Podcasts about Second City

Eunji Kim is a comedian, actor and writer based in Chicago. She was a Senior Writer for Cards Against Humanity and can be seen performing stand-up all over the country (Laugh Factory, Zanies) and has opened up for national headliners like Fortune Feimster and Dave Attell. Her sold-out solo shows entitled, OUT OF CONTEXT and IN BAD TASTE, were part of Steppenwolf Theater's 2024 and 2022 LookOut Series. She was a 2017 Bob Curry Fellow at Second City and a featured performer in the Netflix Is A Joke Festival and the 2017 NBCUniversal Break Out Festival. Some of her on-screen credits include: Chicago Fire (NBC), Chicago Med (NBC), Work In Progress (Showtime) and Best In Dough (Hulu). Eunji unsurprisingly, has a podcast with fellow Korean-American, Peter Kim called, 2 Kims 1 Pod. She is currently an Adjunct Faculty member in DePaul University’s Comedy Arts Program. The First Time is a live lit and music series recorded at Martyrs’ in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood. Each reader tells a true first tale, followed by a cover of the storyteller’s choosing, performed by our house band: The First Time Three. The First Time is hosted by Jenn Sodini. Executive producer is Bobby Evers. Assistant producer is Celina Dietzel. Podcast produced by Jim Mulvaney.

Our friend Jeffrey Damnit was in the news this week as he was in Mardi Gras and ran into an apparently inibreated Shia LaBeouf which did not turn out well for Mr, LeBeouf. This is a great time to revisit his appearance on the DMS in 2021Actor/Host/Creature of the Night Jeffrey Damnit and filmmaker "Zombie" Dave Reda joined Mark and Nicole for a horrifyingly hilarious showJeffrey grew up in Chicago, where he was conquering the goth/industrial club scene as an underage teen, which led to him performing in a local freak show and eventually to Hollywood where he studied at Second City and with his whisky soaked voice and effortless cool became the Master of Ceremonies everywhere from EDC to Vampire Balls. He also had amazing facial hair, which led him to a beard contest with unfortunate results and recently to feature in a Lil Nas X video.Jeffrey also appears in Dave's new horror short "As Good As Dead". Dave's journey took him from Northern California to Hollywood where he was an extra in "So I Married An Axe Murderer" (he actually dared to speak to Mike Myers) to performing sketch comedy and developing the show Click This! He also appeared in Erotic Confessions though he remained clothed and his new movie was filmed during the pandemic is now appearing in film festivals all over the world. He tells us why he is nicknamed Zombie and regales us about a visit he got from The Morbid Mariachi.

When Catherine O'Hara died late last month, it was a sizable blow to the entertainment world. Whether it was on television or in movies, she brought a quality that was very particularly “her.” While that's a tough thing to wrap up in just one episode, Dori and Kpolly give it a shot — with a little help from the Radio Milwaukee family.Fellow O'Hara appreciator Jon Adler joins our familiar cinema-loving duo to craft a retrospective that's both heartfelt and hilarious, much like the woman herself. We trace her journey from waitress to Gilda Radner understudy at Second City to a member of the groundbreaking troupe at SCTV. We dive into her most beloved performances, from the pretentious Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice to the frantic Kate McCallister in Home Alone to her understated performance as Mickey Crabbe in A Mighty Wind. Of course, no discussion would be complete without covering her turn as Moira Rose in Schitt's Creek (yes, the enchiladas make a cameo).So join us as we fold in the cheese and have a good airplane cry while paying tribute to a true comedy legend.#####Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Garage Door Company.

This week we've got two folks making their pod debuts in a big way!Grace GozeGrace is a self proclaimed improv pervert and alumna of The Second City's 2024 Victor Wong Fellowship. She performs weekly with High Stakes Productions and currently her Harold team and first all-POC house team at iO, D.A.R.E. Dropouts Presents: After School Special is happening every Saturday at 9:30 pm. She also hosts, writes, and produces her very own late-night style talk show (that we had the privilege of being on) Good Graces Tonight.Cadence Messier Cadence is a comedian and improviser who hits all the major haunts in the city including but not limited to Annoyance, Second City, and Logan Square Improv. She performs with Jackie Bass as an iO House Team at The iO Theater.⁠Join our Patreon ⁠for $5 a month for bonus eps, back log eps, and exclusive premium content!Hosts:Hosts: ⁠Damian Anaya⁠, ⁠Tim Lyons⁠Sound by Nick

In today's episode, Amanda drinks some Zevia cream soda and root beer with writer, director, and producer Clara Altimas. Clara is a writer, director, and producer originally from Montreal, now based between Toronto and Los Angeles. She serves as showrunner, executive producer, and director on Crave's The Office Movers, created by Jay and Trey Richards, and is now working on season 3 of the series. She was previously a writer, producer, and director on CBC's Strays and Kim's Convenience. In addition to her television work, Clara has written and directed numerous short films, and is currently in development on her first feature film. She has also taken part in several major industry development programs, including the Canadian Film Centre's Writer's Lab and the Reykjavik International Film Festival's Talent Lab. Before all of that, Clara started out as an actor, training in Meisner with the late Jacqueline McClintock, studying scene study and script analysis with Larry Moss, and performing improv at UCB in Los Angeles and Toronto's Second City. She credits her love of story and character to her extensive training as an actor, and brings those experiences into her writing and directing work. In this episode, Amanda and Clara discuss the shift from actor to writer/director, how she got started in writing for TV, and how she navigates the pressures of comparison and self-doubt in the entertainment industry. Mentions from this episode… ~ This is John (short film by Jay & Mark Duplass) ~ Sleep Away (short film by Clara Altimas)  ~ Christmas Green (short film by Clara Altimas)  ~ Allan (Al) Magee  ~ Heated Rivalry (series)   Terms we mentioned… ~ “Meisner” - an acting approach developed by Sanford Meisner that focuses on "living truthfully under imaginary circumstances" ~ “Save the Cat” - a popular script writing book by Blake Snyder ~ “Punch up” - a term used to describe the process of adding more/better jokes to a script, or sharpening/heightening the existing jokes in a script ~ “Canadian Film Centre (CFC)” - https://cfccreates.com/ ~ “TIFF” - stands for the Toronto International Film Festival, one of the world's largest and most prestigious public-facing film festivals   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~   Let's Connect!  Liquid Courage - click here!  Amanda Pereira (host) - click here!  Clara Altimas (guest) - click here!    ⇒ To donate to the show, click here!   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~   The music in this episode is thanks to HookSounds. You can check out their tracks here: www.hooksounds.com. Use the discount code LIQUIDCOURAGE10 for 10% off a HookSounds subscription!* *If you use this code, I earn a small commission — so you'll be supporting the podcast, too!

