There It Is Podcast

In this episode, we pay our respects to the legendary actor Val Kilmer. Jason's favorite actor has always been Val Kilmer, thanks to his all-time favorite movie: Real Genius. To honor Kilmer and his legacy, we dive into conversations about his impact on film and on us personally. “Best Friend of the Show,” Rob, joins Jason first to discuss many of Kilmer’s iconic performances. Jason also chats wit...

Will Jacobs joins us to talk comedy, writing, and his web series! Jason talks to Will about writing plays, what he thinks about his perfectionist college approach to writing now, and his moving to New York City to study improv. Will has a very robust improv career and has studied at all the major theaters in NYC. He currently performs regularly at The Magnet and UCB. He talks about what he learned...

We talk to comedian and founder of Gold Comedy, Lynn Harris! Lynn shares the story of how a ski trip became a pivotal moment in her getting into comedy and ultimately starting Gold Comedy. She sheds light on the persistent challenges women face in comedy, the importance of creating inclusive opportunities, and the impactful work Gold Comedy is doing to support and nurture new talent. This episode...

We had a great chat with writer and comedian Howard Finkelstein! Howard is a creative director at the ad agency, Mischief. He delves into his decade-long journey in improv and advertising. Howard shares his experience balancing grounded and silly elements on stage, his hilarious story of how his wife prompted him to pursue comedy, and the process behind creating a notable Super Bowl commercial. He...

In this captivating episode, we talk to comedian Jonah Nigh! Jonah is a former opera singer turned stand-up comic and he shares his extraordinary journey from classical music training to the comedy stage. He details the pivotal throat surgery that forced him to pivot careers, how he found relief, and the challenges of transitioning into comedy. Jonah also discusses the nuanced differences in perfo...

The "Of the Show" fellas are here to talk all that pop about the Oscars! Brother of the Show, Trey, and Best Friend of the Show, Rob, join Jason for a fun talk about this year's Oscars telecast! They start out at the end of the broadcast with the announcement of Best Picture then they go into talk about what they loved about Conan O'Brien's hosting, what they loved and didn't love about the teleca...

Reunited and it feels so good! Dear friends of the show Seann Cantatore and Nicole Pascaretta join us to talk about collaborating with friends! Seann and Nicole have a unique bond and use it to create incredible work together. It only made sense to have them on to talk about how they collaborate! Jason gets them talking about what their process is, how they handle self-criticism, and more. It, as...

We took the show out West! Jason and Wife of he Show, Justina, went to Los Angeles to visit Brother of the Show, Trey! In LA we talk about seeing the Lakers, going to Disneyland, if In-N-Out Burger is worth it, and more before heading off to San Francisco. In SF, Jason and Justina take in the sites, including seeing some famous pop culture locales that you've seen in the cult classic, The Room, an...

We had an awesome conversation with New York City-based comedian Art Cai! Art shares how a college stand-up class first sparked his love for comedy, his bold move from New Orleans to NYC, and how he juggles a slew of projects—from stand-up shows to podcasting. He also talked about his fusion of soccer and comedy with his show, Joga Comedy, that starts with stand-up and ends with an actual soccer g...

We talk all that pop about the Oscars, the new Captain America movie, and the Super Bowl! This Pop Talk episode, aka 'After Hours with the Boys', Jason, Rob, and Trey dive into an extensive discussion on their predictions and speculations for the upcoming Chiefs/Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl, including a hilarious dispute over potential halftime guest stars, the potential box office performance o...

We had the pleasure of speaking to filmmaker Christian Schu! Christian talks to Jason about how cultural differences influence storytelling methods and his early passion for cinema, which eventually led him to switch careers from an insurance broker to a filmmaker. Christian discusses the challenges he faced, the skills he had to quickly learn on-the-go, and his approach to communicating with clie...

In this mini episode, Jason dives into the ins and outs of producing your own show! Whether it’s stand-up, improv, a variety show, Jason offers some key steps to making your show a success. He covers the basics between defining your vision and figuring out your practical needs. He also emphasizes the importance of clear communication with your team, lineup, and audience to ensure everyone is on th...

