Elaborate : Real Talk & Profiles w/ Jake Lloyd

Comedian, Writer, Producer and Zine enthusiast, Jason Van Glass is on the couch this week. Talking about obscure obsessions, specific collections, comedy nerdom, chance meetings with Seinfeld writers, cat magic, his bay area childhood, comic shop work, and his opinions on his own general weirdness. All that and much much more, as a normal podcast hour just isn't enough. Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Be a part of the conversation on our official Discord! https://discord.gg/V6MNnDJXvu  Follow Elaborate on Social media: http://www.twitter.com/elaboratepod http://www.instagram.com/elaboratepod  Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more

Comedian Kortney Shane Williams joins Jake for an epic catchup. The two became fast friends early in their respective stand-up careers but lost touch for over a decade. The two talk standup and do some reminiscing and Kortney chats about growing up under watch of a minister mother, living nomadically, being an introvert, a fighter, a sibling, a self sustained enthusiast of numbers, and SO much more in what is sure not to be his last appearance on the program. Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Be a part of the conversation on our official Discord! https://discord.gg/V6MNnDJXvu  Follow Elaborate on Social media: http://www.twitter.com/elaboratepod http://www.instagram.com/elaboratepod  Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more

Actor/Comedian/Artist and more Scott Krinsky joins Jake and talks about what it was like playing a geek culture icon on the hit NBC show Chuck without much real life geek cred! Plus the joys of swimming, living life at the beach, finding peace in solo activities, the culinary arts, balancing yourself and the box you've been placed in, the cardboarded glory of Dave Made a Maze, his incredible keytar skills, the lighting in the bottle that was JEFFSTER, and much much more. Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Be a part of the conversation on our official Discord! https://discord.gg/V6MNnDJXvu  Follow Elaborate on Social media: http://www.twitter.com/elaboratepod http://www.instagram.com/elaboratepod  Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more

Actor/Sketch Comedian/Improviser/writer and more, Dru Johnston is on the podcast this week. Jake gushes over how his work on The Chris Gethard Show helped get him through the pandemic and then the two dive into being a part of creative communities, adopted families, 50 weeks of Wayne's World, hanging out in grocery store parking lots outside of Seattle, love for the theater, Shakespeare, and a live crowd, playing Beast on stage and at home, artistic validation in quarantine, Almost Live, and all things improv and the often combative relationship between sketch and standup. All that and so much more in this extra long episode.  Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Be a part of the conversation on our official Discord! https://discord.gg/V6MNnDJXvu  Follow Elaborate on Social media: http://www.twitter.com/elaboratepod http://www.instagram.com/elaboratepod  Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more

Comedian and Writer Alex Hooper from AGT, Comedy Central's Roast Battle, and much more, joins Jake on the pod to talk about meeting on the set of Kevin Smith's Zack & Miri Make a Porno, creative meandering, forging your own path, meditation, slack rope walking, yoga, managing mental health, and much much more!  Get Alex's book "Roast Yourself to Happiness" on Amazon : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T8FQ81W/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_DGJQ6FGXWSHYM65W6E9M  Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Be a part of the conversation on our official Discord! https://discord.gg/V6MNnDJXvu  Follow Elaborate on Social media: http://www.twitter.com/elaboratepod http://www.instagram.com/elaboratepod  Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more

Elaborate is coming back! But first, Jake is sitting down solo on his birthday to catch up and share some thoughts on being dark for all this time, the pandemic and what its highlighted of his shortcomings and strengths, getting older and his current journey of rediscovery, what he's learning about letting go of complete control, perfectionism and its firm and unrelenting grasp around him, the release of his feature film Pinch, music, bikes, comedy, and much much more. Next week Alex Hooper from Comedy Central's Roast Battle and America's Got Talent will be "on the couch" and you don't want to miss it. Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Be a part of the conversation on our official Discord! https://discord.gg/V6MNnDJXvu  Follow Elaborate on Social media: http://www.twitter.com/elaboratepod http://www.instagram.com/elaboratepod  Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more

Actor and Vocalist Helen Highfield is on the couch and she’s sharing tales of growing up to super smart academic parents who also have no shortage of cool factor, being on the cover of her mother’s album, riding show ponies and which equestrian ribbons are and aren't good enough, being an ESL ringer, and giving teachers some much needed advice about discipline. Plus the Zima formula, bad college essays, New York City, school provided fake IDs, the daunting view of life after college, the law and order to booking Law and Order, and learning how to fail. Be sure to check out Helen on I Ship It on CW Seed and in former guest of the show @maggielevin’s new film, DIVA. Be sure to Rate, Review, & Subscribe! Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more