A story about actress Catherine O'Hara and her journey from the coat check room to Hollywood star. Programming Note: Nothing is changing with Andrew's weekly interview episodes. Andrew's interview episodes will continue to be in your podcast feed every Thursday morning. References:Article about Catherine O'Hara's work at Second City Toronto

Welcome weary travelers! Charming dungeon master Jono Mammel is back for a fantastical improvised adventure, inspired by Jono's real work in "Oops! All Bards." Join us as we enter a magical, musical world of swamps & sparrows, rocks & rolls, taverns & telekinesis, and more. Roll for initiative! Jono Mammel (they/them) is an actor, musical improviser, and tabletop game master originally from Rochester Hills, Michigan. Their Chicago credits include "Anthony Rapp: Home for the Holidays," "Benny Bingo and the Evangelikids," "Fan Fiction," "Puffs," "Shark Tank: the Musical," "Oops! All Bards: An Improvised D&D Musical," "Phony Award Winning Musical," and "Blank! The Musical." They can be seen improvising at Second City in "Baby Wants Candy" and "Shamilton," at the Revival in "Faking the Band," at iO in "Marquee," and at the Annoyance in "Tuesday Musical Improv." When not making things up, they enjoy murder mystery novels, televised cooking competitions, and making time-consuming Italian food. Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Jono Mammel Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Host Richie Tevlin and Co-Host Evan Blum talk with the Sheffield Shuffler, a sports social media creator with over 200,000 followers. A graduate of Chicago's renowned Second City, he blends comedic training with sports commentary to create engaging, personality-driven digital content.   https://sheffieldshuffler.com/ @sheffieldshuffler _____________________________________________ THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:   The Beer Accountant: https://www.paddymaccpa.com/brewerysolutions Email: pmcdonald@paddymaccpa.com 267-566-4077 - Patrick McDonald - Licensed CPA _______________________________________ EPISODE NOTES: Mentioned Breweries Space Cadet Brewing - Epi 22 - Philadelphia, PA Sly Fox Brewing - Epi 11 - Pottstown, PA Tonewood Brewing - Barrington, NJ Ship Bottom Brewery - Beach Haven, NJ Conshohocken Brewing - Conshohocken, PA Wissahickon Brewing - Philadelphia, PA Mentioned People @ChaseU - Epi 56 - Sports & Food Influencer Djour Philly - Epi 66 - Philly Food Media Gary Sheffield - Retired MLB Player Chris Farley - World Famous Comedian Steve Carrell - World Famous Comedian John Belushi - World Famous Comedian John Candy - World Famous Comedian Dave Chappelle - World Famous Comedian Key & Peele - World Famous Comedians Dexter Fowler - Retired MLB Player Kate Scott - Epi 58 - Philadelphia 76ers Announcer  Cole Decker - Epi 51 - Co-Founder of BrewedAt Brett Meyer - Epi 81 - Co-Owner of Sea Isle Spiked Iced Tea Doug Robins & Dan Seravalli - Epi 46 - Founder of Enterprise Sports Brandon Graham - Philadelphia Eagles Player Luke O'Brien & Chris Lerch - Epi 47 - Founders of Not Pizza Rasheed Wallace - Retired NBA Champion Mentioned Businesses Doug Robins & Dan Seravalli - Epi 46 - Founder of Enterprise Sports The Second City - Comedy Institution ESPN - Sports Broadcast  FOX Sports - Sports Broadcast  Fanatics - Sports Merchandise & Clothing Co Steady Picks - Sports Gambling Site Playmaker - Sports Gambling Site Sportsgrid - Sports Gambling Site WIP - Sports Radio Station Crooked Tea - Hard Iced Tea Brand Bai Tea - Iced Tea Brand Not Pizza - Epi 47 - Philly Local RTD Company Chickie's and Petes - Philly Sports Bars Garage Philly - Philly Bar What We Drank? Float School IPA | 6.4% | Simcoe & Chinook Space Cadet Brewing ---------------------------------- High Sea 10mg THC Sea Isle Spiked Iced Tea ---------------------------------- Shiner Holiday Cheer Dunkelweizen | 5.4% Spoetzl Brewery ---------------------------------- _______________________________________ STAY CONNECTED: Instagram: ⁠⁠@brewedat⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠@thebrewedatpodcast⁠⁠ Tik Tok: ⁠⁠@brewedat ⁠⁠/ ⁠⁠@thebrewedatpodcast⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠@brewedat⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠@thebrewedatpodcast⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠BrewedAt Website: ⁠⁠www.brewedat.com

In today's episode, I'm sitting down with my comedy teacher, coach, and special director Jesse Egan for the final stretch before we tape on February 19th at Film Hub in Vista.We dive into the "daily dose of strange" that keeps me going, from the two life-sized plastic skeletons I've hauled across the globe to my days at Second City in the 80s when I was the only person in the building not doing cocaine. We're also talking about the "Fine Art Model" of comedy, treating a year of stand-up like a gallery show, and why I'm bringing in a professional film crew from New Mexico to make this special worth the price of admission.Episode Timeline Highlights[00:00] – The bizarre reality of traveling with life-sized skeletons.[02:11] – Medical illustration and Suzi's love for a "good dead body."[04:23] – Why TSA spent six hours investigating a plastic skeleton.[05:52] – Taking Sam the skeleton to the dentist for dental work.[12:18] – Surviving the 80s Second City scene without the "white powder."[15:36] – Why Josh Lawson is the best storyteller to "take the bullet."[25:38] – The "worst gift": Being tricked into my first comedy set.[34:09] – Using the "Fine Art Model" to fast-track your comedic voice.[36:42] – Jean Smart vibes and looking worth the price of the ticket.[43:28] – Naming blow-up dealership guys after comedy legends.Connect With Us- Follow Jesse Egan on Instagram: @Jesseegancomedy- Suzi's Special Show: February 19th at the Film Hub in Vista.- Balboa Theater Show: Zoltan Kaszas on Valentine's Day.Final ThoughtsIf you enjoyed this episode, hit that follow button, leave a comment and review, and share it with someone who needs to stop waiting for permission. See you next time!

What if your training plan felt more like play than pressure? We sit down with Brittany Charboneau, the Funny Runner, whose blend of elite grit, Disney joy, and improv comedy turns marathons into stories worth telling. From sweeping the Dopey Challenge in 2022 to winning the Walt Disney World Marathon as a new mom here in 2026, Brittany shows how costumes, creativity, and community can transform the toughest miles.We trace her path from eighth grade track to professional trail and road racing, and why she refuses to be only “a runner.” Comedy training at Second City sharpened her mental game; themed weeks, curated playlists, and even a tutu or two keep the work fresh. She breaks down a brutally honest race day where nothing clicked, the self talk that almost sank her, and the moment she chose to ease, wave, take a quick character photo with Joy, and finish on her own terms.Run Disney fans will love the inside look at what makes these weekends different: pre-dawn corrals, park routes lined with characters, and a culture that cheers every pace. Brittany explains why there's no prize purse, why that's okay, and how the community spirit inspired her to jog out and encourage the final finisher, an act that went viral because it captured what running can be at its best. We also trade favorite rides, parks, and snack recs, and unpack how parenting reframed her motivation without stealing the fun.If you're chasing a PR, chasing vibes, or just chasing the courage to start, this conversation delivers practical mindset tools, joyful stories, and a reminder that the finish line belongs to everyone. Follow Brittany at funnyrunner26.2 on Instagram and learn more at thefunnyrunner.com. If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review - we'd love to hear your favorite race memory.----Adventures & Mousecapades is a passion project from Alicea & Nathan Novak - two Seattleites addicted to The Mouse. We are not affiliated with Disney, nor are we travel agents. Opinions are our own.Instagram, Threads, Facebook, Twitter: @ourmousecapadesOurMousecapades.compodcast@ourmousecapades.com

We first fell in love with him as Robert Hoover, the Delta Chi president in Animal HouseHe's coming to Chicago for a Groundhog Day appearance at Harry Caray's -  Jamie Widdos joined us to talk:-When he met Harold Ramis (co-writer of Animal House)-America's mutual friend Billy Bush -He was the spokesperson for Montgomery Ward years ago-Directing Charlie Sheen in Two and a Half Men "Even at the worst of times, he was a friend, we was a good guy, he was fighting the demons"-Hanging with the Animal House cast so many years later  Groundhog Day at Harry Caray's  To subscribe to The Pete McMurray Show Podcast just click here

