Industry Standard w/ Barry Katz

Question #1: Do you feel fulfilled in the current stage of your career? Are there any goals you have for yourself in the next 5 or 10 years?Question #2: When you receive a cold email from an unknown person who wants to attach one of your clients to a project, what's the minimum that gets their ask taken seriously?Question #3: What are your thoughts on vertical entertainment, i.e. companies who make movies specifically for TikTok and the kind of content they create?Question #4: Do you think one could study comedy and how to be funny? Or are people just born with it?Question #5: Have you done stand up yourself? If so, what is the bit/premise you remember that killed?Question #6: What does the effect of public backlash look like for you? Do you try to combat it? Pivot?

Becoming a comedian was never part of Anjelah Johnson-Reyes’ plan. She started out pursuing acting, going on auditions, working as an extra, waiting tables, and facing periods of unemployment when work wasn’t available. Comedy wasn’t the goal... it was something she stumbled into.While taking an acting class, someone recognized her sense of humor and encouraged her to attend their joke writing class. That free class, held in a church, became the unexpected beginning of a new career. With only four months of open mics under her belt, Anjelah was already finding her footing in stand up.Then came “Nail Salon.” After posting the bit on YouTube, the video went viral, exposing her comedy to millions and accelerating a journey that might otherwise have required years of grinding through clubs and building an audience one show at a time.Her breakout led to MADtv, where she became known for memorable characters, including the beloved Vietnamese nail salon technician. She went on to build a successful career in stand-up, releasing comedy specials and performing on sold out tours.Sometimes, all it takes is one thing to fast-forward time. For Anjelah, it was a video on YouTube. Years of auditions, waiting tables, unemployment, and figuring out what came next led to a moment that changed the trajectory of her career. She never planned on becoming a comedian, but one person’s encouragement, a free joke-writing class, and four months of open mics set something in motion.The work still mattered but suddenly, the world could see it.What if the thing that changes your life is something you never planned on doing?

The Industry Blue print sits down with legendary broadcaster Larry King to explore the life, career, and curiosity behind one of the most recognizable interviewers in history. From his humble beginnings in radio to hosting Larry King Live on CNN for 25 years, King built a legacy by asking simple questions that opened the door to extraordinary conversations with presidents, celebrities, and some of the most controversial and influential figures of our time.In this conversation, Larry reflects on how stand-up comedy influenced his interviewing style, the lessons he learned from the people he encountered, and how optimism shaped his perspective on mortality and life itself. A candid look at the power of listening, the art of conversation, and the wisdom that comes from a lifetime spent asking questions.

Big Jay Oakerson is a product of both Philadelphia and New York, two cities that shaped his voice, his comedy, and his approach to the business. A longtime fixture of the New York comedy scene, Jay came up learning first-hand from the comedians he looked up to, absorbing the lessons, stories, and hard-earned knowledge of his idols while carving out his own path.Now a veteran comedian, podcaster, and storyteller, Jay reflects on what it means to grow up in comedy while also growing up as a person. Becoming a young dad added another layer to that journey, giving him a perspective that reaches far beyond the stage. His comedy is rooted in real life: family, friendship, growing older, and the strange process of becoming the person you once looked up to.

Nate Jackson is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and entrepreneur from Tacoma, Washington. He began performing locally before creating the Super Funny Comedy Show and eventually opening the Super Funny Comedy Club, establishing himself as both a performer and a force in the comedy community.As his career grew, Jackson became known for his high energy crowd work, which helped him build a massive online following while landing appearances on Wild ’N Out, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Young Rock. That digital momentum expanded his audience far beyond the comedy club, leading to his 2025 Netflix special, Nate Jackson: Super Funny.Today, Jackson tours nationally and internationally, continuing to build on the crowd work style that helped take him from a local comedian to a nationally recognized headliner.