Actor/Producer/Director Shane Hartline is on the couch and sharing tales of a creative kid with a glorious VHS camcorder making home movies, taking improv classes at 13 and calling Universal Studios and Nickelodeon trying to get acting jobs! He also talks about training to be a wrestler at 15 with his supportive father who bought him a wrestling ring and may or may not have unintentionally started a wrestling school. He and Jake discuss their mutual experiences with the pro-wrestling industry and the toxic masculinity and other behaviors that pushed them away from it. They also talk about how the birth of YouTube and Wood and Steel productions and the weekly web series he coercing friends to be a part of, Shane's brilliant "Mark E. Xtreme" character, being in Rock of Ages, the Parable of the Horse that emotionally rocked Jake in the Bill Murray Stories and the way Shane feels he is tested by a higher power!  Shane also talks about his brand new short film, Cookie - about an aspiring actress living with spasmodic dysphonia, a rare disease affecting the larynx in which Shane himself lives with.   Be sure to Rate, Review, & Subscribe! Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more

Actor/Model/Host Michael Wayne Foster is on the couch! Michael and Jake are long time friends and collaborators and the two talk about how they met and instantly clicked. Michael also talks about growing up a big kid in Michigan, childhood insecurities and bullying, high school radio, breaking stereotypes, his tight-knit family and zombified father/son bonding experiences, being on season 3 of "The Bachelorette," Sylvester Stallone comparing him to Ivan Drago, his experience as a high school English teacher, the power of any level of celebrity, and even Energy Vampires! Yea you heard that right. All of that plus the two also talk a bit about being creative family members and share some behind the scenes stories from projects they've collaborated on.  Be sure to Rate, Review, & Subscribe! Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more

Elaborate First Mate, Paul Bianchi is on the couch this week and joining Jake for a super unique episode in which our host talks about doing one of those ever so popular Ancestry DNA kits. Jake tells a story about how the results lead him to find some truth and discover way more than he bargained for! Be sure to Rate, Review, & Subscribe! Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more  

Comedian/Writer and Creator of Netfix's Historical Roasts w/ Jeff Ross, Eddie Furth is on the couch this week! He and Jake play get-to-know-ya as despite having all the same friends they've someone missed one another for the past decade. The extra long conversation spills out of them both as they discuss living a bow tie life, style vs fashion and Eddie's well put together badass grandmother. Eddie also shares stories of  his would be basketball coach life, having creative boundaries, lessons learned from the existence of Beverly Hills Chihuahua, being a party DJ and even how he combats living with Crohn's disease. He also provides some history to the Historical Roasts!  Watch Historical Roasts w/ Jeff Ross right now on Netflix Be sure to Rate, Review, & Subscribe! Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more

Comedian & Podcast Host Jackie Kashian is on the couch! Her & Jake share a similar kinetic conversational style that finds them chatting about all sorts of stuff from the bearded youths, nerd porn, Zack Galifianakis being "patient zero," the high school reunion myth and why she's reading speeches. She also talks about bringing personal interests into stand-up, the type of dork she truly is, getting into Dungeons & Dragons by way of her Video Game designing husband, "boy books" she may or may not have stolen as well as growing up a teenage civil war reenactor who really wanted a Union Hat! ---------- Be sure to Rate, Review, & Subscribe! Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!

Actor/Improvisor/Writer/Host/Human Rogue and more, Amy Vorpahl is on the couch this week! Amy talks all about growing up in an ever-moving family, changing places and people every 3 years or so and how that effected her relationships with those around her. She also talks about being a surprise twin named after a "Little Women" character, the endless partnership that is also a competition between her and that twin sister, her daily talks with her highly educated mother, learning to communicate, being the loudest actress in her grade school, the impact teachers have, being an Aunt, her 200 day dating hiatus, finding herself a happy 30 something. All of that plus her love of all things fantasy, D&D and being an OG RPG unicorn! ---------- Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!  

Actor/Magician/Writer and more Shane Brady joins Jake this week for an incredibly personal, specific, transparent and sometimes heart-wrenching conversation about family. Shane talks about his dreams of being a hockey player and how they were taken from him at a young age after breaking his neck, growing up in a fractured familial situation. There's talk of untrustworthy fathers, infidelity, forced space, drug abuse and addiction issues.  The two also share their very similar situations of consistently living as a pillar between two warring sides, growing up to fast by means of at times absentee parents, surviving the ebbs and flows of Hollywood and what its like to be handed heavy information later in live, about your early life.  All that plus Shane talks about following young love, finding his way by seeing the faults in others, learning magic and working with his college family on the brand new critically acclaimed feature film, The Endless. ---------- Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!  

