Zack Peter

Zack Peter (Born Peter Zachary Gonzalez, June 15, 1993) is an American comedian, podcast host, writer, and activist. He first received recognition for his advocacy work for autism awareness. He has published a total of four books and currently hosts the weekly podcasts, #NoFilter with Zack Peter and #Adulting: Life Hacks to Get Your Sh*t Together.[2]

Zack Peter
Zack Peter 2019
Born
Peter Zachary Gonzalez

June 15, 1993
Los Angeles, California, U.S.[1]
OccupationComedian, Writer/Author, Activist
Years active2009–present
WebsiteJust Plain Zack

In 2009, he was even named one of 2009's Teens that Inspire by Examiner.com.[2]

Zack was also featured in The Parents' Guide to Raising CEO Kids by Sarah Cook.[3]

He is featured in the forthcoming documentary, Sibling Warrior: Healing My Brother's Autism, featuring his family's journey with his brother with autism.[4]

Early life

Peter grew up in Los Angeles, CA. His mother's name is Nancy. She was a contestant on the Sci-Fi reality show Estate of Panic in the episode "Don't Burst My Bubble" in 2008[5] and was even pranked by Zack on Lifetime's Prank My Mom.[6] He has a total of six siblings. Two from his mother (Elijah Joeb and Ethan) and four from his father.[7] [8]

Career

Advocacy

In March 2009, Peter organized and hosted the first Play Now for Autism event. The fundraiser was a sports clinic for children with autism. The event raised over $2,000 which was donated to help autism research. Zack says that he started Play Now for Autism in honor of his younger brother with autism, Ethan, also known as "Deets."[2]

Following Play Now for Autism, he then began hosting an internet talk-radio show, "it's on with Zack." The show started in July 2009 and ended in December 2011. On the show, Peter interviewed guests active in the autism community, covered recent news, and hosted debates.[2][9]

In October 2009, his first book, Saving Deets!: A Family's Journey with Autism was released, which was later re-released in November 2010.[2]

His advocacy efforts continued with events like Laugh Now for Autism, Rock Now for Autism, and his work with Jenny McCarthy's autism foundation, Generation Rescue, which he became Executive Director of in 2018.[10] After nearly 10 years with the foundation, he ended his term in the summer of 2019.[11]

Comedy

In 2011, Zack began performing stand-up, performing at a variety of clubs in Los Angeles, including the world-famous Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store. He even performed with comedians from Chelsea Handler's hit late-night talk show on E!, Chelsea Lately at the 2011 Laugh Now for Autism benefit show. "[12]

He has written two books of humor essays, Charity Bites! and When Life Hands You Lemons. . . Throw Them At People!.[2]

He hosted a short-lived YouTube series Just Plain Ridiculous with Zack and Ry from 2012 to 2013.[2]

In April 2015, he began hosting #NoFilter with Zack Peter, a weekly entertainment podcast.[13]

Literary

Zack has authored and self-published three books: Saving Deets!: A Family's Journey with Autism, Charity Bites!: The Untold Stories of the Dog-Eat-Dog World of Autism Activism, and When Life Hands You Lemons. . . Throw Them At People: A Book About Growing Up, Screwing Up, and Moving Up, with Just an Ounce of Maturity. His first book was published when he was sixteen, and his third when he was nineteen.[2]

Zack Peter signing books at the Saving Deets! book launch in November 2010.

He writing has also been featured on a variety of sites, including Conscious Magazine,[14] POPSUGAR,[15] and Men's Health.[16]

His fourth book, A Shot Of Hope, was released in October 2014 with Skyhorse Publishing,[17] and later sold to Simon and Schuster.[18]

Published works
  • Saving Deets!: A Family's Journey with Autism (2009)
  • Saving Deets!: A Family's Journey with Autism, Second Edition (2010)
  • Charity Bites!: The Untold Stories of the Dog-Eat-Dog World of Autism Activism (2011)
  • When Life Hands You Lemons. . . Throw Them At People! (2012)
  • A Shot of Hope: Real Wisdom From a Real Sibling Warrior Providing Real Hope for Autism (2014)

Filmography

Television
TitleDatesRoleNotes
Prank My Mom2012SelfZack and his mother were participants on the hidden camera show. Prank: "Match dot Mom"
DigiKiss2019SelfZack was featured in a live-streamed blind-date on Adult Swim, which was later broadcast on Cartoon Network.[19]
Phone Swap2019SelfEpisode: "Zack and Frankie".[20]

Web series
TitleDatesRoleNotes
it's on with ZackJune 2011-November 2011HostPeter hosted, wrote, and produced the show. (8 Episodes)
Just Plain Ridiculous with Zack and RyOctober 2012-October 2013HostPeter hosted, wrote, and produced the show with musician Ry Matthews.

Radio
TitleDatesRoleNotes
it's on with ZackJuly 2009-December 2010HostPeter hosted and produced the radio broadcast. (18 Episodes)
#NoFilter with Zack PeterApril 2015-HostPeter hosts and produces the weekly podcast.
#Adulting: Life Hacks to Get Your Sh*t TogetherMay 2018-HostPeter hosts and produces the weekly podcast with wellness expert Nikki Sharp.

Awards
YearAwardCategoryResultNotes
2009MSAAFinc. AwardYoung Hero's Literary Work of the YearWonWon for Saving Deets!
2009Examiner.com Recognition2009's Teens That InspireWonRecognition (not official award)
2011Association of Fundraising Professionals AwardOutstanding Youth VolunteerWonNominated by Generation Rescue. Zack accepted the award in Los Angeles on November 16, 2011.
2013WEGO Health Activist AwardHilarious Health ActivistNominatedAnnounced by WEGO Health on October 10, 2013; results pending.[21]

References
  1. "Biography".
  2. "Biography".
  3. Cook, Sarah (2011). The Parents' Guide to Raising CEO Kids. ISBN 978-0-9836880-3-7.
  4. "Sibling Warrior". Sibling Warrior. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
  5. "Estate of Panic". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2019-04-27.
  6. "Prank My Mom".
  7. "The Confidence Crown Podcast".
  8. Mills, Kareen. "Being Motherhustler". Being Motherhustler. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  9. "Love Beauty Wellness Podcast".
  10. "Generation Rescue".
  11. "The Skinny Confidential: How to Be an Influential Influencer". The #Adulting Podcast.
  12. "Laugh Now for Autism Facebook Page".
  13. "#NoFilter with Zack Peter".
  14. Peter, Zack. "About Zack Peter". Conscious Magazine. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
  15. "Zack Peter Latest Posts". POPSUGAR.
  16. "Zack Peter Latest Posts". Men's Health.
  17. Peter, Zack (October 21, 2014). A Shot of Hope. Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 978-1631440045.
  18. "Zack Peter Official Publisher Page". Simon & Schuster.
  19. "DigiKiss - Mathew & Ameena & DJ & Zack - Adult Swim".
  20. "Phone Swap IMDB".
  21. "Zack - WEGO Health Activist Awards Nominee". awards.wegohealth.com. 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
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