Messed-Up To Set-Ups - A MichaelHalcomb.Live Podcast

Hello, Friends! Welcome to episode 110 of the “Messed-Up to Set-Ups” podcast! Today I’m thrilled to have Paul Snyder back for Part 2 of our conversation. In this episode, we dig deeper into the art of joke writing and workshopping, focusing on a particular joke Paul has been crafting for over a year, part of which just hasn’t been working. Can we get over the hump? Join us as we brainstorm punchli...

Hello, Friends! Welcome to episode 109 of the “Messed-Up to Set-Ups” podcast! In this episode, I sit down for a chat with the talented comedian, Paul Snyder, who’s based in Charlotte, North Carolina. We get into Paul’s comedy journey, starting with road trips with his dad listening to classic comedy tapes to discovering his passion for stand-up. We discuss the grind of the comedy world, the import...

A small update : I’ll continue publishing daily posts on Substack, but beginning April 13th I’ll no longer send daily emails. Instead, and in an attempt to clutter up folks’ inboxes, I’m going to try sending out a weekly newsletter with links to and brief overviews of all the new posts. Hello, Friends! It’s episode 108 of the Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast. In this episode, I chat with industry insi...

Hello, Friends! It’s episode 107 of the Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast. In this episode, I chat with an absolute giant in the comedy world: Barry Katz. We discuss how original premises and emotional honesty can transform ordinary routines into unforgettable hits, and why every comedian needs a “hit song” in their act. Barry also shares some behind-the-scenes principles that turn routines into viral...

Hello, Friends. Welcome to episode 107 of the “Messed-Up to Set-Ups” podcast. This was my second “The Joke Writer’s Lab” live stream. But if you missed it, no worries, you can watch it here on this site. In this episode, I had a viewer ask to: a) take a joke of his, b) punch it up, and c) show how I work backward from a punchline to a premise. That was really fun! I showed how using the “Z Method”...

Hello, Friends! It’s Episode 106 of The Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast. In this one, I’m thrilled to bring you Part 2 of my conversation with the legendary comedian Mack Dryden. Here we discuss more of Mack’s incredible journey from being an award-winning journalist to his experiences performing across the globe. Best of all, we workshop some jokes together! We pull back the curtain and let you see...

Hello, Friends! In this episode of The Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast, which is one of my favorites thus far, I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome the one, the only, the legendary comedian Mack Dryden. We get into his incredible journey from being an award-winning journalist and black belt in karate to becoming a celebrated comedian with appearances on The Tonight Show and roles in TV shows like Jag a...

Hello, Friends! It’s episode 104 of The Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast and I’m thrilled to welcome back the hilarious Tyrone Burston, a two-time Queen City Comedian of the Year. Join us as we workshop some jokes, chat about the dynamics of introversion and extroversion in relationships, and discuss what happens when a pedicure goes wrong. Also, Tyrone shares some of his comedic process as we brainst...

Hello, Friends! In episode 103 of The Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast! I’m super stoked to welcome the hilarious Tyrone Burston, a two-time Queen City Comedian of the Year from Charlotte, NC. In this episode, we get into his journey from Hartford to Charlotte, his start in comedy, and the ups and downs of performing, including a memorable night at Showtime at the Apollo. Tyrone shares his insights on...

Hello, Friends! It’s Episode 102, which is also Part 2 of my conversation with comedian Big Rich Brock. In this episode of the Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast, we dig into the art of comedy and the stories behind the jokes. Big Rich reveals some of the inspirations and real-life experiences that shape his humor and we also explore the creative process, the importance of finding your voice, and the jo...

Hello, Friends! In this 101st episode of The Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast, I sit down with the hilarious Big Rich Brock. He’s a comedian with a unique journey from pastoring to headlining comedy shows. In this episode, we get into his life in Georgia, his transition from ministry to comedy, and the unexpected overlaps between the two worlds. Big Rich shares his insights on finding your voice in co...

Hello, Friends! I’m pleased to share this milestone 100th episode of The Messed-Up to Set-Ups podcast! Here, I share 100 transformative tips that will elevate your stand-up game. All 100 tips come from the episodes leading up to this one. I go back over things like how to embrace failure, craft killer jokes, and connect with your audience like a veteran. More importantly, I’ve categorized everythi...

Hello, Friends! It’s episode #99 of the Messed-Up to Set-Ups podcast which means we’re only 1 episode away from 100!!! Back with me today is Tommy Morin. He joins me in Part 2 of our chat to explore the art of turning chaos into comedy gold. We get into the hilariousness of crafting the perfect excuse, the power of a disheveled appearance, and how these can earn you unexpected admiration. We works...

