It's All True!

Grammy nominated music producer Stefan Ponce explains what inspires his sound, his process working with rappers and why he feels he makes "internet famous" songs. He also tells the most L.A. story you'll ever hear starting off with the headline "It Sucks Being Ron Jeremy" This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lettersfr...

Britt Julious (Vice, Chicago Tribune) explains her writing style, and what it's like interacting with readers on the internet. That, plus her real life headline "Young Black Feminist Slut-Shames Ex-Boyfriend," and the story behind it! Twitter: @britticism, @alltruepodcast, @TimBarnes451 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes,...

Bill Hillmann, author of "The Old Neighborhood" talks about growing up in Chicago, becoming a bull runner in Spain and saving Irvine Welsh's life. He also tells an amazing true story. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lettersfromafricanamerica.substack.com/subscribe

Wyatt Cenac (The Daily Show) discusses his love for Brooklyn, puppets and comedy. His new special "Brooklyn" is now available on Netflix. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lettersfromafricanamerica.substack.com/subscribe

Clinton Sandifer (a.k.a. ShowYouSuck) explains the origin of his rap name and how pizza, pop culture and MTV influence his work. He also tells an incredible true story involving DMX. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lettersfromafricanamerica.substack.com/subscribe

Jonathan Katz chats with Tim about starting his comedy career in New York, working in Comedy Centrals Dr Katz Professional Therapist and how he comments on being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in his material. He also tells a string of hilarious true stories. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lettersfromafricana...

"Black Man Beats Mexican With A Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus" - Gregory Hollimon (a.k.a. Principal Onyx Blackman from Strangers with Candy) talks about growing up in the Cabrini–Green Homes of Chicago's near north side and entering the world of improv. He also tells a hilarious story about an awkward scuba diving experience. (Photo by Gregory Hollimon) This is a public episode. If...

"Suey Park Still Does Not Understand Satire" - Activist Suey Park discusses the art of twitter hashtags, growing up as one of the few Asian American's in a mostly white neighborhood and the time she pretended to be a comedian as a social experiment. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lettersfromafricanamerica.substa...

"Mexican Vacation Is Anything But Mexellent" Dave Hill kicks off season 3 by unveiling what it was like growing up in the gloomy area of Cleveland, and describing the time he visited a dangerous prison in Mexio. Click play and learn the true meaning of the "Cleveland Nasty." This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letter...

Derek Sheen joins It's All True! to talk about his emergence into comedy, the ways music affects his humor and how important word choice is to making something funny. He also tells an amazing true story about getting to know his estranged father, who just so happened to be a runner for the Mafia. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus...

Daniel Kibblesmith (The Onion) joins It's All True! to discuss the origins of the ClickHole website, the secret to The Onion's sense of humor and the writing process for his book "How To Win At Everything." Lastly, Daniel tells a hilarious true story about the time he fought an autobot. Like, for real kinda. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get acce...

Comedian Nore Davis (HBO, Comedy Central) joins It's All True! to discuss his problems with the college system, his comedic inspirations and the difficulty of creating funny jokes that challenge audiences -- particularly in the black community. Also, his headlining story "Was I On Last Comic Standing?" This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to...

Writer/Comedian Josh Gondelman joins "It's All True!" to talk the origins of the Modern Seinfeld (@SeinfeldToday) twitter handle, the Boston/New York comedy scenes AND his headlining story "Precocious Toddler Escapes Classroom Repeatedly." This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lettersfromafricanamerica.substack.com/sub...

Actress Fawzia Mirza (Kam Kardashian web series) discusses gender, comedy and the pressure of deciding to make a career out of performing on It’s All True. Plus, her headline story "Doctors Discover Medical First In Woman's Mouth." This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lettersfromafricanamerica.substack.com/subscribe

Comedian Liza Treyger (Chelsea Lately, Comedy Central) talks with host Tim Barnes about her influences, both comedic and alcoholic. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lettersfromafricanamerica.substack.com/subscribe

Improviser Kevin Mullaney (UCB, iO) discusses his journey in the world of comedy and the differences between various improv institutions from coast to coast. Host, Tim Barnes brings up the seeming separation between stand-ups and improvisers in Chicago and it all ends with a hilarious true story. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus...

Read Before You Click "Send." New York Times and and NPR Bestselling author Denise Kiernan stops in on the It's All True! podcast to tell us how to be like Indiana Jones, writing for Who Wants To Be a Millionaire and about her bestselling book, The Girls of Atomic City. Plus, she tells us her funny, true story about someone hitting "send" on an email when she really shouldn't have. Wow. We've all...

Adam Burke (Just For Laughs, The First Annual 26th Annual Comedy Festival) discusses the world of Chicago comedy and his strange travels as an Irishman in Russia with host Tim Barnes. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lettersfromafricanamerica.substack.com/subscribe

Chicago radio icon Richard Steele joins It’s All True! host Tim Barnes for a conversation about the evolution of race relations in Chicago, and how Richard became a disc jockey in the first place. The path makes its way through the tumult and segregation of the 1950s & '60s in a highly segregated Chicago that was unwelcoming of the integration of African-Americans. Steele talks about coming up in...

Comedian James Adomian joins host Tim Barnes to discuss being an impressionist and the time he bombed opening for comedy legend Joan Rivers. James was a top-10 finalist on Last Comic Standing (NBC) and is a frequent guest on Comedy Bang Bang, and The Todd Glass Show. He performs standup and characters live at Upright Citizens Brigade and at festivals, theaters, and dive bars. His debut album "Low...

Writer/storyteller Samantha Irby joins It's All True host Tim Barnes in a conversation about the origins of her blog, Chicago's booming storytelling scene and what it's like having a day job while pursuing your art. She also tells an incredibly funny true story. Samantha Irby is writer/performer with work that has appeared on The Rumpus and Jezebel. She created the popular blog, b*****s gotta eat...

Comedian Eddie Izzard joins host Tim Barnes in a conversation about comedy, performing his act in multiple languages (including French, German, Russian and Spanish), some of his comedy heroes and his aversion to telling true stories. Izzard is currently touring America with his new act, Force Majeure. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to b...

Comedian and writer, Hari Kondabolu (Totally Biased with W. Kamu Bell) joins host Tim Barnes in a conversation about comedy, race and Hari’s new album ‘Waiting For 2042’ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lettersfromafricanamerica.substack.com/subscribe

Tim Barnes welcomes comic Sean White to the ‘It’s All True!’ podcast. They dicuss his transition to personal comedy, his dream of stealing Jon Stewart's job at The Daily Show, and his strange high school adventures. Originally from Alabama, Sean is now located in Chicago and can be seen in showcases and clubs throughout the Midwest and South. Called a "Gem" by RE:Com Chicago Comedy magazine, Sean...

The Whiskey Journal contributor Tim Barnes welcomes musician and storyteller Danny Black to the ‘It’s All True!’ podcast. The dissect the differences between the music and comedy business before Danny tells the long and winding tale of his odd friendship with a famous comic. Danny Black is a member of the musical group, The Blacks (originally called 'The Black Family') an insurgent country band fr...