The Nerdologues Present: MBSing

Shelby Plummer first heard of Slaughterhouse-Five from an internet boyfriend. After being grounded for having an internet boyfriend, she got to actually read the book as an AP English assignment and has been a Vonnegut devotee ever since. She devoured his novels and short stories in a way she had never really engaged with reading. He made a fellow Hoosier feel less alone for thinking it was OK to want everyone to be treated well through life, to read and write about aliens, and to make dirty jokes along the way. Shelby carried those philosophies through an expedient college career and still apples them all the time to her comedy writing and performing. Notes: Check out the lineup of the upcoming Bentwood Comedy Festival at iO Chicago, where Shelby serves as Creative Director The James Conklin Memorial Scholarship Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their coordination of sponsorships and thanks to Overcast for sponsoring this episode OtyGF8bN1z4zoOXMzaST

Stephanie Anderson cut her teeth as a group leader working in an acute psychiatric inpatient facility at a children's hospital. The taxing environment led her to explore improv as a way to unwind outside of work. After some experience bringing improv exercises into her work environment with patients and coworkers alike, she set off to Chicago to pursue more improv learning and teaching opportunities. Now, she can speak to how all of these different groups pass through forming, storming, norming, and performing phases influenced by their members' actions. Notes: See Stephanie perform at iO with Cecilia Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and lending a legitimacy to this whole thing, and thanks to Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice, for sponsoring this episode.

Casey has put his general health and wellbeing on the line as he works up to 30 hours editing each episode of NeoScum, an actual-play podcast in which five Chicago improvisers (including Casey himself as well as past MBSing guest Mike Migdall) play the tabletop RPG Shadowrun. A longtime lover and performer of musicals, Casey's level of perfectionism and lack of self-confidence launched him into editing the show and the rest, as they say, is history. In spite of the occasional pains from nerve damage and Twitter complaints, the show has been a source for absolute passion and pride in Casey and it means everything to him to be honoring the magic he creates with his friends while giving listeners a heartfelt journey. Notes: NeoScum! Casey says the editing really took off at around episode 14 or 15 and his favorites so far are around 18 or 19.  A nice visualization of Ira Glass's thoughts on taste vs. skill  Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and Overcast for sponsoring this episode.  

Tom Dyke has known the original 151 by heart since he was a preschooler, his pure fandom being born along with the Pokémon franchise itself. He has played the video games since he could hold a Game Boy, and his dad was the only adult in the neighborhood who would help he and his friends play the trading card game. So one can imagine his delight at the advent of a mobile game that would allow him, and potentially his friends, to catch Pokémon all over the world. Tom unpacks the ups and downs of being a Pokémon Go devotee, how its gameplay fits into the larger picture of the franchise and gaming in general, and how far the game has come since its bare bones launch. Finally, Tom and MBS become official Poképals by trading some 'mons on mic. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating our sponsorships and to Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice, for sponsoring this episode.

One of Yazmin's earliest memories is her family watching one of their favorite movies: Killer Clowns from Outer Space. From Michael Myers to the Redfields of Resident Evil, her family came together to experience horror, for better or worse (too many zombies have been known to keep kids from sleeping well). She even enjoyed when they would gather around to scare one another with stories of their own crafting and has witnessed a few paranormal events that she's never been able to shake or explain. All of this has influenced her ability to deal with fear and being open to new experiences, though she admits she has opted to feel closed off from any other paranormal activities... except when it comes to the characters she plays onstage. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for community and the coordination of sponsorships, like this week's sponsor, Overcast.

Alyssa was born a rebel, as evidenced by her refusal to accept an "Indian" name in place of her own as a kindergartener on Columbus Day. This small rebellion opened the door to an interest in eking out the truth about colonialism, imperialism, and revolutions throughout her schooling. In college, she declared a Middle-Eastern Studies and Political Theory double major to feed her thirst for knowledge on how the history of colonialism influences the sociology of current cultures. There are mentions of many modern political implications, suggestions for specific books and periods one might seek out to study further, and ads for soap. Notes: Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued coordination of sponsorships. This week, it's Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice.

