A [TEXT MESSAGE, EMAIL, & INSTAGRAM] Conversation With Comedian Josh Nasser

A [BLANK] Conversation With… is an interview series where guests engage in a three-day conversation via their preferred mode of text-based communication, with no commitments to the length or frequency of their responses.

I used to host a podcast called It’s All True! that was dedicated to getting to know people and having them tell a funny, personal, true story. In the spirit of that old podcast I decided to try a new form of interviewing; and this interaction with comedian Josh Nasser will pretty much explain how it works. He’s the first official guest in a series of interviews I’m calling A [BLANK] Conversation With…, where guests choose their preferred method of text-based communication and we chat for three days before the results are compiled and presented to you here.

It must’ve been 2018 or 2019 when I first met Josh through Ethan Beach (a Comedy Central co-worker at the time). The two of them co-host a comedy showcase called Oh, Such a Good Show, Oh!, and Ethan was kind enough to offer me time. To my surprise, Josh started singing and playing the banjo on stage and I’ve been fascinated with his work ever since. Take this 2020 song of his called simpin’, for instance. It’s brilliant! It’s ridiculous! And it’s so damn catchy!

Fast forward to January 15, 2023—Ethan and Josh had me on another edition of Oh, Such a Good Show, Oh!, and while chatting backstage I learned Josh is working on an album, has finally moved from New York State to New York City, and is currently roommates with the talented Mike Poole (who I worked with at The Tonight Show). Josh’s performance that night also reminded me that he has the singing voice of a chaotic angel.

I knew then that he’d be a great person to try this new format out with. These are the results of my three-day conversation with Josh. It’s started via text, then pivoted to email, and finally to Instagram DM.

Enjoy.

Note: Josh and I both live on the East Coast. Each message is timestamped, however, certain reactins like 😂s and ❤️s via Instagram DM exists out of time. We have no way of retrospectively knowing exactly when those buttons were pressed. There have been minor adjustments of the text for clarity.

DAY 1 (TUESDAY 01-17-2023)

Tim Barnes:
(9:36AM) Josh! Let me know when you know your album is coming out. I'd love to interview you ahead of time for my weird substack thing
 
Josh Nasser: 
(12:51PM) Oh hell yeah Tim will do also u gotta COME OVER (12:51PM) Mike and I r foaming at the mouth (12:52PM) Also thanks Tim that's real nice of u :')

Tim:
(3:19PM) Yes!! I'll reach out next week or the week after that for a time to hang out! Our puppy is getting neutered this Thursday so it all depends on how the poor guy is doing afterward (5:44PM) That was tmi, wasn't it

Josh:
(5:45PM) No sorry not at all hahahaha my BAD got sucked into work forgot to RESPOND (5:45PM) That sounds perfect and I hope ur dog is ok :( (5:45PM) Tim we're FRIENDS!! (5:45PM) TIM

Tim:
(5:45PM) Hahaha, yes!!!

Josh:
(5:46PM) This is me and you

Tim: (5:47PM) Wow, what an image. I could write a whole novel

DAY TWO (WEDNESDAY 01-18-2023)

Josh:
(10:46AM) This is exactly how I FEEL

Tim:
(10:50AM) Lol, I'm about to email you how the interviews will work for my substack. Once you read it, let me know what you think. I think it'd be really funny if all of our texts since yesterday are a part of it

Josh:
(10:50AM) Hell yeah that sounds perfect😎

[TIM AND JOSH PIVOT TO EMAIL]

Tim: 
(10:50AM)  
Subject Line: Can I Interview You?
Hey Josh!

Hope you’re having a good start to 2023. I have a new blog/newsletter thing through Substack called Letters from African America, and I’d love to interview you for it. Here's how it would work:

You can choose any form of text-based communication (texting, Instagram DM, email, slack, etc.)