The Minneapolis Edit Ways to HelpStand with MinnesotaA Minnesota Built, constantly updated resource hub connecting you with mutual aid, funds, legal supports, food assistance, rent help. and volunteer opportunities,MN NOICEStatewide directory of organizations that support immigrants and refugees across Minnesota from legal help to community serviceCommunity Aid Network MNOrganizes weekly free food distributions across the Twin Cities and supports volunteer participation.Improv Perverts, we got her back!Our guest today is quite possibly one of the funniest people we've ever had the privilege of performing with. In 2016 she was stretched out by Orlando Bloom on Netflix's EASY, she's had roles on Chicago Med and PD, for years she absolutely put on a clinic at Second City on their ETC stage providing them with countless characters that they will cash in on for years to come. She's truly one of a kind, it's Laurel Krabacher. We chat'n'prov about what makes a bf a bff, TV roles, and getting set on fire for a big finale. Sound by Nick⁠Join our Patreon ⁠for $5 a month for bonus eps, back log eps, and exclusive premium content!Hosts:Hosts: ⁠Damian Anaya⁠, ⁠Tim Lyons⁠,

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Welcome to the world of Hexagonia 01. [HEXAGON] Don Diablo - 5 Minutes (ft. Pink Sweat$)02. [HEXAGON] G-POL & ANSWER - Girls03. Drove - Eyes Closed04. Badjokes - Missing05. ALOTT - Far From Home06. [HEXAGON] James Kennedy - Try Again07. Ryan Blyth - Return Of The Mack (ft. Delroy Jones)08. [HEXAGON] RELOVA - Beamer09. [FUTURE] BLANK CANVAS - HIGHER10. [FUTURE] BLANK CANVAS X CHAR - See Through You11. [DEMO OF THE WEEK] Ex.nomayd - Tell Me12. [HΞXHIBITION] Rave Rae - Freaky Lil13. [HΞXHIBITION] Efim Kerbut - Player14. Roog & Jani present ROJA - Fire In The SkyJLV Guest Mix:15. [HEXAGON] JLV - FREAKY16. MK - DIOR Ft Chrystal (JLV Remix)17. LondonGround - Breath18. Josh Baker & Omar - Back It Up (James Poole Remix)19. Ziggy Ostas X Josh Christian - Get Me Hot20. Secondcity, Monty Kiddo & Big Time Charlie - On The Run 202521. S.A.M. - Fury's Laughter (Tube & Berger Remix)22. [HEXAGON] Camp Kubrick - Goodbye To College

1. Ceri, CICI, Psy Psy Sis - Live Your Life 2. Crusy, Jem Cooke - Good To Go 3. CIOR - SHAKIN' 4. MGMT - Electric Feel (SUBURBIA Edit) 5. Costa UK - Bring It 6. Lance Savali - Ain't No Party 7. Bessey - Controller 8. Odd Mob & OMNOM, HYPERBEAM - Coming Up (It's Dare) 9. James Hype - Behavior 10. Bibiane Z, RAMOS & Krimsonn - Ride Or Die (Krimsonn Club Mix) 11. Wh0 & Junior Sanchez ft Laura Davie - Someonemix) 12.Wh0 & Junior Sanchez ft Laura Davie - Someone 13. Tom & Collins - Disco Musiq 14. Big Time Charlie, Secondcity, Monty Kiddo - On The Run 2025

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to review the new CNN documentary, ‘I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not.'

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to review the new CNN documentary, ‘I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not.'

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to review the new CNN documentary, ‘I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not.'

Chicago has long been known as a hub for organized crime and gang activity, dating back at least a century. It is difficult to know where the criminals end and the government begins, as many seem to be wearing the same hat. Democrats have had a monopoly on the city for nearly a hundred years, with Lori Lightfoot, Brandon Johnson, and JB Pritzker as the most recent batch of grifters.Ben Wahhh has been a Chicago resident his entire life and has been plugged into the city's pulse through Deluxe Tattoo, as well as his charity, Ink Relief. His understanding of the Chicago political machine helps make sense of the seemingly senseless ideas that gain the support of the city's people. —Guest LinksBen Wahhh: https://www.inkrelief.org/—Watch the video version on one of the Macroaggressions Channels:Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/MacroaggressionsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MacroaggressionsPodcast—MACRO & Charlie Robinson LinksHypocrazy Audiobook: https://amzn.to/4aogwmsThe Octopus of Global Control Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3xu0rMmWebsite: www.Macroaggressions.ioMerch Store: https://macroaggressions.dashery.com/Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/macroaggressionspodcast—Activist Post FamilyActivist Post: www.ActivistPost.comNatural Blaze: www.NaturalBlaze.com—Support Our SponsorsAnarchapulco: https://anarchapulco.com/ | Promo Code: MACROC60 Power: https://go.shopc60.com/PBGRT/KMKS9/ | Promo Code: MACROChemical Free Body: https://chemicalfreebody.com/macro/ | Promo Code: MACROWise Wolf Gold & Silver: https://macroaggressions.gold/ | (800) 426-1836LegalShield: www.DontGetPushedAround.comEMP Shield: www.EMPShield.com | Promo Code: MACROGround Luxe Grounding Mats: https://groundluxe.com/MACROChristian Yordanov's Health Program: www.LiveLongerFormula.com/macroAbove Phone: https://abovephone.com/macro/Van Man: https://vanman.shop/?ref=MACRO | Promo Code: MACROThe Dollar Vigilante: https://dollarvigilante.spiffy.co/a/O3wCWenlXN/4471Nesa's Hemp: www.NesasHemp.com | Promo Code: MACROAugason Farms: https://augasonfarms.com/MACRO—

In this intense episode of We're Done Here, comedian Brittany Brave sits down with Meka Mo to talk candidly about domestic violence. Together, they unpack the realities of abuse, the ways it shapes personal and professional life, and the strength it takes to speak openly about experiences often kept in the dark. Raw, thoughtful, and deeply human. Are you ready to be done here? Grab your headphones, hit play, and get ready to laugh, cry, and learn. This is “We're Done Here”, and we're done talking. Now it's your turn to listen.

Ho Ho heeeeeereweeegoooo, the naughtiest of all the little boys Ian Herrin continues his annual tradition of visiting his therapist Santa Clause once a year in perhaps their most depraved session yet. Santa sounds closer to reaching his edge than ever which is met and matched in equal measure by Ian's oblivious nature. Next year, Santa, when Ian asks, just say sNOw!!!It's an after Christmas miracle! You found the best part of the episode description! The part where I get to tell you all about the wonderful actor and comedian John Shepard. Be sure you catch John's sketch team Both Hands returning to Second City in the Spring of 2026!!