The multi-talented and effortlessly funny John Lehr is on the couch this week. The co-creator & Star of incredible shows like Ten Items or Less & the Hulu Original QuickDraw is talking all about growing up in Kansas, the son of badass social activist mother and a technologically efficient yet socially inefficient father who's talents made their family rich for a whole year before some "bad business decisions" found the repo men at their home.  He also opens up about a drug and alcohol problem that landed him in a jail cell in his twenties, the incredibly lucky clerical error that kept him out of a more serious prison sentence, getting and staying sober, becoming a caveman, and buying his first house and the fear that came along with it. All of that plus creating an original style of Improv comedy, brain surgeries, parenting styles, the future of storytelling and comedy, what's next for Howler.tv and more! Be sure to visit www.howler.tv ---------- Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!

Actor, writer, comedian & host, Mo Mandel is on the couch this week. He talks about growing up in a small country town in Northern California that may actually be the origin of the term "boonies" as the second son of two mindfully professional yet hippie NY parents. An outcast who found himself in creative writing after a disheartening realization that "professional athlete" probably wasn't in his future as a 93lb high school baseball player who couldn't hit. He also talks about having his own column in his high school paper, making fellow camp counselors be his first stand-up audience, his ability or lack-thereof to maintain positive relationships, his parents celebrating their 50th anniversary, going to comedy college in the San Francisco comedy scene and the two wax poetic about the odd mind of mutual friend, Theo Von. And he does all of this while being humped by Jake's dog. Be sure to checkout Mo's fantastic podcast "The Full Release" which he co-hosts with his girlfriend and doctor of sexual medicine, Dr. Ashley. ---------- Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!

Its Elaborate's first anniversary! What better way to spend it than sit down with Elaborate First Mate Paul Bianchi and unpack the last 12 months. The duo disclose what they're proud of accomplishing since the launch of Dragon Wagon Radio, both in the podcast world and their personal and creative lives, as well as what they're not so proud of and want to do better in the year to come. They're talking personal goals, time and task management, attention and dedication, their favorite and not so favorite parts of the creative process, social media life, some "industry" talk, and the feeling and value of achievements both in and out of video games, Jake also talks about how doing the podcast and starting the network has effected his life and talks about the future of Elaborate. Please Rate & Review ---------- Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!

Comedian Nat Baimel is on the couch this week, talking all about growing up in south Florida as an indoor kid with a reputation for making people uncomfortable and being more "weird" than funny. His love of pro-wrestling handed down from his grandfathers as well as his father who he lost when he was just 3 old. The flashes of memories he has of him and what it's like to have an "idea of a dad" as well as how people telling him he would see his father in heaven led him towards being a religious kid despite not being a part of a very religious family. He also shares stories of how his mother upstaged him at a show early in his career, why he started as a "guitar comic," and how one single Jewish mother guilting changed his attitude forever. Check out his brand new comedy album "Be Nice" on iTunes, Spotify, Pandora and more. Find Nat on Social Media @NatBaimel and www.natbaimel.com ---------- Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!

Comedian, Actor, Writer & Artist Chris Fairbanks didn't let being sucker punched at a bar this weekend stop him from sitting down with Jake and sharing a ton of stuff on this weeks Elaborate. He Talks about growing up a skater kid on the streets of Missoula, Montana, the son of artistically inclined & government employed parents, how a girl and an improv festival led him to Austin Texas, how his love of skating played a positive role in his adolescence (and life in general) and how a recent hip replacement threatened that love. The duo are also discussing their "aging" bodies as if they were geriatric as well as where they both find solace within the hustle. Chris also discloses how swimming for physical therapy taught him the importance of breathing in everything he does. It sounds so simple doesn't it? All of this plus almost being on MTV's Jackass, why John Wayne walks funny, how Tommy Hilfiger sold so many jackets, what you call a ska band with no instruments and more! ---------- Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!

Happy Holidays! Jake is just saying a quick hello and happy holidays from Las Vegas! Elaborate is part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonaradio.com/donate to gift something off the amazon wishlist!

Better late than never. Jake escaped a near-death illness and managed to get out Episode 34 before the weeks end. Actor, Writer, and host of Marvel Movie News, Coy Jondreau joins Jake for fast paced and light hearted conversation that's all over the place. Coy is discussing his involvement in the Rocky Horror Hipster Show (by former guest of the show Maggie Levin) and its potential to return to LA next year. Being an actor turned web host in the geek world and how embracing his nerdom opened many rewarding doors. He also tells of his printing pressing father who's business moved the family a lot, Living in Virginia, Upstate New York, & Boston, (and desperately losing his Boston accent), being an older brother by a decade and imparting wisdom on his much younger siblings, having Teen parents that did NOT have him accidentally and how the man who raised him that he calls dad, isn't his biological father. Also there's talk of how his family all "lived on one mountain," (you didn't read that wrong) his love for comic books and how his dad got him into them, the struggle that comes with having a total "bro" exterior with a soft nerdy center, his obsession with the Deadpool character and his work towards becoming Joe Rogan. Follow Coy on social media @CoyJandreau ---------- Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!

