Al Val, a rising Canadian comic, rants about today's topics, spins hilarious yarns, explores and shares her reflections of gender during her transition, and covers a wide variety of topics, all while injecting a little therapeutic optimism in there. A podcast full of impressions, characters, ridiculous premises, non-sequitors, and wild, silly thoughts... but above all, it's a podcast full of heart.
In this episode, Ava gushes about Mozart and the Toronto Maple Leafs before she reaffirms her stance on sports bandwagon jumping, then follows up with some thoughts on empaths and more.
In this episode, Ava talks about her dastardly sleepy couch, hints at a new podcast, contemplates the future of her upcoming special, gives an update on her American 0-1 situation, discusses committing to something when things get tough and persevering despite having to do things the hard way, doing things HUNDO OR NUNDO, and the Mr. Bean's theme song (sorry for the singing!!)...
In this episode Ava discusses nicknames, a hypothetical Canada/US war, movies whose only strong suit are their cameo appearances, and Marvel's "What If" series.Subscribe to her Patreon for more exclusive content!
Congratulations Canada! In this episode Ava talks about the recent Four Nations hockey tournament and tells some university stories. Check out her Patreon for more exclusive PodGis content!
Ava is back to distract you from the terrible goings-on int he world today, if but for a moment
Ava solemnly reflects on her upcoming facial feminization surgery, and the standup special she is spontaneously filming for it.
Ava discusses pop singers in the 80's, the terrible acting by the VIP men in the first season of Squid Game, the trans character in season two of Squid Game and the discourse around trans people playing trans roles, Mr. Beast's new TV show, the first Sonic movie, and about posting her John Candy Award winning speech.
Ava discusses her recent visit to the Royal Ontario Museum, being called a 'person', the recent healthcare CEO shooter, the Great American Exceptionalism Bubble, the happiness index and the freedom index, dogs as compassion slaves and the philosophical question: "to be happy, or to be free?"
Welcome back to the podcast that is Wii for me and WiiU for you! In this episode, Ava talks about a really funny sponsor she noticed at a local soccer match, a retelling of Phineas Gage (sorry if I've done it before!), her favourite Arnold Schwartzenegger line, her squeamishness limits, her dad's cold hands, and eventually she ends on a rant about the current state of American politics and the depressing trend of anti-intellectualism.
Ava, with DEEPEST apologies for the long absence from posting, begins the pod with a quick statement on her newfound Chappell Roan fandom, followed by a lengthy explanation including reflections on her recent experience at the San Francisco Comedy Competition, her neck agony, her upcoming facial feminization surgery (FFS) and the external justifications involved, a strong plug for her upcoming paid content, discusses looking back on ex partners, and signs off with a little hope for the future. Vote Harris!
Ava kickstarts this episode with a dive into the funniest mistranslation of a Motley Crue live performance, then discusses the emotional highs and lows of weddings, performing at the Toronto Blackout Anniversary, and experiencing full-circle progressive discrimination at roast battles.
Ava talk about a bunch of stuff including the process of death-testing the eligibility of pufferfish as an edible dish.
In this episode, Ava updates listeners about her standup special post-analysis, then goes on to talk about the US work visa process, her verse on the hit single "Y'all Ain't Never Met a Cheese Like Me", other trans comedians encroaching vaguely on her own material, how Kobe Bryant stole her thunder on a death pact, when something 'ruins your childhood', and a silly rant about the video game "Marvel: Midnight Suns". See ya soon! Also make sure you check Ava's special SO BRAVE!
In this wondrous return to form, Ava repeatedly gets her thighs wet and dry as she discusses the dumbest story in the bible, flooding in Toronto, evil rich buttheads, the "I swear on my ___" phrase, a story of a man who came out of the closet after he'd died, and a story about one soul occupying two lumpy bodies. Stay tuned for "Hannah Barbara Headlines"!
