In this solo episode, Zack breaks down the one step every creative tries to avoid — building community. Early in his comedy career, Zack ignored “networking” because the word felt stiff and corporate. But over time, he learned that real creative networking is simply being around other artists: showing up to shows, messaging someone to say you love their work, collaborating, and staying connected.

He shares how getting involved in his local scene changed everything — from new opportunities and better touring experiences to finding artists who understand the ups and downs of the journey. Moving to Seattle has reminded him how every scene has its own rhythm, and why you have to immerse yourself to really be part of it.

This episode is all about community, collaboration, and why you can’t make it as an artist alone. If you’re trying to build a creative career, this is the step you absolutely can't skip.

Change Things Up 2026

A solo episode about creativity, comedy, and shaking things up for the new year.

In Change Things Up 2026, Zack dives into why switching things up creatively is essential — especially after 16 years in stand-up. He shares updates on his upcoming comedy special, new shows, nonprofit work, fresh material he's writing, and why keeping the creativity alive matters more than ever.

What We Talk About

• Why changing things up prevents burnout and creative plateaus
• The 2026 stand-up special: sound, animation, and five-camera setup
• Doing nonprofit comedy shows and raising $10K for the Alzheimer’s Association
• Visiting the last Blockbuster in Bend, Oregon
• Preparing a fresh 15-minute set for Northwest Live
• Why writing new material in 2026 is a top priority
• YouTube vs. Spotify growth for podcasts

Episode Highlights

Updating the 2026 Comedy Special

Zack is in the final stages of editing his new comedy special. He brought in a professional audio mixer, hired an animator for the intro, and worked with Heavy Feathers for a beautiful five-camera shoot. The project feels high-end and is coming together exactly the way he imagined.

Raising $10K for the Alzheimer’s Association

Zack partnered with Gina to put on a nonprofit show in Bend, Oregon — and the community came together in a huge way. The event raised $10,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association. Performers included Lucia from The Voice, Mandy, Cody, Good News Crew, Gina, and Zack.

Stopping by the Last Blockbuster

While in Bend, Zack visited the final Blockbuster store — a nostalgic throwback to his childhood days of renting movies and beating video games before the return date.

Preparing for Northwest Live

Zack has a January taping coming up with Northwest Live, where he’ll film a brand-new 15-minute set. He’s been writing fresh jokes specifically for this recording and is excited to release clips on YouTube afterward.

The Importance of Writing in 2026

After wrapping the special, Zack wants 2026 to be his most prolific writing year yet. He reflects on how comics who stop writing often stop growing — and how staying experimental keeps the art fun.

YouTube Is the Place to Watch

Zack encourages listeners to subscribe on YouTube, noting that the platform is pushing podcasts much more effectively than Spotify right now.

Notable Quotes

“I think it’s important to change things up. If you stay in the same routine too long, you stop growing.”

“Hiring a pro for the final mix was the best decision. He knew more about sound than I ever will.”

“Now that the special is done, 2026 is the year to write more than ever and get weird again.”

Support the Show

If you enjoy the podcast, the biggest way to support it is by subscribing on YouTube and sharing the episode with a friend.

Subscribe: The Big Laugh on YouTube

Hosted by Zack Lyman • The Zack Lyman Podcast

She built a 300-woman movement from scratch in Seattle — and she's just getting started. 💪 Alissa Montes, founder of Girl Therapy, shares how she turned TikTok growth into a real-life empowerment platform for women through creative, inclusive, and soul-nourishing events. What started as a dream for 20 attendees became a sold-out phenomenon changing lives across Seattle and beyond.

In this episode, Alissa talks about:

- Building Girl Therapy from the ground up- Hosting up to 5 unique events a month- Learning to scale while staying intentional- Creating safe spaces for women to thrive- Evolving from short-form content to long-form legacy- Her vision for expansion in 2026 (spoiler: she’s going national)

If you're building a brand, trying to start a community, or just want to feel inspired by what happens when women support women, this one’s for you.

🔗 Follow Alissa: @alissa.montez

🎉 Girl Therapy Events: @girltherapyseattle

🎙️ Subscribe for more creator stories every week

Upcoming Girl Therapy Event

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/girl-therapy-y2k-tickets-1755311667449