The Waldo Theater hosted comedian Forrest Shaw Oct. 1, to a welcoming crowd of marine-science students, comedy fans, supporters and the general public. Before Shaw was cracking jokes under comedy club spotlights, he spent over a decade in Florida’s coastal waters, leading Miami-Dade County’s Manatee Protection Program, surveying sea turtle nesting habitats and monitoring water quality, seagrass and coral reefs.

A turning point came following the death of his grandfather. While scanning memorial photographs of a man who “fearlessly embraced adventure, whether ordering brains or chicken feet at a restaurant, or trying new experiences,” Shaw realized he did not want to grow old burdened by unmet ambitions. He compiled a personal list of goals, placed stand-up comedy near the top, and then took a "leap of absolute absurdity."

Shaw’s comedy journey began in 2004 at the Miami Improv. Balancing a biology career with unpaid open-mic nights, his debut performance was a “terrified, memorized routine about adopted cats and nipple piercings,” he said. Today, he successfully merges his past and present professions into a multimedia science-comedy show titled “The Ocean Hates You!” The unique performance uses dark humor, trivia and audience interaction to address serious environmental issues such as pollution, overfishing, plastic waste and climate change. The show gives a frustrated voice to the ocean and its inhabitants, with a guest appearance from an inflatable dolphin. The show's concept is clear: To hold humanity accountable for ecological neglect, while reminding audiences of the extraordinary marine life still worth protecting. “I wanted to give people hope,” he said at the end of the performance. “That’s why I did this show. It’s not too late, yet.”

His comedic style draws influence from legends like George Carlin and Eddie Murphy, and he has built an extensive resume of television appearances, writing credits, and multiple albums and podcasts.

Building a full-time comedy career required starting from scratch, and life on the road isn’t often glamourous.

Between “constant four-hour drives, navigating mistakes on toll roads, and solitary dinners at Olive Garden,” Shaw learned that comedians aren't paid for telling jokes so much as they are paid to handle the relentless grind of travel. “Sometimes it’s lonely,” he said. “People assume you’re partying non-stop, and maybe that’s true when you’re younger, but not me—I’m eating healthy, I’m missing my dog, missing my new relationship.”

Shaw’s sharp storytelling has earned him appearances on “CONAN,” “Live From Gotham” and “Jim Jefferies and Friends,” alongside writing and associate producer credits on “The Jim Jefferies Show” and his own Amazon Prime special, “Poor Decisions.”

Reflecting on his craft, Shaw said comedy should “provoke thought without malice.” Rather than intending to offend, he views stand-up as a way to confront heavy realities through laughter, and his nod to Carlin is apparent— a fearless stage presence, anti-establishment riff, full of social and political satire. Rather than just telling traditional setup-and-punchline jokes, Shaw engages escalation through rhythmic cadences, and didactic rants that force audiences to confront uncomfortable truths, all while laughing. Shaw's tour next moves from New England to the South and then on to the West Coast.