Taking The Mic!

We are back with the Taking The Mic podcast and guess what??? It happened, I am a real f*cking comedian! That's right, I officially had my first paid gig since I started this nonsense 18 months ago. Nino and Jimmy Quaid joined me to discuss.If you can bear through the first half of this episode and Nino's seemingly never-ending story, we talk a lot about my comedy journey to this point in the 2nd segment. Thank you for your patience (with both Nino's story and the significant time in between episodes of TTM) but we should be back on a relatively more consistent basis. Enjoy!Instagram - @danstrzempkacomedyTwitter - @dan_strzempka

(A message from the host: I apologize for the lack of audio quality, the initial file was damaged and most audio had to be pulled directly from the camera. The final 5-6 minutes of the episode will also have a bit of crackling/popping to fight through)In the latest episode of Taking The Mic! Nino, Quaid and Baldi joined me live from my parents back deck following an absolute feast of my dad's ribs, we discuss a number of topics. What extra senses exist? Would you save a stranger from a burning building? Even if you don't believe in the afterlife? And oh yea, some comedy discussion, what more do you need???Instagram - @danstrzempkacomedyTwitter - @dan_strzempka

In the latest installment of Taking The Mic, I review my comedy showcase set and share my thoughts on Ricky Gervais' latest stand-up special.I also discuss the latest gun tragedy and the comedian's role in shaping society's ideals and morals.Instagram - @DanStrzempkaComedyTwitter - @Dan_Strzempka

The boys are back in town!Nino, Quaid and I got a chance to catch up on the first group episode in a WHILE. Join us as we chat about maps, yo-yo's, and fidget spinners.Oh yea, I also spent some time fielding questions about the stand-up comedy process and what my experience has been. Hope you enjoy!Instagram - @danstrzempkacomedyTwitter - @dan_strzempka

And....he's back, following a 4 month hiatus. In the comeback episode of TTM! I discuss my whereabouts, the Will Smith nonsense, and the Jerry Cantrell concert I attended this past weekend that still has me smiling.Stick around at the end of the episode for a snippet of an instrumental version of Alice In Chains' Nutshell that I recorded. Glad to be back!Instagram: @danstrzempkacomedyTwitter: @Dan_Strzempka

Where have I been? Doing comedy, that's where...and it's been awesome! In this episode, I review my first comedy showcase (video of the set to come) and talk about how cool the entire experience was for me.Also, what would a Taking The Mic! show be without some cancel culture talk? And what the hell is a "Don't Weigh Me" card? Find out on this episode!Instagram: @danstrzempkacomedyTwitter: @dan_strzempka

Douchebag double check Aaron Rodgers is back in the news again; this time as a crazy, rambling crackpot antivaxer.  I discuss this in detail and also have another go at trying to frame cancel culture in the correct light.Also included: comedy updates and what I'm watching/listening to.PS: Thank you for 1000 downloads! Let's keep this going, tell your friends!Instagram: @danstrzempkacomedyTwitter: @dan_strzempka

Netflix took an important and refreshing stance this past week, siding with Dave Chappelle amidst much backlash on his latest stand-up special, "The Closer."My full thoughts are in this episode. PSA: My words were chosen very carefully,  a full listen is required before I will allow your judgement.I also dove into my fear surrounding stand-up comedy and the future ideal state of this podcast.Instagram - @danstrzempkacomedyTwitter - @dan_strzempka

Nino, Jim and Ryan join me on the latest episode. We talk about eating on airplanes, "offensive" jokes and why Nino loves getting bad news about his friends.Enjoy and head to DanStrzempkaComedy.com to subscribe.@dan_strzempka on Twitter@danstrzempkacomedy on Instagram

^^^ David Letterman's words, not mine.The world became just a bit less funny today with the passing of Norm Macdonald. In the first episode of Taking The Mic after a lengthy break, I talk about the comedy hero of mine. No one has ever made me laugh harder or more consistently than he did, and I don't think anyone ever will. I also spend a bit of time catching you guys up on my existence and tease a few new things I'm working on for both the podcast and for stand up. Bye Norm.