Gary Pascal grew up in a home operated like an engineering firm thanks to his ME father. This nature and nurture led to all four of the family's kids also becoming mechanical engineers. After choosing BEST Robotics to fulfill a graduation requirement for his STEM high school, Gary was well on his way to serving as an engineer for Mars Chocolate right out of college. In spite of the inherent fun-factor of being the project manager for a couple of Fun-Sized Snickers assembly lines, Gary admits that he wasn't very good at this high-stress position. He's since found a great balance between drafting custom furniture designs and leaning into his analytical approach to comedy writing. Notes: Check out Gary's newest comedy project, Murdertown.  Here's an explanation of Gary's robotics teacher's bumper sticker (and it was red).  Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship with Overcast, MBS's personal favorite podcast player.  

Box Brown has been a pro wrestling fan since his first PPV experience: Hulk Hogan lost at Wrestlemania VI, and the friend he was watching with cried. He was hooked by the characters and the facade of it all, so it's no wonder that he became attracted to two huge cults of personality in André and Andy. André left a bevy of stories in his wake, one of which inspired Box to draw the first comic of what eventually became his book, André the Giant: Life and Legend. Later, Box was hooked by the way Andy borrowed the idea of wrestlers being enveloped by their characters into comedy, and his antics with Jerry Lawler on Letterman secured him a place in the history of wrestling's secrets and Box's interest. Notes: Box's most recent book, Is This Guy For Real?: The Unbelievable Andy Kaufman is a fascinating read for fans of comedy and wrestling alike. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity, the Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and C2E2 for making this happen, and thanks to Overcast for sponsoring the episode.

Meredith discovered the world of Jane Austen's novels in college and has since reread them many times over in addition to listening to them as audiobooks and rewatching the film/TV adaptations (at least the ones she likes). There is something to the simplicity of daily life, the rules that governed socializing, and the fashion and furnishings of the era that Meredith finds herself constantly drawn to and daydreaming about, so much so that she has ventured into writing her own as-yet-unfinished Austen-style novel.  Notes: Meredith's most recent production with Team StarKid, Firebringer Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their support and Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice, for sponsoring this episode.  

Chels studied WB shows like Felicity and Gilmore Girls like they were homework, at one point in life staying up until 11 PM to watch a rerun of Gilmore Girls only to watch it again at 3 AM. They also began to mentally catalog the writers and actors from each show, faithfully seeking out trivia from DVD commentaries and social media accounts to feel more like a part of the fictional teen-aged worlds being created. Now, Chels prides themselves on creating worlds professionally as a B2B content specialist and creatively as a host of Sell Me A Pup, a show where comedians review made-up media. There's a lot of talk about how much pickier we tend to be with media now, relishing in representation and prickling at problematic jokes and storylines. There's also mention of Tarzan, Roswell, Buffy, and a few non-WB TV delights like The OC, Grey's Anatomy, and... West Wing? Notes: Check out Chels's contributions to Your Stories Vlog Brothers, Hank and John Green Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Simplecast for sponsoring this episode. Use the promo code "chicago" to get 50% your first 3 months of Simplecast.  

Financial coach Dan Wood and his creative, funny friends Elizabeth Seidt and Damon Taylor love exploring the actual finances of fictional worlds on their podcast Make-Believe Money (e.g. - Ron Swanson's net worth, the value of the company Willy Wonka passes on to Charlie Bucket, how much all that sensory deprivation chamber salt would've cost in the first season of Stranger Things, etc). Some of that fictional world stuff made it into this conversation, but it's mostly focused on Dan's profession, how his influence has made Damon and Liz more financially aware, and how all of them view finances as a necessary if difficult conversation to have with your loved ones. Weddings are being planned, houses are being purchased, needs, wants, & savings are being allocated... A lot is happening here, and ultimately it's a fun, encouraging conversation about an often sticky subject. Notes: Dan's professional info, Liz's Harold team, and Damon's place of work Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Overcast, MBS's podcast player of choice, for sponsoring this episode.

Jando's parents immigrated to the US from Iraq and Syria in their early 20s, making the first two decades of their lives vastly different from his even though he's only ever known them as quiet suburb-dwellers. He ruminates on how this has shaped his family and their Assyrian community via food, ceremony, language, religion, and a plethora of other small ways that he often forgets are considered different because it's all just his own American experience. Notes: The Assyrian collection at The Oriental Institute, featuring a winged bull from Sargon II. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Simplecast for sponsoring this episode. Use the promo code "chicago" to get 50% your first 3 months of Simplecast.

