…When we had our first baby, there were nights I’d sit there thinking, “What are we doing? Are we even glad we did this?” And then, one night — at just five weeks old — he smiled at me for the first time. And in that moment, it all made sense. Now that my son’s a bit older, he can say, “I love you, Dad,” and we have a new baby girl. Watching your kids interact with each other, seeing those little connections form — it’s such a special thing. You start to realize that parenting brings a kind of fulfillment that’s hard to find anywhere else. Sure, I used to have fun weekends, and I’d love to take another trip to Italy sometime. But those things don’t compare to the joy these little humans bring. Parenting is tough and tiring, no doubt. But it teaches you to think less about yourself and more about them. And, in the end, those moments with your kids really fill you up in a way that nothing else can. It’s just an amazing, deeply human experience…
I had the pleasure of talking with Trey Kennedy. Trey is an American comedian, entertainer, and social media personality known for his humorous take on everyday life and parenting. With more than 13 million followers across platforms, Kennedy has built a career blending observational comedy with relatable content that resonates with audiences of all ages. From viral videos to stand-up comedy tours, his work offers a lighthearted yet insightful look at modern challenges, often focusing on family life, parenting, and relationships.
Born and raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, Kennedy describes his childhood as “almost perfect,” crediting his family for fostering a sense of humor early in his life. Growing up in a traditional household, he recalls his family not taking themselves too seriously, with humor playing a central role in their daily interactions. After attending Oklahoma State University and earning a degree in finance, Kennedy initially struggled to find his path in the corporate world. However, during his college years, he began creating content on the now-defunct video platform Vine, where his comedic clips quickly gained millions of views.
Although Kennedy initially saw content creation as a hobby, the popularity of his videos on Vine and later on Instagram and YouTube encouraged him to pursue comedy full-time. His rise coincided with the early years of social media, a period he refers to as the “wild west,” when the concept of being a digital influencer was still new. Over the past decade, he has parlayed his online success into a multifaceted career, including nationwide comedy tours and a popular podcast titled *Correct Opinions,* co-hosted with fellow comedian Jake Triplett.
This year, Kennedy has expanded his creative portfolio with the release of his debut children’s book, *How You Got Your Name*, set for publication on December 3, 2024. Inspired by his experience as a father of two young children, the book offers a playful exploration of how parents choose their children’s names. Illustrated by Jesús López, the story invites kids and parents alike to guess the names in the narrative, making each reading a collaborative experience. Kennedy aims to create a book that both children and adults will enjoy, balancing humor with heartfelt moments. The book also features space for parents to document the origin of their child’s name, turning it into a keepsake for families.
Kennedy’s journey into fatherhood has profoundly influenced his work. He often uses humor to reflect on the joys and challenges of parenting, a theme that features prominently in his live performances and podcast discussions. “The hardest things in life are often the most meaningful,” he says, noting that while parenthood can be exhausting, the small moments of connection with his children offer unparalleled fulfillment. His content aims to strike a balance between poking fun at the chaos of family life and celebrating its beauty.
In addition to his literary debut, Kennedy is preparing to return to the road with new tour dates in 2025, once his family adjusts to the arrival of their second child. Known for his engaging and interactive shows, Kennedy sees comedy as a way to foster connection and build community, both online and in person. He hopes that his work encourages audiences to share laughter with friends and family, emphasizing that his content is meant to be experienced together.
Reflecting on his success, Kennedy acknowledges that he didn’t follow a traditional path to comedy. He notes that much of his career has grown organically through social media, bypassing the conventional industry gatekeepers he once thought were essential. Today, he focuses on creating content that feels authentic to him, without worrying about approval from external forces.
As Kennedy’s career continues to evolve, he remains committed to balancing creative work with personal fulfillment. Whether through comedy, children’s literature, or live performances, he aims to create spaces where people can connect and share in life’s humorous and heartfelt moments. Kennedy’s outlook reflects a belief in the value of community and connection. In his words, “The joy of life is found around the dinner table with people you care about.” Through his work, he seeks to bring that sense of togetherness to his audience, hoping that his stories and humor inspire others to prioritize meaningful relationships in their own lives.
