Aren't We Special

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about Lee’s softball tournament and the importance of staying limber—even when playing fun, non-competitive sports. Aaron recalls a softball game where he made a highlight-reel-worthy catch to win the game, while Lee complains about his back pain. Aaron recommends his personal trainer, who just happens to live down the street. The guys circle back to...

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys discuss why real men don’t borrow socks from other men. Lee sounds off about why he thinks Clint Eastwood is a bad actor, while giving Jeff Daniels his due as a talented musician and songwriter. Aaron talks about his upcoming hunting trip, Lee shares some stories from his company golf game, and the guys briefly get into cigars before diving into Kelsey Coo...

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys planned to record from Lee’s fishing boat, but outboard motor trouble took a big old dump on that plan. Instead, they hang out in the backyard with wet feet and talk about guitar comedy—how it used to be considered “hack,” and whether that’s still true. They briefly touch on the cultural construct of time, then Aaron tells the story of an unruly, cute old-...

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about Lee catching a surprise set from Angine de Poitrine at Montreal’s Osheaga Music Festival, Finn Wolfhard, and why popular artists sometimes hate playing their biggest hits—and why they probably should anyway. Then they dive into Jeff Arcuri’s breakout Netflix special, Nice To Meet You .

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about a random series of events that leads Aaron into a transaction with one of Lee’s oldest friends on the other side of the province. They talk briefly about guitar pedals, playing guitar, and the value of taking lessons. They discuss how weird it is when people actually listen to the podcast, Lee touches on side jobs and getting old, before diving...

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys go hiking! A bit of a mix-up meeting at the trail brings on some welcomed ’90s nostalgia about driving around looking for your friend. Lee talks about his experience at the Yuk Yuk’s Mike MacDonald Summer Comedy Competition and what it takes to stand out in a big lineup of comics. They talk about combining music with stand-up before diving into John Mulane...

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about podcast production, Lee sounds off about a bad experience trying to start a new open mic, and the effects of AI-generated posters on the human condition. They talk about how young people these days seem to be freaked out by the great outdoors and whether the secret to a long, happy life might be immersing yourself in art with the people you love...

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about cats, peanut butter, sweet vs. salty snacks, and bread. Lee explains how pitching badly in softball is a lot like bombing on stage, and how getting so angry at work that you just go home is sometimes the only reasonable solution. They get into real estate and the economy, circle back to cats for a while, and eventually make their way to Rosebud...

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about serial killers, the Netflix documentary Maternal Instinct , and how immersive true crime has become in the age of social media. Aaron talks about his Friday night hosting gig at Yuk Yuk's Ottawa, Lee tries crowd work for the first time, Aaron takes a major detour, and Lee gets skunked on a fishing trip—before diving into the controversial ne...

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about nicknames, Jordan Jensen hosting Marc Maron on her podcast RIP , starting a new open mic, texting vs. direct phone-call etiquette, flipping off the establishment, leaving a strange footprint, how music and art can replace lost culture, and the possible revival of punk rock—before diving into Fahim Anwar's hilarious special Intrusive Thoughts...

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about their busy summer schedules, Lee's trip to Canada's Wonderland, boating (legally and safely, of course), waterpark shenanigans, and karaoke fails—before diving into Sheng Wang's fantastic special Purple on Netflix.

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about the simple joy of wearing a short-sleeved button-up and the misery of wearing khakis. Aaron hires a music teacher so he can hang out in his shed, while the guys touch briefly on music theory, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, ChatGPT, asses, side jobs, and Lee's new van—before stumbling into Hannibal Buress' Miami Nights , available on YouTube.

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about being early risers, Aaron's secret life as a cage fighter, the awkward realities of podcasting, Ottawa's Hope Volleyball Summerfest, and the art of Rock 'n' Roll banter. They also shout out some of their YouTube commenters before ripping into Mark Normand's hot new Netflix special, None Too Pleased .

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about trying new material at open mics, developing the instincts to know which jokes are worth pursuing, the dangers of getting lazy with delivery, growing vegetables, life without coffee, and cooking reels—all while battling mosquitoes in the shed—before flip-flopping into Urzila Carlson's Netflix special Overqualified Loser .

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys continue their conversation about having material prepared before stepping on stage. Aaron heads out of town and is blessed by a Bud Light angel, while Lee buys a VCR and discovers he's less than impressed with Unforgiven . They also discuss the possibility of starting a band, how streets get their names, and then jump into Brad Williams' special S...

This week on Aren’t We Special , Lee brings a slide whistle! The guys talk about advertising to fund art projects, Aaron's night at the Ottawa Comedy Roast Awards Ceremony, Lee's less-than-stellar hospital experience followed by a great night of comedy, and the challenge of mixing clean and dirty material—before discussing Sam Tallent's The Toad's Morale . This week is a little different: the guys...

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about the etymology of the phrase "the shit end of the stick," public washroom etiquette, bidets vs. toilet paper, munchkin arm, and Dutch ovens—before storming into Ian Bagg's smoking-hot crowd work special, Ian Bagg vs. The Government .

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about being topical, dollar-store oysters, trash pandas, hosting an open mic, why they miss MySpace, what makes a “best” friend, and the art of the “I look like…” joke—before they fully max out on Derrick Stroup ’s Nostalgic , now streaming on Netflix.

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about smoking cigars, their joke-writing processes, the challenge of turning off the creative mind, Lee's steampunk laptop, Aaron's newfound love of vinyl, The Boss, and the golden age of cable TV—before thrusting into Chris Fleming's Live at the Palace , available on Crave.

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about YouTube comments, what makes someone wholesome, the dangers of running your mouth about comedy in arenas, saying the N-word in the '90s, The Nutty Professor , and the Ottawa comedy scene—before leaning into Kevin Nealon's Loose in the Crotch , available on YouTube from 800 Pound Gorilla.

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about having a midlife crisis, streaming vs. physical media, how sweet the '90s were, how Daft Punk aren't even punk, trips to Blockbuster, and the rise of demassification—before prancing into John Early's special Now More Than Ever , available on Crave.

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about how time is a theory, the origins of the AWS Podcast, artistry vs. organization, the war in Iran, and how not to be a bull in a baby shop—before getting into Greg Fitzsimmons' fantastic special You Know Me , available on YouTube.

This week on Aren’t We Special , the guys talk about the difference between a cold and the flu, hosting an open mic, Canada vs. USA hockey, and mimosas in the morning—before delving into Ricky Gervais' Netflix special Mortality .

This week on Aren’t We Special, the guys talk about the submission process for the Just For Laughs comedy festival, recording and reviewing sets, getting tags from other comics, and performing music vs. doing stand-up—before ripping into Adam Ray’s special Read the Room , available on YouTube.

This week on Aren’t We Special, the guys talk about how special they really are, the pyramids in Egypt, aliens, Lenny Kravitz’ hog, and the art of joke writing—before rolling into Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias’ Netflix special Legend of Fluffy .