The Joker Broker Podcast

It may just be the last Joker Broker episode to ever be recorded...Or not? Andrew has launched a career in news media on TikTok and Sam asks him the tough questions about his potential biases. We had a blast this week and we covered everything from comedy stage-time to telling your team-members you're proud of them. Thanks for tuning in!

We tried a different kind of intro for Sam this time, and he wasn't happy about it! In this episode, we explored the relationships between learning, teaching, and participating in the real world. Thanks for tuning in as always!

Andrew's back from a 6+ week tour across Canada and into the US. All of these places, including our home in Ontario, are dealing with some kind of vaccine-mandate and vaccine-denial amongst their population. We discussed this and much more, and had a great time doing it. Thanks for tuning in!

Andrew shares the story of an unbelievable and unique experience at a comedy show he recently performed at. You're going to want to hear this story. Hang on tight cause this episode is a fun ride! Thanks for tuning in.

Andrew escaped from his prison cell to make this episode a possibility. We dove into the way different generations interact as consumers and how this is shaping the world of entertainment, service & product delivery. Thanks for tuning in, JBP fam.

Are discipline and motivation different things, or two sides of the same coin? The title of this episode is more intense than it needs to be. We had a great time sharing what we've been up to and how we use these two forces (discipline & motivation) in tandem to keep our mental health & career ambitions on the right track. Thanks for listening!

Our financial and social lives continue to move increasingly to the digital world. The 'Crypto craze' has caught our attention too, and we open the episode imagining a better world built on a block chain. Today, our social lives are totally online. As Andrew continues to grow his social media following, we explore how jealousy and comparison to others can sneak its way in, and methods to combat these negative mental processes. This week was a blast, enjoy the show!

Technical difficulties using Zoom is no longer be acceptable in 2021. By now, we've all had a chance to use digital meeting software, and it's time to take your digital hosting skills to the next level. Andrew & Sam share their tactics & strategies for hosting engaging digital events - whether it's a learning webinar or replicating the feel of a comedy club! Thanks for tuning in!

It's no secret that our culture idolizes hard work. Hard work is in fact super valuable. But when is it too much? Andrew & Sam explore situations that can lead to feeling 'burnt out', and what you can do to recover, or avoid it altogether. Thanks for tuning in!

It's easy to dream of quitting your day job to pursue your artistic passion - but what is it really like? Andrew & Sam discuss sales and marketing pressures that artists need to balance with the creation of their art, and how similar it is to the pressures felt by any other business owner. Enjoy the show!

When is it worth your time to follow the news carefully? And is it valid to ignore what's happening to focus on your own priorities? The news and media in general continues to evolve in response to our technology and social media - our style of consumption needs to evolve too.

Why do we ignore plagiarism when we see it on social media? Entire businesses are built on copying others' content format, ideas, and memes. Andrew & Sam explore why creatives & businesses do not need to worry about copy-cats, and the importance of creating space for your own personality to shine through. Thanks as always for tuning in!

A kludge is a haphazard or makeshift solution to a problem, and we use them in our day-to-day lives all the time. Andrew & Sam explore the various kludges needed in a pandemic-world for comedy and business to survive. We discuss the seemingly low-bar for credibility in todays' online world, and what contributes to someone's perceived credibility.  Thanks always for tuning in!

Lockdowns have forced everyone to reconsider their online presence. Andrew shares how he's ramped up his content creation to a whole new level, and we explore how organizations & businesses can think about their approach to creating meaningful content. Thanks for tuning in!

We all accept 'creativity' as a necessary skill for artists, but we often miss the role that creativity plays in regular, everyday, life. Andrew & Sam explore this realm through each of their professional experiences and come away with some key learnings helpful for any person or organization. Andrew shares several resources which have helped him get out of a recent creative slump.

Stand-up Comedy is generally considered the pinnacle of 'freedom of speech' - but can Comedians really say whatever they want, whenever they want? And where do the rest of us fit in? The business world certainly has different rules. When is it harmless joking, and when do we cross the line into the offensive territory? We explore this, and much more in this episode. Thanks for tuning in!

Andrew and Sam dive deep into the psychology behind procrastination and present tangible tools you can use in your own life. Thanks for tuning in - share this episode with your friends if you enjoyed!

Andrew made it happen - he found his way back on stage Canada, for the first time in 2020. Fresh off of 4-nights at Absolute Comedy in Kingston, Andrew shares how his stand-up comedy has been forced to change and develop to meet the need of a pandemic-safe audience. Sam reveals a nightmare story from April when he discovered several clients whose signatures had been forged, and the actions he took to sort out the mess and protect the consumers involved. Thanks for tuning in!

