Pastor Bullsh!t

Today I sat down with comedian and producer Matt Banwart, who’s starting a pop-up comedy club in Des Moines, Iowa — despite having “$500 in the bank and $2K in debt.” Matt breaks down how he’s bootstrapping an indie club from scratch, booking national headliners, and proving you don’t need investors to build a scene. We talk about the economics of starting a club with no money, why Austin’s comedy...

Today I talked with Brandon Legendre, a comedian and podcast producer who went from playing college football to grinding in Austin’s standup and production scene. Brandon has spent years balancing stage time with behind-the-scenes work, producing shows, editing pods, and learning how to make comedy sustainable. We discuss the reality of working for “exposure” instead of pay, why comics undervalue...

Today I talked with George Paul Knap, a filmmaker and creative who has worked in Houston’s indie film scene and Austin’s comedy world. George has spent years making films on small budgets, working with different crews, and building connections in both cities. We discuss his move from Austin back to Houston, how the creative communities differ, and why Houston focuses on big monthly shows while Aus...

Today I sat down with Ike Rafferty — stand-up comedian, improviser, and head writer of The Absolute Show. Ike’s comedy blends absurdist theater, live sketch chaos, and unconventional stand-up. We talk about why he’s leaving Austin for New York, what it’s like co-writing one of the city’s most unhinged live shows, and how his dream projects include everything from fringe theater to off-Broadway clo...

Today I sat down with Lukas McCrary, stand-up comedian, host of The Absolute Show, and a comedian whose live show blends theater kid energy, absurdist art, and full-throttle stand-up into something totally unhinged and totally original. Lukas opens up about building one of the city’s weirdest and most ambitious live shows from scratch, the chaotic reality of writing for both live crowds and intern...

Today I sat down with Pat Dean, comedian, booker, and the reluctant chip liaison of the Velveeta Room, one of Austin’s longest-running and weirdest comedy venues. Pat opens up about running a club while being a comic, the chaos of Sixth Street crowds, and how a room full of confused tourists can somehow become comedy’s greatest crucible. We talk about booking comics fairly, why hacky material stil...

Today I sat down with stand-up comedian, podcaster, and filmmaker Jake Rick, an Austin-based comic known for his viral sketches, green screen wizardry, and work ethic that puts the rest of us to shame. Jake talks about teaching himself editing, directing, and content strategy from scratch. We talk about bombing in stand-up vs. sketch, how to take brutally honest feedback, and why comedy needs a li...

Today I sat down with stand-up comedian, podcaster, and filmmaker Anthony Pappaly—an Austin-based comic known for his chaotic sketches, dark sense of humor, and full-send approach to content. Anthony talks about his roots in video production, early doubts in comedy, and how his early videos shape the way he creates now. We get into the stress of perfectionism, working with friends vs. professional...

Jimmy sits down with stand-up comedian, filmmaker, and podcaster Josh Francis—co-creator of the viral medieval sketch series Off With Their Heads and host of the Friendly Fire podcast. Josh shares the chaotic journey from holding onto one sketch for five years to launching one of the most unique comedy projects coming out of Austin. We get deep into the DIY spirit, comedy perfectionism, and the gr...

Jimmy sits down with the man behind the mic of comedy news: Jake Frombach, creator of JokeWRLD—the ESPN of stand-up podcast culture. Jake breaks down how he went from college open mics and Instacart runs to becoming comedy's go-to news source. We talk starting JokeWRLD during lockdown, why he avoids negativity, how he curates the best podcast clips each month, and whether we’ll ever see him on...