The Sharon Spell Show

Sharon is figuring out big picture things with guest star Pat Brown (Sex Tape) this time, including what kind of napper you are. The two remember their meeting on a train trip returning from New Jersey and discuss healthcare's entwining with politics, plus smart drugs and Lasik woes. All we can say is, faith and hope...

We're exercising five times a week (kind of) with guest star Jill Pangallo. Jill and Sharon discuss what yellow smells like (SoulCycle) AND what Sharon smells like (cookies...flowers...). They also remember their meeting in Greenpoint, and discuss the ins and outs of this business of show. And that "Fern Bar" is a great drag name.

Sharon and guest star Joyelle Nicole Johnson (Lady Parts Justice) remember that time they blocked traffic on the 59th Street bridge, which leads Joyelle to remember some cross-country ride shares. The two then discuss "Sex and the City" DVDs as collateral. And Joyelle wraps things up with some fun memories of the last LPJ tour through the South.

We all know that astrology is not real, but also agree that it HAS to be! Sharon's guest, Kiki O'Keeffe (I Don't Believe in Astrology) concurs. The two discuss their respective signs, as well as how "houses" work, and how Kiki takes a fresh approach to it all in her regular newsletter. They also come down from the heavens to talk about how Kiki hates the business of show, and how Sharon is not really afraid of death anymore.

Family is the center of the home, and Audrey Stanfield (Branded Content Will Set You Free) discusses BOTH family AND the family home with Sharon this time around. (It's called Longview and it's in Missouri, btw.) The two also mull over the struggles of the city and "the biz" before emphatically agreeing that pretending to kill is just insane. Audrey may be allergic to her smoothie, too...

Sharon and Alex Adan met way back when Alex was tech staff for Sharon's first Spank show, and the two discuss Alex's experience there (and how having a child changed his perspective). They then discuss ghosts and how Alex is the only one in his family not to see one, before Alex wraps up with his experience tracking down family members and the meet-ups that resulted.

Sharon welcomes Caitlin Bitzegaio (Womaning) to the guest star chair this time, and Caitlin starts by remembering those early gigs that didn't pay much or not at all. The two then compare reality TV notes, including seeing yourself on Honey Boo Boo, as well as small town experiences. Hair care routines are then compared, including getting to the place where you just trust your hairdresser.

Did you know kids don't eat cereal anymore? That's just one of the shocking tidbits revealed as Gastor Almonte takes the guest star chair this time. He and Sharon discuss the other - when other comics have the nerve to tell you they are using your material! Gastor also discusses his practice of pleasing his 5 year-old self and 15 year-old self every day AND his upcoming album recording. The two then wrap up by comparing what hurts today...

Welcome to the Clean Plate Club! And welcome Eric Cunningham to the guest star chair this time. After a rude interruption, the two discuss Eric's work as producer of Night Late, and Sharon's work as set designer - kisses and all! There's talk of THE TREE and live activations done for a living. The great star feud between Roanoke and El Paso is dissected, and the two wrap it up by taking a work trip to Brazil!

The lovely Georgia Clark (The Bucket List) joins Sharon this episode, and begins with remembrances of her move to NYC right in the thick of the Great Recession. The two then discuss Georgia's work as curator and producer of the Generation Women storytelling show, before Georgia admits there was a time she created a fake band...and then had to create a band to match the identity. A tease for her new book follows, and they then wind up deciding one must finish something as a way to court the muses.

We're blithely chasing the Sugar Dragon as Sharon welcomes Jen Kwok (Songs For One) to the guest star chair this time. The two try out Sharon's Shoulder Weather App, before Jen relates a story of a tantrum on the train, and how most people wanted to help, but did they? They then discuss how NYC changes your depression perspective, and wrap up by recalling how people used to listed to albums.  Remember?

Astrology can be a mood-killer...that's the lead topic on this episode as Sharon welcomes Arti Gollapudi (Your Self, Your Body) to the guest star chair. The two discuss the hilarity of apartment building email chains AND how Arti was injured by a beach umbrella. Arti also discusses coming to NYC to work in music, but finding her way to comedy, and how that comedy can be a conduit for acknowledging pain. After all, you have to write yourself into history, so grab a pen and paper!