Hello, Friends! It’s episode #98 of the Messed-Up to Set-Ups podcast. And, as we inch closer to Episode #100, today, we have a pretty unique guest: “The Manic Hispanic: Pastor, Tommy Morin” on the show. Tommy’s journey is as fascinating as it is inspiring. From childhood impressions to the mob to ministry to navigating the comedy scene after a long hiatus, Tommy shares how humor became his escape...

Hello, Friends! It’s episode #97 of the Messed-Up to Set-Ups podcast. Ever wonder how comedians turn mundane news moments into hilarious bits? In today’s episode, Part 2 of my chat with comedian Andy Beningo, we dive right into that process. We talk about how the freshest material often comes from real life, and how a simple idea, like an over-the-hill James Bond or a cat with a vendetta, can gene...

Hello, Friends! Episode #96 of The Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast is live. In this one, I chat with the absolutely hilarious Andy Beningo. A Michigan-based comedian, this guy has masterfully conquered all 50 states and performed on cruise ships around the world. Here we dig into his unconventional mindset, get some tips on perseverance, and hear about how his obsession with stats has kept him motiva...

Hello, Friends! It’s episode 95 of The Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast. In this one, I’m thrilled to welcome back the hilarious Lee Hardin. In this one, we get into the creative process of joke writing, Lee shares a new premise about the quirks of aging and memory lapses, and we try to punch it up. We also chat about the art of crowd work, the challenges of remembering things, and the joy of spontane...

Hello, Friends! In this episode of The Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast, I sit down with the absolutely hilarious Lee Hardin, a fellow comedian from Nashville, Tennessee. We get into Lee’s journey from being a class clown to a touring comedian. We also talk about the comedy scene in Nashville, the golden era of SNL, and the art of joke writing. Lee opens up about his experiences, from performing in nu...

Hey, Friends! Episode 93 of The Messed-Up To Set-Ups Podcast is here! In this one, I get into the creative chaos of joke writing with the absolutely hilarious Johnny Watson. We talk about the absurdity of the first left-handed caveman and brainstorm some wild scenarios where prehistoric life meets modern comedy. Johnny shares the origins of his unique joke concepts and some thoughts on how everyda...

Hello, Friends! It’s episode 92 of the Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast. So, join me, comedian Michael Halcomb, as I sit down with fellow comedian Johnny Watson (as seen on SNL!) to dig into his journey from being a military MC to a comedy veteran. We talk about the hilarious story of how a chaotic night in Kona, Hawai’i, kickstarted Johnny’s stand-up career. We also get into his unique approach to im...

Hello, Friends! I’m stoked to share Episode #91 of The Messed-Up to Set-Ups podcast with you. In this one, I sit down with Michael Saltz, a New York-based comedian, and we take a dive into jokes. We kick things off with his hilarious tale of getting stuck in a water slide and then we workshop that story and try to punch it up. We also chat about how everyday chaos is comedy gold. Lastly, we have a...

Hello, Friends! I’m stoked to share Episode #90 of The Messed-Up to Set-Ups podcast with you. In this episode, I sit down with Michael Saltz, a New York-based nurse, firefighter, and clean comedian. During our chat, we get into how he first got started at a firehouse comedy show, the value of capturing attention quickly, and the challenge of balancing comedy with the busyness of life. We also talk...

Hi, Friends! In episode 89 of the Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast, I sit down with the incredibly talented comedian Jeremi George. We get into faith and comedy and Jeremi shares some stories that range from the absurd to the deeply personal. We workshop a joke about a handicap healing service then make up some jokes right on the spot from random prompts. Along the way, Jeremi’s insights are at times...

Hi Friends! It’s Episode 88 of the Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast. In this one, I sit down with comedian Jeremi George. As he shares his journey into stand-up comedy, we also discuss the challenges and joys of performing, the importance of supportive relationships, and the personal pain that often fuels comedic material. Jeremi shares some valuable advice for aspiring comedians, especially around ne...

Hey, Friends! It’s episode #87 of the Messed-Up to Set-Ups podcast. In this one, my guest, comedian Dewayne White and I, pull back the curtain and give you a front row seat into the world of comedy. We explore the absurdity of Civil War reenactments and other peculiar hobbies and discuss the comedic potential of these topics. We crack tons of jokes along the way and share some helpful insights. Tu...