<p>Change Things Up 2026</p><p>A solo episode about creativity, comedy, and shaking things up for the new year.</p><p> In <em>Change Things Up 2026</em>, Zack dives into why switching things up creatively is essential — especially after 16 years in stand-up. He shares updates on his upcoming comedy special, new shows, nonprofit work, fresh material he's writing, and why keeping the creativity alive matters more than ever. </p><p>What We Talk About</p><ul><li>Why changing things up prevents burnout and creative plateaus</li><li>The 2026 stand-up special: sound, animation, and five-camera setup</li><li>Doing nonprofit comedy shows and raising $10K for the Alzheimer’s Association</li><li>Visiting the last Blockbuster in Bend, Oregon</li><li>Preparing a fresh 15-minute set for Northwest Live</li><li>Why writing new material in 2026 is a top priority</li><li>YouTube vs. Spotify growth for podcasts</li></ul><p>Episode Highlights</p><p>Updating the 2026 Comedy Special</p><p> Zack is in the final stages of editing his new comedy special. He brought in a professional audio mixer, hired an animator for the intro, and worked with Heavy Feathers for a beautiful five-camera shoot. The project feels high-end and is coming together exactly the way he imagined. </p><p>Raising $10K for the Alzheimer’s Association</p><p> Zack partnered with Gina to put on a nonprofit show in Bend, Oregon — and the community came together in a huge way. The event raised $10,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association. Performers included Lucia from <em>The Voice</em>, Mandy, Cody, Good News Crew, Gina, and Zack. </p><p>Stopping by the Last Blockbuster</p><p> While in Bend, Zack visited the final Blockbuster store — a nostalgic throwback to his childhood days of renting movies and beating video games before the return date. </p><p>Preparing for Northwest Live</p><p> Zack has a January taping coming up with Northwest Live, where he’ll film a brand-new 15-minute set. He’s been writing fresh jokes specifically for this recording and is excited to release clips on YouTube afterward. </p><p>The Importance of Writing in 2026</p><p> After wrapping the special, Zack wants 2026 to be his most prolific writing year yet. He reflects on how comics who stop writing often stop growing — and how staying experimental keeps the art fun. </p><p>YouTube Is the Place to Watch</p><p> Zack encourages listeners to subscribe on YouTube, noting that the platform is pushing podcasts much more effectively than Spotify right now. </p><p>Notable Quotes</p><p>“I think it’s important to change things up. If you stay in the same routine too long, you stop growing.”</p><p>“Hiring a pro for the final mix was the best decision. He knew more about sound than I ever will.”</p><p>“Now that the special is done, 2026 is the year to write more than ever and get weird again.”</p><p>Support the Show</p><p> If you enjoy the podcast, the biggest way to support it is by subscribing on YouTube and sharing the episode with a friend. </p><p><strong>Subscribe:</strong> <a href="{{https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8BIDPJtaCuaUr5ZuGnz4xA}}">The Big Laugh on YouTube</a></p><p>Hosted by Zack Lyman • The Zack Lyman Podcast</p>
