So What Do You Really Do?

It's the end of the road for host Deadair Dennis Maler. While at home he catches you up on the shows in LA, SLC, Missouri, Pittsburgh, and Denver (if he can remember it). What did he learn from his 3-months on the road? What was the purpose? What will he be doing going forward? Listen to find out. 🎙️🎭 ABOUT 🤔🎭 Do you ever wonder what your favorite comedians, actors, or musicians do when they're...

On this episode of the podcast, host Deadair Dennis talks to comedian, teleprompter opertator, and pandemic friend Tia Jai. Dennis and Tia met through the social media app Clubhouse during the days of the Covid 19 lockdown. The two discuss Tia's unconvential entrance into the entertianment industry, how she gerw up into the confident, positive "ray of sunshine throwing middle-fingers" she has beco...

Host Deadair Dennis is on the road and taking you with him. What are open mics in Los Angeles like? Find out with host Deadair Dennis as he walks you through the good, the bad, and the cocaine of LA open mic comedy. How does a comic get in at one of the big clubs? Where do you find open mics? Are LA mics different than open mics everywhere else in the country? Is the comedy better in LA? Dennis wi...

On this episode of "So, What Do You Really Do?", host Deadair Dennis chats with comedian, TV writer, and podcaster Chris Duffy. The two go way back to the Boston comedy scene, where they crossed paths at shows and podcast training classes. They dive into the Boston scene, mutual friends, Chris’ journey from Boston to New York, and eventually Los Angeles. Listeners will be relieved to hear Dennis t...

🚗💨 Ever wonder what it’s really like to be a road comic? Spoiler: It’s not all laughs and limelight—sometimes it’s gas station dinners, questionable motels, and whatever the hell just happened in Texas. Deadair Dennis is on the road for three months, and you’re coming with him. He made it out of New Orleans (barely), dodged any more snow, but ran into a robot and heard way too much of the R-word...

On this episode of So, What Do You Really Do? host Deadair Dennis talks to comedian, writer, and filmmaker Ron Placone. While traveling in Los Angeles, Dennis sat down in his AirBnB to talk with Ron about working the road as a early comic, working in the music industry, podcasting with interesting people, performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Fest, early days of online streaming news shows, making hi...

Host Deadair Dennis is on the road and taking you along for the ride. This time, he lands in New Orleans—where he ends up staying longer than planned. Follow along for an inside look at the unpredictable, chaotic, and occasionally rewarding life of a touring stand-up comedian. 🎉 Subscribe to stay updated with the latest episodes and join the conversation! 💥 UNLEASH YOUR INNER DENNIS🔥🕺 🔗 Follo...

Host Deadair Dennis is on the road and taking you with him. This is the second of two Florida updates. After a quick weekend in South Carolina performing with Wit's End, Dennis returns to Florida, where he faces some challenges and has open conversations about mental health and depression—topics that are deeply important to him. Meanwhile, his dog, Sister, continues adjusting to life in a car...

Deadair Dennis is hitting the road again, this time with stories straight from Jacksonville and Charleston. In this first of two Florida updates, Dennis kicks things off by trying to avoid his Trump-loving uncle (who’s conveniently feeding and housing him... and his dog, Sister). From there, Dennis takes a hard look at the comedy scene in these cities—and spoiler alert: it’s not as packed as some...

Host Deadair Dennis is on the road, and you're coming with him. This time, he’s playing tourist in the Peach State—and bringing back interviews! Dennis chats with fellow Atlanta tour guides C and Lester the Trolley Driver about what led them to the job, their favorite stories, memorable guests, and more. He also takes you along to the Coca-Cola Museum, pays a visit to former President Jimmy Ca...

Deadair Dennis is on the move, and he's dragging you along for the ride—whether you like it or not. The journey kicks off in Richmond, where things actually go surprisingly well... until they don’t. Cue some bad news to cap off an otherwise solid pit stop. From there, it’s a frostbitten trek through Virginia’s icy night into North Carolina, where Dennis hits two cities and strikes out twice. N...

Deadair Dennis is hitting the road, swapping the studio for three months of cross-country comedy touring. In this second road vlog, Dennis is still in Baltimore, juggling family time, open mics, and the unpredictable grind of tour life. He’s sharing clips from his shows—the good, the bad, and the “well, that happened”—and reflecting on what it all means. Despite the chaos, there’s good news waitin...

