Mick Unplugged
Aries Spears Talks Cancel Culture, Comedy Evolution, and Staying True to Himself
Thu, 29 May 2025
Aries Spears is a legendary comedian and impressionist who has been commanding the stage since the age of 14. Known for his breakout work on MAD TV and his savage crowd work, Aries has become renowned for his edgy, unfiltered takes and ability to reinvent his set with every performance. With a career spanning over 36 years, Aries draws inspiration from greats like Eddie Murphy, prides himself on quick wit and improvisational skills, and never shies away from exposing the raw realities of the comedy world. In addition to standup, he hosts the popular podcast "Spears and Steinberg," where he continues to push boundaries and spotlight real, unvarnished perspectives on entertainment and life. Takeaways: Resilience is Essential: Aries details the mental and emotional challenges of comedy, emphasizing that the business can "beat your spirit up," but staying in the game means believing in yourself, even when support from loved ones is lacking. Mastering Your Craft Means Versatility: Aries likens standup to being an all-star quarterback—you must have the material (playbook), but true greatness comes from the ability to improvise crowd work, proving you can win no matter what the audience throws at you. Legacy Is in the Eyes of the Fans: Despite feeling he hasn’t fully “arrived,” Aries acknowledges that comedians often become benchmarks for new generations, and sometimes strangers (fans) provide more validation and appreciation than family or the industry. Sound Bites: “If you’re going to be a complete comedian, you need to have all the facets of your game on point... there were no weaknesses in Mike [Michael Jordan].” “Hollywood is like an uncle that molested you but put you through college.” (quoting Chris Rock) “I never cut my comedy cocaine. I’ve always kept it 100% Bolivia Yayo... there’s nothing better than having that laugh you feel like you’re not supposed to have.” Quote by Mick: “You are to [my kids] what a Pryor and a Redd Foxx were to me… Everybody can’t go to where you and I were from a database of history and comedy. So you are that benchmark to a lot of people, bro.” Connect & Discover Aries: Website: https://ariesspears.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ariesspears/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ariesspears/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_Z6Tbjk4AesZwwGggZC7qQ FOLLOW MICK ON:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mickunplugged/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mickunplugged LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickhunt/Website: https://www.mickhuntofficial.com Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mick-unplugged/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chapter 1: What challenges does Aries Spears face in comedy?
Away from this business, this shit, it beats you up, man. It beats your spirit up, your soul up to the point where you, at times, think about quitting. Maybe you feel suicidal. You know, this kills you, man. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.
welcome to mick unplugged the number one podcast for self-improvement leadership and relentless growth no fluff no filters just hard-hitting truths unstoppable strategies and the mindset shifts that separate the best from the rest ready to break limits let's go
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting episode of Mick Unplugged, and today we got one of my top five dead or alive. From stepping on the stage at just 14 to redefining sketch comedy on MADtv, this man didn't just chase the spotlight, he commanded it. He's a comedic powerhouse who's mastered impressions, tackled Hollywood, and has kept audiences laughing for decades.
Chapter 2: How did Aries Spears start his career in comedy?
Please give my guy a huge round of applause and welcome the bold, the unfiltered, the relentless Mr. Aries Spears. Aries, how you doing today, brother? What's up, brother? Man, I told you offline, I'm honored to have you on. You are literally one of my favorite stand-ups in the world. Just honored you took time out of your busy schedule to be here, bro.
Oh, no, man. Thank you for being somewhat forgiving because I was I know we're supposed to start this at two o'clock, but I was actually coming from doing another podcast by comedian Harlan Williams. So that L.A. traffic is a monster. So I just got a little bit of that traffic. But, you know, I'm here now. So thank you.
I appreciate it, man. You know, on Mick Unplugged, I always like to ask my greats, my favorites, my legends, what their because is, that thing that's deeper than your why, that thing that really is your purpose, that fuel. And you've been doing this, man, since 14. Today in 2025, what's Aries Spears because? What's that thing that's driving you, bro?
Because I still feel like I haven't arrived, you know, in terms of where I have always seen myself and in terms of what I've always wanted. I don't I'm not there yet. So I still desperately and very badly want to reach that level.
