#806 Flowing with Jo Koy

 

This week on the Bruce Lee Podcast, Shannon sits down with the hilarious and unstoppable Jo Koy! Known as one of today’s premiere stand-up comedians, Jo’s journey from performing in a Las Vegas coffee house to selling out arenas around the globe is nothing short of inspiring.

Shannon was lucky enough to get to see him perform a sold out show at the Forum this year, and Jo Koy made Shannon laugh til her sides hurt and she couldn’t breathe.  Jo’s comedy draws from his colorful family and unique life experiences and resonates with audiences worldwide. Whether it’s breaking records in venues like Madison Square Garden or being honored with his own “Jo Koy Day” in Honolulu, Jo’s rise to stardom is a testament to his talent, perseverance, and relatability.

In this episode, Shannon explores Jo’s journey, from his roots in comedy to his ventures in film, television, and writing. Jo opens up about the challenges and triumphs of breaking into the entertainment industry, his connection to his Filipino heritage, and what fuels his creative process.

Get ready for a heartfelt and hilarious conversation that’s as inspiring as it is entertaining. Jo’s energy, humor, and unstoppable drive are sure to leave you smiling and motivated!

 

Get to know Jo Koy

 

Jo Koy

As one of today’s premiere stand-up comedians, Jo Koy has come a long way from his modest beginnings performing in a Las Vegas coffee house. Jo’s uniquely relatable comedy pulls inspiration from his colorful family that has reached all kinds of people and has translated into sold-out arenas around the world. 

In 2022, Koy kicked off his Funny Is Funny World Tour by selling-out the Climate Pledge Arena (over 14,000 tickets) in his hometown of Seattle and ended the tour with a sold-out show at Tacoma Dome (over 19,000 tickets). Today, he continues breaking sales records at some of the most prestigious venues around the world including Mall of Asia Arena (Manila, PH), The Forum (Los Angeles), Coca-Cola Arena (Dubai), ICC Theatre (Sydney, AU), Madison Square Garden (New York City), and American Airlines Arena (Dallas) to name a few. In 2017, Koy broke a record for the most tickets sold by a single artist at 23,000 tickets and 11 sold-out shows at The Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall in Honolulu. In response, the mayor’s office in Honolulu proclaimed November 24th as “Jo Koy Day.” 

Koy starred in the 2022 Universal Picture film Easter Sunday, set around a family gathering to celebrate Easter Sunday, the comedy is based on Jo Koy's life experiences and stand-up comedy. In 2023, Koy appeared in Disney’s Haunted Mansion and voiced characters in Netflix’s animated films, Monkey King and Leo. In 2024, he can be heard voicing the character Monkey King in the Paramount+ film, The Tiger’s Apprentice streaming February 2nd. 

In 2023, it was announced that he inked a two-special deal with Netflix. The first special was filmed this past November at The Kings Theatre in Brooklyn and will be released in 2024. He’s had 4 highly rated specials including his latest Netflix stand-up special, Live From The Los Angeles Forum, which premiered globally in September 2022. The special was a follow up to his 2019 Netflix special, Comin’ In Hot. Overall, Koy has had six highly rated and successful stand-up specials on Comedy Central and Netflix. In June 2020, the comedian released his first variety special, Jo Koy: In His Elements on Netflix in which Koy brings the laughs and beats to Manila, spotlighting local culture in a one-of-a-kind show featuring Filipino-American comedians, DJs and B-boys. 

In 2021, Koy released his first autobiography, Mixed Plate: Chronicles of an All-American Combo with Harper Collins Publishers to rave reviews. In this funny and moving memoir, Koy uncovers the stories behind his stand-up: the conflict, the drama and the laughter as he struggles to find his place in the entertainment industry, his home and around the world. 

In 2019, Jo Koy reached #1 on the Billboard Charts for his stand-up comedy album, Live From Seattle, and in 2018, he was given the prestigious “Stand-Up Comedian Of The Year” award at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. 

Currently Jo is performing on his Jo Koy World Tour. For more info on his comedy, book and tour dates, please visit: Jokoy.com.

Follow Jo Koy:

Website: http://jokoy.com/

Youtube: @JoKoy

Facebook: @JoKoy

Instagram: @JoKoy

TikTok: @JoKoy



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Lydy Walkers08