Storyteller and performer Sandi Marx is in the guest star chair this episode, and she begins by telling Sharon of her journey from actress to talent agent to performer, and how Peter Weller played a role in it. The two then discuss approaching art without specificity, the times you find out other people think you've got it all together, and how we shouldn't be afraid of being opportunistic. Sandi then talks about being a subject in a documentary before we all decide that we really just want to work with the kind of people we would have over for dinner.

We're airing LOTS of grievances at the start of this episode, as Sharon welcomes Shawtane Bowen (BoogieManja) to the guest star chair. (Sharon hates multi-borough whistling, btw.) Shawtane speaks on his experience as a care-giver for the elderly, and the sometimes very difficult relationships that come about as a result. He then tells Sharon about the recent funeral for his father, and the two discuss the challenges in performing after deaths in the family. 

You know, change is hard. Especially for an old dog...that's living in your apartment...and belongs to your sister...who is your roommate. Such is the situation with guest Akilah Hughes (Akilah Obviously). Pippa, the dog in question, is discussed at length with Sharon, as are other old pets. Akilah then charts her progress as a content producer on YouTube - the first 100 videos are bad, you know - as well as her family's history with goldfish. We're surrounded by such...judgement...!

We all need buddies in comedy and this time we welcome two comedic buddies, Jorja Hudson and Brittany Tomkin, to the guest star bench. They're the creators of a new webseries Myrtle & Willoughby (which should be out soon, btw). With Sharon, they discuss how all good ideas come to you on the G train, as well as faking it till you're making it. Hugh Jackman, Floppy, and Spellella are all discussed before they wrap up musing on credit cards for making your dreams come true.

So you have a lot of customer loyalty cards, eh? Ah, but how many do you actually use? That's just one of the musings mused about as Sharon welcomes Doug Moe (Man vs. Child, Hot for Teacher) to the guest star chair this time. The two discuss happy kid noises and the lousy neighbors that complain about them, before covering the importance of learning from cross-discipline classes. They then turn to all things coffee, the right way to make it, and how you can get it delivered right to you!

There's a rash of missing earrings this time as Chloe Marsh (Chloe Doesn't Do Boys) joins Sharon at the podcast table. Chloe discusses having to adjust comedy material after transitioning as well as having to actively experience your emotions. The two also talk about the negative effects of napping and the positive effects of black dress shopping. They then wrap up by thinking of life as a process of finding out what you have to do.

We're really hoping to get some of that shoebox cash this time as Sharon welcomes Anne Rodeman (So Into It) to the guest star chair. The two muse about both posture AND dabbling in drag before Anne describes her recent clip show without clips. There's also that trip to see Lorna Luft in an outer borough, too. Anne and Sharon then reminisce about early improv days and agree that patter songs don't really work in church.

Sharon bids a very special welcome to Ed Galvez (Amigo Undead, Brand New Old Love) this time, as Ed is often Sharon's host when she's in LA.  The two discuss the difference between friendships and bring friendly, and how you need to spread out the neediness.  They are then surprised that COPS is still on the air, and then hash out the differences between working in LA and New York.  Ed then wraps things up with tales of his time teaching standup...and the certain types of people you always get as students.

Sharon is sharin' a lovely lemon ice with Tahlia Robinson (Hidden Fences, Affirmative Action) this time, as Tahlia laments how no one can pronounce her name correctly.  The two then discuss how New Yorkers refuse to share their specialists with anyone, and Tahlia reveals her passions for (in order) cooking shows, breakup songs, and advertising week.  Lastly, they discuss the merits of stepping away from improv in order to get re-inspired.

Brooklyn's Prospect Park is an example of Victorian Privilege, did you know that?  That's one of the topics tackled this time with Ray Cordova (Astronomy Club Presents, Sad Marriage).  There's also an extended musing upon all things laundromat, as Sharon lives over one now and loves the smells but hates that one weirdo.  The two then talk of how moving sucks, especially when you lose your laundromat.  Ray then brings this episode to a close with a couple juicy stories from his experience working in the psych ward.

Boris Khaykin (Improv vs. Standup, North Coast) is preparing to exchange living with a roommate for living with his girlfriend as we start this episode.  He schools Sharon in the details of proper beard maintenance before the two imagine a Lasik intern getting paid in drink tickets.  Comparing app dating to a video game follows (including the perils of bringing weirdos to work), and Boris wraps things up by telling of that time he livestreamed a show from a car.