We've got a FIERY episode for you today! Ava comes out red hot and reminisces about Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, going to the dentist to freeze her face, the summer heat, a story about accidentally going commando, paying honest compliments, being the 'supporting character' in a viral video, getting the best most validating comment for a trans woman from a cis lady, and then ending on a super positive note about spreading kindness and giving compliments to strangers.
Ava is back after a brief hiatus to bring the funny to your a$$ for PRIDE MONTH!! Not only does she solve a longstanding lighting issue with flair, but she goes on to cover a range of topics, including: the dawn of Pride month, being a "PLUS" in the LGBT+, being competitive despite herself, doing standup for radio, good phone numbers that have rhythm, an announcement about the distant future, Patreon ideas, a recent horror film audition, "Douche Rehab", Red Shirt Guy, and a story about her lawyer making her accidentally racist. Check out "Douche Rehab" online and don't forget "SO BRAVE" comes out on YouTube June 30th!!!
She's back from Halifax and LOADED WITH ESTROGEN!! In this episode of PodGis, Ava speaks at length about her new hormone regimen, her recent experience at the Halifax Comedy festival, the weird heteronormative grooming she received when she was young, her prized "Lounge Dragon" video, and a hot take about Marvel superhero Tony Stark/Iron Man.
Val is back from the Winnipeg Comedy Festival with stories and insights to share! But not before she takes a deep dive into the Kendrick Lamar versus Drake beef, Jerry Seinfeld's recent thoughts on "woke" showbiz, and some more character ideas including a sensual undercover cop and a football player with an unfortunate tick. She then goes on to discuss her performance and lessons from the Winnipeg Comedy Festival television taping, and ends with her favourite Kanye moment and a pitch to be a cult leader. Off to Halifax! See you next week!
WE HAVE A NEW INSIDE JOKE WITH THE FANS ;) ...Which Val introduces early, then goes on to discuss a myriad of topics including *more CharacterGis*; a miscommunication with a nail salon worker; a couple *big announcements*; trying not to reading the comments; being approved for gender affirming breast augmentation; *another rant* about the bystander effect, and fight/flight/freeze responses; *another rant* about closted admirers/chasers of trans women; her take on the first two episodes of Netflix's "Baby Reindeer"; reflections on her own weakness for validation; and some funny observations on 'if people behaved in video games like thei did in real life'. So much to talk about! Don't forget to tune in to 800 Pound Gorilla's YouTube channel June 30th for Al Val's debut special "So Brave"! Woo!!
Al Val is back from her comedy tour and bursting with stories to share! In this episode, Val combs over many details from her recent two-week tour through western Canada and deviates into some personal reflections regarding her good nature and exploitable naivete, the upsetting self-serving futility of saying "I told you so", being more comfortable singing and dancing post-transition, and taking the stage after being immmediately misgendered by the emcee. Heck, she even throws in a new segment involving silly character premises!
We're in for a "shorty" this week! This is just a little something to tide PodGis fans over while Val wraps up her Canadian tour. At any rate, she has a delightful little time talking about jeans models, the prejudices against Alberta that she is cautious not to overindulge, some schmuck's (accidentally transphobic?) terrible first impression, JK Rowling and the "just don't look" approach to battling transphobia, and she concludes with another classic timespeak hungus bungus.
It's been a week and still no word from the Huble Cremshaws out there. [Shrug] Guess I'll just have to keep talking to myself! In this delightfully plucky episode, Val discusses pranks and her relationship to pranking, being on breakfast television, a "Twitter sexy fart scam controversy", people who refuse to play along with fun social cues, finding a bag of old male clothes from her past, approaching her transition pragmatically and how that manifests a sort of impostor syndrome.
Hello to the Huble Cremshaws out there!! Val is in high spirits because of the happiest percussive clap! She then goes on to list the reasons why standup has ruined her social life, send an invitation/challenge to her listeners to prepare a VERY specific dinner party for her, "Step In Time" from Mary Poppins, "That Thing You Do", her borrowed Ninja Turltes 'graphic novel', doing standup in less than ideal circumstances and a neat trick to overcome ambient chatter, the very very very offensive and upsetting dance-by-instruction thing that happens at dance parties sometimes, then she goes off on the "Cha-Cha Slide".
