'WILEY JAY' - Fighting Parkinson's With Comedy

Wiley Jay is a comedian working in Chicago, Illinois! He was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease 9 years ago and life has never been the same since. He's made it a mission to spread awareness for the disease so that we can further the research in the field and improve the livelihoods of those diagnosed with it. It's an inspirational story if I've ever heard one. 💯In this episode, we discuss how Wiley's life changed after being diagnosed, what his time working in FM radio was like, whether or not he will ever appear on Kill Tony, the beauty of the word 'squirt', the distressing lack of research in the Parkinson's field, how hard work and talent feed off of one another, and much more! 🔥_______TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Wiley Jay2:09 - Wiley's Parkinson’s diagnosis and life changes5:13 - How Parkinson’s influenced his comedy career7:10 - Writing jokes and developing comedy material10:10 - Confidence, persistence, and self-belief in comedy13:26 - Wiley’s time in FM radio & the decline of traditional media19:26 - The evolution of TV, entertainment, and independent platforms23:29 - Crazy Uber driving experiences & wild passenger stories32:41 - Favorite comedians and major influences39:09 - The 600lb Uber rider story45:06 - Following your passion before it’s too late49:52 - Hard work vs. talent in comedy success53:03 - Plans to audition for Kill Tony and taking big opportunities57:09 - Improv vs. stand-up comedy & embracing weirdness1:04:04 - Handling hecklers and audience reactions1:06:06 - The rise of crowd work in comedy & its impact1:08:26 - The reality of open mics vs. real comedy shows1:12:05 - The genius and influence of Norm Macdonald1:15:36 - Comedic commitment & Harland Williams’ absurd humor1:19:04 - Funny accents, languages, and cultural quirks1:21:03 - Wiley's dream Parkinson’s awareness comedy tour1:24:47 - The need for more Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s research1:28:22 - The struggles behind great artists and comedians1:30:07 - Expressing yourself and making an impact1:34:08 - The birth of "Squirt Squirt" as a rap name1:38:52 - The power of fun, spontaneity, and authenticity in podcasts1:44:49 - The dream of being on Hot Ones & final reflections1:47:07 - Wiley’s social media and upcoming show1:48:09 - Closing thoughts on comedy and purpose