Podcast episode

Lee Smith: US Army Veteran and Comedian

Hosted by Chris Albert

The Warrior Soul Podcast

Lee Smith, Standup Comedian and US Army Veteran

Lee Smith is one of South Florida's funniest standup comedians, and he's a United States Army Veteran.

I met Lee Smith at the Dania Beach Improv, and this guy is absolutely hilarious. Loved his set and he offered me some really great advice after I did mine. Later on, while watching an Instagram clip of him shooting his AK at the range, I found out that he's actually a US Army Veteran. So, I invited him onto the show to talk about his life, his experience in comedy, and his experience as a Veteran. Again. lots of lessons in this one, so be sure to listen with a note pad!

From making music to doing stand-up comedy, Lee Smith is an entertainer’s entertainer. Born and raised in Miami, FL, Lee was placed in Gifted classes in Elementary school. Goofing off in class was an everyday thing, as he still completed his assignments. Elected as Class Clown, he knew that comedy was in the cards dealt to him. Unsure of what to do after high school, Lee enlisted in the US ARMY. From there, he formed lifetime bonds and connections with people. Once out of the military, Lee focused on music, honing his craft. Incorporating lyricism with humor, comedy would still play a role somehow. While watching “Funny People”, an epiphany was had; try doing stand-up comedy. If the people like it, the shift will be towards comedy. Fortunately he received a standing ovation during his first show. Within a year, Lee won the Turkey Fest competition at the Miami Improv. From writing to performing, there isn’t much Lee Smith can’t do to keep you entertained.

Transcript~59 min · Chris Albert & Lee Smith

Machine-generated from the episode audio and lightly edited — may contain errors.

Chris Albert

What is going on, Warrior Soul nation? This is Chris coming back coming back at you with another episode. Got a really great guest for you today. His name is Lee Smith. I first saw Lee at a comedy show about a week and a half ago.

I was at the Dania Beach Improv. Was getting up there myself, and this dude was the first one to get up there, and he had my ass rolling like crazy. Really awesome comic. And then later on, I learned that he is a United States Army veteran who likes AKs, and and I saw him up there on Instagram firing away with his with his AK. But but he also likes ARs too, and we we had to talk about guns.

And, you know, I wanted to get to know him a little bit more because he's hilarious and seemed like a great guy to know. So Lee Smith, welcome to the Warrior Soul podcast.

Lee Smith

Thank you for having me, Chris.

Chris Albert

So yeah, man. Let's talk a little bit about your background. You know, where'd you grow up? How'd you get into the army? And and and what was that all about?

Lee Smith

Okay. So I grew up in Miami, Florida. I I was, in gifted classes early on. I think about second or third grade, I was placed in gifted classes. I was one of those kids that like, I I did my work so fast that I just got bored with everything.

Like, I I I didn't have anything to do. I would just sit around and, like, just look lost or whatever. So they they placed me in gifted classes. I went to I went to Shadowlawn Elementary from from first grade to fourth grade, and I went to Holmes Elementary from, I believe, fifth fifth and sixth grade. Charles Drew Charles Drew middle for seventh and eighth grade. That was before they integrated sixth, seventh, and eighth graders together.

Lee Smith

I went to, was it, Hialeah-Miami Lakes for high school. And I was, you know, I was I was still in in those honors classes, and I I was still bored with everything. I was the class clown at school. Pretty much every year I was in school, and I was able to goof off because I did my work. Like, a lot of kids, they goof off and they don't do their work like me.

You're you're doing it backwards. So, as long as I can produce, I mean, I can I can goof off? I I you know, I have the time for it. And every year I was every year I was in high school from ninth until eleventh grade, everybody thought I was a senior because I always hung up the seniors. So, I remember eleventh grade, they tried nominating me for class clown because everybody thought I was a senior.

They couldn't do it. When I was a senior, nobody believed I was a senior because, like, nobody knew me. So they thought I was a freshman. One class clown. Proudest moment of my life in high school

Chris Albert

That's awesome. Aside from graduating.

Lee Smith

So how I got into the military, I I was an introvert growing up. I I was a kid that would, you know, sit home, play video games. I, you know, I had friends. We we actually did play outside unlike kids today. Like, you Yeah.

You you have to try and pull teeth to get them to go outside. Like, we wanted to go outside. In fact, not being able to go outside was a punishment. Now going outside is punishment. You know?

So I I didn't know what I wanted to do in high school. Right? Well, after high school. I took the ASVAB. I took the ASVAB test only to get out of class.

Like, that was that was the only reason I took the ASVAB, and I made a mistake and scored high. And so so after after high school, I graduated at the age of 17. And, you know, I graduated in June. My birthday isn't until September. So I didn't want to I didn't want to work at a burger joint with a diploma.

Every job I every job I wanted to to have, you had to be 18. My birthday is not until September. I didn't want to sit at home not doing anything. I wanted to I wanted to go to college, but I didn't want to have any student loans because you have to pay them back. So I joined the military.

I I became I became a cook. I became a cook in the army. My logic at 17 was, you know, I'm a I'm a picky eater. So my logic was, if they're gonna teach me how to cook, why not do it? And what woman wouldn't want a man who knows how to cook?

So I became a cook.

Chris Albert

That's awesome, man.

Lee Smith

That's awesome. So Yeah.

