Podcasts about Colbert Show

I loved this conversation so much!!!!! Full disclosure, we kept thinking of things to talk about, so enjoy our many "endings" that turned into other stories LOL Brian Stack played Ted in Article Two, and the jeweler when Ann and Chris go to the jewelery store, BUT he was a writer on Conan for 18 years, he currently writes for Stephen Colbert and I talked his ear off about it all! We discuss his beginnings in Second City in Chicago, how he knew Amy Poehler, and advice for young sketch performers. I ask 800 questions about his Conan characters too and it's so cool to see the inception of it all! We also got some great behind the scenes tidbits about cracking an egg on Amy Poehler's head and how he was glad they used a stunt man! Plus, we discuss New Girl, 30 Rock and more shows he was a guest star on! Brian is the nicest, most grateful person and I am so lucky and honored to have spoken with him about his time in this industry! His gratitude is inspiring and I wish him nothing but the best. Please be sure to check out this compilation of characters, and check out his writing on the Colbert Show!!!!! Brian Stack Supercut:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLumXv6fUZ4Support the showRate and review us on Apple Podcasts!Follow us @parkpalspodcast on Instagram! Or email us at parkpalspodcast@gmail.com

BRANDON TALKS TUSH PUSH & THE NFL OWNER'S MEETING WITH THE JIM COLBERT SHOW!

Friday – We talk bread, shopping, video game systems, and movie theaters. Sarah joins us for some Feisty Trivia. Prime Time Kitchen with Orlando Weekly Restaurant Critic Faiyaz Kara Plus, JCS News, Sink or Sail, Embers Only, Pick the Porn & You Heard it Here First.

Brandon skips across the hall to join the Jim Colbert Show for the weekly simulcast. The NFL is drunk, Russell Henley breaks a near 900-day dry winning slump at the API, the Orlando Magic look for a winning streak, and more!

