The Last Show with David Cooper
Alex Mackenzie: Quit Your Job For Comedy - January 7, 2026
08 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The show that makes you laugh, think, and occasionally uncomfortable. The Last Show with David Cooper. We are here with someone who has a story that I think we can all relate to. Nine out of 10 people follow this journey, and here is what it is. You quit your six figure job, you sell your house, all your possessions, you buy an RV so you can live in it with your dog.
Chapter 2: What motivated Alex Mackenzie to quit his six-figure job for comedy?
And why do you do that? Well, so you can tour the country doing standup comedy. My mom just recently did that. So this is gonna be a helpful interview for everyone. I'm here with Alex McKenzie, a comedian from Prince George, British Columbia, to talk his story. Alex, A very relatable narrative that I just displayed there.
Yeah, I would say I pass probably 20 to 30 people doing the same thing every day on the highway from gig to gig.
I'm guessing you don't have a Jewish mother, but I do. And if I told my Jewish mother that I was about to do what you did with your story, I think I would have no longer have eardrums at that point.
Yeah, you know what? That's pretty funny. I think that most parents, Jewish or not, you know, my Canadian mother, same thing. You know what's so funny? My mom was very, like, when I was working in the mill, she was always like, oh, you got to get out of there. You got to go and do something and chase your dreams, you know? And then when I was like, hey, I'm quitting my job to do this.
She's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, you can't just quit. I mean, what are you? What are you, crazy? Like...
The subtext was she wanted you to trace your dreams as a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant, or an engineer is what she was really saying.
Exactly. Yeah, that was the plan.
I love that you treated your life like a canvas or an experiment. What has been some of the most unexpected results of this career pivot into comedy?
Oh, I would say, you know, the biggest thing that comes of it that you realize later is it's not what you're doing, it's who you're becoming. So I would say that is the biggest thing I've taken away from it. Like at the beginning, you're like, oh, I want to do comedy. I'm so excited to chase this dream.
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Chapter 3: How did Alex's background influence his decision to pursue stand-up comedy?
I am the best version of Alex McKenzie that there's ever been so far in front of you today. And it's through the chasing the dream and the struggles along the way, man.
I think a lot of people romanticize, idealize what standup comedy is having done it myself and miserably failed at it and realizing how hard it is and not just how hard it is, how much you have to lay. It's an uphill battle every day.
And if you don't have that resolve, like you're going to quit all the terrible gigs, all the terrible audience members, all the terrible bookers, all the terrible other comedians, everything about it is set up for you to fail at all times. Yeah. Uh, Somebody once put it to me this way.
If you bomb at a show, it's because that audience decided they would rather have a bad time than have a good time with you. And that is soul crushing.
Right.
So I guess my question is for those who romanticize it, like what's your take on it, having really given your life to it?
Oh, I would say... I don't know, like there's a couple things there. Like one, you mentioned the audience. So one thing that really changed my standup career and helped me do a lot better was I used to go into the gigs where it was like me versus the audience. You know, I'm like, okay, I got to win these people over. I got to show them I'm funny and get them to like me. And then I realized,
Like they're on my team. Like no one bought a ticket to come to this show to watch you do bad. Like they all want you to do good. Like everyone's like, man, I hope this guy's funny and I hope this is good. And once you realize that they're like, you are friends with them. Like they're on your side. So I, how I do, man, what a big trick I learned.
I greet the audience the same way that I would greet my dog, Finley. So when, you know, when you like get home and you're like, oh my God, there you are. What are you doing, buddy? Like, that's how I greet the audience. I come out and I'm like, man, I am so excited to be here. I'm so excited to see you. How's it going?
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Chapter 4: What unexpected lessons has Alex learned from his career pivot into comedy?
This is what I always say. Because like, if you only believe in you, you're going to come across something that's bigger and stronger than you that's going to make you quit. So you have to believe that somehow in the future, the dots are going to connect and it's going to work out. And yeah, it's just been steady work. And you have to keep coming up with new material.
That's the thing with Canada. I've done three national tours now, like complete coast to coast, you know, Vancouver to Newfoundland. And every year you have to have a new show for these people. Like if you're going back to the same city and it's going to be the same show, people are like, well, we saw all these jokes. We've heard it all.
It's not like music where you're like, oh, just play the hits.
Do the audiences in Vancouver and the audiences in Newfoundland, are they the same? Is the crowd work the same? Like, are you writing different jokes for different geos, I guess?
Not so much. Like, I try and do a little bit of local stuff always. If you can have like three to five minutes of like local references or that, just I think it's something nice for that city, that town to kind of show like, hey, I did a bit of research on you guys and, you know, that makes you relatable. But generally I'm always trying to build a one hour show.
So it's constantly like you just have this hour, you go out and you run it and then you keep like tweaking it and tweaking it. And then by the end of the tour, usually you have it great. And you're like, okay, now I've got this thing and it's good all the way through. And then that's when you book like a taping and you film it and then you put it out and no one watches it. And then you try again.
I referred to what you did as an experiment a few minutes ago. If this experiment called life ended tomorrow, what would you say your results were?
Ooh, uh, they were great. You know, like I, I, I learned so much about myself, uh, that I would say it was worth it. You know, it is a really good book is called the alchemist and kind of like, uh, not to ruin it, but the, the moral of that story is basically to go on an adventure and and end up back where you started is not the same as not going on the adventure at all.
So, you know, even if this thing failed and I ended up going back to my old job and then working there, it's like still everything you learned along the way and doing that adventure was worth it.
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Chapter 5: What challenges does Alex face as a touring comedian?
How are you, dear boy? Yes, flattery is the lowest form of flatulence, I believe.
That is a non sequitur that I am glad you said. Okay, the game is simple. You're a non sequitur. That's not how you say that word. We are going to ask some questions. Would you rather questions? And Alex, Tony, and I are going to give our takes. Would I rather what? Well, that's what we're... Would you rather do, Tony, one thing or the other?
Would I rather do this show?
No.
End of interview. First answer.
Thank you, audience. Good night. Take care. Try to veal. You're doing great, Tony. All right. Number one, and we'll get Alex's take first. Would you rather have a finger-sized nipple or nipple-sized fingers?
Oh, a finger-sized nipple for sure. The utility in nipple-sized fingers just makes it hard. I couldn't get into my iPhone probably. None of the finger scanners would work. I wouldn't be able to pick up my favorite water bottle, you know, nipple-sized fingers for sure. And those maybe if I could learn to control them, you know, that could be a little gag on stage.
Every time I had a punch on it, I could twirl tassels. My career would probably take off.
Apologies, Alex, but you're completely wrong. What the correct answer is, is a nipple sized finger. The stub in would be fantastic. Having two sort of scud missiles pointing out of your chest would look absolutely ridiculous. I don't think it would help your career in any way, shape or form. I open my iPhone with my face, not my nipples. So I think I'd be OK.
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Chapter 6: How does Alex handle the pressure of ticket sales and audience reception?
That's good. Yeah, Alex Tells Jokes, man. You'll find it.
Close enough. Alex, thank you for joining me and Tony. Yeah, thanks for having me on, man. That's super fun. Alex, you legend. And Tony Five, our foreign correspondent. What a joy it was having you.
Thanks, Tony.
Thank you very much.
You are listening to Canadian Gothic.
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