In this mini episode, Jason dives into a phrase every improviser has heard: “You can’t do improv wrong.” While it’s meant to encourage improvisers to make bold choices and get out of their heads, could this mantra be taken too far? Jason explores how this idea helps beginners but might also cause confusion in more structured contexts, like advanced players' rehearsals or team performances. Jason d...

In this mini episode Jason talks about how to be inspired by recognizing your achievements. He shares some thoughts and tips from experts on how to take pride in all that you've done in your pursuits. The comparison game is an easy trap to fall into and it makes us overlook all the hard work we've put into trying to accomplish our goals. Jason mentions Demi Moore's recent Golden Globes speech, ins...

Join Jason and the 'Of the Show' gang, as they discuss the best Christmas songs of the last 30 years (post Mariah Carey's classic) and share spirited opinions on holiday tunes. The conversation also spans pop culture, with their fresh thoughts on the new Superman teaser trailer sprinkled with lively banter and fun. This episode is packed with festive cheer and entertaining pop culture talk! It's a...

We had the pleasure of talking to actor, director, writer, and improviser, the great Joel Murray! Joel joins Jason to share some awesome stories throughout his career, from growing up seeing his brothers Bill Murray and Brian Doyle-Murray and other legends at Second City before becoming a performer there to meeting previous guest Dave Pasquesi in college. Joel reflects on his early days with Del C...

We got to speak to the incredibly talented comedian and Broadway actress, Natalie Ortega! Jason talks with Natalie, currently starring in "Wicked" on Broadway, about her journey from musical theater to stand-up to performing in NYC. Natalie shares her experiences balancing eight shows of Wicked a week with performing in the New York Comedy Festival, being a theater-loving kid, why she started doin...

Jason talks with the multifaceted director and improviser Brian James O'Connell. This great conversation with Brian (who is currently on an improv tour) starts with a little chat about improv before it dives into Brian's work behind the camera. They discuss his journey from aspiring musician to acclaimed director, touching on his work with the comedy crew Dr. God, the films he has directed, and th...

In this 2024 Thanksgiving Episode, Jason talks about what he's thankful for with the podcast, great episodes of the year and to come, and he also talks about why it's important for all of us to be grateful for our experiences when pursuing a career in entertainment. We hope it's an encouraging listen! Check out the link below for info on how to be more grateful www.mindful.org/an-introduction-to-m...

We got to talk to actress/director/writer, Emmy Harrington! In this edifying episode, Jason sits down with actress and comedian, Emmy Harrington, to discuss her diverse career journey. Emmy talks about doing theater and comedy in California before eventually becoming a New Yorker. They dive deep into Emmy's unique perspective on truth in comedy and storytelling, her experiences with rejection in t...

We talked to Atlanta-based comedian, Joel Byars! Joel and Jason dive deep into the nuances and challenges of stand-up comedy. Joel shares his journey from starting out in Tennessee to building a name in Atlanta's comedy scene, his experiences teaching aspiring comedians, and the importance of perseverance and adaptability in the craft. We also discuss the intersection of stand-up and improv, the c...

This is a quick episode to encourage you to get out an vote on Election Day 2024. We're not doing an exhaustive breakdown on each candidate. That's not what we do. But we do want to provide some sites you can visit to learn about what's on the ballot where you live and check your registration and where to vote. Here are those links: https://www.vote411.org https://www.factcheck.org Happy Voting! I...

For this spooky Halloween episode, the "Of the Show" gang (Justina, Rob, and Trey) join Jason to delve into a haunting bracket to determine the ultimate horror movie villain. They discuss iconic characters like Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and many others. Listen in to find out who becomes the final girl and get some suggestions for must-watch horror films this season! Download y...

We do a deep dive into improv with performer, Sam Rogal! Jason sits down with New York-based performer Sam Rogal for this fun chat! Sam shares his extensive experience at the Magnet Theater, recounting his time performing improv and sketch with teams like Metal Boy and Nitro Girls. He also discusses Metal Boy's current show, 'Your Worst Idea,' which celebrates creative failures. From the importanc...

We sat down with speech pathologist, children's book author, and "Best Friend of the Show," Clay Hadden. Clay, also known as Mister Clay, shares his journey from a traditional career to a creative professional, providing entertaining and educational content for kids. He delves into the impact of working closely with children and the importance of listening to them. He and Jason also discuss media...