Tiffany discovered the possibilities of LARPing via putting on immersion theatre as the Artistic Director of Otherworld Theatre Company. After their own production of Gone Dark and attending Sleep No More in New York, she was inspired to take the interest even further by producing a series of 2-day LARPs in the Midwest called Chronicles of the Realm. Find out about the levels of experiential gaming and theatre that can be achieved as well as the work and talent it takes to plan characters and re-plan scenarios on the fly as players discover the path they want the LARP to take. Notes: Otherworld Theatre is buying their own space. Check out their IndieGoGo to contribute to the cause. Past episodes featuring themes surrounding Otherworld Theatre productions include: Vampires, Shakespeare, Pen and Paper RPGs, and Sci-Fi/Fantasy Theatre. Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsors and community.

Carley Moseley loved to read so much as a kid she thought one of the coolest things about Matilda was that she had a wagon for her library books. One of her greatest loves is A Wrinkle in Time, and she's revisiting the novel now and unpacking all of these feelings about whimsy, family, and the upcoming film adaptation along the way. Expect emotions about everyone from Oprah to CS Lewis, and maybe pick up a book from your past that you haven't read in a while to figure out why it's still with you. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship by Backblaze. Try Backblaze online backup for free at backblaze.com/cpc.

Henry figured out how to use the internet to chat with friends and strangers alike at a young, desktop dial-up age. He's remained at the forefront of users for new platforms, networks, and apps due to some combo of an innate desire to connect online, a genuine curiosity at what the internet can do, and a relatively-innocent streak of trolling and shit-posting. From Geocities to Facebook frames, Smash Boards to Echo Skills, Henry's made some viral gags and met some lifelong friends as "jackasskid" and "tehawesome." And as "someone who goes by Henry Stinson Birdseye III." Notes: Henry has a pretty good compendium of his goofs on Tumblr Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships, and thanks to Overcast for sponsoring. MBS has listened to all podcasts on Overcast since before they paid money for her support.

In her youth, Eunji was very into reading stories about girls with spunk, and Anne of Green Gables was always the prime example. She screamed through all eight of L. M. Montgomery's books and now returns to them often to access their surprisingly forward-thinking ideas about women, satisfying female friendships and other emotional relationships, and inspirational themes regarding coming from nothing. Anne showed a young Eunji it was possible for a woman to get great schooling, be a writer, and build a family and home over 100 years ago, so it's sure as hell possible now. Notes: http://www.thebesteunji.com/ Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a collective.  

Charles Clark Pettitt was born and raised “where cowboy meets Cajun” and still has a deep love for the region in spite of knowing he had to escape its rampant pick up truck and Coors Light lifestyle. His Pettitt ancestors settled in Askansas seeking oil, his grandfather Arkansas (...for real...there's a Jr and a Sr...) ate a raw onion from their Louisiana farm at every meal after they had to ghost the oil boom towns, and thanks to a high school break up that inspired an ill-fated visit to Texas A&M, Charles eventually landed in Chicago to develop his performance skills. From the perfect queso to riverboat casinos to sporting to the Bossier Strip, Charles packs Schreveport's personality into every tale he shares. Notes: See Charles in Shark Tank: The Musical at the Annoyance Theatre before he skips town. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorship by Backblaze. Try Backblaze online backup for free at backblaze.com/cpc.

Andrew Knox has been a Giants fan since his mom's side of the family adopted the team while they had a training camp in their home state, Vermont. He's lived for the building of the team and the fight to the finish every season, even when the Super Bowl victories have felt admittedly anticlimactic. He loves getting a sense of who the players are and having fellow fans to share the games with. It's more about the community of fandom for Knox, as evidenced by his being more than willing to unpack the nature of the NFL and sports fandom as opposed to laser-focused Giants talk. Stick around for his thoughts on how they may bounce back after a rough season. Notes: Knox on Twitter, at Second City, and winning MoveOn's contest Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Simplecast for sponsoring this episode. Use the promo code "chicago" to get 50% your first 3 months of Simplecast.

Joe took his aspirations of comedy filmmaking all the way to a passion for photography. He discusses how a more serious interest in photography came into his life (along with a new DSLR camera and a broken ankle), what he's learned from working with models, friends who are performers, and other photographers, and how his passion has changed what kind of photography gear he travels with and how he perceives the entire package of designing a shoot. If Joe makes his subjects laugh a fraction as much as he did MBS, he's a natural at putting them at ease. Notes: Joe's website and Instagram. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support and Simplecast for sponsoring this episode. Use the promo code "chicago" to get 50% your first 3 months of Simplecast.