The man behind The Holy Dark, John Miller is on the couch this week. He's talking about what "Gloom Folk" means to him, what it was like growing up a fraternal twin and the youngest of 7 super artistic kids from two super artistic (and also religious) parentsand the duality of them translating Rammstein lyrics to ensure they're "safe" to listen to, but sharing their love of the Beatles, the Kinks and more with the family.  He and Jake talk about their respective experiences growing up in the church and how church values weren't always "home" values, the ways music played a role in their grade and high school years and John divulges that he never learned to read music, completely faking his years through playing trumpet in concert, marching and jazz bands. John also talks openly about the trauma he faced as a child, dealing with death at a very young age including his oldest brother taking his own life. He shares the story of how he found out at 20 that for an entire year as a kid he was home-schooled because of it (though he had no recollection of it.) The two also discuss medication and John talks about sneaking to a doctor behind his parents backs who wanted him to seek aid from a pastor instead, and being prescribed anti-depressants that he would be banned from taking when they found out, leaving him to self medicate. All that, more, AND a track from The Holy Dark called "Poison Oak" Find John and the Holy Dark at www.theholydarkband.com  ---------- Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!

Happy 2 week late Thanksgiving! On this weeks episode Jake shares the story of his Thanksgiving deep in the heart of Texas and the cursed road-trip it took to get there. He also talks about the newest four-legged member of the Dragon Wagon Radio family, a brand new podcast, and discusses his feelings on the year end of 2017, the year that birthed his show and the network it's on as well as just gives a general update on where things are at and what's to come! ---------- Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!  

Chad Philip Peter is a filmaker, writer and post production mogul who's work you've seen in tv shows like Mr. Robot and Mindhunter and in films like Birdman and The Revenant. He's also the son of an alpha fighter pilot father and a junking mother. Lucky for us he's on the couch this week talking about moving a bunch as a kid including a short stint in Japan, his father taking him to see Running Man as his first movie and how Alien 3 was the only Alien movie. He also shares how a comic book shop opening up in his small town of Evergreen, Colorado helped him find the little corner of the world he felt at most home and how that led publishing his own comic. There's also Natalie Portman message boards, short films, shared schools with Trey Parker, his town being in South Park, being publicly bipartisan, making offers people can't refuse as a means to a foot in the door and some talk about his first independent feature film, "Apocalypse, CA." All in all he and Jake find they had some similar life plot points in their respective coming of age movies. ---------- Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!

Jake recalls how his trusty companion, Cosmosis Jones came into his life at the most perfect time in the most imperfect and random way. ---------- Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!

Actor, Rapper and self-proclaimed Nerd, Damian Washington joins Jake this week and the two recall the day they met & Damian's job of tackling the six time world champion Chris Jericho on Comedy Central's "Nothing To Report." Damian shares some of his experience growing up in Harlem, having hood stripes and how people that don't actually wear them romanticise them. He talks about his neighborhood watch-woman grandmother who kept an eye on him and the block, the father he met for the first time when he was 30, the struggle in reconnecting, growing up fatherless and how family norms strongly differ between his inner city black community and Jake's suburban white one, despite some personal similarities. There's also performing arts high schools, sexual theater analogies, Captain Crunch commercials, the ancient chinese art of Qigong, and influencial co-stars before Damian also speaks transparently and emotionaly about living (and vlogging) with Auto Immune Disease and Multiple Sclerosis and how publishing and sharing his treatment, struggles, ups and downs has opened doors and offered strength. Follow Damian on Twitter @DeeDubs57 ---------- Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!

From Groundlings to SNL to Dan Harmon's Community, Jordan Black is ever-present in the business of funny. This week he's on the couch speaking about his small town illinois upbringing idolizing The Fonz and his supportive and pro-active mother who was the only person he needed to hear "you can do it" from. He talks about his suprisingly well rounded mindset at young age having a clear picture of what he wanted, how he decided as a perfectly attending class-clown freshman in high school that college simply wasn't gonna work for him, some wise words he hung onto by the great philosopher Lenny Kravitz, and about how he moved to LA before he was even 18. He also shares his experience being a black man in the mostly white dominated world of sketch/improv, how a lot of the pushback and struggle he faces comes from a place you probably wouldn't expect and how it all led to the critically acclaimed Groundlings show he created called "The Black Version." Follow Jordan on social media @FakeJordanBlack ---------- Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!

