Stavros Halkias talks Baltimore, politics with The New York Times

Greektown native Stavros Halkias is having a major 2026.

The rising foul-mouthed comedian returned home last month to film his Netflix stand-up special “Uncle Stav,” which debuts Sept. 8, at the Lyric Baltimore.

He also hosts a popular podcast, “Stavvy’s World,” plays a cook in the new Anthony Bourdain biopic, “Tony” — opening Thursday in Baltimore — and is back as a cast member in the new season of “Tires” on Netflix.

With plenty to discuss, the 37-year-old known by fans as Stavvy appeared on “Popcast,” The New York Times’ music and pop culture podcast, for an 80-minute interview.

Check it out below, and read on for some highlights from the wide-ranging conversation.

Full-circle Baltimore moments

A discussion about Halkias’ footwear choice in “Uncle Stav” — fire-engine-red Nike Foamposites — offered a window into the comic’s childhood and the struggles of his parents, who emigrated from Greece.

“We did not have it like that in the Halkias household,” he said of being able to afford $200 basketball sneakers. “So whatever was in the clearance rack at Shoe City at Eastpoint Mall, I had to do the best not to get ridiculed.”

He also recalled the formative experience of attending a Chris Rock show at the Lyric as a teenager.

“Just seeing that level of mastery in person was a really important moment for me,” Halkias said. “I wasn’t even thinking one day I will headline here.”

Magoobys gets a nod

Was this the first mention of Timonium’s Magoobys Joke House in The New York Times? (Hey, podcasts count in 2026!)

Halkias hasn’t forgotten the local comedy clubs where he first honed his craft. He noted Magoobys, which plans to open a location in Hampden next year, has a strong track record for identifying talent.

“It’s hilarious, me and Shane [Gillis] have both won Magoobys Joke House New Comedian of the Year. Kind of a nice one-two,” Halkias said.

The state of politics and comedy

Halkias’ fans often point to his personal politics — he’s an outspoken liberal — as a breath of fresh air in a comedy ecosystem where right-wing posturing has become more accepted.

But Halkias, who publicly supported New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, resents the fact that some comedians have seemingly forced his hand to stand up for the left. He’d rather tell dirty jokes.

“It’s not calculated. It’s just that a lot of stand-up comics happened the last couple of years to have some of the dumbest opinions on Earth,” said Halkias, who majored in political science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. “They are my friends, and I’m like, ‘All right, guys, can we f—ing talk about this for a second?’”

A bigger 2027?

His momentum isn’t showing signs of slowing down. In February, Halkias will appear in Judd Apatow’s new movie about a country music star, “The Comeback King.”

“I’m playing his scumbag agent,” he said of the comedy, which stars Glen Powell. “A real stretch.”

As Halkias’ IMDb credits grow, the interview makes clear that his top passion remains his stand-up, which continues to evolve. He said he’s moving away from his trademark “crowd work,” in which he directly cracks jokes about audience members from the stage.

As his star rises, Halkias still seems a bit in disbelief over how he’s living the “best life ever.” In fact, one of the central themes of the “Uncle Stav” special is how long Halkias should live out this fairy tale.

“My life is very dumb. I live this super Peter Pan lifestyle,” he said. “It’s like, should I grow up at some point?”