Hmm. Well, I don't know about what you think, but bro, I think you're there, man. Like I said, you are literally... I know a lot of people have seen Aries. I've seen Aries over 20 times. It's always a different set. And I don't think people understand that, man. Like in standup, it's real easy to have like your routine and just some cats, as you know, we're not going to name names.
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Chapter 3: What makes Aries Spears' comedy unique?
Chapter 4: Why does Aries Spears feel he hasn't 'arrived' yet?
Because I still feel like I haven't arrived, you know, in terms of where I have always seen myself and in terms of what I've always wanted. I don't I'm not there yet. So I still desperately and very badly want to reach that level.
Hmm. Well, I don't know about what you think, but bro, I think you're there, man. Like I said, you are literally... I know a lot of people have seen Aries. I've seen Aries over 20 times. It's always a different set. And I don't think people understand that, man. Like in standup, it's real easy to have like your routine and just some cats, as you know, we're not going to name names.
They run that for 10 years and like you go see him once, you don't have to see him again. With Aries, you get a new experience, bro, every freaking time. How do you do that, dude?
Well, I think a huge testament to that is, you know, my crowd work. You know, I almost liken it to being a quarterback on a football team. You know, yeah, you got your playbook, a la your material, but every now and then you got to be able to call a quarterback, you know what I mean, recognize the blitz and call an audible. You know what I'm saying?
Chapter 5: What is the significance of crowd work in Aries Spears' performances?
And that to me is like being able to do crowd work. So I like the spontaneity of it. it always makes the crowd feel like they're involved. And it's just, for me, it's a much, it's a much more fun time.
Yeah. Yeah. I tell all my buddies, man, like every time I go see Aries, I know you're a sports guy too. It's like, it's game seven for you. Every set. Right. And it's like game seven, two seconds left. Aries wants the ball every damn time. Right.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And you know, anybody didn't know me and, Listen to my podcast and follow me on social media and know that I'm a Michael Jordan fanatic. So, you know, like Jordan, yeah, give me the ball. I want the game winning shot. You know, I want to be able to, you know, pump my fist in there and victory. And I want to, you know, I want to be the man.
you know and and you do it every time man and you talk about crowd work i always try to sit up front i know you're gonna get me i know you're gonna get my wife you know the last time we were there you told my wife her name is marcy for all the viewers and listeners you said marcy You're as white as uncut cocaine. And I literally spit out everything I had in my system at that moment, bro.
Like, your crowd work is unreal, dude.
Thank you, brother. Thank you. And, you know, that was something very early in my beginnings that I was intimidated by. Because, you know, you're basically on a wire with no safety net. Yeah. And not everybody can do that well, you know. But I said to myself, if you're going to be a complete comedian, you need to have all the facets of your game on point.
You know, it's like, again, the Jordan reference. You know, there was no weaknesses in Mike. Mike can do it all. So I was like, you know, I know I can do the impressions. I'm pretty quick. I'm pretty savvy. I know... You know, I could talk about relationships and pop culture and whatever. Even get a little political, even though I don't think that's my thing.
But I wanted to be able to go, yo, I just don't understand how you can be a comedian and not implement that into your skill set. Because it's just such a strong tool to have. to showcase, to show people how quick you are. Um, so I, I, I, I, I take pride in that.
And then I studied, you know, DL, Julian, Joe Torrey, who were too vicious, vicious when it, when it came time to, you know, chew somebody's ass up. So, you know, I, I just kind of always wanted that in my repertoire, you know, and, uh, I like it a lot of what we do to sports, you know, because I think there are certain similarities. And I always say, I look at it like football.
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Chapter 6: How does Aries Spears view the comedy scene in Cleveland?
I don't want to have to do that if I don't have to.
Yeah. Bro, it baffles me to this day. Like, I see it all the time. People just sit there. It's like, typically, it's usually a... Thursday night sometimes, but mainly Friday night, Saturday night. Like, it's the weekend, right? And you get in the frequency, Aries Spears, you know, like, why would you just go in there all, all right, I'm here. Like, it baffles me to this day, bro.
