Comedy, Punchlines & Pause - Interview with Comedian, Actor & Writer Dustin Ybarra on Drinking, Recovery & Being Human

I’m sitting down with comedian, actor, and writer Dustin Ybarra, and this one is funny, raw, and unexpectedly tender.
We talk about what “progressive” alcoholism looked like for him, how it snuck in through comedy culture, and the slow slide from “I’m fine” to consequences he couldn’t outwork anymore.
Dustin shares the reality of trying to get sober while still using, the shame cycle that kept pulling him back, and the moment everything cracked open, including a seizure at a meeting that became the turning point.
We also get into what stayed the same (his heart) and what changed completely…