meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Networth and Chill with Your Rich BFF

How Student Loans Nearly Ruined Comedian Joel Kim Booster's Life!

Networth and Chill with Your Rich BFF

Vivian Tu

News, Business, Careers, Business News, Entrepreneurship

4.41.6K Ratings

🗓️ 3 December 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Vivian sat down with Joel Kim Booster to explore the surprisingly complex finances of building a comedy career across standup, writing, and acting. Joel breaks down what comedians actually earn from Netflix specials, how he navigated the transition from day jobs to full-time comedy, and why selling out theaters doesn't automatically mean financial security. He answers the big questions about balancing artistic integrity with commercial opportunities, managing the unpredictable income streams of the entertainment industry, what building wealth looks like as a performer, and how being an openly gay Asian American comic has shaped his approach to money and success. Joel also shares what it's really like working in writers' rooms versus touring solo, from "Fire Island" to his standup specials, and why maintaining creative control has been just as important as landing the biggest gigs.  Keep up with Joel on Instagram and watch LOOT on Apple TV! Follow the podcast on Instagram and TikTok! Got a financial question you want answered in a future episode? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Every other adult in my life was telling me, just take out loans.

0:03.0

Just take out loans.

0:04.0

You can defer them.

0:05.0

You can defer them if you can't pay them them back eventually. Having loans for forever is normal. It's fine. Every senior had to sit down and talk with them about how you're your plan for paying off your loans. And she sat down and looked at my loan debt and looked at my major and literally said to me, what were you thinking? I was spending more in student loan payments

0:22.3

than I was in rent for over 10 years. What's up, rich friends? Welcome back to another episode

0:35.4

of Net Worth and Chill with me, your host, Vivian 2,

0:38.1

aka Your Rich BFF, and your favorite Wall Street Gurley. Now let's cut straight to the chase.

0:43.6

I love a good laugh. Like truly, comedy is my love language, but here's the thing. Making people

0:49.5

laugh is one of the hardest jobs out there. And turning those laughs into real hard cash and a sustainable

0:55.6

career, well, that's a whole other level. For so long, comedians were only told that there was

1:00.9

one path to success, one way to make it, one type of story that sells. But today's guest said,

1:06.6

nah, I'm going to do it my way, and built an incredible career by being unapologetically himself, writing, acting, and creating content that is as smart as it is hilarious.

1:16.1

Everyone, please welcome comedian, actor, writer, and producer who starred in shows like Lute, Big Mouth, and Fire Island, Joel Knooster.

1:23.4

Hello, thank you for having me.

1:25.1

Thank you so much for being here.

1:27.3

It's been a minute since we've seen each other.

1:29.7

And before we get into everything, I'd like to warm everybody up, warm up the friendship.

1:33.7

So we're going to start with an icebreaker.

1:35.0

Okay.

1:35.6

So you host the podcast, Bad Dates.

1:38.4

What was the most expensive bad date you've been on?

1:41.7

Think about cheese.

...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 15 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Vivian Tu, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Vivian Tu and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.