We’re looking forward to introducing you to Pete George. Check out our conversation below.
Pete, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I’m being called to put myself out into the world in a much bigger and more vulnerable way. For most of my career, I thought being successful was about me—about performing well, about being recognized. But what I’ve come to realize is that life opens up when I make it about contribution.
When I share my own struggles—whether that’s going through tough times personally or navigating the ups and downs of the entertainment industry—it resonates with people. It makes a difference. And that vulnerability creates connection, not just laughs.
So now, I’m leaning into that fully. I have a new entertainment manager and agent, and together we’re pursuing television, streaming, and film projects. I’m also expanding my reach through stand-up comedy in bigger venues and for wider audiences. What once felt scary—being fully seen, letting people into both the victories and the struggles—now feels like the most authentic way to live and to contribute.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Pete George—stand-up comedian, actor, and musician. I’ve been performing for over three decades, with more than 10,000 shows under my belt, and I’ve been called the “Rock ’n’ Roll Funnyman” because I blend comedy and musicianship in a way that’s completely unique. I’ve headlined everywhere from the Laugh Factory in Las Vegas and Reno to Planet Hollywood, Pechanga, and even international stages. Along the way, I’ve been blessed with hundreds of standing ovations, but what really fuels me is creating an experience where the audience feels like they’ve been part of something bigger than just a comedy show.
What makes me unique is that I don’t just deliver jokes—I use music, storytelling, and authenticity to really move an audience. I’ve also acted in film and television, including a small but memorable appearance in The Shawshank Redemption.
Right now, I’m working with a new entertainment manager and agent, stepping into television, streaming, and film opportunities while continuing to tour with stand-up. I’m also building my social media presence and brand to connect with audiences far beyond the stage. My story has always been about resilience, reinvention, and contribution—using my talents not just to entertain, but to inspire and uplift.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
In college, I was in a speech and debate class, and every time I got up to give a speech the whole class would laugh. The funny part is—I wasn’t even trying to be funny, I was just being myself. One day, our professor pulled me out into the hallway. I’ll never forget it. He had these piercing blue eyes, looked straight at me, and said, “Have you ever considered a career in front of the public?”
That was the defining moment of my life. Right after that conversation, I signed up for my first stand-up comedy set at the Cleveland Comedy Club’s Sunday night contest. The format was brutal: nine other comics, each doing ten minutes, and a packed, sold-out audience. When it was my turn, I was so nervous my knees literally buckled before I stepped on stage. But I pushed through, did my set, and ended up winning the contest that night—and a whopping $50.
I went back the next month, won again. The month after that, I won for the third time. From there, I started getting booked for paid comedy shows. And the moral of the story is this: one person, in one moment, can see something in you that changes the entire direction of your life. For me, it all started with a professor who believed in me before I believed in myself.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering is the seed that causes us to dig deeper than we ever thought possible. Success feels good, but it doesn’t demand that same kind of transformation. Right now, I’m actually in that space—and the wild part is, I’ve intentionally created it.
If you want to get to the next level in life or career, you have to be willing to let go of who you already are. Otherwise, you’ll just keep repeating your past. Sometimes we have to internally create a kind of crisis that forces us to show up much bigger in life. And when that happens, the old version of us will kick and scream, resisting the change—until one moment of surrender.
That’s when the shift happens. In that surrender, a new identity takes hold. Suddenly you’re reborn into the person you’ve always wanted to be, and you finally have the ability to create the life you’ve been chasing.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Some of the smartest people I know are also the most ignorant. When you “know what you know,” it’s easy to get stuck there. But real growth comes from what I call distinction making—being able to separate the facts of what actually happened from the story you’re telling yourself about what happened. Very few people do that kind of critical thinking.
There’s also something called the Dunning–Kruger effect, where the most uninformed people often have the loudest voices. Even when people know this, they still get pulled into their tribe’s echo chamber and stop questioning.
To me, the key is stepping outside of your own box and looking for possibilities you never thought were there. That’s where creativity, innovation, and real transformation live—not in staying comfortable with what you already know.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Scrolling!!! Oh my god… I’d quit scrolling!!
Seriously—it’s scientifically proven that the more you scroll, the less motivation you have because you’re burning up dopamine, which is literally your motivation molecule. For me, if I start scrolling in the morning, I’m doomed. The rest of the day is gone. Suddenly I’m an expert in penguin migration, top 10 ways to cook with Spam, and I’ve accidentally bought three neck pillows from an ad that “knows me better than my therapist.”
The worst part? Half the time it’s completely automatic. I’ll say, “That’s it, no more scrolling today,” and five seconds later my thumb’s moving like it has a mind of its own. If I only had 10 years left, I’d want to spend them on stage, creating, connecting with people—not hypnotized by a glowing rectangle.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.petegeorge.tv/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petegeorgetv/
- Twitter: https://x.com/PeteGeorgetv
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/petegeorgeTV
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PeteGeorge
- Other: https://linktr.ee/petegeorge / https://www.tiktok.com/@petegeorgetv / https://app.castingnetworks.com/talent/public-profile/1ff04548-9158-11ea-9bfa-0291f623b406