Here are the 4 KEEN ON AMERICA take-aways in our conversation about the dysfunctional American immigration system with Felipe Torres Medina1) Background & Immigration Journey* Felipe Torres Medina is a comic writer for "The Stephen Colbert Show" and author of the new book America Let Me In about the US immigration system* Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Medina moved to the US at 21 on a student visa to pursue a master's in screenwriting at Boston University* Medina received an "alien of extraordinary ability" visa (talent visa for artists) after graduation, and eventually got a green card after marrying2) On the US Immigration System* Medina describes the immigration process as expensive (costing "tens of thousands of dollars" in legal fees) and filled with bureaucratic challenges* He emphasizes that legal immigration requires "tremendous privilege and money" that most people don't have* The book takes an interactive "choose your own path" format to highlight the maze-like nature of the immigration system* He points out that there hasn't been comprehensive immigration reform since the Clinton administration (nearly 30 years ago)3) Comedy as Commentary* Medina uses humor to process his experiences and create community around shared frustrations* He was inspired by writers like Julio Cortazar, George Saunders, Tina Fey, and Carrie Fisher* The book aims to educate Americans who "have so many opinions about immigration" but "don't know what it entails"* He mentions that making the book interactive and game-like adds "levity" to a tense topic4) How to Fix the System* While critical of Trump's immigration policies, Medina says the book isn't specifically about Trump but about a "flawed and messy" system created by multiple administrations* He suggests moving US Citizenship and Immigration Services out of the Department of Homeland Security to change the narrative that immigration is a security threat* His proposed reforms include creating better pathways for educated immigrants and hiring more USCIS staff to reduce backlogs FULL TRANSCRIPT* Andrew Keen: Hello everybody. It is Sunday, March the 9th, 2025. Interesting piece in the times. A couple of days ago, The New York Times, that is about the so-called British flame thrower who is a comic best suited to taking on Trump. They're talking about a man called Kumar. Nish Kumar looks very funny, and apparently he's very angry too. I have to admit, I haven't seen him. It's an interesting subject. It suggests that at the moment, even in spite of Trump and outraging many Americans, the state of American humor could be amped up a bit. My guest today is a writer on The Stephen Colbert Show and a comic, or certainly a comic writer in his own right, Philippe Torres Medina. He has a new book out on Tuesday. It's called America Let Me In, and I'm thrilled that he's joining us from Harlem in Manhattan today. Congratulations, Phillip, on the new job. What do you the new book? I was going to say job. That's a Freudian error here. What do you make of the Times's observation that American humor isn't in its best state when it comes to Trump?Felipe Torres Medina: Oh, wow. That's that's an interesting question. First of all, I love Nish Kumar. I think he's a wonderful, wonderful comedian. He's very funny. He has a level of wit and his observations are just wonderful. I hadn't seen this article, but I really appreciate that the times recognized him because he's been working very hard for a lot of years. I think more than American humor not being fit for the moment. I think at least personally for me, a little bit of addressing Trump again began. And addressing Trump in general is, you know, jokes have to be new. And after basically ten years of Donald Trump every day, all the time, it's certainly hard to continue to find new angles. Now, the dysfunction of the administration and perhaps sometimes the cruelty and whatever they're doing does provide you with material. But I think it can cause you as a writer to be like, oh God, here we go again. More Trump stuff. You know, because that's what we're talking about.Andrew Keen: Do you see your book, Philippe, as a Trump book? America? Let me in. It's about immigration. I mean, obviously touches on in many ways on Trump and certainly his hostility to immigration and immigrants. But is it a Trump book, or is it a broader kind of critique or observation about contemporary America?Felipe Torres Medina: Yeah, I never set out to write a book about Trump or a Trump book. My goal is to write a book about the immigration system, because I went through it, and as a comedian, I encountered in it many contradictions and absurdities that just kind of became fodder to me for comedy. So I try to write this book about the system, but the system was caused by many administrations in many parties, you know, now, the current hostility or the current everythingness of immigration, you know, immigration being kind of in the forefront of the national discourse certainly has been aided by Republican policy in the past ten years and by Donald Trump's rhetoric. But that doesn't mean that this is a book about Trump or as a response to Trump. It's actually a book responding to a system that is flawed and messy, but it's the one we have.Andrew Keen: Yeah. You described the book as a love letter to immigrants, but it's not a love letter to the system. Tell me your story. As you say. You went through it so you have firsthand experience. Where were you born?Felipe Torres Medina: So I was born in Colombia. I was born in Bogota, Colombia, which is the capital of Colombia. I lived there most of my life. I moved to United States when I was 21 on a student visa, because I came here to do my masters. I did my master's in screenwriting at Boston University. And after that, you know, I started working here as a comedian, but also as a writer. And I was able to get an alien of extraordinary ability visa, which is a very pretentiously named visa, kind of makes you sound like you're in the X-Men, but it it's just what they call talent visas for artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, educators, whatever. And so I got one of those and then several renewals of those. And then, you know, thanks to my work as a writer, as a comedian, initially as a copywriter in advertising, I was able to I bought I met the love of my life, got married, and then I have a green card and that's why I'm here.Andrew Keen: Yeah. As and quoting here, it sounds rather funny. An alien of extraordinary ability. Do you think your experience is typical? I mean, the even the fact that you came for grad school to to Boston puts you in a, in a kind of intellectual or professional elite. So is your experience in any way typical, do you think?Felipe Torres Medina: I wouldn't say typical. I would say my experience is the experience of many people who come here. And I think it's the experience of the people who are, quote unquote, the immigrants we want. Right. And, you know, if we're going to dive into the rhetoric of the of immigration these days, I came the right way and did everything, quote unquote, the right way. You know, but what this book and also this journey that I took to immigrate here proves is that it's it's only possible with tremendous amount of privilege and tremendous, tremendous amount of money. You know, it's a very expensive process for the majority of people.Andrew Keen: How much did it cost you?Felipe Torres Medina: Oh, I think in total since I started. I mean, when you count the fact that for most, like master's programs, you don't get any sort of financial aid unless you get, like a scholarship from your own country or a sort of like Fulbright or something like that. There's already the cost of a full master's program.Andrew Keen: But then you weren't coming. I mean, you didn't pay for your master's program in order to get immigration papers, you know.Felipe Torres Medina: Of course, that, but I, I had to pay for my master's program to be able to study here. You know, I didn't have I didn't have my any sort of aid. But, you know, discounting that in terms of immigration paperwork, I've spent tens of thousands of dollars because you have to hire immigration lawyers to make sure that everything's fine. And those are quite expensive.Andrew Keen: Was it worth it?Felipe Torres Medina: Well, yeah. You know, I met the love of my life. I live a.Andrew Keen: Very. I mean, there are lots of loves of. You could have met someone else, and that's true. Or you might have even you might have even met her or him at an airport somewhere else while they were on vacation.Felipe Torres Medina: That's that's possible. But yeah, I mean, I live a I live a good life. I do what I wanted to do, you know, I, I took got my master's because I wanted to write comedy professionally and I get to do that. And I do think when I set out to do this, I was like, well, the place with the best film and television industry in the world is and was then and still is the United States. So I was like, well, I have to go there, you know, and I was able to become a part of this industry and to work in this art form.Andrew Keen: You didn't get any job. You You got the combat job? Yes. I believe you drew the the short straw, right? I bet nobody else was right. Just Stephen Colbert.Felipe Torres Medina: Yeah, I'm very lucky. And but again, it's a mix of luck and hard work and all those things. So yeah, I don't I don't regret moving.Andrew Keen: So some people might be watching this maybe some some MAGA people. I'm not sure if MAGA people really watch this, but if they were they might be thinking, well, Philippe Torres Medina, he's a good example. He's the type of person we want. He jumped through many hoops. He's really smart. He's really successful. He brings value to this country. Is now a full time writer on the Colbert's show he came from it came from Latin America. And he's exactly the kind of person we want. And we want a system that's hard, because only guys like him have the intellectual and financial resources to actually get through it. Well, how would you respond to them?Felipe Torres Medina: I would say that I appreciate the compliment, but I wouldn't necessarily say that that's the best way to move forward on immigration now. I will say this book is a humorous take on the whole immigration journey. And so what? Like I tell different stories of different people coming here made up or inspired by real life. And one of the paths that you can take in this book, because this is kind of an interactive choose your own path book, is mine. But I think what this book tries to prove is that even if you do everything right, even if you, you know, have the money, sometimes it's very, very hard. And that, I think, does put us at a disadvantage when it comes to having a workforce that could be productive for the country, especially as birthrates are declining. You know, we are headed toward a but, you know, people have described as a barrel economy. If we don't simply up the population and the people who are upping the population and actually having children are immigrants.Andrew Keen: One other piece of news today, there's obviously a huge amount of news on the immigration front is apparently there's a freeze on funding to help green card holders. You've been through the process. You write about it in the new book. But how much more difficult is it now?Felipe Torres Medina: You mean under the current administration? Yeah. I wouldn't know. I you know, I think that.Andrew Keen: This idea of even freezing green card. Yeah. That holidays, even if you have a green card, you get frozen.Felipe Torres Medina: Yeah, exactly. And I think that that, you know, I think that that's what Trump did in his first term, more or less with legal immigration, was to create roadblocks and freezes and these kinds of things to kind of just like stymie the process and make it slower, make it harder, even for people who, again, are doing everything right to be able to remain in the country.Andrew Keen: And I'm guessing also some of the DOJ's stuff about laying off immigration judges and court stuff, they're taking office to leave. Apparently 100 immigration court staff are retiring. This adds to it as well.Felipe Torres Medina: Yeah. Yeah, exactly. I mean, Citizenship and Immigration Services, USCIS is a very particular part of the government because it is one of the few parts of the federal government that funds itself. Again, going back to cost the fees that they make are so big, they make so much money that if there's a government shut down, actually, USCIS does not shut down. It's one of the few parts of the government that didn't need to shut down, because they make so much money out of the immigrants trying to come here. So it's a really, really strange part of the government. It kind of doesn't know where it belongs. So seeing like the the DOJ's cuts that arrive into the and that may be implemented into USCIS. Kind I'm not familiar with any Dodge cuts recently on USCIS, but I suspect that they would be strange because it's a it's a very strange division of the federal government. It's not like the Department of Education or the like the Forestry Service. It's it's it's own kind of like little fiefdom.Andrew Keen: Are you wrote an interesting thing or you were featured recently on Lit Hub, where this show actually used to get distributed about how to write a funny book about American immigration. Of course, it's it's a good question. I mean, it's such a frustrating bureaucratic mess at the best of times. I do write anything funny, Philippe, about it.Felipe Torres Medina: Well, I think the, the to me, the, the finding a format to be able to explore this, this chaotic system. It's so, so complicated. It's like a maze. So to me, having this kind of interactive format allowed me to have some freedom to be like, okay, well, you know, one of the things that they taught me in my comedy education, when I was training at a theater here in New York, the Upright Citizens Brigade is the premise of if this is true, then what else is true? You know, so if this absurd thing is reality, then what? How can you heighten that reality? And for me, you know, the immigration system is so absurd. It's it's so Byzantine and chaotic that I was like, okay, well, I can heighten this to an extra level. And so when I keyed in on, on this format of like allowing the person who's reading it to be the many characters to inhabit the, the immigrants and also to be playing with the book, you know, going out and going to one page, making their own choices. It allowed me to change the tone immediately of the conversation because you say immigration and everyone's like, oh, you know, it gets tense. But if you're saying like, no, no, this is a game, you know, we're playing this game. It's about immigration, but it's a game. All of a sudden there's a levity to it, and then you take the real absurdities and the real chaos of the system and just heighten it, which is basically what you do with comedy at all times.Andrew Keen: Who are the the fathers or perhaps the mothers of this kind of comedy? The person who comes to my mind is is Kafka, who found his own writing very funny. Not, and I'm not sure everyone necessarily agrees. He, of course, wrote extensively about central mid European bureaucracy and its darkness and absurdity. Who's inspired you both as a comic writer and particularly in terms of this book?Felipe Torres Medina: Well, actually, Kafka also has a great book called America.Andrew Keen: Yeah. Which is a wonderful first paragraph about seeing this. Seeing the Statue of Liberty.Felipe Torres Medina: Yes. Which is also kind of about this. But I would say my inspirations comedically are, you know, I don't think I would have written this book without, like, the work of Tina Fey. I think Bossy Pants was a book where I was like, oh, you can be funny in writing. And Carrie Fisher is a big Star Wars nerd, you know, to like great, funny writer writers who are just, like, writing funny things about their lives. But I think the playfulness of it all, actually, I was inspired by this Argentine writer, Julio Cortazar, who wrote a novel that in English just translated as hopscotch. And this novel is a huge, like, structural disrupter, you know, in the like, what we call the Latin American boom of writing in the 60s, 70s and 80s. And he wrote this novel that is like a game of hopscotch. You're jumping from chapter two chapter. He's directing you back and forth. So I read a lot of that. And I, you know, I read that in my youth, and then I read it. I reread it as I was older. And then there are writers like George Saunders, who can be very funny while talking about very sad or very poignant things. And so that was also a big inspiration to me. But, you know, I am a late night writer, so I was interested in actually making it like, ha ha, funny. Not just, you know, sensible chuckle funny, you know, kind of like a very, like, intellectual kind of funny. So I was also inspired by, you know, my job and like Colbert's original character in Colbert's book, America, I am American. So can you the writing of The Onion and, you know, the book, The Daily Show Book America, which is just kind of like an explanation of what the federal government is and what the country is written in the tone of the correspondents or the the writers for The Daily Show back in the original Jon Stewart iteration. So those books kind of like informed me and made me like, realize, oh, I can you can make like a humorous guy that's jokey and funny, but also is actually saying something isn't just like or teaching you something. Because the biggest reason I started writing this book is that Americans don't know their own immigration system, and they have so many opinions about immigration, particularly now, but no one knows what what it entails. You know? And I don't just mean like conservatives, you know, I don't just mean like, oh, MAGA people. Like, I was living in New York in the Obama years or like the late Obama years, and none of my liberal Brooklyn, you know, IPA and iced matcha drinking friends had any idea what I was going through, you know, when I was trying to get my visas.Andrew Keen: The liberals drink IPA. I didn't know that I drink IPA, I mean, I have to change my. Yeah. It's interesting you bring up in the first part of that response, the, the the Argentine novelist. There's something so surreal now about America. An interesting piece in the times about not being able to pin Trump down because he says one thing one day, the next thing the next day, and everyone accepts that these are contradictions. Now, the times describes these contradictions as this ultimate cover. I'm not quite sure why they're a cover. If you say one thing one day, in the next something the opposite the next day. But is there a Latin American quality to this? I mean, there's a whole tradition of Latin American writing observing the, the cruel absurdities of of dictators and wannabe dictators.Felipe Torres Medina: Yeah. I mean, it's it's part of our literary tradition. You know, the dictator novel you have. But again, just as the feast of the goat, and you have Garcia marquez, my my compatriot, you know, like that.Andrew Keen: Was one of my favorite magnificent writing.Felipe Torres Medina: It's it's possibly, I hesitate to say, my favorite writer because it creates ranking, but.Andrew Keen: Well amongst your.Felipe Torres Medina: Favorite, among my favorite writers, 100 Years of Solitude. Obviously that is possibly my favorite novel, but he has also, I believe it's the Autumn of the Patriarch, which is his novel about. Exactly. Yeah. I mean, there is a there is. I wouldn't say it's a South American or Latin American quality to it. I think it's just once you encounter it, it is so absurd that art does have to come out and talk about it, you know, and, you know, you see the in a book like the Autumn of the Patriarch. That is a character full of contradictions. That is a character who, in chapter one, hates a particular figure because they he they think that they're against him and then