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

What happens when a musician, software developer, and hobby boxer loses their job — and ends up owning a gym?This episode dives deep with Alex Carter, the new owner of Cappy’s Boxing Gym in Seattle, WA — a truly one-of-a-kind gym blending community, diversity, music, creativity, and inclusivity.

Alex shares the raw and real story of how she went from working a remote dev job (that laid her off with zero notice) to running a full-blown business — all while juggling her identity as a musician, coach, and community builder.

We talk about:

- Their journey from burnout to business ownership- Creating an inclusive, low-barrier boxing gym- How they are collaborating with other small businesses- Bringing drag-themed boxing events, live music & sparring into one space- The future of Cappy’s Boxing Gym: competitive teams, massage, events, and more- Staying creatively inspired as a multidisciplinary artistIf you’ve ever dreamed of building something of your own — or questioned what’s next after a layoff — this conversation will light a fire in you 🔥

🎧 Who’s this for?

Entrepreneurs. Creatives. Fighters. Dreamers. Anyone figuring out how to make what they love into something real.

In this hilarious and brutally honest episode, comedian Mike Heath sits down with host Zack Lyman to talk about the highs and lows of stand-up life. From crushing his first open mic with 30 invited friends to BOMBS in front of strangers (and family), this is one of the most relatable comedy podcasts out there.We also dig into how Mike accidentally did 45 minutes WAY too early in his career, what it feels like to host a comedy club weekend, writing habits that don’t work, the heartbreak of losing a golden notebook, and Mike’s dream of collecting space trash.Whether you're a comedian or just love hearing what it really takes to pursue a career in comedy, this episode delivers laughs, vulnerability, and practical insight.

In this episode of The Zack Lyman Podcast, I sit down with rising indie artist Amelia Day to talk about her journey from Seattle’s local music scene to Nashville’s thriving industry. Amelia opens up about overcoming stage fright, booking her own DIY tours, and building authentic connections in the music world.

We also dive into her creative process, how she balances writing, touring, and recording, and her exciting announcement — her new single “Margie” (out October 10th). If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to grow as an independent musician, this conversation is full of insights, laughs, and inspiration.

In this solo episode of the Zack Lyman Podcast, I dive into five creative habits that have reshaped my life as a comedian and content creator. From making space for admin days to intentionally connecting with people in the comedy world, these changes are helping me show up more consistently and creatively. I also reveal my full 2025 vision board and talk about the importance of living with more purpose and less burnout.Plus, I give you an exclusive update on editing my upcoming comedy special, including the tech upgrades I had to make just to get it done. I also reflect on the incredible insights I got at Nate Jackson’s comedy festival and share what it felt like to be in a room full of comics learning together. Whether you’re a fan, a fellow creative, or someone chasing your goals, this one’s packed with insight, laughs, and momentum.

In this episode, we sit down with Anita, the creative force behind Fashion by Anita, to dive deep into the world of influencing, content creation, and social media growth. From starting with high school photo shoots to navigating Instagram, TikTok, and the ever-changing algorithm, Anita shares her real experiences—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. We talk about monetization, growing an audience, handling the pressure of content creation, and what it really takes to stand out in 2025. Whether you're an aspiring influencer or curious about the behind-the-scenes of social media, this conversation is packed with insights, laughs, and actionable advice.

https://www.tiktok.com/@fashionbyanita