Chris Albert

So what was that like? Like, what what was the training like for for for becoming a cook?

Lee Smith

Well, I'm I'm sure as you know, as soon as you're in basic training, like, every everybody is a soldier first. Yeah. So yeah. So, I mean, you you have to you have to train to be a soldier. It was it was Halloween of two thousand two.

Lee Smith

That's when I went to basic training, and I went to Fort Knox, Kentucky. So leaving sunny Miami to go to snowing Fort Knox. Yeah. Like, it was oh my goodness. I still remember that day.

Yeah. It was it was snowing once I arrived to basic training. Boot camp, it was I think it was the best time I've had in the in the army.

Lee Smith

Because you you, you know, you you did something different every day. And like I like I tell a lot of people, I'm I'm grateful for my time in the military because they instill things in you that you just won't get out on the streets.

Lee Smith

So so I I went to I went to Fort Fort Fort Knox for for basic training. Went to Fort Lee, Virginia for AIT. Now in in in basic training, I remember when when we were doing, like, the the intake or whatever where you had to do, like, I think it was, like, 20 push ups, like, 20 sit ups and run, like, a mile or something like that. I think I did about I did about four push ups until I, like, I gave out. I got you know, I was a, like, a little skinny kid.

When I left basic, my last PT test, I scored a 300.

Chris Albert

Oh, wow.

Lee Smith

Yeah. I know. So so so going to AIT and, you know, because, Knox Knox is it was a all male unit. And I'm I'm grateful for that because they they didn't let up on us at Knox. Like, we couldn't couldn't have sugar, couldn't have, like, snacks or any of that.

Our our beverages were basically water.

Lee Smith

That was that was it. So when I went to AIT in Fort Lee, I'm seeing, like, everybody from all these other, forts. I wanna say, especially Fort Jackson. Like, I'm, you know, because and now it's now it's co-ed. So I'm seeing everybody, like, drinking sodas and and eating Danishes.

I'm looking like a bloss. Like, what what is this? What you guys not know about drill sergeants? So I remember one time we we had a run, and they they placed us in in three groups. A group is the fastest. B group is, you know, moderate, and c group is for the slow people. Mhmm. I was I was in I was in a a group, and I tried to fall into the c group, but they knew my PT score.

So they made me run in the front with the a group. So so after after after AIT, I was I had orders to go to Korea. Mhmm. And I think when I got my orders, I I like, I didn't speak to anybody for about two weeks. It's like, I didn't I didn't wanna go overseas Right. Let alone Korea.

And, you know, you you had people trying to tell you how good it was and everything, but, like, I'm not trying to hear that. Like, you can you can save that. It is it's falling on deaf ears. Yeah. So so, at the time alright.

In in in, in basic training. Mhmm. It was it was it was it was Halloween. That's when I got there. Yeah.

Now Thanksgiving and Christmas is coming up. Mhmm. You're in you're in basic for what, like, nine or thirteen weeks or something like that.

Lee Smith

I don't have any vacation days. Nobody has any vacation days. But because the drill sergeants didn't wanna stay with the stay with the privates and everybody, they made us go home. So I went home for two weeks during Christmas.

Chris Albert

Oh, shit.

Lee Smith

Yeah. Now in AIT, they were saying if you're getting deployed overseas, you could take two weeks vacation. So I took another two weeks. When I got to Korea, I'm in the hole for a month. So that whole time, I was I I I had to stay in Korea that whole year.

Now that was that was that was one of my favorite duty stations, Korea. I was I was at Camp Casey. That's where I was stationed at, at Camp Casey. And the the camaraderie between the the the cooks and the mechanics, because they they get what we have to do. Like, they they work those grueling hours the same way that we do. We rarely

Chris Albert

What was your daily schedule like? Like, what time did you have to be at the chow hall? What time what time were you out of there?

Lee Smith

We would we would probably wake up around 04:00.

Lee Smith

Get dressed. We would have to toe the line around maybe five. They check out your cook whites, make sure everything's clean, everything like that, and then we start cooking. The first shift, I believe it was from, like, five 5AM until about 2PM whenever whenever lunch ended.

Lee Smith

And the and the the second shift, I I believe they came on at 10AM until whatever time you got out of there. And sometimes we had those GI parties where everybody had to be at the DFAC. And, it was from, like, 5AM until maybe 8PM, sometimes Yeah. So everybody is in there because somebody messed up now. Everybody has to be in there suffering, cooking all day, cleaning all day.

But Easy. Yeah. It it again, it it it instilled discipline. Yeah.

Chris Albert

Yeah. I I was infantry, and, you know, I I always thought about the MOS is like like cook because everybody's gotta come to the chow hall. Right? So, like, everybody from lowest private up to the base general is gonna walk through there at some point. And so you gotta be on your toes all the time.

And and I always thought about that kind of stuff because infantry, yeah, it's tough being infantry, but, you know, you're out in the field. You're you're you're you're you're having fun and doing things. Like, if you're in one of those MOSs where you gotta gotta be in contact with, you know, the the base CO and all that stuff like that, You you got your uniform's gotta be locked on. Everything's gotta be set for inspection, that kinda thing.

Lee Smith

So Yeah. I remember one time, we had a field exercise, and, like, the the cooks, get treated like trash.