Actor/Director/Producer Brionne Davis is on the couch talking his small town roots and the nugget of truth that's been burning like lava inside him ever since playing Tom Saywer as a kid in community theater in Paris TX. He talks about how C.S. Lewis' The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe sparked an active imagination, his relationship with his quite opposite older brother, the outsider mindset and his childhood ADD before ADD was really a "thing." The two also share their experiences growing up in two similar racially mixed public schools in what most people would consider two vastly differently parts of the country, before having an open and frank discussion about racism, acceptace, and thier experiences growing up on the privleged side of the skin color spectrum. They discuss how something happens in the formative teenage years that triggers a shift in the social consciousness, and how our tribe mentality lends itself to the rebelious nature of teens as well as some of the guilt they feel for adolescent transgressions. Brionne also speaks to his desire for a world that embraces culture and finds itself in other peoples' history opposed to alienating it. And how his roll in the Academy Award Nominated film "Embrace of the Serpent" helped him do exactly that. Be sure to check out Embrace of the Serpent on Amazon, iTunes or Vudu and look out for Brionne on the brand new Hulu show Castle Rock, based on stories by Stephen King. Follow Brionne on social media @BrionneDavis ---------- Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!

Actress, Comedian & Podcast Host Krista Allen is on the couch this week for an amazingly transparent, enlightened, beatifully introspective and self-aware journey through her at times tragic experience finding her voice, LITERALLY. With a con-man father and a narcissistic, Beach Boy groupie mother (no seriously), she discusses how the difficult hand she was dealt led to some massive insecurities, both anger and "daddy issues," an unhealthy career victim mentality, eating disorders, love addiction and more. From constantly moving around and seeking safe haven, being inable to express her feelings, leaving school young, surviving sexual abuse and more, she has a truly incredible perspective on her own story and her outlook on both her past and her future is inspiring and lovely. She talks about alignment and he talks about balance. And thats all just the first half. This a dont-miss whirlwind of a conversation. There's also a 5 foot 6 persian cage-fighting rapper in there somewhere. Follow Krista @KristaAllenXO ---------- Check out www.DragonWagonShop.com for awesome Elaborate shirts and mugs! Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. Visit www.dragonwagonradio.com for more!

In the aftermath of the largest mass shooting in modern american history, I took a moment to express my sadness, disgust and rage over the 58 lives lost. We have a gun problem. -Jake

Writer/Director and Woman of Action, Maggie Levin joins Jake this week and talks growing up in Woodstock the daughter of free-spirited rockstar and a crazy balerina, being 6 years old in the theater playing boys, and being un-schooled and teenaged in New York City! She talks a bit about a pattern of relationship tag along (that's not as unhealthy as it sounds), the "New York Grudge" which is totally a thing, and her more-than-boyfriend and the joy watching his discomfort with difficult people brings her. They also discuss her Rocky Horror stage show with a twist "Rocky Horror Hipster show" and how her incredibly talented friends helped spawn the idea with thier collective super-powers, the Sci-Fi Comedy TV show she directs and writes called "Miss 2059" on Go90.com, representing women in film and television, writing as woman and for women and navigating the landscape of casting women and people of color in a time when it is in the forefront of public conversation. Follow Maggie on social Media @MaggieLevin See Miss 2059 at www.Go90.com  or on the Go90 App on any Verizon device. Visit Women of Action LA at www.WomenOfAction.us  Follow Elaborate on Social Media @ElaboratePod Elaborate is part of the Dragon Wagon Radio Podcast Network www.dragonwagonradio.com @ItsDragonWagon

Actor/Writer/Critic Aaron Pruner is on the couch this week talking about his on-again off-again relationship with entertaining. He tells the tales of being a teen commercial star and how his role as the often picked on "Percy" on VR Troopers effected his off screen life, the decision to leave acting as a career behind and how proving his ability to exist in the "real world" to himself was important. He also talks about some dark family history and how his mother came out of it unconditionally supportive, how a series of unfortunate events in 2007 led to his decision to persue better living through therapy and improving his physical health which ultimately hurt his ability to perform and how he tries to find the balance. There's also Comic Cons, acts of kindness, and Gordon Ramsay. Follow Aaron on social media @AaronFlux Follow Elaborate @ElaboratePod Elaborate is part of the Dragon Wagon Radio Podcast Network http://www.dragonwagonradio.com 

Jake is back after another week dark explaining himself. He's talking about the shallow pit he recently fell into, Bojack Horseman and his internal dialogue, his doggo Cosmo and his new cats and how nothing is wrong yet something is wrong. Then we jump into a time machine back to a test recording from before the start of the show with writer/actor and Elaborate First Mate, Paul Bianchi in which the duo discuss memories and Jake's inability to recall details that the seemingly Mutant Memoried Paul knows each and every detail of. Regular shows return next week! Follow Elaborate on social media @ElaboratePod Elaborate is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio Podcast Network http://www.DragonWagonRadio.com  On Social Media @ItsDragonWagon