- We’d be in communication for three days.
- There’s no pressure to respond in a timely manner (meaning you can wait hours before you respond to a question if you really wanted to)
- You can feel free to use anything like GIFS, images, emoji in the conversation
- And when it’s all done, our conversation will be transcribed, and I’ll send you a copy of it for approval before I post.

My expectation is that these "interviews" will reveal how different modes of communication provide dramatically different results.

If you’re interested, please let me know when you’d like the interview to start and what your format of choice is. Also, if you’d rather wait for a time that coincides with a project you’re releasing later in the year—just give me the word and we can plan ahead! 

All the best,

Tim

Josh:
(10:56AM) 
Hell yeah dude I'm in! And I'm down to start whenever!! My text of choice weirdly is gonna be insta DM I feel like I a more likely to answer quicker in insta because the notifications hurt my brain hahahahaa

Tim:
(10:58AM) 
Hahaha, sweet! Let's just get it started. You're gonna be my very first interview in this format. Perfect specimen to experiment with.

[TIM AND JOSH PIVOT TO INSTAGRAM]

Tim:
(10:58AM) Josh!

Josh:
(10:59AM) NO (10:59AM) Jk (10:59AM) Hey man

Tim:
(11:03AM) We can just call this day 2 of the “interview.” So, you’re an IG guy, eh?

Josh:
(11:09AM) Hahahaha yeah I think I got IG like a month or two ago and I think I got addicted to it (11:09AM) But I like this addiction?? I feel like I have a better relationship with social media now even tho I'm on it all the time hahaha (11:10AM) Take that AS YOU WILL [Tim gives this a 😂]

Tim:
(11:12AM) What’s with you and that Bugs Bunny image? How did you find it? [Josh gives this a ❤️] 

Josh:
(11:12AM) This is the most important question u have asked (11:13AM) I saw it on twitter and it really spoke to me

Tim:
(11:15AM) Yeah, it kind of says… everything… about life?! I somehow see the concept of America in that image [Josh gives this a ❤️] 

Josh:
(11:19AM) Hahahahahaha (11:19AM) I actually say the pledge of allegiance to that photo every day (11:19AM) I wake up and salute in its direction

Tim:
(11:21AM) It was very funny meeting your parents the other day after the show. I feel like I saw your Matrix code

Josh:
(11:25AM) Hahahaha dude they're wild (11:25AM) I'm def a mix of both of them (11:25AM) I can CONFIRM

Tim:
(11:26AM) Hahaha (11:29AM) I’m a black dude that people think is biracial sometimes. I mean I guess I kind of am. But it feels like “biracial” only counts when you actually know the people and they care about you. Both of my parents are Black and I’ve never seen a white Persian at a family reunion. So my kinda biracial is connected to historical trauma, denial, and mystery. Are you biracial or is your pops just really light skinned? (11:29AM) Shit. Meant to type “person” not Persian

Josh:
(11:30AM) Well Tim you never know maybe one day you'll see a white persian at a family reunion (11:30AM) Just a matter of time bud [Tim gives this a 😂] (11:31AM) Nah I'm biracial tho imagine if I was like "Nah my dad is really really lightskinned"

Tim:
(11:31AM) You should use that flex every now and then [Josh gives this a 😂]

Josh:
(11:33AM) Hahahahaha (11:34AM) My dad is doing a White Chicks every day of his life (11:34AM) It's just paint I swear (11:34AM) Or not paint if he used PAINT that'd be insane (11:34AM) Whatever u get the bit I'm making

Tim:
(11:38AM) Yeah. They’re both so sweet and clearly very proud of you. Your mom was, like, rating every comedian based on how clean their material is. Did that kind of thing make you rebellious as a kid? (11:40AM) I found it very endearing, by the way. I definitely lucked out by not cursing at all during my set

Josh:
(11:49AM) Oh I hated it for a long time now im kinda like whatever that's how she is but when I was a kid I hated it so much hahaha (11:49AM) I don't know if it made me rebellious tho? I still love my mom I think it def didn't stop me from cursing tho hahaha