We got flooded in Chicago over the weekend, and there was no shortage of morons thinking their cars were boats.I also give an update on my comedy and the Austin Harvest fundraiser.And I'm a year older or something, who cares.Enjoy, don't forget to subscribe! Instagram - @danstrzempkacomedyTwitter - @dan_strzempka

Chicago is fully open, and I'm already annoyed with people again. It's time to go back inside!I was also attacked multiple times by an a$$hole bird on the golf course. But most importantly, another fundraiser has been started. Let's help the under-resourced neighborhoods of Chicago! Full details are discussed in this episode and the link to donate is at danstrzempkacomedy.com. As always, enjoy! And subscribe!

I'm vaccinated.....and I'm going to Mexico.On this episode, I talk about my upcoming vacation, my Uncle Rico trip back to my hometown this past weekend; and then I accidentally get myself all worked up about religion for a few minutes before I course-corrected myself.Cannot wait for this trip to Mexico, but also cannot wait to come back and hit the comedy hard again. See you in a couple weeks!

This week, Ryan Baldi joined Nino and me for an inspiring discussion surrounding our existence in the universe and the purpose of life.We also attempted to discover who took advantage of my generous cookie donation. And now I'm a racist. Enjoy, don't forget to subscribe. And tell your friends!Dan's Instagram - @danstrzempkacomedyDan's Twitter - @dan_strzempkaRyan's Instagram - @rjbaldiRyan's Twitter - @rjbaldi

We're back after a brief layoff, allowing me to recover from a few bombs up on stage.Hideki Matsuyama won the Masters! Nothing, NOTHING makes me more warm and fuzzy than the thought of old white guys everywhere being furious that an Asian golfer won their precious golf tournament. I also discussed the passing of DMX by taking a trip down memory lane back to highschool. Enjoy the episode and stay tuned on Instagram for details about the Shatterproof 5k taking place this weekend!

Opening Stand-Up Set: My First Open Mic In A Calendar YearLive comedy has returned, and I'm on the vaccine schedule this week! Throw in some Saint Patty's drunks back on the streets of Chicago, things are starting to feel normal(ish) again. I also chatted about a woman who falls in love with inanimate objects and the Grammy's. Enjoy, subscribe, tell your friends!

Jimmy Quaid joins Nino and me on another Taking The Mic! episode.We get into some Mr. Potato Head and Dr. Seuss cancel culture talk. Wow, what a sentence.We also go over our "Shawshank" movie list...movies that you simply cannot bypass on the cable guide when they're on, but NEVER choose to start them from scratch. I'll be at two open mics this week, so I should have some recordings for next week's episode!

Opening Stand-Up Set: Human Car HornsA lot going on the news this week. I talk at length about Tiger Woods' devastating car wreck and why I was so rattled when I got the news. I also discuss how fascinated I am by the Mars rover, Perseverance, and why no one seems to care about it. I go a step further and predict some not so pleasant things for humanity over the next couple hundred years. And there's some comedy talk as well....enjoy!

Opening Stand-Up Set: Is It Just Me?I blabbed about a number of things in my first solo show in a while, including my new mattress, which I am incredibly excited about.Also on this episode: A couple of podcast recommendations, my weird drunk Star Wars loving neighbor, and a baby shower gone terribly awry. FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER! PLEASE! @dan_strzempka

Opening Stand-Up Set: Girlfriend Shopping on a BudgetMy friend Becca joined Nino and me for a chat amidst a blizzard in Chicago.We discussed cannibalism, her encounter with a contestant from The Bachelor, dating apps, and a few of my idiosyncrasies.PS: If you could, please visit www.danstrzempka.com for info about my fundraiser for the Shatterproof foundation and to donate. Please give if you can...and enjoy the episode!

Nino and I ushered in 2021 by talking about Cobra Kai, and I learned that disdain for Ralph Macchio isn't the prevailing public sentiment. We also talked (loudly) about Reddit and the internet winning the Trump debacle this past weekend. Finally, we resolved to get the hell out of our comfort zone this year!Enjoy, subscribe, tell your friends and also strangers.

In the final episode of 2020, I discussed the John Mulaney news. It's unfortunate, scary, and it could happen to anyone. Everyone is allowed to have shit, no matter how happy you think they are.I also selfishly confess that this was one of my favorite years ever. How couldn't you love a decade's worth of events crammed into a 10-month period?If you didn't learn something about yourself, you wasted a wonderful opportunity. : )Thank you to everyone who listened and supported, talk to you in 2021!