We're back after a week off and Comedian/Actor/Filmmaker Eddie Pence is on the couch talking about the comedy/pro wrestling connection happening the world (and that brought he and Jake together in the first place), his father's knack for complaining about things he secretly likes and his son's knack for standup and stealing his material. He also talks about growing up a suburban latchkey kid in Virginia to two government working parents, sibling friendships, his parental instincts and being a responsible modern parent while working in an industry that generally breeds irresponsibility, graduating virgina Tech before uprooting to LA to study film and television and discovering his calling as a comic, his earliest comedic inspirations and sharing a sense of humor with his son as well as talking in the cinema. Also Ace Ventura is a bar for comedy which all other comedy is judged. Follow Eddie on social media @EddiePence Follow Elaborate @ElaboratePod Elaborate is part of the Dragon Wagon Radio podcast network. www.DragonWagonRadio.com @ItsDragonWagon

Comedian Jonny Loquasto is on the couch talking about his new independent stand up album "Jonny Loquasto Presents Jonny Loquasto's Jonny Loquasto," being a self starter, his vast creative endeavors and his absolute warpath of a work ethic. He talks about his suburban Pennsylvania roots from the whitest city ever that drove him to seek diversity in life, how the sketch show "In Living Color" and actor David Alan Grier inspired him to find the funny, being a physical therapist, the whim that brought him to LA and into standup, dealing with the bitterness from bouts of unpopularity and finding the positive reinforcement. He also talks about how he found himself as a pro wrestling color commentator for Championship Wrestling from Hollywood all because someone no showed! Find his new album and more at www.jlocomedy.com

Comedian Mike Bridenstine is on the couch this week talking about tv shows Jake isn't watching (spoiler alert: one has both thrones and a game) the nickname Mike doesnt know he has, and their pro wrestling fandom connection before going off on an awful tanget about the misuse of words. He talks about his small town Iowa roots and growing up the son of two teachers as well as being a funny/bad kid, the sort of interests and comedy that caught his attention in his youth. They share thier mutual expierience of being directed towards fine art by being good kid artists who knew they werent that great. He also talks about being an outsider until making his way to Chicago and finding comradery in the comedy scene alongside talents like TJ Miller, Kumail Nanjiani and Pete Holmes. He also talks about recording his debut standup album "The Hungry Wolf Hunt's Best" at The Mill, a venue his grandfather, aunt and uncle played as a blueglass family band when he was a kid and why it was important to him. Also Mike has a lot of hostility towards the artist, Donatello. "The Hungry Wolf Hunts Best" is available now on itunes and ASTRecords.com

After countless mentions, Tybee Diskin is finally on the couch joining Jake this week talking about the genesis and ending of her podcast "InterroBang w/ Travis and Tybee" and the good it's done including the incredible "InterroPals" pen pal system she established that puts people in need in touch with others experiencing similar things, and how just being transparent in general helped HER discover information about ADHD/Autism she wouldn't know otherwise. The two talk about Tybee's jovial drunk behavior and how misguided positivity made her cry on her birthday, Jake's sober behavior, being close friends who don't see each other often and how they're both fans of communication. Tybee talks a little about the actors grind that she's left behind, working with Wayside Creations and working on fan films like Fallout Nuka Break as well as the children's book based on her Ninento DS playing giant grandmother that she has put her creative energy into recently. She talks a bit about her grandmother's personality, confidence, and also tells the story of how her grandparents met and it's super awesome. Follow Tybee on social media @HelloTybeeRen PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, RATE & REVIEW

Celia Gordon is a Criminal Defense Attorney, Yoga Instructor, Entrepenuer and co-founder of The Work-Shop in Huntington, NY. She also happens to be Elaborate host Jake's sister! Jake is home on Long Island sitting with his big sis and chatting with her about thier relationship, complex family and shared father. Celia discusses how she went from district attorney intern to being one of New York's top Criminal Defense Attornies working on high and low profile cases and defending people other's might consider undefendable. She talks about defending the wrongly convicted Jon-Adrian Velazquez in a now infamous homicide case covered by Dateline NBC, putting her work above all else including family and self and how her ego challenged her desire to slow down and eventually go home. She goes on to discuss how Yoga allowed her to shut off her mind, put away her cell phone and deal with her conflicted feelings as well as the difficult decisions she made to find herself where she is now, so far from where she started. Following the mantra the miracles in life happen when you stop trying to figure it all out. Also, she went through a pretty intense dubsmash phase. Follow Celia on social media @CeliaGordonYoga Find The Work-Shop at www.thework-shop.com & on social media @thework_shop Please SHARE, RATE & REVIEW!

Writer/Director and the Man with No Foe, Matt Hingstman in on the couch this week chatting kindness, work ethic, film school, being very tall in an M. Night Shamalayan movie that people don't like, having a "jerky rich kid in an 80s movie" vibe and a desire to be a cool kid. The duo also discuss connecting emotionally with frinds as well as what they do to combat thier respective motivation and attention issues including thier experience (or lack thereof) using prescription drugs. The bromance level is high on this one and Paul may have a run for his money. Follow Lank on social media TW:@Matt_Hingstman IG:@mhingstman Please SHARE, RATE & REVIEW!!