What were our joyfully cool cosmic things of 2025? To find out, Dr. Charles Liu and co-host Allen Liu welcome three members of The LIUniverse production team: Jon Barnes, our Editor and self-proclaimed “#1 LIUniverse Fan,” Stacey Severn, our Social Media Manager/Community Director, and physics student Eleanor Adams, the show's first intern. Unlike nearly every episode so far, this time, rather than limit ourselves to one joyfully cool cosmic thing, the team is going to each share their individual joyfully cool cosmic things of 2025. Chuck's saving his for later, so instead, we're just going to jump right into everyone's favorite “cosmic thing of the year”, starting with our co-host, Allen Liu. Allen picks the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). Allen and Chuck, who is also on the Rubin's Science Advisory Committee and has been involved in the development of the Observatory for over a quarter century, discuss how truly amazing the images are in terms of detail and resolution. Allen shares that he's most excited to see images of transients like asteroids and gravitational lensing, since the Rubin will be taking images of the same areas twice with a gap of one week. Chuck talks about the citizen science aspect of the Rubin and encourages each of you in our audience to try and discover something on your own. We hear about some of Allen's published papers, including one on using VR for scientific research. The group talks about VR (including Beat Saber) and Jon shares his experience using VR technology to record his senior project at the Harold Ramis Film School at Second City, and the difficulty he had with the audio. For Eleanor, this year's cool cosmic thing was highly personal: her studies in modern physics this year, learning more than ever about what we don't know, like the gap between classical and quantum physics! As she puts it, “the matter-antimatter asymmetry…broke my mind.” She also shares a little inspiration from Cal Sagan's Cosmos. Stacey's cosmically cool thing of the year is relatively current: Comet C/2025 K1 ATLAS, which recently broke into 3 parts. The team compares this with the breakup of all breakups: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, which broke up in 1994 on its way to a collision with Jupiter. Jon's joyfully cool cosmic year end thingamabob is about the new science fiction show Pluribus created by Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul), and he's got a question for Chuck. How long would it take a signal like the one in Pluribus to travel from a star 600 light years away, like Betelgeuse or Antares? Without dropping any spoilers, the team ponders why an alien race would have reached out to Earth based on what they might have seen around the time of Charlemagne, and whether being subsumed in a hive mind would be good or bad. This is a bittersweet episode, though, because we officially bid farewell to the show's long time editor, Jon Barnes, who is moving on to a gig as a full-time content creator for a meal prep company that will involve lots of Jon cooking and filming himself while he does. Finally, it's time to wrap up the episode with Chuck's Picture of the Year, which is related to the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, but not in a way you might expect. It's a photo of Vera Rubin when she was 10 years old. As Chuck puts it, “Who would have known that 25 years later, she would change our understanding of the cosmos itself?” Happy New Year from The LIUniverse crew! If you'd like to know more about what Jon's up to post-LIUniverse, you can check out his TikTok @iheartjonbarnes. We hope you enjoy this episode of The LIUniverse, and, if you do, please support us on Patreon. Credits for Images and Music Used in this Episode: Galaxies imaged by the Vera Rubin Observatory. – Credit: NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory Artist illustration of gravitational lensing. – Credit: Public Domain Comet C/2025 K1 ATLAS. – Credit: Creative Commons / Dimitrios Katevainis Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. – Credit: NASA, ESA, and H. Weaver and E. Smith (STScI) Impacts on Jupiter from the broken-up comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. – Credit: Hubble Space Telescope Comet Team and NASA Image collage of Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion. – Credit: ESO, P.Kervella, Digitized Sky Survey 2 and A. Fujii Image of astronomer Vera Rubin, age 10. – Credit: Vera Rubin family, used with permission Music Used In This Episode: Goin' Home, derived from Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, performed by the United States Air Force Band. – Credit: Public Domain. #LIUniverse #AstronomyPodcast #CometC2025K1ATLAS #CometShoemakerLevy9 #VeraRubin

Actor Don Lake | The Brett Allan Show In this episode of The Brett Allan Show, Brett sits down with legendary actor, writer, and comedian Don Lake for a wide-ranging conversation that spans decades of comedy, collaboration, and Hollywood evolution. Don takes us back to his early days with the iconic Canadian sketch series SCTV, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from one of the most influential comedy incubators of all time. He also reflects on his formative years at The Second City, and how improv shaped his voice as both a performer and writer. The conversation dives into Don's longtime friendship and creative partnership with Bonnie Hunt, exploring how collaboration and loyalty have played a key role in his career longevity. Don also talks about his recent work on the Netflix comedy Space Force, and what it's like working in modern ensemble comedies. Plus, Don shares insights into voice acting and animation, including his involvement with the highly anticipated Zootopia 2, and how the industry continues to evolve. This episode is packed with comedy history, career wisdom, and candid stories from one of entertainment's most respected character actors.

In our second hour with Dr. Steph we explore her improv journey, starting as a musical director at Chicago theatre such as IO, Comedy Sports and Second City. We shared our love of the "mother of improv" Viola Spolin and discussed the myriad improv schools and forms that we see today. She studied musical improv with, Mike Descouteaux, legendary founder of the celebrated Music Program at The Second City Training Center in Chicago. That was where she really heightened her playing and working with improvisers. Dr. Steph describes the art of improv and how much it is now a global phenomena. And starting January 4 she is teaching an online class at And, Also Improv and there is still space available at https://andalsoimprov.culmas.io/class/2ynoy17uHUk2FLDfnuqZ?from=component-api

In this Boomerang! episode Greg travels to the Second City of Anaheim, where he meets with Strong Water's “Fleet Commander” Ying Chang. They discuss how the bar was assembled almost entirely from estate sales, how the idea of elevated tropical bar with great rum cocktails came to fruition, their impending high dive concept, and what it's like running a James Beard Award finalist bar in the “middle brother” of Los Angeles and San DiegoFollow Strong Water at @strongwateranaheimLINKSBecome a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegularsFor resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycallianceThe Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we're talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.PodcastCheck out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Happy Tuesday and Happy Holidays, Everyone! If anyone can convince me to join their Dungeons & Dragons campaign, it's Todd Stashwick. If you don't know Todd, he plays Deacon on 12 Monkeys and Captain Liam Shaw on Star Trek: Picard, among many other roles. He is also playing Palladin in the upcoming VisionQuest from creator Terry Matalas. Todd is a brilliant actor and a true nerd and we have so much fun in this conversation. We talk about how he got from doing comedy at Second City to playing killers on TV. We get into what it was like growing up as a nerd and the pinch-me experience of the moment he joined the Star Trek universe in Star Trek: Picard. Plus, we tease VisionQuest and Carrie and talk about our shared love of the great Matthew Lillard. For more conversation about Todd, head over to the Hindsight on Patreon with me and my producer Jeph! Send me an email thesackhoffshow@gmail.com Produced by Rabbit Grin Productions Mail Sack Song by Nicolas @producer_sniffles Join us on Patreon! http://patreon.com/thesackhoffshow ----------------------------------------------------- Support our Sponsors: Secure your online data TODAY by visiting https://www.expressVPN.com/SACKHOFF and found out how you can get up to four extra months Give your loved ones a unique keepsake you'll all cherish for years— Storyworth Memoirs. Right now, save $10 or more during their Holiday sale when you go to https://www.storyworth.com/SACKHOFF Warby Parker has over 300+ locations to help you find your next pair of glasses. You can also head over to https://www.WarbyParker.com/SACKHOFF right now to try on any pair virtually!

