Meet Ryan Talmo of Valley Jesus Productions in The San Fernando Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Talmo.

Ryan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have lived in Los Angeles for almost a decade. I moved from San Diego looking for change and a fresh start on life. I fell into doing stand up comedy, by frequenting the dive bars in the Valley. I started like any other open mic comic in LA. Eventually, I started producing my own shows and mics, as I noticed a corrupt ladder in the system. I wanted to build rooms to grow and not tear us apart,

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth road through my career as a comic in LA. Besides the fact that I spent many nights trying to figure out my voice and or barely getting enough money for rent in my early days.

In 2018, I was diagnosed with Lymphoma Non-Hodgkins Stage 3. A gnarly blood cancer. This was my largest personal roadblock. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I was running out of money, my roommate at the time was about to move out and I felt like I was on the brink of death.

The comedy community came together and helped raise money, just so I can pay my bills, get groceries and take Lyft to the hospital for my treatments. I love so many of my peers and they showed there love in return. Something very rare, especially in a city like Los Angeles.

Valley Jesus Productions – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Valley Jesus Productions is a production company specializing in building comedy shows. But not any kind of show. I build my shows as a true sandbox for the artist. I want them to grow and develop. I’ll never produce a show with buckets, lotteries or even a bringer. It’s not a way of me networking my way to the top. It’s a place to play and have fun.

The first show I produced in the Valley was at Oaks Tavern and then it grew to hosting an open mic at The Barrel, that eventually moved over to Liquid Zoo, that has now been the longest-running open mic in Los Angeles. I produced shows at Universal Bar and Grill with a few theme shows that got the comics involved such as “A Night of a Hundred Comics”, “Snake Eyes” and “Big Tal”, which is a satire among the bringer shows that are produced in LA. I have also ventured out of the Valley with shows in Little Armenia, Koreatown and Santa Monica.

I currently produce and host three shows. Liquid Zoo Comedy on Sundays, Tarzana Underground and Petie’s Place on Mondays and Corbin Bowl Comedy on Thursdays. With a fourth show on its way.

I have also helped co-produce my debut comedy album “My Lymphoma” that can be found on Spotify and Amazon. Numerous monthly shows, as well as a podcast.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I just want to have fun. Sounds cliche, but the second I started doing comedy, I felt the air can get really toxic, I wanted to change the game in how we do comedy. Kill the politics. Kill the B.S. Just get up and have fun.