Welcome to the Progress Podcast! In this episode, we feature Malik Joe, a professional boxer, Muay Thai fighter, and bartender who has become a massive content creator with over 500,000 followers across platforms. Known as "the guy's guy," Malik shares his compelling journey from an early YouTube football show to viral fame—all thanks to making funny videos about annoying customers at his restaurant job.
In this episode, host Alex Pagano and Malik Joe dive deep into the heart of Philadelphia culture, content creation, and sports:
- Malik Joe's Story: How a passion for editing videos for his "Malik Jorosa NFL" show led to his first video going viral and launching his career as a full-time content creator.
- The Content Creator's Guide: His key advice for new creators, emphasizing the importance of consistency and the debate between having one strong niche vs. high variety.
- Philly vs. The World: A fast-paced game of "Would You Rather," where Malik argues why Philadelphia beats Miami, Austin, and even San Diego—primarily due to its superior public transportation system.
- Philly's Best Cheesesteaks: Malik gives his Top 5 Cheesesteak spots (Larry's is #1!) and explains why he refuses to wait in the famously long lines for places like Angelo's: "Respect yourself".
- Controversial Bar Lists: Unfiltered reactions to the Top 10 Dive Bars (Oscars at #1, but Lucy's is NOT a dive bar!) and the Top 5 Sports Bars (Garage is the best for Phillies, McGillan's is for karaoke).
- The Ultimate Sports Debate: Ranking the Top 5 Greatest Philly Sports Teams (the 2017 Eagles was the "most Philly way to win") and the Top 5 All-Time Eagles Players (Brian Dawkins is #1, but AJ Brown is #2 for a very personal reason!).
- Sixers Dream Draft: Drafting all-time Sixers legends, including Allen Iverson, Wilt Chamberlain, Charles Barkley, and Dr. J.
- The Philly Dream Team: Building the best basketball team using only non-Sixers Philly athletes like Jordan Davis (Center) and Saquon Barkley (Small Forward).
Where to Find Malik Joe:
- Instagram: @therealmalikjoe
Where to Find the Host:
- Instagram: @mortgagewithpagano
- TikTok: @mortgagewithpagano
Where to Find the Podcast:
- Spotify
- YouTube
- Apple Podcasts @progresswithpagano
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are personal and not representative of any professional organization.
