The Comedian Next Door

Hey, Neighbor!  The Peaches is uploading this episode, but the Peaches wasn't part of this conversation. So, you don't get a summary today.   Consider it a surprise for all of us...  What did John and Luke talk about while Amanda was attending a prayer vigil at the Courthouse? We will find out together...   Contact The Comedian's family by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com

In our latest podcast escapade, we dive headfirst into the wild world of podcasting apologies, the tiny yet mighty connections in life, and the art of performing for audiences that could fit in a phone booth. We laugh at our attempts to teach kids to ride bikes, chuckle at the quirks of youth culture, and scratch our heads at the strange rituals of fishermen. Our chat is a rollercoaster of giggles...

He's John Branyan, and he has been a stand-up comedian for more than 30-years.   He's joined at the table by his daughter, Amanda, and son-in-law, Luke.  Join us at the table for another conversation!  Picture this, Neighbor:   a middle-aged man pretends to be a lizard eating an icecream cone. You may just have to trust us; it's hilarious. Then:  Farmer John tell...

In this episode of the Riff Session, we dive headfirst into a hilarious and nostalgic chat about our favorite childhood cartoons, the wild evolution of animated shows, and the delightful chaos of parenting—especially when it comes to naming our little ones. We also find ourselves in the middle of a comedic showdown between GPS apps during family road trips, showcasing the quirks of modern te...

Welcome, Neighbor, to our corner of Protestencia! We resigned from church leadership and left our church. (Or did it leave us???)  Special shout out to Cheri, who plays a vital role in making sure we publish our podcast every week! Contact the Comedian's family at nextdoor@johnbranyan.com  

In our lively chat, we dive into a smorgasbord of topics, from the accessibility of musical instruments (which we still can't play) to our childhood attempts at entrepreneurship with lemonade stands and school fundraisers (spoiler: we didn't make millions). We even touch on the spiritual side of certain instruments, though our spiritual journey mostly involves trying not to trip over them. Our con...

It's NOT THAT COLD over here, Neighbor!  Don't believe Luke and Cami! The Podninja and the Peaches are having Thermastat Wars... Later: we've been cleaning out old podcast recordings like they don't even matter! This isn't a very "Boomer" approch to memories and honoring the past.   Is it bad to live in a "consumer" culture, instead of a "saving" one? Contact the Comedian's family b...

In our delightfully chaotic conversation, we bumble through a range of themes, from our questionable musical experiences and our clumsy attempts at connecting with nature, to our rose-tinted nostalgia for the past and our often misguided musings on technology's role in society. We share our personal misadventures, reflect on historical contexts we barely remember, and take wild guesses about the f...

John didn't go to church today, Neighbor.  But...he's still more holy than the Catholic.  Send us all of your catholic terms...  (Spoilers:  the word "Chamber" is not one...) There has been some tension between Luke and "his rib" today... Instead of going to get the pizza to feed everybody, Luke shot a racoon.... and buried it.   He's pretty sure it's the same raccoon...

In our chat, we dive into the wild world of viral trends, the art of remixing, and the sheer absurdity of modern entertainment. We tackle the one-man band phenomenon, the value of viral videos, and the complexities of seemingly simple activities like cornhole and knitting. We also touch on the irony of consumer choices and ponder the future of engagement in a digital age brimming with reaction vid...

Hello, Friendly Neighbor! First of all, there are a lot of baby noises on this episode--so if you DON'T want to hear Bridger being delightful, turn back now.  You have been warned!  Later: A young man dropped out of welding school in order to go to seminary and become a minister. What does the table think about that??? Email us at nextdoor@johnbranyan.com   to tell us if you ever wa...

In our rambling little chat, we somehow manage to stumble across a buffet of nonsense, from pretending we understand drum covers to overanalyzing church potluck menus. We get into a heated (and completely pointless) debate about lasagna versus baked spaghetti—because clearly, the fate of civilization hangs on that. We brag about our “southern cooking skills,” which mostly just me...

