Ruse Radio

Jamie Shriner is a comedian, musician, & producer based in Chicago, Illinois! 💯 She was named Best of the Fest at Big Pine Comedy Festival and Laughs After Dark Comedy Festival! 😂 You can catch her amazingly relatable music comedy ASAP as she is a regular feature at Zanies and Laugh Factory Chicago. She's even a former Features Contributor for The Onion 🤯 Her debut comedy special, Corn...

Emma Dalenberg is an internationally-touring stand-up comic based in New York City! 💯 She is also in the process of becoming a clown! 🤡 BALL IS LIFE 🏀 In this episode, we discuss how being deported from Germany changed her life, what it was like to write a musical ('The Woke Woke West'), the art of clowning, why Emma left a 12-year-long basketball career, how quickly a child could be co...

Neeraj Srinivasan is a comedian working in Chicago, IL! 👀 Also, as this episode airs today, he is currently on the tail end of his Portland homecoming tour 💯 In this episode, we discuss whether we will be performing stand-up comedy for OnlyFans, what it was like for Neeraj to move to America during the Summer before 9/11, how 'Superbad' would be done differently today, the difference in...

Zach Albers is a comedian working in Chicago, IL! He's, without a doubt, one of the funniest people I've met during my time in the Chicago comedy scene. You can catch him headlining at Laugh Factory, Zanies, and all of Chicago's other premiere comedy venues 💯 In this episode, we discuss Zach's upcoming podcast ('The Incubator' w/ Jason Melton), what it was like selling his home in Savannah and mo...

Mike Mazzella is a comedian working in Chicago, Illinois! 💯 You can catch him at SWIPED, a comedic heist show, taking place on Tuesdays at 8:30 PM @ Judy's Beat Lounge 💰 In this episode, we discuss Mike's traumatizing encounter with Bob Odenkirk, how we feel about renaissance fairs, why comedians would make the best (and worst) politicians, how improv + freestyle rap + zen philosophy are...

Marcus Shakes is a comedian working in Chicago, Illinois 💯 This was a fun one! Sometimes, people remind you things happen for a reason. This was one of those times. ☯ In this episode, we discuss the ripple effect of being yourself, the landscape of modern gaming, how close society is to the dystopian novels of the past, why you should talk to strangers, how to become a self-fulfilling prophecy, a...

Rachel Marsh is a comedian working in Chicago, IL! Do yourself a favor and stop by her open mic at the Store on Saturdays (4 PM) and try out some new material 💯 In this episode, we discuss the difficulties of writing comedy films, why improv doesn't translate onscreen, how blogging is a thankless exercise, the zombification of The Walking Dead, our mutual love for Power Hour Open Mic, and muc...

Tim Perez is a comedian and hip-hop artist working in Chicago, IL. He's also the mastermind behind Guerilla Taco Party, a DIY HQ for the rawest performers Chicago has to offer 💯 In this episode, we discuss our experiences at the latest Guerilla Taco Party live events, why this year's WrestleMania was perfect, the time Tim met Mick Foley, where Jimmy Fallon falls short, our predictions for...

Levi Stress is a hip-hop artist working in Chicago, IL. He is part of multiple groups, one of which being the ever-so lyrical SANDS OF THE HOUR. Not only this, but his solo project, 'Brink of Insanity', is available on all streaming services now! 💯 In this episode, we discuss the genesis of his latest project 'Brink of Insanity', our opinions on WWE's current product (this epi...

Marcos Cirino is a comedian & producer working in Chicago, IL! Catch latest show, 'Wow, You're Actually Funny!' monthly at Surge Billiards. 💯 In this episode, we discuss the snowball effect of Marcos producing his first-ever comedy showcase, what it was like to return to Amsterdam after his hiatus, why you should strive to have a difficult year, whether consistency or talent is mo...

Donovan Strong-O'Donnell is a comedian & filmmaker based in Chicago, IL! His latest film, 'Be Funny', is coming soon to a film festival near you💯 In this episode, we discuss what it's like to direct a film on a small budget with a limited crew, why he was doing standup comedy from the back of a pickup truck, how Chicago's Wrigleyville has changed for the worse, the sad rea...

Dana Norris is a comedian, musical theater writer, and showrunner working in Chicago, Illinois! Her latest creation, 'Act of Faith', can be seen on Tubi, Prime Video, Roku, & more 💯 the show is a musical comedy mystery drama romance mockumentary series. Fun for the whole family 😉 In this episode, we discuss how 'Act of Faith' came into existence, the difference between passio...

