In the heart of Waco, where rich history weaves through iconic landmarks, one man is on a mission to unite the city through comedy.
Meet Omar.
OMAR: “My name is Omar Gonzalez, I’m 28 years old. I was born and raised here in Waco.”
Omar is the creative mind behind the popular comedy instagram account, Waconcarne.
What started out as a platform where Omar could create and post memes that expressed his own life experiences in Waco, quickly turned into much more.
Now, with nearly 20,000 followers, people from all over the globe are turning to Waconcarne for daily laughs and community engagement.
OMAR: “At first, it was just to have a laugh. That's just because I thought it was funny and people thought it was funny. People were telling me to do it again, so I was like, okay I’ll do it. I didn’t think anything of it.
“I was working at a prison in the summer. Working there, it was really stressful. I would get off and I would think about stuff, and I would post it. So that was a good way to decompress I would say.”
Waconcarne is a niche comedy account. Omar pokes fun at things specific to Waco culture, like Dr. Pepper, Bush’s Chicken, and Magnolia. While outsiders may not get the humor, it's easy to understand why locals connect with Waconcarne.
OMAR: “It’s been crazy. It’s definitely crazy to see that people want to follow something like that, but I’ve noticed, on instagram specifically, niche comedy is a big thing.”
But it isn’t just about the laughs for Omar. As McLennan county continues to expand, he also sheds light on important social issues like the housing crisis and the increasing cost of living through introspective posts and conversation with other community members.
OMAR: “We’re not getting any break anytime soon, it feels like. It’s just going to continue to grow. I’m not worried about us, but our future generation. How are they gonna be able to afford growing up, wherever we are? It just kinda sucks, to look at the growth. You don’t want anyone to get left behind.”
Amid the laughter echoing through Instagram feeds, WaconCarne is doing more than just telling jokes. It's weaving a tapestry of unity, celebrating the idiosyncrasies that make Waco a place like no other.
Through humor and a commitment to social awareness, Omar is not just a comedian of Waco but also a catalyst for positive change.
OMAR: “It's cool to be a voice for some people who may be afraid to say where they are from. They should embrace that. Everyone should, no matter where you’re from.”
You can follow WaconCarne on instagram at @WACONCARNE.
For 103.3 Waco Public Radio, I’m Autumn Jones.