is becomes friends with them and then hires him to be his personal bodyguard. You know, that is what dictators are, and that is what authoritarians do. It is the cult of the person. It is the whims of the person, and the opinion of the person are the be all and the end all to the point where the nation is. It is at the whims of, of of a a person, of those of those persons contradictions. So I wouldn't say it's necessarily a Latin American nature to this, but I think Latin America, because we experience dictatorship in many times supported or boosted by the United States. Latin Americans were able to find a way to turn this into art. And quite good art is what I would say.Andrew Keen: Yeah, and of course, it's the artists who are best able to respond to this. As you know, it's not just a Latin American thing. The Central Europeans, the Czechs in particular. Yes.Felipe Torres Medina: Milan Kundera.Andrew Keen: Yeah. Written a series of wonderful books about this. But the only way to respond to someone like Trump, for example, who says one thing one day, the next thing the next day when he talks about tariffs, he says, well, I'm going to have 25%. And the next day, oh, I've decided I'm not going to have 25%. Then the following day he's going to change his mind again. The policy people, I'm not very helpful here. We need artists, satirists of one kind or another humorist like yourself to actually respond to this, don't we?Felipe Torres Medina: I think so. I think that that that is what. Helps you? I mean, it's the emperor has no clothes, right? That's how you talk. And it's about all kinds of government, obviously. Autocracy or dictatorship is one thing, but at all in all systems of government, these are powerful people who think they have they know better and who think that they are invincible. And you know what? What satire or humor and art does is just point out and say like, wait, that's weird. That thing they just did is weird. And being able to point that out is, is a talent. But also that's why people respond to it so well. People say like, yeah, that is weird. I also notice that. And so you create community, you create partnership in there. And so all of a sudden you're punching up, which is something you want to do in comedy. You want to make fun of the people who have more power, and you're all punching up and laughing at the same thing, and you're all kind of reminding each other. You're not crazy. This is weird.Andrew Keen: Yeah. I mean, the thing that worries me. I was on Kolber on the Colbert Show a few years ago in the original show. I mean, it's brilliant comic, very funny. But him and Jon Stewart and the others, they've been going so long, and they. I'm not saying they haven't changed their shtick. I mean, writers like you produce very high quality work for them, but it's one of the problems that these guys have been going for a while and America has changed, but perhaps they haven't.Felipe Torres Medina: I mean, it's an interesting thing to bring up, particularly with with Stephen, because his show was completely different. Ten years ago, it was a completely different show. He was doing a character. Yeah, right. And now he's doing a more traditional late night show. I think I think the format of late night is a very interesting beast that somehow has become A political genre. You know, it didn't used to be with Letterman. Didn't you see with Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno? You know, they would dabble in politics. They would talk about politics because it's what people are talking about. But now it's become kind of like this world. It all has to be satire. And there's some there's some great work. And I do think people keep innovating and making, like, new things, even though the shows are about ten years old. You know, you have Last Week Tonight, which my wife writes for, but it's a show that does more like deep dive investigations and stuff like that. So it's more like end of the week, 60 minutes, but with jokes kind of format. But I do think, yeah, maybe like the shows, can the shows in the genre in general, like there's genre I could do with some change and some mixing it up and.Andrew Keen: Well, maybe your friend Kumar could.Felipe Torres Medina: Yeah. Well, what? Let us get.Andrew Keen: A slot to his own late night show. And I wonder also, when it comes to I don't want to obsess over Trump or that course it's hard not to these days, but because he himself is a media star who most people know through his reality television appearance and he still behaves like a reality television star. Does that add another dimension of challenges to the satirical writers like yourself, and comics like or satirical comics like Colbert and Jon Stewart?Felipe Torres Medina: I think it's just a layer of how to interpret him as a person. At least for me, it's like, okay, well, you have to remember that he is a show man, and that's what he's doing.Andrew Keen: Yeah. So they're coming back to your your metaphor of the air and power and not having any clothes on. He kind of, in his own nodding wink way, acknowledges that he's not pretending to wear any clothes.Felipe Torres Medina: Yeah, and, well, sometimes he is and sometimes he isn't. And that is. That's the challenge. And that's why writing jokes about him every day is hard. But, you know, we we.Andrew Keen: And the more I know I watched Saturday Night Live last week that Zelensky thing and it was brilliant. Zelensky and Musk and Trump. But I'm very doubtful it actually impacts in any way on anything. Well, and I.Felipe Torres Medina: Think that that's also a misconception people have about comedy. You know, comedy is there to be funny. You know, comedy isn't there to change your mind if it does that, great. But the number one impetus for For Comedy should be to make you laugh. And so the idea that, like, a sketch show is going to change the nation. I don't know. Those are things that I think are applied on to comedy. They're kind of glob down to comedy. I don't necessarily think that that's what it the, the people making the comedy set out to do so. I think if if it made you laugh and if it works. The comedy has done its job. Comedy, unfortunately, can't change the world, you know. Otherwise, you know, I'm sure there would have been a very. There are many good Romanian comedians who could have done something about it has.Andrew Keen: You know, time to time. I mean, Hava became Czech president for a while. You, you, you know, that you sometimes see laugh, laughter and comedy as a kind of therapy when it comes to some of the stuff you do with Kovat. Are you in in America? Let me in. Are you presenting the experience, the heartbreaking experience? So certainly an enormously frustrating experience of the American immigration system as a kind of therapy, both for people who are experiencing it And outsiders, Americans in general.Felipe Torres Medina: And for myself, I think.Andrew Keen: And of course, yes. So self therapy, so to speak.Felipe Torres Medina: I think so, I mean, it is for me a way to like comedy is a way to process things for me. It comes naturally to me, and it is inopportune at times when dealing with things like grief and things like that. But I mean event, anyone who's gone through grief, I think, can tell you there's one moment when things are going really bad and one of the people grieving with you makes one joke and you all laugh and you're like, this. This somehow fixed for one second. It was great. And then we're back to sadness. So I think comedy, you know, as much as again, I go back to what I said a second ago, it's about making you laugh and that making you laugh can create that partnership, can create that empathy and that that that community therapy, I guess, of people saying like, oh wait, yeah, this is weird, this is strange. And I feel better that someone else recognized it, that someone else saw this.Andrew Keen: It certainly makes you saying, hey, you wrote an interesting piece for The New Yorker this week. In times like these, where you, you write perhaps satirically about what you call good Americans. Is the book written for good or bad Americans or all Americans or no Americans? Who do you want to read this book?Felipe Torres Medina: Oh my God. I want everyone to read it and everyone to buy a copy so that I've got a lot of money. All right. No, I think it's written for most Americans and and immigrants as well. People living here. But I do think, yeah, it's written for everyone. I don't think I wrote it with particular like, kind of group in mind. I think to me, Obviously with my background and my political affiliations, I think liberals will enjoy the book. But I also think, you know, people who are conservative, people who are MAGA, people who don't necessarily agree on my vision of immigration, can learn a lot from the book. And I purposely wrote it so that these people wouldn't necessarily be alienated or dismissed in any way. You know, it's a huge topic, and I think it was more of a like, I know you have an opinion. I'm just showing you some evidence. Make with it what you will, but I'm just showing you some evidence that it might not be as you believe it is, both for liberals and conservatives. You know, wherever you are on the spectrum, liberals think it's super easy. Conservatives that think it's super easy but in a bad way to move here. And I'm here kind of saying like, hey, it's actually this super complicated thing that maybe we should talk about and we should try to reform in some way.Andrew Keen: Yeah. And I think even when it comes to immigration, often people are talking about different things. Conservatives tend to be talking about quote unquote, illegal immigration and progressives talking about something else, too. You deal with people who try to get into America illegally, or is that for you, just a subject that you're not touching in this book?Felipe Torres Medina: I address it very lightly toward the final pages of the book. I first of all, I can, like, claim ownership on all immigrant narratives. And I wrote this about the legal immigration system because it's what I've navigated. Again, I am not an immigration lawyer. I am not an activist. I'm a comedy writer who happened to go through the immigration like system, so I but I did feel like, you know, okay, well, let's talk for a second. You've seen how hard it is because I've shown you all this evidence in the first couple stories in the book. And again, I say in the last pages because because of the interactive nature of the book, this could there is potentially a way for you for this to be the first, one of the first things you read in the book, but to where the last pages of the book, I say, okay, let's talk about you. We've seen how hard it is. Let's talk about the people who do so much to try and come here and who go even harder because they do it in the like, in the unauthorized way, you know, or the people who come here seeking asylum, which is a legal way to come to the United States, but is very difficult. So I do present that, but I do think it is not necessarily the subject of a comedy book, As I said earlier, when you're dealing with comedy, you want to be punching up. You want to be making fun of people in authority figures or in a sort of status position that is above the general population or the the voice of the comic. And with with undocumented immigrants and people trying to come here in irregular ways. It's it's very hard to find the humor there because these people are already suffering very much. And so to me, the line is threading the line of comedy there. It can very quickly turn into bullying or making fun of those people. And I don't want to do that because a lot of people are already doing that, and a lot of people who are already doing that work on this in this administration. So I don't I don't really want to mess with that.Andrew Keen: Philip, I'm not sure if you've got a a Spanish translation of the book. I'm sure there will be one eventually.Felipe Torres Medina: Hopefully.Andrew Keen: If people start reading this in Colombia, where you're from, Bolivia or Argentina, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, they think themselves, this is so hard to get in, even legally. Even if you have money to pay for lawyers, they might think, well, f**k it, I'll just try and get over the border illegally. And do you think in a way, I mean, it's obviously designed as a humor book, but in a way this would encourage any sane person to actually give up. I mean, go try and try and go somewhere else or just stay where you are.Felipe Torres Medina: I think, I think the book has a tone of I'm I'm a pretty optimistic person. So I think the book does have a tone of optimism and love for America. I do love the United States, where I, while presenting it as a difficult thing, I am also saying, like it? It's pretty good. You're going to have a good time if you make it here. So I don't think it will be a deterrent. Whether it's some sort of Trojan horse to create more people, to try and go through the border. I don't know, it'd be pretty funny if a funny book tended ended up doing that, but.Andrew Keen: It'd be great if we just got hold of the book and blamed you for for for all the illegal immigrants. But in all seriousness, it was been a lot of pieces recently about, according to the New York Times, people going silent for fear of retribution. As a comic writer and someone clearly on the left, the progressive in American politics. Do you think that there is a new culture of fear by some of your friends and colleagues in the comedy business? Are they fearing retribution? Trump, of all people, doesn't like to be laughed that some people say that he he only wanted to be president after Obama so brilliantly and comically destroyed him a few years ago.Felipe Torres Medina: I think in comedy, you know, I think people are tired of talking of Trump because, again, as I said, ten years of writing about him. I don't think anyone is necessarily afraid of talking about him or making fun of him. I think that is or his administration. I think that is proven like this past week with explosion of memes, making fun of J.D. Vance, his face, you know, to the point where J.D. Vance has tried to hop on the meme and be like, ha ha! Yes, I enjoy this very much too. Good job members. So like, obviously, first of all, he doesn't like it, but I think everyone is. And I think this is something that America does so well. Americans like to make fun of politicians, period. And even though I think in certain spaces of, you know, politics and activism, there might be fear of retribution that is much more marked. I think the let's make fun of of the Emperor for having no clothes that make fun of them is an instinct that that it's not going away and it won't go away any, anytime soon.Andrew Keen: Philip, finally, you've written a funny book about immigration. But of course, behind all the humor is a seriousness. Lots of jokes. It's a very entertaining, amusing, creative book. But it also, I think, suggests reform. You've given a great deal of thought. You've experienced it yourself. How can America improve its immigration story so that we don't have in the future more satirical books like America Like Me and what are the the reforms, realistically, that can be made that even conservatives might buy into?Felipe Torres Medina: Well, I think one of the biggest things is, if you look at it historically, there hasn't been comprehensive immigration reform since Clinton. Which is ridiculous. You know, we're nearing on 30 years there, and we're. We're basically 30 years since. And, you know, I'm 33, so it's a whole lifetime for a lot of people with no changes to a system, no comprehensive changes to a system. And that just means that, like it is going to become outdated. So obviously it's very hard right now with the tenor, but what we really need is for people to sit down and talk about it as a normal issue. And this is not an invasion. This is not a national emergency. It is simply an issue, an economic issue. And I think one of the biggest things, and one of my personal suggestions is that. The US Citizenship and Immigration Service has always been, as I said, this kind of strange ancillary part of the government. It started as part of the Department of Labor, eventually joining the Department of Justice. Then it goes back to labor. It kind of always bounces around. They don't know where it fits. And in after 911, it became part of the Department of Homeland Security. And I think that creates a an aura around immigration as something that is threatening to homeland security. You know, which is not true.Andrew Keen: Yeah. I see what you're saying. It's become the the sex when it comes to, in the context of Victorian something that we don't talk about, and we use metaphors and similes to, to, to describe. And I take your point on that. But what about some and I take your point on the fact that the system hasn't been reformed since Clinton. But let's end with a couple of final, just Doable reforms, Philippe, that can actually make the experience better. That will improve that. That might be cheaper that the the Doge people might buy into that both left and right will accept and say, oh, that's fair enough. This is one way we can make immigrating to America a better experience.Felipe Torres Medina: I think, rewarding if we're talking about this idea of like, we want the best immigrants, educated people. I think actually rewarding that because the current system does not do that for most people trying to get a work visa. They're subjected to a lottery where the chances are something like 1 in 16 of getting a work visa to be here, and that is really bad for companies in general. It's something that the big tech firms have been lobbying against for years, and because there's no consensus in Congress to actually do something. We have been able to address that. So I think actually rewarding the kind of like higher education, high achievement immigrants. In a way that isn't just like if you have $5 million, you can buy a gold car. Yeah, and.Andrew Keen: That's what Trump promised.Felipe Torres Medina: Right? Actually rewarding it in a way that's like, okay, well, if you have a college degree, maybe you don't just get a one year permit to work here, you know, maybe you can. There is a path for you to if you made your education here, if you start your professional life here, if you are contributing because all these immigrants are paying taxes or contributing, maybe there's a path that isn't as full of trapdoors and pitfalls. I would say that that that's one of the biggest things. And honestly, higher up, like I, I do think maybe this is my progressive side of me, but it's like get more people working in USCIS so that these waits aren't taking forever and getting more immigration judges, you know, hire people who are going to make this system efficient, because that is, I think, unfortunately, what Dodge thinks that the, you know, we're going to slim it down so it doesn't cost that much. Yeah. But if you slam it down, you don't have enough people. And there's a lot of people are still trying to come here and they're still trying to do things. And if you don't have enough people like working those cases, all you're creating is backlogs.Andrew Keen: Yeah. I'm guessing when those transforms the American immigration system through AI, you'll have another opportunity for you to write a book. Yeah. I mean, I let me in an important book, a very funny book, but also a very serious book by one of America's leading young comic writers full time, writing for Stephen Colbert, Philippe Torres Medina. Philippe, congratulations on the book. It's out next week. I think it will become a bestseller. Important book. Very funny too, and we can say the same about you. Thank you so much.Felipe Torres Medina: Thank you so much for having me.Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Brandon hops on with the crew over at the Jim Colbert Show to discuss the Super Bowl. Pure dominance by the Eagles, Kendrick Lamar's halftime show, and more!