In this episode Val discusses her bag of dreadlocks, the highs and lows of glow-in-the-dark nails, being selected to perform in the upcoming Winnipeg Comedy Festival, making podcast mistakes like a metaphorical Super Mario, the lack of a star system in Canada, more tax agony, a funny bit about a dad who didn't think about names for his newborn, having cracked lips, Dylan Mulvaney's "Days of Girlhood" music video and the ensuing discourse about 'what makes a woman', overcompensating early in one's transition, the power dynamics of repeat transphobes in my comments, and the best YouTube video of all time, "i'll be home for quismoiss". If it's March 20th on your end don't forget to vote for Val to win the $10K Funniest Canadian" competition!
HYDRATE, B****! After a quick apology for the (almost inevitable, at this point) mild tech issues, Val discusses 'selling out'; the iRestore helmet; a VERY positive potential happy ending to the snowboard theft caper(!); Facebook suggesting celebrities as friends; getting banned from the University Improv Troupe; a quick little commercial for water; some improv stories, and being worried she's lost her 'spark of insanity'; and she ends on a little love letter to her best friends. Don't forget to vote for her EVERY DAY to win "Edge's $10K Funniest Canadian" competition until March 21! EVERY DAY!
In this episode of PodGis, Val laments the recent lost of a priceless cherished personal item; the recent cancellation of Just For Laughs and the concept of bankruptcy protection; an applicable, practical theory on considerate and self-aware people in public; Todd Bertuzzi; the ubiquity of hacky pronoun jokes and "I identify as" jokes in the comedy community; people who abuse the word "woke"; her "Lady and the Tramp" viewing-style suggestion; and lastly, on her vocal progress and on the act of graciously comparing your current self to your younger self.
Uh oh! Al Val's been RADICALIZED!! In this episode, Val explains in great detail the 4 'encounters' with life that she had that day that totally RADICALIZED her - and essentially by that we mean "grounded her in reality, thus making her a misanthropic adult". After that she briefly discusses getting misgendered by emcees during her intro at comedy shows, goofy pre-recorded show announcements at certain Canadian comedy club franchises, and finishes off with a wonderful story about meeting a young man named Andrew with super niche travel tips.
In this episode of PodGis, Val discusses NEW MERCH, finalizing her legal name and gender changes, an episode involving a botched people-pleasing impulse and her ensuing regret, a run-in at a burlesque show that all trans women would despise, an old crowdwork video, surgery-obsessed trans women who sew insecurities in others, and the origin story of Val's constant self-awareness. Is she a narcissist? If so, she's the BEST DAMN ONE AROUND
Welcome to the J**z Factory! Val takes her enthusiasm and lets it rip for the full 70 minutes, covering a range of topics including: the mispronunciation of her podcast, her vocal feminization journey and her 'target pitch' strategy, boasting and wearing leggings, watching footage of herself and knowing what she's about to say, the villainization of TAYLOR SWIFT, Galen Weston, Jesus Day, Florida's anti-trans bills, and the most narcissistic boss she had ever worked for. See you next week!
"PodGis with Al Val" Episode 116 - "Deplorably Unscrupulous"AvaGis is back once again! And this time it has all gone off WITHOUT A HITCH!In this comeback episode, Val packs a extra whippaload of bonus content, discussing the wild things that have kicked off 2024 like the guy who got stuck in the urn and the "Jew tunnel" in NYC. She then goes off to cover a wide range of topics such as "Palworld" and the decay of society's opinions of plagiarism; musical genres; a theory on why the Canadian comedy industry and the standard Canadian comedy club show structure breeds better comedians; her current ordeal humbling herself at the altar of comedy club bookers; the "Barbie Movie" Oscar snuffs; and her hilariously infuriating Instagram punishment.Have a good week! See you next hump day!