Lee Smith

We were we were sleeping on the back of the, the two and a half ton. So we didn't have we didn't have any tents or anything like that. And it was it was freezing cold. And, like, when you're in those conditions, like, you're not trying to hear anything positive anybody has to say. So I were like, I was told I had no tact.

Oh, man. And that that yeah. That was that was one thing I learned from the military

Lee Smith

Was how how to say the the right thing the right way.

Lee Smith

So, XO gets on to the the MKT, the the mobile kitchen trailer. And it like I said, it's it's freezing cold. He's he's there. He's I think he was getting either, like, super coffee or something like that. And we're already pissed that we have to sleep on the back of the truck.

You're in a warm tent. Like, you have no worries in the world. And he he he gets on the MKT, and he's like, how's everybody doing? And I looked at him. I'm like, effing terrible.

Like, Sergeant Cortez, can I see you for a minute? So so, yeah, I I I learned how to be tactful in a lot of situations, so I would thank the military for that.

Chris Albert

Well, so you did Korea. Did you, did you get stationed anywhere else? Did you guys ever go on deployments or anything?

Lee Smith

When I when I was in Korea, that's when I that's when I met my my son's mom. She was a cook too. And, yeah, we so we we met we met at a we met at a club somewhere in somewhere in South Korea, obviously, not North Korea. But but yeah. But we were talking. We I think we met in, like, September 2003.

Lee Smith

And we, you know, we were talking to Dayton. And maybe, like, two months after we started, dating, she wanted to get married. I'm like, oh, no. I mean, we can still have sex, but no. So so and I was I was young and dumb. I was, what, 19 at the time, and she told me she was on birth control, which turned out to be a lie. I ended up getting her pregnant, and I I left I left before her. I left Korea and went to, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Okay. And she she went to Fort Campbell as well.

So, like, even though I I even though she said I got him pregnant, didn't really believe it or whatever. So we, we met we crossed paths in in a Walmart one day.

Lee Smith

And, you know, I said, hey. What's up? And we exchanged numbers, and that was it. I think she was upset that I just didn't engage and, you know, have a longer conversation or ask her how she's been or anything like that. So fast forward, she she pretty much loses custody.

It was like drug abuse and child neglect. And, you know, Fort Campbell, it borders it borders Kentucky and

Chris Albert

Tennessee.

Lee Smith

Right. Mostly it's mostly on the Tennessee side, but because the post office is on the Kentucky side, they just say Kentucky. Mhmm. So my son, he was about, I wanna say, eight months old. He, you know, he was born prematurely and everything.

So he was taken he was taken, by the state of Tennessee, and he was placed in a foster home.

Chris Albert

Oh, man.

Lee Smith

And, yeah, she, like, she had every opportunity to get him. Like, they the state contacted everybody that was on her side of the family first. Like, they she was she was married, so they tried to give custody to her husband, but, like, he he pissed hot. I think they went for her brother. Same thing.

Like, like, everybody on her side of the family, they went to first. I was the last resort. Because I don't do drugs, my urine was clean.

Lee Smith

Now I I was I was living I was living on post at the time, and my unit was was getting deployed. I was I was on rear D.

Lee Smith

I was I was on rear D because I was getting an article 15, like two or three of them. That's neither here nor there. Just know I was on just know I was on rear D. So Yeah. I I was I was staying in the barracks, and the only way that I could get custody is if I had a place off post.

Now I explained this to the chain of command, but they they they didn't want me, like, going going through everything, trying to get a place off post. It was a it was a a think she was like a like a KP. She was KP. She was new in the DFAC. And we were talking, and I told her about my situation.

So me and her, we we got a place off post. She helped me get a place off post. And once I got the place off post, now now they wanna give me, like, BAH and everything like that to help me out. So I I basically took it upon myself to get a place off post so I can get custody of my son. I I took a DNA test.

He was turned out to be mine. I went through parenting classes. I did visitations with the foster home.

Lee Smith

So, yeah, this was this was, 2000 this was, like, I wanna say May or June 2005. I was I was doing all of this, and I got physical custody of him in December 2005. So he was he was born June 2004. I I've had I've had custody of him since he was one years old. And, yeah, he's he'll be 18 this year.

Chris Albert

Oh, wow.

Lee Smith

That's Yeah. So so

Chris Albert

I crazy story, man. So, like, you didn't know that that you didn't even know that she had had a baby, but then they'd got in touch with you. And then

Lee Smith

No. I I I knew she I knew she had a child. I just didn't know it was mine.

Chris Albert

Gotcha. Gotcha. And then all of a sudden, it's kind of it's kind of thrust on you to be a parent. And wow. That's that that's pretty insane, man.

Lee Smith

Well, actually, it it wasn't thrusted upon me because I could have easily said, no. I don't want responsibility. You can Mhmm. Just keep him in a foster home. Mhmm.

But me, I wasn't I was my dad wasn't there. So I I know how it feels to to not be wanted and everything like that. I told myself that I wouldn't do that to my child. So my my dad not being there made me the great father I am because it showed me what not to do and how not to be a parent.

Lee Smith

Now as far as the article fifteens go, had I not done what I did, I would have been deployed, and I wouldn't have been able to get custody of my son. So That's crazy. Would I do yeah. Would I do it all all over again the same way? Yes. I would.

