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 together with his pitch-perfect impressions of the rich and clueless, from Palm Seaside dads to preppy interns and influencers. Now, Ward is taking his skills to the streets – actually – with Pedicab Connections, a brand new digital collection from the group 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, scorching 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 could be the lacking hyperlink between love and logistics.
How did you get to be this viral video sensation?
Properly, these are such variety phrases. I don’t know if I’m fairly a sensation but, however between us women, 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 beloved entertaining and performing.
Once I was little, I used to be in performs and that type of factor and once I was in faculty, I did some theater, so I’ve all the time beloved to entertain. I used to be the category clown basic in highschool, that type of factor and once I was at work in my Wall Avenue job, I discovered myself actually gravitating to the instances and the alternatives wherein I might entertain my coworkers, whether or not it was emceeing an organization offsite or, throughout COVID, making enjoyable movies to type of preserve firm morale up by way of HR. So, anyway, I knew that I type of actually appreciated 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 form of knew my girlfriend actually was like, Walker, it’s 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 motion pictures and TV sooner or later, however that’s type of the lengthy story quick.
How did you become involved with Pedicab Connections?
I suppose I’ve been doing the content material for about two years now and I really knew Matt Sharp, who runs Sharp Leisure. I knew him personally by way of a household connection. Previous to any of this. I really 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 bear in mind once I was – I’ll use the phrase – a measly intern, I suppose. Not that there’s something unsuitable with interns, in fact, they’re so necessary and we want them, however I used to be the underside of the barrel exhibiting as much as work day by day at Sharp Leisure, being handed at a stack of garments from a manufacturing assistant, being like, “Okay, your job immediately, go to Macy’s and return all these garments.”
After which, fortunately, I set to work my manner up just a little bit that summer season to the place I might 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 immediately and I bear in mind seeing among the hosts of the exhibits that I used to be engaged on. I used to be like, God, that’d be actually cool to try this sooner or later. And now I’m one of many hosts.
I obtained a cellphone name from Sharp they usually have been like, we love what you’re doing, as a result of I additionally make plenty of New York-related humor and content material. I do plenty of various things, a few of which is New York-related, so I believe that they appreciated that. I’m additionally type of acquainted with the 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 wish to become involved with this Pedicab Connections present that we’re cooking up?” and I stated, “for positive”. So, right here we’re.
The present blends comedy, connection and just a little 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 stage, it’s a relationship present. I might name it a relationship present, however with just a little 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 attempting to assist single New Yorkers discover love. That’s the very temporary elevator pitch.
If we go into the following stage, I believe the relationship apps immediately have turn into so out of date, like simply relationship in 2025, not simply in New York, however usually. I hear lots of people speak about the truth that it’s simply it’s onerous. You would possibly assume with the technological advances and all of the relationship apps, it could be simpler, however I believe it’s made issues extra sophisticated after which culturally, individuals are type of buried of their telephones. You get type of sucked out of a standard 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 an extended shot till you meet your particular person, after which once you’re telling the story to your youngsters or your grandkids, you realize, 30 years down the highway, that was the time the place it really labored. So, so lengthy story quick, it’s a relationship present the place I’m the captain of the Mingle Cell and I mainly was driving round, pulling up on strangers on the sidewalk and asking them in the event that they’re single and attempting to present them just a little 20-minute respite from their day and, you realize, you give me 20 minutes, I might provide the love of your life – and that’s mainly the way it works.
What sort of folks have you ever most loved interacting with within the pedicab?
Yeah, good query. I imply, I’m a really social particular person, so I really 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 very best. , it’s clearly robust to drag up on somebody in the course of a workday as a result of schedules are fuller, that type of factor. When you might have a bunch of people who find themselves, eating alfresco, consuming outdoors, I’ll pull up – they usually’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, often women – guys too – however group of gals and the ladies within the group who should not single, both married or have boyfriends or no matter, they may very closely encourage the one women 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 any person for them within the backseat.
Initially I didn’t foresee the variety of DMs and folks sending direct messages and people who have been going to hit us up on the web. I didn’t foresee that it was going to be that common. We have now this form of inundation of individuals on the web asking us to select them up. I used to be anticipating it to be extra, we’re simply going to journey round and decide up full strangers on the road, which we’re nonetheless doing. However we’re getting some good traction on social media the place individuals are seeing these episodes they usually’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 particular person 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 thus far?