Tim:
(11:55AM) I had a pretty similar dynamic with my parents. I remember my dad found a sci-fi short story I was writing once in middle school and it had a curse word in it. He wasn’t a fan. You have an interesting sense of wholesomeness in your comedy while clearly covering edgy topics. Do you think that balancing act comes from your upbringing? [Josh gives this a ❤️]  (12:02PM) We’ll ease out of the deep questions at some point, I swear

Josh:
(12:13PM) No im always down for deep man no rush (12:13PM) And I've honestly never thought of my act like that but honestly maybe that is where it comes from hahaha (12:13PM) I always like the "kids shows but for adults" gags and shows so that might be why my act is like that as well (12:14PM) I'm learning about myself rn

Tim:
(12:42PM) That’s great! I know you have a deep love of cartoons. What are some of your favorites? [Josh gives this a ❤️] 

Josh:
(1:05PM) Fuck hell yeah i like infinity train Steven universe, growing up I fuckin LOVED Ed Edd n Eddy that cartoon had a huge influence on me I like fosters home a lot and there's so many others but these r the big ones that come to mind

Tim:
(1:08PM) Interesting. What’s our age difference? I’m 34 and definitely watched Ed, Ed, n Eddy but it didn’t hit me as hard as it did one of my younger cousins who was really into cartoons

Josh:
(1:08PM) I'm 13 years old (1:08PM) Nah jkjk I'm 26 so mayb this is WHY (1:08PM) Also the later seasons of Ed Edd n eddy r the better seasons

Tim:
(1:09PM) Who is the best Ed in your opinion? (1:14PM) Also, yeah. I feel like there are a lot of weird cutoffs when you’re a kid. You’re growing so rapidly! Like, Sponge Bob was cool to watch but didn’t define me the way it did kids slightly younger than me. But, then again, there are people my exact same age who are obsessed with it.

Josh:
(1:20PM) Yea I think it depends on the cartoon and you as a person! Like I didn't grow up with the last Airbender but when I saw it as an adult it really hit me hard (1:21PM) Some shows aren't for everyone and that's a ok baby (1:21PM) Best ed is a hard question (1:21PM) I liked Ed and double d (edd) for equally different reasons (1:21PM) I like eddy a lot but compared to the other two he wasn't my fav

Tim:
(1:27PM) What made the later seasons better than the rest? That’s so rare. Usually the last few seasons of a show are an empty shell of what it once was.

Josh:
(1:43PM) I think its cause the characters were so figured out at that point, the use of sound effects in that show I think is so good too and it got better as it went on (1:43PM) Also just felt like everyone was having more fun :')

Tim:
(1:47PM) Does being 26 make you gen z or are you at the lunch table with me and the millennials?

Josh:
(1:58PM) Hahahahahaha (1:58PM) I think it depends who u ask (1:59PM) I'm in a WEIRD middle

Tim:
(2:10PM) Now, if I were a horrible interviewer I’d try and force you to connect that to your biracial experience

Josh:
(2:27PM) Hahahaha all the different generations are famously different races (2:28PM) "Gen Z is like this, millennials are like this" [Tim gives this a 😂]

Tim:
(2:51PM) It does make sense though. Especially in terms of all the things you do. You’re a standup, you play banjo, you sing and produce music… I feel like our generations are the first to ease back into what “old Hollywood” talent meant. Like, Sammy Davis Jr. could sing, dance, do standup and act. Now we have people like Donald Glover doing the same but on his own terms. What was your first official pursuit? Comedy, singing, or playing instruments? [Josh gives this a ❤️] 

Josh:
(4:14PM) Damn this is a cool question (4:15PM) I think singing?? But then I went through a period where people thought I was better at making em laugh then singing

Tim:
(4:33PM) Where were you singing? We’re you a church choir kid?

