Ryan Long

Early life and musical career

Ryan Long was born on August 12, 1985, in Toronto, Ontario. Before his comedy career, Long was involved in the music scene during the early 2000s as the lead singer and occasional drummer for the Canadian ska-punk band The Johnstones. The band was active for over a decade, with their last album released in 2012. This period in a touring punk band provided Long with early performance experience and an understanding of counter-culture themes that would later inform his comedic perspective. The Johnstones performed extensively within the Canadian punk circuit, building a fanbase that Long would later engage with through his comedy work. His time with the band ended as he shifted his creative focus toward writing and performing comedy full time.

Rise in digital comedy and television

Long first gained significant recognition through his work creating, starring in, and running several digital comedy series for Canadian television. For CBC Comedy, he was the creator, star, and showrunner of the series Torontopia and THAT GUY. He also created and starred in Ryan Long is Challenged for BITE TV and Crown the Town with Ryan Long for Rogers TV. These projects demonstrated his skills in writing, acting, and production, establishing him within Canadian digital media. Concurrently, Long began building a massive online audience by releasing a new comedy sketch on his YouTube channel every Monday, a consistent schedule he maintains. His YouTube content, which includes viral sketches and street interviews, has accumulated billions of views. In 2017, he took on the role of Head of Video for the satirical punk culture website The Hard Times, where he was responsible for producing video content that matched the site's editorial voice. This position allowed him to merge his comedic sensibilities with media production management.

Stand-up comedy and touring

Ryan Long's stand-up comedy is characterized by its fearless and provocative examination of modern social dynamics, political correctness, and performative activism. After moving to New York City in 2019, he quickly became a regular performer at clubs like The Comedy Cellar, The Stand Comedy Club, and New York Comedy Club. He tours extensively internationally, with a strong presence on the Canadian circuit, performing in cities like Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa, and Winnipeg. His 2025 to 2026 tour is titled 'Being a Man in 2026 Is Impossible,' which reflects his ongoing thematic focus on contemporary masculinity and social expectations. Long has released several stand-up specials, including Problem Solved and Ryan Long: White Immigrant, which are available for free on his YouTube channel. He toured Australia in 2024 and has scheduled performances in Alberta for November 2026 at The Comic Strip in Edmonton and The Laugh Shop in Calgary.

Ryan Long has several stand-up specials available, including Problem Solved and Ryan Long: White Immigrant, which are free to stream on YouTube. He has toured internationally, including a tour of Australia in 2024. His upcoming tour dates include performances in Edmonton, Alberta, at The Comic Strip on November 5, 2026, and in Calgary, Alberta, at The Laugh Shop on November 12, 2026. Long's comedy tours, such as the Being a Man in 2026 Is Impossible Comedy Tour for 2025 to 2026, feature his sharp, satirical stand-up material.

• Problem Solved (stand-up special, released on YouTube)
• Ryan Long: White Immigrant (stand-up special, released on YouTube)
• Australian Tour (2024)
• 'Being a Man in 2026 Is Impossible' Comedy Tour (2025 to 2026)
• Canadian tour dates in Edmonton (The Comic Strip) and Calgary (The Laugh Shop) for November 2026
• Performance at the Algonquin Commons Theatre in Nepean, Ontario in February 2026
• Regular appearances at Brooklyn Comedy Club in addition to his other New York venues

Podcasting and media appearances

Long co-hosts the popular podcast The Boyscast with Ryan Long alongside fellow Canadian comedian Danny Polishchuk. The podcast features long-form conversations and comedic commentary and has become a central part of his creative output. His profile has been increased by appearances on other major podcasts, including The Joe Rogan Experience, Ari Shaffir's Skeptic Tank, Bertcast, Flagrant, and Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast. Long's work has also been featured on traditional broadcast and streaming platforms such as Netflix, NBC, MTV, and Just for Laughs. While his material has attracted praise from some conservative-leaning media outlets like The Federalist, Fox News, Rebel News, and critic Christian Toto, Long has stated that he eschews political labels for both himself and his work, aiming for satire that critiques all sides. His podcast and guest spots serve as a primary channel for his longer-form ideas beyond the constraints of short sketches or stand-up sets.

Other projects and voice acting

Beyond stand-up and podcasting, Long maintains a diverse creative portfolio. Since 2015, he has provided the voice for the titular character in the ongoing animated web series Sublo & Tangy Mustard, created by his cousin Aaron Long. This project demonstrates his work as a voice actor and his involvement in long-form digital storytelling. His earlier role as Head of Video at The Hard Times involved producing satirical video content aligned with punk culture commentary, a role that connected his comedy with specific subcultural criticism. Long's work as a filmmaker, actor, and writer continues through his digital series and his prolific output on social media platforms, where he engages directly with his audience. The animated series represents a collaborative family project that has continued for nearly a decade, separate from his more widely known solo comedy work.