Boy oh boy what a fun episode this one was! Val hops around happily from topic to topic once again, covering a variety of topics: receiving a pair of mittens from a fan; Eminem as a playable Fortnite character; the mental battle that is auditioning for commercials as a trans woman; speaking breathily and vocal feminization training; fans who inundate her inbox with memes; the offputting YouTube algorithm of her phone's previous owner; Sneako as a groomer; YouTube accounts that read their scripts with a maddeningly repetitious inflection pattern; suffer a battle of 'wits' against sassy & superficial people; Allen Iverson's opinions on practice; media as a teeny tiny time capsule; and Val's American fans. See you next week!
After a technical-difficulties-inspired self-imposed break from the pod, Val is back with wild rantings and ravings that range from silly to deeply self-reflective and somber. Val dives right in, and after explaining her little break she discusses annoying background and theatre actors, seeing her old self on television, a bittersweet exchange with a former suitor who saw her old onstage antics and how she feels about potential partners being exposed to previous 'stages' of her identity, and concludes with some sober reflections on trans day of remembrance and the current unsettling global hostility towards trans people. Take care of yourselves out there.
Coming atcha hot and spicy with another banger! Val has recovered from a difficult week and comes back with a vengeful pluckiness, covering a wealth of topics: remorseful retrospectives, neurodivergence, self-diagnosis, distrust against medical professionals, "pet communicators" and animal mediums, cold reading, online debates and "debate bros", improvising onstage, people who are VERY proudly themselves, Smart car horns, and dog poop pranks.
Sure, saving the pandas, seals, and koalas is a fine cause, but WHY won't someone THINK of the BLOBFISH???? What about the uggo animals?? Why won't someone spare a thought?! One can only shake one's head at this cruel, cruel world. In this episode, Val talks about her schedule, about the arctic tundra as an inferior biome, her experience at the Arctic Comedy Festival, a little bit about her Vancouver tour (Including a story about a lady who didn't know how to use a paper towel dispenser) and then goes on to blab about ugly animals. BUT THEY NEED LOVE TOO! Follow Al Val on all socials! @alvalcomedy on Insta, Twitter, and TikTok
Al Val goes under the Al Val hood once again - before she removes most of the hair atop - to speak loosely and precisely on a wide range of topics, from comedians who laugh at their own jokes, to the Arctic, to the cloud, to posting before and after transition photos, her appearance on an old episode of "League of Skanks", and being followed on s*ssy p*rn accounts on Twitter.
Rantasaurus Rex over here! LOL! In this episode, Val goes on long tangents spanning FOUR WHOLE TOPICS, ranging from the timeless medical act of "clounching", her guilt complex when it comes to rejecting men online, her boiling eternal hatred for "Cards Against Humanity"-type games, and saying "can you imagine?" immediately after saying something rude.
In this episode, Val brings back (and shuts down??) "Which One's Bigger?" and goes on to discuss having the algorithm perpetuate trolls on an old TikTok video; the excuses people make for being abusive jerks online; performing for JFL; breast augmentation surgery and endocrinologist gatekeeping; Eddie Izzard; and "Neil from the Matrix" and back-door/reverse gender euphoria. Sorry for the gaps between episodes! Thank you for tuning in!
In this episode, Val relaxes her butt in her chair post-special taping and speaks at length about her mindset throughout the experience, then goes on about The Maple Leafs "All or Nothing" documentary, hockey slang, and ends on an observation (a CONSPIRACY???) about Lisa Simpson.
Check check check check it out! Spread thine legs and enjoy another episode of PODGIS! In this episode, Val talks about prepping for her upcoming special taping, her previous experience taping a special, and talks *at length* about one of the more obscure but hilarious video games she's always enjoyed as one of her favourites.
In this episode, Val continues with her shenanigans as Thaddeus McFaddeus in the hit TV show "WHICH ONE'S BIGGER?", laments her financial woes, and then continues with her Euro recap, speaking at length about the tale of King Gustav Adolf II, his hubris, and the embarrassing maiden voyage of the Vasa.
Al Val's long-awaited return has come! She's back from Europe and fresh off a reality dating shoot, both of which she recounts with delight and mirth. She also introduces the hit new game "Which One's Bigger?"
