Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Ceballos.
Hi Daniel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Sometime last year, I really started thinking about where my life was headed. For some context. I am born and raised in Houston, TX. I lived there most of my life and eventually got accepted to Texas State University, where I got my bachelor’s in engineering. (One of the hardest things I have ever done and accomplished that I am very proud of.). I graduated during Covid so like a majority of people I did not have anything lined up after college and I accepted the first job that was offered to me. Wasn’t want I wanted to do but it paid decently, and the work was interesting. Eventually I wanted to move back to Austin where I lived in for my senior year of college. And eventually I got a job at medium-sized civil engineering firm, and we handle a lot of subcontracted work related to infrastructure regarding the City of Austin. That’s when I realized my job—and even my degree—weren’t truly what I wanted. They were more a construct of societal expectations, and of meeting external and internal needs, rather than actual wants.
I never really had a clear dream or even wild crazy dream like “I want to be a rockstar by day and a symbol of justice in the night”. As a kid, all I wanted was to save the world. Even if I had to do it myself like my childhood hero Steve Irwin. But, like most people, I think I gave up on those dreams along the way. Due to feasibility, wants and needs, and the fact that I had the back of a 50-year-old man by 25 years old, I was not about to be not the hero the world deserved but not the one it needed right now with 3 herniated disk and not so great hand-eye coordination. So last year, I started asking myself: What would I actually love to do? What could be a dream of mine dream now?
The first thing I realized was that my day job gives me a lot of flexibility—so I had no excuse not to try. That was the first step, and usually it’s the hardest. From there, the idea of starting a podcast came up. (I know you reached out to me through my photography email/Instagram page, but photography is more of a hobby.) My real focus, my real passion is my podcast and my pursuit of making it as a stand-up comedian.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
don’t think creating the business itself was the hard part—it was getting there. Everyone has those self-doubts: Will this work out? Will this become something? Will people tune in and listen? Will people find me funny and come see me? Those last two especially are common for anyone trying to make it. And being in Austin, it feels like everyone either has a podcast or is chasing some kind of “fame.” Which is not to say that’s a bad thing, but this isn’t Hollywood. It’s more like “If you can make it here, you can maybe perhaps, have an opportunity to make it somewhere else, no guarantees Tho.”
I officially created my business this year, but it took me about two months just to decide if I should even start a podcast/business. Then I spent another five months figuring everything out—how to actually make it, how much money I’d need to invest, what the podcast/ my jokes would be about, whether it should just be me or if I should have a co-host. I even questioned whether it was worth forming an LLC to get some of the tax benefits for equipment and other expenses. Where would I be able to perform, would I even have the confidence to get up in front of people, and make words come together that people may laugh? These and hundred more questions that had me overthinking so much I gave myself anxiety attacks just thinking about it.
But I finally just shot the bullet and took a chance. By the time I finally started recording and writing for the podcast and for my jokes. I realized that it was going to be a balancing act to do both the podcast and comedy on my own. Yet it would allow others to see two sides of me. The podcast would let me explore the more profound, intellectual side of myself, while stand-up would give me space to be the funny, unserious, silly version of me. Doing both—and doing them entirely on my own—hasn’t been easy, especially when my day job gets busy. At the end of the day, my job still has to come first, even before my own “business.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My stage name is Danny C (or Elparcero.dannyc). My podcast is called Talk Is Deep (available on Spotify and YouTube so far), and honestly, it’s the hardest part of my business. I wear every hat—host, editor, social media manager, audio/video engineer—basically everything that goes into creating a podcast.
Photography was something I wanted to explore too, but it’s becoming more of a hobby, since my real focus is building my comedy career and growing the podcast into something meaningful.
So, what do I call myself? I can’t really just say podcaster, comedian, or photographer. Maybe the best way to put it is—I’m a Renaissance man, lol.
As for what I’m known for, well—my friends call me Daddy Daniel or Dan the Man. Not in a sexual way, but because I’m always looking out for them like they’re my kids. I’m the one who’s always prepared, always has a plan. Despite my creative side, most people know me for my kindness, intelligence, and wisdom that I have accrued over my many years wandered the earth. I realize I am only 30 but I swear I have seen much of this world in the time I have been here.
I like to believe I’m somewhat unique (A bit conceited but you have to be to do what I am attempting to do) —maybe because I’ve always just been myself and never taken myself too seriously. Honestly, I’ve never met anyone quite like me. The best way I can describe myself is by quoting Patrick from SpongeBob: “The inner machinations of my mind are an enigma.”
What does success mean to you?
Success is subjective—it means so many different things to different people. For one person, it might be all about having a six-figure job and a nice house. For me, I think it’s simpler: I just want to be happy and love what I do. Creating this podcast, pursuing comedy, and even taking photos makes me genuinely happy. If I could make a living doing any of those things, I’d be grateful—at least I’d be passionate about my work.
One of my favorite inspirational speeches is Jim Carrey’s commencement speech at a university. In it, he talks about pursuing his dream, inspired by the sacrifices his dad made to give their family the life they had. But the part that stuck with me most was this: even though his father gave up his own dream for a “safe” job, he still ended up getting fired from that job. That moment showed Jim Carrey that failure can happen even when you play it safe—so you might as well take a chance on what you truly love. So, what I took from that is this. Pursue your passions cause even if you do and you fail. I still bring you so much more joy than giving up on a dream and that path leads nowhere either.
For me, passion matters more than status. I’d rather wake up excited to create, perform, or connect with people than chase some idea of “success” that doesn’t really belong to me. I think that’s why I’ve been drawn to comedy and podcasting—it’s not just about me, it’s about sharing ideas, making people laugh, and creating moments that mean something. At the end of the day, if I can impact people—even a few—in a real way, then that’s success in my eyes.
Pricing:
- Podcast ( any sponsorship would be appreciated)
- Comic ( could host a event a charge for it )
- Photography ( if someone wanted to hire me to take photos I have a document with my rates. Lowest starting at 75 a hour
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Elparcero.dannyc
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@elparcero_dannyc?si=XZdYxFnmRPXJ9oaE
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/2dk4LRHcUgtlGyJNrA7izd?si=lj8QI1hMQ_6OmH-923UBWw
