From buying and selling shares to buying and selling snark, Walker Ward has by no means been afraid of a daring pivot. The ex-Wall Avenue exec turned viral social media satirist has constructed a cult following along with his pitch-perfect impressions of the rich and clueless, from Palm Seashore dads to preppy interns and influencers. Now, Ward is taking his skills to the streets – actually – with Pedicab Connections, a brand new digital sequence from the staff behind 90-Day Fiancé, Love After Lock Up, and Match Me Overseas.
Half matchmaking experiment, half comedy, and half social commentary, the present follows Walker as he pedals by way of New York Metropolis in a love chariot, providing free rides, sizzling takes, and surprising romantic encounters for singles braving the brutal world of contemporary relationship.
We caught up with Walker to speak about becoming a member of the Sharp Leisure universe, what Pedicab Connections says about NYC’s relationship scene, and why comedy is perhaps the lacking hyperlink between love and logistics.
How did you get to be this viral video sensation?
Nicely, these are such type phrases. I don’t know if I’m fairly a sensation but, however between us ladies, I moved to New York in July of 2018, and I took a gross sales job on the promote facet of Wall Avenue. I had that job for about six years, till July of 2023 after which I used to be let go from that job and as soon as I used to be let go from my job, I began to make movies on social media as a result of I’ve all the time cherished entertaining and performing.
After I was little, I used to be in performs and that type of factor and after I was in faculty, I did some theater, so I’ve all the time cherished to entertain. I used to be the category clown traditional in highschool, that type of factor and after I was at work in my Wall Avenue job, I discovered myself actually gravitating to the occasions and the alternatives through which I may entertain my coworkers, whether or not it was emceeing an organization offsite or, throughout COVID, making enjoyable movies to type of maintain firm morale up by way of HR. So, anyway, I knew that I type of actually favored it and I wasn’t scratching that itch that I needed to actually carry out at my day job. I believe the firing was type of a blessing in disguise as a result of then I type of knew my girlfriend actually was like, Walker, it is best to simply take a step again. Perhaps begin making movies on the web and type of see what occurs. I’d love to finish up being in films and TV in the future, however that’s type of the lengthy story quick.
How did you get entangled with Pedicab Connections?
I assume I’ve been doing the content material for about two years now and I truly knew Matt Sharp, who runs Sharp Leisure. I knew him personally by way of a household connection. Previous to any of this. I truly interned for Sharp Leisure again in 2015, so this has felt like a extremely enjoyable, type of full-circle second, as a result of I keep in mind after I was – I’ll use the phrase – a measly intern, I assume. Not that there’s something flawed with interns, after all, they’re so essential and we want them, however I used to be the underside of the barrel exhibiting as much as work daily at Sharp Leisure, being handed at a stack of garments from a manufacturing assistant, being like, “Okay, your job at present, go to Macy’s and return all these garments.”
After which, fortunately, I set to work my manner up somewhat bit that summer time to the place I may work on a set and I labored on some actuality exhibits of theirs. It’s been a extremely cool full-circle second to have the retrospect of the place I used to be throughout my internship at Sharp actually 10 years in the past at present and I keep in mind seeing a number of the hosts of the exhibits that I used to be engaged on. I used to be like, God, that’d be actually cool to do this in the future. And now I’m one of many hosts.
I received a telephone name from Sharp and so they have been like, we love what you’re doing, as a result of I additionally make numerous New York-related humor and content material. I do numerous various things, a few of which is New York-related, so I believe that they favored that. I’m additionally type of aware of town and I do know individuals who work there, who personal small companies and that type of factor. And so, they have been like, “Would you need to get entangled with this Pedicab Connections present that we’re cooking up?” and I mentioned, “for certain”. So, right here we’re.
The present blends comedy, connection and somewhat little bit of chaos. How would you describe the present to somebody who’s not seen it but?
I might describe Pedicab Connections to somebody who hasn’t seen it as excessive degree, it’s a relationship present. I might name it a relationship present, however with somewhat little bit of a twist. The best way I clarify it proper now could be I’m driving round my pedicab, the Mingle Cell, and I’m driving round making an attempt to assist single New Yorkers discover love. That’s the very transient elevator pitch.
