(Improvised) Intelligence from Noah Vargas

What happens when a small-business owner and pharmacist decides to challenge an entrenched incumbent in Congress? Congressional candidate Didi Okpareke joins the podcast for a candid conversation about New Mexico's future, Washington's priorities, and what it really takes to represent the people. Running as a Republican against incumbent Democrat Melanie Stansbury in New Mexico's 1st C...

Is New Mexico’s government delivering for taxpayers—or are waste, questionable spending, and political insiders getting in the way? On this episode of Improvised Intelligence , political commentator Elias Sisneros joins the conversation for an unfiltered discussion about New Mexico politics, government accountability, public spending, and the failures that deserve more scrutiny. We examine the iss...

RECORDED ON AUGUST 18, 2026. IMPORTANT NOTE: Congressman Vasquez's team asked me to note that at time stamp 50:00; he says he does not oppose funding to Israel, and that he does oppose funding. HOWEVER - I feel it is important to hightlight that (as discussed in the podcast soon after) he did vote NO to Thomas Massie's amendment to H.R. 8595, that would block $3.3B in funding to Israel. Th...

RECORDED ON AUGUST 19, 2026. Gregg Hull, Republican nominee for New Mexico governor, joins Noah Vargas on Improvised Intelligence for an extended conversation about the issues shaping New Mexico’s 2026 governor’s race. Hull discusses his experience as the former mayor of Rio Rancho, his approach to working across party lines, and what he believes New Mexico needs to address in education, public sa...

RECORDED ON AUGUST 7, 2026 Democratic candidate for New Mexico Governor Deb Haaland joins Noah Vargas for an in-depth conversation about immigration, energy, affordability, tribal sovereignty, public lands, and the future of New Mexico. Haaland discusses her positions on ICE and immigration enforcement, New Mexico’s oil and gas industry, clean energy, housing, utility costs, data centers, tribal l...

How do you go from serving in the U.S. Marine Corps to becoming a stand-up comedian and running a comedy club in less than two years? On this episode of Improvised Intelligence , Noah Vargas sits down with Rene Gonzales , a San Antonio stand-up comedian and General Manager of Riot Riverwalk Comedy Club , for a wide-ranging conversation about comedy, the military, entrepreneurship, networking, and...

Stand-up comedian Jon Carden joins Improvised Intelligence for a wide-ranging conversation about his 14+ years in comedy, growing up on a tobacco farm, joining the Army, surviving a serious Humvee accident, therapy, trauma, parenting, and his journey through the stand-up comedy world. Jon takes us from his childhood in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia to the Army and eventually into stan...

Why does Marvel keep getting its comic-book characters wrong? Noah Vargas sits down with Albuquerque tattoo artist and longtime comic-book fan Carlos Cordova of Stolen Heart Tattoo for a wide-ranging conversation about comics, movies, horror, superheroes, and the current state of Marvel and DC. The conversation starts with Carlos's work as a tattoo artist and the New Mexico Tattoo Fiesta befor...

What does it actually take to make it as a professional stand-up comedian? Noah Vargas sits down with comedian Nick Murphy for a wide-ranging conversation about the grind behind stand-up comedy, moving across the country to build a career, and going from low-paying road gigs to major comedy opportunities. Nick talks about his journey through the Atlanta comedy scene, the importance of doing open m...

Stand-up comedian and actor Finesse Mitchell joins Improvised Intelligence for a wide-ranging conversation about the reality of building a career in comedy, mentoring the next generation of comedians, relationships, touring, and life on the road. Finesse opens up about his journey through stand-up comedy and acting, what he's learned after years in the business, and why helping newer comedians...

What’s really happening behind the scenes of local news in Albuquerque? In this episode of Improvised Intelligence, Noah Vargas sits down with a rising local news creator to break down:How he gets direct access to Albuquerque Police Department (APD) media releasesWhat it’s like covering crime scenes, protests, and breaking news in real timeDealing with haters, viral growth, and online backlashThe...

What does it take to actually enjoy your life and not just survive it? Stand-up comedian Maverick McWilliams joins the podcast to talk about his journey from welding to becoming a firefighter and why he refuses to live a “safe but miserable” life. We dive into:The reality of working jobs you hateWhy most people choose comfort over happinessThe fear of failure (and how it traps people)Balancing com...