In this episode, Al Val broadcasts from home, walking you through the night-by night details of her week at the Just For Laughs festival in Montreal - from the highs of rocking her guitar onstage at a live outdoor concert to the lows of transphobia and joke theft.
Hello and good day! Thanks for always coming back to these rip-roarin' episodes of PodGis.In this sporty episode, Val talks about dry-clean only fabrics, backhanded fashion compliments, consumers marketing a company's product for them (ie. McDonald's Grimace Shake), adoption and orphancy. And THEN Val speaks at length about her latest binge watch of the American Gladiators documentary! What a trip!In addition, Val talks about bad words, shame, criminal kinks, Dennis Rodman, and a whole lot more about American Gladiators.
Happy summertime, y'all! Al "Hollywood" Val is in the house and she's in full SUMMER MODE. In this episode, Val talks at length about being a juror in this year's T.O. Webfest, times when Val tries so hard to be not be a nuisance that she becomes a nuisance, what she calls her biceps, the cruel irony of being genetically muscular and trans, motorcycle vests, and being a sleepy courier. After Musa unsuccessfully attempts to get Val to speak ill of the obese, she discusses her new self-made Pokemon 'rug' and teaching kids about taxes early.Have a good summer and good luck solving for 'x'!
On this episode, Ava talks about feeling self-conscious about family, being a bad server and lying to customers, not knowing what to do with a Starbucks gift card, what makes Toronto the silliest city in the world, Ava's "U-Shaped Theory of Movie Enjoyment", and her recounting of her Pride Parade Weekend 2023 (which included marching with a cannabis group and being oblivious to flirtation).
We made it to 100!!! Look at us go!!! In this episode, Val answers some viewer-submitted questions and looks back fondly on 100 episodes. Thank you so much for listening!
ARE YOU RETAINED! STICK AROUND! COME ON! Just kidding! lololol. Anyways, in this episode Val covers a wide range of topics, beginning with a BIG (and extremely drawn out) announcement regarding her name change!!! After that, Val/AVA talks Kafka-esque-ly about scientists looking for 'cures' for embarrassing ailments, struggling with a retainer, influencer Rose Montoya's White House topless controversy, and trans influencers who lose themselves to the T'n'A temptation. Next episode is 100!!! Can you believe it??
Ahoy there! Yarr. Welcome to another PodGis on the open seas! In this episode Val flies solo once again, doing her best to retain your ass by discussing a range of topics, including being the "Realest There Ever Was" despite being a people-pleaser; old gimmicky dirty comedians; her Pride Month Egale anti-hate campaign; dysphoria and how Val navigates it for herself; a fun way of being smug, and performative allyship; new merch(!); people who claim that "comedy is dead"; the Green Party if they were transphobic; the indistinct, confusing lyrical genius that is "Jump Around" by House of Pain; and Studio 205 Production's "Pride Is..." Campaign. Happy Pride Month! Don't be a crappy person, and hug a trans today :)
Ahoy there! I just want to say thank you for sticking with PodGis through the thick and the thin.
After getting over the worst intro in PodGis history, Val rips into another timeless episode, telling a *super compelling* water cooler bra story, the first almost fully-automated McDonald's (and A.I. in general), what kind of crime is best, porn-related brain rot and anal sex, Val's experiences performing murder mystery dinner theatre, another "ALchives" entry involving the high school 'attendance lady', Caitlyn Jenner, and a comedian's "process of panic". Have a good week if you're a good person!
Welcome back, chums! In this episode, Val and Musa cover a ridiculously vast array of topics, including: blue checks on Twitter, pushing garbage cans as punishment in high school, Val's favourite most memorable punchline from another comic, insights on joke theft, Val's potential upcoming album name, the hazards of smoking weed with an anxiety complex, alcohol consumption, male clothing, and the legitimacy of 'fair weather fans' and 'posers'. Remember to be a good person and to GIT YER FINGERS... ...OUTTA MY CHIPSSSS