The tables turn once again in a holiday hangover edition of eMBSing. This time Eric “EMB” Braband unpacks MBS's love of Irish indie movie musical Once. After 10 years of expounding her love of her favorite film, there are now a plethora of cultural and personal reasons the story and her love of it endures. Hear their thoughts on the Broadway musical adaptation and lead actor Glen Hansard's continued solo career, and close out with a live verse from one of MBS's favorite songs from the films musical duo. Give Once a watch, and have fun finding your band. Notes: Thanks the Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring the show and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for their continued support.    

Some time in or shortly after college, Lisa Beasley binge-watched the first few seasons of Grey's Anatomy in a matter of days. She hasn't stopped rewatching the series since. The show has become her background sounds, and she cites the comfort level a diverse cast of characters who only discuss their jobs brings her. Meredith Grey's progression as a character, the passionate monologuing throughout the show, and the knack Shonda Rhimes has for presenting powerful women have been the backdrop for Lisa's career as a writer/performer and as Creative Director for the Nova Collective. Disclaimer: MBS says some stuff about Callie Torres thinking she was talking about Erica Hanh. She remembers not liking Hanh. She remembers liking Torres. It's been a long time since she watched this show. Notes: Lisa's website and The Nova Collective Gossip Girls, a member of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative Thanks to Backblaze for sponsoring. Try their online backup service free!  

Maria Ranahan was named after her Italian grandmother, Mary (whose name was Anglicanized at Ellis Island). She has recently been cataloging her Italian mom's recipes for the first time, but she's had trouble translating things like "between these lines on my hand" into teaspoons and "up to here on your grandmother's pot" into cups. Food culture, rebelling against (or conforming to) your parents' norms, and how eating habits (and other behaviors) evolve throughout your life all get a lot of play in this loving conversation about moms and food. Notes: Maria is the director of Cards Against Humanity's Science Ambassador Scholarship. Support and spread the word. She also played a major role in planning Cards Against Humanity Saves America. Here's Maria on fellow Chicago Podcast Cooperative show Roboism.

Andy Kushnir started his Chicago journey as an improviser and sketch comedian, but he slowly realized that the anxiety he felt was not worth the performing, especially when he found himself so much happier at a keyboard writing scripts for others to perform. He still loves being a part of the process on set and in editing film and has done plenty of it with his own film projects, but his writing 3-4 hours a day for 6-7 days a week combined with his experience in writers' rooms at Cards Against Humanity and Freeform have certainly shaped his life into the one-track mind of a writer. Hear his thoughts on getting back into writing after a break, what kinds of stories he finds himself drawn to watch and write, and what medium he's itching to explore. Notes: AndyKushnir.com Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a collective.

Stanley is a self-proclaimed Reacher Creature. Having read most of the Lee Child novels with intentions of continuing (he recently took a break to read about the history of the FBI, so there's a bit of a theme), he can recognize how gripping the stories become and how ready-made they are for film thrillers (even if the second installment fell short... this is not a Tom Cruise joke, but it could be). A lot of time is spent unpacking the nature of characters like Jack Reacher: Professionally trained but acting entirely outside of what appears to be a broken establishment. One man on a mission to solve all of society's problems from the outside. Is Jack Reacher a superhero? Or just a dangerous display of the American Dream gone rogue? Stanley's not quite sure, but he knows he has to read all of Jack's seemingly-identical adventures to find out. Notes: Stanley's film work A hilariously appropriate article re the appeal of Jack Reacher that came out the same day as this ep Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support.

Caroline fell for traveling from the first time she flew on an airplane to big NYC from South Carolina as a high schooler. Between traveling abroad as an undergraduate and returning to Europe as a grad student, she has [inflicted] some battle scars, had her fair share of TSA troubles, and accrued an impressive list of places she's peed in public. Hear how her time traveling to other countries has shaped her as a theatremaker, and try not to hold anything against her (or MBS for that matter). Thanks to Overcast for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships.

In the studio with Abraham Lincoln AGAIN and this time with fellow former president Thomas Jefferson?! For the unfamiliar, last year past guest of MBSing Timothy Dunn took a trip to Springfield, IL, and Abraham Lincoln appeared before him. They've been making a podcast together ever since. Tim's even producing a rap album Thomas and Abe are making together. This episode is about how 8 Mile inspired them to make that album. Or maybe about how they inspired 8 Mile to be a movie. It's pretty unclear, but there's an unfortunate amount of freestyle rapping.  For more backstory and fun with Lincoln, listen to Tim and Abe's show at www.15MinutesWithLincoln.com Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued use of their studios, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for lending a sense of legitimacy.

