Stevie J’s Life Lessons started as jokes written on napkins backstage—and somehow became an illustrated dark-comedy saga about bad decisions. What began as a few funny, heartfelt stories about life’s weird, awkward, and unexpectedly profound moments has evolved into a full-fledged series, packed with humor, hard-earned wisdom, and a whole lot of heart.
At its core, Stevie J’s Life Lessons is all about perspective. The stories dive into everyday experiences—the kind we all go through—but with Chad’s signature mix of comedy and insight. Whether it’s childhood misadventures, bad decisions that somehow worked out, or moments that hit way harder than expected, Stevie J delivers life lessons wrapped in laughs.
Chad Olshavsky—known onstage and online as ChadO—didn’t start comedy in his twenties like most comics. He came to the mic later in life, already loaded with material from years of living, parenting, failing, and finding the humor in all of it. Stand-up became his second act, and the Stevie J’s Life Lessons books grew right alongside it.
Each book is short—around thirty pages—but every one feels like a miniature set: setup, punch, twist, callback. The stories read like the dark-comedy bits that make up ChadO’s stage persona—half self-deprecating, half social satire, always riding the line between funny and uncomfortable. He writes them, illustrates them, and publishes them himself, selling copies at shows and online to keep his comedy going. Gas money isn’t cheap when you live out in the Austin suburbs, and open mics don’t pay. Every book sold is another tank of gas, another few minutes onstage, another chance to get sharper.
As the series has grown, so has its impact. What started as a fun way to share stories has turned into something that resonates with readers in unexpected ways. Some come for the humor, some for the life advice, and some just because they know a Stevie J in their own lives.
A darkly funny look at suburban life through Stevie J’s wildly cracked lens.
Buy on AmazonStevie J is the perpetual every-man screw-up—a dreamer who always believes he’s one big idea away from redemption. He’s the guy who reads motivational quotes, then immediately ignores the advice. The “Life Lessons” are his mistakes, dressed up as wisdom. Each book drops Stevie into a new situation that exposes his blind optimism and painfully human flaws: fatherhood, marriage, moving to the suburbs, trying to “better himself” in all the wrong ways.
Stevie J is a reflection of ChadO’s comedic worldview: people mean well, but we’re all a little ridiculous when we try too hard to be better versions of ourselves.
June is Stevie J’s long-suffering wife and straight-woman to his chaos. She’s practical, loyal, and just cynical enough to survive life with Stevie. Through June’s eyes, readers get a mix of exasperation and affection—the quiet voice of reason that keeps the story tethered to something real. She’s not a punchline; she’s the emotional ballast that makes the comedy land.
Every Stevie J’s Life Lesson tackles one big idea—family, failure, pride, the American dream—and filters it through ChadO’s off-kilter humor. They’re quick reads with cartoon absurdity on the surface, but each hides a grain of truth: how people rationalize bad decisions, how love survives stupidity, and how laughter can turn even the bleakest moments into something worth sharing.
There are four books so far—each self-contained, about thirty pages long, fully illustrated—and more are already on Chad’s desk. The series is evolving the same way his stand-up is: a mix of cringe, heart, and a little existential dread. Think of them as printed comedy sets, small enough to finish in one sitting but memorable enough to quote for days.
The series currently includes four books, each exploring different facets of Stevie J’s life:
Get your signed 4-piece Stevie J Book Bundle here!
And the best part? Stevie J’s Life Lessons is still evolving. New stories, new perspectives, and plenty more laughs are always in the works. Because life doesn’t stop teaching—and Stevie J sure as hell isn’t done learning.