Josh:
(4:41PM) Nah but my grandma was like a trained opera singer and she would encourage us to sing a bunch hahahaha (4:42PM) And then would do plays and musicals as a kid blah blah blah

Tim:
(4:48PM) Woah!! What?! Important question alert: white grandma or Black grandma?

Josh:
(4:49PM) Black grandma BABY [Tim gives this a 😂]

Tim:
(4:50PM) I knew it! (4:51PM) That’s so cool. I don’t know much about opera. Did she do many performances?

Josh:
(4:54PM) This is the most I KNOW hahahaha (4:54PM) I gotta ask my mom (4:54PM) She was in the military as well? But as like a civilian or something like that idk (4:54PM)I gotta ask my mom now you've inspired me

Tim:
(4:59PM) Yeah, you should. One thing about Black families: we be having secrets. [Josh gives this a 😂] (5:00PM) It’s awesome that she inspired so much singing and acting. I bet your mom sees glimpses of her when you perform. Which must be extra weird given the topics you cover, lol [Josh gives this a 👍] (5:13PM) Which, I suppose, leads me to my next question about your music. You have this song called “simpin’” that I absolutely love. It’s very catchy, and incredibly funny. I honestly don’t know why it isn’t the national anthem [Josh gives this a ❤️]  (5:13PM) How did that song come about?

Josh:
(6:26PM) Hahahahaha I basically wrote it cause I wanted to write a song about a guy who was so in love (6:27PM) And I mean it's a comedy song but also I love love and I love simpin (6:27PM) I have a new version of the song coming out that I honestly think is way better (6:28PM) Listening to that old song I think its CRINGE in a way that I am not into anymore (6:28PM) But thank u for the nice words Tim even tho new version is gonna b WAY BETTER

Tim:
(6:38PM) I can’t wait to hear it. What about the old version has that cringe factor for you? Is it the sample or the hat you’re wearing in the video?

Josh:
(6:43PM) Maybe just me rapping tbh?? Maybe in my heart I know im not a rapper hahaha (6:43PM) The new version is a lil more lofi R&B (6:43PM) Which I feel is more me?

Tim:
(6:43PM) Ah, yes… the singer emerges!! [Josh gives this a ❤️]

Josh:
(6:46PM) Hahahaha damn thats true (6:46PM) Maybe I just like it more cause I sing?? (6:47PM) That probs is it

Tim:
(6:52PM) Is there any banjo in the album?

Josh:
(10:08PM) DAMN I WISH DUDE (10:08PM)  Maybe I can find somewhere to fit it in (10:08PM) Might be too late

Tim:
(10:14PM) How long have you been playing that thing? Is it difficult?

Josh:
(10:30PM) It's not cause I'm playing a banjo uke (10:30PM) Slightly less impressive hahahaha (10:31PM) I've been learning how to do the finger pickings but it's tough (10:31PM) Probs gonna take some time

DAY THREE (THURSDAY 01-19-2023)

Tim:
(8:40AM) I mentioned to you at the show that I love seeing Black people play the banjo! It’s an African instrument! Yet the first two people I think of are Steve Martin and Kermit. (9:22AM) Is there a theme to the album?

Josh:
(10:59AM) And Kermit is FAMOUSLY black (10:59AM) Yeah it's called Songs About Love and they're all love songs (more or less, there's 2 that are barely love songs but shhhh don't tell)

Tim:
(11:23AM) Would you say love is a theme in your comedy in general?

Josh:
(11:28AM) Hmmmmmm that's tough (11:28AM) Song wise yes (11:28AM) It's probs easiest for me to write about love in that regard (11:29AM) But like stand up wise I think it's easier for me to write about WHATEV

Tim:
(11:37AM) I do think there’s a sense of unity you bring in your comedy. There’s an “it’s all good though” vibe even though you’re pointing out all these absurdities about race, etc. Sort of that “kids show” thing you mentioned yesterday. Where does that energy come from? [Josh gives this a ❤️] 

Josh:
(11:42AM) Maybe it's cause I'm such a negative person deep down and in my brain I'm like "I shouldn't be like this on stage" hahahaha

Tim:
(11:46AM) I totally feel that. I can be an extremely bitter person but it’s hard for most people to believe. Is performing cathartic for you? Something about the high of a good show definitely calms me down for a good three days or so.