And here you thought you were downloading some regular, workaday episode, huh?  But no!  This is a special, bonus-length CLIP SHOW!  Join Sharon as she trips lightly down memory lane to celebrate five years of her podcastical chatacular.  Featuring insights, anecdotes, and musings from the likes of (in alpha order): Lauren Conlin Adams, Michelle Buteau, Frank Conniff, Robert Dean, Amanda Duarte, Ophira Eisenberg, Naomi Ekperigin, Alex English, Jo Firestone, Lou Gonzalez, Jeff Hiller, Clark Jones, Mehran Khaghani, TJ Mannix, Isaac Oliver, Becky Yamamoto, and Rick Younger.  Sharon is WEEAAARRRIN' those clips!

Emotions are based on experiences, so have an experience by listening to Yoni Lotan (The Instagram Show) in the guest star chair this time.  He and Sharon have a discourse on all things "Air Bud", before Yoni tells of his experience having a kid watch him play Ballz on the subway.  It's clean.  Sharon then tells of the friends she's made on the same subway, before the two wrap things up by commiserating over having their buyout photos show up in advertisements and coupons and gift cards....

We're balancing the public and the private as Carolyn Castiglia (Right Now, Daughter Knows Best) has a seat in the guest star chair this time.  Carolyn tells of how she was scooped by an antiques raider while trying to do something nice, right before she and Sharon launch a new company, covereddish(dot)com.  Carolyn then remembers a string of remembrances as a waiter at Applebees, which leads, totally unconnected, to an imagining of Sharon's death.

Escape the Room expert Max Ash (Hot Bird, BEENG BOONG) is in the guest star chair this time, and explains his history with the genre - including the worst one he's done - with Sharon.  He's also in a relationship for the first time in a moment, so waxes about that, which leads Sharon to wax about her boyfriend.  The two then cover showtunes on the subway, surprise visits to friends, and the excitement of cans.  Because, y'know, it's all about choices.

I'm sorry, but we're trying to apologize less as Sharon welcomes her FIRST REPEAT GUEST Katie Hartman (Gypsy Danger, Sweet Parents) to the show.  Katie tells Sharon of her recent trip to LA.  No one works there, y'know.  Then there's a visit from a past teacher, Mrs. Werner, which leads to Sharon doing all of the voices.  And, after an attempt to reach Leah Rudick on the phone, Sharon and Katie wind things up by discussing those who use signatures in texts and the general state of being underemployed.

There may be lots of John Reynoldses about, but we have the one and only John T. Reynolds (A Fistful of Babies) in the ol' guest star chair this time.  He and Sharon play a little "Bible Drill" before discussing Disney World and how those big cartoon head performers are annoying.  Sharon then shares her trick for walking and using a phone at the same time.  The many joys of LA - Lyft, hikes, walking, celebrity graves - is covered next.  Then the two wrap up by being woke and comparing painting and cartooning.

Timothy Dunn (Queerball) is Sharon's guest this time around, and he's fresh from an appearance at housing court.  We'll let him tell you about it, and let him paint a picture of "Linda".  He and Sharon also discuss pulling back from social media, and how we generally need to click it down a few to get back to normal speed.  Sharon then discusses her recent trip to LA, before the two wind up discussing having to be open to at least try in love.

Ever take your date to see a PTSD movie?  Jordan Temple (Hidden Fences, Randy Newman vs. Everything) has, and he tells all about it as Sharon's guest this time.  The two also discuss wanting to do more for those who help you along in this life, before moving on to how missing out drives you to make something that's definitely "you".  Jordan then wraps up by remembering how his mom pushed him into a production of Sister Mary Ignatius at age five, and how that planted the seeds of parody in his work.

We're being cute all the time this episode, as Sharon welcomes Marie Faustin (Unofficial Expert) to the guest star chair.  Marie finds herself finally starting to make a living from comedy, and hopes that will soon lead to people wanting to touch the hem of her flowy garments.  But, sometimes, don't you want to want to settle?  Nah, for we win just be being in NYC!  The two go on to discuss two petting/patting incidents with homeless people, and the joys of riding the bus in LA. And they wrap things up by comparing talking about yourself in your art, versus talking about what happens to you.

