STAND DOWN is a podcast about the love/hate relationship with comedy and why stand-ups stand down. Sure stand-up comedy is a wonderful art form beyond compare, etc. but it can shred some people up like tender barbacoa. There are countless incredible comics that had to stop because life happened. Sometimes, part of doing comedy, is not doing comedy. Hosted by Daniel Reskin, a 13 year stand-up comic figuring out what he wants out of comedy, and life.
“Transcending Comedy” Pam Bruno has done comedy for decades, and much more. Right as she was starting her one-woman show, Covid broke the rhythm of a performer's life, and she struggles to find it again. She found a creative outlet as an author, and turned cartoons she'd always been drawing into a charming book called... (read more)
“Don't Start, Don't Quit” A live, festival edition of the show with two amazing comics and a tipsy Daniel! AJ Finney & Ben Kronberg headline all over the country, and we're lucky they are based here in Colorado. Both embody a wandering spirit and their third eyes are wide open. These experienced comics have lived... (read more)
The Cost of Doing Everything Jake Lloyd Bacon wanted to do everything, and is. Stand-up was on the list somewhere after musician, actor and filmmaker, but no less important. Does having too many passions prevent you from excelling at one, or does it enrich everything you do? Topics include: balancing passions, name changes, never finding... (read more)
Comedy Never Quits You Jean Antoine doesn’t regret leaving stand-up, but still wonders what might have been. He made tough choices about sustainability, family, and his future. As time goes by, stand-up comedy becomes just another thing you can do, but it never leaves you alone. The itch to go back to comedy is strong,... (read more)
Using Stand-up to Escape Stand-up “How do I use stand-up to get myself out of it?” After understanding what success in stand-up looks like, Delanie Fischer realized she wanted something different. Despite feeling one foot in and one foot out of comedy, she continued growing until she created a way offstage. This led to new... (read more)
“Living Offstage” After 20 years in the Denver scene, Dick Black has watched it grow and change just as much as his own life. After weathering personal struggles and rebuilding bridges he’s burned, a huge conflict in the Denver scene led to Dick avoiding comedy altogether. Sometimes you can feel like a stranger in the... (read more)
“Learn How to Lose” Brad Galli stopped doing stand-up to work and go to school. What was supposed to be a small break stretched into years before something pulled him back onstage. He’s got a different mindset about comedy now, but starting over has new challenges. We talk expectations, hanging out vs. wasting time, and... (read more)
“Mama Loves To Laugh” Jessica Anderson never stopped loving comedy. Performing in Miami as Jessica Gross, she appreciates the skills, memories, and friends she made – while working through the lows of moving to NY and back, getting trapped in a comedy festival fiasco, and personal tragedy. Her priorities shifted and these days her comedy... (read more)
“Outgrowing Yourself” A lighter episode! Jay Mays did stand-up in Denver and Miami for almost a decade. After hitting a plateau, he realized he’d outgrown his act and was doing what worked instead of what excited him. Years later comedy is still a part of his life and Daniel finds him almost too well-adjusted. We talk self-honesty,... (read more)
“No Regrets” Lamonte doesn’t feel bad about leaving stand-up. Never expecting fame and fortune, he remembers the good times and personal growth. We explore how to leave stand-up with new skills, not heartbreak. Speaking of – we also talk bombing, Louis CK’s attempted comeback, and Biden’s allegations. Comedy!
“Father Time” Patrick Scott is a 7-year Denver comic in the process of quitting. He’s feeling withdraw pains and worries about a relapse. After deciding it’s not worth the risks to try and “make it” in comedy, Patrick is deciding what really matters in life. We talk unfair expectations, gut vs. brain, and family. Full... (read more)
“The Curse of Being a Bar Crusher” Matt Z. is a mythic shadow figure in the South Florida comedy history. For years he crushed at bar and alternative shows with blue jokes and black metal, but life events caused Matt to redefine his priorities. We talk the downside of crushing, doing comedy after quitting, hating... (read more)
“Fools Suffer Gladly” Somewhere between doing comedy and quitting comedy, is kinda doing comedy. It’s a huge category, and one today’s guest occupies. Timmi is DONE suffering for comedy. After 10 years she sees stand-up as another step in her creative journey, not the final goal. When is ‘grinding’ good? Can a comic excel without... (read more)
Lazies and Gentlemen! A podcast about the love/hate relationship of comedy, and why stand-ups stand down. Jake Becker is a regular in the Denver comedy scene, but no longer as a comic. Still a podcaster and writer, he prizes the relationships (name drops) he’s made through comedy. We discuss why everybody starts out “wrong”, work... (read more)