Actor/Stunt-Woman Alex Marshall-Brown joins Jake this week and is talking about the hustle, multi-tasking, and focusing on the light. Alex talks about growing up while moving all over the globe picking up interests along the way, she talks about getting herself into a boarding school in North Carolina from South Africa at 12 years old as well her relationship with her father and step-mother and "visiting adversity at unexpected age." She also talks about stealing the discarded costumes of carnival dancers in Trinidad and using them to haggle for a role in a school play years later, Professor Lucky, Learning Stage Combat & Martial Arts, Uncle Tom's Cabin and capitalizing on NY Times write-ups, talking things out and also, fighting! Follow Alex on social media TW:@AMarshallBrown IG:@alexacon Show your support and pick up official Elaborate merchandise at www.DragonWagonShop.com  Please SHARE, RATE & REVIEW!!

Actor/Producer and "Underwear Model," Kenny Cooper is on the couch this week. Kenny and Jake are long time friends and the two partake in a little "industry" talk as well as what it's like being DIY creative types and avoiding the low bars set by a flooded follower-driven digital landscape - and whether it's worth comparing yourself to the success of others. Do they sound bitter? Maybe. Probably. Kenny shares the story of growing up everywhere, always feeling like an outsider despite making friends easily, how he went from sports medicine to the entertainment industry and the single question someone asked that helped push him there. He talks about being a radio personality along someone named Wookie as well as receiving fan mail from maximum security prison inmates. He also shares stories about his father "K. Brick" and his fascinating childhood growing up in the segregated south not knowing for many years that his biological father was sax player Frank Cooper who played alongside Jazz Legends like Miles Davis, Herbie Handcock and Quincy Jones. The two also reminisce about thier previous colaborations and Jake's affinity to make Kenny wear sexy clothing long before he was getting paid to do it underwear comercials. Don't miss this one! Follow Kenny Cooper on social media @KenCooperActs Show your support by picking up official Elaborate merchandise at www.DragonWagonShop.com  Please SHARE, RATE & REVIEW!

Actor/Writer/Producer Michael Bachman is on the couch this week and talking about the other The Mike Bachmann as well as his life as one of 12, yes, TWELVE SIBLINGS. His mother was pregnant for nearly an entire decade of her life. It was a fuller house for sure. He also talks about his friendship with Elaborate friendly and voice of Dragon Wagon Radio, Tony Wayne, and the duo's Shakespeare shenanigans in Wisconsin as well as his history in standup and sketch, holding temporary jobs, his sons nerdom, putting comedy over parenting and where the line is when it comes to playing tricks on your kids. He also tells the stories of how he courted his now wife via multiple New Years Eves in New York and about how his father lost the family business in a card game when he was a kid. All that and Jake plays a voicemail Tony left him pitching a brilliant idea. This one is jam packed! Show your support by picking up official Elaborate merchandise at www.DragonWagonShop.com  Please SHARE, RATE & REVIEW!

Actor/Writer Tony Wayne returns to the show and spends a delightful sunday evening with Jake. The duo discuss some of the inspiration for thier feature film "Pinch," Tony's late father and the sunday Nascar race phone conversations they would have, painting model cars and building creative yet inneffecient pinewood derby racers as well as being Cub Scouts, Webelos, and Boy Scouts. Camping and enjoying lightning & rain shows and Brother's brother brothers. They also chat the arts in Eau Claire Wisconsin and Tony's love for the horses, the Santa Anita track and how he takes pictures with total strangers. Oh and warning, Tony "raps" and he's not even embarassed by it. Show your support by picking up official Elaborate merchandise at www.DragonWagonShop.com  Please SHARE, RATE & REVIEW!

Writer/Improviser/Artist Paul Bianchi returns "like the Smoke" this week. In a lot of recent episodes, "Fathers" have been a large topic of conversation - since Father's day is this weekend, Jake thought it would be a nice time to show all his own father cards and so he asked Paul to come join in some dad-chat. It's dad-chat galore on this fathers day themed episode! Paul's dad is really great. He sends postcards! Jake's dad is not really a dad at all. He's never sent a postard. It's a personal episode that dives into thier respective stories and relationships. They chat cartography, crab-people, covens and correspondence. And as per usual a J&P love fest. Happy Father's day to all those great dads, moms, brothers, uncles and villagers! Please SHARE, RATE & REVIEW! Show your support by picking up official Elaborate merchandise at www.DragonWagonShop.com 

Entrepeneur/Filmmaker/Actor Brian Finifter is on the couch with Jake this week. They talk about the universe's prime directive (bringing the two of them together), having desires with limited abilities, positively reinforcing children's natural gifts vs work well done, how the brain (and the process of evolution) only really cares about "getting by" and how apparently that's the rule of the universe. They question if they're indeed millenials. Jake doesn't think so. He also hates that his nieces don't have to rush home to catch Ducktails at a specific time on tv. Also, Brian made one of the earliest viral Star Wars parodies, "The Injured Stormtrooper" and it broke his family server which is probably where they got the ending for Rogue One from (not a lot of people know that). On a more serious note, Brian talks about losing his father at 4 and what it's like not having an emotional connection to him, but a strong one to Spock. Show your support by picking up official Elaborate merchandise at www.DragonWagonShop.com  Please SHARE, RATE & REVIEW!

