Podcast:The Nightly Published On: Sat Apr 25 2026 Description: Josh Gondelman and Wils Pelton trace the sometimes late-blooming path to becoming a writer and comedian.What You’ll Hear:Origin Stories: From Goosebumps-inspired childhood fiction to award-winning high school plays, Josh and Wils revisit the early moments that made writing feel possible.Comedy as a Calling: A shared love of standup, sitcoms, and joke books turns into something more serious—figuring out how to make a creative life actually work.Timing, Practice, and Patience: On being ready when the moment comes, improving little by little, and why the things you want might arrive five years later than planned.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro & greetings01:30 Childhood stories & first sparks03:50 Starting standup and finding direction05:20 Comedy influences and early obsessions06:20 Interview books and learning the craft10:00 Preparation meets opportunity11:30 The five-year delay mantra13:20 Free throws, tap dancing, and practiceFor the fully immersive, phone free light + sound experience, learn more at hatch.co. Follow us on TikTok @hatchpodcasts and YouTube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.