Yitzi: Hello Trey, it’s a delight to meet you. Before we dive in deep, our readers would love to learn about your personal origin story. Can you share this story of your childhood and how you grew up?
Trey: I was born and raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, a town outside of Oklahoma City. I had a great upbringing — kind of your classic situation. My dad worked, my mom stayed at home, and we went to church every Sunday. Life was good.
I’m a comedian now, but I never thought I would be. Honestly, I didn’t think that was even an option. Not many people from Oklahoma get to do that. Social media really became a great tool for me. I grew up in a funny family — our extended family, grandparents — humor was a big part of our everyday life. We didn’t take ourselves too seriously, and overall, it was just a really solid, almost perfect upbringing. I can’t complain. My dad was present, my mom was a superwoman, and we had a great time.
I went on to Oklahoma State University and got a degree in finance. I did it because I was raised to be a “good boy” and get a respectable degree. But as I was finishing up, I realized the last thing I wanted to do was finance. Luckily, during college, I was making videos on Vine, which was a popular app around 2013 to 2015. Those videos blew up — millions of views, millions of followers. At the time, I thought it was just a fun hobby, something cool to tell people about one day. I was focused on graduating and getting a job, but things played out differently.
I struggled to land a corporate job, but my videos kept gaining traction online. Back then, the term “influencer” didn’t even exist yet. I thought, “Maybe I’ll just keep making videos and see what happens.” And now, ten years later, here I am. That’s the short version of my life — it’s been pretty wild, but I’m very grateful.
Yitzi: Amazing. So you probably have some amazing stories from your professional life. Can you share with our readers one or two stories that kind of stick out the most in your professional career?
Trey: I started out as a video guy — I still make videos and content — but that eventually led to doing more live comedy shows and touring around the country. I’ve been touring as a comedian for about five years now.
Looking back at those early video days, I got thrown into some strange situations. One that stands out was when I made an Instagram video with Antonio Brown. I don’t know if you’re into sports, but back then — about nine years ago — he was one of the top players in the NFL. These days, well… let’s just say things have gone off the rails for him. He’s a bit of a wild card now, tweeting all day long. It’s madness.
But when I met him, it was early in my career, and I had never met a famous person before. I thought it was so cool. He was nice enough — we shot a video together. He didn’t really know who I was, but someone explained to him, “This guy is on Instagram,” and he followed me. I remember thinking, “Whoa, an NFL star just followed me. This is amazing.” The next day, I couldn’t help but check, and sure enough, he had unfollowed me within 24 hours.
It was kind of surreal — like, “Okay, he was just being nice, I guess.” We had shot the video in the middle of a busy store, which made it even more hilarious.
As I transitioned into live comedy, I ran into more unique experiences. One story that sticks out was when the Memphis Grizzlies hired me to do a gig for their family fun night. But the timing was wild — it was the same day Kobe Bryant passed away. Just hours before I was supposed to go on and make people laugh at an NBA game, one of the most iconic figures in sports history died tragically. You can imagine how that show went.
That’s the kind of stuff you sometimes walk into with this career, but overall, it’s been a lot more good than strange. It’s been a wild ride, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Yitzi: It’s been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story about a humorous mistake that you made when you were first starting comedy, and the lesson that you learned from it?
Trey: One gig I did was for a charity event — this really nice black-tie nonprofit night — and I was still pretty green back then. Looking back, it was definitely a rookie mistake. I got up on stage, and surprisingly, I got heckled. Being heckled at a charity event is a weird experience because you’ve been hired to be there, it’s a nice evening, and you can’t just kick people out — they’ve paid a lot of money to attend.
I tried to joke around and calm the situation down, but I didn’t handle it well. Instead of easing things, I made it worse. The heckling escalated into straight-up berating, and I could tell the women involved had probably been overserved. It was a fundraiser for foster care, helping place kids in good homes, and in the moment, I tried to make a joke to cut the tension. I said something like, “Wow, you’re up here drunk, and this poor kid’s just going from one drunk home to the next.”