After years of loving pro wrestling and knowing it's what he wanted to do with his life, a 14-year-old Colt Cabana found a way to get dirt sheets - all the insider info on what was happening behind the scenes and on smaller stages than what he could watch on TV. From there he quit being a bad Division I-A football player to focus on wrestling in college, then he quit a teaching assistant job to fully commit to wrestling at 23. Colt has been hustling his way through training and touring, a stint with the WWE, and cultivating a fan base via comedy and podcasting to support himself ever since. He's even recently authored a children's book called Wrestling Dreams loosely based on his love of wrestling and fight against naysayers as a kid. Notes: Colt's podcast The Art of Wrestling Colt on fellow Chicago Podcast Coop show Hello From the Magic Tavern ColtMerch.com

Frank Spiro fell in love with the Saints, the Pelicans (née Hornets), and the atmosphere surrounding them when he landed in New Orleans for college. Forever loyal to Drew Brees and Anthony Davis, the New Orleans fan base seems unwavering to Frank in spite of their recent struggles and general lack of media coverage. As a frequent contributor to The Bird Writes, Frank is given the opportunity to stretch his comedic muscles while writing about a team he loves, a privilege he attributes to the overall c'est la vie attitude that seems to pervade New Orleans in general. Don't sleep on the hilarious and adorable minor league Baby Cakes, and remember, you only get to visit New Orleans for the first time once. Notes: The Harold Ramis Film School In Defense of Boogie MBSing is a part of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring. If you like MBSing, please check out the coop's other shows.

Symphony Sanders has been interested in the personal stories behind her favorite performers since she was a kid. She likes being informed on what goes on in artists lives at least partially because she feels it brings important interpersonal and sociopolitical realities into public conversations, but also because she has a good time with it and likes being expressive about her own life on social media as well. Expect some talk about the Knowles-Carter family, Bill Murray, Cardi B, the Kardashians, Will and Jada, Mark Hammill, and some other hot topic celebrity news that fills social media with articles and takes. And, of course, there's plenty of frustration aimed at the celebrity news that became the POTUS. Notes: Symphony's first appearance on Welcome to Nightvale Our Fair City in the Chicago Podcast Cooperative Live Wire with Luke Burbank podcast recording 10/28 The Fishbowl at the Annoyance Theatre

Once Matt had wrestled with the big Qs of "Where do we go after this?" and "Why do we do what we do?" in his youth, he found himself more focused on the even bigger picture as as adult: "Where did this all come from?" Now, oscillating between all three and folding these big questions into being a psychiatric nurse, writer, and improviser, he finds the idea that all of existence came from cosmic "shrapnel" inordinately comforting. If it makes no sense as to how we got here in the first place, why not see it through? Matt unpacks how these big questions shape his life as a caretaker, performer, and adult. Notes: One of the stories Matt brought to the show he created at the Annoyance, Sad Clown.

Ready for a dense chat about embarrassment, purpose, and fear of death? Good, because it's coming for you! Shay went from being an artist and coproducer of Mortified Chicago to adding a more recent passion for being a death doula and funeral celebrant. Throughout those projects, she's asked others how they want to be perceived and remembered by audiences and loved ones, what story they want to be telling. And after leaving her job of 20 years and moving into a van a year and a half ago, she's been working on her answers to those questions, too. Garner some orphan wisdom from a caring presence in our new village structure, friends. Notes: Mortified's podcast and live shows are all worth a visit MBS in Ben Plays the Mayor and the Fishbowl  

Dive in to this inception of a podcast: MBS was on Blank Cassette to talk to Eric Garneau about U Talkin' U2 To Me. On a week by week basis, Eric uses Blank Cassette to interview a guest about a mixtape or playlist they've made in the past and what went into its construction. MBS has been recommending the podcast UTU2TM to him for a while, and after Eric took her up on it, he made a U2 playlist in response to the show. They talk about what makes UTU2TM work so well, how MBS came to love U2, PLUS which U2 album MBS felt was really hers. Notes: Garn on Bruce Springsteen on MBSing Tickets to CAH Live at UCB Chelsea Tickets to Ben Plays the Mayor at iO Chicago

Melzer has been mesmerized by Wes Anderson's style since he saw The Royal Tenanbaums in high school, but it was his ability to relate to Rushmore's Max Fischer that cemented Anderson in his pile of people to intake, praise, and emulate. Wander through Wes's filmography with an aspiring filmmaker and learn about how important storyboarding is for Anderson's films, the ways he has brought back classic filmmaking techniques, and the distinctive dialog and powerful aesthetic choices that craft his unique and endearing style. Get on board with Team Zissou, don your Khaki Scout uniform, grab your lobby boy hat, and get into this convo. Notes: Watch The Street Wizard's Apprentice, especially to catch all of the borrowed Wes techniques. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Coop for their continued support.

