Get to the Joke

In this week's episode, I look at the second of three independently owned clubs in Pennsylvania and what it takes to build, grow and run a comedy club. Jim Bryan (Church of Satire) talks to me about the balance of managing a club, a career in stand up and a family. Jim gets candid about moving to Vegas and then to Hanover, Pennsylvania , the hardships of starting a club in the pandemic, strate...

In this week's episode, I pivot and look at the first of three independently owned clubs in Pennsylvania and what it takes to build, grow and run a comedy club. Nick Bruce (Wisecrackers Mohegan & State College) talked to me about being a second generation owner of the family business. We talk about the history of the club, the stress of running a club how Nick manages costs while trying to...

In this episode, I speak with Monroe Martin (LAST COMIC STANDING) about his life from foster care to comedy mecca, The Comedy Cellar. Monroe gets very candid in the hardships he endured early in his life as a product of the foster care center, how he beat those odds and used the skills he learned to survive in foster care to make a living in stand up comedy and tour the world. Monroe offers great...

In today's episode, I talk to a legend of comedy, Mr. Todd Glass (Netflix's ACT HAPPY). We discuss a wide range of topics from the end of his podcast, advice on how small time comedy producers can set up a room, how he prepares for a show, stage presence, his time on Last Comic Standing and revisiting his famous WTF Interview with Marc Maron 10 years later. Links from the episode: Todd&#39...

Today, I talk to veteran comedian and established author, Mike Lukas from the Tonight Show, Second City and CONAN. Mike and I cover a wide range of topics from how he got started in comedy at Disney World to being the foremost expert in helping develop budding comics. We speak on how to create your own personal brand, how improv played a key role in not just his career but developing bits, comedy...

In the final episode of our third season, I sit down with Doogie Horner (AGT, Author) and discuss a wide range of topics from his memorable appearance on America's Got Talent to the untimely death of his sister.  Doogie gives a memorable interview in the art of writing - discussing its importance, its reverence and routine and how ultimately to edit it.  Doogie shares the struggles of hi...

In this episode, I sit with the most recent winner of Philly's Phunniest, Joe Murdock.  Joe shares the interesting relationship he has with his parents, how he got started in comedy and how he developed his own style of combing one liners with topical humor.  Joe doesn't shy away from controversial subject matter and teaches me how he can talk about abortion, religion and guns with any a...

In this episode, I talk to one of my closest comedy friends, Dan D'Aprile (Comedy Store, LA Improv).  Dan gives a master class on how he includes the right amount of risk in his joke writing and how he can get more out of laughs by adding various voices.  Dan reveals to me how he struggled navigating his parent's divorce at such a young age and how it changed him to take a more liberal s...

Today I sit down with a comic that I have been a fan of since I first saw him get robbed on Last Comic Standing season 2.  I am a big fan of Dan and this interview did not disappoint.  Talking to me all the way from Aruba, Dan goes into the details about his book "Ira Spiro: Before Covid" and the similarities and differences between him and Ira.  Dan gets raw and candid on the strug...

Marc sits down with Vermont's biggest comedian, Rusty Dewees aka "The Logger" where we talk all thing Logger the early days to present.  Rusty strips down how "The Logger" came to be, how he developed stories from real people he's met in his life and how he built his act from grass roots to the thousands of people who see his act every year.  Rusty breaks down his storytelling method and...

Marc sits down with Bret Raybould (SIRIUS) and discuss everything you would want to know about getting into the business of comedy. Bret talks about how his love of comedy started in college and further developed by becoming an intern on CONAN which eventually led Bret into the world of stand up  which produced an amazing special, "Bret Raybould Retires from Comedy" and his first play, "Race:...

In this episode, Marc sits down with New York comedian, Anthony Moore (Comedy Central, SIRIUS) where we discuss why Anthony writes with two things in mind - the mood and the why.  Anthony gets very candid as to his struggles he experienced moving up in the comedy scene in Philly and then moving to New York.  He offers advice to any comic looking to do the same along with writing jokes on...

In this episode, Marc sits down with Philadelphia comedian, Alyssa Al-Dookhi (Frist Person Arts, "Make Up or Break Up") and dive deep into Alyssa's childhood growing up in both Kuwait and America.  Alyssa educates Marc in non-binary gender identity, pansexuality, transgender and growing up in a foreign country during a war.  Alyssa goes equally in depth in how to write observational humo...

