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

Episode #35 of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast is up. This episode is Part 3 in a short, 5-part, mini course. In it, I share a simple map for writing your first joke and encourage you to steal jokes…from yourself. This is a sweet, simple, step-by-step method for writing story-jokes. Watch/listen. Also, stop what you’re doing right now and go sign up for FREE “The Joke Writer’s Lab” Facebook Gro...

Let’s go! Episode #34 of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast is live. This episode is Part 2 in a short, 5-part, mini course. In it, I share a simple map for writing your first joke. It’s a short, easy-to-do, step-by-step method for writing story-jokes. Watch/listen. Also, stop what you’re doing right now and go sign up for FREE “The Joke Writer’s Lab” Facebook Group . It’s a private group with som...

Episode 33 of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast is live. This episode starts up a short 5-part mini course, a tutorial if you will, on how to write your first joke. I share another step-by-step method I came up with for writing story-jokes. Here I argue that writing your first joke is like a superpower. Watch/listen and see why. Also, stop what you’re doing right now and go sign up for “The Joke...

I’m back! And I’m back with Episode 32 of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast. This episode is one of my favorites. I share my step-by-step method for writing story-jokes. And let me tell you, it’s easier than you think. Also, there’s yet another FREE resource that I’ve created and which I use in this episode, that you can score when you sign up for “The Joke Writer’s Lab” Facebook Group . To watch...

Episode 31 of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast is now live and out in the wild! This episode is Part 2 of my conversation with LA-based comedian, Alec McNayr, and it’s all about jokes. We start with Alec telling an original joke, then we hear the story behind it. From there we brainstorm and try to punch-up and tag the joke. Once we finish, I use the 100% FREE resources I’ve created over at The...

Heyyo! Episode 30 of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast is up! This episode is Part 1 of my conversation with LA-based comedian, Alec McNayr. In this episode, we discuss Alec’s journey into comedy, out of it, and back in. We also talk about whether comedy is a young man’s game. You might be surprised by what comes up. So, make sure you listen or watch. To watch the video on YouTube, click HERE . W...

Episode 29 of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast is here! This episode is Part 2 of my chat with Hawai’i comedian, Kanoa Morse. Our focus here: Jokes. Kanoa shares an original joke, talks about its origins, and then we see if there’s any room to edit it. From there we use some prompts to make up jokes on the spot, live, in real time. He’s pretty good at it, too! So, make sure you listen or watch....

Episode 28 of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast is live! In this episode, I talk about how to increase the likelihood of a joke working on stage. I give an up-close look at a checklist I’ve developed (you can get it for by signing up for “The Joke Writer’s Lab” for FREE HERE ). To watch the video on YouTube, click HERE . Watch earlier episodes about writing jokes HERE . For more great resources,...

It’s been a minute but, I’m back, and I’ve got the gift of Episode 27 for you. In this episode of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast, I give you an up-close look at how I come up with and write new jokes. Literally, I start with nothing and, within 15-20 minutes, I have 5 jokes. To watch on YouTube, click HERE . Watch earlier episodes about writing jokes HERE . For more great resources, check out...

Boom! Just like that Episode 26 of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast is live! In this episode, I chat with fellow Hawai’i comedian, Kanoa Morse. This is Part 1 of our 2-part interview and we get into how Kanoa got started in stand-up, how he’s navigated the comedy scene thus far, and how comedy has been a coping mechanism. Listen in for some insights on how to craft your comedy path and, of cours...

Yayuh! Episode 25 of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast is now live! In this episode, I share 3 free resources for joke writers: 1) The Messed-Up to Set-Ups podcast (also on Video ); 2) The Joke Writer’s Lab ; and, 3) The Joke Writer’s Lab Facebook Group . After speaking briefly about these resources, I spend about 15 minutes writing some jokes based on a post in the Facebook Group. To watch on Yo...

My friends, Episode 24 of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast is here! In this episode, which is Part 2 of my 2-part interview with comedian, Joshua Valdez-Aldridge, it’s all jokes. Josh shares a bit he’s working on, we dive into it and try to punch it up a little, then we make up jokes on the spot. To watch on YouTube, click HERE . Watch earlier episodes about writing jokes HERE . For more great r...

Episode 23 is here! In this episode of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast, which is Part 1 of my 2-part interview with comedian, Joshua Valdez-Aldridge, we talk about his journey from Japan to Alabama and the ups and downs of stand-up comedy—hence bombs, bits, and breakthroughs. To watch on YouTube, click HERE . Watch earlier episodes about writing jokes HERE . For more great resources, check out...

