CC 34 | Andrew Stanley: Accountant to Comedian One Laugh at a Time Artwork

Consuming Careers

On Consuming Careers, we explore the careers of people from many walks of life, all of whom have taken rather unique paths, and we're digging into where they find purpose, what fuels their passion, and how they've persevered in the face of profound opposition. And to keep things real, each interview is recorded live over food or drink in a restaurant, pub, café, around a firepit, or even on a boat in the middle of a lake. Work and food: you just can’t have one without the other!

Our hope is that you’ll find this podcast inspiring, entertaining, and that you’ll find some valuable principles that you can apply in your career. From missionaries to moguls, and carnitas to Cabernet - we hope you'll join our next episode of Consuming Careers!

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Consuming Careers

CC 34 | Andrew Stanley: Accountant to Comedian One Laugh at a Time

June 03, 2025 • Bruce Smith • Episode 34

Today’s episode is for anyone who’s ever sat in a cubicle at a soul-sucking job and thought, “There’s gotta be more than this.”

Meet Andrew Stanley. Eight years ago, he was crunching numbers as a financial analyst. And now? He’s doing stand-up comedy; telling jokes on stages across the country. And not just any jokes — clean, smart, relatable comedy that’s earned him a spot among the South’s funniest (literally — he won “Search for the South’s Funniest Accountant”).

In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to trade-in a traditional job to something that looks nothing like your résumé. From bombing at open mics, to navigating self-doubt, to preparing for his very first comedy special, Andrew opens up about his challenges, successes and the dangers in the comedy world, and how faith and family have played a critical role in staying tethered to reality.

We also dig into what it means to persevere, connecting with your audience, and whether Botox actually makes you funnier.

So wherever you are — on your commute, your lunch break, or just avoiding going back to that spreadsheet — join me at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia for this inspiring and hilarious conversation with comedian Andrew Stanley.

You can find Andrew Stanley at: https://www.andrewstanleycomedy.com/

Search for the South’s Funniest Accountant: https://www.accountantsarefunnytoo.com/

Our interview was recorded live in Piedmont Park, Atlanta, Georgia.

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About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the work they do.
You can connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewsmith/
You can email at: bwsmith126@gmail.com