There It Is Podcast

We talk to our dear friend, Hailey McAfee, a writer, director, and actor in Los Angeles! In this episode, actor, director, and writer Hailey McAfee joins the show to discuss her career in theater. Hailey shares her journey from studying theater, to moving to NYC, to getting into New York's improv scene. Jason also talks to her about her recent success with a modern re-imagining of 'Mother Courage...

We talk to comedian and video creator, Willy Appelman, about his work and his show, 'A Gaggle!' We had a great chat with comedian and creator Willy who delves into his journey through the world of improv, starting from his early days at Second City and Magnet Theater, to making viral TikTok videos and producing sketch comedy for Business Insider and Fast Company. He shares insights into his method...

Improvisers (and friends of the show) Greg Tavares and Amber Nash have written a book called "Improv for Couples." It written to help couples spark or rekindle their sense of play. Jason and "Wife of the Show," Justina, take you through the first lesson in the book to give you a feel for it. It's a simple, fun chat about the bits and silly gags they've done to make each other laugh throughout thei...

In this episode, the "Of the Show Gang" talk Summer Movies and celebrate Jaws and Back to the Future! Wife of the Show, Justina, Brother of the Show, Trey, and Best Friend of the Show, Rob, join Jason to talk all that POP about the anniversaries of Jaws and Back to the Future, the big movies of the Summer so far, make predictions on what will be this Summer's big movie, and discuss the New York Ti...

We talked to award-winning comedian, Tom Hearn! Tom Hearn is an award-winning sketch comedian, actor, drag performer and director living in New York City. Tom shares his journey from growing up in New Brunswick, Canada, to tearing up comedy stages across North America. Tom shares how his love for theater started early and how joining an improv team in high school opened the door to a lifelong pass...

We talked to improviser and instructor, Jamie Rivera! Jason and Jamie met at the Magnet Theater where Jamie is an instructor. He's also a performer on one of the theater's flagship shows, The Armando Diaz Experience (aka ADX). Jamie tells Jason about how he got into improv, what he learned performing on a cruise ship, and how that experience impacted him. The two also talk about the importance of...

We talk to author John Vorhaus about creativity and comedy! In this episode, we chat with the prolific author and writer John Vorhaus. John shares insights from his extensive career in sitcom writing and teaching. He discusses his journey into writing for sitcoms, developing 'Married with Children' overseas, his significant teaching endeavors, and his thoughts on managing creative anxiety. John em...

In this episode we talk to the amazing singer/songwriter, Brooke White! We absolutely love her! In this insightful chat, Brooke White and Jason discuss their longstanding online friendship and delve into Brooke's experiences since she first blew up on the scene, her creative journey, and the challenges she faced balancing multiple projects and personal life. Brooke shares insights on the discomfor...

Author and storyteller Adam Linn joins us for a thrilling conversation! Adam shares his fascinating journey in comedy and storytelling. Adam recounts his start in the entertainment industry, inspired by NYU classmates, and details how he found his comedic voice through mentorship and personal challenges. He discusses his show 'Sped Kid,' which reflects his experiences as an outsider navigating lif...

Donna Steele joins Jason to discuss...THE STATE OF COMEDY! In this episode, comedian Donna Steele catches up with Jason to talk about what they're tired of seeing in improv and more. She discusses her journey in the improv scene and performing at UCB with various Harold teams. The two share insights into the importance of projecting the team's energy when introing shows and the pitfalls of common...

In this episode, comedian Amanda Maryanna Gordon shares her journey through comedy and content creation. Amanda discusses starting out in comedy, why she studied Film and TV at NYU Tisch, and the evolution of her YouTube channel that she started in sixth grade. She opens up about her transition from beauty videos to comedic content and reflects on the differences she's noticed about creating conte...

We're talking all that POP with a new bracket of the best SNL hosts! The "Of the Show Fellas" are back joining Jason to talk about their favorite hosts of Saturday Night Live! PLUS, we have a new bracket and it's one of our toughest! They fellas show love to some all-time great hosts of SNL and select their top pick for best host. It's not easy task as there are so many great actors, entertainers,...

