The Comedy Castle Podcast

Keith Alberstadt is a busy man as he’s traveling the country doing comedy, as well as being a father of three. Keith takes a break to talk to Joel about opening for Nate Bargatze, Halloween with little ones and the do’s and don’ts of a family road trip. Also, is Joel the most “punctual podcaster… Continue reading Podcast #245: Keith Alberstadt’s Family Business...

While the club is closed Halloween night, we still have a huge week of comedy ahead, and Joel is here to tell you all about it. Maher Matta returns for two shows on Saturday (and hear his 2023 interview on this show), The Comedy Rumble has a Halloween-theme for this Thursday, and big student showcases… Continue reading Podcast #244: Halloween Week w/ Maher Matta →

Sam Tallent has appeared everywhere in the last few years and returns this weekend to The Comedy Castle and this show! Sam reveals why he regularly performs comedy internationally, his pride in being a Detroiter for the last few years, and what happens when you have to kick a guy out from the comedy special… Continue reading Podcast #243: Sam Tallent Returns →

Kevin Bozeman has been entertaining audiences for decades. Performing all over the US and at sea, Kevin has an infectious style that makes everyone in the room roar – even grandma! Kevin tells Joel about leaving the insurance business for comedy, why he works “clean” but not always, and how he took a big payout… Continue reading Podcast #242: Kevin Bozeman →

Hannah Osborne has put the work in, and this weekend she features for Comedy Central star Michael Kosta. Hannah tells Joel about sneakily watching Eddie Murphy specials as kid, the influence of Dane Cook, and how she searched out the club’s comedy classes to get her start. Hear how the pandemic and pregnancy could not… Continue reading Podcast #241: Hannah Osborne →

Kevin Lepine has been rocking Las Vegas for a decade and a half, and his annual hometown show is about to happen at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle. Kevin tells Joel why Hypnosis Unleashed is a party, not a stale hypnosis show, he recaps some recent hilarious fan encounters and tells why Vegas is down now,… Continue reading Podcast #240: Kevin Lepine Wants To Party →

Brian Scolaro is a favorite at the club and Joel was so pleased to reconnect with the actor/comedian on this show. Brian tells Joel why he’s driving to Detroit from NYC, why he’s ok being single in his 50s, and why he’s not traveling anywhere far – except Alaska. Plus, hear some hilarious on-set stories… Continue reading Podcast #239: Brian Scolaro Wants Your Hallowee...

Two great talks to head into Labor Day weekend on this show, as Charlie Wollborg brings his TEDx “X=Laughter” event to the club this week. Charlie tells of how he began promoting TEDx Detroit, how he got to the comedy stage, and what he’s learned along the way. This event has an all-star line-up, so… Continue reading Podcast #238: Charlie Wollborg/Jacob Russell →

Tom McCarthy hosted this podcast for years, and he’s back as this Saturday’s headliner at the club. Tom and Joel reminisce about the origins of the podcast, their favorite (and least favorite) guests, and some behind-the-scenes stuff that fans of this show will enjoy. Tom also tells of the night he met Joel, the pros… Continue reading Podcast #237: Tom McCarthy Cannot Be Replaced...

Ryan Brown and Camila Ballario have both worked their way up the comedy food chain, and they are both headlining The Comedy Castle (separately!) next week. In this double episode, Joel chats with both about their start in Joel’s Advanced Comedy Class, the struggles of a work/life balance with comedy, and what’s next for them… Continue reading Podcast #236: Ryan Brown/Camila Balla...

When Will Burkart last joined us, Joel gave Will some advice. We’re not here to say he took it, but new headshots aside, Will is on a career roll as he heads into his weekend at The Comedy Castle. Will tells of the pains of traveling, his comedy pet peeves, and how Bobby Lee helped… Continue reading Podcast #235: Will Burkart Returns →

Sean Patton has made a name for himself as a headlining comedian and star of the FX series The English Teacher and he headlines The Comedy Castle this weekend. Sean tells Joel how he loves Midwest crowds, why he’s not a “crowd work” comic, and how he found an amazing venue for his latest comedy… Continue reading Podcast #234: Sean Patton →

Dan St. Germain may be “comic’s comics”, but he’s one of the best and headlines The Comedy Castle this weekend and talked with us here on this show. Hear about Dan’s history at the club and his attempts to break through as writer and close collaborator with some of comedy’s biggest names. He’s also UFO/UAP… Continue reading Podcast #233: Dan St. Germ...

