We recently connected with Casey Graves and have shared our conversation below.

Casey, appreciate you joining us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

If I had started later, I would’ve missed the chance to build a real life outside of my passion. Life is about balance. It’s about more than just chasing dreams; it’s about family, love, and being present for those you care about. If you’re so focused on one thing, you might wake up one day and realize you’ve missed out on the most important moments. And that? That’s a price I wouldn’t want to pay. – CaseyGravesComedy

As for starting sooner? Well, it’s never too early. I believe everything happens for a reason, right when it’s supposed to. My mother always told me, “You’re right where you need to be.” That stuck with me. I began doing acting gigs in LA, and through the grind, I found my way into comedy. That’s where the real work began—getting my reps in, putting in the hours, and letting the demand grow into a new art form. – CaseyGravesComedy

So would I change anything? No. The journey has been what it needed to be. I’m grateful for the timing, for the lessons, and for the growth. Every step has brought me right here. – CaseyGravesComedy

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

For those who don’t know me, I got into this business because life’s too short to not laugh at everything, including ourselves. Humor, to me, is a tool—one that disarms, connects, and lets us see the absurdity in things we often take too seriously. I bring that mentality into my work, and it naturally filters out people who don’t resonate with it. The ones who stay? They become part of this organic fan base that truly understands the unique edge of what I do.

In a world where everyone is trying to fit in, I believe in the power of standing out, unapologetically. Not everyone is going to get you, and that’s okay—because the ones who do will ride with you all the way. My craft is about taking the over-the-top drama of life—whether it’s personal, societal, or global—and stripping it down to something you can laugh at. In a sense, I minimize what the world tries to blow out of proportion.

What sets me apart is my ability to turn these intense, sometimes uncomfortable, situations into comedic gold. Whether it’s through my stand-up, sketches, or podcasts, I thrive on pushing boundaries and going where others won’t. I’m proud of the fact that my work doesn’t shy away from the raw, real, or ridiculous—it leans into it. And that’s what keeps people coming back: it’s real, it’s raw, and it’s fearless.

I want people to know that when they follow my work, they’re stepping into a space where nothing is off-limits, but everything is in good fun. I create content that lets you laugh at the chaos of life, reminding you that no matter how serious it gets, there’s always room for humor. That’s the mission—connecting people through the laughter we all need.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

A lot of people admire what I do, and then there are those who look at me the way a golden retriever looks at its owner when asked a question it doesn’t understand—head tilted, eyes squinting, completely puzzled. Over the years, I’ve seen people cross their arms and furrow their brows at things I’ve said or done, but I welcome it all. In the end, every reaction, good or bad, shapes me into a better person and creator.

We live in a world where an average guy, seeing someone he’s drawn to walking his way, has a decision to make. But as she gets closer, instead of embracing that moment, he whips out his phone, pretending to check something, avoiding eye contact and a conversation that could’ve changed everything. That moment of avoidance, that missed connection? That’s a symptom of the times we live in. Despite all of our technological advancements, we’ve become more disengaged, more afraid to connect on a human level.

And that’s what non-creatives often don’t understand about this journey—being a creative forces you to connect deeply with emotions, to lean into the uncomfortable, to be vulnerable. We’re out here trying to break down those walls, reminding people to be human, to feel something real. So my message is simple: be a person, and more importantly, be yourself. I’ve learned that whether I’m on stage, in a car by myself, or anywhere in between, I can be the same person. Maybe not the same guy as I am in the shower — but let’s be real, no one wants to hear me sing — but yes, I’m always me, no matter where I am.

That’s the essence of this journey: staying true to who you are, even when the world tilts its head at you in confusion.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

In the beginning, I couldn’t understand why certain jokes weren’t landing. I was confident in the material, but the audience just wasn’t feeling it. That’s when I had to learn about something I didn’t grasp at first: the concept of “punching down.” You see, there’s a fine line between being edgy and being careless. Edgy comedy challenges the norm, it pushes boundaries, but it still lifts people up or sparks deeper thought. Punching down is when your jokes feel like they’re taking cheap shots at easy targets, and once the audience senses that, the energy in the room sinks.

There were times when my jokes felt like they were on a steady decline, and I couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t regain the momentum. That was the moment I realized: comedy isn’t just about getting laughs; it’s about understanding where those laughs come from. If the humor feels like it’s tearing people down rather than building something up, you’re going to lose the room.

Unlearning that instinct to rely on low-hanging fruit was a hard lesson, but it was necessary. I had to shift gears, find the balance, and reshape my material in a way that challenged the audience without leaving them feeling deflated. Now, not every joke I craft has a purpose—sometimes it’s to get a reaction, but it will also create a shared experience that leaves everyone walking away a little lighter, a little more connected, and maybe even thinking a little deeper.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://caseygravescomedy.com
• Instagram: caseygravescomedy
• Facebook: casey graves
• Youtube: caseygravescomedy
• Other: Tik Tok: caseygravescomedy
  Patreon: caseygravescomedy

Image Credits

Shout out to the Dania Beach improv, Standup New York, MackAfterDark and the Rowdy Parrot Podcast, the Casey Graves podcast with grandma Madeline, Good Girl Studios, The Comic Strip on 81st St. and “A Royal Makeover” a new film on AmazonPrime.