No, it's crazy. And, you know, if any people from Cleveland see this or hear this, you know, I'm not saying you're not a good people because I've met some great people in Cleveland. But comedically, it just is a heaviness, man, where it's like, you know, the difference between some people coming and going, yeah, make me laugh because I want to laugh versus, yeah, show me what you got, man.
It's like, come on, man. Come on, man.
Yep. So that's a challenge to my guy, Andrew Ryan, who is actually in Cleveland. You got to do better, bro.
Come on, man. And what's crazy, the part that kills me is the responses are so cliche. They're so unoriginal. What I get is, well, you just ain't funny. Tell better jokes. You just ain't funny. Listen, I've been coming to Cleveland and taking money out of there in terms of working there for almost 20 years. Why do you think that is? Because I'm not funny.
I do five sold-out shows, add three more, and they sell out. Why do you think that is? Because I'm not funny. I go there, and I make $50,000 for the weekend. Why do you think that is? Because I'm not funny? That is the most unoriginal shit I've heard. It's almost like when people insult you, they either turn into women or children.
You know, they either say, you know, like a child would say to another child, well, no, you're a poopy head. Or like a woman who goes, after 10 years of being in a relationship, now I'm telling you I don't want to be with you no more. Oh, that's why you got a little dick and you can't fuck. He was with me for 10 years. Make that make sense. Math ain't mathing.
And listen, if I perform all over the country, let's say I'm just throwing a number out there. I do 20 cities. And in 19 of them, same material, same amount of energy and passion. And I'm killing 19 out of the 20. And Cleveland is city number 20. You mean to tell me I'm going to let you guys be the testament to my greatness when you've been outruled by 19 other cities? Nah, it ain't me. It's you.
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Chapter 7: What role did Aries Spears' mother play in his career?
Chapter 8: How does Aries Spears compare comedy to sports?
you know hall of fame championship quarterback and those guys uh uh never michael victor they stayed in the pocket and they're two of the best uh tom brady probably didn't go but i just felt like you know if you're gonna be if you're gonna be deadly why not be twice as deadly instead of being you know singularly deadly you know so then i just wanted to be able to do both
No, I love that, dude. And I've always wanted to ask you this question because, you know, Aries also is never going to hold back. Right. And every time I see you and it never fails, there's always someone who pays their money to go to a comedy show, but sits up like they don't want to be there. Right. And like I do, I do public speaking and I see it a lot too. Like you spent your money on,
Why are you making the comedian work hard? But Aries will call you out, man. Like, why do people... Like, do you understand why people do that, bro?
Listen, I just... When you say, you know, one person... I'm retired from performing in the city of Cleveland. Because that whole city does that. And I did a radio show to promote my... my performance in Columbus, Ohio, which out of all the Ohio's, Toledo, Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus is my favorite.
But I didn't know that the radio station I was doing, the airwaves reached down to Cleveland. So I took the dump on that city so bad, I was getting death threats from Clevelanders. People hitting me up in my social media, man, you come back to Cleveland, we gonna pull up. And I said, pull up, cause I'm done. I'm done with the city of Cleveland. There's something so miserable about that city.
Cleveland is America's rectum. It's just a horrible experience. And listen, I'm not even saying you got to give me anything because I don't mind earning what I need to get. Right. But to just sit there with just two things. One, a state of misery and heaviness. And two, you know, listen, man. I think, and I don't think this is just relegated to Cleveland.
I think there's a mentality and an attitude that exists within the culture and the community. And people that grow up in the hood,
ghetto street um not saying all of them but a lot of them come with a mentality where quite frankly you're just not open enough savvy enough and intelligent enough to get what i'm serving you know you playing checkers i'm playing chess people mentally they just don't they're not equipped to follow what you're doing it's above them and i'll get i'm not trying to make that sound like i'm better than anybody but
in some people. You know what I'm saying? Between the level of intelligence or lack thereof and the misery and the attitude, man, I'm over it. I've been doing this 36 years. I've been down those waters. I've swam in them waters. Most of the clubs that I did starting out in Jersey and New York, whether it was Newark Long Island, you know, Queens was them rough clubs. So I've earned them stripes.
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