Chris Albert

Yeah. Me ask you this because I I come from a similar background. Never knew my dad. You know, never knew who the hell he was, never even seen a picture of the guy.

How did that change you as a person, you know, becoming a parent and and, you know, having that extra responsibility. And and I don't have any kids today, so, like like, I'd hear people talk about how kids change them and and things like that, but I don't know. How did that change you, and and what kind of impact does it has it had on you as a man?

Lee Smith

Like I said, before the military, I was an I was an introvert. When I went in, it it sort of opened my you know, because I'm I'm fresh out of high school. It opened my eyes to see the world of how it really is, and that's when that's when I I I came out of my shell. And having having my son, when he when he got of age, I wanna say maybe around, like, five five or six, we would go somewhere every year. Like, every summer, I'd take him to, like, a theme park or out of town.

Even if it were just me and him, I just do something with him because, you know, kids, they remember that stuff Right. When they get older. And, like, I I never never had that with my I believe my my biological dad, he was he was in my life the two years I was in junior high. And I think that was just because he needed a place to stay. I don't know.

So but he he was, like, he was physically living with me for those two years after that. Nothing. So now that now that I I have a kid, like I said, I know what to do and what not to do and how to be a good parent. Everything he's done or didn't do, it's basically what I'm gonna use as a a learning lesson to raise my son to be the the the best dad that I can be. And right now, like because I'm I'm 37.

I my dad, he he's my my biological dad, he he's tried to contact me and everything, but it's like like peep and some people tell me I shouldn't be this way, but, you know, I tell them it's it's really nothing you can do to like, there's nothing you can do or say that I will listen to, because I'm I'm already a grown man. Like, you can't teach me anything. Like, everything in life I've learned on my own. So, like, what can you teach me that I haven't learned already? You know?

And even if you are trying to tell me something, I'm not gonna listen to you because you're pretty much a stranger to me. You're, like, just some random guy on the street.

Lee Smith

And I I remember, he he texted me one day, like, out of the blue. And I responded, and he said something else. And I just told him, look, man. Let me stop you right here. It's nothing we have to talk about.

You can just stop texting me. And he he contacted my mom, and he was like, what's up with your boy? He he told me to stop stop talking to him. And she was like, yeah. You're right.

He's right because you've you've never been there for him. So Right. I mean, what does what can you do for him that he can't do for himself? So I

Chris Albert

And that that that's an important point to make here, I think, because, like, you know, I think people try to interject themselves in your life. Right? Like, when it's convenient for them.

Chris Albert

Right. And I think a lot of people out there, they want that emotional attachment to to something to to this thing they built up in their mind, like, oh, maybe we can rekindle our relationship and things like that. But but that's here's the thing. I think that's a trap that so many people fall into because, you know, you gotta be you. And and if you've got some person who's just gonna interject themselves in your life when it's convenient for them, what are they actually doing for you?

Are they helping you to improve your life? Probably not. They're probably just gonna bring extra drama and extra extra stress to your life. You know what I mean? So so I definitely feel you on that, man.

Like, I think that that, too many of us fall into those traps socially because and that's why we keep toxic people in our lives too long.

Lee Smith

Yeah. That that's the thing. Like like I said, so so with my with my son, even though I've I've had, like, I I've had custody of him. Like, I I have full custody of him. I've never talked bad to him about his mom.

Lee Smith

Like, she she really just doesn't want to be a part of his life. So I, you know, I I never bastard or anything. I said I would let him see for himself how she is. Like, she she had she has visitation rights, but she doesn't she doesn't try to visit him. So, you know, I don't I don't I don't keep him away from her.

Same thing with my dad. Like, yeah, you messed up with me, but here, here's your grandson. Messed it up again. Drop the ball. So it's it's not like he it's not like he tried to get to know me.

It's not like he tried to get to know my son. So, I mean, like, I mean, what else do you want me to do? Like, it was Right. It was another chance for you to at least try and right some of your wrongs or whatever. So

Chris Albert

No. Exactly. Exactly. What so so you had that happen. How much longer did you stay in the army for?

Lee Smith

I got hit with stop loss. I I was supposed to ETS 10/31/2005.

Lee Smith

Because my unit was getting deployed, you know, I got hit with stop loss, and I was also, like, getting those article fifteens. So after, like, after I got the AR fifteens and everything, it was basically time for me to get out. But apparently, nobody knew where my paperwork was. I was in for about eight months. You know, they they kept passing the buck.

They kept telling me, oh, they can't find it, or this person has it or whatever. I went down myself to look for the paperwork. Guess what they found?

Chris Albert

My paperwork.

Lee Smith

So, yeah, aft after that, that's that's when I that's when I got out. So I I did, like, a total of three years or eight months.

Chris Albert

Mhmm. And what what'd you do next? What was what was your next thing?

Lee Smith

I I got out the I got out the army. I stayed in Tennessee for about I got out in in July 2006. I stayed in Tennessee until December 2006 because I I like, I felt like I I just needed a mental break. Like, I've been, you know, in the army for so long. I I I just need a a vacation from it all.

When I when I left when I left the when I left the, state of Tennessee, I came back to Florida, and I applied for a job as a cook at the Hyatt. That's all I knew how to do. I was cook. So so I I became a cook at the Hyatt. I did that for about, I wanna say about three years. Mhmm. Did that for about three years.

