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He Quit Comedy for 20 Years… Then Came Back at 48 | Chris Ryan, Comedian
On today's show I shared some laughs with Westfield-based comedian Chris Ryan, who returned to stand-up after a 20-year break. Ryan got his start in IU's Full Frontal Comedy in the mid-'90s alongside Straight No Chaser, training in Chicago improv at ImprovOlympic, and moving to Los Angeles in 1998 with $2,000 from a near-fatal car accident. In LA he worked at Paramount while pursuing stand-up, auditioned for MadTV, and waited alongside Seth Meyers, who was offered SNL the same week. The setback helped prompt Ryan's exit, grad school in journalism at Illinois, and a move to Indianapolis. After 15+ years in healthcare marketing, therapy and a company sale pushed him to write and perform hour-long shows, including Thermometer and Nothing Means Anything, centered on parenting twins, adolescence, and midlife reinvention. If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast. You are going to learn about: - Ryan's Journey in Comedy From IU to Chicago to LA - Why Ryan Stepped Away from Comedy - Scripting, Speeches, and Improv Thank you to our partners: Bloomrank Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Am I Crazy Cold Open 01:16 Guest Introduction: Chris Ryan, Comedian 02:09 Bloomington Improv Origins 02:57 Auditions And Campus Fame 06:03 Chicago Improv And The Harold 08:57 Yes And Gifts Onstage 11:50 Finding A Creative Path 14:12 Detroit, Chicago, LA 16:54 Car Crash Sign To Move 19:38 Paramount Day Job 23:31 MadTV Audition Near Miss 25:42 Grad School And Midwest Reset 27:10 Indy Roots And 30 Under 30 29:40 Returning To Comedy At 48 30:37 Career Shakeup Catalyst 32:09 Therapy And Reaching Out 33:05 Theater Deal Home Base 34:23 Writing A Full Hour 36:22 Script Versus Riffing 38:38 Old Jokes New Opener 40:49 Alanis Opener OCD Stories 43:34 Speechwriting Performance Tips 49:04 Embrace Fear Of Bombing 53:15 Rapid Fire Indiana Round 58:16 Hidden Gems And BBQ 01:00:37 Letterman Story And Wrap Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.
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