Sydney Kane is 'Wife Material' | The Brett Allan Show WANT MORE www.brettallan.com Sydney Kane is an NYC based actor, singer, comedian, writer who has performed everywhere from off-off-off-barely Broadway to the big 9x16 iPhone screen. A graduate of Pace University with a BFA in Musical Theater, she's done improv at UCB and Second City and gained a following on social media for her extremely insightful dating content. With sharp comedic writing and quick witted lyrics, Kane brings a warm and unassuming stage presence, leveling with her audience in a fearless self-depreciating humor but always with a knowing wink from the stance of striking confidence without flinching. People think she is very wise, especially straight men. (follow @sydneymorgankane on all social media.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure. For Peru, that means looking beyond Machu Picchu and Cusco to discover what lies south—a region of white volcanic cities, canyons twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, and a food scene that rivals Lima's in flavor (if not fame). In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Mark Johanson, a Chile-based travel writer and author of Mars on Earth: Wanderings in the World's Driest Desert. Mark recently explored southern Peru—from the gleaming colonial streets of Arequipa to the condor-filled skies above the Colca Canyon—and found a landscape rich with adventure, history, and some of the heartiest food in the Andes. Plan Your Southern Peru Getaway In Arequipa Stay at Cirqa—a luxury hotel in a 16th-century monastery Explore the Santa Catalina Monastery—a city-within-a-city with salmon-pink walls and centuries of history Eat at a traditional picanterías like La Nueva Palomino or the more modern Victoria Picantería Try the rocoto relleno (stuffed spicy pepper), chupe de camarones (river shrimp chowder), and adobo arequipeño (tangy pork stew) Wash it down with chicha de guiñapo—the original Andean purple corn beer served in huge glasses called "el caporal" Colca Canyon & Beyond Stay at Puquio—Peru's first safari-style adventure camp in Colca Canyon Watch dozens of Andean condors ride the thermals at sunrise Hike into the canyon and experience the climate shift from cold highlands to near-tropical canyon floor Mountain bike down a volcano (for the brave) or hike up one (for the rest of us) Cotahuasi & Toro Muerto Stay at Tinajani—a new tented camp in the Tinajani Canyon Explore pre-Inca ruins with very few other visitors Experience the wind-swept plains and golden seasonal landscapes Lake Titicaca Stay at Titilaka—with a new sister property coming in 2027 Visit the world's highest navigable lake at 12,500 feet Spot flamingos in high-altitude lagoons along the way Getting Around Belmond Andean Explorer—a luxury train connecting Arequipa to Lake Titicaca and Cusco SA Expeditions—for tailor-made trips and off-the-beaten-path Qhapaq Ñan (ancient Incan trail) adventures Resources Follow Mark's work on his website and pick up his book Mars on Earth Explore all 24 destinations on our Where to Go in 2026 list Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.  Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To you he's just a sickly kid, but one day he just might be governor. Pod favorite Jessica Joy is back for another fully improvised musical, this time inspiring us with her real life summer stock experience in "The Secret Garden." Sour servants, talking termites, bags of bullets, and more in this week's Charm Scene! Make a wish! Jessica Joy is an actor and sketch comedian originally from Cleveland, Ohio! She is an alumni of the Second City in Chicago, where she wrote and performed in the Jeff Award-winning revue "Sky's the Limit (Weather Permitting)", and toured the country with the Second City National TourCo and aboard the Norwegian Jade and Dawn cruise ships. TV credits: The Playboy Club (NBC), Modern Family (ABC), My Life Is A Joke (OWN), Chicago Med (NBC). Film credits: Screams From the Tower, Janie Jones, Bad Johnson. Jessica is a lifelong fan and employee of Cedar Point Amusement Park, having performed there in the early 2000's, and writing and directing shows there in the 2020's. Watch her solo show at www.jessicajoy.com! Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Jessica Joy Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

SPOILERS! Check out Tough Luck Cinema on Instagram. Anthony can be found at Second City and Other World Theatre. Chibi can be found on the Unidentified Flying Obsession. The next topic will be Shakedown (1988).

Attention Wealthy Beatles Fans (TM)! How do you feel about 13 tracks? No, not “of whack”, as Walter Becker might have presented us, while he was still alive anyway. But rather, 13 tracks of unearthed Beatles demos & takes, nearly all of which are pure gems, now available on “Anthology 4”.   Awesome, yes? Now, how do you feel about spending $74 for a deluxe vinyl package (excuse me? SIR?) with 36 tracks of whack. Does it make you feel better to know that you're spending that hard earned cash on 36% “new” material, and; coincidentally, (Beatles) '64% of music you already bought on previous deluxe reissues? Good news, because as the Fat Boys once sang, “Baby you're a rich man, too!”   Look, we like to joke around at the UBP, it's what makes us Apple's only legally/emotionally authorized Beatles podcast (TBD). OF COURSE we're grateful for “new” Beatles goodies we've never heard before. Early takes of “Tell Me Why”! “Every Little Thing!” “In My Life”! Surely, “A4” has been curated for both the die-hard and casual Beatles fan, yes? What's that? Oh you were expecting a “Yes, and?” Well we love improv, too. It's our water, our oxygen, our physical fitness. In fact, improv is what makes us The Second City's only legally/emotionally authorized Beatles podcast (TBD).   So not only do Tony & T.J. begin to deep dish “Anthology 4: Less Faster But Even More Furious”, but they yes and themselves into veritable Don knots over:  

Send us a textThis week on Here's What We Know, Jonathan Kite joins us for a conversation that is equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and deeply human. You may know him as Oleg from “2 Broke Girls,” but today he pulls the curtain back on the real craft of comedy and the unexpected moments that shaped his journey.We dig into what it takes to build a stand-up set, how crowd work has changed, and why impressions are more than funny voices. Jonathan shares stories from the road, reflections on early influences like Abbott and Costello, and a beautiful moment involving a phone call from a friend he thought he had lost forever.We also talk about the energy it takes to perform at a Jim Carrey level, the kindness behind Tom Hanks's gift of earnestness, and why laughter still feels like one of the most meaningful ways to lift someone's spirit.Tune in and enjoy this warm and wonderfully unexpected ride with Jonathan Kite.In This Episode: • How stand-up comedy evolves with every audience • The art and heart behind great impressions • A life-changing call that arrived at the exact right moment • What Jonathan learned from Robin Williams, Norm Macdonald, and others • Why laughter matters more than everThis episode is sponsored by:Bison Junk Removal (Effortless solution to your junk removal needs!)Bio:Jonathan Kite is a versatile actor, comedian, and master impressionist, famous for his role as Oleg the Ukrainian cook on the hit CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls.Known for his quick wit and over 250 celebrity impressions, Jonathan has built a diverse career across television, film, voice acting, and stand-up comedy. His notable credits include starring opposite Jamie Foxx in the Netflix series Dad Stop Embarrassing Me and voicing characters in animated films like The Addams Family 2, as well as shows like Family Guy and American Dad.An alumnus of Second City and The Groundlings, he tours nationally with his stand-up and is currently producing his feature screenwriting debut. Jonathan is celebrated as one of today's most versatile comedic talents.Website: https://www.jonathankitecomedy.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathankite/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialjonathankite/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@thejonathankiteYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JONATHANKITECOMEDYConnect with Gary: Gary's Website Follow Gary on Instagram Gary's Tiktok Gary's Facebook Watch the episodes on YouTube Advertise on the Podcast Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!

It might be December, but it's wedding season on Charm Scene! Charming guest Carlos Rivera helps us plan the perfect wedding in this week's fully improvised musical, with brooding brides, massive monologues, and aunt-ish ants! Will anyone find love? Find out this week on Charm Scene! Carlos, a rare species of "non-fluent in Spanish" Miami native, has done improv for most of his adult life. Since moving to Chicago in 2016 to pursue comedy, he has successfully graduated from the Annoyance, iO, CiC, Second City's Improv AND Musical Improv Conservatories, and has performed in improv & sketch all around town, and in festivals all across the country. You can currently find him in shows such as Shamilton, Wheel of Improv, Starship Edsel, Comedy Pageant, Swiped, Dinner Detective, & more! After a long week, Carlos likes to wind down by singing some "FERGALISCIOUS" at local karaoke bars around town, or watching his hometown football team the Miami Dolphins fail week after week. Find him on Instagram at "carlosrvra" or at http://allmylinks.com/carlosrvra. Cast: Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Carlos Rivera Music Director: Sam Scheidler Drums: Chris Ditton Follow us @CharmScenePod on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, or shoot us a message at CharmScenePod@gmail.com!

