Stand Up Scuttlebutt

We kick things off by tipping our cap to NASA for the successful Artemis II launch—yes, including finally fixing the onboard toilet (progress comes in many forms). From there, we zoom out on why space exploration still matters, then get into the wild realities of launch: the speeds required to escape Earth’s atmosphere and the G-forces astronauts endure just to get there. Then Pablo Gazmuri return...

Rick opens the show with a confession: he’s crossed the 200-pound line , and that’s the point where something has to change. For Gen X guys balancing work, family, and a slowing metabolism, the dad bod can sneak up quickly—and sticking to a plan is easier said than done. Evan follows with “Fat Guy Science,” presenting five tough decisions every middle-aged guy faces when trying to manage his weigh...

In this episode of Small Town Scuttlebutt , the crew dives into the ever-blurring line between comfort and basic public standards. Rick opens the show with a proclamation that’s apparently more controversial than it should be: pajamas should not be worn on airplanes. Inspired by a recent Boston Globe reader survey, the conversation explores whether showing up to a flight dressed for bed is harmles...

In this one-on-one episode of Small Town Scuttlebutt , Rick talks with friend, sponsor, and local business owner Rolando Perez about his family’s journey from Cuba to the United States. His family left by boat during the Castro era with $47 and the risk of being captured. Although Rolando was only two years old at the time, he shares stories passed down to him — including an uncle sentenced to fiv...

In this one-on-one episode, Rick sits down with his friend and barber, David Ssewanyana, to hear the incredible story behind the man holding the clippers. David shares what inspired him to leave Uganda, what it actually took to become a U.S. citizen, and the sacrifices most people never see. At a time when immigration is often reduced to headlines and hot takes, this conversation brings it back to...

You saved the money. You booked the trip. You just want five days without nonsense. So why is some guy named Todd up at 6:03 AM claiming four pool chairs with towels? This week, Rick kicks things off with a proclamation: Resort chair-saving is not just annoying — it’s a moral failure. For those who are simply trying to escape the daily grind, nothing says “relaxation” like fighting territorial war...

Improv instructor and actor Jared Todd Littlejohn joins Rick to break down why improv comedy is so entertaining—and why its lessons matter way beyond the stage. From truly listening to trusting your instincts, Jared explains what makes improv work when it’s done right. The conversation also covers his work using improv for team building with the Boston Celtics, how collaboration beats ego every ti...

Rick is joined by Boston-area comic and neighbor Kathe Farris for an episode that perfectly sums up New England living at its finest. They kick things off with the New England Patriots heading to another Super Bowl and how casually cool it is to live near the stadium—especially when a flyover rattles your house. They recap the blizzard and their wildly different survival strategies: Kathe did the...

Rick flies solo this week and tackles one of comedy’s newest identity crises: when did Instagram followers become a stage credit? Comics and content creators may both be performance artists, but they are not the same thing — and Rick breaks down why that distinction matters. He also reacts to the supportive and mean-spirited comments sparked by his viral post about the New England Patriots steppin...

It’s the heart of a New England winter, so Rick, Liz, and Evan talk about the real, practical ways people keep themselves sane when it’s dark, cold, and relentless. Whether it’s staying active, leaning into competition, or just finding small daily rituals that make winter feel survivable, they break down how different personalities handle seasonal affect disorder without losing their minds. Then t...

Rick is sidelined with the dreaded man cold, so Liz and Evan take the wheel and ease everyone back into reality after a long Christmas break. They cover the emotional whiplash of re-entering responsibilities, renewed hope around the Patriots, early excitement over Drake Maye, and the unsung heroism of a wife who bakes like a champion while surviving New England winters. Then it’s rapid-fire time w...

Rick goes one-on-one with Melissa Rush , a Boston-based stand-up comedian, for a candid conversation about comedy, ADHD, and modern adulthood. They discuss living with ADHD—and whether it’s a disability or a superpower—dating after divorce, and the realities of promoting stand-up comedy on social media. Rick and Melissa also talk comedy in and around Boston, reflect on college life in the 1990s, a...

Rick goes one-on-one with comedy buddy Mike O’Brien , a man who somehow balances three full-time identities: stand-up comic, Boston Duck Boats tour guide, and the go-to “guy on the street” anytime a local TV news crew needs a quote right now . If there’s a microphone within 50 feet in Boston , Mike has opinions—and he’s not afraid to share them. The guys dig into the real issues facing society tod...

