#94 | Mike Knox | From Prison Guard to Stand-Up

Mike Knox returns to talk about leaving life as a prison guard and parole agent to become a writer and stand-up comedian. This is my second podcast with Mike Knox. He is a retired Parole Agent and full-time actor, writer, comedian. Today's podcast focuses on his move away from being a Prison Guard and Parole Agent into a full time writer and stand up comedian. Tune in for a wide-ranging conversation on prison life and transitioning into a life in the arts. To learn more about Mike: https://linktr.ee/mikeknox Chapters 0:00 Welcome back Mike Knox 2:32 Bad advice about having something to fall back on 5:05 Actors who diversify 7:36 Moving up from free roles 10:02 Self-tapes and the casting director on your side 12:36 Deciding to leave the prison system 15:03 Planning the exit around family 17:35 Doing your due diligence on a government pension 20:05 The coolest set he has been on 22:32 People who want to crush your dreams 25:05 Ego gets in the way 27:35 A family health crisis that put acting on hold 30:06 When friends do not know what to say 32:33 Building a stand-up following 35:04 Embracing the fear of the stage 37:31 Comics are always working on the jokes 40:04 Notes, cue cards and recording sets 42:37 Make the bartender like you 45:00 The waiting game at comedy contests 47:34 No more gatekeepers 50:03 More work or less since Covid? 52:34 Student films and low budget work in LA 55:01 The best sleep of his life 57:37 Finding work before the internet 1:00:02 Playing a doctor on a medical set 1:02:35 How hard directors and producers work 1:05:05 Last-minute people 1:07:35 Nintendo World at Universal Studios 1:10:00 One step at a time 1:12:34 When will we see you in something? 1:15:01 Performing for your phone 1:17:32 Coping with anxiety 1:20:04 Playing roles you are not comfortable with 1:22:33 Anthony Jeselnik and dark comedy 1:25:05 Agents, managers and the future 1:27:30 The entourage that comes with success 1:30:03 A transformation story 1:32:36 Brand wars and the stores that disappeared 1:35:02 Developing a character at The Comedy Store 1:37:31 Advice for people in their 20s 1:40:03 Ryan on moving to China at 22 The Ryan Pyle Podcast is ad-free by choice. If you enjoy these conversations, you can buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/ryanpyle Ryan's TV series are streaming around the world. Follow the Podcast X: https://x.com/RyanPylePodcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/ryanpylepodcast Follow Ryan Pyle YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ryanjpyle Instagram: https://instagram.com/ryanpyle X: https://x.com/RyanPyle Facebook: https://facebook.com/ryanpyle https://www.ryanpyle.com