worst week ever winner : Jay Z best week ever winners : Luigi Mangione and Hoda watch this episode on the Patreon! *LINKS* No More Late Fees Amelie Episode and Extras Episode Oddly Specific Jingle Bells Episode Follow Vanderpump Robs Here! "I like my soot-case" clip Spotify AI Wrapped Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox Break Up Chipotle Prices Increased 2% Hawk Tuah Insider Trading Doechii on Colbert Show and NPR Tiny Desk Trisha Paytas On SNL Caitlin Clark Time Magazine Cover Juan Soto Deal With Mets Luigi's Friends Post Taylor Lorenz Stands On Business Air Force One by Nelly Music Video Follow Tired Thrift! Follow Meredith Lynch Here!

Brandon joins the Jim Colbert Show to rehash an Orlando City win, an 0-11 football weekend in Florida, and more!

The Jim Colbert Show 10/17/24

Brandon joins the Jim Colbert Show for a look around the NFL in week 5. The Lions look like the best team in the NFC, Bucs have contender upside, and more!

Brandon joins the Jim Colbert Show to break down a wild weekend in the world of college football. 7 ranked teams fall, Top 25 in shambles, and more!

Blind Mike In-Studio. Kirk returns and says this season of Surviving Barstool is much crazier than last years (00:02:00). Singing Happy Birthday to Bomber might be an all-time low for Mut (00:09:00). KFC cries after seeing the Met's radio voice celebrate with the team (00:17:45). Will Flemming cries at the final call from Joe Castiglione (00:20:40). Dalton & the Sheriffs has a new song, Castiglione (00:25:30). Evan Lazar has his podcast audio scrubbed by the Patriots (00:28:32). Justin reviews Megalopolis (00:37:10). Kirk reacts to Kevin Cullen stealing Steve's Triad Weed story (00:43:40). Steve Torre Caller asks Steve about hosting a show with Mut (00:53:45). Dave is the new Andy Rooney (00:58:30). Chris Klemmer pays tribute to Pete Rose and Kirk gives him a new idea (01:03:50). Mark Cuban performs a rap targeting Donald Trump on the Colbert Show (01:24:00). Mut thinks gamblings teaches his children math (01:30:00). Mike thinks the Pesky Pole is a double entendre (02:00:00). Justin details what spaghetti hot dogs are (02:12:48) + more.You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/kminshow

JK & Carrie hang out in the Gold Coast with Super Greats, Nora & BEE! We hit the pool, dig into Chicago's best sammies, and recap our favorite parts of our Idaho vacay including: kayaking with moose, sky gazing, huckleberry ice cream, mutton bustin' at the rodeo, Harry the Hawk and river sushi. Nora also shares her awesome Stephen Colbert live experience during the DNC.

Jacob is a critically-acclaimed woodwind specialist with over 50 chart-topping credits alongside his returning roll as on call saxophonist for “American Idol” & “The Voice” for the past 7 years. Jacob's career spans over a decade, with performances at iconic venues like Wembley Stadium, Crypto.com Arena, Red Rocks, and more. He recently contributed to a Golden Globe and Oscar nomination for his musical work on the film, “Babylon.”  With experience performing on hit shows like “The Ellen Show”, “NFL Thanksgiving Halftime 2018”, “Dick Clark's New Years Eve”, “The Colbert Show”, & “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”, Jacob's talent has taken him to 50 states and over 40 countries. Most recently Jacob performed on this years Kennedy Center Honors, Academy Awards & Grammy Awards.Subscribe at idyllwildarts.org/theseriesOne World. One Idyllwild. The Series. brings together thought leaders, creatives, influencers and changemakers, highlighting the work of citizen artists whose careers and lives have been shaped by the transformative power of art.Executive Producer & Host: Idyllwild Arts Foundation President, Pamela JordanPlease consider making a gift: https://idyllwildarts.org/giving/

BRANDON TALKS SPORTS WITH THE JIM COLBERT CREW!

If you'd like to learn more about mental health care by and for fat folks, please check out Tend and Cultivate Counselling.(Content Note: this episode mentions childhood assault, sexual assault, and incest.)Mary Lambert (she/her) shares how she uses music and poetry to “make art for the wound” of being made to feel wrong. As someone who is fat, queer, and bipolar, her journey towards joy has been worth all the challenges as she's now in her “body euphoria” era.Mary Lambert is a multi-platinum artist, author of the poetry collection Shame is an Ocean I Swim Across, and has performed on the Colbert Show, Ellen, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show, and the American Music Awards. Lambert also received the Human Rights Campaign's Visibility Award, The SAMHSA Special Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for her work on destigmatizing mental illness, and was invited to speak at the UN.Lambert is currently working on a new book and album about body image; co-starring in the Netflix animated musical and series, I ♥️ Arlo and Arlo the Alligator Boy; co-hosting The Manic Episodes, a queer and mental health podcast; and facilitates a virtual workshop on body image called Everybody is a Babe.Please connect with Mary on Instagram and her website.Mary reads her own poem to us. It's called “Jesus Loves My Crop Top” from her book Shame is an Ocean I Swim Across.Connect with Fat Joy on the website, Instagram, subscribe to the Fat Joy newsletter, and watch full video episodes on YouTube.Want to share some fattie love? Please rate this podcast and give it a joyful review.Our thanks to Chris Jones and AR Media for keeping this podcast looking and sounding joyful.

Brandon joins the Jim Colbert Show over on Real Radio 104.1 to discuss all things Orlando sports. Magic, Orlando City soccer, and more!

Brandon scoots across the hall to the Jim Colbert Show on Real Radio FM 104.1 to talk the latest headlines in sports.

Website: https://saltmustflow.comOTHER PLATFORMSRumble: https://rumble.com/c/SaltyCrackerYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SaltyCrackerTwitter: https://twitter.com/SaltyCracker9Locals: https://saltycracker.locals.com/Odysee: https://odysee.com/@SaltyCracker:aBitchute: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/thesaltycracker/Dlive: https://dlive.tv/TheSaltyCrackerFoxhole: https://pilled.net/#/profile/135344SUPPORT SALTYWebsite: https://saltmustflow.com/support/SubscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/salty-crackerCash App: https://cash.app/$saltmustflowMerchandise: https://saltmustflow.com/shop/Mrs. Salty's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChnZMOno3rthe1LHvcxufdwMusic by: https://incompetech.com/ Crinoline Dreams In Your Arms--Disclaimer-- These are the opinions and ramblings of a foul-mouthed lunatic. They are for entertainment purposes only and are probably wrong. You listen at your own risk.

Sen. Fetterman makes comment on the Colbert Show this week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We cruise across to Real Radio 104.1 to chat some sports with the Jim Colbert Show. UCF Football, Orlando City, NFL Week 5 takeaways...

Protesters in New York VOICE DISPLEASURE with Kamala Harris Outside of Stephen Colbert Show! New To The Podcast? Looking for a alternative to WOKE Media?! You Are In The Right Place! Make sure you subscribe! We are available on Apple, Google, Spotify, Castbox & Many Other Pod Platforms! New To The Channel? Hit the Subscribe Button and Check out Our Website For Exclusive Content and Livestreams: www.blackandwhitenetwork.com Get your MERCH here: https://teespring.com/stores/blackandwhitesports Use Promo Code "USAFIRST" for 25% Off! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blackandwhitenetwork/support

The Reecie Colbert Showis your one-stop source for politics, culture, current events, entertainment, and lifestyle talk. As a call-in talk show, the Reecie Colbert Show is like getting an invite to the cookout every Saturday, and she would love to hear from you. The conversation will always be lively, engaging, and, most of all, unfiltered.

I actually watch one of these stupid Trump rallies, and counter and debunk some of his multitude of specious and b******* claims he makes as a matter of course! I watch a trump rally, So you don't have to! Of course he b****** about Obama spying on his campaign and Hillary's emails and hunters f****** laptop!######This psychotic monster is demonizing refugees, legal asylum seekers, new American immigrants, and also victims of American foreign policy in their countries! Mr Nazi face Trump should be hauled in front of the pig international criminal court, and tried for his crimes against humanity, namely hundreds of thousands of immigrants and his kids in cages #kids and cages!? If you believe this man's callous lies, you're nothing but heartless monsters as well! Peaceful, law-abiding American citizens like myself would gladly trade you for any of these poor, downtrodden refugees! Go to hell.He probably told the hundred lies in under an hour! He told 40,000 lies in 4 years according to Washington Post factchecker, and no that's not fake news idiots! Joe Biden has helped get us back on track after this Nazi wannabe Hitler turned us into a s******* country in four long, hard nightmarish years of the Trump Nazi regime. By the way everybody should know that Nazi Trump has Hitler's mein Kampf at his bedside table! Trump turned us into a s******* country! The election wasn't rigged! You're just all a bunch of sore losers. Nazi Facebook said b**** McConnell had a death wish, that is inciting violence, and terrorism against a sitting elected official! Where is #theJusticeDept, anyway? Why doesn't b**** McConnell charge him with the slander? By the way, true social is bombing! LOL only 500,000 people signed up, and truth social, I mean fraud social hasn't paid since March 20 so he is 1.8 million in debt for that! LOL plus Trump organization is going to go belly up hahaha and Trump family won't be able to do business in New York hahaha what a b

Every Monday, Kravitz visits the Jim Colbert Show for a sports chat and the guys discuss tonight's HR Derby, Juan Soto's contract offer, and more.

The Colbert Show on CBS went too far invading the halls of congress as part of a gag that is really paid political hacks working for the democrats harassing republicans MTG Marjorie Taylor Green a GOP congresswoman talks about it and those involved. US-China Commission hearing on "Challenging China's Trade Practices: Promoting Interests of U.S. Workers, Farmers, Producers, and Innovators" the testimony shows that china is adversary in trade and steals us technology bankrupts us companies and is engaged in economic sabotage of the USA and its economy. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-k-cohen/support

AP correspondent Julie Walker reports on Capitol Unlawful Entry

This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ .   What is that baby thinking? Alison Gopnik knows. She is the American professor of psychology and affiliate professor of philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, writes for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New Scientist, and Scientific American, and has appeared on The Colbert Show and given a TED talk. She has much to tell us about how studying children can inform the development of artificial general intelligence, and in part 2, we discuss topics like epigenetics and the AI alignment problem. All this plus our usual look at today's AI headlines. Transcript and URLs referenced at HumanCusp Blog.        

This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ .   What is that baby thinking? Alison Gopnik knows. She is the American professor of psychology and affiliate professor of philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, writes for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New Scientist, and Scientific American, and has appeared on The Colbert Show and given a TED talk. She has much to tell us about how studying children can inform the development of artificial general intelligence, and in part 1 you'll find out what babies are smarter than adults at! All this plus our usual look at today's AI headlines. Transcript and URLs referenced at HumanCusp Blog.        

Welcome to this week's episode! In it, Nic reviews and loses his literal mind over the lovely Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. In it, Brendon and Nic talk about their favorite moments, the cool special effects, the story, the characters and Nic reveals a conspiracy theory he's had about the movie for some time.  Before listening we cannot strongly recommend enough that you MUST SEE THIS MOVIE before listening. Do it for yourself. Do it for your love of film. You got this. We believe in you. SHOW NOTES: The song Nic loved from the movie: https://youtu.be/tLEvgxk9aCU Spike Jonze directing the intro to The Colbert Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfhu5Gv6e8Y Timestamped behind the scenes for Jim running back and forth: https://youtu.be/BGiqHqmf9CE?t=878

Kravitz joins the Jim Colbert Show for a simulcast to go over the hottest current sports topics including the Arnold Palmer Invitational, MLB gridlock, LeBron's amazing performance, and more.

