Former Microsoft Engineer Austin Nasso Explains How He Swapped Tech for Full-Time Stand-Up Comedy

Austin Nasso, a 30-year-old comedian and cofounder of the Tech Roast Show, has opened up about how he left his software engineering job at Microsoft in 2021 to pursue comedy full-time—a path he describes as exciting, strategic, and far from glamorous. His story, originally shared in an as-told-to interview, offers a detailed look at what it really takes to turn a long-time passion into a sustainable career.

Nasso has been performing stand-up for 12 years. Before entering tech, he studied computer science at UCLA, where he also helped build a comedy community on campus. After graduation, he joined Microsoft in Seattle as a software engineer. In 2018, while still working in tech, he and a group of friends launched Tech Roast Show, a crowd-work comedy format built around roasting tech professionals—an idea that resonated so well that they eventually expanded to tech hubs across the US, Europe, and India. You can see more about the show’s concept on the group’s official page, Tech Roast Show.

Early in his career, Nasso read The 4-Hour Workweek, a book that shaped how he approached both software engineering and comedy. Three lessons stood out to him. First, he learned the value of working remotely to free up time for passion projects. After a year at Microsoft, he convinced his manager to allow remote work and moved back to Los Angeles in 2018, splitting his days between coding from a WeWork and performing at night.

Second, he applied the idea of minimizing his workday by optimizing focus time and avoiding unnecessary meetings. He made coding his priority and protected that schedule so he could maintain energy for comedy. Still, he often faced friction—like when his manager occasionally asked for extra hours right when Nasso needed to film a sketch or head to a show.

The third principle was to treat his life like a startup. He understood his income would drop sharply if he left tech, so he planned ahead. He ensured he had enough savings and offset living expenses by renting out both a condo and an Airbnb—practical steps that allowed him to take the leap without financial panic.

But Nasso stresses that turning a passion into a profession requires more than enthusiasm. “A hobby is not a career,” he says. He believes you need external validation—some real indication that you’re genuinely good at the craft—and a path to monetize it. His own turning point came when he began going viral on TikTok, giving him confidence that people wanted his comedy.

Even with experience, followers, and year-round performances at clubs like New York Comedy Club and Westside Comedy Club, Nasso emphasizes that success in stand-up isn’t automatic. Comedy relies heavily on relationships with club bookers, consistent practice, and constant improvement. He recently released a full comedy special and is now preparing for an India tour with Tech Roast Show.

He also notes that life as a working comedian is far from purely fun. There’s travel to places like India and Japan, creative pressure, and an ongoing obligation to perform—even when he doesn’t feel like being on stage. With no boss to set structure, he has to build his own routine, pace himself, and stay committed to getting better every day.

Nasso’s journey shows that leaving a secure tech job isn’t a cinematic leap of faith—it’s a calculated transition that blends passion, planning, and relentless improvement.