Sam & Andrew step back to take a big-picture view and ask themselves: Do I add to the greater good? Andrew wonders if creating content for social media has a net-positive impact on the viewer, or if he's contributing to the 'Social Dilemma'. Sam wonders if consumers benefit from being educated about their insurance purchases, or if he's just a tool for big corporations? Thanks for joining us for this exploration!

Every decision you make can be boiled down and simplified to a choice between 'love' and 'fear'. This is the bold statement that Andrew & Sam wrestle with on this weeks podcast, exploring society, comedy, and insurance from this lens. A timely discussion to be had right before the 2020 U.S. presidential election! Thanks for tuning in.

Not many people could have expected the pandemic and it's related lock-downs would last this long. This week, Andrew and Sam explore the on-going impact the pandemic has had on them, their careers in comedy & insurance, and the society around them. Thanks for tuning in!

Kicking off Sam's annual Sober October with a deep dive into some big questions. Andrew & Sam share how they approach talking about 'death' in the contexts of comedy & insurance, keeping clients or audience members comfortable. The hosts also get into how they formulate their own thinking about the inevitable, and what may or may not happen in the after-life.

After 9 months abroad, Andrew is back home in Canada, in quarantine, to protect us all. We had lots to catch up, and tackled an important topic for our fellow Canadians: cannabis usage and addiction. Since cannabis legalization in 2019, both Sam & Andrew's impressions of the substance have developed, along with insurance company attitudes & it's importance in Andrew's comedic career. Thanks as always for tuning in!

Andrew is one of the few Comedians lucky enough to host real, in-person, live, comedy shows since the pandemic hit. That's one of the benefits of being stranded on a secluded island. He runs through his approach for engaging the audience and the balance between riffing & prepared material. Sam pulls the curtain back on what it's like to be an insurance Broker for a day. He shares real-life phone calls and client interactions, shedding light on the type of work he does as an insurance Broker, and the pace at which he does it. Thanks as always for tuning in!

With in-person stand-up comedy still on hold, Andrew's been exploring the world of video production, learning the basics of every aspect from ideation to final edits. He shares some of his X-factors that helped him get started and get the ideas rolling. Sam reflects on his experience managing a team, and has some great tips for any new “people leaders” navigating the critical first steps of building trust within the team. Thanks for tuning in!

Time flies when you're having fun! In this plus sized episode, Sam shares his insight on a key aspect of any insurance brokers' job: the front line underwriting. If you're wondering what that even means, this episode is for you! Andrew picks up from last week with real-world advice for those starting out in comedy. He covers crowd work, joke structures, and much more. Thanks as always for tuning in.

It may sound like we're in the same room, but our show gets recorded from across the ocean and a 12-hour time difference! This week, Andrew has been work-shopping with first time comics, and he shares his personal keys to success for the first year as a Stand-Up Comedian. Sam highlights the unique insurance solutions for technology companies, simplifying the confusing and seemingly overlapping terminology and coverage. Thanks for tuning in!

Andrew explores the components of story structure, how we find these themes in all forms of media around us, and how he is applying it so his comedy. Sam examines an insur-tech named Lemonade, highlights what you may not know about the business model, and considers his own biases.

Andrew's STILL in Siargao, Philippines, and considers making it his permanent residence. Just kidding, but really, he is still in the Philippines and riding out the pandemic safe on an island with very weak internet connections. Andrew shares how he optimizes his content based on the platform he'll be posting on. Sam introduces the risks that insurance brokers themselves face when they begin to write commercial insurance business. Thanks for tuning in!

Still stranded in Philippines, Andrew is finding new and creative ways to share his comedy with the world and shouts out some of his favorite online comedians. Sam shares a story of some clients who've been given the run-a-round due to unknowns during COVID-19. Thanks for tuning in as always!

In trying times we persevere. It's true for all during this pandemic, and for us as we work through Andrew's unstable wifi connection while he is stranded on an island. He discusses how he has redefined what a comedian really is, and Sam reviews some of the great (and not so great) relief measures offered by insurance companies to Ontario auto insurance consumers. Thanks for listening!

Sam scans the news and discusses some of the latest offerings from insurance companies to support consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Andrew shares his approach to and motivation behind creating digital content while stage time isn't allowed! He's still stranded on an island, so give him some love and follow on Instagram @andpacker. Thanks for tuning in!

The on-going COVID-19 pandemic is impacting all aspects of our lives. Andrew & I talk through how it's impacted us in our respective industries! Thanks for tuning in as always.

Andrew is stranded in Philipines & Sam spends his whole day on Zoom calls. What a change in the world in just a few short weeks as the COVID-19 virus spreads. Sam discusses some implications of the virus for insurance brokers and proposes what he thinks insurance companies need to do in response. Andrew explores the different comedic avenues available to him and his fellow comedians who can't quite find stage time right now! Social distancing for the win - stay safe out there!

