Nat’s What I Reckon
Photo: Julia Gee
With his unapologetically raw humour & knack for dissecting societal norms, comedian Nat's What I Reckon has become a household name in the world of TikTok & comedy. But beyond the video app & the comedy stage, who is the man behind the laughs? In an exclusive interview with Pario, Nat opens up about his journey, struggles with mental health, & the inspiration behind his latest live show, Hot Dogs Probably Aren't Real.
"I'm just like everyone else. Except I probably swear a bit more," Nat quips with his signature irreverence. He describes himself as a "high-functioning mess" who "probably swears a bit more than most people." Ultimately though he is simply someone who "relentlessly creates" amidst struggles with mental health.
"I've always felt totally uncomfortable just being on earth, & my way to deal with that stuff is to just take the piss a bit."
Nat's journey into comedy wasn't a planned career move. "I never thought it would be my job. That's for sure," he admits. Yet, his authenticity resonates with audiences both on and off-camera. "I think there's something to just being yourself," he reflects. "I've managed to connect with people because I'm the same person on and off camera."
Cooking Up Connection
Nat's content took an unexpected turn during the pandemic when he pivoted to share his passion for cooking. These days, cooking serves as both a creative outlet & a source of solace.
"It gave me something to do when I was down & out... It's nice to be able to go hands-on creating something when your head is kind of bananas," Nat told Pario. "Cooking was something I could create community with too." So, what started as a hobby has now evolved into a significant aspect of his online persona & has fed into his live comedy performance.
Nat's show, Hot Dogs Probably Aren't Real, delivers a roller coaster ride of laughter & absurdity. When asked about the wacky title of the show Nat said, "You've got to name these shows before you've come up with what the show is... So, I'm gonna learn into a bit of that, make up some conspiracy theories, & have a bit of a laugh about how serious & qualified the universe is."
During this portion of our conversation, Nat gave Pario an insight into the special sauce that led to this show.
Originally titled Live, Laugh, Meltdown the show delves into the chaos of internet culture.
"The internet in general just feeds you a bunch of words & stuff," Nat explains before lampooning internet culture further. "[According to the internet] things are supposed to be this certain way. Why don't you just have more magnesium? Never mind who you are as a person or what kind of vitamin balance you have in your bloodwork. Have that, do this because you've got that going on. If you can't follow the dot around the triangle, you have ADD... I just love all this wild, weird shit that's going on the internet. And I'm gonna stick it to it."
Embracing the Festival Spirit
For Nat, comedy festivals are more than just performances; they're celebrations of creativity and community.
"There's lots of really great comedy going on all year, but this makes it a bit more accessible & easy to find," he says.
It's an opportunity to unite with fellow comedians & share laughter with audiences far & wide.
Follow Nat's creative journey on social media at: @nats_what_i_reckon
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