Opening Stand-Up Set: The Covid ExcuseTom Cruise went ballistic on the set of Mission Impossible whatever number it is, but was he wrong?Also discussed this week: Lamar Jackson had an incredible bathroom emergency, Taylor Swift released a new album, and......There is a show that you must watch, and I do not say that lightly, I know how many damn show recommendations you must hear every week. Enjoy, tell your friends, and subscribe!

Opening Stand-Up Set: Sober In ChicagoIf you've watched Home Alone 2 and think the Wet (Sticky) Bandits are the bad guys, you haven't watched closely enough. Luckily, I'm here to open your eyes to the real fraud in the movie. Also discussed in this episode: The sheer terror of babysitting a toddler, why covid is only going to get worse, and my first virtual date.Enjoy, and don't forget to subscribe...and tell your friends!

Opening Stand-Up Set: Parallel Parking AudienceWelcome to the new era of the Taking the Mic! Podcast, with each new episode featuring a short stand-up set. The set for this episode was the first joke I ever did on stage, ad-libbed because I had no intro prepared, this one was a little more polished up from that version.Ryan Baldi joined Nino and me for his first ever appearance on the podcast. We talked about a myriad of subjects, including making unhealthy food healthy and life-swapping. Ryan also had an interesting take on how I could right a wrong from my past.Have a happy Thanksgiving Holiday and enjoy!

This episode was brought to you by Four Seasons Landscaping, lol.AB was back for another episode to follow up on our pre-election convo from last week. My friend of 20+ years, Brad Nykiel, also joined us to spice up the discourse around the election.Was the election a loss for the woke police? Is Trump getting his own TV network? Will he run again in 2024? We tackled all of these subjects on this week's TTM!Next week will be the debut of the new format I have been teasing for a couple weeks now, which will include a 3-5 minute stand up set before each episode. See you then!

This week, my friend AB joined me for a conversation about the upcoming election. We talked about the state of the country, his experience with racism as an immigrant from Pakistan and what we can expect this week with timing and the polls.It's all going to be ok and we're going to get through this together....say it with me! And VOTE!

That's right, Britney. Covid doesn't give a sh*t that you're "over it" and is choosing to exist despite the fact that you want to go out for bottomless mimosas with your girls. Everything is shut down again, and I threw myself quite the pity party over the last week. But that's fine! We're all entitled to them every once in a while.Something good came out of it, and I'm done pouting about the fact that I can't do open mics. Taking the Mic is undergoing a facelift. Starting next week, each episode will contain a stand up set to open the show and I'm going to try bringing more guests (comedian guests) onto the show for interviews. I'm excited, you should be too!

Both of my attempts to return to open mics have been thwarted in the last week, but we're not going to let that bring us down, are we? Well, maybe just a little....My first attempt at an open mic had to be postponed due to a Covid exposure last week. Tonight, I was geared-up to go, only to get rained out. We'll get back on stage eventually, I promise. In the meantime, on this episode, I talked about some TV recommendations and the possible end of our democracy in less than two weeks. The usual cheery stuff :)Enjoy, don't forget to subscribe!

Finally, my comedy podcast is about comedy again! In this week's episode, I discuss how Bill Burr's refreshing SNL monologue got me all jacked up to get back up on stage this week. Also, Seinfeld's new book wasn't what I thought, but I got one VERY important message from it. Both of my open mic sets will be recorded and we will critique together, live, on next week's TTM! Enjoy, do not forget to subscribe.

I have no words, but I try to recap whatever the f*ck that was last night. Shouting white men that we're calling what? Presidential candidates? I can't call them that, there has to be a better word for it. Between the yelling and Chris Wallace's bad Tom Brokaw impersonation, I'm not sure what undecided voters are supposed to walk away with.In other news, I've made the decision to start doing open mics again. The Taking The Mic! podcast will finally become what it was intended to be, an inside look to what it's like to start out in stand up comedy. Thanks for riding this pandemic out with me, more exciting times to come! Enjoy!

This week, we took the set of Taking the Mic! to Nino's backyard on a beautiful fall night. Jim Quaid joined Nino and myself and we answered more random questions from the question generator. Is war inevitable? Why does YouTube find me so ugly? Would you date a clown? Listen and enjoy!