Actor/Improviser/Singer Jo Crandall is sitting down with Jake this week. Jo is talking about his love for Cosplay, the attention to detail and fabricating that comes with it, becoming someone (or something) else for a brief amount of time and how Chris Pratt & Star-lord sparked his obsession. He talks about differing from his father and pursuing a path that wasn't the most popular with him. Being crafty, handy and directionless. As well as church plays, conservatories, opera training, little brother syndrome and acting out as an underchallenged kid. And that's just the first half! Also all people sounded like the adults from Peanuts for the first 5 years of his life. So there's that. Show your support by picking up official Elaborate merchandise at www.DragonWagonShop.com  Please SHARE, RATE & REVIEW!

Production Coordinator/Photographer/Maritime Historian & host of the popular podcast, "Movies Made Me", Cheryl Jones is on the couch with Jake this week. She talks about the winding path that led her to where she is today, her time as a motorsports photographer and her racer father who used to work inside computers. She also shares how a silly movie based on a theme park ride altered the course of her life forever and ultimately carried her overseas with a new obsession over seas. The two share stories of lives filled with various interests and how they can dictate the direction you head, and how it's also totally ok to move on from them to another. They also both find solace in the fact that eventually we'll all be dead! Show your support by picking up official Elaborate merchandise at www.DragonWagonShop.com  Please SHARE, RATE & REVIEW!

Writer/Actor/Improviser/Co-Host of the podcast "Mythunderstood", Sarah Oliver joins Jake on the couch this week. If you asked their friends to describe their relationship, people would probably say they're "frenemies." That's not entirely true, but it's not entirely untrue, either. The duo discuss said relationship and how they've grown together over the years, as well as their experience being the Backyard FX B-Team and sharing the same best friend. On that note Sarah discusses what it's like having a male bestie and the old timey intolerance that still comes with it, finding creativity as a child in the face of boredom, her desire to write, being born in Berlin and growing up a military kid with other military kid friends. She also shares a very personal story of how PTSD effected her father and in effect, her relationship with him. As well as the somewhat secret past he had in hollywood with his then comedy partner, comedian and radio host Frazer Smith. Also, Cheetos! Show your support by picking up official Elaborate merchandise at www.DragonWagonShop.com  Please SHARE, RATE & REVIEW!

Singer/Songwriter and Co-founder of Dragon Wagon Radio, Zen Zenith is chatting with Jake this week. They discuss the spark that gave way to Dragon Wagon Radio as well as being "do everything" 20 somethings that became "do some things" 30 somethings. Zen has an unusual name and he talks about where it came from and his freethinking parents, his alter ego August Brings, and talks about about being un-schooled (which is apparently different than being home-schooled. Who knew!?). They talk about self guidance and learning to teach yourself to learn, passing childhoods off to the next generation, musical journeys, building communities, and more! Zen even calls Jake "sad and joyless!" Is he wrong? You decide! Song : Bones and Gratitude by August Brings Show your support by picking up official Elaborate merchandise at www.DragonWagonShop.com  Please RATE AND REVIEW on iTunes!

Actor/Sketch Comic/Photog, Justin Baker, sits down with Jake this week and they discuss being emotional twins, breaking free from small town living and the decision to art-life it for the long haul. Friendships, roots, social contracts and manliness or the lack there-of. Justin speaks about living with chronic illness and daily pain while maintaining positivity and more importantly, sanity. There's some talk of brain power, better days and the ever present spoon count, and how the show must go on no matter how stupid either of them are. Show your support by picking up official Elaborate merchandise at www.DragonWagonShop.com  Please RATE AND REVIEW on Apple Podcasts!

Jake takes some time before this weeks episode to talk from the heart about the loss of a beloved member of the family, his Aunt Kathryn. Then Paul Bianchi is back and humors a sleepless Jake while discussing sleepiness, hypnosis and "hypnotisers", senior lock-ins, their impromptu camping trip for Jake's birthday and the murderer they made friends with as well as teen adventures to places of creepiness and the enjoyment or lack thereof of being scared. And of course as usual when these two are together, some compliments. Show your support by picking up official Elaborate merchandise at www.DragonWagonShop.com  Please Rate and Review!