Suzi Chicago

My producer, Devin Smith, flips the script and puts me in the hot seat at Podium Studios in Marietta, Georgia! I'm in town for the Blade Show, roasting knife makers, and my husband for a living, and answering your listener questions live. From Sam the skeleton's Roman Coliseum incident to why I'll never retire, bringer club truths, and why Home Depot is San Diego's hottest singles...

In today's episode, I sit down with Pamela Wardrop and Carol Johnson, the Silver Sisters, comedians and show promoters carving out their own space in San Diego. We're exploring why it's never too late to start something new and how life's biggest curveballs become the best stage material. From navigating dark humor after a cancer diagnosis to the reality of being a grandma in comed...

Welcome to our first 100% video episode! I'm sitting down with the beautiful, brilliant, Emmy-winning Trish Suhr in my newly transformed art studio. Trish shares the "Swedish Death Cleanse" philosophy that'll make you want to toss your clutter immediately, plus a three-minute encounter with Dolly Parton that literally stopped her from quitting show business. We dive into growing up in a funeral ho...

In today's episode, I sit down with Margaret Starr, a powerhouse vocalist who traded opera houses for comedy clubs, armed with nothing but a tiny pink toy piano. We're exploring her career "switcheroo" from rigid classical training to the wild world of musical comedy, and why sometimes the smallest instrument makes the biggest impact. We get real about how postpartum depression s...

In today's episode, I sit down with JJ Barrows, author, artist, and Dry Bar comedian, for a conversation about why humor might just be the most underrated healing tool we have. JJ is a deep-feeler who has found a way to make comedy out of the hard stuff, and this episode is proof that laughter and honesty go hand in hand. We get into JJ's unexpected email collaboration with Dolly Parton (w...

In today's episode, I'm sitting down with my comedy teacher, coach, and special director Jesse Egan for the final stretch before we tape on February 19th at Film Hub in Vista. We dive into the "daily dose of strange" that keeps me going, from the two life-sized plastic skeletons I've hauled across the globe to my days at Second City in the 80s when I was the only person in th...

In today's episode, I sit down with local comedian Brian Hartwell, a guy who spent 25 years as a soccer referee getting yelled at by angry parents, only to realize it was the perfect training for stand-up comedy. We're exploring the "Zero to Hero" mentality and how you can build a whole new life from scratch, whether you're 20 or 70.We dive into why Brian's therapist actu...

In today's episode, I sit down with the delightful Ed Hearton (Eduardo, as I call him), a local comic who's so much more than just a man with a fantastic mustache. From his "Little Mermaid" roots in Brazil to our shared love for the "diva" lifestyle, we're exploring why some of us are just "a lot", and why that's exactly how we like it. We dive into Ed...

In today's episode, I'm absolutely starstruck talking with Nick Novicki—comedian, actor, and founder of the Easter Seals Disability Film Challenge. I've been following Nick since he appeared early on Nate Bargatze's podcast, and getting to sit down with him is a dream come true. Nick shares his incredible journey from business school at Temple University to bombing in comedy clubs,...

In today's episode, I sit down with the sharp and hilarious Chrissy Castro, a San Diego comic who started her comedy journey just a year ago after being fired for writing a "casual email" from Hawaii! Chrissy shares her incredible transition from corporate creative director to stand-up comedian, and how getting removed from her position for trying to be funny in an email actually pus...

In today's episode, I sit down with the wonderful Dan Yourg, a San Diego comic who everyone absolutely loves! Dan shares his incredible journey into comedy, starting just over a year and a half ago, when some people thought his first showcase announcement was an April Fool's joke because they never knew he had a funny side. Spoiler alert: he bombed nobody! We delve into Dan's fascinati...

In this episode, I sit down with Victor M. Paz, a rising star in the San Diego comedy scene who's accomplished a remarkable amount in just three years. Victor shares his journey from his first comedy show to now running Cackles, a production company putting on 8-10 shows monthly across San Diego County. We dive into the behind-the-scenes work of producing comedy shows, what it means to find yo...

In this episode, I sit down with my delightful producer and podcast pal, Devin Smith! From his home base in Marietta, Georgia (yes, we talk about the diner there), Devin shares how he stumbled into the world of podcasting, built Podium Studios from the ground up, and followed his passion to create art through sound. We swap stories about life, comedy, marriage, perfectionism, and even martial arts...

