I selected the blog title because I truly feel it represents reality. At DCC, we focus on people engaging with popular culture, defying stereotypes, and expressing their viewpoints, all while generating thought-provoking moments and humor. Tony Martinez is a self-advocate, writer, comedian, gamer, college dropout, with a very supportive family, and also a wheelchair user. We initially encountered Tony at Disability Comic Con, where he gave a short comedy performance. It was wonderful to see him again at The Secret Group (comedy club) in November.
I met comedian Tony Martinez backstage in the green room to talk about comedy and his perspective on the industry. Tony is an emerging comedian with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) that affects roughly one in 100,000 people in the United States. This condition hasn't stopped Tony from pursuing his dream of becoming a comedian; in fact, it has enhanced his ability to create relatable and humorous material for both himself and others. I had the opportunity to chat with Tony 30 minutes before he was scheduled to perform his set at The Secret Group. The Secret Group is a comedy club that welcomes comics from everywhere and hosts an open mic nights.

In our conversation, we explored how Tony entered the industry, what inspired him to pursue comedy, and what influences his writing skills and techniques. We also delved into the realm of comics to understand Tony's favorite comic book characters, along with the theatrical arts of improv and skit shows.
Tony recognizes that his family has significantly shaped his sense of humor and provided him with the confidence to embark on a comedy career. He also mentions that dealing with bullying certainly contributed to him developing a thick skin and the ability to respond with quick wit.
In our podcast, you'll hear Tony and me in the green room, enjoying a few drinks as we discuss Tony's story. I must say, he is an absolute delight—an intriguing individual with a life story worth sharing. He can be humorous or serious, even though he claims he's not sure if that's possible since he doesn't take anything too seriously. We want to acknowledge Tony as we kick off our 2025 podcast, and we hope you enjoy it. If you have any questions about contacting Toni, click the link at the bottom to be directed to his social media pages, where you can also find information about where to see Tony hosting and performing his comedy bits.
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