Today we’d like to introduce you to Rod Man.
Hi Rod, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story didn’t start with a spotlight-it started with a story. I’ve always been that dude who saw something funny in everyday life and had to comment on it. Whether it was family, work, or people just acting up in public, I had jokes before I even knew comedy could be a career. I got my start in April 1995 hitting open mics around the city Uptown Comedy Club was the place to be when I started so I would perform there and mostly small clubs in the South, just trying to find my voice. When I started you had to earn your laughs–no social media, no viral clips, no laughing emojis-just me, a mic, and a crowd that might’ve come for the two-drink minimum more than the comedy. But I loved it. The stage became my classroom, and every set was another lesson in timing, truth, and keeping it real. Over time, I started making some noise – TV spots, Comedy Tours, and when I stepped on Last Comic Standing and showed the world what I do. Winning that opened doors, but it didn’t change the mission: keep telling stories real people can relate to. Today, I’m still that same dude from the South, just telling it on bigger stages with more expectations. My comedy has taken me across the country and abroad from comedy clubs to theaters, to arenas to TV and Movie Screens-but the goals the same; make people laugh, think and see the funny side of real life. That’s the Rod Man Way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nah, it ain’t been no smooth road — it’s been more like a back road in Georgia after a thunderstorm. Potholes, detours, and a couple of times I had to push the car myself. But every bump taught me something.
When I started out, comedy wasn’t paying bills — it was paying attention. You had to love the stage enough to drive four hours, tell jokes for ten minutes, and get paid in chicken wings. Sometimes, them wings weren’t even hot and nobody likes cold chicken.
Then came the grind — sleeping in hotels that smelled like broken dreams, doing shows where the crowd didn’t laugh, they just stared like, “We thought this was karaoke night.” But I kept at it, because every “no laugh” taught me how to earn the next one.
And in between gigs, you fight real-life stuff — bills, self-doubt, family and friends asking, “You still doing your lil comedy thing?” But that’s what makes the laughs hit harder now. Every struggle became a setup for the punchline I’m living today.
So no, the road wasn’t smooth and still isn’t. But it’s funny and fun, and that’s what makes it worth traveling.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The Work, The Voice, The Difference
I do stand up comedy that is built on one thing: real life. I have a gift for turning everyday moments into laugh-out-loud truths — the kind of humor that makes people say, “Man, that’s so true!” Whether I’m talking about family, work, relationships, or the simple act of trying to mind my business in a crazy world, I try to bring sharp wit and Southern charm to every stage.
What I Specializes In:
I specialize in observational comedy that’s authentic, grounded, and timeless. My humor bridges generations — from folks who grew up on the front porch to those scrolling through Tik-Tok — finding the funny in how we live, love, and learn to laugh at it all.
What I’m Known For:
I’m known for my signature laid-back delivery my cadence and style are often imitated, quick-witted storytelling, and that unmistakable “everyman” perspective that connects with audiences everywhere. Fans remember not just the punchlines, but the truth behind them. I like to try to keep my comedy both smart and soulful.
Most Proud Of:
I am most proud of staying true to my voice the inner more than the other. Through the ups and downs of the business, I’ve never lost that connection to real people — the working folks, parents, dreamers, and everyday characters who inspire my material. Whether it’s on stage, on screen, or through my ThatGoodFunny brand, I take pride in spreading laughter with purpose.
What Sets Me Apart:
What sets me apart is my honesty and my stamina — I don’t chase trends, I create moments. My comedy feels like a conversation with your funniest cousin — sharp, thoughtful, and straight from the heart. I don’t just tell jokes; I tell life — the way it really is, and the way we wish it could be.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Apps I like Bible, ChapGPT, Canva, CapCut, Instagram, TikTok, Delta, Waze, Fantasy Football and Notes I use to jot down joke ideas.
I like books that make me laugh and make me think. I’m big on stories that show how people find humor in the struggle. Richard Pryor Dick Gregory books are must reads for comedians. I also dig motivational stuff– The Alchemist. Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins, or anything that reminds me to keep pushing, no matter how many potholes are on the road.
I love good conversation podcast mostly sports and entertainment and business Earn Your Leisure, The Pivot, Club Shay Shay, Sway’s Universe.
I like hearing people talk real–the funny, the hustle, and the human side of the game. And of course, I keep my own creative world rolling continually as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rodmancomedy.com
- Instagram: rodmancomedy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodManStandUP
- Twitter: @rodmancomedy
- Youtube: @rodmancomedy
- Other: https://linker.ee/rodmancomedy
Image Credits
1st Photo Stage Shot Aaron Moon picsbythemoon
2nd Shot NBC Last Comic Standing
The Rest Jerry Camarillo Photography