LINKS FROM TODAY’S SHOW: Questions in Church: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFmvnr34Dms Coach Dave on Stephen Colbert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fpREgOH9qQ&t=309s  COACH DAVE LIVE Always find Coach at – https://coachdavelive.com Dave Daubenmire, a veteran 35 year high school […]

In Episode 31, Gregg welcomes Alex Ebert. Alex is an American singer-songwriter and composer, best known for being the lead singer and songwriter for the American bands Ima Robot and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. He has won a Golden Globe Award and appeared on The Colbert Show (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQQKvEaq1kI). In this episode, Alex shares his narrative of how his musical career and involvement in the "loudness wars" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war) led him to a series of insights about the nature of waves, frequency consolidations, relations between lack and desire, and the nature of emergence from quantity to qualities. He and Gregg then sync this up with UTOK, especially the iQuad coin, memes, and the upcoming singularity. Here is the episode on podbean: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-enzst-1112d2a Here is a clip on "MEmes" and the singularity: https://youtu.be/vMxmO-CoNDY Here is his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/alexebertofficial Here is his Twitter handle: https://twitter.com/EdwardSharpe   ---   Resources mentioned in this episode:

Youtube has issued new speech mandates to save average users from the perils of critical thinking. At the same time tyrannical mandates begin to make disastrous initial impacts on service and healthcare industries, setting up a maniacal game of chicken with a global regime that is capable of making all of the dictators of the 20th Century blush. We have a special guest calling in from New York City, Josephine Generoso, who runs Italian Cafes and Pastry Shops in the city with her husband Rocco (Roccos.nyc). We are going to learn about one family's efforts inside of a growing, and necessary, revolt. The second half we got great calls, Jonestown 2021 on the Colbert Show, and more. Support Our Proud Sponsors: Blue Monster Prep: An Online Superstore for Emergency Preparedness Gear (Storable Food, Water, Filters, Radios, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, and so much more). Use code 'FRANKLY' for Free Shipping on every purchase you make @ https://bluemonsterprep.com/ Secret Nature CBD: 100% organic CBD rich cannabis flower bred so low in THC that they are legally certified as hemp and can be shipped nationwide. High-CBD, low-THC means all the benefits of full spectrum cannabinoids and terpenes without the high, or negative effects like anxiety and paranoia. Pre-rolls, Oils, Tinctures, and more - Promo Code 'FRANKLY' at SecretNatureCBD.com for 20% OFF SUPPORT the Show and The Future of The Media!: Sponsor through QFTV: https://www.quitefrankly.tv/sponsor SubscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/quitefrankly One-Time Gift: http://www.paypal.me/QuiteFranklyLive Official QF Merch: https://bit.ly/3tOgRsV Sign up for the Free Mailing List: https://bit.ly/3frUdOj Send Crypto: BTC: 1EafWUDPHY6y6HQNBjZ4kLWzQJFnE5k9PK LTC: LRs6my7scMxpTD5j7i8WkgBgxpbjXABYXX ETH: 0x80cd26f708815003F11Bd99310a47069320641fC FULL Episodes On Demand: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/301gcES iTunes: http://apple.co/2dMURMq Amazon: https://amzn.to/3afgEXZ SoundCloud: http://bit.ly/2dTMD13 Google Play: https://bit.ly/2SMi1SF Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2tI5THI BitChute: https://bit.ly/2vNSMFq Rumble: https://bit.ly/31h2HUg Watch Live On: Pilled: https://bit.ly/37qM5gb DLive: https://bit.ly/2In9ipw Periscope: https://bit.ly/2FmsOzQ Twitch: https://bit.ly/2TGAeB6 YouTube: https://bit.ly/2exPzj4 CloutHub: https://bit.ly/37uzr0o Theta: https://bit.ly/3v62oIw How Else to Find Us: Official WebSite: http://www.QuiteFrankly.tv Official Telegram: https://t.me/quitefranklytv DISCORD Hangout: https://bit.ly/2FpkS11 QF Subreddit: https://bit.ly/2HdvzEC Twitter: @PoliticalOrgy Gab: @QuiteFrankly

Brian and Drew are joined by friend of the show, NYC comedian Steven Rogers. For years Steven has been on tour with the great Brian Regan and made his late night debut on the Colbert Show in 2019. He is working on releasing his album later in 2021. We have a great discussion with Steven […]

Wednesday – A company owner wants his employees to email him their vacation plans to ensure they are taking quality trips. Good idea? More proof the Covid vaccine works and some people are still hesitant to get it. The CEO for the Central Florida Zoo Dino Ferri calls for Animal House. Rauce Thoughts on coloring his hair.

An update on the heat advisory. Senate approves a 12th federal holiday for Juneteenth. A lesson in absurdity as presented by Jon Stewart on the Colbert Show. A Houston reporter goes rouge during a live segment, accuses Fox News of "muzzling" her.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An update on the heat advisory. Senate approves a 12th federal holiday for Juneteenth. A lesson in absurdity as presented by Jon Stewart on the Colbert Show. A Houston reporter goes rouge during a live segment, accuses Fox News of "muzzling" her.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jon Batiste is an extraordinary Juilliard-trained musician who grew up in a musical family from one of America’s greatest music towns, New Orleans. Yes he’s the musical director of the Colbert Show but he’s a brilliant musician in his own right. He’s got a new album called We Are so we talk about music and how to make it. To hear this awesome conversation go to http://patreon.com/toureshow and subscribe. For just $5 a month you get 4 Friday Patreon exclusives and the full version of our Wednesday shows and you get to help us keep making this show!Patreon.com/toureshowInstagram: @toureshowTwitter: @toure See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

L’hommage au salsero Johnny Pacheco et le Live d’Awori & TwaniTous les dimanches, de 9h à 13h, Néo Géo Nova vous invite à vivre de nouvelles immersions dominicales au sein de l’actualité culturelle et sociale de la planète. Un tour de la sono mondiale en 240 minutes, présenté par Bintou Simporé et le Worldcrew de Nova. Au programme : portrait du jour, nouveautés musicales, revue culturelle d’ici et d’ailleurs, bons plans, sessions live et Worldmix, sans oublier les invités, musiciens, écrivains et autres acteurs et créatrices culturels de notre « Tout-Monde ».Portrait : le réalisateur et photographe Mabeye Deme“La photographie, c’est la langue que j’ai trouvé pour être au monde”.Jeanne Lacaille vous présente le réalisateur et photographe franco-sénégalais Mabeye Deme, à l’occasion de son exposition consacrée à sa série intitulée Gudi Dakar (“Dakar la nuit” en wolof), à la galerie Art-Z, à Paris, jusqu’au 27 février prochain, et de la sortie de son livre de photo “Wallbeuti” (“l’envers du décor” en wolof)Né en 1979 à Tokyo, Mabeye Deme grandit à Paris, loin d’un Sénégal fantasmé et légendaire. Il commence son histoire avec l’image par le cinéma, avant de se plonger pleinement dans la photographie à partir de 2010.Il s’envole pour le pays de ses origines, le Sénégal, et capture par la photographie le quotidien du pays. L’art de Mabeye Deme est de photographier l’intimité et le secret, tantôt en plaçant son objectif derrière un voile, tantôt sous une tente. En tout cas, cette volonté de toujours voiler le sujet pour mieux le dévoiler est au cœur de “Gudi Dakar”, une série de photos née de la passion de Mabeye Deme pour les flâneries nocturnes, captées entre 2015 et 2019, exposées à la Galerie Art-Z jusqu’au 27 février prochain. En photo ci dessus, des extraits de l’exposition “Gudi Dakar”. Visuel © Radio NovaMusikactu : Jon Batiste et DanitsaDeux nouvelles sorties pour le Musikactu de cette semaine : la chanteuse Danitsa, qui se construit petit à petit une belle carrière entre soul, reggae et R&B caribéen. Son premier album solo intitulé “Ego” a reçu un “Swiss Music Award”, et elle nous livre aujourd’hui son nouveau single “Let Go” et quelques mots pour l’introduire. Jon Batiste, né à Metairie, Louisiane en 1986, génie du piano, trublion funk soul blues, sapeur, et chef d’orchestre du célèbre “Colbert Show”, compositeur et personnage transposé dans la fiction “Soul” de Pixar, nous avait déjà rendu visite en 2018 pour la sortie de son opus “Hollywood Africans”. Cette fois-ci, son nouvel album “We Are”(Verve) est à l’honneur avec le morceau “Tell The Truth“. Un excellent album, entre soul, gospel, pop, jazz, rythm’n blues et hip hop, avec de nombreux invités, comme Mavis Staples, le Hot 8 Brass Band, Tarrionna ‘Tank’ Ball, Marcus Miller et la romancière Zadie Smith. Visuel © Radio NovaD’ici et d’ailleurs : hommage à Johnny PachecoHommage au producteur de légende et au père de la salsa Johnny Pacheco, décédé le 15 février dernier, chef d’orchestre de la Fania All Stars et co-créateur du label “Fania Records”, qui fut la maison d’un grand nombre de musiciens de salsa influents, comme Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe, Ruben Blades ou encore Celia Cruz. Notre chroniqueur es-salsa Gass revient sur l’origine de son... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Danny Jolles (Crazy Ex-girlfriend, Colbert Show) comes by the yard to talk his rapidly accelerating career in comedy and acting, growing up as a Jew in Virginia, and the secret to moving seamlessly between alt rooms and comedy clubs. Check out his special March 23rd on Youtube! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-after-laugh/support

Rauce holds the first and without a doubt last Jim Colbert Show election between Senator Roberts and Lead Custodian Colbert

Tara and Lee discuss kids going back to school and dealing with the new schedules - Tara's new National Podcast "Battleground America" debuts today! - Kamala Harris interview on The Colbert Show, Stephen asks "Why are now OK with Joe Biden?" her answer is strange.... - 

So many sports coming back, so little time! Brandon talks with Jim Colbert about it all.

My guest this week is Django Gold, writer for the Stephen Colbert Show and formerly Senior Writer for The Onion and of course, stand-up comedian. We chat about his first gig and I get a little nostalgic about my 90's playwright adventures. Go follow Django on Twitter at @django and tune in The Colbert Show each night! Follow this podcast across social media @MyFirstGigPod. Follow me @DuaneDoogan. This podcast is part of the Cherry Podcast Network.

Das Gesetz gilt immer noch: Wenn unser alter Kumpel Steve, der in der Öffentlichkeit als Stephen King bekannt ist, ein neues Buch rausbringt, dann lesen wir es. Sofort. Diesmal ist es kein Roman, sondern eine frische Novellensammlung, und da die deutsche Ausgabe erst im August erscheint, können wir anhand der Originalausgabe schon vorkosten und hier verkünden, ob es mundet. Traditionell umfassen die Novellensammlungen von King jeweils vier Geschichten, und diesmal hat sich jeder von uns auf einer Skala bis 10 Punkte eine Wertung für jede einzelne Geschichte überlegt. Stephen King: If It BleedsHodder & Stoughton, 384 Seiten, 2020 Gebundenes Buch (amazon-Affiliate-Link) E-Book (amazon-Affiliate-Link) Die deutsche Ausgabe erscheint erst im August 2020: Stephen King: Blutige Nachrichten Heyne, 528 Seiten, 2020 Gebundenes Buch: 24 Euro (amazon-Affiliate-Link) E-Book: 18,99 Euro (amazon-Affiliate-Link) Timecodes und Kapitelmarken: 00:00 - Einleitung 11:10 - "Mr Harrigan's Phone" 26:21 - "The Life Of Chuck" 35:48 - "If It Bleeds" 53:32 - "Rat" und Fazit Shownotes: Unsere Umfrage bei Twitter, was die einzig richtige Art und Weise ist, eine Kurzgeschichtensammlung zu lesen. Steve bewirbt sein Buch in der Colbert Show. Falkos Kurzgeschichte "Ein Freund ist online gegangen", die ein wenig wie "Mr Harrigan's Phone" ist, aber vorher geschrieben wurde. Die nächste Folge erscheint am 2. Juni 2020. Dann geht es um kein spezielles Buch, dann beantworten wieder ein paar der Fragen, die wir nach unserem Aufruf letzens erhalten haben. Und das waren so viele, dass wir sie nicht verfallen lassen wollen.