In this episode of the Suzi Chicago Podcast, I welcome Honey Bear, a rising comedian who shares her inspiring journey into stand-up comedy. Honey Bear reveals how she started performing on Valentine's Day 2023 after being captivated by open mic nights. Known for her impressive ability to recite Pi to 100 decimal places, Honey Bear opens up about her experiences as a comedian on the autism spec...

In this episode of the Suzi Chicago podcast, I sit down with Jamie Shriner, a brilliant musical comedian I met at a comedy club in San Diego. We dive into her fascinating journey from musical theatre student to writing and performing her own musical comedy songs. Jamie shares how the pandemic helped her find her authentic voice and why she's no longer trying to impress "five guys in the b...

In today's episode, I chat with the hilarious Lena Stone, a San Diego-based comedian who calls herself "the snack bitch" because she's always handing out snacks to her kids! We dive into her fascinating journey into comedy, starting from her elementary school days when she held comedy shows on the playground until a yard duty lady threatened to suspend her for "inciting a ri...

In this episode, I sit down with Hollis Cameron, a fresh voice in San Diego's comedy scene who I met in my very first comedy class. Though he's only been doing stand-up for about five months, Hollis has already made his mark by creating Comic Tonight ( comictonight.com ), a comprehensive resource that connects comedians with shows throughout San Diego. We dive into Hollis's comedy jour...

In this episode, I sit down with one of San Diego’s funniest and kindest humans — comedian, teacher, and Dry Bar special headliner Jesse Egan . We talk about everything from bombing on cruise ships (yes, family shows at midnight!) to finding humor in the chaos of life, parenting, and even spatulas that double as guitars. Jesse shares how a ping pong rulebook turned him into a lifelong comic, the l...

Ever thought about walking away from a 6-figure job to go do something fun? Meet someone who did: Lauren Thomas. From our serendipitous Pretty Funny Women meetup to our shared hatred for San Diego parking, Lauren brings her charm, wit, and incredible life experience to the mic. She has a backstory that’ll blow your mind and we cover everything from comedy classes and corporate escapes to life list...

I’m with my ride-or-die comedy buddy, Alla—the best thing Russia ever exported (sorry, Yakov). We talk about how we met on day one of a bargain comedy class, why her Kazakh childhood gives her stand-up a one-of-a-kind voice, and the very wild way a farm goat once “sobriety tested” her dad. You’ll also hear our tales from a truly… colorful open mic, my new mini-segment “Things That Are Things,” and...

Ever wonder what it takes to turn awkward moments into comedy gold? In this episode of the  Suzi Chicago Podcast , I sit down with  comedian Paula Kosiensky  to talk about her journey through stand-up, building confidence on stage, and performing at top comedy festivals like  Laughing Skull  and the  Nashville Comedy Festival . Episode Timeline [1:22] - Banter with Fun Bobby and welcoming comedian...

Sometimes when I talk to another comic, it feels like we were twins separated at birth—and that’s exactly how it is with today’s guest, the hilarious Susan Rice . You may know her from her specials Silver Alert (Amazon) and We All Become Our Parents (Don’t Tell Comedy), or her series Bad Advice with Susan Rice . She’s been in the comedy game for decades, and let me tell you—her stories had me laug...

In this episode, I sat down with Jonathan Prim, who somehow survived the journey from theater to stand-up comedy without becoming a bitter children’s party clown. We talked about everything from social anxiety (spoiler: comedians have it, we just cover it with punchlines) to the joys of community in the comedy scene. Jonathan shared his thoughts on the absurdity of everyday life, his brief career...

🎙️ Welcome to Episode 50 of The KnifeWife Podcast — our Season 2 Finale! 🍫✨ Dayleen is a true renaissance woman. A trick rider in her youth, highly educated, French trained Pastry Chef, now Chocolatier . If only you could taste podcasts. She shares her journey to being an entrepreneur, who opened her own chocolate shop in San Marcos, California . At her shop she teaches others of all levels how...

🎙️ Welcome to Episode 49 of TheKnifeWife Podcast ! 🔪🎧 This episode has 2 Bobs - no waiting. Join us in getting to know Bob Demarco. A podcaster extraordinaire. Knife expert. An all around cool dude, fun to talk to. 📢 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! This is our second-to-last episode recorded as The Knife Wife Podcast ! We’re gearing up for an exciting rebrand as… The Suzi Chicago Podcast! Stay tuned for what...