Tracklist:1. Flight Facilities - Forever In My Room (Extended Mix)2. Soul Avengerz - Reachin' (Extended Mix) 3. Jaegerossa - Sunshine (House Mix)4. Adelphi Music Factory - 'Studio 64' (Extended Mix) 5. SecondCity, Monty Kiddo & Big Time Charlie - On The Run 2025 (Extended Mix)6. Glen Horsborough & Karmina Dai - Thank You (Original Mix)7. Fond8 - Promises (Extended Mix)8. Zac Samuel - Do This (Extended) 9. Miirabelle, Lizzie Nightingale - Gotta Get Up (Extended Mix)10. Junior Sanchez & DJ Rae - Free Yourself (Mattei & Omich Remix)11. Wh0 vs The Fog - Been A Long Time (Extended Mix)12. South Street Players - Who Keeps Changing Your Mind (Glen Horsborough 2025 Remix)13. Mobin Master - Touch Me (Extended Mix) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of The Jon Gordon Podcast, I sit down with Matthew Tedesco, SVP at Miller Knoll and author of The Business Buffet, the very first official release from Gordon Publishing!  We dig into the real-world leadership and communication skills that business schools leave out.  If you're looking for simple, practical takeaways to elevate your leadership and strengthen your team, this episode is for you. About Matthew, Matthew Tedesco is the author of The Business Buffet: 15 Career Skills They Never Teach—But Everyone Expects You to Know, which distills two decades of global leadership into practical lessons on communication, connection, and culture. He is a senior global business leader, where he has led teams across Asia, North America, and Europe, launched new divisions, and guided organizations through periods of transformation and change. His approach to leadership was shaped not just in the boardroom, but also while studying improv at Second City in New York, where he learned that authentic connection comes from listening and responding—not delivering a script. He also serves as board chair for Global Nomads Group, a nonprofit that expands education and opportunity for youth worldwide. Outside of work, Matthew is a musician (under the name NJMJ), photographer, and lifelong storyteller. He grew up on Long Island in a blue-collar family where hard work and education weren't just values—they were survival. Today, he lives with his wife, teenage son, and their Labradoodle, who has never once respected a conference call when the mailman shows up.   Here's a few additional resources for you… Do you feel called to share your story with the world? Check out Gordon Publishing  Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11 Order my new book 'The 7 Commitments of a Great Team' today! Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It's advice for your life, work and team. You can sign up now here and catch up on past newsletters. Ready to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose? The Certified Positive Leader Program is for anyone who wants to grow as a leader from the inside out. It's a self-paced experience built around my most impactful leadership principles with tools you can apply right away to improve your mindset, relationships, and results. You'll discover what it really means to lead with positivity… and how to do it every day. Learn more here! Join me for my Day of Development! You'll learn proven strategies to develop confidence, improve your leadership and build a connected and committed team. You'll leave with an action plan to supercharge your growth and results. It's time to Create your Positive Advantage. Get details and sign up here. Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, healthcare!

Sydney Kane! Actor! Writer! Singer! Comedian! Her new show is called "Wife Material." ABOUT WIFE MATERIAL:  Sydney Kane was just dumped for not being "wife material." Desperate to figure out what wife material is, Sydney signs up for a drug trial for a magical pill that will help transform her into the perfect wife. The only side effect? Being transported into a dramatic interpretation of her love life: a one hour musical sitcom!  Sydney takes you on a PG-13, (leaning R) journey through the most universal experience there is: falling in love and then falling out and then falling back in. And then regretting it, and telling your friends you're done but then you're not. And then you're on your floor waiting for a text that never comes, so you get over it, and then you meet someone new. And you fall in love. Does this ever end? Will Sydney break out of her toxic dating cycle or stay in this endless loop? They say the only way to get over a break up is by breaking out into song and light choreo, so Sydney is giving that a shot. She's also taking those pills*. One thing is for sure: if Sydney has an audience there is nothing she won't do. See it all play out in Wife Material at Littlefield in Brooklyn December 1 & 2, 2025 and at SF Sketchfest January 25, 2026. *(WIFE MATERIAL IS NOT APPROVED BY THE FDA BUT RFK IS STILL TAKING A LOOK) CREDITS: Written and Performed by: Sydney Kane Producers: Bart Coleman, DTYF Productions Direction: Cassidy Kepp Music Direction and Arrangements: David Dabbon Music Production: Skyler Fortgang WHO: Sydney Kane, NYC-based actor/ comedian WHAT: Encore presentation of her fully sold-out comedic show, Wife Material WHERE: LITTLEFIELD, 635 Sackett St, Brooklyn, NY WHEN: December 1 & 2, 8pm (Ticket Links for listings: Dec 1 - Dec 2) About Sydney Kane:​​ Sydney Kane is an NYC based actor, singer, comedian, writer who has performed everywhere from off-off-off-barely Broadway to the big 9x16 iPhone screen. A graduate of Pace University with a BFA in Musical Theater, she's done improv at UCB and Second City and gained a following on social media for her extremely insightful dating content. With sharp comedic writing and quick witted lyrics, Kane brings a warm and unassuming stage presence, leveling with her audience in a fearless self-depreciating humor but always with a knowing wink from the stance of striking confidence without flinching. People think she is very wise, especially straight men. (follow @sydneymorgankane on all social media.) Sydney and I have a great chat! You can have a great listen! And this is only one HALF of our chat! If you want to hear the other half, subscribe via Apple Podcasts OR click on over here to Patreon!

This episode is FULL! Sydney and Dan get into the importance of funny and engaging videos, catching the wave of the ever-changing algorithm, what makes a comedian, figuring out “how to land the plane,” using comedy “cheat codes,” and the pitfall of making unnecessary changes.Also, authenticity, not being precious, dolls vs. action figures, Dan learns a new word, and Larry wants to know what a “situation ship” is!Sydney KaneSydney Kane is an NYC-based actor, singer, comedian, and writer who has performed everywhere from off-off-off-barely Broadway to the big 9x16 iPhone screen. A graduate of Pace University with a BFA in Musical Theater, she's done improv at UCB and Second City and gained a following on social media for her extremely insightful dating content. With sharp comedic writing and quick-witted lyrics, Kane brings a warm and unassuming stage presence, leveling with her audience in a fearless self-deprecating humor but always with a knowing wink from the stance of striking confidence without flinching. People think she is very wise, especially straight men. (Follow @sydneymorgankane on all social media.)https://www.sydneymorgankane.com/Our SponsorsVisit any of the following sponsors and use promo code "AOBPOD" at checkout to receive:20% off an item at Liqure Gummies: https://liqure.com/15% off an item at Old Glory: https://oldglory.com/20% off an item at Aspire Drinks: https://aspiredrinks.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-art-of-bombing-a-comedy-podcast--5788059/support.Art of Bombing:"Nobody Had a Podcast Called The Art of Bombing" Theme by John Hult https://johnhult.bandcamp.com/album/half-a-life-to-recoverWebsite: https://www.artofbombingpod.com/ Links: https://linktr.ee/artofbombingpodBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-art-of-bombing-a-guide-to-stand-up-comedy--5788059/support.Hosts:Dan Bublitz Jr: http://www.danbublitz.com/ Larry Smith: https://larrysmithcomedy.com/