We kick things off with Liz doing her absolute best to maintain composure while telling a story about beavers—yes, the animal—and failing spectacularly. Immaturity levels are high early. Then Rick and Evan break down (and role-play) a very real email exchange between Rick and the corporate real estate company he leases office space from. There’s a late fee, a request for accountability, and a firm...

Rick kicks off the show with his annual adventure: attempting to buy his wife the perfect birthday gift. He and Evan both admit that surprising their wives is statistically impossible, emotionally hazardous, and spiritually defeating. Liz assures them this is universal—her husband can’t pull it off either. Then the gang dives into the national meltdown over the new Pantone Color of the Year. Why i...

Rick and Liz return from the holiday break ready to catch up—while Evan attempts to recover from a Monday Night Football hangover. The gang dives into the late-night suburban scandal of a Ding-Dong Ditch gone wrong: When are you officially too old for this prank? And is there an appropriate, HOA-approved time window for sprinting away from someone’s front door? Rick shares how he accidentally land...

An article in the Boston Globe asks a big question: Why are so many young, ambitious women suddenly convinced a woman's natural place is in the home? Liz brings the highlights, and the gang unpacks the tension between ambition and contentment with plenty of laughs. But first! Rick shares a text exchange with a woman from the Boston comedy scene who was outraged— outraged —that he didn’t book a sin...

This week on Small Town Scuttlebutt , the gang digs into stories about neighbors who make you question humanity. One guy gets reported to the HOA because his garden looks too nice . Another woman tells her neighbor to stop looking at her dog because it makes the dog upset. Are these people real—or just suburban fever dreams? Meanwhile, Rick’s growing a mustache strictly for Instagram clout, Evan’s...

The gang sounds off on the latest parenting trend: birthday gift registries for kids. Is this thoughtful or just tacky consumerism wrapped in a bow? Plus, a new “New Rick vs. Old Rick” moment as he wrestles with how to handle an airline inconvenience — Zen traveler or vengeful passenger? Liz questions when it’s time for kids (and adults) to hang up the Halloween candy bag, and Evan reels in a mass...

This week on Small Town Scuttlebutt , Rick kicks things off with big news about a new comedy show he’s hosting. Then Evan dives into the NBA gambling scandal with his trademark mix of excitement and conspiracy. Finally, Liz opens up about her 17-year-old son’s shifting priorities and the parental struggle of trying to keep a teenager grounded in reality. Three hosts. Three stories. One show cut sh...

When does “living with Mom” stop being traditional and start being tragic? There is a growing trend of grown men staying home while their mothers head to work—and pay the bills. Also, Rick enjoys a trip to NYC while hoards of angry people in his small town assemble on street corners for No King's Day, Evan gets caught in a coven of witches, and Liz falls in love with a chatbot!

In this episode, Rick talks with Richie Welch — a contractor by day and a stand-up comedian by night. Richie represents the fourth generation of his family working at Welch Corp, a major player in Boston’s construction and redevelopment scene. When he’s not on a job site, he’s performing or producing comedy shows around Boston. Rick and Richie also get into parking etiquette, New England sports te...

This week on Small Town Scuttlebutt , Rick, Liz, and Evan cover the kind of news that makes you wonder if anyone’s in charge anymore. A brand-new house gets built on land that was never even sold, a squirrel goes feral, and Rick finds himself fending off a pack of 30 cyclists who confuse the road for a parade route. Meanwhile, Liz greenlights her son’s mid-season football debut, and Evan witnesses...

Rick sits down with his longtime friend Jim James for a conversation that’s less about winning arguments and more about asking questions. The two dive into current headlines—Pete Hegseth shaking things up at the Department of Defense, Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, Bad Bunny snagging the Super Bowl Halftime slot, and a few other cultural curveballs. The twist? Rick and Jim don’t see eye-to-eye on much...

In this episode, Rick sits down for an in-depth one-on-one with Pablo Gazmuri, AI & Healthcare Technology Leader at Microsoft. They dive into the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence—what it can already do, what’s coming next, and how it’s transforming the way we monitor and manage our health. Pablo shares practical insights into the future of AI-powered healthcare, along with tips o...