Jay Malsky (Earnest Gay Thoughts) is teaching us how to put grudges to bed as Sharon welcomes him to the guest star chair this time.  The two met on this past election night, you know.  They go on to discuss how we need to stay connected to people, and how we find ourselves in a debate between "right" and "wrong" and aiming for the middle.  Jay then tells of his journey to improv from the world of politics, before the two debate the potential pitfalls of worrying about having broad appeal.

We're being a perfectly flawed couple this episode, as Sharon welcomes Eman El Husseini (Unveiled) to the guest star chair.  Eman discusses, in turn, meeting and dating and getting proposed to by her wife, Jess.  Then she and Sharon compare Easter activities, before Sharon shares her recipe for Punch Bowl Cake.  And we wrap up by actively practicing gratitude...even though every life high is usually followed by rejections.

Sharon welcomes Brett Davis (The Special Without...) to the guest star chair this time, and the two start with discussing the strategic use of bits at school dances.  The two then agree that they like but don't love puns, before discussing Brett's show on MNN.  Road trips, and the inherent mountainous highways, are covered next.  As are tricks used to get out of bombing...and snapping at hecklers.  Brett then winds things up by discussing his "Cute Little Cupcake" performance!

Allow us to welcome you as we welcome Jess Salomon to the guest star chair this time around.  Jess and Sharon start by reviewing Jess' quest to get a green card, and the change of plans that came about as a result.  They then debate whether "mem" or "meem" is the correct pronunciation.  Jess tells about her time as a war crimes lawyer at The Hague and her subsequent transition to comedy (and how it took longer than expected).  They then wrap by discussing having or not having sentimentality about your early career whilst Sharon does a quick sketch of Jess.

We're all dressing correctly for the cold weather, and welcoming Darell J. Hunt to the guest star chair this time.  He and Sharon discuss learning from documentaries and the glory that is the gem stone exhibit at the museum.  Darell then loves on the concept of the flowy housecoat, and stresses the importance of foundation garments.  The two compare stories of talking to strangers, to older people, and dealing with people on museum tours who try to take over.  We then wrap up by tuning in to hear the obituaries on the radio.

Did you know that people who chew gum are smarter?  Did you know there is such a thing as poo poo cookies?  Truth!  At least, according to New Yorker cartoonist Emily Flake (Sh*tshow), who is Sharon's guest this time.  Emily discusses the fun of getting her daughter ready for school while still wrangling work schedules.  The two then wonder if Adderall meths out your mouth, before slipping gently into Emily's work creating the daily New Yorker cartoons, versus writing celebrity dirt items for other people.  The highbrow and the lowbrow...the ying and the yang...

Spending holidays in NYC is still on our minds as Sharon welcomes Alex English (Lady Parts Justice) to the guest star chair this time.  From holidays, it's a quick slip to musing on how presumptuous a New Year's wedding is.  Relationships then take center stage as the two discuss comparing yourself to other relationships, realizing they take patience, but still wanting to worry about someone else.  (But we didn't move to NYC to have a life, did we?  Just a career!)  Alex then speaks on the hypersexuality of dating apps...and that time a Grindr connection showed up at one of his shows.

It just so happens to be guest star Alex Song's first day on the writing staff for The Tonight Show, so we're so glad she stopped by to chat with Sharon.  The two discuss socks found on the street, and how Alex performed her own magic shows as a three year-old.  Experiences in high school drama club and debate team follow.  As do the benefits of being in the band.  But then again, how do you know when to quit?

The lovely H. Alan Scott (Out on the Lanai, Talking Crime) is in the guest star chair for this first episode of the new year, talking first about absolutely wanting to adopt a child.  He and Sharon then launch into the new show theme.  Dick GIFs are discussed at length, as is H. Alan's conversion to Judaism.  There's a quick stop by Hattiesburg's one gay bar, and then we all go experience some Korean spa visit shade AND emaciated butts.  (These may be related.)