Episode 22 is live! In this episode of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast, which is Part 2 of my 2-part interview with comedian, Carmiya Weinraub, we talk jokes. Carmiya shares one of her jokes, then takes us back to where it came from, discusses its development, allows us to spend some time trying to punch it up, and then we switch gears and make up jokes on the spot. If you want to watch on YouT...

Episode 21 is here! In this episode of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast, which is Part 1 of my 2-part interview with comedian, Carmiya Weinraub, we talk life, faith, and getting into stand-up comedy. Carmiya, who is Jewish, shares with me (a Christian) about starting an inter-religious comedy initiative. We dig into numerous areas of life and faith and have lots of fun doing so. Tune in and enjo...

Episode 20 is LIVE! In this episode of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast, which is Part 2 of my 2-part interview with the multi-talented comedian, Harold Wong, affectionately known as “Handsome Harold,” we dive into jokes. Harold tells us the journey of a deep and vulnerable joke of his, we talk shop, then make up some jokes together in real time and on the spot. So, tune in and enjoy. If you wan...

Yoooo! Episode 19 just dropped y’all! In this episode of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast, which is Part 1 of a 2-part interview, I chat with the multi-talented comedian, Harold Wong, affectionately known as “Handsome Harold.” We talk about his wild journey into comedy, out of it, and his return to it after dealing with some military difficulties. So, tune in and enjoy. If you want to watch on Y...

Episode 18 is here y’all! In this episode of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast, which is Part 2 of a 2-part interview, I make up jokes on the spot and in real time with Houston-based comedian/comedienne Diya Shivlani. We also dissect one of her jokes and adding some potential tags. For now, tune in and enjoy. If you want to watch on YouTube, click HERE . Watch earlier episodes about writing jokes...

It’s Episode 17 of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast! In this episode, which is Part 1 of a 2-part interview, I chat with Houston-based comedian/comedienne Diya Shivlani. In this first part, we talk about how she got into stand-up, what that journey has been like, and give some comedy insights along the way. In Part 2 we’ll dissect one of her jokes and spend time making some jokes together on the...

Ever wondered how comedians come up with their jokes? In episode 16 of the “Messed-Up to Set-Ups” podcast, comedians Michael Halcomb and Ian Shippen get into hilarious jokes and have some insightful conversation. Part of that is Ian sharing the journey of one of his jokes, from idea to punchline. We break it down, dissect the craft of joke writing, but then we also take on the challenge of writing...

It’s episode 15! In this episode, I introduce you to one of my stand-up comedy comrades in Hawai’i, Mr. Ian Shippen. In this first part of a two-part interview, we discuss Ian’s journey into stand-up, his move out of it, and how he found his way back to it. We also talk about his joke-writing processes, his stage persona, and what it’s like to have a girlfriend who’s also a comedian. To watch this...

It’s episode #14 of the "Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast, y’all! And in this episode, comedian Michael Halcomb introduces another, yes ANOTHER, free and new resource he’s created for joke writers. This one shows you how to quickly and easily use logical fallacies to generate original joke material. To watch this episode on YouTube go HERE . Watch earlier episodes about writing jokes HERE . For more g...

Episode #13 of the "Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast is finally here. In this episode, Comedian Michael Halcomb and Comedian Drew Davis pull back the curtain on making jokes. Drew tells a joke he’s used on stage and gives the backstory then the two comedians spend 20 or so minutes making up jokes on the spot in real time. To watch the first interview between these two on YouTube go HERE . Watch earlie...

An easy, foolproof way to generate joke-writing material - thats what this episode, #11 of the "Messed-Up To Set-Ups podcast, is all about. Comedian Michael Halcomb shares another new joke-writing tool that he’s created and he shows you how to come up with jokes on the spot. It’s a spin-off of the 2-Lists Method and it’s pretty cool. Use it and get writing; use it and start creating original conte...

Hey, Friends! It’s the eleventh episode of the “Messed-Up To Set-Ups” podcast. In this episode, the first part of a two-part interview, comedian Michael Halcomb chats with comedian Drew Davis . Interestingly, both Drew and Michael have been in ministry for a long time but have now shifted to stand-up comedy. Michael talks to Drew about how that happened for him and how it came to be that Drew got...