ralphie May. Their relationship, both onstage and off, becam...

Academy Award-nominated producer David Friendly ( Little Miss Sunshine , Big Mama's House ) sits down with Barry to talk about his journey from concert promoter to Hollywood heavyweight. He opens up about the decisions that made him, the ones that didn't, and what it really takes to survive a 25+ year career in the film business. If you want to know how the best producers think, this is th...

Bob Saget sits down with legendary comedy manager Barry Katz for a raw, wide-ranging conversation covering Bob's new stand-up special 0 to 60, his early days performing at the Improv and Catch a Rising Star, managing Louis C.K. and landing him opening spots for Jerry Seinfeld, the Larry David guitar act story, losing both sisters to illness, raising $46 million for scleroderma research, direct...

In this wide-ranging podcast interview, comedian, actor, and entertainer Charles Fleischer — best known as the voice of Roger Rabbit — opens up about his career in stand-up comedy, character work, vocal dynamics, and multi-character performance. Fleischer discusses his comedic inspirations, including Jonathan Winters and Groucho Marx, his comedic triangle philosophy, early stand-up experiences at...

In this episode, legendary comedian and entertainer Harry Basil shares his incredible journey from a tough childhood in New Jersey to becoming a standout act at the iconic Comedy Store and beyond. He dives into his early inspirations, the hustle of breaking into Hollywood, and the unconventional, high-energy style that set him apart—eventually earning him standing ovations and recognition from com...

In this episode of the Industry Standard with Barry Katz, Barry Katz sits down with veteran TV writer and showrunner Michael Jamin to discuss screenwriting, comedy writing, television writing, and breaking into the Hollywood entertainment industry. Michael shares the truth about writing great scripts, developing strong writing skills, working in writers’ rooms, building a career in television, and...

In this AMA episode, Barry answers real questions from comics around the world — covering female comics navigating a boys’ club, international comedians breaking into the U.S. market, door guy vs. agency strategy, social media growth, ego vs. confidence, AI in comedy, and the biggest misconceptions about success. This isn’t about fame — it’s about being undeniable. Knockout sets. Work ethic. Strat...

Host and veteran comedy manager Barry Katz sits down with the legendary Gallagher — one of stand-up comedy's most iconic and inventive performers — for a wide-ranging, no-holds-barred conversation. From his early days road-managing Jim Stafford to becoming the top-earning comic of the '80s and '90s, Gallagher reflects on his singular career, his philosophy of comedy, his famous prop bi...