Andrew continues his travels in Manila, Philippines where he's headlining a comedy show later this week. Sam introduces usage based insurance applications that auto insurance companies now use to evaluate your driving. Andrew compares his experience performing in different parts of Asia in a variety of venues! Thanks for tuning in.

Both Sam & Andrew are battling a cold this week (from opposite sides of the world)! This made travel health insurance a timely topic to discuss and explore. As Andrew continues to perform in Asia, his approach to his comedy career is shifting and broadening. Thanks for tuning in!

Andrew's tour in Asia continues as he calls in this week, beach side with the soft backdrop of waves crashing in. Sam shares some recent 'wake-up calls' that have reminding him the importance of humility and the learning journey he and his company are on. Andrew questions some of his assumptions about what being a comedian might mean as he contrasts the different 'comedy scenes' in Asia to the ones he if more familiar with back home. Thanks for tuning in!

What's the next level of comedy for Andrew and for the art form as a whole? And how do some people not do the bare minimum when applying to a job? Key questions we touch on this weeks episode!

Andrew's taken his longest break from comedy yet and he's itching to get back on stage in his coming 'Asian Scooter Comedy Tour'. He shares some of his thinking having been away from the stage the past few weeks. Sam reflects back to his experience as a panelist at the Cookhouse Labs 2.0 relaunch event in December, and the vast difference in innovation views among the panelists. Thanks for tuning in as always!

Kicking off 2020 Joker Broker style! Andrew shares his thinking on what makes a great comedy album, and how he's approaching creating his own. Sam compares the start of 2019 to now, and how staying consistent in value-add activities shape his day-to-day. Thanks for tuning in!

Where in the world is Andrew now? His travels around South East Asia continue as he explores uncharted territory: taking a break stand-up comedy. Sam shares his thinking on life insurance and what considerations he thinks young people should make when considering this 'death benefit' product. Thanks for tuning in!

Podcasting from opposite sides of Canada wasn't challenging enough - we decided to podcast from opposite sides of the planet! Andrew tunes in from Singapore where he's begun a comedy tour around South East Asia. Sam finds his sales training applies to more than just the conversations a sales person might have with their clients. Thanks for tuning in!

Andrew's in the final week of the Seattle International Comedy Competition and explores how being constantly 'judged' impacts his psyche and his performance. Sam shares the most difficult part of being an insurance broker and looks for some solutions to this pain-point. Thanks for tuning in as always!

What came first - the artist or the audience? This week, Andrew pulled the curtain on the relationship dynamics between comedians & the comedy clubs, and we discovered how this dynamic exists at insurance brokerages, and other contexts. We really enjoyed this week, make sure to leave a review on iTunes if you did as well!

Andrew just completed the first round of the Seattle Comedy Competition... did he win it all? Did he get kicked out? Let's find out. Sam introduces the concept of "Dunbar's Number" and what this means for Brokers who are building their client list! Thanks for tuning in.

What's the single most important authority that an insurance broker has? Sam shares how his team manages the responsibility that comes along with this privilege. Andrew's recent headlining set left him with lots of learning as he builds out longer sets with 'through lines'. Thanks for tuning in & leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy the show.

Andrew & Sam open the show with a hilarious audio clip from a Canadian comic, Jon Dore, and they analyze how he so masterfully exemplifies the art of the misdirect. It tied in perfectly to Sam's recent industry presentation for an audience of a group of college students studying insurance. Thanks for tuning in!

Sam shares what he's most excited for at the upcoming annual IBAO Brokers Convention in Toronto. Andrew recaps his latest tour in New Brunswick and the variety of stages he performed on! Thanks for tuning in, and if you enjoyed, please leave us a review on iTunes.

A shorter & more condensed podcast for ya this week! Andrew shares a funny experience at a comedy club recently & announces that he is a finalist in a major comedy competition. Sam's on his last days of a 30 day challenge and shares his self-reflections over the past few weeks. If you notice the audio sounds a bit off, that's because it is! We had some technical difficulties but sorted it out to still get our episode out. Thanks for tuning in, and if you like the podcast, share with your friends!

Sam's office, PrimeService Insurance, is going through a big technology change. Sam hopes it will open the doors for digitization into the future. Andrew's latest YouTube video has gone viral and he muses on the process for creating and curating material to post online. Thanks for tuning in as always! Catch us on YouTube for the full Joker Broker video experience.

Andrew's on a streak with 3 straight roast battle wins, but he's still not satisfied. He shares what he thinks he could've done better and some of the dynamics of a typical roast battle. Sam shares his learning from COO & President of Pembridge Insurance, Bob Tisdale, reflecting on what frustrated him about the industry & ultimately what gives him inspiration. Thanks for tuning in!