The Slade Ham Experiment

In this episode, I am reminded that there is a market for everything. Aside from a lady with a heavy elbow and bad taste in literature, I just returned from a wonderful week telling jokes in the Caribbean. Now I am gearing up for summer, where all my attention is on my new special and book. You want updates? They're all here. Join the Patreon: www.patreon.com/sladeham

The world just keeps getting weirder. Exploding pagers in Lebanon, trees with guns, stupid artificial intelligence, and elephants on your birthday. Somehow we get to all of it. Thanks for dancing inside my head with me for another episode. My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

I catch up with Candlebox on the road, along with Bush and Jerry Cantrell. This brings up memories of Blockbuster, 80s and 90s movies, plot devices that no longer work, and the way stories change over time. My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

I wander the labyrinth of customer support on Facebook and YouTube, and I contemplate how long things should take to make. It's ameandering walk through my week, if you're up for it. My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

I throw some sections of crowd work up from this past week's shows at the Improvs across Texas. I try to narrate what's happening in my head as I do. There's a lot more to talking to the crowd than just making fun of people and asking what they do for a living. The goal is always to craft a bit, and to bring the chat to some closure so I can get back to the material. My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

I constantly wonder if we live in a computer simulation. Here is a story from a trip to Africa that, at the time, blew my mind. Now I just chuckle at the interconnected nature of everything, and how we can find patterns and meaning anywhere we choose to. 

I do it to myself all the time. I'm 100 episodes in, you'd think I'd have it all figured out by now. Also, a great passage from Nassim Taleb to keep handy during election season.

Please consider subbing? Let's talk about the Olympics, and the Paralympics, and the world, and Canada, and the stuff I did while I was there.  My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

I didn't want to skip another week, so I thought this would be a wonderful time to revisit some past Ontario trips through some old Slade Runner episodes. The podcast should be back should be back to its weekly schedule by August. Enjoy Canada! My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0

I try to walk through the last month's process on my new book. Making things can get messy and that often the thing that talks us out of doing them. If you're working on something, hopefully this gives you some incentive to push through. Keep swinging. My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show. 01:24 We Should Have Nice Things 05:53 The Process

This episode is all questions from the audience. Mistakes, stand-up comedy, artificial intelligence, international destinations, and more! My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

No, you don't want to be a comedian. I talk about why you don't, plus some viral House of Dragon advertising, and more Texas storms. My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show. 00:48 It's Raining, It's Pouring 09:26 Better Get the Word Out 15:33 Put It on a Banner 18:34 It's Like Volleyball

This is what happens if you put me, Spirit Airline, an amped up Uber driver, and some raccoons in a Florida-shaped blender. Also, telepathy. My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show. 01:35 Spirit in the Sky 06:10 I Like to Party! 14:44 In the Dark 19:26 I Make Some Sounds

Be sure to leave a comment down there in the comment place thingy. Let me introduce you to the beach I grew up on, and some first date eavesdropping, and the end of an era. What's next? I dunno. My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show. 01:23 Crystal Beach 07:51 First Date Territory 14:17 Endings 19:59 Next

Be sure to leave a comment down there in the comment place thingy. I spent my birthday in the Appalachian Mountains, wihch reminded me of a trip to Big Bend on the Mexico border. Also, I'm into how to change the game we're playing from a finite one to an infinite one. Plus, my continuing lack of participation and the Roaring Twenties. My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show. 01:34 Who's Is the Drugs 10:48 Infinite Games 17:36 I Don't Know 20:33 The Roaring Twenties

Be sure to leave a comment down there in the comment place thingy. In this episode I talk about measuring success, other people on the road, why SUVs are so prevalent (and dangerous), and what the hell a balloon even is. Pour yourself a water and come ride with me.  My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show. 01:10 Chop the Wood 11:22 Full of Air & Tied at the Neck 18:39 Forty Inches or Higher 24:18 Mr. Parallel Driver Guy

I admit, Eurovision is a guilty pleasure. In this episode I talk about it, the new ChatGPT updates, and how I am also losing my faith in the existence of Bigfoot. If that didn't have me in enough of a tizzy, I recall a reporter who lied to me recently.