Ever since Ben learned to ace Jungle King and Fireball in his family's basement as a kid, he's been a pinball fiend, seeking out machines on boardwalks and at bars so enthusiastically that he eventually founded Pinball Chicago, a league of competitive gamers and compendium of spots in the city that offer pinball. He starts by unpacking the older electromechanical machines versus the much more numerous and modern solid-state machines that brought the replacement of the characteristic bells and chimes and rounds out the conversation by listing the plethora options of barcades that have popped up around the city and some of his favorite tournament experiences.    Notes: This was recorded outside of Clark St. Dog in Chicago, IL. Apologies in advance for the street sounds, unless you really like street sounds. Then you're welcome in advance for the street sounds. See Ben's show The Funny Papers this Thursday and next at 8 PM at the Prop Theatre. See Ben's show (of which MBS is a fellow cast member) Ben Plays the Mayor on Wednesdays in October at 8:30 PM at iO Chicago. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support.

Ever since he saw Jackie Chan's First Strike at the age of 7, Eli has been a huge fan of Chan. Seeking out every film of his, starting from his vast catalog in China and his American-made films as he became more of a domestic success, Eli is in awe of Chan's martial arts abilities as a performer, stunt choreographer, and director. All of Eli's favorite fights and films are covered as well as some fun facts about the Chinese opera school friends Chan has made the most movies with and his penchants for singing the theme songs to his movies and making blooper reels of outtakes and stunt failures. Celebrate someone Eli refers to as one of the greatest entertainers of all time with this conversation paired with a viewing of your biggest Jackie blind spot. Notes: Check out Eli's work on fellow Chicago Podcast Cooperative show Improvised Star Trek. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this episode.  

Maria Randazzo starts her week by perusing a couple of horoscope sources, so this conversation starts with signs (sun and rising) and continues through how these messages permeate her day-to-day life and thoughts on spirituality and the world beyond the physical Earth. Just like being a cafeteria Catholic, Maria has learned to pick and choose the things she takes to heart from astrology, mostly via the influence of a very spiritual mentor. She's also looking for someone to sponsor her interest in getting more frequest psychic readings, so inquire within. Notes: Maria's favorite horoscope spots, The Numinous and Chani Nicholas. Thanks to the Chicago Podcast Cooperative and Cards Against Humanity for sponsorship.

Clint Worthington developed a love for film as an Illinois farm boy who was admittedly more of an inside, MST3K boy than anything else. Since those days of pirated satellite, he's spent years watching film with a critical eye producing reviews for his own podcasting network at Alcohollywood.com and for Consequence of Sound as well as becoming a member of the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle. He cites Ebert and Roeper as big influences of course, but there's also a lot of love for some smaller reviewers and YouTube channels (and a lack of love for some bigger sources like Rotten Tomatoes and CinemaSins). Clint talks movies as empathy machines, reviewing film through the lens of an audience and not just as one critic, and being a Michael Bay apologist. Notes: Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for bringing Clint and MBS together as coop-mates.

Jamison Webb started watching Marx Brothers movies as an ill-sleeping 7-year-old. Since then he's written sketches in their style (The Inappropriate ReMarx Brothers) and spotted their influence in other acts he loves (Stella) as well as becoming aware that they're like The Beatles of comedy: Their influence flows under everything thanks to some of the first comedy films translating the success of their vaudeville stage acts to the screen. All the brothers are broken down by their style and presence in the act (including Zippo and Gummo), some of their costars are discussed (Margaret Dumont), and some unlikely writers of unproduced Marx Brothers scripts are unearthed. Notes: Jamison on Your Stories re his Weezer fandom. Thanks to Card Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support.