Stopped working at the Hyatt. I I was I was looking for another job. I remember I was filling out an application at Applebee's to be a cook. And this temp agency called me. It was the city of Miami Gardens.

And they they said, you know, we we wanna offer you a change of occupation. We want you to do something different. So I basically left the application on the table and just walked out of Applebee's. And the next day, I was I was at the city of Miami Gardens as a as a temp. And so I was a I was a desk clerk.

Mhmm. And they had they had, like, plenty of temps before me, but they were they were dropping like house flies. When when I when I entered the building, they were running out of work for me to do, you know, because I I had that I had that military mentality. Let's just let's just get it done. Like, it's it's no it's no breaks until it's everything is done.

And that's that's one thing that they loved about me was was that I was I was dedicated to getting the job done. And when I when I was there, it was like two other temps. Like, I was I was doing my work and theirs. And eventually, they they were let go. And I was I was a temp for about a year.

The the supervisor, she didn't know where the money was coming from or how she was getting it, but she knew she was she wanted to keep me on, and I was I was getting paid like that. So eventually eventually it stopped. The the the temp job, it stopped. But it was it was like, I wanna say, like, a a month later, one of the other departments, they caught wind of me, and they picked me up for a little while. And the position that I was doing as a temp for a code enforcement, it opened up online.

So I applied for it, and I got the job. Did that for about a year, being a a desk clerk. The position for a housing inspector opened up. I didn't think I was good enough for it, but they told me to apply anyway. So I applied, and I got the job.

So I went from making, like, $9 an hour as a temp to, I wanna say, like, $20 an hour within two years.

Chris Albert

Oh, wow.

Lee Smith

Yeah. Again, it I I I have the military to thank for instilling those values because, like, it's the the thing is once once you've once you've been in the military, more specifically, I wanted to I'm not I'm not, like, hating or anything on the other branches, but more specifically, army army, navy, and marines from what I've heard. Once once you've done once you've done that, everything in the civilian world is is just it's easy.

Lee Smith

You know? So you I mean, you you you've been through the ringer. Like, it's nothing that you can throw at me that hasn't been done to me already. So a lot of things that the average person would complain about, we'll look at it and be like, what are you what are you mad about? What's what's what's the problem?

You know? So that that's that's a that was one good thing about it.

Chris Albert

That's that's important. And I think I think the other thing that's important is your mindset when you got out, you know, you had this new thing come across your desk, and it it it probably wasn't within because a lot of people get out and they think, oh, you know, I was an infantryman. What can I do? Or or, oh, I was a cook. I gotta be a cook for the rest of my life.

And you had this new thing come across your desk. You decided to give it a shot, and you put everything you could into it, you know, and and that helped you move forward.

Lee Smith

Yeah. The the thing about me, it's it's not much that I can't do. Mhmm. So I'll I'll I'll give anything a shot as long as it makes sense. You know?

I I was I was there when they told us, alright. Take these sandbags over here. Move them over there. Alright. Now take those sandbags over there and move them over here.

Like, I've I've been there. So as long as it as long as it makes sense, I'll I'll give it a shot. Like, I I didn't I didn't have anything against office work. It's just all I knew how to do was be a cook. Mhmm.

So but, yeah, I wasn't I wasn't, I wasn't against, working in an office. It was it was new. But Yeah. Because of what I did, it was oh, man. It was so easy.

Chris Albert

Let me ask you this. When when did you get into comedy? Because you're you're an outstanding comedian. I was Thank you. Like I said, you know, you were the first one to get up there at the at the improv the other night, and, you had me rolling.

You had the whole place rolling. You know? Thank you. Some of yeah. I mean, it was it was awesome.

When when did you get into that? What made you decide to get into it, and and how'd you start?

Lee Smith

Alright. So in in high school, like I said, I was I was a I was a class clown. It was it was me and, like, maybe three or four other guys. What we would do one one of the guys, he he was like the the the rapper out of the bunch, And hanging around him made me realize that I could, you know, I could rap as well. So what we would do is basically, like, freestyle jokes and just have a a crowd of people around us.

And it was, it was in the army when more specifically in in Korea. I I met a guy. He was from Virginia, and he knew he knew somebody that was on a a base. It it was camp next to ours. He he was from Virginia as well, so all three of us rapped.

And the guy that was was in my unit, he he introduced me to the other guy, and that guy gave me some recording software. So from that, I was you know, I I basically self taught myself how to record music, and I picked up little tricks along the way. When I got out, I got up with a gentleman that I went to high school with, and he was with a a group of guys that used to do music. Well, they still do music, but he was with a a group that did music, and they sort of recruited me. Now the whole time is alright.

With with music with music, it's it's it's it's a lot harder to get stage time when you're when you're just starting out. So I I didn't do that many shows. Now, again, I was I was always funny. I always try to incorporate some type of humor in my in my music. And I was watching Funny People.

Chris Albert

Oh, I'm gonna pause it real quick.

Lee Smith

So with, with Funny People, Adam Sandler, he's he's basically a a comedian that has cancer. And he he like, he's held up the cancer or whatever. That's the gist of it. Like, I I haven't seen it in a while, but, I mean, he he just know that he's a comedian. So I, you know, I had an epiphany.