  To check out the video of this interview, check us out at www.dailyrenegade.com And for just $10 bucks per month or $100 per year, you can get exclusive content, full show versions and much more with a Daily Renegade membership. To help with the increasing medical costs for Nathan Peck (Josh and Christina's 5 year old son) and his battle with cancer, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/exxbe-nath... or http://dailyrenegade.com/donate and help us reach our goal of $100k! Josh Peck is now proudly endorsing CBD Pure and CBD Pets, the absolute most top-quality, organic, nonGMO, scientifically tested CBD oil on the planet, for people and their pets! CBD Pure - https://www.cbdpure.com/?AFFID=394382  

Why do our hearts long for renown and how might we meet that longing in a way that actually fertilizes a garden of rich, creative pursuits? Lately I’ve been re-examining a lingering desire for fame. I experience it in flavors of lack, or envy, or regret as if I somehow missed out on the grand adventure of celebrity. Do you sometimes feel the same? No matter my personal growth, there’s a small of me that still believes I might be happier if the whole world knew my name. This week on the podcast I pose this question to the eloquent rockstar Alex Ebert, frontman of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. What follows is a passionate love letter to earnestness. On the show, we discuss social anxiety and how the stage is the only place where Alex feels completely authentic. We talk about unmuting kink and how sex is a portal to permissiveness. We rage against the gatekeepers of cool and wax on the importance of being earnest. Finally, fame may seem to be a way to transcend death, but if every life is an epic, we are all already famous. In addition to his work with the Magnetic Zeros, Alex is the former frontman of the band Ima Robot. He also has a successful solo career including one of my favorite songs, Truth, which appears on this podcast. He won a Golden Globe for his film score for All Is Lost. He is also a political activist and a technologist, and his latest album I vs I, features the song Stronger with a splendidly avant-garde performance on The Colbert Show. LINKS Alex Ebert: https://www.5amedude.com/ Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros: https://www.edwardsharpeandthemagneticzeros.com/ Ima Robot: http://imarobot.com/anothermanstreasure/ Tuners.io Alex Ebert: "Stronger" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQQKvEaq1kI The Avalon Village in Detroit: http://theavalonvillage.org/ Finite and Infinite Games: https://www.amazon.com/Finite-Infinite-Games-James-Carse/dp/1476731713 King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: https://www.amazon.com/King-Warrior-Magician-Lover-Rediscovering/dp/0062506064 TIMELINE :01 There’s something legitimate about the desire to be famous :08 Does Alex feel social anxiety recording with me :14 Why the stage is paradoxically the only place we can escape social anxiety :17 The world of sex is a portal to our permissionful selves in a way that almost nothing else is :24 The possible unmuting of kink :34 The Gatekeepers of Cool and the Importance of being earnest :45 Social anxiety boils down to a fear of death from being exiled from tribal belonging :51 Fame is a way to transcend death :56 Every life is an epic 1:00 Suicidal thoughts and the nimble dance on the edge of depression 1:07 Life is a game of courage, go fearward my friend 1:11 What would a home run look like? 1:19 YES MY DESTRUCTION! How do we allow death to turn life into poetry 1:26 We’re all already famous

Kravitz joins the Jim Colbert Show for the weekly simulcast on Real Radio 104.1 and the crew discusses the possible end to a couple dynasties after both the Patriots and Crimson Tide lost over the weekend.

Master Chef Jr. winner Che Spiotta recently demonstrated his baking skill on the Stephen Colbert Show. Che won this season of the series and has Celiac Disease. More amazing then his win was the fact that he couldn't taste many of his dishes! For the Colbert Show, he made a gluten free Olive Oil Cake and shares the recipe here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B4scQNdFXTE/?igshid=1wjxcoyjt841dYou can find Che, and other Master Chef Jr. contestants, featured in a new cookbook: MasterChef Junior Bakes. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kravitz heads over to our sister station, WTKS Real Radio 104.1, for his weekly visit with the Jim Colbert Show as it is simulcasted between both stations.

Jim Colbert is a man who loves football but even he can see that the week of football ahead isn't going to be great. Brandon jumps on with them to talk everything from football to the Yankees.

UCF loses again and the Jim Colbert Show is irritated!

A new California bill and a lot of football talk on In The Zone.

Brandon has a bone to pick with the Jim Colbert Show

Big football weekend and some soccer news. It's time to infiltrate Real Radio!

Jim might be out but In The Zone is taking over!

Giving Real Radio a dash of sports!

Filling in for Rauce on the Jim Colbert Show, Scott Harris got a chance to preview the opening of Star Wars Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Scott runs through the upcoming rides and how patrons can enjoy both blue milk and green milk. Plus they discuss the new houses at Halloween Horror Nights.

Talking about the MLS All-Star game and more with Jack Bradshaw of the Jim Colbert Show.

Revolutionizing radio as we speak! Talking about the MLS All-Star game and more about UCF's scheduling.

Orlando City and more as we break it all down with the Jim Colbert show.

Fatherly advice and Orlando City Soccer!

Talking about the USWNT fiasco with the US flag.

The Jim Colbert Show is full of fans of Orlando sports so the big talking point was getting T-Ross back on the Magic.

It's not just the sports station that likes to talk about the Magic. The Jim Colbert Show is here to talk about the NBA Draft and what they should expect out of Okeke.

Rauce is a regular on the Jim Colbert Show and he will now be a regular on In The Zone!

Brandon joins the Jim Colbert Show to talk about all of the happenings in sports from the past weekend.

Lots of sports news to talk about and who better to talk about it with than the Jim Colbert Show?

Tiger winning, Magic winning, Orlando is a town of winners.

Orlando City and Orlando Magic are the hot topics here in the City Beautiful. Jim Colbert and the crew weigh in with Brandon Kravitz.

In The Zone joins the Jim Colbert show to talk UCF and Orlando City Soccer.

Brandon Kravitz joins the Jim Colbert-less Jim Colbert Show to talk Orlando sports.

Kravitz heads over to the Jim Colbert Show to talk sports with the crazy bunch. Jack gets very upset over Tiger not being at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Kravitz is making radio history by simulcasting with the Jim Colbert Show on Real Radio!

It's season 3, episode 12 - Don't Ask, Don't Tell!! In the start of the "Trey can't get it up" saga, hilarious comic Katie Hannigan (@_katiehannigan_) (Colbert Show) joins us to talk flight attendants, kilts, cheating, and indecipherable accents. Like and listen and don't forget to visit our @patreon!

In this episode I talk about the incident that happened on live TV. Sean Penn Smokes on Stephen Colbert show. This offended a lot of viewers, and Sean Penn seemed to be under the influence as well. __ Here You Can Find All My Gear/Equipment: ► http://Kit.com/vingin Here Is Where You Can Contact Me: ► https://goo.gl/bw7w9x Here Is How You Can Support Me: ► https://goo.gl/8diJ1j Here You Can Subscribe To My YouTube Channel: ► https://goo.gl/9f9Sgb __ NEW EPISODE IS UPLOADED EVERY DAY / SAME TIME: New York(USA 12.00 Los Angeles(USA) 09.00 Tokyo(japan) 02.00 Sydney(Australia) 04.00 London(UK) 17.00 Stockholm(SE) 18.00 __ ps. Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on notifications.

Hosts Colin Flynn and John M. Craig plot John's upcoming move to new digs. Also: George R.R. Martin, Game of Thrones, STRAVA, IKEA, Student loans, Golden Malrin, Better Call Saul, Jonathan Banks, Vince Gilligan, Wise Guy, Ken Wahl, Kevin Spacey, TV Guide, RipTide, Mike Hammer, Dallas, Dynasty, Southfork Ranch, Cinco De Mayo, Black Panther, Army of the Dead, White Walkers, Marvel, Blade Runner, The Hamptons, Long Island, Matt Lauer, Real Estate Exam, Epstein Barr, The Short Coat Podcast, Juan Epstein, Madison WI, University of Wisconsin, Hippie Christmas, Freak Fest, Gay Pride Parade, Broadway, 53rd, New York, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, David Letterman, The Colbert Show, Bumble and Bumble, San Francisco, Minneapolis MN, Somali, Mall of America, burka, LGBTQ, Cher, Fareway, Donkey Kong, King of Cars, Billy Mitchell, NPR One, Macauley Culkin, Bill Hicks, Instagram, Hipstamatic, Square Crop, Iowa, New York, NJ, NYC, Dads, Fathers, ex-wife and Fatherhood.

The Four Guys talk Batman, Moon Knight and then speak with Daniel Kibblesmith! This week, we bring on writer Daniel Kibblesmith who you may know from The Colbert Show, Valiant High and the upcoming Quantum and Woody and Marvel’s Lockjaw! We discuss Daniel's childhood and how he got his foot in the door with the comic industry. If you are looking for a book to gift this holiday season, try Daniel's new book Santa's Husband. You can purchase the book here. Tune in every weekend for more interviews with Four Guys and a Comic! In our round table, we have all commited this week to reading Moon Knight #189 and Batman Annual #2. Find out what we think of the books and some of our favorite moments from them.Matt had the unpopular opinion this week.  Listen to our podcasts free on iTunes or Google Play   Visit us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4GuysAndAComic   Check out our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4GuysAndAComic/   Call us at: (682) 4ACOMIC or (682) 422-6642   Sign up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cLe-gv Need a new subscription box? Look no further because Comic Bento has you covered. Comic Bento provides you with over $50 dollars worth of graphic novels monthly! To get the first month of your subscription for 15% off just use the Four Guys and a Comic link to sign up now! Be sure to check out PopNerdTV for reviews, previews, articles, and more! Special thanks to Zay La Vie for the music provided during transition.

Graham-Cassidy amendment to GOP health care plan. Aims to stop a single payer system. Urban Word of the Day. 8 year old football players take a knee during National Anthem. Woman pays for jet to fly abandoned animals out of the Virgin Islands after the hurricane. Media reaction to Trump's UN speech. Hillary hawking her book on The Colbert Show. What's Next: The World. Curtis Houck, Newsbusters, talks about the media response to Trump's UN speech. Say What?? Teacher reprimanded for slavery lesson. Mark Tapson, Truthrevolt.org talks about Berekly Free Speech Week.

When Patton Oswalt, one of the top comedians over the past several decades, was going through the worst experiences of his life this past year, he wrote an entire post about one joke Gary Gulman made. ONE JOKE. Oswalt starts off: "This is...so perfect." I like the pause in there. LIke there are no words so he had to notch himself down even though it doesn't express exactly what he wants to say: ... "so perfect". He analyzes Gary's joke and why it's so difficult to do a joke like this (nobody sees how the sausage is made, they only see the final joke after years of perfecting). Patton closes with: "Thank you Gary Gulman. I know a lot of my shit's gonna get angry these next four years, but it's stuff like what Gary's doing that reminds me I gotta make sure it's funny first. Angry doesn't change shit. Funny disarms the horde." Gary is one of the best in the world. And no matter what area of life you want to improve in, studying in detail someone who is among the best, will up your game. It ups my game. I am infinitely frail. I fall apart at the slightest resistance. I sometimes can't handle it. I sometimes can't handle failing. I don't always believe you learn from failure. But studying the best, makes my brain feel good. Like it's being nourished. And that often gives me the strength to persist. For the past five months I've been going up on a stage 2-3 times a week and performing standup comedy in front of an audience. Often the other performers are people who were on the Colbert Show the night before. Or just released an hour-long Netflix special. So I have to up my game all the time. I want to be "one of them". And I don't want people in the audience to be able to tell that I'm different. Plus, I get scared to death. I am honestly so scared I am about to cry every time I am about to go on stage. Even if I'm going on stage to perform just five minutes of jokes. Five minutes is an eternity. What I realized, and will save for a future post, is that there are at least 20 or 30 (and probably much more) "micro-skills" that I could not have possibly imagined when trying to get better at standup comedy. I've been public speaking for 20 years. Is it that different? Yes. Which is why I had to have Gary Gulman on the podcast. One of the best in the world. I said above "five minutes is an eternity". Gary told one joke on Conan in 2016 that lasted six minutes. One joke where (and I measured it) he gets laughs every ten to fifteen seconds throughout. He uses every skill in the comic's toolbox. And probably many more that I haven't been able to understand yet. I printed up the joke. I gave it to Gary. I said, "I want to analyze this joke word by word." The first thing he said is, "This almost depresses me". "How come?" "It took years to write this joke. And the others that I came out with around then. It's so hard. Sometimes I can't' even get up because it's so hard to do this." What follows is one of my favorite podcasts. We cover his career, the techniques he learned and how he learned them. We cover the depression and anxiety and fear that goes into building any career out of excellence. We cover the micro-skills. No matter what you do in life, the one who masters all the master skills of your field of endeavor will be the one who rises to the top. How do you identify those skills? How do you master them? And we analyze this joke. To see the joke, Google: "Youtube Gary Gulman Conan States". It's his 7/13/16 performance. Watch it first.   Here are some things I learned: Part A) DELIVERY 1. COMMITMENT The whole joke is about the states and how they were abbreviated. Gary walks out on stage, "I just wanted to recommend a documentary to everyone and then I'm going to go." Everyone laughs. No one believes him. But he's totally COMMITTED to the joke. In the podcast he says, "I'm bragging, really. Because I know I have something in my pocket that...