We had one journey possibly per week in the past the place this couple was within the backseat. They have been most likely of their mid-twenties. I suppose I really feel older now that I’m 31. I’m not the youngest of all people strolling across the metropolis, however I used to be speaking to them and I’m driving my bike – generally it’s just a little bit troublesome to listen to the dialog within the again and I believe generally they’ve a tough time listening to me just a little bit. After which I rotated they usually have been making out within the backseat. I used to be like, okay, alright. We have now just a little tonsil hockey at the back of the Mingle Cell. Okay, we’ll take it. We’re doing our job.
Essentially the most shocking match…we’ve got an episode that simply got here out our second episode the place we had a man named Matt and a woman named Selena and the rationale 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 they usually have been speaking, and there was just a little little bit of chemistry I assumed, 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 woman named Selena and once I’m driving folks round, I like to consider it as I’m a gross sales affiliate and we’re searching for love on the ground. Everybody’s totally different.
So, I’m asking her what do you want? What’s your sort? 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 would like to select up the cellphone and name this man Matt – as a result of I all the time get folks’s numbers as a result of generally we don’t get them a match. That’s simply how life works. However once I see somebody or meet somebody who I believe would possibly’ve been good for somebody who’s at the moment 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 they usually hit it off.
What’s your private tackle relationship proper now, at the present time?
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 report, however the relationship apps play a job in immediately’s world relationship local weather, and I believe that they make it straightforward for folks to really feel complacent. I believe you will get type of lazy. It’s like, oh, like I don’t have to go to a bar tonight or exit, possibly somebody will message me on an app or that type of factor. I don’t have to exit and purchase groceries. I can similar to order DoorDash. I don’t have to exit and like meet somebody in actual life. I’ll simply examine the apps and see what occurs.
The bottom frequent denominator that everyone is speaking about is that relationship proper now could be very troublesome and plenty of ladies are saying that guys – that is clearly a generalization – however they don’t make the primary transfer anymore. The normal masculine component of going for what they need. If a man sees a woman or a man, you realize, no matter, he’s not placing himself on the market and going up and speaking to them and initiating the dialog.
I believe there’s plenty of 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 associates. You’re at a bar and it’s like, oh, that woman, these women over there look tremendous cute. However it’s like, oh no. I’m not going to go speak to her, I’m advantageous. 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 woman.” I might see possibly social media taking part in just a little little bit of a job.
Now there’s type of a operating joke that once you see an image of a lovely girl on the web or one thing like that, folks will say, that is the type of girl that males used to go to battle for or one thing like that. And now once you’re on-line you possibly can simply be scrolling by way of your Instagram feed and also you see 100 lovely ladies or males a day and I believe it’s type of altering our, possibly mind chemistry is simply too sturdy of a phrase, however like our sense of urgency to go say hello to that particular person on the bar or within the airport or wherever you’re as a result of it’s like, yeah, that girl was lovely, however I simply popped open my cellphone and right here three different ladies who’re simply as beautiful.
So far as tropes on relationship exhibits, are there any that you simply’re deliberately leaning into?
I believe what we are attempting to do is make the present so simple as attainable within the sense that I believe plenty of 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 individuals are in love after which it’s extra of a social experiment. You enter one other lovely particular person within the combine and let’s see what occurs, or let’s see how sturdy their love is.
With this present, I believe we wish to simply preserve 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 folks and simply let it unfold naturally in entrance of our eyes on digicam? I’ve just a little 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 purple, cease and go indicators that they’ll decide up and decide whether or not it’s a match or not. However like, I believe we’re attempting to steer clear of probably the most half, from any form of conventional relationship present tropes or something like that. We would like it to be so simple as attainable. We simply wish to get two folks within the backseat and allow them to get to know one another and if I really feel like there’s just a little 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 anything?
I’m actively nonetheless making my sketch comedy reels and movies on my social media channels, walksauce42_, shameless plug, and as I discussed just a little bit or briefly at first of our chat I wish to make it onto the massive display screen into motion pictures and TV and that type of factor and I’m attempting to leverage social media to get there versus 10 years in the past once you’re type of simply bartending or ready tables and occurring auditions. Now you possibly can actually get your title on the market and make just a little 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 totally different characters that I do this’s type of it for proper now, for the foreseeable future. Simply type of keep in step with all the pieces that we’re engaged on and now we’ve got Pedicab Connections, which is tremendous thrilling and I’m going to attempt to assist singles discover love as properly.
Try Pedicab Connections on YouTube and Instagram. Observe Walker on Instagram.
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