The Cripescast Podcast

Live from Comedy on State in Madison, Wisconsin, professor Mike Wagner explains what you need to know for the upcoming Supreme Court election on April 4. Charlie and Mike outline why it’s important to vote and the key issues that will potentially be impacted by this election. Audience members chimed in with their questions on gerrymandering, reproductive healthcare, marijuana legalization, environ...

Wrapped in a heating pad only a father could own, comedian Dustin Nickerson returns to the Cripescast this week to catch up with Charlie. While the two compare their experiences of self-producing a comedy special, Dustin one-ups Charlie by sharing that his new hour “Runs in the Family” is currently being edited by a man in a van. With no explanation other than “age”, Dustin shares how he threw out...

David Koechner’s journey from a small town to Hollywood is one that many dream of. Starting his comedy career at The Second City in Chicago, he went on to land notable roles including Todd Packer in The Office and Champ Kind in the Anchorman movies. While he attributes his sense of humor to his Midwest upbringing, he also shares how he was inspired by SNL at a young age and fell in love with impro...

In tandem with the Berens Sisters Part 1 episode of the Cripescast, Charlie’s four remaining sisters, Addie, Emily, Nora and Ellie, come on the show this week. Surprising Charlie by showing up dressed as him, complete with wigs and duck jackets, the girls come ready to play. They air out family grievances, take part in some games, and share stories of growing up with 12 siblings. The interview get...

Joey’s Song is an annual benefit concert that raises money and awareness for epilepsy research and program services for children with special needs. Mike Gomoll started Joey’s Song in 2010 following the death of his four-year-old son Joey who suffered from Dravet Syndrome. Each year Mike brings musicians to Madison, Wisconsin to rock out and raise money for a great cause. On this special episode o...

Nothing is off limits for comedian Brittany Schmitt, who uses her dark sense of humor to tell jokes about her sobriety, past relationships, and family. Unlike other comics, she didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a stand up comedian. Rather, she broke into the scene after her coworker told her “you’re funny, and if you can’t afford therapy, you should try comedy”. Labeling her jokes as “painfully...

Butch Vig, best known for producing Nirvana’s diamond record “Nevermind” or as the drummer for Garbage, is one of the biggest names in the music industry to come from Wisconsin. Having worked with popular bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, Killdozer and many more, Butch explains how “happy accidents” during recording sessions have led to some iconic moments in music history. Starting at 15 years ol...

Dallas Goldtooth is successfully blending comedy and activism into his work, most notably through his role as Spirit on Hulu’s hit TV show Reservation Dogs. He explains how his Native American heritage has helped shape him into the writer, actor, and activist that he is today, and how it inspired him to form his sketch comedy group The 1491s. Dallas and Charlie break down the science of stand up c...

Hall of Famer and former Green Bay Packer LeRoy Butler returns to the Cripescast this week. LeRoy shares what it felt like being inducted into the Football Hall of Fame last year and letting Charlie try on his gold jacket at the after party. He tells stories from his time as a Packer including when he hit the jackpot at Oneida Casino with his teammates Robert Brooks and Edgar Bennett. The two make...

This week on the Cripescast Charlie is joined by Dan Egan, author of the New York Times best-selling book “The Death and Life of the Great Lakes”. Charlie and Dan discuss many environmental issues including the history of the St. Lawrence Seaway, the positive and negative effects of phosphorus, agriculture and more. Be sure to pick up a copy of his latest book “Devil’s Element: Phosphorus and a Wo...

Joining Charlie on the Cripescast this week is actress and fellow Wisconsinite Laura Ramsey. Laura shares stories from when she moved to LA at 19 years old including landing her first acting gig, the culture shock she experienced upon arrival, and what she missed most about Wisconsin. The two brainstorm some Midwest-inspired flavors for her new botanical lolly company Nias Arc, including Old Fashi...

Comedian and co-host of the comedy podcast “Cheaties” Katherine Blanford joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. She shares stories from her career including when she got called to be on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Katherine talks about growing up as a horse girl, being a cleaning lady at the London Olympics, and how she balanced being a full-time nanny and stand-up comedian for eight y...

Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. He shares stories from his time as a Packer including going through his first training camp, how former GM Ron Wolf bought him his first jacket, and what it felt like to win the Super Bowl. Having had a rough childhood in Houston and growing up in poverty, Donald explains that his “hardships have allowe...

