Joseph Richards (they/them) is a performer and doctoral candidate who focuses on the performance potential of stand-up comedy. They believe that the best research begins with curiosity and a moment just beyond one’s understanding. The best research starts with a question. The best performance does not answer the question, but explores it, explodes it, and focuses on the relationships involved. Their research in contemporary stand-up comedy from 2013 to the present is motivated by a desire to understand how stand-up functions as a performance of the body beside and in addition to the content of jokes themselves. Their dissertation work examines contemporary US stand-up comedy from 2013 to 2023 as influenced by the intersecting crisis moments of streaming, #MeToo, and COVID-19. Ultimately, they want to know how stand-up shapes and is shaped by historical and social material factors, and how those mutual shapings contribute to an understanding of stand-up as an embodied performance.

Their one-person show, Breaking Up With Jesus, had its international premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe August 4-19, 2023, receiving rave reviews from critics and audience members. Grounded in small-town Georgia, U.S.A. and blending comedy and tragedy, the show tells the story of how religion affects family, struggles with gender and sexuality, and issues of depression and anxiety.

Cone Alone is their exploration of the thoughts and feelings of traffic cones.

They hail from the small town of Irwinton, GA. Growing up Southern Baptist provided Joseph an outlet for their naturally obsessive, zealous nature. Once they left the church behind, they focused their zeal on graduate school, music and comedy.

They are the original member, songwriter, singer and guitarist of the band Joey Cougar & The Starfish.

They are proud to be one member of the award-winning film, Ripped Off, which won awards for best amateur film and best amateur acting at the 72 Hour Film Fest in Frederick, MD in 2011.

They were a finalist in the first-ever 72 Hour Script Fest for his sci-fi short film script called “The Pariah of Aquimon.” Read about the film adaptation.