Episode 29: Ideology & Integrity: A Conversation with Comedian Gabe Pacheco

12/23/22 • 70 min

Have you ever chatted with someone who pushed you to consider what it means to go after your creative projects day in and day while staying true to yourself and your values? Is that even possible? And, what does it really look like to grow and evolve your craft with integrity especially in the comedy scene? In this episode, we hear from Gabe Pacheco, a thought-provoking storyteller, performer, podcaster and comic with over a decade of experience performing comedy all over the city and country.

As you’ll come to understand through this conversation, Gabe has a strong sense of values and we often felt like we were chatting with a local philosopher.

Topics in this episode include:

The origins of Gabe’s podcast “Halal Cartels” with co-host Sameer Naseem
What it means to be in his “third childhood” and on “the bleeding edge of progress”
The importance of incorporating “grace” into your philosophy as a creative
The hustle in comedy and how part of showing up consistently is surrounding yourself with others who aspire to be better
How Gabe landed the gig co-hosting a weekly comedy show at Pete’s Candy Store
Having an ideology before you start to put yourself out there and knowing the boundaries you won’t cross
The emergence of transphobia on the comedy scene
Why it’s important not to hold performers to their past selves and leaving space open for self-critique and growth
Reflecting on mistakes Gabe has made on stage
Willingness to abandon a fan base to speak your truth
Understanding who the gatekeepers are and whether or not your message aligns with theirs as a metric for whether or not you should keep your day job
Traversing anti-capitalist topics on stage with audiences outside of Brooklyn
Why it’s important to build, invite and create your community vs waiting for your community to appear
Psychedelics and personal growth
What he loves about living in the city and the connection to people
How he hates the struggle required for so many to live and stay here
What utopia of a living situation looks like and means to Gabe
Why the movie Blade Runner helped shape his world view

Keep up with Gabe’s work here or by connecting with him on Instagram or Twitter. You can also follow his weekly comedy show on IG Funhouse Comedy. And finally, definitely check out his podcast Halal Cartels!

Listen to more Surviving The City podcast episodes by following this link. And don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram.

As you’ll come to understand through this conversation, Gabe has a strong sense of values and we often felt like we were chatting with a local philosopher.

Topics in this episode include:

The origins of Gabe’s podcast “Halal Cartels” with co-host Sameer Naseem
What it means to be in his “third childhood” and on “the bleeding edge of progress”
The importance of incorporating “grace” into your philosophy as a creative
The hustle in comedy and how part of showing up consistently is surrounding yourself with others who aspire to be better
How Gabe landed the gig co-hosting a weekly comedy show at Pete’s Candy Store
Having an ideology before you start to put yourself out there and knowing the boundaries you won’t cross
The emergence of transphobia on the comedy scene
Why it’s important not to hold performers to their past selves and leaving space open for self-critique and growth
Reflecting on mistakes Gabe has made on stage
Willingness to abandon a fan base to speak your truth
Understanding who the gatekeepers are and whether or not your message aligns with theirs as a metric for whether or not you should keep your day job
Traversing anti-capitalist topics on stage with audiences outside of Brooklyn
Why it’s important to build, invite and create your community vs waiting for your community to appear
Psychedelics and personal growth
What he loves about living in the city and the connection to people
How he hates the struggle required for so many to live and stay here
What utopia of a living situation looks like and means to Gabe
Why the movie Blade Runner helped shape his world view

Listen to more Surviving The City podcast episodes by following this link. And don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram.

Previous Episode

Episode 28: Accessing Transformation with Cynthia Santiago-Borbón

Have you ever sat with someone who made you feel like going after your creative dreams wasn’t “crazy”? Like a bigger life for you was more possible? How does a licensed psychotherapist and transformational life coach really get you to change your life and follow your big creative dreams? And what would someone like this say to the critical thinker in all of us that gawks at the idea of following our dreams when considering all of the real pain and oppression that exists in our world? In this episode, we hear from therapist, life coach and healer Cynthia Santiago-Borbón with over two decades of practice in the field.

As you’ll come to understand through this conversation, Cynthia is not a pie in the sky ungrounded dreamer. No, her work is deeply rooted in anti-oppression, equity and liberation.

Topics in this episode include:

How transformation happens with clients that Cynthia has worked with
Sustaining long term change
Shifting from “what’s wrong with you” to “what’s right with you”
Tapping into your gifts and “purpose” and the clues along the way
Understanding where choice is at play in our lives
The power of the supportive morning routine
Why self-work is essential to connecting to your joy
Why connecting to your joy is important for creating the world we want to live in and not the privileged perspective we might think it is
What brings Cynthia to healing work
Putting manifestation in context and understanding both its power and limitations

Keep up with Cynthia’s work here or by connecting with her on Instagram or Facebook.

Listen to more Surviving The City podcast episodes by following this link. And connect with us on Instagram.