SCTV legend Dave Thomas reflects on the bold choices that shaped his life and career, from growing up in Canada to navigating success and uncertainty in Hollywood. He discusses how Shakespeare and literature helped ground him early on, and the pivotal decision to leave a lucrative advertising career to pursue improvisational comedy at Second City. Thomas shares stories of becoming head writer on SCTV and collaborating with comedy icons such as Martin Short, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Harold Ramis, Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, and Joe Flaherty. The conversation spans his career-defining work on SCTV, the creation of the McKenzie Brothers, Strange Brew, Mad Magazine, and later successes including Grace Under Fire. Thomas also explores his transition into animation, running his own studio, voice work across major animated series, and eventually shifting into dramatic television with shows like Bones and The Blacklist. He touches on international experiences, including time spent in Ukraine and Thailand, and reflects on lessons learned across decades in entertainment. Throughout the episode, Thomas emphasizes that success in Hollywood depends on having at least two of three essential elements: talent, drive, and luck—along with the courage to take risks and follow creative instincts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SCTV's Dave Thomas talks about making bold life choices, growing up in Canada, Shakespeare saving his ass, choosing between big money success as an ad man or being a broke improviser at Second City, becoming head writer on SCTV, Martin Short, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, John Candy, Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Joe Flaherty, Andrea Martin, Grace Under Fire, running an animation studio, turning to dramas like Bones and The Black List, going to Ukraine, Thailand, Mad Magazine, The McKenzie Brothers, Chester Hope, and how, to make it in Hollywood, you need at least two of these three things, Talent, Drive, & Luck. Bio: David William Thomas was born May 20, 1949, in St. Catharines, Ontario. He is the eldest son of British parents, Moreen Duff Muir (May 4, 1928 – May 18, 2022), a church organist for thirty years originally from Glasgow, Scotland and composer of church music, and John E. Thomas (1926–1996), a medical ethicist from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales who was head of the Philosophy Department at McMaster University, and the author of several books. Dave's younger brother, Ian Thomas, is a Canadian singer-songwriter. The family moved temporarily to Durham, North Carolina, where his father attended Duke University and earned a PhD in philosophy. The family moved back to Dundas, Ontario, in 1961, where Dave attended Dundas District high school, and later graduated with an honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.[1]  Starting his career as a copywriter at ad agency McCann Erickson in 1974, Thomas became the head writer of the Coca-Cola account in Canada within a year. After watching a Second City stage show in Toronto, and while suffering from self-described "boredom" in his advertising work, he auditioned for the Second City troupe and was chosen as a performer.[2] He was a cast member of the Toronto production of Godspell, along with Victor Garber, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, and Andrea Martin.[3] Paul Shaffer was the musical director.[3 He first achieved fame as a cast member of the Canadian TV comedy series SCTV, joining Godspell castmates Levy, Martin and later Short, plus Rick Moranis, John Candy, Harold Ramis, Catherine O'Hara and others. Notable characters on the show include Doug McKenzie of beer-swilling brothers Bob and Doug McKenzie, editorialist Bill Needle, Scottish scone-chef/bluesman Angus Crock, motor-mouthed TV ad announcer Harvey K-Tel, Lowery organist/curio pitchman Tex Boil and the "Cruising Gourmet". Thomas's first film role was in Home to Stay, directed by Delbert Mann, in which Thomas played in a scene with Hollywood legend Henry Fonda. He then wrote, co-directed, and starred in the Bob & Doug McKenzie feature film Strange Brew. Soon after, he wrote for and acted in The New Show, produced by Lorne Michaels during his hiatus from Saturday Night Live. Short-lived, this show featured a powerhouse writing staff including Thomas along with Buck Henry, George Meyer, Jack Handey, Al Franken, Tom Davis, Valri Bromfield and Steve Martin. Thomas tried his hand at network television hour-long shows in 1986 when he wrote and co-executive produced Steel Collar Man for CBS. The pilot was produced but did not go to series. He co-wrote Spies Like Us (1985) with Dan Aykroyd.  In 1988, Thomas wrote another hour long show for CBS, B Men, which was back ordered, but Thomas took a directing job at Paramount, which caused the network to drop the series. He reportedly introduced John Travolta and Kelly Preston while directing them in the Paramount film The Experts.  He wrote for, produced, and starred in The Dave Thomas Comedy Show (1990). In 1991, he starred in the Showtime comedy, Public Enemy #2. In 1992, he tried his hand at reality TV and co-executive produced ABC's America's Funniest People with Vin Di Bona, but left after thirteen weeks to appear in the film Coneheads.  In 1993, he co-starred in ABC's Grace Under Fire with Brett Butler and Tom Poston and continued with the show for 5 seasons. In 1995 Thomas starred in the ABC television film Picture Perfect with Mary Page Keller and Richard Karn. In 1995 Thomas produced a pilot of a game show called Family Challenge for ABC. When ABC did not pick up the series, Thomas sold Family Challenge to the Family Channel, where he produced 144 episodes of the show spread over 2 seasons. In 1996, Thomas played the title role in the Fox television film Mr. Foster's Field Trip aka Kidz in the Wood with Julia Duffy. In 1996, he wrote the book SCTV: Behind the Scenes (McClelland & Stewart, publishers). From 1999–2002, he voiced various roles on the animated series Mission Hill. Thomas co-starred in the Paramount feature Rat Race. As of 2001, Thomas has been the Executive Creative Director of Animax Entertainment, an animation studio based officially in Culver City, California. In 2001–2002 Thomas appeared with Eugene Levy and Martin Short on Short's show Primetime Glick as Bob Hope (an impression he had first developed for SCTV with great success). In 2002, he co-starred with Jason Priestley, Dave Foley, and Ewen Bremner in Fancy Dancing. The next year he played a lead role in Beethoven's 5th. In 2003, he directed a hospital comedy feature film entitled Whitecoats, which he also wrote. As of 2004, Thomas was on the official Advisory Committee for the Comedy program at Humber College, the only such diploma program in the world. In 2004, he and Moranis again worked together voicing Rutt and Tuke, two moose based on the McKenzie Brothers, in Disney's animated feature Brother Bear.[4]  Thomas has had a long career doing voices for animation including Animaniacs, Duckman, CatDog, The Adventures of Tarzan, Justice League and multiple roles on The Simpsons, King of the Hill and Family Guy. In 2005, he had a guest stint as Charlize Theron's "Uncle Trevor" on Fox's Arrested Development. In 2006, he reprised his voice role in Brother Bear 2 and appeared as himself in the feature film The Aristocrats. He began production on ArnoldSpeaks.com, a video blog, as the voice of Arnold Schwarzenegger; Animax Entertainment won an Emmy for a broadband animated series produced for ESPN, Off Mikes.  In 2007, Thomas and Rick Moranis reprised their roles as Bob and Doug McKenzie in a one-hour special, Bob & Doug McKenzie's Two-Four Anniversary, for CBC Television. The show featured cameos from McKenzie celeb fans like Ben Stiller, Dave Foley, Tom Green, Paul Shaffer, Andy Dick, Matt Groening, Barry Pepper, Martin Short, and Geddy Lee. Former Prime Minister of Canada Paul Martin was the host. In 2008, Thomas revived Bob and Doug McKenzie in a new animated series, Bob & Doug. While Thomas reprises the character of Doug in the new series, Moranis chose not to voice the character of Bob, which instead is voiced by Dave Coulier. Moranis is, however, involved in the series as an executive producer.[5]  In November 2009, Thomas received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from his alma mater McMaster University and gave the fall convocation speech. In 2010 Animax continued to produce branded entertainment, advertising and digital shorts for corporations like Disney, Warner Brothers, NBC Universal, and Kodak. In 2011, Thomas's company Animax produced another animated show for MTV entitled Big Box along with numerous Internet shorts such as Life With Dad.[6][7]  In 2012 and 2013 Thomas guest starred in the dramatic shows Perception and Bones as well as comedy shows Comedy Bang! Bang! and How I Met Your Mother. In addition in 2013 Thomas voiced the recurring role of Jeff Foxworthy's father Jesco in the CMT show Bounty Hunters.  Thomas joined the writing staff of the Fox crime drama television series Bones beginning in 2013. Thomas worked for two seasons on Bones, writing several episodes and working on staff as consulting producer for two seasons.[8]  In 2015 Thomas joined the writing staff of NBC's The Blacklist as a consulting producer. In 2020 life-sized statues of Thomas and Rick Moranis as their characters Bob and Doug McKenzie were put in place at the ICE District Sports Arena in Edmonton, Alberta.[9] Also in 2020, the Governor-General of Canada announced that Thomas was being appointed to the Order of Canada,[10] Canada's highest civilian award. In 2021, Thomas and Max Allan Collins teamed to write a sci-fi mystery novel, The Many Lives of Jimmy Leighton.

