Matt Rife

“I hate flip flops. I hate loafers.”

“Sometimes you're so close to something, or it's still so new that you can't find humor in it yet.”

“I have so many insecurities about my physicality, it is insane.”

“I know for me, everything that leaves my mouth on stage is purely with the intention of making people laugh. It's never any deeper, never any more or never any less than that. That's all it is to me.”

“Even if you have success on a platform, like YouTube, Instagram or whatever it may be, it's just not as glorified or well respected as an official streaming service, network, or a studio.”

“We all go through jumps in our career that we're like, 'Oh, this is going to be the thing. I'm going to be fine from here on out,' and then you have to start all over again.”

“There's nobody I look up to in stand-up more than Dave Chappelle.”

“Good looking is not good for comedy.”

“To tour the world, spreading laughter, with some of my best friends, is something I never thought would be possible.”

“Whether it's depression or a physical disability, not everyone wants to be seen as a victim.”

“I like being surprised. When some incredibly magical moment happens in crowd work that blows the crowd's mind, it blows my mind.”

“I have a unique perspective on things that apparently makes people laugh.”

“I was able to buy my mom a house, employ my friends, and accomplish dreams I never thought possible - like selling out The Hollywood Bowl. But I think the moment I guess I thought 'I made it' was when Samuel L. Jackson followed me on Instagram. I would've never guessed he knew what Instagram even was.”

“My grandpa used to take me to the Columbus Funny Bone in Ohio every Wednesday.”

“People assume your life is easier when you have all these good things going for you.”

“In order for something to come to fruition, you have to be able to take on all the tasks.”

“You can say whatever you want. Now, you have to prepare for repercussions.”

“Thank you to everyone that has supported me from the beginning.”

“No, I don't listen to or watch any podcasts at all, except for maybe Joe Rogan occasionally.”

“I almost exclusively performed at Black comedy shows and Black clubs. Black comics always just gave me the opportunity: 'Hey, you want to come do my show down the street?' They were the first comics to ever pay me for doing stage time.”