Nate Bergatze and Mike Goodwin: Brothers from Different Mothers

by Paul Batura | June 27, 2025 | Culture

You can be funny without using profanity or being crude.

Just watch and listen to Nate Bargatze and Mike Goodwin.

Nate Bargatze has been known as “The Nicest Man in Stand-Up,” a designation that the deadpan comic seems to take in the same easygoing stride as his sellout success across the country.

Mike Goodwin calls himself “A southern gentleman with a curious mind, love for people, and heart for God.”

A South Carolina native and Army veteran, Goodwin is a comedian who was once a former director of college counseling, earned his college degree on the G.I. Bill, and went on to earn a master’s degree in Education.

Goodwin credits the Army with preparing him for life.

“It’s easily one of the best decisions in my life, to have that experience,” he said. “The thing that is interesting for me was, after the Army, there was nothing left that I was really scared of. There really wasn’t anything I didn’t think I could do.”

Born Nathaniel Bargatze to Carole and Stephen Bargatze in Nashville in 1979, Nate is now a 46-year-old comic was brought up in a faith-filled home and shaped by teachers and fellow students at nearby Donelson Christian Academy.

Stephen, Nate’s father, was both a clown and magician, professions that required him to overcome speech problems caused by a bulldog attack that marred his face.

Nate decided to take a shot at improv comedy while working as a meter reader for the utilities company. He worked at a club for eight weeks, deciding it wasn’t a good fit for him. He then took a stand-up comedy class, found his rhythm and started the climb.

He has said his clean comedy has been motivated by his Christian faith and a desire to never say anything that will embarrass his parents.

Mike Goodwin has said he doesn’t want to be known as a Christian comedian, but a comedian who’s Christian. It’s been these Christian values, though, that have helped distinguish him from so many other comics.

“I always just wanted to be an excellent comedian … as a Christian,” he says. “For me, my faith is a big part of who I am. People ask about that a lot — isn’t it tough doing clean comedy? It continues to be a choice, but it’s really congruent with who I am. I was raised in the church.”

Mike didn’t transition from reading meters but instead from academia. He was funny, but stand-up didn’t come easy to him.

“I was the funniest comedian in the car on the way to events,” he recalled, continuing:

I would be killing it in the car. Then we’d get to a show, and I wasn’t a fraction of that guy. The car was very comfortable. On stage with a microphone and looking out at people was not comfortable. I didn’t know how long it would take, but I knew I could be better than I was. With comedy you will know immediately if you are going to continue to do it. I had a great experience the first time out, but after that, I bombed. I just wasn’t a good performer.

Mike is happily married to Rozalynn and they’re raising two teenagers.

Nate is happily married to Laura and they have one girl.

If you’re looking for clean, family-friendly comedy, you’ll enjoy Nate Bargatze and Mike Goodwin.

Well done, Mike and Nate, keep it going, and thanks for the laughs!