MY FIANCÉ, Charles, and I went to the first live recording of The KoolPals earlier this year. With an all-day pass, we ended up watching three shows in a row and it was exhausting, but in the best way. And what a solid way to open the year 2026.
The first set featured Comedy Manila Open Mic Competition 2025 winner Daniel Arboladora and Filipino-Canadian comedian Ron Josol, whose timing had the audience laughing from the start. The second show brought in Kuya Laj, a clown and magician from Laguna, whose physical comedy and unexpected punchlines had our jaws aching from laughing. The final recording featured returning guest, the OPM band Tanya Markova. The session ran nearly three hours, as the energy in the room stayed high throughout because of the conversation and performances.
Watching the podcast live made something obvious that doesn’t come across online, watching it with fellow “KoolPals” changes everything. Pauses that might feel awkward on YouTube landed naturally, punchlines hit harder, and the long callbacks over multiple shows only made sense if you were there the whole day.
Before the third show, we had the opportunity to speak with stand-up hosts GB Labrador, James Caraan, Nonong Ballinan, Ryan Rems Sarita, and Muman Reyes about their recent comedy special on YouTube.
“We were already happy if it reached 100,000 views. That was already a stretch for us, especially since it was just us and there was no guest. We usually get around 10,000 to 20,000 views, so hitting that number felt big,” said James.
Instead, the special quickly approached half a million views.
“People kept replaying it. That’s when we really felt the care of the community. It felt like they were watching it again just to support us,” he conitnued.
The hosts acknowledged that negative comments come with the territory, but said they are not central to the show’s direction, as live audience reactions and long-term listener support matter more to them.
“We said, okay, let’s expect that some people will have favorites and others won’t. Just remember, this special is for everyone. The KoolPals podcast started as a way to promote stand-up comedy. This time around, it’s the stand-up that’s promoting the podcast. That’s its purpose. So don’t think that this is about me being the best,” GB explained.
“You can’t please everyone. That’s why there are five of us. If they don’t like one, maybe they’ll like another. Online is one thing, But live is different. The energy of the crowd changes how the jokes land,” James added.
The group also spoke about keeping their online content uncut, saying they wanted the episodes to reflect the full live experience.
Transparency and direct communication with fans, they said, strengthens the connection between the hosts and the audience, both online and in person.
When asked if winning Spotify’s Top Comedy Podcast of the Year added pressure, the hosts said not really.
“Last year, we didn’t think we had to be the top this year. We just did what we do, and whatever happens, happens. All we can do is give 100% to everything we do,” said Nonong.
By the end of the day, it was easy to see why The KoolPals has such a loyal following. The humor, the audience reactions, and the chemistry between the hosts all came together in a way that’s hard to capture online.
This was our first time at a live recording, and Charles and I felt how the crowd’s laughter and reactions carried the live recordings in a way you can’t get online.