I said, I would try and do stand up one day. If it works out, I'll just I'll I'll stop doing music, and I will put my all into doing comedy. And the first show I did, it was it was at the Miami Improv. It was, like, two days before Christmas.

Lee Smith

I went up, and everybody loved it. Like, I got a standing ovation. So I basically just stopped doing music, and I started doing I started doing stand up comedy. And within the first year I was doing it, I won the the turkey contest, the the turkey contest that the the improv has. So that was a that was a good feeling.

Chris Albert

What's the turkey contest? How's that run?

Lee Smith

So, basically, in, around Thanksgiving, the improv has, they they have, like, this turkey contest where where essentially it's a it's a group of comedians that they they bring people or whatever, and the audience judges who was the best comedian. So I believe it's, like, two rounds. So the the first round, they pick maybe, like, four people or something like that to move on to the second round. And with the second round, that's when they pick the winner of the contest. And, I mean, granted, it was like, like, $50, but I mean, I still won. So, you know, within within within a year of starting, comedy, it was it was a good feeling. But it's it's not it's to me, it's really not about the money. It's it's when you when you're on stage and you get that that that big laugh from everybody, it's, like, it's no other high I can describe that feels just like that.

Chris Albert

I mean, it's addictive.

Lee Smith

Yeah. I I've I've never been high high too often, But I can imagine there's nothing else like it. Like, I have I haven't shot heroin or nothing like that or maybe a edible or two, but that's about it.

Chris Albert

Heroin. Well, don't let me get into that. But, yeah, we won't talk about that. But, yeah, man. You're right.

It is addictive. You know? Like, I've been doing it since November, and, like, you know, if I'm not on stage for more than three days, then I start to get, like, holy shit. I gotta get back on stage. That's Jinx.

Yeah.

Lee Smith

Start jonesing.

Chris Albert

Yeah. So so what is it you know, because I I see people out there and and, you know, I'm a new comic. So we have, like I guess closest thing is, like, a cohort. Right? Like, I see new comics around going to open mics and things like that.

And, like, it seems to, like, really work for some people. It seems to not work for others. Right? And it seems like some people kinda, like, have a natural natural thing to them. Some people gotta work harder at it.

Some people, it just ain't gonna happen. But what's the thing, you know, in in a person like you who who kinda took took it on naturally, what is that thing that that helps them be good at it?

Lee Smith

So the the what now this is just my personal opinion. And you you'll have people who wholeheartedly disagree, but I feel like comedy is one of those things that can't be taught. Like, it's either in you or it's not. Now people can probably teach you how to say things a certain way, but as as far as it being in you, like alright. For for example, I'm I'm sure you've seen my size in, like, five, eight, maybe a hundred sixty pounds.

Right. Hundred seventy on a good day if I've been eating all week. But I'm not a you know, I'm I'm not the stature of a a football player. So, like, I'm not I'm not gonna go out there on the the Dolphins training camp and and try and prove myself to be a football player. Like, comedy is just one of those things.

Like, either either it's in you or it isn't. And some people, it I mean, it's it's it comes natural to them, quicker than others. But the the thing that I like about comedy is that there are no rules to it. Right. Like like, there there's there's really like, people can tell you all the time how you should do comedy, how comedy is supposed to be done.

Whatever makes the people laugh, say it. I mean, like, I so I I I personally again, this is just me. I I personally dislike comics or comedians that are, social media personalities. Like, if that's where you started

Lee Smith

And that's all you're doing, you're you're you're really not a comedian.

Chris Albert

You're Right.

Lee Smith

You know, you're you're just online doing stuff. Until you've gotten onto a stage and proven yourself, like, you're you're really not a comedian. You're just someone online that's getting a a couple of laughs here and there. And I've I've seen it I've seen it plenty of times where you will have social media personalities who deem themselves as comedians only to get on stage and think that what they did online will translate on stage. And, like, those those are two totally different monsters.

Mhmm. And that that's that's what a that's what a lot of people don't understand. Like, stand up comedians, we have the we have the hardest job of entertainment because you can't with with music, they already know what they're getting into. With stand up, you have to be able to figure out everybody in the audience to try and make them come on one accord and make them laugh at the same thing. And especially with today's climate, like, ish, it's it's it's it's awful.

Lee Smith

But it it can be done, but it it it takes it takes some work to to do so.

Chris Albert

Let me ask you this too because, like, you know, we're in a time and place where everybody's trying to get pissed off at something. Right?

Chris Albert

And and, you know, we we've had a lot of incidents with, like, Dave Chappelle. Mhmm. You You know, he's had his very famous very famous incident. You know, Tony Hinchcliffe who got in trouble a little while ago and things like that. It seems like it's getting harder and harder for comedians to do their job, which is kinda like, in my opinion, holding a mirror up to society and saying Right.

You know, this is funny. Right? Or look at how ludicrous this is or or shit like that. What do you think about all that? Like like, do you think this is a phase?

Do you think it'll pass?

Lee Smith

It's always funny until the joke's on you, and and that's that seems to be today's culture. People can't take a joke nowadays. And like you said, everybody just wants to be upset about something. Like, it it doesn't even have to make sense. They they they just feel like they need to be upset, and people are let's just face it.

They're too sensitive these days, and that's that's the one thing. The the the one thing about comedians is to basically escape reality, but at the same time, putting that mirror up to reality.