Josh:
(12:00PM) It def is but emphasis on good show (12:01PM) Hahahahaha [Tim gives this a 😂] (12:01PM) Bad show depends most times I can brush it off but there r some where I will silently spiral hahahah

Tim:
(12:02PM) I haven’t met negative Josh and I don’t think you’ve met bitter Tim yet, or have you?

Josh:
(12:14PM) I have not met bitter tim! (12:14PM) At least I don't think I have

Tim:
(12:21PM) Good! Just checking. (12:21PM) What are the negative feelings you have? Are they pointed at the industry? Society? Or is it personal?

Josh:
(12:34PM) I think its always ultimately personal?? I can blame the industry and society as much as I want and while there are parts of both of those things that should be blamed I think it puts me in a headspace where I'll just not work because I think "the world is against me" (12:34PM) There are things to blame but it's not good for me personally to blame those things cause it destroys my brain (12:34PM) Does that make sense??

Tim:
(12:42PM) Yeah, totally! Over the years I’ve found that the odd beauty of the industry is that everyone in it has that same base frustration. Realizing that makes every interaction we have with each other that much more fascinating. We’re all doing this stuff for reasons that are hard to explain. And the “industry” itself is more of a concept than it is a real thing. Gets pretty trippy. But your right, the work is all that matters in the end. Whether you get famous for it or not. [Josh gives this a ❤️] (12:59PM) I want to talk about your perfectionism, because it’s something I admire about gen z and people like yourself in the middle. I get this overwhelming sense that you’re okay with waiting for the right moment, delaying releases, and just sort of not giving in to the demands of all the apps. For instance, you literally JUST joined Instagram. Some of the coolest young people I know are extreme minimalists who maybe post one thing a year. Do you connect with that on a generational level at all? A few examples of your perfectionism being the remaking of “simpin’” and making a web series (featuring me!) that’s been sitting in a vault for years!!

Josh:
(2:00PM) That's wild I feel like most people my age are posting all the time and it's so funny you say that hahaha I think I want things to be perfect but I also would like to post a little more than I do (2:01PM) Idk that's something I'm still trying to figure out tbh

Tim: 
(2:27PM) I get it. I’m just another old man trying to generalize the youth. [Josh gives this a 😂] (2:28PM) You’re from the east coast, right?

Josh:
(2:47PM) I am baby I'm from NEW YORK (state) (2:47PM) Grew up in putnam county (2:47PM) And Tim you're not old at all (2:47PM) You're 13 years old man

Tim:
(2:48PM) Hahaha (2:50PM) I’ve been in the city for about seven years now and last year was the first time I started renting cars every now and then and actually experiencing the rest of the state. What was it like growing up in Putnam? How often would you visit the city?

Josh:
(2:51PM) Putnam is fine!! Some stuff I love some stuff I hate but overall fine! That's probably so vague and literally anyone can say that about anywhere they lived hahahaha (2:51PM) I miss driving a lot tho (2:51PM) That's the one thing I miss HARD

Tim:
(2:54PM) Yeah! I used to love public transportation. I grew up in California where you have to drive to be considered human and it felt so freeing to have other options when I moved to Chicago and later to New York. But now, when I drive I feel so ALIVE! I think it’s just being away from the wheel for so long. (2:54PM) What do you like about driving?

Josh:
(3:17PM) I like that it's me time tbh (3:17PM) And im not in my room (3:17PM) And I listen to music and sing as loud as possible and it will not bother anyone hahahah

Tim:
(3:20PM) Yeah, there’s good thinking time in a car. Some of the best conversations happen in them too. [Josh gives this a ❤️] (3:21PM) What prompted the big move to the city?