Ever since a "Hiking and Haikus" elective course took her to Japan for a month in college, Becca Levine has been enamored with the landscapes and culture of the island nation. She returned post college to teach English to high school students in a small town outside Nagano, and has done everything from traverse a mountain in a monsoon to keep her toothpaste in the fridge to prevent it from freezing during their harsh winters. From the importance placed on natural beauty expressed via poetry to the aesthetic notion of "Wabi-sabi" emphasizing the beauty of imperfections, Becca has used her experiences as a teacher, outdoors-woman, and tourist in Japan to color her life in the US a bit brighter and more roundly. Notes: See Becca perform with Baby Wine at the Annoyance Theatre Your Stories At the Movies

Since she spawned the nickname "Miss Ann" as a child thanks to her behavior beyond her years, Angela Oliver has known she was an old soul. Passing time with her grandmothers watching TCM and church gossiping, she never stood a chance and only had her perception as an older woman exacerbated by fancy attire from her mother's dress shop. Now, she uses her love of jazz, Rockabilly fashion, and vaudeville antics to influence her comedy and add diversity among diversity in her performance endeavors. She's also never going to fully understand technology and will always be carrying Tums. Notes: Matt Damon Improv at the Annoyance Your Stories At the Movies Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and organization.  

Post law school, Ed wasn't sure how he was supposed to make and maintain adult friendships without the benefit of forced socialization with other lawyers. So, he decided to organize a(n unfortunately large) 12" softball team to add an activity to at least one night of his week (even though he didn't really know much about softball). Now, he's been in enough softball, kickball (?), floor hockey, and 3v3 and full ice hockey leagues that he should probably stop referring to himself as "not an athlete." MBS and Ed uncover the biggest victories, defeats, and revelations of starting to play a sport as an adult, especially when a lot of the people you're up against feel like they have something to prove.  Notes: Ironrise Games. Get on board now and Kickstart later! Go Nordiques! (MBS is waaaaay biased on this one as her betrothed is a member, too) Doppelgängers R Us Thanks to CAH for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for continued support.

Claire Linic has never been calmer than when she is watching middle-aged women foster friendships, fight, host events, and try to sell things on the shows in the Real Housewives franchise. She tells MBS about all of the best and worst wives, the plethora of series and spinoffs, and how she found Keeping Up With the Kardashians to be a gateway into the world of Bravo reality television (and continues to watch Kim's silent contouring videos as a form of relaxation). There's talk of Skinnygirl, the Countess, Kelsey Grammar's ex-wife, NeNe and Kenya, Ramona Singer, Lisa Vanderpump, Andy Cohen, and the reunions. Plus MBS's favorite part, the burgeoning music careers across the board. Notes:  Check out Our Perfect Marriage, cowritten with husband Alan from episode 214. She also cowrote The Awkward Phase. Claire's Real Housewives Spotify playlist  

Ever since she witnessed the aura surrounding Tilda while sitting across the aisle from her on a plane, Erin McGathy has not been able to shake her fascination with Swinton's presence, lifestyle, and approach to art. Admittedly a fairly casual fan of Tilda's film work, Erin still cites the way Swinton discusses acting as a collaborative effort and less selfish endeavor as an inspiration to not be too hard on herself as a creator and performer. She even credits Swinton's ability to live happily in Scotland as a working actor for inspiring her to take the leap and move to Dublin from LA. We needed to talk about Kevin, David Bowie, and Michael Clayton, as well as a bit about how Tilda became a character in Erin's upcoming Edinburgh/Dublin Fringe festival show, MurderTown. Notes: Erin's one-woman murder mystery, MurderTown at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Dublin Fringe Festival This Feels Terrible, Erin's relationship podcast on Feral Audio

If you're looking for a DM, send a DM to Alan Linic. He's only gotten into D&D in the last few years, but his childhood knack of adding environmental elements to every playground game has paid off in spades both as an improviser and a dungeon master. After unloading how the structure of gameplay unfolds, Alan speaks to how he and his friends make D&D a unique adventure each time they convene, the gymnastics he may have to perform if a group is being particularly probing in an area he may not have fleshed out pre-game, and how many of the instincts used in playing D&D and DMing are similar to those used to find the most fun game in an improv set. There's also a long conversation about The Cheesecake Factory for some ungodly reason. Notes: Alan and Tyler's D&D live play and discussion podcast, TL;DM  

Brad Pike finds a morbid curiosity in exploring books and documentaries about cults at least in part because he believes he's a part of one. After spending a lot of time discussing Jonestown and the Order of the Solar Temple, Brad and MBS dig into the cult of improv comedy, Chicago style. Get ready to give up your possessions, pledge your loyalty to the leader, and be reminded that there are people who had to help their parents self-immolate. Notes: Devil's Daughter at iO Chicago Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the continued support of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative.