If we go into the subsequent degree, I believe the relationship apps at present have grow to be so out of date, like simply relationship in 2025, not simply in New York, however normally. I hear lots of people discuss the truth that it’s simply it’s onerous. You would possibly assume with the technological advances and all of the relationship apps, it is perhaps simpler, however I believe it’s made issues extra difficult after which culturally, persons are type of buried of their telephones. You get type of sucked out of a traditional life and into your display screen, and you possibly can be strolling on the streets of New York, proper by somebody who, in case your head was up and never down, you would possibly assume was tremendous cute, otherwise you would possibly even have the braveness to strike up a dialog with, and also you by no means know.
It all the time appears like a protracted shot till you meet your individual, after which if you’re telling the story to your children or your grandkids, you recognize, 30 years down the street, that was the time the place it truly labored. So, so lengthy story quick, it’s a relationship present the place I’m the captain of the Mingle Cell and I principally was driving round, pulling up on strangers on the sidewalk and asking them in the event that they’re single and making an attempt to offer them somewhat 20-minute respite from their day and, you recognize, you give me 20 minutes, I may provide the love of your life – and that’s principally the way it works.
What sort of individuals have you ever most loved interacting with within the pedicab?
Yeah, good query. I imply, I’m a really social individual, so I like having anyone at the back of the pedicab. I’ll say this, from a time of day, success charge perspective, evenings have been working the most effective. You understand, it’s clearly powerful to drag up on somebody in the midst of a workday as a result of schedules are fuller, that type of factor. When you may have a bunch of people who find themselves, eating alfresco, consuming exterior, I’ll pull up – and so they’ve had a pair drinks or that type of factor.
Often, probably the most success I’ll have is when it’ll be a bunch of, normally ladies – guys too – however group of gals and the women within the group who are usually not single, both married or have boyfriends or no matter, they may very closely encourage the one ladies of their group to get within the cab. So, they’re type of like doing my pitch job for me, which is nice. Then I hopefully get a pleasant gal within the backseat after which we drive round, get to speaking, after which attempt to discover anyone for them within the backseat.
Initially I didn’t foresee the variety of DMs and folks sending direct messages and folks that have been going to hit us up on the web. I didn’t foresee that it was going to be that well-liked. We’ve this type of inundation of individuals on the web asking us to choose them up. I used to be anticipating it to be extra, we’re simply going to experience round and choose up full strangers on the road, which we’re nonetheless doing. However we’re getting some good traction on social media the place persons are seeing these episodes and so they’re messaging us saying, “Hey, I’m single, can we arrange a time for a pickup?” We do a few of that now too, the place the individual is a stranger and they’re single, however they reached out to us and I do know I’m going to seek out them someplace within the space. We’ll have arrange pickups too.
What’s been probably the most shocking second or match to date?
We had one experience perhaps every week in the past the place this couple was within the backseat. They have been in all probability of their mid-twenties. I assume I really feel older now that I’m 31. I’m not the youngest of everyone strolling across the metropolis, however I used to be speaking to them and I’m using my bike – generally it’s somewhat bit troublesome to listen to the dialog within the again and I believe generally they’ve a tough time listening to me somewhat bit. After which I rotated and so they have been making out within the backseat. I used to be like, okay, alright. We’ve somewhat tonsil hockey at the back of the Mingle Cell. Okay, we’ll take it. We’re doing our job.
Probably the most shocking match…we have now an episode that simply got here out our second episode the place we had a man named Matt and a lady named Selena and the explanation this was shocking and enjoyable is as a result of I had picked Matt up earlier and we went round earlier within the day and we picked up a single gal for him on the road and so they have been speaking, and there was somewhat little bit of chemistry I believed, however on the finish of the day, it wasn’t a match, so that they each ended up getting out and leaving. After which later within the day, I picked up this lady named Selena and after I’m driving individuals round, I like to consider it as I’m a gross sales affiliate and we’re searching for love on the ground. Everybody’s completely different.
So, I’m asking her what do you want? What’s your kind? What are you into? And all the pieces Selena was saying was this man, Matt, who I had earlier that day within the cab. And so, I used to be like, all proper, Selena, maintain on. I want to choose up the telephone and name this man Matt – as a result of I all the time get individuals’s numbers as a result of generally we don’t get them a match. That’s simply how life works. However after I see somebody or meet somebody who I believe would possibly’ve been good for somebody who’s at present within the cab, I’ll name them up and see in the event that they’re free. Matt was nonetheless within the space, so we picked him up and so they hit it off.
