Keith Reza on Comedy, Fame, and Never Giving Up

Keith Reza on Comedy, Fame, and Never Giving Up This week on Drinking During Business Hours, Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler sit down with comedian, actor, writer, and podcaster Keith Reza for a funny, candid, and inspiring conversation about building a career in comedy, staying persistent in entertainment, and carving out your own voice in a brutally competitive business. With roots in stand-up, a long-running podcast of his own, and years spent learning from the legendary Norm Macdonald, Keith brings the kind of behind-the-scenes perspective comedy fans love. From the grind of live comedy to storytelling, podcasting, industry survival, and the mindset it takes to keep going, this episode is a great listen for comics, creators, and anybody chasing a creative life. If you love conversations about stand-up, entertainment, mental resilience, and the reality behind making it, this one belongs on your watchlist.     🎤 Guest Info Keith Reza is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and podcast host with more than 20 years in comedy. He was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at 13 and found comedy as a way to connect with people and navigate the world. He was mentored by Norm Macdonald for nine years, contributed as a writer on Norm Macdonald Has a Show and Norm Macdonald Live, has appeared on NBC, Animal Planet, and Netflix Is A Joke, and released the special Keith Reza: Make It Happen. He also hosts the long-running celebrity interview podcast Reza Rifts.     🔗 Guest Social Links Website: https://www.keithreza.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithreza/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realkeithreza X / Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/keithreza TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keithreza YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpyRbdbee3pBlDrtMDd6Pww Podcast - Reza Rifts: https://www.keithreza.com/gallery     🍷 Drink of the Podcast Drink of the Podcast: Molto Bene Mocktails Whether it's wine, cocktails, or something unexpected, the drink always sets the tone on Drinking During Business Hours, where comedy, conversation, and happy hour energy always meet in the middle. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Intro to Keith Reza 02:15 Keith's comedy journey 06:40 Learning from Norm Macdonald 11:05 Writing, performing, and finding your voice 16:20 The reality of stand-up life 22:10 Hosting Reza Rifts 28:35 Comedy, resilience, and mental toughness 35:00 Entertainment industry lessons 42:25 What keeps comedians going 49:10 Final thoughts and where to follow Keith 📣 Call to Action If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you like, comment, and subscribe to Drinking During Business Hours for more conversations with comedians, actors, writers, and creatives from across entertainment and culture. Drop a comment with your favorite Keith Reza moment and share the episode with someone who loves stand-up comedy, podcasts, and behind-the-scenes industry stories. 🥂 Host Links Sarah IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en  FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/ X @sarahjhalstead  https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead  Website   @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com Rich IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/ FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/ X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler  Website  richardchassler.com 📧 [email protected] 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform — it helps more than you know!   Follow the podcast here: 🍷 Apple Podcasts: Drinking During Business Hours ,,, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drinking-during-business-hours-with-sarah-halstead/id1273935631  Watch it on YouTube ... https://www.youtube.com/@Sarahhalsteadcomedian   #KeithReza #StandUpComedy #Podcasting #ComedyPodcast #DrinkingDuringBusinessHours #SarahHalstead #RichChassler #ComedianLife #EntertainmentPodcast #PodcastGuest #ComedyJourney #CreativeLife #NormMacdonald #JohnCusack #SuccessMindset