Modern times often recall olden ones and sometimes it's the opposite. I revisit an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation that reminds me of today. Also, more pondering on managing expectations, the man vs bear vs woman debate, and the TV show Alone. My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show. 01:15 The Game 07:49 Expectation 15:57 Man vs Bear 19:45 Mmmm, Mouse Soup

I get shadowbanned on TikTok right before this episode. I also talk about leaf blowers, night fishing, and how to be selective with what you give your attention to. My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show. 00:58 This Is Not the Same 07:14 You Gotta Pick When 14:14 Hello, Governor 23:01 I'm Glad You're Deaf

This episode is all about the messy middle of things. It's also about leaving space for something better. Also, Goldilocks was a picky little thief. Just settle in and let me guide ya. My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show. 00:47 Sides 04:48 In Between 15:16 Does That Make Me Crazy 19:16 Creating a Vacuum

I cover a few recent airport incidents before I veer off into rant territory about the stories we tell ourselves and how true they really are. Also, some thoughts on sharing.  My new special is out now: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

Andrew Youngblood has a new comedy special out called "I'll Tell You This." He's also a Houston guy like myself. In this episode we talk about how he made his special (some of it may surprise you), what makes Houston a good scene, and what it's like to release a special on a huge comic's platform. There's a lot to learn and laugh along with. Watch Andrew Youngblood: I'll Tell You This: https://youtu.be/fbglrBVL2Pg Watch my special: https://youtu.be/3y_zeO7JLD0 Join my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

I try to distill what I have learned in the last year down to 20 minutes or so.  If you're trying to get something done, it takes a lot of work. It's also worth it most of the time. I hope some of this helps. Now go get in line for my new special! Signal / Noise comes out April 2

I consider how we don't think about our global cohabitation situation enough, which leaves me thinking about past roommates. Some of them had hand grenades. Also, watching the animals around me run so frantically makes me want to stand very still in the tall grass. I promise to elaborate before the end. My new special comes out April 2! You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

A tea kettle and a bunch of bananas walk into an Indian wedding. There's bound to be a joke in this episode somewhere. I am far too cruel to this fat, Indian rich kid, but I'm working through some things. Also, inflation-proof gorilla food. My new special comes out April 2, right here. There's a sneak peek at the intro in this ep as well. Make sure you're subbed to catch it! The Discord is here. Sneak in: https://discord.gg/5cUjnKKf9T You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

In this episode I get to some audience questions. I'm also fighting through a case of poison ivy, which distracts me. Mainly though, I am vexed by the insane amount of superhero fodder we've been given the last decade. My special comes out very soon. Make sure you're subbed to catch it!

My guest on this episode is Chingo Bling. Originally a product of the Houston hip-hop scene where he collaboraed with the likes of Paul Wall, Pitbull, & Baby Bash, he pivoted to stand-up and content creation a decade ago. His first special, They Can't Deport Us All, debuted on Netflix. In this episode we talk about writing material for a new tour, and how to get it ready. Also, Chingo has built a team around him he trusts and we talk about that too. It's a good conversation among friends about how to make things that make you happy.

I apply Stoicism to my attempts to stay ahead of the metaphorical avalanche. I've been fired from every job I can remember, and that's taught me to leave myself multiple outs. Also, what lottery tickets and content creation have in common.

My years of railing against new technology has caught up to me and now all of it is fighting back. This leads me to counsel you to purchase the correct jack for a flat tire. We just can't beat the machines without the right tools. Plus, how much of the billion-dollar social media machine goes to the people creating the content? Not as much as you'd think.

My guest on this episode is my good buddy Jerry Wayne Longmire. You might recognize him from your social media feed. He boasts just shy of 900K followers across platforms, and has amassed over one billion views of his Shop Talk and Truck & Boot Astrology videos.  In addition to content creation, JW is a hell of a stand up comedian. I highly recommend his hour-long special, The Reckon Yard:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFlnkiafWX4 In this episode we talk about his roots, where ideas come from, interacting with fans, and how to make a life you want to live. 

My new stand-up show seems to be exploring the difference in mentality required for survival versus happiness. It's an important distinction. Also, I find myself in a coffee shop and instead of railing against the current state of affairs, I give in. You can only scream into the wind for so long. The Discord is here. Sneak in: https://discord.gg/KhnYvVCG You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

I've given up on creative title writing. This ep has some clips from a recent stand up show. It's new. I don't know where it's going yet. But mainly it is fun. Also, a suggestion to watch three movies that tickle my sci-fi/fantasy nerves. The Discord is here. Sneak in: https://discord.gg/PGArBekm You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL

I wander down the road back to when I quit smoking. But before that, smoking was an identity. I fought an entire city over a smoking ban. This episode is about dropping identities, I think. The Discord is here. Sneak in: https://discord.gg/PGArBekm You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

It's a rambling first entry into 2024. I discuss a few mental strategies I've been exercising lately, plus Zume Pizza, an old acquaintance, and getting jumped for a phone. You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

This is an honest one. I contemplate how I played 2023 and look at where I am headed in 2024. I am pretty brutal with myself, but I think it's all been worth it.  I have a brand new special coming in 2024 and it's really good. I hope you stick around for it! (Hint: A sub will keep you in the loop!) You can join my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cVECrL And as always, please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