We've been fellowshipping for HOURS already, Neighbor... And the baby is really ready to nurse to sleep. (Allow us to pause while the mama takes care of that...) It has been a jam-packed couple weeks of school, and there have been some tense moments in the car. The Peaches apologized for being grumpy. But, thankfully, none of the McBabies have run away from home...yet.   Do you want to a...

In our chat, we dive into the wild world of everyday life, chatting about everything from hoarding toilet paper like it's the new gold to the quirks of home decor that make us question our sanity. We share personal tales about our hobbies, like lake diving and the nostalgia of cereal box prizes that made us feel like treasure hunters, all while tossing in some takes on pop culture, like Superman's...

Welcome to the table--watch out for flying bits of chewed carrot and shoes...  John is still unwelcome at his home church, so he gives an update on his church-hopping travels. WHAT DO YOU DO when you have nothing to do at church???  Next: Luke has a great idea for how to make an impression at the church pitch-in. But only you would get the joke, Neighbor! Everyone else would just be conf...

In this chat, we take a playful plunge into the world of airplane etiquette, pondering why we all clap like enthusiastic seals when the plane lands and speculating on the secret superhero roles of flight attendants. We also explore a nifty app that helps us brainstorm jokes about air travel—because who doesn't need a little digital inspiration for those mile-high musings? Our conversation is...

You may want to turn down your volume for this one, Neighbor. Things get LOUD because we have a full table! Tabby is here--along with the usuals, John, Amanda, and Luke.  We think we are discussing why happy people are so crazy... But eventually, Luke tells us his theory for active listening and we have no choice but to laugh at him... Email the Comedian's family at nextdoor@johnbranyan.com

In our conversation, we share humorous anecdotes about health issues, particularly focusing on kidney stones and family health matters. We explore the challenges of communication within families during health crises, the importance of humor in coping with serious topics, and the joys and struggles of gardening as a family activity. Our discussion highlights the unexpected lessons learned from life...

Hello to our neighbors all around the world!!!   We're joined at the virtual table by our Australian friend, Jasmine (Ruigrok) Mollison. She has some valid questions about church business and whether there's a ditch on the other side of the road that we may be headed toward... If you don't have a friend like Jasmine, pray like crazy that God would send you one! You can email the Comedian...

In this engaging conversation, we reflect on nostalgic memories of Willy Wonka, share humorous anecdotes about drain maintenance and household repairs, discuss the nuances of language, particularly the word 'tasty', and explore the concept of positive self-talk. We also touch on the challenges of finding sponsorship for our podcast and the humorous side of landscaping and weed management. In this...

In this engaging conversation, we explore a variety of themes ranging from the challenges of air conditioning to our unique experiences of traveling in Madagascar. We share humorous anecdotes about bartering in local markets, daily life in Madagascar, and the Mercy Ship's role as a floating hospital. Our discussion also delves into the challenges of performing improv comedy in sensitive environmen...

Hey, Neighbor! We start with a long excerpt from C.S. Lewis' Prince Caspian. That's called a "cold open," and it's very hip and interesting!  (Eventually it will tie into the discussion about bad church leaders and what to do when they're going THE OPPOSITE WAY from Jesus.) Next, John has been kindly asked not to come back to his home church of 35 years. This is necessary for unity! We must a...

Well, neighbor, she finally did it.  The Peaches chased EVERYONE else away from the table! In a couple days, John will be rested and ready to record again.  But--in the meantime--you should brush up on your knowledge of Hostile Church Takeovers and the Business of Doing Church.  That information will come in handy when we share the details of what has been happening in our local con...

Hey, Neighbor!  The Comedian Next Door, John Branyan, is not at the table. (And neither is the PodNinja.)  But have no fear, the McBabies are here! While Bridger takes his nap, the rest of us (Cami, Collin, Emmi, and Silas) chat about what makes us laugh and which of our family members are "THAT" child.   Contact the Comedian's family by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com ...

In this episode of the Riff Session, we engage in a light-hearted conversation that spans various topics, including our upcoming trip to Madagascar, cultural exchanges during mission trips, and humorous discussions about classic monsters like vampires and werewolves. We also touch on survival strategies in a zombie apocalypse and share our experiences with extreme weather and ice fishing. In this...