Aaron Chase is a comedian & podcaster working in Chicago, IL! His podcast, 'Join The Journey', focuses on allowing the viewer to be a part of the come-up 💯 It's Ruse-certified realness. Aaron is naturally an inquisitive soul and that type of curiosity leads to uncharted territory 🙌 In this episode, we discuss the balancing act of success, how people try to 'skip steps' in...

Jim Balderston is a comedian & producer working in Chicago, Illinois. Catch his latest production, 'Comedy You Deserve', twice a month at the Den Theatre! 💯 In this episode, we discuss the origins of 'Comedy You Deserve', the Impractical Jokers controversy, whether or not Kanye West is a supervillain, the pros and cons of kidnapping, whether Neanderthal DNA makes one more or l...

Tim Brennan is a comedian & producer working in Chicago, Illinois. Catch his latest production, 'Laugh It Off', at the Other Side Sober Bar in Crystal Lake, IL, once a month! 💯 In this episode, we discuss the evolution of 'Laugh It Off', our mutual obsession with professional wrestling, the overpriced 'Breakfast Club' meet-and-greet, why algorithms aren't worth paying attention to, how it fee...

Mark Krikorian is a comedian working in Chicago, Illinois! 💯 In this episode, we discuss how to build trust onstage, the art of comedy rap, what dogs might sound like if they could talk, how curiousity guides comedy, the brilliance of 'Kenny VS. Spenny', and much more! 🔥 As always, thank you for watching. New episodes of Ruse Radio always coming soon. 💖

Dimitri Venice is a comedian working in Chicago, Illinois! 💯 In this episode, we discuss our feelings on the meat industry, why comedians need to be funny to themselves first, escaping isolation & reconnecting with the world, what to do if you actually want to change someone's mind, Dimitri's tuna casserole incident, and much more! 🔥 As always, thank you for watching. New episodes of...

Alex Perez is a filmmaker based in Chicago, IL! He is one of the founding fathers of Kino Crew Productions, the masterminds who orchestrated the iconic 'Gobblehead' series! Their upcoming film 'LOADS', is in production now. 💯 In this episode, we discuss the origins of Kino Crew Productions, what the true challenges of indie filmmaking are, our opinions on the superhero/video game...

Milo Mack is a comedian working in Chicago, Illinois! He is the co-producer of 'Comedy in River North', an open mic taking place at 9PM on Wednesday's at Miki's Park! 💯 In this episode, we discuss the legitimacy of Hellen Keller, the story of how 'Comedy in River North' began, the whereabouts of Tupac, why people love Femi, balancing independence and codependence in long-t...

Alex Roumbos is a comedian working in Chicago, IL! Have him come through and help produce your upcoming event! He's a helping hand and a forward-thinker. We could use some more of those in this world. 💯 In this episode, we discuss the time Alex shadowboxed with Luis J. Gomez, how his origins in radio led him to where he is today, the power of turning a comedy set into a cohesive story, learni...

Neeky Darko is a hip-hop artist working in Chicago, IL. Join us for 4 hours of madness on the latest installment of Ruse Radio 💯 In this episode, we discuss the creative limitations of freestyling VS. songwriting, the problem with artists having unrealistic expectations of showrunners, the dangers of shallow edginess, why Slim Shady was so brilliant (& how it inspired his alter ego Krashout K...

Laz Patillo is a comedian & producer working in Chicago, Illinois. He is the founder of Deep End, a force bringing you comedy, film, music, & live events! The main focus is to provide a platform for genuine talent and to build a community in the process 💪 Be on the lookout for their next outing, coming soon to a venue near you., 💯 In this episode, we discuss the origins of Deep End, why...

Nicky B is a comedian & producer working in Chicago, Illinois. Catch his latest production, TALKYOSHXT, once a month and have yourself a glorious evening! 💯In this episode, we discuss our feelings on Jake & Logan Paul, which Clinton was the first black president, what went wrong with the Fast & Furious movies, what it's like to watch 'American Beauty' in 2025 (shoutout Kev...

Ryan Raymond is a comedian working in Chicago, Illinois! 💯In this episode, we discuss Ryan's 'Kaufman' phase (& how Mike Dwyer helped him escape it), why he left Logan Square, how to catch your ideas, why it's important to throw spaghetti at the wall, the brilliance of Bray Wyatt & John Cena, our love for Power Hour, and much more! 🔥_______TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Intro & Gu...

Steven Black is a comedian & producer working in Chicago, Illinois. Catch his latest production, Bingo Bash Comedy Show, once a month and win yourself some prizes! 💯In this episode, we discuss why we won't be traveling to North Korea, how Bingo Bash Comedy Show works (& why you should go!), whether or not aliens are among us, the Batman-like nature of vigilante predator catchers, whet...