Talking Late Night

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max talks with Kristy West, founder of BraveSpace and current improviser. Kristy got into performing improv almost two decades ago with Whole World Theatre in Atlanta, GA. From there, she continued studying and performing until she came to a big realization: that the skills she was learning in her improv class were transferrable to her job in Sales and Corporate Training. From there, she blended the improv and business worlds together to create BraveSpace, a business that goes into corporations to offer "live learning programs and creative business solutions for teams and individuals using the methodology of improvisation." In addition to all that, she is currently in the process of creating and opening her very own theatre with her group "The Founders." Want to learn more about BraveSpace and Kristy? You can find them at their website, their Facebook, their Twitter, or their Instagram! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Ibanez Downtain, an improviser and main stage performer at the Village Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. Ibanez began his improv career with he was just 13 taking classes at Whole World Theatre in Atlanta. From there, he began to get involved at the Village Theatre, which is his current home for improv.  Ibanez performs in plenty of shows such as Improv Asshole and with his teams like Diet Mountain Thunder. You can learn more about the Village Theatre by visiting them on their website! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Ted Alexandro, a stand-up comedian, co-creator of the web series "Teacher's Lounge," and opener for Jim Gaffigan on the "Fixer Upper Tour." Ted's comedy has been met with critical acclaim, with the New York Times calling him "one of the funniest comedians working today." He has gotten the opportunity to appear on David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, and Conan O'Brien, and also has performed all over the world at venues like Madison Square Garden and the Sydney Opera House. Ted is also the co-creator (along with Hollis James) of the web series "Teacher's Lounge," a show where he stars as a school music teacher and that features a brand new comedian each episode. Currently, he is on tour all over the United States and the world with Jim Gaffigan for the "Fixer Upper Tour." Ted also has a brand new special out called "Senior Class of Earth." You can find it on his website and also through All Things Comedy! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max speaks with Freddy Boyd, an improviser, actor, and writer based in Atlanta, GA. Freddy got started doing improv with Georgia Tech's improv troupe "Let's Try This!" From there, his interest in performing and his times doing it increased. Today, Freddy performs all over Atlanta, from Highwire Comedy Company to the Village Theatre. He is a member of the General Company for Dad's Garage Theatre Company where you can see him almost every weekend performing improv and sometimes can even catch him acting in one of their scripted shows! Be sure to check out some of the shows at these three theatres to get a chance to see Freddy perform live! Also, he was named "Best with Legos" as his Pre-K superlative. So he's a pretty big deal. Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max chats with Plug Chapman, a stand-up comedian, writer, actor, and even former rapper. Plug started his performance career as a rapper. His career in the music industry brought him to Los Angeles where he discovered his knack for stand-up. He's been doing it ever since! Over his comedy career, he has opened for comics like Jon Lovitz and Jodi Miller and has performed at clubs like The Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory, and the Laughing Skull Comedy Club. In addition to that, he has performed on Kevin Hart's Hart of the City and was a finalist in the Black Film Festival's Comedy Wings Competition. In November 2018 Plug will be teaching a stand-up class at the Laughing Skull which you can sign up for here! Want to learn more about Plug? Follow him on Twitter, friend him on Facebook, and visit him at his website. Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Jeff Murdoch, a mainstage player at The Second City and co-founder of the comedy duo "Seriously Unprepared." Jeff is an improv performer, actor, and writer currently based out of Chicago, Illinois. He has performed at many different theatres in the city including iO, the Annoyance, and Upstairs Gallery. In addition to performing at theatres in Chicago, he has performed improv through Second City on multiple cruise ships and was a member of the Second City National Touring Company. Today, Jeff is currently a mainstage performer for The Second City. He is also a member of the comedy duo "Seriously Unprepared," which have written and performed sketches and television pilots that have been met with critical acclaim from organizations like the New York Television Festival. Want to learn more about Jeff? You can find out more about him on his website and his Twitter. Check out content by Seriously Unprepared at their website and you can always see him perform nightly at Second City by clicking here! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max chats with Steve Hernandez, a stand-up comedian, and a podcast producer and host. Steve didn't get into comedy immediately. For many years, he was a pastor at a church in California. When he realized that wasn't for him, he looked to other avenues and eventually found stand-up! He is the founder of and currently hosts Chatterbox Comedy Nights at Chatterbox, a bar in Covina, California. He also is the host and producer of two podcasts: "Who's Your God?" and "Views from the Vista." Want to learn more about Steve or see him perform? You can follow him on both Twitter and Instagram! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Amy Miller, an LA-based stand-up comedian who has appeared in shows and festivals all over the United States and is the co-host of her very own podcast, "Who's Your God?" Amy didn't get into stand-up until she was thirty-years-old, with her first performance coming at an open mic at a laundromat. From there, her career exploded. Amy has appeared as a semi-finalist on NBC's "Last Comic Standing," Viceland's "Flophouse," "Doug Loves Movies," and NPR's "Marketplace," and has performed her comedy at many festivals such as the San Francisco Sketchfest and the Bridgetown Comedy Festival. She was even named Portland's Funniest Person by the Helium Comedy Club! In addition to stand-up, Amy co-hosts her own podcast entitled "Who's Your God?" Want to learn more about Amy? You can find her at her website, Twitter, and Instagram! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max talks with Ken Roberston, the artistic director of BATS Improv in San Francisco, California. Ken began his career in the performing industry as a professionally trained actor. From there, he worked with the Denver Center Theatre Company, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and the On-Edge stunt team. Ken has also been a writer for the scripts of multiple video games. He started performing improv with BATS Improv in San Francisco and never left. Ken went from student to company member, to teacher, to eventually his current role as Artistic Director! Want to learn more about BATS and check out a show at the theatre? Check out their website here! Want to learn more about Ken? Visit his website or Twitter! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max talks with Matt Elwell, Executive Director of CSz Worldwide and an improv teacher and performer. Matt got involved with comedy (after years of performing theatre) when he watched his first improv show in Chicago. Since then, Matt has been a performer with multiple improv theatres and shows including ComedySportz, Second City, iO, and Dave & Co. In addition to performing, Matt has taught at Dave & Co., ComedySportz Chicago, and was also an Associate Faculty Member of the Second City Training Center in Chicago. Today, Matt is the Executive Director of CSz Worldwide (the company that operates ComedySportz Shows) and is also a corporate speaker and trainer who, using improv, has worked with many companies all over the United States. To learn more about CSz and ComedySportz you can check them out on their website! To learn more about Matt, you can find him on LinkedIn.  Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Matt Besser, an improviser, a podcast host of Improv4Humans and Professor Besser, and a founder of the Upright Citizens Brigade. Matt began his comedy career in college when he hosted his own early morning radio show. From there, he started stand-up comedy. Eventually, Matt ended up in Chicago where he studied improv under legendary improv teacher Del Close. Along with Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts, and Amy Poehler, Matt is a founder of the Upright Citizens Brigade, an improv and sketch comedy theatre with locations in both New York City and Los Angeles. Matt has appeared in many television shows and movies including "Comedy Bang Bang," "Modern Family," "Parks and Recreation," "Year One," "Bad Teacher," and many, many more. Today he is a regular improviser at the Upright Citizens Brigade as well as the host of his two podcasts Improv4Humans and Professor Besser. Want to see Matt perform or learn more about him? You can find him on Twitter or at his website! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max sits down with Kate Robards, an award-winning playwright, comedian, actress, and founding member of the Focus on Golden Gate (FOGG) Theatre Company in San Francisco, California. Kate is the writer and star of multiple one-woman shows that have premiered all over the United States, everywhere from Washington D.C. all the way to Maui, Hawaii. As an actress, Kate has performed with multiple theatre groups including the Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory, the Shanghai Repertory Theatre, the San Francisco Olympians, and she is currently training at the Barrow Group in New York City. In addition, Kate is a founding member of the FOGG Theatre Company where she served on the board of directors and is a graduate of the Upright Citizens Brigade improvisation school. Want to learn more about Kate and see her perform her show? You can find everything you need to know about her and her comedy at her website here! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max speaks with Louis Galanti, a video editor, an animator, and a stand-up comedian. Louis always enjoyed working on videos and so he decided to pursue it as a career after graduating from the University of Georgia. He has worked for GRAiNEY PICTURES, been a Production Assistant on Sony's movie "Goosebumps," and been an editor for Grit Tree Productions where he edited for Comcast Xfinity on Demand's television show "Black Tie and BBQ." Today, Louis is an editor and animator for Consume Media. Louis is also a stand-up comedian who performs all around Atlanta. Interested in learning more about Louis and the work he does? You can check out his website! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Jen O'Neill Smith, a stand-up comedian, writer, and producer. Based in Atlanta, Jen has been able to perform all over the city and also all over the United Staes. She has produced and co-produced multiple stand-up comedy shows including Schlitz and Giggles Stand Up Comedy Showcase, Brunchlines, and Date Night: A Sensual Comedy Experience. Jen has also gotten the opportunity to perform at many, many comedy festivals around the United States including the Laughing Skull Festival, the Women in Comedy Festival, Laugh Your Asheville Off, the Memphis Comedy Festival, the Bird City Comedy Festival, and the Hell Yes Fest. Interested in learning more about Jen or want to check her out in one of her awesome shows? You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and also can check out her website! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max chats with Matt Bellak, a stand-up comedian, and co-founder of the Fresh Drunk Stoned Comedy Tour. Matt started his comedy career performing in open mics at the Funky Buddha in Florida and from there he became one of the most well-known comedians in the south Florida comedy scene. Matt moved to Chicago to pursue stand-up and from there founded (along with three other comedians) the Fresh Drunk Stoned Tour, a comedy tour that has taken him to venues all across the country and has sold out numerous clubs. He has also been able to open and spend time with many famous comedians as well, from Bert Kreischer to Colin Jost. Interested in seeing Matt perform live? You can visit the Fresh Drunk Stoned Tour's website by clicking here to find out when they will be visiting a city near you! You can also follow Matt and his comedy adventures on both his Facebook and his Twitter. Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max talks with Brent Terhune, a stand-up comedian who is also a writer for the Bob & Tom Radio Show and the writer and illustrator for the Uncle Frank comic strip. Brent is from Indianapolis but travels around the United States performing his stand-up comedy at all different clubs and festivals. Brent is also a writer for the Bob & Tom Radio show, which is a nationally-syndicated show. He is also can be seen on the podcast Wrastlemania, a podcast all about pro-wrestling. Along with all of that, Brent's jokes have been featured on multiple of Sirius XM's Comedy Channels! If you are interested in learning more about Brent or seeing him do comedy in person you can check him out on his Twitter or his website! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Christine Medrano, a Los Angeles-based stand-up comedian originally from Winnipeg, Canada. Christine moved to LA when she graduated high school to become an actress but soon afterward found her love for stand-up comedy and never stopped. Over her almost 10-year-long career, she has gotten to open for both Maria Bamford and Jackie Kashian. Christine has also been a finalist for SiriusXM's "Canada's Next Top Comic," the Laugh Factory's Laugh Bowl, was a semi-finalist for NBC's Stand Up for Diversity and a writer for the CBS Diversity Showcase, and will be appearing later this year in HBO's Latino Stand-Up Special. On top of all that, Christine has also been a part of videos for Buzzfeed, Cracked, Super Deluxe, All Def Digital, and the Eric Andre Show. Want to see Christine perform or follow her career? Follow her on both Instagram and Twitter, and check out her website for future performance dates! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max sits down with Andrew George, stand-up comedian, and manager of the Laughing Skull Lounge in Atlanta, GA. Andrew first got into stand-up for a talent show. Even though he didn't win a trophy, he was hooked on making people laugh. During college, he continued to do stand-up and eventually became an intern at one of Atlanta's and the country's most prominent and famous stand-up comedy clubs: the Laughing Skull Lounge. From there, he never left. Today, Andrew is the manager and the booker for the club and has gotten to share comedy experiences with everyone from Dave Chappelle to Norm Macdonald. Andrew is also one of the people tasked with booking and organizing the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival (April 26-29, 2018), a massive event that takes place every year in Atlanta, bringing in comedians from all over the United States (plus a few surprises!). You can find out more about the Laughing Skull Lounge by clicking here. You can also learn more about the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival and purchase tickets to see some great comedians by clicking here. You can find Andrew performing every week at the club and you can also follow him on Twitter! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Jen Lenny, an Atlanta-based stand-up comedian. Jen didn't know she was interested in stand-up until she was peer-pressured into doing it with her friends. While her first time went terribly, her second time was great! So she decided to stick with it. Jen has performed at multiple festivals both in Atlanta and all around the United States and in 2016 was named Paste Magazine's Comedian to Watch. Jen is also a huge fan of the television show "The Bachelor" and one day wants to be a contestant on the show. So much so that she started a movement for it. You can find Jen performing regularly all around Atlanta and can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes! 

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max speaks with Samm Severin, an Atlanta-based stand-up comedian. Samm began her stand-up career in college after realizing her entire life she had a gift for making others laugh. Her comedy was no exception. After doing extremely well in college, Samm moved to Atlanta to pursue her stand-up career full-time. Since then, she has produced and co-produced Emory University's comedy and poetry scholars showcase, fundraisers for local politicians, and even had her own show entitled "The Samm and Jen's Big Adventures Live Show." Samm also has had the opportunity to open for comics such as Janeane Garofolo, Creed Bratton, Barry Crimmins, and Kyle Kinane. This year, she is set to perform during the 2018 Laughing Skull Comedy Festival! To find Samm and stay updated on her performances, you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max talks with Rachel LaForce, a former improviser with Second City, a stand-up comedian, and an actress who has been featured in the Whitney Cummings HBO pilot "A Lot" as well as Whitney Cummings' full-feature directorial debut in "The Female Brain." After moving to Chicago to pursue a career in comedy, Rachel became heavily involved in the improv scene there. Rachel has performed with iO Chicago, the Annoyance Theatre, and Second City, where she was a touring company member for many years. She also wrote and performed in many sketches that premiered at multiple festivals such as the Chicago Improv Festival, the Del Close Festival, and the San Francisco Sketchfest. Today, Rachel lives in Los Angeles where she continues her comedy career doing improv, sketch, and stand-up! Interested in learning more about her or seeing her perform? Check out her website where you can follow her on all the social media! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max sits down with Trey Moe, a YouTube celebrity, actor, and stand-up comedian. Trey began his comedy career by writing, filming, and producing sketches at his alma mater, the University of Alabama. After he moved to Atlanta and became a regular stand-up at the Laughing Skull Lounge, he moved to Los Angeles where he became an actor and began his internet fame. Today, Trey has amassed a following of over 300,000 people and his YouTube channel has over 50,000,000 total views. You can follow Trey on his Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube page, and can also find out more about his stand-up touring dates on his website! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max sits down with Ryan Archibald, a veteran improviser who has performed and taught at Boom Chicago (located in Amsterdam), iO Chicago, and Second City and who is the current Artistic Director for the Village Theatre. As soon as Ryan saw improv for the first time he knew that's what he wanted to do. Not only was he an improviser at all three of those theatres previously mentioned, but he also was a teacher, coach, and director for multiple shows and theatres. Ryan performed with the Second City Touring Company and was on a resident stage in Las Vegas as well. After performing all over the world for many years, Ryan was hired by the Village Theatre in Atlanta to be their new Artistic Director, a role that he serves as today. Interested in taking classes or seeing shows at the Village Theatre? Check out their website here where, more than likely, you'll be able to see Ryan in a few shows! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max talks with Curtis Retherford, an improviser with the Upright Citizens Brigade, an improv coach to multiple teams, and a writer for the Princeton Review's Test Preparation books. Curtis had a feeling that his life would focus on comedy when in the 4th grade he was named "Class Comedian." After graduating from Evergreen State College in 2003, Curtis moved to Seattle where he made doughnuts for Top Pot Doughnuts. Then, he moved to New York City where his comedy career really took off. Curtis currently performs improv with numerous groups, including Megaplex, at Upright Citizens Brigade Hell's Kitchen. He also is the host of his very own podcast entitled "Improv, Beat by Beat." Finally, Curtis is currently a writer for many of the Princeton Review's Test Preparation books. So odds are he helped you pass your SAT or ACT! Want to learn more about Curtis? Check out his website and be sure to follow him on Twitter! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Casey Whitaker, a former touring cast member with Second City, playwright of "Lucky, Liar, Loser," and an actress and stand-up comedian. Casey got involved in Chicago comedy when she participated in the Second City Comedy Studies program while attending the University of Kentucky. She was hooked and ended up staying in Chicago. In her time there, Casey played at iO Chicago and Second City and became a member of Second City's national touring troupe. She wrote and directed the play "Luck, Liar, Loser" and had it performed at Saint Mary's college while she was the Margaret M. Hill-endowed Visiting Artist-in-Residence. With stand-up, Casey has been able to tour all over Europe and the United States and her unique routine has been met with much praise. To learn more about Casey and follow her comedy career, check out her website! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Damon Sumner, an accomplished stand-up comedian, co-founder of China's very first maintained comedy club, and co-host of the sports and comedy podcast "Fourth and Ten." Since starting stand-up, Damon has had an extremely successful and exciting career in comedy. He has gotten to perform sets at festivals and clubs not only all over the United States but the world as well. He has shared the stage with people such as Todd Glass, Iliza Shlesinger, and Wendy Liebman, and performed at festivals like the Dallas Comedy Festival and the Laugh Your Asheville Off Comedy Festival. Damon was a part of the team that opened the first full-time mainland comedy club in China, the Kungfu Comedy Club. The club's influence in Asian comedy has been instrumental and was a leading cause of stand-up spreading to many Asian countries, notably China and Vietnam. Finally, Damon co-hosts the hilarious podcast "Fourth and Ten" alongside former Talking Late Night guest David Perdue and fellow stand-up comedian Nathan Owens. Want to learn more about Damon? Check out his website here and be sure to follow him on Twitter by clicking here. Also be sure to check out Damon's podcast and like its Facebook page! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max sits down with Vincent Migliore, co-founder of Rufio and an improviser, coach, and teacher at the Village Theatre. Vincent realized he liked comedy at a young age when he watched the movie "Airplane" for the first time (from which he memorized multiple scenes) and put on every single piece of clothing he owned to make his family laugh. Vincent tried his first hand at improv at the Village Theatre and ended up never leaving. After taking numerous classes, he joined their Main Stage Cast and became an improv teacher and coach. That's not all, though. Vincent is the co-founder (along with Cassidy Russell) of the critically-acclaimed improv duo "Rufio." With Rufio, Vincent and Cassidy have performed at the Black Box Tournament in Atlanta, the Del Close Marathon at the UCB Theatre in New York, Theatre 99 in Charleston, and at many more theatres and festivals across the United States. Want to see Vincent perform? Check out the Village Theatre at their website and Rufio at their website! Want to learn more about Vincent? Be sure to follow him on Twitter! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Jessica Young, an improviser currently at the Village Theatre in Atlanta, but a former Mainstage Player at Ryan Stiles' The Upfront Theatre in Bellingham, Washington. Jessica got involved with improv when she went to Western Washington University and joined their nationally acclaimed troupe "The Dead Parrots Society." From there, Jessica fell in love with the art of improv. After graduating with a degree in Theatrical Performance, Jessica moved to New York City to pursue theatre. Once there, she continued her acting career by appearing in multiple productions, continued her improv career by training at both the Peoples Improv Theatre (PIT) and the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB), and worked an amazing job at a comic book shop. After that, she lived in both Bellingham, Washington (where she became a Mainstage Player for Ryan Stiles' The Upfront Theatre) and Los Angeles, California (where she trained at The Groundlings and iO West). After a long road trip across America (no joke), she landed in Atlanta at the Village Theatre, where she continues to perform improv, coach, and act to this day. You can follow Jessica on Instagram to learn about all her upcoming performances, and also be sure to check out the Village Theatre to see their amazing improv shows! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews CJ Toledano, the current managing editor for the NFL's "The Checkdown," and a former writer for Bleacher Report, and NBC's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." CJ has one unique comedy career and has practically done it all. When it comes to late-night television, CJ has been a script intern with "Conan." From there, he was hired to be a writer in New York City for "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." When it comes to sports, CJ has held some cool jobs. He was the head writer for the Detroit Pistons, helping them produce content for Funny or Die. From there, he was hired by notable sports reporting website Bleacher Report to be a head writer. At Bleacher Report, CJ wrote and produced web series such as "Game of Zones" and "Gridiron Heights." Today, he is the managing editor for the NFL's "The Checkdown." Finally, CJ is also a stand-up comedian who has opened for both Bo Burnham and Joel McHale. See? He really has done it all. If you want to learn more about CJ, be sure to follow him Twitter! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Joe Kwaczala, one of Comedy Central's 2017 Up Next Comics to Watch and former writer for Clickhole and the Onion News Network. In his comedy career, Joe has been all over. When it comes to stand-up, Joe has performed all over the United States and has opened for acts such as Aziz Ansari, Joel McHale, and the Sklar Brothers. As a writer, Joe has contributed his work to both Clickhole and the Onion News Network. He co-created, wrote, and starred in the IFC web series "Does Dave Know We're Here?" and also won the "Best Comedy" award at the New York Television Festival for his independent pilot "Cowards." Finally, Joe is the host of the Late Live Show, a talk show that was performed live for audiences in Chicago and eventually Los Angeles. Currently, Joe is the host of The Wheel Show, a long-running sketch/variety show at the Nerdist Showroom at Meltdown Comics. If you'd like to learn more about Joe, follow him on Twitter, like his pictures on Instagram, or check out his website where you can watch his award-winning pilot episode of his show! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Bill DiPiero, an improviser currently at the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York City, but has previously performed at the Washington Improv Theatre (WIT), the People's Improv Theatre (PIT), and iO Chicago in shows at festivals all over the United States. In addition to being an improv performer, Bill is an improv coach and teacher as well. Apart from improv, Bill is a writer and actor as well. He wrote and directed a comedy musical that was produced called "Teeth: A Monstrous Musical Comedy" (which you can actually watch by clicking here)! Finally, his comedy TV pilot "Crime Boys," co-written with Zach Goldbaum, was a 2017 New York Television Festival Official Selection. You can follow Bill on Twitter and check him out at his website. You can also find him performing improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade and People's Improv Theatre! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max speaks with Mia Jackson, a stand-up comedian who was a semi-finalist on NBC's "Last Comic Standing." Mia knew she was funny her entire life but didn't totally dive into the world of stand-up until she was in college in Athens, Georgia at the University of Georgia. From there, she fell in love with stand-up and nothing could stop her from performing. She would even commute from Athens to Atlanta and back to Athens on a nightly basis (over an hour drive each way!). Today, Mia is not just a Georgia gem anymore. She has been featured on Oxygen, TLC, NickMom's Night Out, and the legendary comedy festival Just For Laughs. Mia has opened for and performed with comedians such as Amy Schumer, Dave Chappelle, Arsenio Hall, Judd Apatow, and Chris Rock. Finally, Mia was a semi-finalist on Season 9 of NBC's hit television show "Last Comic Standing." You can learn more about Mia at her website, follow her on Instagram, and like her page on Facebook! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max sits down and talks with Ian Covell, the founder of Highwire Comedy Company in Atlanta, GA. Ian discovered improv comedy while he was in college at Florida State University and fell in love with it. After spending much time in both Los Angeles and Orlando pursuing both comedy and acting, Ian came to Atlanta where he got involved with multiple improv theatres in the city. Ian is the founder and creator of Highwire Comedy Company, a comedy theatre that offers both shows and classes in sketch, stand-up, and improv. The theatre has been met with much critical acclaim and was voted Atlanta Magazines "Best New Comedy Venue 2016." If you are interested in taking classes or seeing a show at Highwire, check out their website by clicking here, like them on Facebook here, look at their Instagram pictures here, and tweet them on Twitter by clicking here. Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews David Perdue, a stand-up comedian who has appeared on Kevin Hart's "Hart of the City," "Uproarious" on Fuse TV, and who has been named as one of Atlanta's "People to Watch in 2017" by Creative Loafing. David didn't get involved with stand-up until he was in college but once he tried it, he was hooked. Since then, David performs at every show and open mic and every comedy venue and theatre you can imagine. He has also been able to perform at multiple festivals all over the United States such as the Bridgetown Comedy Festival and the Laugh Your Asheville Comedy Festival. In addition to stand-up, David co-hosts a podcast with Damon Sumner and Nate Owens entitled "Fourth and Ten." You can find David at his website by clicking here and can follow him on Twitter here! Also be sure to check out David's podcast and like its Facebook page! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max chats with former stand-up comedian and long-time stand-up teacher Jeff Justice. Jeff got involved with stand-up comedy in 1981. From there, his career took off. He had the opportunity to appear all over the United States and also performed on multiple national television shows as well. In 1991, Jeff was sitting in a comedy club watching young comedians performed. Once the show was over, he approached them and gave some advice for their sets. He found that those who took his advice got bigger laughs. From there, his comedy teaching career was born. Since then, Jeff has had thousands of students take his class and many have continued on to become professional stand-up comedians. In addition to teaching, Jeff also does speaking engagements and corporate training and has been invited by businesses to speak all over the world. Interested in Jeff for your corporation? Visit his website by clicking here. Interested in learning and performing stand-up? Visit Jeff's comedy class website by clicking here! You can also like Jeff's Facebook and follow him on Twitter. Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max talks with Cassidy Russell, an improviser, writer, improv coach, artist, and co-creator of the critically-acclaimed improv duo "Rufio." Cassidy has been doing improv ever since she was a kid. After attending college at Notre Dame and attaining her degree in printmaking, Cassidy moved to Washington D.C. to continue her comedy career. She took many classes and played with many teams in different forms and enjoyed all of it. She moved down to Atlanta to get her Master's and became involved in the Atlanta comedy scene, most notably at the Village Theatre. Along with Vincent Migliore, Cassidy formed the improv duo Rufio. Rufio has performed all over the United States including the Del Close Marathon in New York City. In Atlanta, Cassidy also played the role of improv coach, coaching local teams like Pretty Much Sisters. Today, Cassidy lives in Chicago where she looks to get involved in Chicago's legendary improv and comedy community. Finally, in addition to all that, in elementary school, she was voted best at drawing a skeleton. Boom. Be sure to check out Cassidy's website by clicking here and check out Rufio's website by clicking here. Don't forget to follow her on Twitter by clicking here and Rufio on Facebook by clicking here as well! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max sits down with Joel Byars, podcast host of "Hot Breath!" and a stand-up comedian and teacher of comedy. Joel decided he would try out comedy his senior year of college and after doing his first set, he was hooked. After years of performing nightly in comedy club open-mics and working every job you can imagine, Joel was able to commit to comedy full-time. In addition to performing stand-up, Joel also teaches stand-up classes through Highwire Comedy Company. Finally, Joel hosts his own podcast entitled "Hot Breath! with Joel Byars" where he interviews everyone from comedians to businesspeople. If you want to learn all about Joel, you can find him at his website here. Be sure to check out his podcast, too! You can also follow him on social media on his Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max sits down with stand-up comedian, sketch writer, and performer Hayley Ellman. Hayley started her stand-up career young when at the age of just 15(!) she got onstage for her first set. When she finished, one of the other comedians at the open mic called her "the next Dave Chapelle." From there, she was hooked on comedy, especially stand-up. Hayley has performed comedy all over Georgia and the South. Not only is she a stand-up, though, she is an actress, a writer, and a behind-the-scenes technical worker and works with Highwire Comedy Company. You can find Hayley performing comedy all over Atlanta, but be sure to like her Facebook and Twitter pages for regular updates on her stand-up and life! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max speaks with Travis Jones, an Atlanta-based stand-up comedian, and host of Highwire Comedy Company's late-night talk show, "Good Evening, Tonight!" After Travis graduated college from the University of Georgia, he found himself stuck at a boring desk job. After getting tired of the same music and sports shows, he discovered comedy podcasts and his comedy career began. He took one stand-up comedy class, realized his love for the art, and has never looked back since. Travis has since performed stand-up, improv, and sketch not only in Atlanta but also all over the country in many different festivals and shows. Today you can find him hosting Comedy Night at Second Self Brewery and Date Night at the Brigantine Beer Parlor and Recreation Hall, performing regularly at the Laughing Skull Lounge, and hosting "Good Evening, Tonight" at Highwire Comedy Company every Saturday night! You can stay updated on Travis's life by following him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Lucky Yates, the voice of Dr. Krieger on the hit television show "Archer," a professional puppeteer who worked puppets for "The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland," a host on "FilmStruck," and an actor who has been featured repeatedly on "Good Eats." Lucky (originally Matt) Yates is from Detroit, Michigan. After attending college at Wayne State University, he made the jump into showbiz and moved to New York City. After spending a few years there, he decided to make his way down to Atlanta, GA where he has been ever since. When he got to Atlanta, Lucky discovered his love for puppets and since then has been a major player in the puppeteering world (even getting the chance to perform Oscar the Grouch for Kevin Clash (the man behind Elmo) for an audition). Lucky voiced Xtacles on "Frisky Dingo" and now you can hear him on the critically-acclaimed FXX show "Archer" as Dr. Krieger! If that's not enough for you, Lucky has also been featured regularly on "Good Eats," and is very good friends with Alton Brown. He even had Thanksgiving dinner at his house once. You can find Lucky performing at Dad's Garage and can follow him on Twitter! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night Max chats with Sarah Zureick-Brown, the Community Coordinator for Highwire Comedy Company, an improv teacher, a sketch writer, and an actress located in Atlanta. As a kid, Sarah was interested in all things supernatural (even though the one time she performed as an actress in a haunted house she ended up scaring herself). She always liked making jokes, being inspired by her mother, who was an improv teacher. However, Sarah did take a ten-year break from comedy when she went to college to casually get her Ph.D. in Demography from UC Berkeley. She then moved to Atlanta, got involved in the improv scene and the rest is history! Sarah helped create the Highwire Comedy Company, she became trained in the Meisner acting technique through the Robert Mello Studio, she teaches improv, and she actively writes sketch comedy with her sketch troupe Eternal Slumber Party! You can find Sarah at Highwire or at her website! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Andy Coen, a writer for Cartoon Network, co-owner of Automatic Improv, and former reporter and producer for CNN. Andy had an epiphany while sitting in his freshman orientation for college and realized he wanted to spend his life making people laugh. Since then, that is exactly what he has been doing. Andy founded Automatic Improv but that just scratches the surface of what he has done. He has performed improv all over the country, he did stand-up, and he also teaches improv. Andy also worked for CNN as a tour guide, writer, producer, and performer. He had the honor of army crawling on the floor during a live broadcast to plug a reporter's microphone back in. Good times. Today, Andy works for Cartoon Network as a writer having the opportunity conceive, write, and produce videos for the network. You can find Andy "always doing the funny around town" at Dad's Garage or Automatic, follow him on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to watch Cartoon Network! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max speaks with Jenny Wentling, host of the "Who's Your Daddy?" podcast and improviser with the General Company of Dad's Garage Theatre Company. After Jenny finished up architecture school, she moved to Atlanta where she immediately began looking to become involved in the comedy community. After taking her first improv class through Dad's Garage, she knew she found her home immediately. In addition to being an improv performer, Jenny is a talented illustrator and she hosts her own improvised podcast! To find out more about Jenny, check out her website, take a peek at her Instagram, and be sure to listen to her podcast! Also, she wanted me to mention that she is, in fact, a friend of Scott Adsit's.  Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Tara Ochs, a performer, improviser, writer of her own one-woman show "White Woman in Progress," and actress in the critically-acclaimed movie "Selma." Tara realized her love for performing at a young age when she would reenact Saturday Night Live sketches for her church. When she went to college at Florida State University, she got involved with the Wham-O Players (the group who would later form Dad's Garage Theatre Company). After graduating, Tara moved to Atlanta to pursue a career in theatre and comedy (and also to improvise with Dad's!). She's performed all over (Los Angeles, London, Berlin, the Ocean) with a lot of different people (Damon Wayan's "The Underground," ComedySportz LA, ACME Comedy Theatre, London TheatreSports, Second City). Tara also acted in the movie "Selma," playing the role of Viola Liuzzo. This role led her to write her one-woman show entitled "White Woman in Progress," which ran in early 2017 at 7 Stages Theatre in Atlanta. You can find Tara performing and teaching regularly at Dad's Garage, follow her on Twitter, and check her out as VP of Development over at Picture It Productions! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max chats with improviser, writer, and director Megan Leahy. Megan started her comedy career young, performing in various theatre groups as a kid and in college. But when she thought theatre was not maybe for her, she turned to the next logical choice she could think of...geology. After spending a few years working in an asbestos lab being the funniest geologist around, Megan was able to take some classes at Dad's Garage Theatre in Atlanta. She has been an improviser there ever since. Megan has also written the hit sketch show "Woman of the Year," which was voted Best Play 2016 by Atlanta readers in Creative Loafing, and directed Mark Kendall in his show "Morgan Freeman Presents the Magic Negro and Other Blackness." You can find Megan performing almost every weekend at Dad's Garage and can also find her on her Twitter and Instagram! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Amber Nash, an improviser, actress, and voice of Pam Poovey on the FXX show "Archer." Amber always loved weird comedy (her words, not mine) and when she got to college she found out she loved improv just as much. Starting as a student at Whole World Theatre in Atlanta, Amber has performed improv all over the world (and ocean) with groups such as Second City, iO, and today with Dad's Garage! From there, she started her voice acting on an Adult Swim show "Frisky Dingo" where she voiced Val. That led her to where she is now, voicing Pam Poovey on the critically-acclaimed television show "Archer." You can follow Amber on both her Twitter and her Instagram, as well as check her out in her web series! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews John Mangan, an actor, improviser, and host of the Village Theatre's "Pretty Late Show." John found his love of late night when he was just a kid watching David Letterman with his dad. He found his love for performing when he fake vomited in front of his fourth-grade class. Both David Letterman and fake throw-up had huge impacts on John's life. After attending college at Temple University, John moved to Atlanta and got involved with Automatic Improv. He's been a huge player in the comedy scene ever since. You can learn more about John at his website, check him out in his improvised talk show, co-hosted with Andy Coen, the "Pretty Late Show" at the Village Theatre, and definitely see him often performing around Atlanta! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max talks with Kevin McDonald, creator of the Kids in the Hall and host of the podcast "Kevin McDonald's Kevin McDonald Show." Kevin formed his sketch group, the Kids in the Hall, with fellow comedian and friend Dave Foley. From there, the Kids in the Hall got their own television show on HBO produced by Lorne Michaels, and they have been a comedy classic every since. Kevin has also acted in and done voiceover work for many films and television shows including Seinfeld, That 70's Show, Lilo & Stitch, Sky High, and more. Today, Kevin hosts his own podcast where every episode is a new variety show! To watch some of Kevin's Kids in the Hall sketches click here and to check out his very funny podcast click here! Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max speaks with Jim Hodgson, an Atlanta-based comedy writer, and host of the Village Theatre's "Atlanta Explained." Growing up, Jim always noticed he was the funny kid and as he got older he slowly began to realize what his true destiny was...to become a rock n' roll legend. When that didn't quite work out, Jim turned to comedic writing and his life has been in comedy ever since. You can check out Jim's novels, blog, and podcasts at his website here and can also find him the last Saturday of every month performing at the Village Theatre in his show, "Atlanta Explained!" Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like and share our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max interviews Mike Funt, a performer, teacher, and professional clown based out of Los Angeles, California. Mike started his theatrical career young by being allowed to perform for his first-grade class if he behaved during the week. From there, he majored in theatre at Valdosta State University. Mike's background in professional performing includes acting in plays and short films and doing stand-up and improv. Most notably, Mike Funt is a clown. In addition to working with the clown troupes Four Clowns, Ten West, and Clowns Without Borders, Mike writes his own clown shows and puts on many per year. Not only is Mike a clown, he is also a teacher, instructing students worldwide on how they can truly access their "inner idiot." Check Mike out here, and be sure to look up his classes at The Clown School if you want to discover that clown that has always been inside you. Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!    

On this episode of Talking Late Night, Max talks with Mark Kendall, an Atlanta-based writer, actor, and comedian. You can find him around the city at multiple theatres like Dad's Garage, Highwire, the Village Theatre, and more performing improv and some of his sketches. He recently closed his show at the Alliance Theatre, "The Magic Negro and Other Blackity Blackness as Told by an African-American Man Who Also Happens to be Black," and also recently closed another show, co-written with Alison Hastings, at Dad's Garage entitled, "U Up?" You can also check him out in his improv group, Dark Side of the Room. Want more Mark Kendall? Follow him on his Facebook page!   Thank you for tuning in! Be sure to like our Facebook page here, and also rate and leave us a review on iTunes!