The whole crowd gasped. They were like, “Oh my gosh!” And just like that, I became the bad guy. I went too hard on her when I should’ve taken a lighter approach. It was a big learning moment for me — how to better handle situations like that and adjust to different crowds.
What made it even crazier was that one of the hecklers turned out to be running for U.S. Senate. The next day, there was a story everywhere: “U.S. Senate Candidate Drunkenly Heckles Comedian.” It was such a wild situation to find myself in. But yeah, that was a valuable lesson in how to better navigate unexpected situations on stage.
Yitzi: That’s a great story. So, please tell us about the exciting projects you’re working on now. And please tell us about the book.
Trey: Yeah, first and foremost, I’ve got my debut children’s book out called “How You Got Your Name.” I’m a father of two now — our second was born just a few weeks ago — so we’ve got two kids under two. It’s been a lot of fun and such a new experience entering parenthood. And really quickly, I got the opportunity to create a children’s book, which felt like a no-brainer.
I thought it would be fun and a cool, tangible thing to share with my audience. As a creative, I wanted to do it my way. I’ve been reading a lot of children’s books to my son, and as every parent knows, there are some books you’re just like, “Okay, can we please let this one disappear? I can’t read it one more time.” So, I wanted to make a book that wasn’t just enjoyable for the kid but also fun for the parent to read.
The book is interactive — it has prompts to get kids involved, so each time you read it, it’s a little different. It’s not just the same words over and over. There are parts where you can say, “Okay, what would you say here?” or “What do you think happens next?” The book plays with the whole trend these days where people are giving their kids very unique names. Like, you’ve got some folks out here naming their kid Chrysanthemum or something, and you’re just like, “What’s going on?”
The book approaches that in a fun, lighthearted way. At the end, it gives parents a chance to tell their own child the story of how they got their name and why they chose it. It has a sweet message behind it, but it’s also really fun. My son seems to like it so far — and hey, we’ve only had one toddler review, but we’re one for one!
Beyond the book, I’ve got more exciting things coming up. I just announced some new tour dates. I’ll be back on the road in a few months, once we get the new baby settled. We’ll see what happens in 2025 — maybe we’ll take the whole family on the road. Who knows? But yeah, I’m still touring, and tickets are available.
And I’ve also got another project in the works. I can’t quite announce it yet, but we’re always working on new things to entertain the fans and serve them well. Stay tuned!
Yitzi: Amazing. So, you know, you’re trying to give material for parents to educate and inspire their children. And lately, there’s been a lot of discussion — people talking about how they’re happy they don’t have children. What would you say to your audience about why they should want to have children?
Trey: That’s a great question. Once you become a parent, you start feeling more passionate about this. I’ve joked about it on my podcast and in other places. Honestly, I hate how everything these days seems to become a “pick a side” situation. It’s almost like non-parents feel the need to attack parents, and vice versa. But the truth is, you don’t have to have kids. Not everyone needs to. But at the same time, somebody’s got to have kids, right? We can’t all just not have children — so maybe show a little support for those of us who do!
In my content, I try to poke fun at how hard parenting is — how exhausting it can be. You know, doing bedtime over and over. But I hope that humor comes across in a way that highlights the beauty in the struggle. Because often, the hardest things in life are the most meaningful. Being a parent is definitely hard work, but it’s also so much fun and incredibly rewarding. There are these little moments that make all of it worth it.
When we had our first baby, there were nights I’d sit there thinking, “What are we doing? Are we even glad we did this?” And then, one night — at just five weeks old — he smiled at me for the first time. And in that moment, it all made sense. Now that my son’s a bit older, he can say, “I love you, Dad,” and we have a new baby girl. Watching your kids interact with each other, seeing those little connections form — it’s such a special thing.
You start to realize that parenting brings a kind of fulfillment that’s hard to find anywhere else. Sure, I used to have fun weekends, and I’d love to take another trip to Italy sometime. But those things don’t compare to the joy these little humans bring. Parenting is tough and tiring, no doubt. But it teaches you to think less about yourself and more about them. And, in the end, those moments with your kids really fill you up in a way that nothing else can. It’s just an amazing, deeply human experience.