Craig Shoemaker has been performing at The Comedy Castle since 1991! And here he talks to Joel before this weekend’s shows. Craig tells of his early days in the Philadelphia comedy scene, does some long-since retired (hilarious) impressions, says why he supports the Detroit Lions once in a while, and how his comedy show can… Continue reading Podcast #232: Craig Shoemaker Is Making Babi...

Bret Hayden has had so much success with the Comedy Rumble over the years, he has challenged himself by running TWO Rumbles on the same night this holiday weekend, and we got him for an interview to promote the big shows. Bret talks the challenges of two Rumbles, how he’s streamlined the process of judging,… Continue reading Podcast #231: Bret Hayden’s Double Rumble →

This week’s weekend shows three great comics all who have been featured on this show before. So, here’s all of those past appearances cut together with a new intro from Joel – ninety minutes, baby! Michael Longfellow headlines as he’s on SNL and pretty great on there, too. Still not sure he’s cast or featured!… Continue reading Podcast #230: Three Comic Supersho...

Chris Porter is a blast! His mix of energy and social commentary makes him the friendliest, angry comic around. He’s also among the most frequent headliners at The Comedy Castle, and here he talks his move out of L.A., playing guitar with Jelly Roll, why he doesn’t use sound cues or props, and his new… Continue reading Podcast #229: Chris Porter Has No Boombox →

Wes Ward has been a staple of the Michigan comedy scene for fifteen years, and on July 3rd he gets a chance to headline The Comedy Castle. Wes tells Joel about his start in comedy, why road comics are really just truck drivers, and why comics need a special on video these days. Plus, the… Continue reading Podcast #228: Wes Ward Returns →

Jeff Garlin is a TV legend and accomplished stand-up comic, who stops by The Comedy Castle for one show this Sunday. Jeff tells Joel how he developed his improvisational style of stand-up, the best way an emcee should introduce an act, and hear some inside stories from Curb Your Enthusiasm including Jeff feeding lines to… Continue reading Podcast #227: Jeff Garlin →

Canadian comedy superhero and Letterkenny star, K Trevor Wilson returns to the Comedy Castle this week! On this show he talks seasonal comedy bits, a Cap’n Crunch victory, living with rabbits and the future of possible spin-offs of his hit show. Plus, wrestling talk and why you don’t deny Jake “The Snake” Roberts his scrambled… Continue reading Podcast #226: K Trevor...

Josh Adams returns to the Comedy Castle and this show to talk honey packs, his new fans, leaving after your set and much more. Hear who Josh thinks is right int the recent Detroit comedy controversy with a downtown club and how he came up in the comedy scene was different (and better) than the… Continue reading Podcast #225: Josh Adams Returns →

JR De Guzman is the comedy/music hybrid entertainer you didn’t know you need to know -until now. JR makes his Comedy Castle debut this weekend and tells Joel how he got started telling jokes, his biggest musical inspiration, and why he buried his guitar in the desert. Plus, should Joel get Jollibee? Hear why JR… Continue reading Podcast #224: JR De Guzman →

Raanan Hershberg has made a steady climb up the comedy ladder and he credits The Comedy Castle as an important step in that journey. Hear about his move to NYC, how a joke (maybe?) led to his appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience and much more. Plus, movie talk, as Raanan has a great movie… Continue reading Podcast #223: Raanan Hershberg →

Ian Bagg is an all-time favorite, and this week he brings his comedic genius to the Comedy Castle for four shows only. Ian is driving cross-country as he talks to Joel, so hear the about the greatness of Buc-ees, the trouble with driving your dogs, and the size of the crucifixes in Oklahoma. Also, Ian’s… Continue reading Podcast #222: Ian Bagg’s Road Trip →

Robyn Gilleran has become a real favorite on the Michigan comedy scene in the last few years. On this show, Robyn tells Joel about her journey from being a model and actress to a working comic who produces shows with her husband, Jason. Robyn tells of her various lawyer and casino commercials, the tricks to… Continue reading Podcast #221: Robyn Gilleran →