Josh:
(3:26PM) Dude I agree HARD (3:27PM) Just comedy stuff! I was like what's the best place I can do comedy near me (3:27PM) And it was NYC baby (3:27PM) Although if I were to do it differently I probs would've started in Chi and came here! There was a period of time where I was bummed I hadn't really lived anywhere besides NYC (3:28PM) Now I've come back around and am happy to be here but probs would've done it diff if I was just starting (3:28PM) NY not NYC***

Tim:
(3:31PM) I often wonder how I would’ve handled comedy if I stayed in L.A. as I started. I think being so close to family wouldn’t hindered me and made me less experimental. That doesn’t seem to hold you back though, which is great! How did your folks take it when they realized your passion was in the arts? (3:33PM) Also, happy to report that my puppy is successfully neutered [Josh gives this a ❤️] (3:33PM) Picking him up now [Josh gives this a ❤️]

[Josh gives this a ❤️] (3:34PM) Did you get my question about “the arts”? Sometimes I don’t see it after I hit send but then later it looks like I double asked the question. You’ve been really nice about that so far (3:37PM) Instagram is out to get me

Josh:
(3:53PM) oh hell yeah glad your puppy is ok!!! and yes i just got ur arts question was about to answer RN (3:54PM) my parents were cool! my mom i think more so wants me to be financially stable but my dad was like go for it PLEASE follow ur dreams hahahhaha

Tim:
(4:12PM) That’s the incredible! Is your path different than many of the people you grew up with? What was, like, your SCENE in high school? Please tell me it wasn’t like Euphoria.

Josh:
(4:15PM) Hahahahaha Tim it was exactly like euphoria (4:15PM) Nah it wasn't at all (4:15PM) I hung out with the band kids and the theater kids mainly (4:15PM) And I mean band like school band and rock band kids hahaha (4:15PM) Was super into pop punk growing up (I still am some things never change hahaha)

Tim:
(4:18PM) Pop punk is a funny term. Too punk to be pop. Too pop to be punk. [Josh gives this a ❤️] 

Josh:
(4:19PM) Hahahahaha (4:20PM) Does this also relate to me being mixed??? Maybe Tim maybe..... (4:20PM) No no jkjk

Tim:
(4:20PM) Hahaha (4:20PM) What genre is Pink?

Josh:
(4:20PM) Probs like pop rock pop punkish (4:21PM) Probs more emphasis on the pop side of that equation tho

Tim:
(4:22 PM) What the hell are we doing with all these damn music terms? There are too many at this point [Josh gives this a ❤️] (4:23PM) What if this turns into a rant with me proclaiming we should bring back “race records”? [Josh gives this a 😂] (4:52PM) Are the cliches about school band kids true? Are you all nerdy weirdos? (7:11PM) Since we only have about five more hours of this interview, I’m also curious to know who your comedic influences are.

Josh:
(8:38PM) I think some r nerdy weirdos and some are the coolest people you've ever met in ur life (8:38PM) It really depends HARD (8:39PM) Also hey im back bombed so hard at a mic GOD IS GOOD (8:39PM) I've been HUMBLED (8:40PM) Also fav comics r probs maria bamford Steve Martin bo burnham tenacious d and Eric andre (8:40PM) Those r the BIG ONES

Tim:
(8:44PM) I can definitely see all three of them in your work. This has been a fun chat, man! I’m probably gonna hit the hay soon. But you can use the next three hours sending whatever you want, lol (8:49PM) Also, can you ever REALLY bomb at a mic?

Josh:
(9:44PM) Oh dude this fucking ruled I love this (9:44PM) And Tim baby yes you CAN (9:44PM) Got my ass fucking BEAT tn

END OF INTERVIEW

Did you enjoy this conversation? Let me know what you think in the comments. Anyone you think I should interview in the future? You guessed it — leave a suggestion in the comments!

Craving more? Check out some of the other text interviews here or listen to episodes of my You Are The Genre podcast!