Lee Smith

So, mean, yeah, it's an ugly truth, but it it has to be said.

Lee Smith

So just because it's about you doesn't mean it's not funny. You were just laughing at this guy over here, But now when it's your turn to be the butt of the joke, oh, you went too far.

Lee Smith

And that's that's, like, that's something that just really doesn't sit right with a lot of a lot of people.

Chris Albert

Yeah. Have you and I I don't wanna get in, like, names of rooms or anything like that, but, like, have you ever been in rooms where, you know, it it they they were a little bit restrictive in what you could do, and and how do you handle those types of situations?

Lee Smith

Not really. If if it's a like, I can I can pretty much do whatever is asked of me? So I've I've done I've done, like, events in churches. I've done charity events with nothing but kids, and I've done events where it's nothing but adults that just want that dirty stuff.

Lee Smith

And, you know, if if I'm not if I'm not re like, they rarely put restrictions or limitations. It's always good to do some reconnaissance and know what you're getting into before you actually go on stage. Like, sometimes I'll if if I know I'm performing somewhere, I I try to at least check that spot out a week in advance just so I just so I know what I'm doing. Because you can you can do one set tonight and kill at a spot. You can do that same set the next night and bomb.

Lee Smith

It's it's it's all it's all about knowing your audience. I sometimes I I go in with the purpose of pissing somebody off. But it's it's it's all it's all in good fun in nature.

Lee Smith

But as as far as far as restrictions go, the the the the the clubs, they rarely put restrictions on you. It's the audience members that want to be upset about nothing.

Lee Smith

Like, we we basically came here to let loose and have a good time, and you want to be the one to come to a comedy show and get upset about comedy. Like, you can I never understood that? Like, nobody is keeping you here hostage. You can easily walk out and not watch the rest of the show, but you want to sit there and watch the rest of the show just so you can talk through the rest of the show about how bad the rest of the show is. Like, just leave.

Yeah. Like, it's really that simple.

Chris Albert

No. That's that's insane to me as well. That's insane to me as well. One of the things I wanted to ask you too is because I there's a lot of funny people in the veteran community, you know, like, of the most hilarious people I've ever met or people I served with. If if somebody wants to try stand up comedy, what what should they do?

Lee Smith

Do it. I would say I would say do it. If you can get and I tell people, if you can get on stage, you can do stand up comedy. Now whether you're funny or not, there's something totally different. But Right. Just just getting on that stage because a lot of people get staged right.

And I I would say I would say do it. Do as many shows as you can. Just keep at it. Keep writing. Whatever you write, don't throw it away.

It's because it's it's been times where I've I've written something, never looked at it. Maybe, like, two, three years later, looked at it again. Oh, I can use this. I can, you know, I can add such and such to it. Yeah.

So I would I would just say just just stay on stage. Build those relationships with people. When you have a when you have a good rapport with people, it it it goes a long way.

Chris Albert

Mhmm. Yeah.

Lee Smith

But just just try to stay on stage as as as much as possible. I I I I sort of study people on what not to do because I don't I I don't I don't want to be compared to the next guy. Like, I've a a lot of times, I'll go on South Beach, and I I I have no problem with talking to strangers. Like, I'll just walk up to random people and, like, start joking around. And a lot of times, I don't know if it's the way I talk or whatever, but I've been I've been compared to Dave Chappelle.

I've been compared to, like, Kevin Hart, stuff like that. Now I I appreciate the I appreciate the comparisons, but I I I wish not to be compared to anybody. I want to be that guy you're comparing people to. Like, who do you who do you compare Dave Chappelle to? Who do you compare Kevin Hart to?

Exactly. That's that's the person I I want to be. So that's why I try not to be like anybody else. But I, yeah, I would say just just try to find your own identity. It won't come overnight.

It it may may take three months. It may take three years.

Lee Smith

Just try to be the best you that you can be on stage just and just keep at it. Consistency is key.

Chris Albert

Yeah. No. That's absolutely important. I think, like, a lot of it it's easy for somebody to do something for a month or, like, even it's even easy to for somebody to do something for a year, but but being able to do it constantly and consistently for for, you know, years on years on years and and trying to perfect yourself at it, that's that's an entirely different thing.

Lee Smith

Yeah. Yeah. I I I started in two thousand two thousand nine.

Lee Smith

That's when I started comedy. I've I've been off and on with it with it, and I, you know, I I moved to Atlanta to try it. That didn't work out. Moved back to Miami. So I even though I haven't been doing stand up a lot, I've been I've been trying to tackle comedy in a a different way.

So it's it's not like it's not like I I've stopped doing comedy. I'm just I was just going about it at a different way. So a a few people that I've I've recently met, they kind of got me into the habit of getting back on stage every night and stuff like that. And now I'm just just trying to shake that rust off or whatever. So it's, I think it's going, pretty pretty well.

And it's it's the it's the younger it's the younger comedians that kinda make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside when they ask me for for advice and stuff like that.

Chris Albert

Oh, that's awesome. That's awesome. Anybody ask me for advice on anything, I get all warm and fuzzy. You know? Somebody asked me for directions the other day.

I give them a hug. I was like, I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. Where where so where are you taking this? What what what are your plans for the next year or so?