The beguiling Shane O'Neill (Tonight's Special, S.U.C.K.), aka Shane Shane, is in the guest star chair this time, and immediately confesses to being a maximalist decorator.  He and Sharon then discuss caftans and how they are rapidly becoming unisex.  From there, it's an easy transition into comparing early versus late episodes of "The Golden Girls".  And from there, it's an even easier transition into how Shane discovered Jean Bice and her Quacker Factory.  The two then wrap up be deciding they both want the luxury of their own studio space in NYC.

Sure, it's been a very negative year, but at the same time, Sharon's been investigating hats!  So not all is bad as we welcome Lauren Besser (Real Housewives of Bohemia) to the guest star chair this time.  Lauren tells Sharon about her experience with caricature forehead shaming, and the two discuss how they love to walk the city at night.  Lauren jumps back in next with her intense experience working in politics.  And the two wind up with agreeing that they love NYC and we should all work better at comforting each other.

Come with us as Sharon welcomes Robert Dean, soon to open the ONLY Robert Dean Museum in existence, to the guest star chair.  They begin by asking, simply, "what would Vanna White do?"  Then they discuss the Tony Robbins juggernaut, and how to baa with authority.  Robert follows with a tale of going to Medieval Times by himself.  They pair then discuss Robert's totally legal basement apartment, and his psychic reading experiences.

Well, there you are, and here Sharon is with this episode's guest, Chris Lamberth (The Mundane Festival).  The two start off trading tips about driving in NYC, before moving on to discuss what happens when you bomb on stage.  (Sharon once bombed as her hair.)  Answer: you end up doing The Substitute Teacher Show.  Then it's a reminder that you need only compete with yourself, and that you must...every once in a while...take an account of what you DO have.

Oh, hey!  Didn't see you there.  Um, so Gabriel Pacheco (Funhouse Comedy) is guest on this TSSS.  He and Sharon first discuss, with dread, small-talk run-ins...and how you need to make your own privacy.  Plans for respective new comedy albums are then compared, and Gabriel talks about how easy it is to misinterpret the "sad clown" in stand-ups.  They then wrap up by discussing how Sharon is stepping away from online dating for a bit - too many dates feeling like interviews.  ON TIME IS LATE!

Lauren Conlin Adams (The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Female Gaze) is courteously welcomed to the guest star chair before she has to head to Santa Barbara to drink wine.  She and Sharon discuss life as a flow and balance of energy and decide that they are both definitely NOT baby-hungry.  The topics of Lyft in LA and set birthday cake are then celebrated.  Although, note taken, Lauren does NOT like jiggly desserts.  And they wrap up with discovering what you can do to counteract NYC making you a harder person.

The episode description refers to itself in the third person as Sharon welcomes Julie Threlkeld (modernstories.com) to the guest star chair.  Modern Stories Mix is the podcast that Julie hosts, and she describes how she likes it to focus on one story from one person.  Julie then tells of how she got started in storytelling as a way to get over social anxiety AND her heady experience shopping for a fashionable cane.  The two then sample some chicken hot dogs and assume that people are laughing.

Don't know about you, but we're jittery from the heat as Sharon welcomes Pushy Muldowney (Sketch Pod, Brooklyn Loft Party) to the guest star chair.  The two lead with an extended reverie about breaking into Jennifer Aniston's closet.  Then Pushy tells of her (fairly) recent move to NYC, and the streamlining that results.  Sharon takes a sec to explain the rules of the Sharon Spell Show Drinking Game, before Pushy wraps up with tales of her PhD track experience AND her time as a background inmate on OITNB!

Top o' the podcast to ya!  Sharon welcomes TJ Mannix (Limbo Land) to the guest star chair this time and they lead off with TJ's embracing his Irish stereotypes.  Then they talk about scientologist sightings and how TJ lost 55 pounds - mostly by eating M&Ms slowly.  TJ also talks about his work in improvised musical comedy, including the founding of the NY Musical Improv Festival, before he wows us all with the story of his date with Rue McClanahan.

Just how do you make money in comedy?  That's a good question and one that Sharon answers this time with Clark Jones in the guest star chair.  The two also cover Clark's time as a teaching artist in NYC.  Not to be outdone, Sharon gives her recipe for Avocado Chip-Chop, and discusses her history trying to "do weed".  They then wrap things up comparing pre-show routines and coming to a very thankful place overall.