When Patton Oswalt, one of the top comedians over the past several decades, was going through the worst experiences of his life this past year, he wrote an entire post about one joke Gary Gulman made. ONE JOKE. Oswalt starts off: “This is…so perfect.” I like the pause in there. LIke there are no words so he had to notch himself down even though it doesn’t express exactly what he wants to say: … “so perfect”. He analyzes Gary’s joke and why it’s so difficult to do a joke like this (nobody sees how the sausage is made, they only see the final joke after years of perfecting). Patton closes with: “Thank you Gary Gulman. I know a lot of my shit’s gonna get angry these next four years, but it’s stuff like what Gary’s doing that reminds me I gotta make sure it’s funny first. Angry doesn’t change shit. Funny disarms the horde.” Gary is one of the best in the world. And no matter what area of life you want to improve in, studying in detail someone who is among the best, will up your game. It ups my game. I am infinitely frail. I fall apart at the slightest resistance. I sometimes can’t handle it. I sometimes can’t handle failing. I don’t always believe you learn from failure. But studying the best, makes my brain feel good. Like it’s being nourished. And that often gives me the strength to persist. For the past five months I’ve been going up on a stage 2-3 times a week and performing standup comedy in front of an audience. Often the other performers are people who were on the Colbert Show the night before. Or just released an hour-long Netflix special. So I have to up my game all the time. I want to be “one of them”. And I don’t want people in the audience to be able to tell that I’m different. Plus, I get scared to death. I am honestly so scared I am about to cry every time I am about to go on stage. Even if I’m going on stage to perform just five minutes of jokes. Five minutes is an eternity. What I realized, and will save for a future post, is that there are at least 20 or 30 (and probably much more) “micro-skills” that I could not have possibly imagined when trying to get better at standup comedy. I’ve been public speaking for 20 years. Is it that different? Yes. Which is why I had to have Gary Gulman on the podcast. One of the best in the world. I said above “five minutes is an eternity”. Gary told one joke on Conan in 2016 that lasted six minutes. One joke where (and I measured it) he gets laughs every ten to fifteen seconds throughout. He uses every skill in the comic’s toolbox. And probably many more that I haven’t been able to understand yet. I printed up the joke. I gave it to Gary. I said, “I want to analyze this joke word by word.” The first thing he said is, “This almost depresses me”. “How come?” “It took years to write this joke. And the others that I came out with around then. It’s so hard. Sometimes I can’t’ even get up because it’s so hard to do this.” What follows is one of my favorite podcasts. We cover his career, the techniques he learned and how he learned them. We cover the depression and anxiety and fear that goes into building any career out of excellence. We cover the micro-skills. No matter what you do in life, the one who masters all the master skills of your field of endeavor will be the one who rises to the top. How do you identify those skills? How do you master them? And we analyze this joke. To see the joke, Google: “Youtube Gary Gulman Conan States”. It’s his 7/13/16 performance. Watch it first. Here are some things I learned: Part A) DELIVERY 1. COMMITMENT The whole joke is about the states and how they were abbreviated. Gary walks out on stage, “I just wanted to recommend a documentary to everyone and then I’m going to go.” Everyone laughs. No one believes him. But he’s totally COMMITTED to the joke. In the podcast he says, “I’m bragging, really. Because I know I have something in my pocket that I’ve polished so frequently over the years. Years and years have gone into this one joke. And I know they haven’t seen it. It’s almost like I’m say, ‘Wait till you get a load of me.’” A lot of comedians just pander for a laugh, especially in the beginning. Yes, fart jokes work. But GREAT comedy is art. Gary’s worked hard and he’s know it. This transcends more than just jokes. People won’t always know that what you have to offer is valuable to them. Until you show it. That’s how Gary builds rapport with the audience. They sense the commitment. They are in for the ride. 2. BUILD UP CAPITAL Audiences are terrifying. And often they don’t know you. Might be a business audience in a meeting. Might be a reader. Might be a listener or a crowd. Or a comedy club audience. They have to like you. Johnny Carson has said that this is the most important skill for a comedian. Likeability. Watch Gary’s clip and see how he becomes naturally likeable to the audience. These are techniques that can be used in every situation. But it’s also how you build up capital so now you can take chances, propose ideas they have never heard of, build rapport with each person listening to you, and perform the magic trick of transmitting what you see in your head, into the heads of all the listeners. I didn’t realize this was such an important skill at first. Again, I have another post about this. But, for me, the results were disastrous when I didn’t realize how important this was. 3. MOVE Gary uses movement. It’s almost like he’s acting out the joke. He points to the sky, everyone’s eyes move up. They’re with him. They’re in the story. “I need to keep their attention during that time because it’s a lull,” he said. You can’t just tell your joke. Or tell your story. Or tell your idea. Ideas, jokes, stories are three dimensional. Gary takes his joke and turns it from a premise into a three dimensional world we are suddenly all living in. Part B) WRITING 4. OBSERVE THE ABSURD Throughout my entire life, I’ve been abbreviating states.  I’ve never thought, “Oh so many states start with the same two letters.” Who thinks of that? “What were you doing when you first thought of that?” I asked him. “I think the first time was when I was in 2nd grade and I got the arrow book of the states. I got it in 2nd grade but it must’ve been printed several years prior because the abbreviations was a new concept in this particular version of the Arrow Book of States. For whatever reason, I wanted to memorize the abbreviations. That’s when I noticed how difficult it was.” Thirty years later, he turned that difficulty into a joke. I notice this with comedians. They observe everything out of the ordinary. Seinfeld once said that a regular person goes into Bar Mitzvah and says, “nice buffett”. A comedian will go in and say, “why is there pork?” I’ve been working on a joke lately. The premise is that OJ Simpson made $2.7 million while he was in prison. The premise doesn’t have to be funny. Just quirky. The punchline can come after years of work. Not in my case but in the case of the best comedians, jokes, speakers, inventors. 5. PERSISTENCE AND DEPRESSION This is unique to Gary. He’s able to draw out jokes for 6 minutes. I asked how he’s going to get down to writing the next 6 minute bit. “It’s daunting,” he said. “How do you deal with the anxiety?” “I’ll say this, but it’s something that’s very personal to me. Hopefully it will help people. But I was in the hospital for a few nights because of my depression and anxiety. I was overwhelmed. It was a couple of months ago. I wasn’t suicidal. I just went to the emergency room and they admitted me and changed some medicines up, but it’s literally crippling.” “Did that help? The combination of medicine and them talking?” “Yeah…I’m in a better position now then I was then. I can function a little bit better and I’ve been able to get back on stage.” He said he had a fear of performing. Which was amazing to me because he’s so good at it. But I get it. I can’t go on stage without having a panic attack. And I know he’s been on stage 1000s of times. It’s hard. But once you say, “This is too hard”, that’s when you have to do it to get better. And improvement never ends. That’s why I wanted to learn from him. It’s easy for a comedian to tell crude jokes. Gary brings you into new territory. He told me that once he got a hold of the abbreviations joke, he held on. “I tried to strengthen it and lengthen it.” We kept dissecting. I wanted to get deeper into the toolkit. How did he make the joke stronger? 6. GO OFF ON TANGENTS He’s a few minutes into the joke. They’re talking about abbreviating the first state (Alabama). Alaska is next. But he had to take the audience away from the story. Or they’d lose interest. He sets the scene. The whole team of abbreviators is eating breakfast. And Gary says, “The omelette station had just been invented and was sweeping the nation.” “I’ve always felt uncomfortable with the omelette station,” he told me. I never thought about it before. Hidden truths surround us. Ghosts in a conversation. But saying them brings the discomfort into comfort. Makes the scary…funny. Or possible. Or gives us a new way of looking at things. “The omelette chef must hate us,” he said.  And in the joke Gary says they wanted to be a “chef chef.” Not an omelette chef. The tangent diverts your attention away from the main plot. He adds another about the people who call Hollandaise sauce “holiday sauce.” This has nothing to do with the joke. But it’s funny and adds depth to the story. And does it have to do with the joke..? Maybe! And then brings it back to abbreviations. Alaska is right after Alabama. Both are AL. That’s when the “crack team of abbreviators” realize they’re in trouble. “Did we already use AL?” 7. BE SPECIFIC In one of his first lines, Gary tells you the documentary is 98 minutes. Not 90, not an hour. It’s 98 minutes. “Why 98?” I said. It had to do with the number of syllables. And the exactness. Words don’t tell a story. Details tell a story. And it ends on a “t”. Gary knows from 20 years experience what consonants will elicit a bigger laugh. Micro-skills. 8. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MEMORY LOSS The crack squad of abbreviations is made up of “nayer do wells.” I didn’t even know what that meant. “I like to use language that you forgot you knew,” he said. 9. PUT LAUGH LINES TOGETHER Gary quoted the late Richard Jeni, who said, “What you’re trying to do is put together as many laugh lines as close together as possible.” You don’t have to wait long to laugh again when you watch his act. Gary does this too. He makes a small reference. “I want to say it was 1973… So I will.” And the whole crowd laughs. At first, I couldn’t figure out why I was laughing. “It’s a cliche,” Gary said. He uses a cliche to make fun of cliches. He makes you take a second look at some statement everyone says, but no one realizes they’re saying. 10. SUBTRACT SELF-KNOWLEDGE The joke gets more and more ridiculous with each line. But Gary looks almost clueless. He’s going on and on about this documentary, their struggles and challenges. It’s almost like he crosses this invisible line where he’s no longer aware. He becomes part of the story. And his comedy turns from joke to performance. Everyone in the audience begins to see there’s no real documentary. Except Gary. He subtracts self-knowledge which adds to the laughter. Because now people not only can’t believe how ridiculous this documentary’s premise is, but they can’t believe how ridiculous Gary is. Adding knowledge makes a hero. Subtracting knowledge makes comedy. James Bond can get shot in the heart, perform surgery on himself, and then get the bad guy. He’s a hero. If Woody Allen is shot in the heart then….even picturing it makes me laugh. 11. TAKE RISKS Gary makes jokes out of difficulties, adds specificity, tangents, cliches and so on. He has his tool kit. Each element has a purpose. And they all take him to the edge. “That’s one of the reasons I’m moving to Boston,” he said. “I can take more risks.” “What does it mean to take more risks?” I said. “Just to go on stage with material that is not as worked out as the one we went over today.” He wants to test his joke in front of audiences, then record it and tweak it. If you can’t take risks, you won’t hit the edge. You won’t go beyond it. Beyond the edge is peak performance. The area few, if any, hit.  Beyond the edge is success. Because people reward the ones who have mastered the risks beyond the edge. I always say I don’t like to hit “publish” on an article until I’m afraid of what people will think. That’s not quite true for this article. I’m proud to say Gary is one of the best there is. I’m happy I got a chance to take my absolute favorite joke and get the guy who told it to answer all my questions for an hour. I felt bad when Gary expressed his depression. His desire to continually improve and his fear of where that next improvement might come from. We’re all afraid. I wanted to tell him…sometimes when I feel that way, and I feel that way almost every day, I often know that something new is going to happen. Something that will push me forward. Afterwards, I felt bad I didn’t say that. I wanted to tell him how skilled he is. That he will push forward. But I didn’t say that either. I’m hitting publish here not because I’m afraid. But because I want everyone else to experience the pure joy I felt when I listened to this joke, listened to how he crafted it, and learned a bit more about how in any area of life I can strive to improve and be the best I can be. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a conversation with Lisa Gross, the founder of League of Kitchens. They have been featured on the Colbert Show and Today on NBC, and David Plotz called it “probably the greatest thing that’s ever been created in the world.” Enjoy!