Yitzi: Amazing, amazing answer. This is our signature question. So, you’ve been blessed with a lot of success now. Looking back to when you first started, can you share five things that you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your comedy?
Trey: Five things I know now that I wish I knew when I just started — okay.
- One: if you confidently put out content that you truly believe in and just confidently be yourself, it usually turns out fine. When I was starting out, it took me years to feel comfortable saying certain jokes or sharing opinions. I was so obsessed with not upsetting anyone. If I got a single DM from someone who disagreed with me, it would crush me. But now, those things hardly affect me at all.
- Two — and this kind of builds off the first one — is that the stuff I was so stressed about has never actually happened. You know, I’d think, “Oh no, I lost a few followers today, what if they all disappear?” But they didn’t. Or, “What if this new joke bombs and people roast me online, and it goes viral for the wrong reason?” That never happened. The things we make up in our heads to worry about? Those are the things that never happen. It’s always the stuff you don’t see coming that you actually have to deal with. This is good — I like this reflection. That’s two.
- Three: find my wife sooner. I know that’s more personal than professional advice, but honestly, my career really took off after I met my wife, Katie. Having a partner who’s aligned with you in all aspects of life — who supports you, and who you support — has been huge. It hasn’t held me back in any way. If anything, it’s helped me grow even more.
- Four: have kids sooner. There’s this fear that having kids will hold you back, that you won’t be able to do as much. But in my experience, it’s only made my life better. It’s propelled me forward. Being a parent has added so much to my goals and given me even more clarity on what I want in life.
- And finally, five: I don’t need the approval of the “big industry folks” that I was so desperate to get in the beginning. When I first started, I thought I had to get those yeses from gatekeepers to succeed. But now, I realize I don’t need them. That’s the beauty of social media and having a strong support system of family and friends. I never got those big industry nods I was chasing — and yet here I am, still having an amazing career. We just shot a special, and I’m trying to sell it. Will it get picked up? I don’t know, and I’m not too worried about it either way. The reason I’m a comedian today is because I was lucky to be part of the social media age, where there was no barrier to entry. I could just put stuff out there, and that freedom has allowed me to build this incredible career. So there you go — five things.
Yitzi: Okay, great. So this is our final question, our aspirational question. Because of your great work, you’re a person of enormous influence. If you could spread an idea or inspire a movement that would bring the most good to the most people, what would that be?
Trey: I think community. That’s something I’ve really prioritized in my personal life — pursuing and building community. My wife, my family, my friends — that’s where my passion lies. I love stand-up, I love making videos, I love making people laugh, but at the end of the day, nothing beats sitting around the dinner table with the people I care about. That, to me, feels like the true meaning of life.
It’s sad, though, because it seems like it’s getting harder and harder to build those relationships and friendships. We live in a world where it’s tricky to find that connection. I hope, and I like to think, that my content — whether it’s the shows, the children’s book, or whatever else I put out — encourages people to connect. It’s not meant to be consumed alone. It’s meant to be shared. You go to the shows together, you enjoy things with people you care about.
So if I’m lucky enough to keep going, I want to keep creating spaces where people can gather and build those personal connections — where community becomes easier to access and more of a priority.
Yitzi: Amazing answer. Beautiful. Trey, how can our readers purchase your book? How can they purchase anything else you’re offering or support you in any way?
Trey: Treykennedy.com is going to be the easiest way. Trey Kennedy — that’s my name — and that’s the URL: treykennedy.com. Funny story — my dad bought that domain when I was a kid. That’s how I got it. It’s not treykennedycomedian.com or anything like that. Shout out to my dad — no idea how or why he thought of that back then, but he got it for me and my siblings. And one day, I was like, “Dad, I need that.” So now, it’s got everything — links to the book, tour tickets, my socials, everything I’m working on.
Yitzi: Amazing, Trey. It’s been an honor to meet you, and I wish you continued success and blessings.
Trey: You as well, man. Bless you.
Social Impact Authors: Why & How Comedian & Author Trey Kennedy Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.