Janel's Best Friends

Drew and Janel have the wit and candor that can only be described as “those two people are the bar talking loudly but are very funny and have on more than one occasion had to tell an interested stranger to BUTT OUT.” But now, you lucky listeners, get to BUTT IN. Back in the fall …

AAANNNDDD WE’RE BACK. After a long hiatus I am finally posting the first of 3 episodes recorded last spring. I’m honestly so jealous of you guys since you get to be introduced to one of the most delightful human beings on the planet today, Olivia Vogds.  If a sunflower had human form it would Olivia …

Rich, Jake, and Janel talk about their individual Christmas traditions and then start one of their own! Join us in holiday-themed imagination land as we venture to save Christmas from the evil Krampus. Jake generously created this D&D style story for Rich and Janel to explore, enjoy, and ruin (just a little bit). Thanks for …

Join Russ Wagner (of The Reptilian and of being a cool guy) and Janel in a slightly holiday-themed beer-fueled chat about conspiracy theories, 10 years of the Reptilian, House Shows, and Religion. We also play “Russ’s Level of Caring” which includes conversations of Christmas Merriment, High Animals, and Not Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse. So many topics! Longest Episode yet! Also, Janel wants to preemptively …

I’m so excited to come back after this brief hiatus with my conversation with Robert Jenkins. If you didn’t know, Robert is a comedian and a lawyer, which means he is basically the funniest and smartest person in any room. But for two funny people, this is one serious episode. In this episode we dig into Politics and Comedy and …

RosaLee Ward and Janel had a lot to talk about, so much that they kept talking for 2 hours after the recording ended. This conversation is heavy in the serious stuff, but also heavy in heart. Jump into the deep end of living without Health Insurance, Mangos, Masculinity, Orlando Bloom, Couples’ Urination, andthe ins and outs of LOVE.

You may know Blake Eason from his fantastic character design and portrait work. If you don’t then check out his website IMMEDIATELY! But really, this guy is cool, and very gracious to let Janel do most of the talking on this episode. Listen to these nerds chat about Full Figure Body Representation, Time Travel, Spiderman, Celebrity, and Siblings.

Janet Wells is 80 years old, and she is my grandmother. She is a former kindergarten teacher, and throughout her lifetime has explored many forms of artistic expression including painting, weaving, knitting, pottery, quilting & more.  She is one of the strongest and most passionate women I know and I am so pleased to share …

Kick off your jaded perspective on “the Universe” and consider with us that everything happens for a reason, whether it is being rear-ended or feeling, like, majorly bummed out. For this shorter edition of Janel’s Best Friends, Artist and Instagram’s “Presh Frincess” Cecilia Taylor and Janel question their generation, human existence, and American’s president. Other …

Ashley Stommen knows about sex… and Power Rangers. Basically those two things equally. She is a power-house ass-kicking femme queen comedian who hosts a multitude of stand up comedy shows in Kalamazoo. Regularly you can find her co-hosting Tuesday Open Mic Night at Jack White’s favorite bar, Louie’s Trophy House Grill.  Enjoy these two fast …

Let’s talk about change, first of all, I just changed the temperamental lime green on all my podcast design materials to a more stable, soft, and web-safe olive green. Similarly, Adam Santoni is about to trade regular every day Kalamazoo life for an exciting, unknown,  and possibly whole foods-y life in Milwaukee, WI. We talk …

First we make you hungry, then we make you angry. Sit, stand, walk or jog for a three course podcast-meal starting off with an appetizer chat of Baking Shows & Condiments, a meaty entree of Body Issues, Syrian Refugees, Internet Trolls, & the Patriarchy, and finally we top it all off with a nice helping of Sam’s loud shitty child. Inaccuracy notice: I state near the …

This super delightful episode features not one but TWO Best Friends: Jake Davis and Andrew Naumann. We get to some important questions about what we love, lost, fear & desire. We also have a less important chat about nipples. Other Topics covered? Ghosts, Airplane Problems, Morning Rituals & Vomit Stories.

I’m going to pre-emptively thank you (the listener) for listening to this episode.  I am so happy people are willing to listen to me shoot-the-shit for an hour and a half with some of the most interesting people in my life. Speaking of interesting people, this fifth episode features the venerable Jarad Selner: local business owner, …

After a long hiatus its time to jump back into the world of Janel’s Best Friends. Let’s blame the break on a combination of post-election depression and seasonal affective disorder. It took Best Friend Ina Foster Goodrich to bust Janel out of the podcast-less blues. Listen for lively discussions of dental hygiene, dog adoption,  dolphin fears, and Caillou.

This week is a little different! Instead of talking about all the bad things going on in the world, Janel and Roux play a silly story make-em-up game. Using “Rory’s Story Cubes” Janel and Roux improvise four very weird stories. Half way through the episode Janel realizes she can try to give the characters voices, …

Taylor and Janel met while they both performed Stand Up comedy, neither have done it in months. Listen to these two happy people rationalize quitting (or pausing) live comedy, predict the future of baseball, and discuss racist statues.

Pour yourself a glass of cheap wine and enjoy this episode of Janel’s Best Friends, featuring Liz Montgomery. She is a social worker and an all around good person. Such a good person that she lets Janel spend most of the time talking about herself. Janel is still getting the hang of this whole “host” …