Queen & J. are two womanist race nerds talking liberation, politics, and pop-culture over tea. Drink up! College, how bad it sucked, and why maybe you should go anyway. Or don’t go. Who cares. Also, urban food deserts, white luxuries, and friendships among women. Drink up! This week’s hot list: the MTA, gentrification, Fresh Direct for everybody! feminism, the Golden Globes, Hidden Figures and white fragility, to go or not go to college, women/girls & friendship, the Lip Bar vs. The Lit Bar. Tweet us while you listen! #teawithqj @teawithqj EVENTS Queen is hosting her first "Vision Board and Goal Setting Meet Up!" for Ms.Vixen magazine! Join us on January 15th at Von in NYC. Click the link for more info and to RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/vision-board-…ets-30625202806 WEBSITE www.TeaWithQueenAndJ.com SOCIAL MEDIA Twitter & Instagram: @TeawithQJ Facebook: www.facebook.com/TeawithQueenandJ Tumblr: teawithqueenandj.tumblr.com EMAIL teawithqueenandj@gmail.com DONATE www.paypal.me/teawithqj NOTES & EXTRA TEA There is not one book store in the entire borough of The Bronx. Help Noelle Santos change that by supporting The Lit Bar. Crowdfunding begins in a few days! Visit http://www.thelitbar.com/ for more info. Check out our friend Dom Sindayinganza’s work at www.sindayiganza.com Queen loves her Lip Bar lipstick! Check them out https://www.thelipbar.com/ This week’s closing clip “’Hidden Fences’ Was A Smash At The Golden Globes” by The Colbert Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw4D867Ku78 Libations to Ohene Cornelius for our show intro, check out his latest album Flight Risk available everywhere online now. You can find Ohene on instagram and twitter @ohenecornelius and online at www.ohenecornelius.com Libations to T.Flint for our News That's Not News intro! Find him at www.TFlintVoices.com

Emma Willmann is the only comic to have performed on The Colbert Show. Listen to learn how she started this new trend and what being an agent taught her about stand-up comedy. #CaffeinateYourEars

John Romaniello (better known as Roman) runs Roman Fitness Systems with a tongue-in-cheek approach to fitness. Equal parts narcissism and self-loathing, Roman writes with passion and humor, show-casing his belief that training doesn't need to be serious, stern, science-laden monotony. It can be fun, too. Roman stopped by The Fat-Burning Man Show before going on other shows such as Dr Oz, The Colbert Show, and a few other stops in the mainstream media. This is a fun show, but let's put it this way: it's a bit more "Tucker Max" than "Paul Jaminet." I already know this show is going to be controversial. If you're offended by colorful language, what a male at 23 years old has to say about sex (or women in general), or a few other topics that might raise some eyebrows, you may want to skip to the next show. That said, Roman is brutally honest about his transformation from a chubby kid to a model and unapologetically shares his physical, mental and emotional journey with all of us. It takes a great deal of courage, and gumption, to do that, so there's a lot to learn from the show if you pay attention. * If you are listening to the podcast, we've bleeped out the potty mouth words. In today's show we talk about: What it's like to go from being a chubby kid to ripped The head trash that comes along with body transformation (that no one talks about) How you can dramatically improve your life while improving your body And why Tucker Max and Arnold Schwarzenegger say Roman's book doesn't suck.   Here's the show

Welcome to the Show: Prom ticket design is finalized Nas takes his petitions to the Colbert Show

Welcome to the Show: Prom ticket design is finalized Nas takes his petitions to the Colbert Show

Sunday morning, 10:45 a.m., Oct. 14, 2007, Boulder, COIt is drizzling and overcast and we are sitting in the basement watching Pee Wee's Playhouse. I got home last night around 2 a.m. just as the rain started falling. Jackson is proudly pretending with a new toy and Lisa is writing out a shopping list.Lost in a recipe, searching for an ingredient in the corner of her memory, she's twirling her hair. She glances up, reading the proclamation on the screen, "Fiesta!"My ears are still ringing from last night's onslaught in Loveland. My neck is sore, my eyes are tired and my dogs are barking. The sore neck is the direct result of dancing like an absolute maniac for the last two nights. It feels good to let my head roll from shoulder to shoulder.Yesterday morning, at about this time of the day, we were celebrating Jackson's soccer team's first win ever. There is nothing more exciting in the entire world than watching a gang of eight year old boys finally figure out how to pass a ball to one another. Better than being a first-hand witness to the Colorado Rockies winning a 13 inning nail biter in a rare tie breaking wild card game. More satisfying than successfully buying, selling and moving from one house to another. More visually pleasing than picking out paint colors for a new kitchen.And, yes, more exciting than seeing Widespread Panic realize their potential. You heard that right. Widespread Panic have found their groove again and life is very, very good.Let's get right to heart of the matter. I feel truly blessed to have so many people in my life who are caring and compassionate and not afraid to have a good time. So many great people around me who will put up with my antics, patiently allowing me enough space to stumble, but not fall.These same friends were the ones who heard me complain loudly about being extremely disappointed the band was playing a hockey arena in Loveland, CO. Outlet malls, Hooters and Harley Davidson stores betray the truth about the area of Loveland near the venue. Like a viking trying to lure real estate prospectors to "Green"land, the spread of strip development in Loveland is equally deceptive. It is a corruption of both parts of the alliterative compound word."I'm not going," I would say. My good people would nod and smile. They knew I was protesting too much. They knew I would be there and that I was just being a whiner.That doesn't mean I didn't try to get tickets the morning they went on sale. I tried and FAILED. That's right, shut out online. I think I ordered in the afternoon thinking that the venue wouldn't sell out. I told myself, "See that proves it! Besides it'll be such a long drive from the house." What a freaking martyr I was being!Of course as game time approached my heart pulled my head into line. The switch in my attitude came around the time I had to encourage a very insecure soccer player that his team mates were counting on him.I have a rule that I follow superstitiously; always buy a ticket and don't take anything for granted. But when tickets sell out quickly I am extremely lucky to have a couple of friends within the Panic organization who will help me out with tickets to a show. I reluctantly call on my write-in candidate for 2008, Garrie Vereen and the minster of the speakers, Chris Rabold who happily oblige.So after finding some road buddies to share the drive from Boulder I was set. Laura, Sandy, Diane and I met at Sandy's house for a little tapas and then we're driving north out of Boulder toward the venue. Upon entry to the parking lot we were greeted by a flier and a parking attendant. She happily informed us that the parking lot was being 'sponsored by the County Sheriff.' At the box office our tickets were faithfully waiting for us. The weather had changed during the day and as the hour of show time approached the northerly winds started gusting. With Johnny Law and Jack Frost both nipping at us we decided to head in.The Budweiser Events Center is basically a hockey arena that can be converted into a multipurpose venue by covering the ice with heavy duty foam floor tiles. Before show time you could hear the ice crack beneath your feet. I saw the Woobs up front and decided to cop a spot near them, about six rows from Jimmy. Dan and Candace joined me as well as Dan Bynum. Show time neared, DJ J. Boogie spun some music for the assembling crowd.The lights go down, while J. Boogie continues spinning tunes. David Schools mimics the bassline of the song and appears from behind his amps. The other members emerge and join the jam. Any reservation I had about having a DJ open for the band is erased in a matter of a few leads from Jimmy. To kick off a show with an improvisational jam takes confidence in your abilities and your audience. Widespread Panic of fall tour 2007 has both in spades.There is no denying that Widespread Panic is 'feeling it' right now. Their new single 'Up All Night' has been released via the internet for free and Jimmy Herring has settled right in as the new lead guitarist. Strike the word 'new' from that sentence; settled right in as THE lead guitarist. It is difficult, if not impossible, to compare Widespread '01 or Widespread '05 with Widespread '07. The chemistry on stage right now is undoubtedly sincere and the healthy heart beat of honest improvisation is being heard on a nightly basis.And the crowd responds... after opening with Action Man it seemed as if every one of the 8,500 assembled in the Event Center let out a hoot and a holler. Even a year ago you were guaranteed to hear tempo problems and dropped cues plague a set at least once. Widespread '07 rolls right over mistakes. All good improvisation requires equal doses of technical ability and chance. If you play your cards right, any mistake could potentially become inspired musical space.Luckily for us, chance reared her head in the first set. After leading the band through the relatively uncommon Nobody's Fault But Mine, JB found himself steering the band through Conrad with a broken stringed guitar. He just slung the guitar on to his back and leaned back, singing with a grin on his face. Jimmy tore through the climatic changes of Conrad while JB stood there smiling in admiration - the back lit traveling troubador, singing about pain, and life, and growth. And Love.Later, during the second set, JB seemed to forget the words to Time is Free. His lyrical improvisation led us down the hallway of Jim Morrison's 'The End.' Instead of the lizard king's ending, JB's take was a much more humorous, if not truthful, approach;"And I walked down the hall,came to mama and daddy's room.and I said,'Father, what are you watching on T.V.?'and he say'I'm watching the Colbert Show that came on after the Daily Show.'and I said,'oooh, father why do you do that?'he said,'Because I blanket myself with the truth.'Don't know why we do it!Never any reason to be not free."These Doors riffs inspired JoJo to tease the intro to Riders on the Storm. Soon David joined in and we had a mini- Riders jam on our hands. Melding perfectly with Time is Free, the Riders came and went but left the nasty weather behind.These are the moments I chase. That is why I found myself working for a spot down front again the second night. I had to get close so I could watch the band connect with one another on stage, feel the audience respond to the nuances, and hear the intense results. It is an experience almost as good as seeing a team of 8 year olds leap for joy after making a pass and scoring a goal.Jackson called me at one point, before the second show. I wandered backstage trying to find a spot where I'd get good reception and enough silence to hear. He was excited about a new toy and wanted to explain every detail. As I reentered the venue through the back door I noticed some tape on the floor. Stage directions for the crew. The note on the arrow pointing south toward the stage read "Everything."I found myself singing to myself 'Loveland Happiness' later that night in the backseat of Joe and Melissa's VW. Indeed, my 'everything' lay south of Loveland... but hearing this band hit their stride with a group of friends helps me appreciate just how blessed I truly am.Here's a few All-Stars from this weekend:Jackson, Lisa, Sandy, Laura, Diane, Curtis, Danny, Candace, AnneMarie, Bennett, Garrie, Ryan, Chris, Adam, Jen, Joe, Melissa, Tricia, Whim, Dan, Cindy, Joe, Rebecca, Dennis, ValHere's a few of the highlights, divided into TWO Episodes:PaniCast #58October 12, 2007JAM to open first set >Action ManNorth >Nobody's Fault But Mine >Conrad the CaterpillarJAM to open the second set >Greta >Solid RockA of D >DinerDOWNLOAD the cast here (right click to save to hard drive):Everyday Companion Podcast #58Click here to subscribe through iTunes.COMING LATER THIS WEEK - Loveland Happiness Episode 2 - PaniCast #59