Finding Balance Fueled Ian Lara’s New Special “Material Boy”

We live in a world where everyone is chasing the next dose of dopamine. As social media and smartphones dominate our daily lives, we've adopted the “I want it now” mindset in everything from landing our dream job to finding our “ideal partner.” So many people believe that they are just one viral video away from instant fame and fortune, forgetting that real success always requires hard work, discipline and time. If there's one artist I can promise you that you won't go by shortcuts, it's Jan Lara.

In his nearly 15-year career, the Dominican stand-up comedian has amassed an impressive resume. Comedy Central Talks 'Stand-Up Featured'” for its first 30-minute special in 2020, for HBO Latin American channel “Entre Nos: LA Meets NY”. five appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,and its debut one-hour HBO special in 2022. “Romantic Comedy” on HBO Max. Now, after two years of touring, Lara returns with her latest special, “Material Boy,” which was released October 10th on Pluto TV and will be available on Prime, Tubi, Roku and YouTube this November. The title, directed by Aida Rodriguez, is a tribute to his unwavering dedication to his craft and his relentless pursuit of perfecting the material – a commitment that is on full display in this release, where every joke hits the mark and the performances are brilliantly polished from start to finish.

“In a society that doesn't want to take the time to create things and prefers things to be handed to them faster, where stories are told in one-minute clips, I decided to go with 'Material Boy' because I'm a guy who still takes his time. I need time to build and create stuff,” Lara tells POPSUGAR. “I value writing. I appreciate the narrative aspect of it. I may try to release a new special every year. Many people do this. But I don’t think it contributes to what I like to do.”

Lara talks about perfecting the balance required to turn the world's chaos into laughter—a dance of timing, rhythm, sharp writing, and skillful performances that transforms storytelling into its rawest, most vulnerable form: stand-up comedy.

If there's one thing Lara has learned from nearly two decades of performing night after night in comedy clubs in New York City, across the country and even abroad, it's to show more grace when it comes to finding the perfect “work-life balance.” He admits he's missed countless birthdays and get-togethers, with most of his 20s and early 30s spent on stage rather than with friends. Sometimes he doesn't have time to date. And while he's making more of an effort to carve out family moments – being the family man that he is – even that has had to take a back seat at times during the build-up to his new special.

“I think everyone's definition of work-life balance is different. What does this mean for me? I just think it’s about finding the sweet spot between achieving the highest level of performance without burning out or stalling,” he says. “I think it's a balance. You want to be able to do as much work as possible—good work—without losing your sanity.”

Lara reflects on life in what he calls the “microwave society”, an era of instant gratification where people expect success overnight. At the same time, he points out the contradictions we face, especially in America. Capitalism has always preached hustle and labor as the path to achieving your dreams. However, we have also begun to recognize the need to protect our physical, emotional and mental health.

Meanwhile, social media is spreading a false narrative: just showing it can lead to achieving your goals, a six-pack, flawless skin and enough money for a private jet in just a year or two. It sounds funny – which is why Lara jokes about it a lot in her new episode – but the pressure is real. Today, the pursuit of fame can consume anyone, from aspiring artists to the local barista.

“Do you remember the times when if you wanted something, you had to work to get it?” Lara asks in the special. “It's outdated. You don't have to do this anymore. They created this new thing called manifestation, and the best part about it is that you don’t actually have to do anything.”

“I take the most surreal approach to mocking and making fun of it because that’s what some of the people I talk to sound like to me,” he tells me, laughing. “Manifestation and the law of attraction—they've become just buzz phrases that don't really mean anything. The truth is that if you pursue something with all your passion and give it your all, the universe will bend for you. However, this is not a manifestation. It doesn't happen because you said, “I'm going to do it.” It's because you do it.”

Lara believes balance means trusting yourself while you work, making space for self-care, and setting boundaries with your time. But even the limits, he argues, are where the current generation has gone too far.

“I saw it with mental health for a while, where mental health exploded and everyone was like, ‘Oh my God, this is so great. We are finally addressing past traumas, dealing with them and growing.” But then people started using mental health as an excuse not to talk to their family because they were “setting boundaries,” he says. “They were like, 'Every time I come over they make me do the dishes and it's against my rules so I can't talk to my mom anymore,' and it's like, wow. I think we've gone too far.”

These days, Lara says balance comes from maintaining a daily routine that keeps him focused and organized enough to carve out time for family, friends and even the occasional getaway—like flying to Puerto Rico with his primo for Bad Bunny's stay over his birthday weekend. His schedule is built around late nights: he gets up at 10 a.m., goes to bed around 3, is at the gym by noon and has lunch by one. The rest of his day is filled with writing and reviewing materials, calling managers, booking trips, auditioning for movie roles, recording a weekly podcast.”Adult life” and squeezes himself into a press interview. At night, he's back on stage, shuttling between New York clubs like The Stand, Comedy Cellar, Gotham Comedy Club and New York Comedy Club Monday through Wednesday for 15-minute sets, and on the road Thursday through Sunday performing his full hour.

“I'm trying to be more intentional about finding balance. Be more intentional about taking time to live life,” he says. “I don't want to waste my youth on things that in the future I might look back on and think, 'I wish I had done that, but I didn't because I was too busy with work.' So I say find joy in life with friends and family and be confident that the work is still getting done because you still have to work.”

In a world that chases quick wins, where likes, shares and views often overshadow real excellence, Lara reminds us that true success comes through discipline, focus and the willingness to give it your all. He mastered what many people are still struggling to understand: how to give everything to a dream without losing yourself. Lara is proof that mastering something doesn't have to mean burning out. This means learning when to stress and when to relax.

Johanna Ferreira is the content director of PS Juntos. With over 10 years of experience, Joanna focuses on how intersectional identities are a central part of Latinx culture. She previously spent nearly three years as deputy editor of HipLatina and has freelanced for numerous publications, including Refinery29, The Oprah Magazine, Allure, InStyle and Well+Good. She has also moderated and spoken on numerous panels on issues of Latina identity.