Mike Cannon (Amazon, SIRIUS) and Marc discuss everything from the problems Mike suffered in his childhood, the tumultuous relationship he has with is father and how he, himself, has grown as a father.  Mike talks about how to balance a career in comedy with being a father, how drugs play apart in his life, the use of specific words to punctuate his punchlines, why self-producing is the new wa...

In this episode, Marc sits down with Philly comic, Cassandra Dee (Philly's Phunniest Winner, SIRIUS XM) to discuss her struggles with depression and bullying.  Cassandra enlightens Marc on the subjects of death, joke writing mindset and getting cancelled.  Marc and Cassandra discuss everything from mental illness to recording an album.  If you're a fan of comedy, this is episode not...

SHOW LESS In the premiere episode of our third season, I sit down with Andy Haynes (Comedy Central, CONAN) and discuss Andy's less than ideal childhood, how he found comedy and ultimately how it led him to a career as one of the most sought out comedians of today.  Andy goes in depth about how his jokes on race have been what sets him apart than his contemporaries and his apt nature on how he...

There is no better way to wrap up this season that to sit down with comedy savant, Matt Ruby.  Matt has been seen on Comedy Central, NBC, FOX and MTV.  His special "Feels Like Matt Ruby" can be viewed on Youtube and has reached over 60,000 views.  Matt doesn't hold back in this interview and gives great insight into his observant and topical joke writing.  Matt talks about his...

Marc sits down with his close friend and comic, Dave Primiano of the popular podcast, "The Rank Bank."  Dave gets candid over the inter-personal issues and tragedies of his family.  Dave gives Marc an inside look into his development of his dark humor and the work that goes into the delicate tightrope act of offensive and hilarious.  This interview was great to record and even bette...

Marc sits down with Philly comedy stalwart, Pat House.  Pat is the host of an incredible podcast, "I Guess I'll Do It" and has recorded three acclaimed albums - "Biggest Thing," "I Heard Enough Yesterday," and most recently, "I'm Here."  He opens for some of the biggest names in comedy including Tom Stegura, Sebastian Maniscalo and Dan Cummins.  Pat tours nationally and talks about...

In this episode, Marc sits down with Delaware comic, Brandon Jackson.  Brandon is the host of the "English for Criminals" podcast and will be recording his debut comedy album at Helium Comedy Club in January.  Brandon gives an insightful interview and an in-depth look into his writing style.  Brandon talks about using comedy to figure himself and talks about his struggles in New Yor...

Marc sits down with one of his favorite comics, Paul Hooper.  Paul has been seen on Gotham Comedy Live, Boston Comedy Festival and HBO Comedy Festival.  Paul opens up and  discusses his struggles with COVID, his father, school, OCD and addiction.  Paul shows his incredible joke writing process and his use of verbal imagery to emphasize his jokes.  Paul uses his history of...

In this episode, Marc sits down with the infinitely talented, Chanel Ali.  Chanel has performed stand up on Comedy Central, appeared on MTV's Girl Code and written a book, "A Girl's Guide For Going Out."  Chanel goes into detail about the struggles of growing up in the foster care center, her turbulent relationship with her parents, and his love of discovering stand up comedy.  She...

In this episode, Marc sits down with Lancaster based comedian, Alan Massenburg.  Alan has won Baltimore's New Comedian of the Year in 2018 and made an appearance on Sway in the Morning.  He is also half of the "Proper Ebonics" podcast.  Alan gives a very raw interview about growing up with a single father and then becoming one himself years later.  Alan goes into detail about h...

In this episode, Marc sits down with Columbian comedian, Pedro Gonzalez.  Pedro moved from Columbia to pursue a degree in literature.  Pedro discovered stand up in Philadelphia before moving to New York where he features at all the big clubs and landed a spot on the "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."  Pedro is one of the hardest working comics out there and discusses his vigilant...

In this episode, Marc sits down with one of the top comedians in Philadelphia, Mary Radzinksi.  Mary's debut album, "Discomfortable," was named one of the top 10 albums of 2018.  She co-hosts the popular podcast, "Are You My Podcast" and can be seen opening for Marc Maron, Jim Norton and Rosie O'Donnell among others.  In this episode, Mary talks about moving from a small town to esc...