More Than Funny: Nate Jackson’s Recipe for Building Something Bigger

Aug 15

Tacoma’s own Nate Jackson is having a moment — but if you ask him, it’s been a long time coming. From his Netflix special Nate Jackson: Super Funny, climbing into the platform’s Top 10 (and holding strong for over a week), to representing the Pacific Northwest at Just For Laughs in Montreal, Nate has been putting in the work for over two decades — and now, the world is watching.

In this week’s Almost The Weekend, Curtis and Besa sit down with Nate for an unfiltered, hilarious, and inspiring conversation about the grind, the wins, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. He opens up about the behind-the-scenes hustle that made his Netflix special look like a multi-million dollar production — even though it cost just $256K to shoot — and why he’s intentional about keeping his success a “win for the region.”

Nate talks about the relationships he’s nurtured since day one, how he’s built a comedy club that’s more than just a venue, and why his famous chicken wings are as carefully crafted as his jokes. He breaks down his crowd work “joints” and “packs,” the art of reading a room, and why authenticity always wins with audiences.

Photos by: Erik Kalligraphy

But this isn’t just about comedy — Nate shares how he navigated closing one club location, opening a bigger and better one downtown, and creating a space where staff, comedians, and guests all feel like family. He also drops gems about staying motivated, protecting your time, and making sure you stop to celebrate the “yeses” instead of grinding right past them.

Oh, and we couldn’t let him go without asking about the real difference between the “roast zone” and the “splash zone,” the love he gets from fans post-Netflix, and his very passionate thoughts on why Seattle needs to keep the Blue Angels flying.

Whether you’re a fan of stand-up, an aspiring creative, or just someone who loves hearing how people turn dreams into reality, this episode is packed with laughs, behind-the-scenes stories, and the kind of motivation that makes you want to chase your own big moment.