Albuquerque politician Alexander Uballez joins the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on crime, justice reform, and the future of New Mexico’s largest city. Drawing on his experience in law and public service, Uballez shares his perspective on the realities of crime in Albuquerque, the challenges facing local leadership, and what meaningful reform could look like in today’s political climate....

What does it mean to be a real-life superhero? In this episode, I sit down with Skyline , a local Albuquerque activist who’s built a unique identity by blending superhero symbolism with real-world activism. This conversation goes far beyond costumes or content; we get into the deeper questions behind it all: What inspired Skyline to take on the “superhero” role The line between activism and person...

If you’ve ever wondered what it actually takes to make it in stand-up comedy, this episode breaks it all down. In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with stand-up comedian Reece Muniz to talk about the real grind behind comedy; open mics, bombing, building material, producing shows, and navigating social media in the algorithm era. This isn’t surface-level advice. We get into: How comedians...

In this episode, comedian Zach Abeyta joins the podcast to talk comedy, culture, and the state of modern entertainment. From the collapse of Marvel’s post-Endgame direction to DC’s rebooted Batman and the rise of horror gaming, Zach breaks down pop culture from the perspective of a working stand-up comic navigating the industry in real time. We also get into 28 Years Later, franchise fatigue, and...

In this conversation, Nevin and I discuss modern geopolitics, U.S. foreign policy, and global power dynamics. The discussion explores Iran, Israel, historical doctrines, and how international influence actually works. In this episode, we dive into a wide-ranging and unfiltered discussion about global politics, foreign intervention, and the structure of modern power. Topics include:U.S. foreign pol...

Sean is a Christian Apologist and podcaster. What is the Abomination of Desolation —and has it already happened, or is it still coming? In this episode, we explore one of the most debated topics in biblical prophecy, diving into the books of Revelation and Daniel to unpack the meaning behind the “Abomination of Desolation.” We discuss the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, the concept of prophecy...

In this episode, we sit down with a comic shop owner to break down the REAL issues with modern superhero films, from DC’s dark tone to Marvel’s overuse of humor. We dive deep into:Why James Gunn’s DC direction is controversialThe difference between Batman and Superman storytellingWhy fans want Spider-Man to sufferThe problem with modern comic book writing and adaptationsBehind-the-scenes insight i...

In this episode, we sit down with Sam Bregman , Bernalillo County District Attorney and candidate for Governor of New Mexico, for a wide-ranging conversation on crime, policy, and the future of the state. We discuss the rise in juvenile violent crime, the fentanyl crisis, bail reform, and how New Mexico’s justice system is evolving. Sam also shares his perspective on ICE enforcement, constitutiona...

What does it actually take to make it as a stand-up comedian? In this episode, we sit down with a rising comic who shares the raw truth about chasing comedy in Los Angeles—from burning through his life savings to getting a life-changing opportunity from Russell Peters. We get into: Moving to LA on a visa with no backup plan Losing money and struggling to survive Getting into “development” at The C...

The fitness industry is broken… and it changed the course of Natalie's life. In this episode, we break down what’s really going wrong in modern health and fitness, from fake influencers and diet culture to the rise of weight loss drugs like Ozempic, and why so many people feel stuck, burned out, and confused. But this conversation goes deeper than fitness. After experiencing firsthand the emot...

In this episode of Improvised Intelligence, we sit down with New Mexico actress Monique Candelaria, known for her role in HBO’s Lovecraft Country, to talk about the real business of Hollywood. From major network television to comic book appearances in Suicide Squad Blaze, Moni shares what it actually takes to survive as a working actor. Filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico 🎙️ Subscribe for weekly con...

In this episode, we sit down with Gregg Hull , mayor of Rio Rancho , for a conversation about leadership, public safety, infrastructure, and the future of New Mexico . Hull explains how Rio Rancho has approached growth, crime, and business development through data-driven planning and local decision-making. He shares why he believes strong communities—not one-size-fits-all policies—are the key to s...

Stand-up comedian Eddie Stephens joins the podcast for a hilarious and honest conversation about parenting, anxiety, and the realities of chasing a career in comedy. We talk about raising kids with dark humor, whether comedians subconsciously create chaos for material, dealing with mental health, and Eddie’s unexpected success with his rugby podcast Rugby Rant & Banter . This episode covers: L...