This profile is part of the Wellth 30, a curated recognition of the leaders building enduring brands, communities, and culture.
Josh Johnson, Emmy-nominated Writer, The Daily Show; Actor, Stand-up Comedian
Josh Johnson writes most of a new stand-up set in the middle of the week, performs it for a live audience a couple of days later, then puts it online.
Sometimes the material has barely been tested. Sometimes the audience is the test.
He has kept that pace while moving through The Daily Show hosting rotation, releasing his first HBO special, hosting the 30th Webby Awards and taking a 34-city tour on the road.
The unusual part is not just the volume. It’s the willingness to keep making things before knowing whether they will work.
Johnson has described the schedule as a “magic carpet” rather than a treadmill. That sounds like a comedian’s line. It’s also a useful description of his operating system: make, test, learn, make again.