Manitowoc couple and recently accomplished "loopers" Jill and James Iverson join Charlie on the Cripescast this week to talk about their recent sailing trip on America’s Great Loop. Traveling over 6,000 miles, the Iverson’s recount their trip that started in Lake Michigan, went down the Mississippi River, through the Gulf of Mexico, back up the East Coast and through Canada to return home in just...

Actor and comedian Danny Jolles joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. You may recognize him from his role in the new Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie movie “Babylon” or from his recurring role as George on The CW’s “Crazy Ex Girlfriend”. He and Charlie discuss touring, social media’s impact on stand up, and Danny’s new interactive comedy special on YouTube called “You Choose”. They bond over their...

This week Charlie is joined by half of his sisters Betsy, Maggie, Mary Kate and Bridget, for a special episode of the Cripescast. They start the episode by opening a bottle of wine with a screw and hammer and share stories about growing up with 12 siblings. Highlights include Maggie’s story about Charlie getting picked up by the cops at 17, voting games that pin sibling against sibling, and Charli...

Stand up comedian Paul Virzi joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. You may recognize him from his podcasts “The Virzi Effect” or “Anything Better” that he co-hosts with Bill Burr, or from his most recent comedy special “Paul Virzi: Nocturnal Admissions” on Netflix.   Paul shares the story of how he got into stand up and how having a family has changed his outlook on life and comedy. He and Ch...

Comedian Ian Bagg joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. They compare the Midwest to Canada and pond hockey to river hockey. From working for a traveling carnival in Australia to mining gold in Canada, Ian walks us through his journey to comedy and his love of crowd work. Ian and Charlie trade some regional sayings, winter advice, and Ian shares about the time he accidentally got someone fired...

Stand-up comedian Pete Lee joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week and the two get lost on tangents about hotel and public restroom etiquette. He talks about growing up in Wisconsin, coming up in the Twin Cities’ comedy scene, and the time he almost opened for Bobcat Goldthwait. Pete’s dog Diesel makes an appearance as he opens up about his cursed streak of TV shows being cancelled right after h...

Comedian Lara Beitz joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week to discuss her stand up career and growing up in the Midwest. Lara talks about coming up in the Milwaukee stand up scene, touring with Joe Rogan and Marc Maron, and, of course, bird watching. Lara indulges Charlie’s obsession with birds by sharing a few stories of her own fowl entanglements. Let’s just say they follow a goose down the r...

On a special Veterans Day episode of the Cripescast, Charlie is joined by Ed Garza, CEO and President for the Center for Veterans Issues (CVI), Dr. Berdie Cowser, Director of Development and Housing for CVI, and Jason Johns, V.P. of Corporate and Community Relations for CVI. The Center for Veterans Issues is a nonprofit based in Milwaukee that helps veterans across Wisconsin.   Along with two retu...

Investigative journalist and state government reporter for Wisconsin Watch, Jacob Resneck, joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. Jacob outlines how to register to vote in the state of Wisconsin, he highlights some important seats that are up for election this year, and he debunks some common misconceptions that circulate during election season.    Be sure to head over to myvote.wi.gov to regi...

From giving his first hair cut at 10 years old in the projects of South Side Chicago to becoming the official barber of the Green Bay Packers, Hansel Canady has seen and cut it all. In fact, during this week’s interview you’ll be able to hear him give Charlie a fresh new haircut at Hancan Barbershop in Green Bay. He and Charlie talk about how he became the Packers’ barber, his transition from Chic...

Alannah Vellacott, a coral restoration specialist, marine ecologist, and ocean advocate, joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. From playing in a mangrove ecosystem while growing up in the Bahamas to having a career in coral reef rehabilitation today, Alannah’s life has been closely intertwined with the ocean. Alannah also recounts her experience working on Samuel L. Jackson’s documentary seri...

This week stand up comedian Shapel Lacey joins Charlie on the Cripescast. Even though his comedy career started on a dare, he eventually wound up at the Just For Laughs New Faces showcases in 2019. He explains how being adopted into a white family at the age of 15 affected his life, his comedy, and ignited his passion for competitive cheering.   Use promo code CRIPES at milwuaukeeimprov.com for fr...