What’s your private tackle relationship proper now, these days?
I imply, I’ve a girlfriend of virtually 4 years who’s nice, however that doesn’t imply that I’m clearly not plugged into the scene. I believe it’s onerous as a result of, to not sound like a damaged document, however the relationship apps play a task in at present’s world relationship local weather, and I believe that they make it simple for individuals to really feel complacent. I believe you may get type of lazy. It’s like, oh, like I don’t must go to a bar tonight or exit, perhaps somebody will message me on an app or that type of factor. I don’t must exit and purchase groceries. I can similar to order DoorDash. I don’t must exit and like meet somebody in actual life. I’ll simply examine the apps and see what occurs.
The bottom widespread denominator that everyone is speaking about is that relationship proper now may be very troublesome and numerous girls are saying that guys – that is clearly a generalization – however they don’t make the primary transfer anymore. The normal masculine ingredient of going for what they need. If a man sees a lady or a man, you recognize, no matter, he isn’t placing himself on the market and going up and speaking to them and initiating the dialog.
I believe there may be numerous potential love – to not be dramatic – that’s being misplaced or not even found due to that. I see it on a regular basis with my mates. You’re at a bar and it’s like, oh, that lady, these ladies over there look tremendous cute. However it’s like, oh no. I’m not going to go speak to her, I’m wonderful. I really feel like again within the day there was extra of, “I’m going to go speak to her. That is the one time I’m going to see this lady.” I may see perhaps social media taking part in somewhat little bit of a task.
Now there’s type of a working joke that if you see an image of an attractive lady on the web or one thing like that, individuals will say, that is the type of lady that males used to go to struggle for or one thing like that. And now if you’re on-line you’ll be able to simply be scrolling by way of your Instagram feed and also you see 100 lovely girls or males a day and I believe it’s type of altering our, perhaps mind chemistry is just too robust of a phrase, however like our sense of urgency to go say hello to that individual on the bar or within the airport or wherever you’re as a result of it’s like, yeah, that lady was lovely, however I simply popped open my telephone and right here three different girls who’re simply as attractive.
So far as tropes on relationship exhibits, are there any that you simply’re deliberately leaning into?
I believe what we try to do is make the present so simple as attainable within the sense that I believe numerous relationship exhibits could have every kind of bells and whistles and you’ve got like exhibits like Love Island or Bachelor in Paradise, the place persons are in love after which it’s extra of a social experiment. You enter one other lovely individual within the combine and let’s see what occurs, or let’s see how robust their love is.
With this present, I believe we need to simply maintain it so simple as attainable and it’s like, look. The chemistry is type of on the market within the streets floating round. Can I, on this ridiculous Mingle Cell, discover two individuals and simply let it unfold naturally in entrance of our eyes on digicam? I’ve somewhat basket of treats within the entrance with enjoyable questions and that type of factor and we’ll have little paddles on the finish with inexperienced and crimson, cease and go indicators that they’ll choose up and decide whether or not it’s a match or not. However like, I believe we’re making an attempt to steer clear of probably the most half, from any type of conventional relationship present tropes or something like that. We would like it to be so simple as attainable. We simply need to get two individuals within the backseat and allow them to get to know one another and if I really feel like there’s somewhat little bit of a spark or chemistry, we attempt to construct that and attempt to make them a match.
Apart from the present, are you engaged on the rest?
I’m actively nonetheless making my sketch comedy reels and movies on my social media channels, walksauce42_, shameless plug, and as I discussed somewhat bit or briefly in the beginning of our chat I need to make it onto the large display screen into films and TV and that type of factor and I’m making an attempt to leverage social media to get there versus 10 years in the past if you’re type of simply bartending or ready tables and occurring auditions. Now you’ll be able to actually get your identify on the market and make somewhat bit of cash too, doing it by making movies and stuff on social media. So, I’m going to proceed make my movies, construct out my character arcs for all my completely different characters that I do this’s type of it for proper now, for the foreseeable future. Simply type of keep per all the pieces that we’re engaged on and now we have now Pedicab Connections, which is tremendous thrilling and I’m going to attempt to assist singles discover love as effectively.
Try Pedicab Connections on YouTube and Instagram. Observe Walker on Instagram.
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