Here’s something you don’t read every day: A story about oft-alleged joke thief Carlos Mencia helping a young comic. Brad Williams, 19 at the time, was in the audience at a Mencia show when the consistently controversial stand-up started cracking jokes about dwarves, reportedly making those sitting near Williams (an achondroplastic dwarf) squirm. Embracing the awkwardness, Mencia invited Williams to the stage, where his quick wit inspired Mencia to not only encourage Williams to become a comic, but to invite him to tour as his opening act. Memorable appearances on Mind of Mencia, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Williams’ own comedy specials Fun Size and Daddy Issues followed, and Williams’ stories from the road inspired About Last Night, the podcast he currently co-hosts. Most surprisingly, during the years Williams toured as his opener, Mencia never even added a chunk about being an achondroplastic dwarf to his own act.