Personal life and relocation

Ryan Long relocated from Canada to the United States in 2019. He obtained U.S. permanent residency through the 'Extraordinary Alien' Green Card program, a category for individuals with demonstrated extraordinary ability in the arts or sciences. He is now based in New York City, where he is a regular part of the local comedy scene, performing multiple nights a week when not on tour. Despite his move, he maintains strong ties to Canada, frequently returning for national tours and performances. Long's comedy often draws on his experiences as a Canadian living in America, a theme explored in his special Ryan Long: White Immigrant. His immigration via the EB-1 visa is a point he incorporates into his material regarding identity and perception. The move was a strategic career step to access the larger American comedy market and media opportunities.

Online presence and viewership

Ryan Long's digital presence is a major component of his success. His primary YouTube channel is dedicated to comedy sketches, street interviews, and full stand-up specials. The channel has amassed a cumulative view count in the billions, driven by the viral nature of his short-form content and the accessibility of his long-form specials. He consistently releases a new comedy sketch every Monday, a schedule that has helped build a loyal subscriber base and ensures a constant stream of new material. His content is widely shared across social media platforms, extending his reach beyond traditional comedy audiences. The scale of his online viewership, often cited as 'billions of views' across his sketches and specials, supports his international touring draw and his qualification for a U.S. visa based on extraordinary ability. This massive online audience directly translates to ticket sales for his live shows across Canada and the United States.

Content and comedic style

Ryan Long's comedy is defined by satirical takes on sensitive social and political issues, often exploring themes like political correctness, performative activism, and social justice. His performances blend observational humour with provocative commentary, frequently targeting what he perceives as absurdities in modern discourse. The material is delivered in a direct, conversational style that connects with live audiences and translates effectively to online video. His viral sketches often feature street interviews or scripted scenarios that highlight hypocrisies or contradictions in contemporary attitudes. While his work resonates with some conservative commentators, Long avoids aligning with any specific political ideology, focusing instead on comedy that questions prevailing narratives from multiple angles. His style has been described as sharp and fearless, often tackling topics that many comedians might avoid for fear of backlash.

Questions about Ryan Long

Where is Ryan Long from?

Ryan Long was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He began his entertainment career there in the early 2000s as the lead singer for the ska-punk band The Johnstones before transitioning into comedy. Although he now lives and works primarily in New York City, he frequently returns to Canada for comedy tours, with scheduled shows in Edmonton and Calgary for late 2026. His Canadian roots are a recurring reference point in his material, especially in discussions of cultural differences between Canada and the United States.

What is Ryan Long's podcast?

Ryan Long is the host of The Boyscast with Ryan Long, a podcast he co-hosts with fellow Canadian comedian Danny Polishchuk. The podcast features long-form comedic conversations and has contributed significantly to his profile. He is also a frequent guest on other popular podcasts, including The Joe Rogan Experience, Bertcast, Ari Shaffir's Skeptic Tank, Flagrant, and Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast. These appearances have helped expand his audience beyond his own YouTube subscribers and provide a platform for more detailed discussion of his comedic ideas.

What are Ryan Long's most famous comedy specials?

Ryan Long has released several stand-up specials, which are distributed primarily for free on his YouTube channel. His notable specials include Problem Solved and Ryan Long: White Immigrant. These specials explore themes like modern masculinity, political correctness, and his experiences immigrating to the United States, and they have contributed to the billions of views his online content has accumulated. The specials are central to his digital strategy, serving as major content pieces that drive viewership and tour interest, and they are offered without a paywall to maximize accessibility.

Where does Ryan Long perform regularly?

Based in New York City, Ryan Long is a regular performer at several well-known comedy clubs, including The Comedy Cellar, The Stand Comedy Club, New York Comedy Club, and Brooklyn Comedy Club. He also tours internationally, with a heavy schedule across Canada, the United States, and other countries. He performed in Australia in 2024 and has a North American tour running through 2025 and 2026, with specific dates in Canadian cities like Edmonton, Calgary, and Nepean. His club appearances in New York occur multiple times per week when he is not traveling for tour dates.

What TV shows has Ryan Long created?

Long has created, starred in, and served as showrunner for multiple digital and television series. His notable creations include the CBC Comedy series Torontopia and THAT GUY. He also created Ryan Long is Challenged for BITE TV and Crown the Town with Ryan Long for Rogers TV, establishing his early career in Canadian television production. These series allowed him to develop his comedic voice in a longer narrative format before focusing on stand-up and online sketches, and they remain part of his professional portfolio.

How did Ryan Long move to the United States?

Ryan Long moved from Canada to the United States in 2019. He obtained lawful permanent residency through the EB-1 visa category, commonly known as the 'Extraordinary Alien' or 'Einstein' Green Card. This visa is designated for individuals who demonstrate extraordinary ability in their field, which in Long's case was recognized in comedy and the arts, supported by his substantial online viewership and professional credits. His special Ryan Long: White Immigrant directly addresses this experience and the cultural observations that come with changing countries as an adult.

Sources and further reading

• Ryan Long (Wikipedia)
• RYAN LONG COMEDY, Fellas, Fellas! (ryanlongcomedy.com)
• Ryan Long, The Laugh Shop Calgary (showpass.com)
• Buy Tickets to See Ryan Long, CONCERT SERIES (rumorscomedyclub.com)
• Ryan Long, Wilbur Theatre (thewilbur.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-27.