A 20+ Year veteran of stand-up comedy, Manolis Zontanos breaks down his experience grinding as a comedian. In this conversation we discuss: ◼︎ Getting into stand-up◼︎ Relationships & Comedy◼︎ Fostering Friendships in Comedy◼︎Fans ◼︎ "Making it" ◼︎ The influence of Digital Media on Comedy◼︎ Similar thinking in jokes◼︎ Filling your "hole" with comedy◼︎ FameTDZ Podcast 002 - Manolis Zontanos00:00 - Intro — Manolis Zontanos00:37 - Getting into stand-up01:46 - First time on stage02:46 - Bombing and early lessons02:52 - Meeting Russell Peters04:16 - Friendship in comedy05:10 - Building real relationships06:10 - Balancing fame and friendship06:27 - Comic camaraderie07:03 - Learning from bombing08:07 - The “next set” mindset08:13 - Saving a comic from quitting09:58 - Gratitude and love for comedy10:06 - Classic bar joke10:41 - Lifting others up11:00 - Missing old comedy camaraderie11:37 - Being happy for friends12:54 - Letting go of envy13:14 - Avoiding negativity traps13:38 - How comedy’s changed14:12 - Pre-YouTube stand-up days15:03 - Internet vs real audiences15:20 - Online outrage ≠ real life15:51 - Louis CK vs audience disconnect16:42 - Dane Cook and joke myths17:54 - Parallel thinking in comedy19:16 - “Jesus died” joke story20:47 - When jokes overlap21:27 - Staying creative and fresh22:21 - Writing faster in 2020s22:45 - Louis CK’s work ethic23:33 - Performing small clubs23:58 - Seeing Louis live36:07 - Dispensary robbery story37:10 - Breaking into own store37:58 - “Imagine Bill Burr here”38:47 - Louis CK vs Dane Cook39:22 - Manolis’s natural style40:02 - Not performing, just talking41:09 - Authentic connection on stage41:48 - Fans becoming friends43:12 - Meeting Duncan Trussell43:33 - Theo Vaughn’s authenticity44:00 - Fame and public pressure45:00 - Duncan vs Theo fame levels46:05 - Pressure and burnout47:28 - Fame for stability47:55 - Russell Peters’ viral moment48:53 - Why comics chase fame49:05 - Comedy vs freelance hustle50:05 - The high of killing50:24 - Why comics never quit51:01 - Comedy won’t fix you51:55 - Searching for purpose52:38 - Acceptance and peace53:04 - Success won’t save you54:06 - Small-town fame roots54:44 - Late fame perspective55:03 - Humility in veterans55:47 - Selfless hockey analogy56:22 - Trump and ego talk56:30 - Advice to young self57:14 - Yuk Yuks “Fast Track”58:45 - Mark Breslin’s advice59:26 - Escaping bitterness1:00:01 - What Manolis wants now1:00:12 - Gratitude and joy todayWatch Manolis' Standup Special "Growing Up Greek" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2Fy_NmwR2Q&t=1344s Follow Manolis on IG: @manoliszontanosThe D'Ascenzo Zone: ◼︎Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCphk_rom3ggaW9qhFlIDrag?sub_confirmation=1◼︎ Check out my children's book: https://www.amazon.ca/Tiffy-Spiffy-Mr-Michael-DAscenzo/dp/B0CKGVFP72 ◼︎Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikedascenz/?hl=en◼︎Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@thedascenzozone#comedy #podcast #standupcomedy #podcastshow #tdz