About The “I’m Not Joking” Podcast

Glimpse into the lives of comedians, improvisers, comedy writers, and other funny people from business, science, and the arts. Host Dr. Peter McGraw sits down with funny people for a wide-ranging discussion of their habits, motivations, and secrets to success.

Engaging Speaking with Pitch Lab!

This week’s episode features Jay Mays of Pitch Lab (hey, that’s me!)

Every now and again you collaborate with someone that motivates you to take your work to the next level.

For me this is Dr. Peter McGraw: author of The Humor Code, TEDx Speaker & Professor of Marketing & Psychology at CU Boulder’s Leeds School of Business.

I had a blast on “I’m Not Joking” talking stand-up comedy, sales and the joke Demetri Martin stole from me:

DPM: What were your go-to jokes as a restaurant server?

JM: Anytime a guest said “there’s a crack in my glass,” I would say, “I’ll be right back with a straw.”

DPM: <Laughs>

Another fun one was when a guest would say “We need more butter.” I’d put one pat of butter in my bare hand, and another pat of butter on a plate hidden behind my back.

When I returned to the table I’d say, “Here’s your butter” and show them the butter sitting in my hand.

It was gross and they’d look at it very confused, and then after a beat I’d pull the butter on the plate out from behind my back and smile, “Just kidding.”

DPM: That would get a big laugh?

JM: Yes! Did you see Demetri Martin’s new one on Netflix?

DPM: I haven’t seen it. Netflix is pushing that one on me hardcore, but I haven’t watched it.

JM: I like Demetri. He’s a cleaner, more accessible Ben Kronberg with his one-liners.

DPM: <Laughs> Hold on! That’s super funny to me, I’m not sure that would be funny to anyone else… because I know Ben and you work with Ben.

JM: Ben’s one of my favorite comedians but he’s not always accessible to the mainstream. Demetri Martin has a joke at the end of his special about a waiter touching his food. I was like, “Aaaah! I’ve used that joke for years. It’s my joke!

Big thanks to Dr. McGraw for the podcast love! Give it a listen, I promise it’ll put a smile on your face during on your next horrific commute.

Don’t have the time? Well you’re in luck! Click here to skim the transcript and feel like you got the gist!