We were joined by comedian Evan Forde Barden for a great talk on pursuing comedy. Evan joins the podcast to discuss his extensive 21-year journey in improv and sketch comedy. Evan shares his early days doing improv at Fairfield University and his subsequent experiences with renowned groups like 'Bodywork' and 'Young Douglass.' He opens up about navigating the improv scene in New York, his tenure w...

In this episode, we pay our respects to the legendary actor Val Kilmer. Jason's favorite actor has always been Val Kilmer, thanks to his all-time favorite movie: Real Genius. To honor Kilmer and his legacy, we dive into conversations about his impact on film and on us personally. “Best Friend of the Show,” Rob, joins Jason first to discuss many of Kilmer’s iconic performances. Jason also chats wit...

Will Jacobs joins us to talk comedy, writing, and his web series! Jason talks to Will about writing plays, what he thinks about his perfectionist college approach to writing now, and his moving to New York City to study improv. Will has a very robust improv career and has studied at all the major theaters in NYC. He currently performs regularly at The Magnet and UCB. He talks about what he learned...

We talk to comedian and founder of Gold Comedy, Lynn Harris! Lynn shares the story of how a ski trip became a pivotal moment in her getting into comedy and ultimately starting Gold Comedy. She sheds light on the persistent challenges women face in comedy, the importance of creating inclusive opportunities, and the impactful work Gold Comedy is doing to support and nurture new talent. This episode...

We had a great chat with writer and comedian Howard Finkelstein! Howard is a creative director at the ad agency, Mischief. He delves into his decade-long journey in improv and advertising. Howard shares his experience balancing grounded and silly elements on stage, his hilarious story of how his wife prompted him to pursue comedy, and the process behind creating a notable Super Bowl commercial. He...

In this captivating episode, we talk to comedian Jonah Nigh! Jonah is a former opera singer turned stand-up comic and he shares his extraordinary journey from classical music training to the comedy stage. He details the pivotal throat surgery that forced him to pivot careers, how he found relief, and the challenges of transitioning into comedy. Jonah also discusses the nuanced differences in perfo...

The "Of the Show" fellas are here to talk all that pop about the Oscars! Brother of the Show, Trey, and Best Friend of the Show, Rob, join Jason for a fun talk about this year's Oscars telecast! They start out at the end of the broadcast with the announcement of Best Picture then they go into talk about what they loved about Conan O'Brien's hosting, what they loved and didn't love about the teleca...

Reunited and it feels so good! Dear friends of the show Seann Cantatore and Nicole Pascaretta join us to talk about collaborating with friends! Seann and Nicole have a unique bond and use it to create incredible work together. It only made sense to have them on to talk about how they collaborate! Jason gets them talking about what their process is, how they handle self-criticism, and more. It, as...

We took the show out West! Jason and Wife of he Show, Justina, went to Los Angeles to visit Brother of the Show, Trey! In LA we talk about seeing the Lakers, going to Disneyland, if In-N-Out Burger is worth it, and more before heading off to San Francisco. In SF, Jason and Justina take in the sites, including seeing some famous pop culture locales that you've seen in the cult classic, The Room, an...

We had an awesome conversation with New York City-based comedian Art Cai! Art shares how a college stand-up class first sparked his love for comedy, his bold move from New Orleans to NYC, and how he juggles a slew of projects—from stand-up shows to podcasting. He also talked about his fusion of soccer and comedy with his show, Joga Comedy, that starts with stand-up and ends with an actual soccer g...

We talk all that pop about the Oscars, the new Captain America movie, and the Super Bowl! This Pop Talk episode, aka 'After Hours with the Boys', Jason, Rob, and Trey dive into an extensive discussion on their predictions and speculations for the upcoming Chiefs/Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl, including a hilarious dispute over potential halftime guest stars, the potential box office performance o...

We had the pleasure of speaking to filmmaker Christian Schu! Christian talks to Jason about how cultural differences influence storytelling methods and his early passion for cinema, which eventually led him to switch careers from an insurance broker to a filmmaker. Christian discusses the challenges he faced, the skills he had to quickly learn on-the-go, and his approach to communicating with clie...

In this mini episode, Jason dives into the ins and outs of producing your own show! Whether it’s stand-up, improv, a variety show, Jason offers some key steps to making your show a success. He covers the basics between defining your vision and figuring out your practical needs. He also emphasizes the importance of clear communication with your team, lineup, and audience to ensure everyone is on th...