More Stand-Up Memories #23 Former Federal Agent Vinny D'Agostino

This week on More Stand-Up Memories, we sit down with Vinny D'Agostino — and his story is not your typical path to the punchline. Before the stage lights… before the microphones… before the green rooms and late-night sets… Vinny was an FBI agent. Let that sink in. We talk about the leap — from federal investigations to standing in front of a brick wall with a two-drink minimum. What shifts inside a person when you go from building cases to building sets? From reading suspects to reading crowds? Vinny opens up about the mindset it takes to operate in high-stakes environments — and how that discipline, awareness, and psychological insight unexpectedly translate to comedy. Turns out, reading a room isn’t all that different from reading a witness. Timing is timing. Pressure is pressure. And both worlds demand presence. We explore the courage it takes to pivot careers so drastically, the reactions he got when people found out about his past, and how those lived experiences shape his voice on stage today. It’s not just a career change story. It’s about identity. Reinvention. And realizing that sometimes the second act is the truest one. From badges to belly laughs — this one’s a ride. And yes… we do ask if anyone ever feels nervous heckling a former federal agent.

“Stand-Up Memories” is a podcast featuring former head writer and cast member of the Howard Stern show Jackie Martling and fellow comedian, friend and history professor Peter Bales bridging the worlds of comedy, history and wherever else they land. They share hilariously heartfelt (and sometimes raunchy) stories from their decades of stand-up comedy and unique lives, diving deep into their experiences in very varied locales and with extremely eclectic characters, all resulting in their being as wise and messed up .. and funny .. as they are today. This is a Tiedin Studios exclusive.