Stand Up Scuttlebutt

Mary Beth Collins is a comedian known for her sharp writing, self-deprecating style, and what she proudly describes as being "level 10 awkward." She also claims to be the oldest person living in Boston's Seaport neighborhood who occasionally gets mistaken for Owen Wilson. In this episode, Mary Beth joins Rick to talk about writing, refining, memorizing, and performing stand-up comedy. They also sw...

A well-established Boston comic with years in stand-up, Matt found himself at the center of one of the wildest scenes Boston has seen in a while when 60,000 Scottish fans—better known as the Tartan Army—descended on the city for the World Cup. Armed with his bagpipes, Scottish heritage, and larger-than-life presence, Matt became a central figure in the celebration, helping strengthen a bond betwee...

Ajay G is one of the most unique voices in New England comedy—a Boston-based stand-up comic, award-winning storyteller, startup mentor, and tech entrepreneur originally from Mumbai, India. Known for his clean, sharp storytelling style, Ajay has performed on PBS, ABC, NPR, and stages across the U.S., Canada, Singapore, Indonesia, and India. He’s also a multiple-time Moth performer, comedy festival...

Comedian Carolyn Plummer joins Rick for the first episode of the newly rebranded Stand-Up Scuttlebutt. Carolyn is one of New England's most recognized comics, having performed at TD Garden as part of Comics Come Home. Carolyn shares stories from her comedy journey, including performing at a nudist resort, which is as awkward as it sounds. Then Rick and Carolyn discuss the challenges of moving, the...

PJ Thibodeau is one of New England's most respected stand-up comics, a longtime basketball coach, and a guy who's somehow managed to shrug off two heart attacks and keep moving forward. PJ joins Rick for a conversation about life in your 50s, from AARP memberships and staying healthy to simplifying life and focusing on what really matters. They also pull back the curtain on stand-up comedy, sharin...

Rick and Steve Wheeler talk comedy scene personalities, the quirks comics all seem to have, and the social behaviors that probably shouldn’t happen in public. They also get into growing up playing sports and how that shaped their personalities, confidence, and approach to life. Steve shares what it’s really like splitting time between New England and Alaska — the endless daylight, what people actu...

Rick sits down with comedian, actor, and director Will Noonan for a wide-ranging conversation about stand-up, creative ambition, and trying to make sense of the world we’re living in. Will reflects on building his comedy career between Boston and New York, producing comedy specials — including his own special, Live in Boston — and the realities of pursuing a creative life. Along the way, the conve...

The U.S. Government just released files on UFOs and UAPs from a kitschy-looking website that seemingly trivializes the material. So what exactly is going on? Are we talking aliens, interdimensional beings, or demons? Rick and Evan Walsh dive into the latest conspiracy theories flooding social media while trying to separate reality from algorithm-driven insanity. But in a world where AI can fake au...

Rick sits down with Paul Gillespie of Cheap Laughs to talk about migration from city life to the suburbs. They get into what you gain, what you lose, and what just gets… more annoying. From adapting to a fast-moving, always-on world to the oddly specific frustrations of small-town living—it’s a mix of perspective, pettiness, and reality. They also dig into comedy: how their styles evolve, what aud...

Boston comedian Sarah Fitz (@notsarahfitz) joins us for a wide-ranging conversation covering today’s economy, the rise of AI, and how both are shaping everyday life. We also get into lighter topics like Jeep truck design and culture, what’s showing up in our social media algorithms, and a candid look at stand-up comedy—writing styles, process, and habits within the scene. To close it out, we talk...

Is forgetting your wife’s birthday an honest mistake… or grounds for immediate separation? Rick and Liz kick things off by putting one husband on trial and deciding whether this is a harmless oversight or a career-ending marriage move. Then it’s time for the listeners to take over—and they do not disappoint. We read emails that roast the show, demand a strong stance on cottage cheese, and ask for...

This week, Rick and Evan blast off into the world of conspiracy theories—starting with the viral claim that Artemis II mission is being faked with green screens (because apparently NASA mastered CGI but still struggles with livestream buffering). From there, they break down the greatest hits of space conspiracies: the moon landing hoax , flat Earth theory , alien cover-ups, and the idea that space...

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...