I had a headache and I felt like yelling about stuff, but I also found a way to revolutionize the self-checkout line in the grocery store. I also discuss the tribalism culture that's been a mainstay in this country for the last 10 years. Finally, a public service announcement: If you see too many American flags, RUN!

In this episode, I warn older adults about trying to recapture athleticism from their youth. Bible study is back off a 3-week layoff! And I also talk about those DBag social media trolls. Have a listen!

Sick of hearing white people talk about racial injustice in America???Yea....I agree with you, but that didn't stop me. At least I'm acknowledging I have zero clue what it's like, the buys me a little credibility, right?In this episode, I give my thoughts on the American dumpster fire we're currently living through. Also, I got offered my first paying comedy gig, but there's a decent chance I'm being catfished. Listen up, and don't forget to subscribe!!!

Brian Mednicov and Nino Ottolino were my guests for the first of many monthly live espresso and hookah session recordings. We answered questions from a random question generator and found out that Nino had a 27-year old murderer friend as a young child. I also talked about me asking my parents to be Jewish so I have could have a bar mitzvah.We had some mic issues, so forgive the compromised audio quality. To be improved going forward. Enjoy!

Where did all the Nazis go? You only hear about Nazis and White Supremacy in the United States these days. Is it still a problem in Germany? It seems like it would be hard to get rid of ALL of that mess they made in less than 100 years.I also talk about the movie Flight with Denzel Washington; how it parallels to 2020 and how it got me sober.Enjoy! And Subscribe!

There's a new girl in my building and I don't know how to talk to her because girls terrify me. Help!Also discussed: Weighted shower curtains and the awful contract that is marriage. Subscribe now and tell your friends!

I made a very difficult decision today to set a goodbye date for my doggo Cal...and discussed why dogs are so good and humans just, well aren't. Also, week 2 of Bible Study with Dan! Sh*t got out of hand quickly in this week's reading. Subscribe already!

In this week's TTM! I update my diet/weight loss program, announce a plan for new content releases and begin my new weekly bible study segment. Enjoy!

Commentary on the Biff/Portnoy interview and scary ass protests/militia. I also talk about how brave I was getting fat during quarantine to keep local businesses afloat.Also, I made an announcement regarding performing at open mics. Enjoy!

Our president has a good, good brain wooohooo! Biff had an epic interview discussing the results of his cognitive function test. I also talked about the 20th anniversary of one of my favorite all-time movies and my deep, deep fear of females and trying to date. Give it a listen!

In this week's TTM! I review Louis CK's "Sincerely" special available for purchase through his website.I have thoughts on both the special and how his retreat and subsequent comeback relates to the 'woke' movement of the last several years. Where do you stand?

I start out this episode sorting through my anger for the government's "Covid relief" payment to the Catholic Church. It's wrong, it's awful, it makes zero sense to me...BUT, we have to move on to funnier things.The bulk of the episode is spent trying to sort through my favorite comedians. And with all the names I tried to get through, I'm certain I left off some very important all-time names. In fact, without a chat submission from a listener, I absolutely would have left off a very important comedian to me, Remember, this is my list, you have every right to disagree with my choices or omissions. Enjoy!

Welcome to Taking the Mic! In the pilot episode, I provide a brief introduction and talk about my decision to go into comedy and what led to it. Other topics I discuss include deer overpopulation and the justification used by hunters to kill them, childhood celeb crushes, being a firefighter during 4th of July and lastly the gift/curse that comes with trying to make everything into a joke. Hope you enjoy the maiden episode!

Ever wondered what it takes to be a stand-up comedian? Same...so last year, I said f*ck it. I love comedy and I'm not going to be an "it's too late" guy (age 36). I started writing and went up for my first 5-minute set at the close of 2019. I was hooked. Then we had ourselves a bit of a pandemic...deprived of open mics, I needed a way to work on my material and grow an audience. Enter the "Taking the Mic!" podcast. Each episode will be a blend of long-form, unpolished bits I am working on, along with commentary on the shortcomings of human beings (there are many). No topic is off the table. And as my beloved Chicago opens back up, I will return to the stage and let you in on every bit of elation and misery an upstart comedian gets to experience. You'll hear it all. The good, the bad and the awful...uncensored.