Thanks to model home furnishings in the house she grew up in, Susan Glynn has rebelled against the status quo of design from a young age. After accomplishing her Limited Too-fueled dream of having a room with bright orange walls, yellow trim, and a blue clouded sky ceiling, she was set off on a journey of thrifty vision and bold choices. Having graduated to living with roommates and now to a significant other, adult Susan finds herself curating her living spaces as a middle ground with her cohabitants while using ways to keep it all affordable and aesthetically pleasing for her. And yes, she will judge your apartment, especially if there are far too many design relics from your college dorm room. Notes: Shebeast at the Annoyance Theatre, check out MBSing episodes from team members Becca Slack, Mary Catherine Curran, and Jacqueline Felker Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships.

Nicole may not be a lifelong, generations of season tickets Cubs fan, but she is a lifelong baseball fan and she does cite the first time she turned the corner in Wrigleyville to stumble upon Wrigley Field as the moment that cemented her move to Chicago and kick-started her journey to being a Cubs devotee. She swaps dads who love baseball stories with MBS (including the first time they each took their old man to Wrigley), cites all the tiny oddities and large unknowns that make baseball fun for her, and gets into the nitty gritty on each of the NLDS, NLCS, and World Series games she attended (and how she dealt with watching the others in bars). It gets teary, yelly, and giggly in spades. Notes: All of MLB's walk off balks Man in headdress - Sad Nicole's comrades in improv and baseball fandom, Big Spoon Nerdologues 7th Anniversary Show and Party 6/24/17

Savannah Million has put in so much time farming, harvesting, and upgrading you'd think she'd have some fields to show for it. WHICH SHE DOES, but they're all of the digital variety. A longtime fan of the admittedly-flawed Harvest Moon franchise and newer convert to the Animal Crossing games, Savannah unpacks what it is that makes these game mechanics so satisfying and even how the min-maxing of certain traits of the game makes them less fun to traverse though more easily conquered. Stick around for a breakdown of MBS's Pokémon Go habits as well as the influence Harvest Moon and Animal crossing have had on her cartooning and web development. Notes: Listen to Savannah and past MBSing guest Alex Cox talk robots and feminism on fellow Chicago Podcast Cooperative show, Roboism.

Tawny Newsome has left behind the world of relaxers and weaves in favor of her naturally curly black hair, and she's here to extoll the virtues (and explain the difficulties) of a natural hair life. From how it's affected the roles she's called in to audition for to how strangers interact with her, Tawny's cosmetic choice to assimilate less to the general cultural ideal of straight hair has pervaded her day to day life in ways one may not expect. There's also some dissection of how LA's public interpersonal vibe differs from Chicago's, how most fans of comedy are sweethearts who understand boundaries, and how white people figuring out and dispersing the info that it's rude to ask to touch someone's natural hair is like kids realizing that cats don't like to be petted against the direction their fur grows. Notes: There are some Get Out spoilers for a wee minute or two at around the 35:30 mark All three seasons of Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ are available at Seeso.com and all the ways you stream TV Tawny's appearances on the Earwolf network Eric Garneau's Blank Cassette with comic writer Kieron Gillen Elizabeth Cambrige's Random Conversations, fellow member of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative

Due to a background of study ranging from psychology to physical theater, Mary Cait Walthall has become incredibly mindful of how people communicate with one another. She actively works to impliment nonviolent communication and restorative practices in Chicago Public Schools, and she is always using the wisdom she gleaned from LISPA to be aware of nonverbal communication as a performer, teacher, and restorative justice specialist. The conversation ranges from doing improvisational theatre with ESL actors using their first language to acknowledging privilege within conversations about social justice to the can of worms that is communicating on the Internet. Notes: Mary Cait is a member of the Improvised Star Trek and Superhuman. Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and providing a recording facility.

Ali Barthwell sank her teeth into the sometimes-ridiculous NBC musical drama Smash from its premiere, and she continues to curl up under the blanket of its creative process years after its two season run. She walks the listener through [most of] the many story lines and breaks down the plot holes of the original musical added in the second season, Hit List. Beyond the delicious stretches they ask the audience to be on board for in order to have all the singing happening diegetically, there's a lot of discussion to be had surrounding talented females in music and how the show responds to some of these ingenues. This is a fun conversation of a fan embracing what's great about a show and exploring ways it could've been pared down. Notes: Ali's One Shot appearances and Vulture recaps CAH Live tickets