It the last episode before a brief hiatus. In this ep I strategize on what I would do in a post-apocalyptic world. Hint: it wouldn't be hiding in a room full of canned goods. What are your plans? Could you make it? I also ruminate on wildlife cinematographers and their detached approach to their jobs and relationships, as well as Johnny Rolfe, the most self-reliant man I've never met. I cover a lot of pointless ground in this one. Join me? I have a brand new special coming in 2024. Please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

What exactly would happen if Taylor Swift got pregnant? I make predictions. Plus, what horror movie could you survive? I talk about my aversion to them and why I think we like them. Plus, Stephen King. I have a brand new special coming in 2024. Please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

Just let me yell, will ya? I don't know how time works, comedy bookers are on my nerves, these DJs won't shut up, and Slow Luis down at the Combat Kroger is having a day. Please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

I thought I was going to lament the weather and veer off in a totally different direction. Instead I revisit my first real road gig and a trip through New Mexico. Please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

After a week of watching people on the internet, my frustrations sort of work their way out of me. Influencers, restaurant reviews, and a mandatory call to pick sides to everything, from cell phones to global conflicts. It's exhausting. I prefer to profess my ignorance in almost every field. I know that among all the other biases I fall prey to, the Dunning-Kruger Effect is one of the biggest. Let's chat. Please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

This week marked the release of Andy Huggins brand new comedy special, Early Bird Special. How we got there is a story that got it's start over two decades ago, and it is s testament to how doing the right thing can lead to even better things for everyone involved. Also, I visited Bard College in upstate New York to see Neil Gaiman give a series of lectures on writing. I came back inspired. Hopefully it motivates you just a little as well.

This episode is a total potluck laced with a higher than usual amount of blah. I organize my thoughts around a number of things in this one, plus quotes from Robert Greene and and Android tip. I told ya. Random. Please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

I wrote a piece earlier in the week covering ten things I wish I'd learned sooner when it comes to comedy. I elaborate on all these, but this is the gist of it: 1

I spent the week with friends of mine who are all more talented than me. I hung out with Lou, Brad, & Kevin, and it made me revisit the country music of my past. Hint, there isn't much.   Please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

Somehow birds keep finding me. I rescued a dove on my way to the store, which makes me remember the macaw that I kept for a while. Plus, being alone, being on Alone, and people who are afraid of being alone. Please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

My neighborhood features a Combat Kroger where there's never any real food and everyone thinks everyone is stealing. More posh grocery stores are an entirely different experience. I used to work in a grocery store myself way back in the 90s. I also bring up some television shows that toy with tension to make us avid watchers, namely Alone and Suits.  The latter is particularly good at preying on our attention and love of short, bite-sized story nuggets. Please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

I picked up some surprise sets this weekend alongside Cristela Alonzo at the Houston Improv. Great crowds, and a nice opportunity to finally run some jokes from the special without any pressure. I also caught Oppenheimer, finally! Christopher Nolan is a fantastic storyteller. I try to stay there, and keep most if what I talk about spoiler free. And like most things do, this sends me down a rabbit hole thinking about how much I truly don't understand about almost everything I encounter.  Please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

I lose it fighting a cockroach, who sent red wasp and fire ant minions before it.  Burn the world down, I say. I also revisit a previous line of thinking in order to answer a question, which leads me down a road of vintage video games and what I have learned from them. Please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

I taped a comedy special this past weekend which, along with a crazy tour schedule this summer, has derailed my weekly schedule. This is a rambly recount of the taping as I get used to flying the Midnight Spaceship on a regular basis again. You can get a free digital version of my book by signing up for my twice-a-month newsletter full of all sorts of useful stuff: http://www.sladeham.com Please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

I try to recall my worst travel experiences from the last two decades. Believe it or not, it's hard. I don't hang on to a lot of the bad ones, and even the ones I do get overwritten with the good from the trip. Nevertheless, it doesn't always go to plan.  Security in Yemen,  heartbreak in Australia, Afghanistan floods, dead cats in Canada, and a head wound in Romania... let's revisit my past, shall we? You can get a free digital version of my book by signing up for my twice-a-month newsletter full of all sorts of useful stuff: http://www.sladeham.com Please consider telling a friend if you dig the show.

I just got back from touring the new show for two weeks in Canada. I talk about what went wrong at one of the shows, then get sidetracked by my Uber ride home. Momin, my driver, was from Afghanistan. He might have convinced me to permanently add the shemagh (a scarf that is everywhere in the Arab world) to my wardrobe. Also, I walk myself through my strategies around the special, and how important it is to set the stakes and rules in advance, no matter what game you decide to play.