Lee Smith

So the the the way the way my life has been, it's it's it's sort of it's sort of like the butterfly effect. If the simplest thing would have changed, I wouldn't be where I'm at right now.

Lee Smith

And I, you know, I I had to I had to just sit back and assess everything from the past. For instance, the situation with with my son, had I not received those article fifteens and been on rear D, I wouldn't have had custody of him. Mhmm. Every everything everything that you do, and, again, this is just my belief, everything that you do is for a purpose. Like, you may meet someone.

You you may have met someone ten years ago, like, at a party or something. Had a good time. Never even thought about it a day after that that evening. Ten years later, you may have ran into them, and they might they might have been the person that you needed to, like, secure a bank loan or or help with a position or just take you to that next level. So all because all because of a a conversation you had ten years ago.

So I I don't I don't think I don't think anything is done by accident. I feel like everything is done by design simply because of the way my life has been. I try to take it one day at a time. When stuff looks bleak and not so great, I I I I don't I don't get down about it because I I feel like everything will work out the way it's supposed to. So I I just I just live life.

Like, I'm very optimistic. As far as what will happen in the future, I'm not sure of it. All I know is it will be something good. So I I can't I can't tell you what it is. I just know it's gonna be something good simply because of of how my life has been.

So, yeah, I I sometimes I feel like I'm a I'm a prophet of sorts. Like, I'll say something and it'll come to fruition. Like, I'll I'll say something about you getting a new car, and next week, you'll get a new car. It only works for other people. Like, it doesn't work for myself.

Like, I I can't say, yeah. I'm gonna win a lotto when it happens. Like, I I think it just doesn't work for me. So I can, you know, I can I can manifest it for other people, but, yeah, it doesn't doesn't quite work the other way around? Like, I've I've tried it a couple times.

Had the lotto tickets in the Bible. Prayed on it. This didn't happen. I guess I gotta get my money the hard way. So

Chris Albert

Uh-huh. Yeah. Yeah. They say you attract what you fear. You know?

So I I developed a fear of big booty nurses, but I'm just kidding. Do you have any shows coming up?

Lee Smith

We actually we went to we went to Tampa Improv last night. We we we had fun there. Nice. We're we're lining some things up for the future. We're we're trying to put together.

I don't wanna speak on it too much. I wanna let it happen first and then and then bring it to the forefront with everybody just because I don't wanna jinx it. But we're we're we're putting some things in place and in order that's bigger than what we're doing right now. So, when when I get that information, I'll let you know, but it will be in the very near future. So we're we're basically trying to change the the the game of everything.

Chris Albert

Nice. Nice. Well, that's awesome. Where, where can the audience go to keep up with you, and and how can they help you out right now?

Lee Smith

Well, every social media handle I have is Lee Smith is funny. So whether it's whether it's TikTok, whether it's Instagram, whether it's Facebook, whether you just wanna email me, at leesmithisfunny@gmail.com, doesn't really matter. Those are all my handles. You can help me out by just following and sharing and liking everything and just keeping in contact with me so I can keep everybody updated and posted on on what's going on and what we have planned for the future.

Chris Albert

That's awesome. That's awesome. Well, Lee, man, this is a great conversation. You know, I really, really enjoyed talking to you about your story, hearing hearing about your life. Thank you.

I think think there's a lot of lessons in here. You know, Paying attention, I think, is a big one for this for this episode because, you know, like Lee said, you're never gonna know what that thing is that could change your life. You know? Being out there Exactly. Trying things.

Exactly. Like like, you know, you run into a person, and and and that person could be the person to bring you up to the next level. You know? Consistency, that's another huge one. Yeah.

Because a lot of us, we we we try something, and then, you know, it's a little bit hard, a little bit difficult, we give it up. You know? The the the first sign of first sign of of difficulty. You know? You gotta stay consistent if you wanna get good at something.

You know? Lee's been doing comedy for eleven years on, and and, you know, if you wanna get good at something, you gotta get your ten thousand ten thousand hours in. And anything else you wanna add to that, Lee?

Lee Smith

Not really. I mean, but even even the way we cross paths. I'm I met Hansen a couple of years ago when I first started comedy, and and he told me about you, and and that's what made me take notice. So like I said, you know, you you may you may meet somebody or something may happen, and you may not know that it's set setting you up for something greater.

Lee Smith

And I I mean, I just really appreciate, the conversation that we've had and you taking your time out to interview me.

Chris Albert

Absolutely, man. Absolutely. Yeah. And and thank you for coming here because I think a great conversation, and and, you know, you're giving some great knowledge to this community. So Right.

Awesome. Awesome. To everybody out there, I hope that you enjoyed this conversation, and I hope you're actually taking some of these lessons to heart. Definitely check out Lee's stuff because, like I said, he's funny as hell. If you see him if you're in the South Florida area or anywhere else that Lee's performing and you see he has a show coming up, definitely go and check him out because, like I said, you'll be laughing your ass out laugh laughing your ass off.

With that, guys, it's Friday. It's getting late. Time to go home, get out of work. Gotta snuggle up to my girl a little bit, and then get on with the weekend. So this is Chris Albert and Lee Smith, and we are out.

Chris Albert

Host of the Warrior Soul Podcast and founder of Warrior Soul. Worldwide trainer and nutrition coach, contributing author at Testosterone Nation and Muscle and Strength.

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