Deadair Dennis is hitting the road, swapping the studio for three months of cross-country comedy touring. In this first road vlog, he’s amped up, a little on edge, and already overthinking every worst-case scenario. Can meticulous planning outsmart disaster? (Spoiler: it can’t.) Dennis breaks down the open mic scene city by city and what it’s like grinding through life on tour. Tune in—let Dennis...

Host Deadair Dennis sits down with comedian and podcaster Benny Blue to talk about his audacious and heartfelt debut comedy special, *Live From My Mother’s Funeral*. Blending stand-up, storytelling, and one-man-show vibes, Benny’s special uses his unique relationship with his late mother to mine comedy gold from grief. They also dive into behind-the-scenes tales of podcasting and audio production,...

Who finishes the Boston Marathon on a unicycle and still has energy to make the world laugh? Alex “The Jester” Feldman, the gibberish-speaking, rule-breaking performer who’s redefined what it means to be a “wise fool.” On this episode of So What Do You Really Do?, Deadair Dennis Maler digs into Alex’s extraordinary journey from anthropology student to Commedia dell’arte-inspired trailblazer. They...

From houseboats to Hollywood, Dawn Brodey has lived a life as diverse as her comedic style. Join Deadair Dennis and guest Dawn Brodey, comedian and host of the hilarious podcast, "HILF: History I'd Like to F**k", as they explore Dawn's colorful past, her passion for history, and the bright lights of Hollywood. Hit that subscribe button, show some love, and prepare to laugh with with the unfiltered...

Ever wondered what it takes to be a professional clown? Bri Crabtree shares how she turned her childhood hobby into a career that brings joy to countless kids. Originally discovered on TikTok (proof that the algorithm can sometimes get it right!), Bri is a self-taught juggler, unicyclist, and clown with a knack for captivating audiences of all ages. From her early days of juggling in secret to her...

Deadair Dennis welcomes the hilarious Janelle Draper to the show. A bicostal comedian with roots in Boston and a career launch in LA, Janelle spills the beans on her time as an NBC Page on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. From behind-the-scenes secrets to the origins of this iconic program, this episode is a must-listen for fans of comedy and late-night television. 🎉 Subscribe to stay updated with...

Ever wonder what it's REALLY like to be a comedian on the rise? Join us for a fun dive behind the scenes with comedian, writer, and "Golden Girls" expert Danielle Soto. Danielle shares her funny and touching misadventures as a tour guide at Universal Studios in Hollywood, along with hilarious tales making her way from the Boston comedy scene to the glamour of LA. 🚍  Hit that subscribe button, sho...

"Bite Me Bambi's" frontwoman Tahlena Chikami joins Deadair Dennis Maler to spill the tea on her journey from child actor in sunny Orange County to ska queen. The musician and actress reveals the struggles of being a child actor, the fight for female voices in music, and how she finally found creative fulfillment in her career.  Tune in for a raw look at the entertainment industry, the unexpected p...

Meet Zach Sherwin, comedic rapper, writer, and former scribe behind the rhymes on The CW's hit show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. You might also recognize Zach from his epic throwdowns on the YouTube series Epic Rap Battles of History. Zach and Dennis discuss the strange jobs comedians take on (because, let's be honest, comedy doesn't always pay the bills). They also explore Zach's lifelong...

Ever wondered what goes on behind the controller of a popular video game journalist? This week's episode is a side quest into the world of gaming with Ash Paulsen, co-founder of Good Vibes Gaming and son of the iconic voice actor Rob Paulsen! From his early days at GameXplain and Nickelodeon, to building his own gaming juggernaut, Ash spills the secrets on his career path, the evolution of PAX...

Join host Deadair Dennis Maler as we dive into the comedy and off-stage life of Mitch Shapiro, a comedian who is blind and hard of hearing due to Usher syndrome, and an advocate for those with disabilities. Mitch shares his inspiring journey living with Usher syndrome, from traveling in a motorhome to discussing the challenges and joys of cochlear implants. His story sheds light on the importance...

Ever wondered if your therapist secretly moonlights as a comedian? This week on "So What Do You Really Do?", Deadair Dennis Maler dives into the fascinating life of Dr. Ellen Orchid, a psychiatrist who's been cracking skulls (both metaphorical and comedic) since the 80s NYC boom. Ellen shares incredible stories of performing alongside female comedic icons and the challenges they face...

Ever dream of ditching your day job for the roar of the comedy club crowd? Our guest, comedian Claudia Bonavita, traded in her special ed classroom for the comedy club stage. This hilarious episode dives into her journey: the joys (and chaos) of teaching, the unexpected switch to stand-up, and her documentary that exposes the "By Day, By Night" lives of entertainers (hint: it's way m...