'I Ain't No Joke' w/ Mr. Goopie

"Mr. Goopie" — real name Michael Kebede — is one of the most exciting young voices in comedy and content creation right now. In this episode of the 'The UpNUp Podcast', we sit down with the 23-year-old Ethiopian-American comedian, streamer, and emerging actor from Atlanta, Georgia to talk about the real journey behind the viral moments, the grind nobody sees, and the creative risks that have defined his rise. From accidentally going viral with 18 million views his freshman year at UGA, to performing at the Atlanta Hawks halftime show, to building a multi-platform audience across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch — Michael breaks down exactly how he got here and where he's going next. This conversation covers identity, immigrant family dynamics, the discipline it takes to build something real, and why taking bold creative risks is the only strategy that has ever worked for him. If you are a content creator, comedian, aspiring entertainer, or anyone trying to figure out your next move — this episode is for you. Topics covered in this episode: How one dorm video changed Michael's life overnight (00:31:07) Growing up Ethiopian-American in Atlanta (00:15:05) Attending a PWI as a Black student & turning that experience into comedy (00:29:24) Why he almost dropped out of college and what changed his mind (00:40:17) The discipline and strategy behind his creative risks (00:51:40) Performing at the Atlanta Hawks halftime show (00:52:47) His 30-day New York City move and what it produced (00:53:58) Building on Twitch from the ground up (01:03:07) Stand-up comedy, acting ambitions, and what is next (01:13:42)