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a podcast he recorded with Dr. James Kimmel about his new book, “The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World’s Deadliest Addiction and How to Overcome It.” Kelly […]

1. Ceri, CICI, Psy Psy Sis - Live Your Life 2. Crusy, Jem Cooke - Good To Go 3. CIOR - SHAKIN' 4. MGMT - Electric Feel (SUBURBIA Edit) 5. Costa UK - Bring It 6. Lance Savali - Ain't No Party 7. Bessey - Controller 8. Odd Mob & OMNOM, HYPERBEAM - Coming Up (It's Dare) 9. James Hype - Behavior 10. Bibiane Z, RAMOS & Krimsonn - Ride Or Die (Krimsonn Club Mix) 11. The Temper Trap - Giving Up Air (Solomun Remix) 12. Wh0 & Junior Sanchez ft Laura Davie - Someone 13. Tom & Collins - Disco Musiq 14. Big Time Charlie, Secondcity, Monty Kiddo - On The Run 2025

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a podcast he recorded with Dr. James Kimmel about his new book, “The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World’s Deadliest Addiction and How to Overcome It.” Kelly […]

1. Moonbootica - Vice Man 2. Hatiras - Queen Of Comedy 3. Robin S, MDFC - Because of You (J Nitti Remix) 4. Big Time Charlie, Secondcity, Monty Kiddo - On The Run 5. ANOTR, TEED - Sound Of You 6. Angie Brown, Austin Millz - I'm Gonna Get You 7. DJ Chus, Harry Romero - Celebrate Life 8. Emanuel Satie - Give It All 9. Michel De Hey - Let The Rhythm Hit Em' 10. Jay Vegas - Heat It (2025 Refresh) 11. Michael Grald - Que Pasa 12. Asta & Cavi - Can't Give You Up 13. Davide Messina, Folkness, Esse. - Dub Slap 14. Inafekt - All That You've Dreamed Of

We welcome actor John Kapelos, whose unforgettable turns in The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles enshrine him as a John Hughes Universe fixture. From Second City to Shermer High, John weighs in on comedy, character & The Hughes legacy.John takes us back to his youth in London, Ontario, Canada, and his first big leap into show business as a member of Second City Chicago, from where he toured for over three years and studied under the mentorship of John Candy: John Kapelos shares his thoughts on the recent Candy documentary and the warmth and sensitivity of the icon who showed him the way.He shares the magic of an electric comedy scene which included Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Dave Thomas and Catherine O'Hara, and how the Chicago and Toronto improv cultures differed. We also get his perspective on the sexism which permeated the comedy scene.We dive into John's transition from stage to screen, his admiration for John Hughes' ability to capture the voices of teenagers, and we get Breakfast Club behind-the-scenes intrigue. How did John manage to enrage Emilio Estevez? And how did he ultimately receive absolution from Martin Sheen on the set of The West Wing? It's all here.And in a thrilling round of IMDB Roulette, we learn why Desperate Housewives was a piece of (cup)cake and how John sustained an injury on the set of Seinfeld, attempting to not crack up at Kramer!In current media--Weezy: Netflix Limited Series,  Death By LightningFritz: Netflix Movie, A House Of DynamitePath Points of Interest:John Kapelos on WikipediaJohn Kapelos on IMDBJohn Kapelos on InstagramJohn Kapelos on FacebookToo Hip for the RoomDeath By LightningA House Of Dynamite

On this episode of Coaching Call, Sifu Rafael welcomes Leanne Linsky, a comedian turned entrepreneur whose journey proves that laughter truly is powerful medicine. As the founder and CEO of Plauzzable, an innovative online comedy club, Leanne is redefining how people connect through humor.Originally from Waukegan, Illinois, Leanne's path has been fueled by curiosity and creativity. She earned her B.S. in Business Management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the University of California, Irvine. A certified professional coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation, Leanne bridges business insight with human connection.Her comedy roots run deep—she studied at Upright Citizens Brigade, The Second City, IO Chicago, and Magnet Theater, and went on to write, perform, and produce her own critically acclaimed one-woman show. From producing open mics to hosting weekly stand-up events in New York City and California, Leanne has built a legacy of laughter.Now, through Plauzzable, she's on a mission to unite people worldwide—proving that comedy doesn't just entertain, it connects and heals.Sifu Rafael is a master instructor and the founder of Speaking Prowess, where he combines expertise in communication and leadership to help individuals unlock their full potential. As a professional speaker, solutions expert, and executive coach, Sifu Rafael leverages years of experience to guide clients toward their goals with clarity, purpose, and strategic insight. His mission is to make the art of effective communication accessible to all, empowering personal and professional growth. Sifu Rafael's unwavering dedication to improving communication skills has earned him a reputation as a trusted mentor and coach. His vision is clear: to enhance communication worldwide, one individual at a time.This episode is brought to you by Sifu's Mind Body Method, a 90-day lifestyle transformation that blends movement, mindset, nutrition, hydration, fasting, journaling, and faith. Learn more at www.sifurafael.com/smbmWatch this and every episode on YouTube and subscribe at https://www.youtube.com/@sifurafaeltv?sub_confirmation=1

Kelly has a powerful conversation with longtime friend and Second City colleague Tania Richard, whose new book “Black Girl from a White Suburb” looks at race, a life in theatre, loss and finding resilience along the way. “People think actors are good liars. We aren't.” “We believe what we need to get by.”  “There is no other […]

Guest host Maria Randazzo is joined by performer Mitchell Fain to dive deep into "Girl Walks into a Bar," the 2012 memoir of "Saturday Night Live" legend Rachel Dratch. They unpack Rachel's journey through Second City to her "30 Rock" casting swap with Jane Krakowski all while enjoying the dating horror stories and symbolic pigs she picked up along the way. Plus: Rachel's surprise path to motherhood at 44 and the psychic moments that make this one of the most magical memoirs we've covered. Join the cookie community: Become a member of the Patreon Follow Maria Randazzo: Instagram @mariafreakin Where to find our guest, Mitchell Fain: Instagram *** Glamorous Trash is all about going high and low at the same time— Glam and Trash. We recap and book club celebrity memoirs, deconstruct pop culture, and sometimes, we cry! If you've ever referenced Mariah Carey in therapy... then this is the podcast for you. Thank you to our sponsors: Quince  - Go to quince.com/glamorous for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Libro.fm - Click here to get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1 with your first month of membership using code TRASH. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EPISODE DESCRIPTIONRebecca V. Nellis never meant to run a nonprofit. She just never left. Twenty years later, she's still helming Cancer and Careers after a Craigslist maternity-leave temp job turned into a lifelong mission.In this 60-minute doubleheader, we cover everything from theater nerdom and improv rules for surviving bureaucracy, to hanging up on Jon Bon Jovi, to navigating cancer while working—or working while surviving cancer. Same thing.Rebecca's path is part Second City, part Prague hostel, part Upper East Side grant writer, and somehow all of that makes perfect sense. She breaks down how theater kids become nonprofit lifers, how “sample sale feminism” helped shape a cancer rights org, and how you know when the work is finally worth staying for.Also: Cleavon Little. Tap Dance Kid. 42 countries. And one extremely awkward moment involving a room full of women's handbags and one very confused Matthew.If you've ever had to hide your diagnosis to keep a job—or wanted to burn the whole HR system down—this one's for you.RELATED LINKSCancer and CareersRebecca Nellis on LinkedIn2024 Cancer and Careers Research ReportWorking with Cancer Pledge (Publicis)CEW FoundationI'm Not Rappaport – Broadway InfoFEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship opportunities, email podcast@matthewzachary.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Comedy legend Robert Klein, Carl Ruiz, Sherrod Small 3/30Join Opie for a side-splitting SiriusXM episode featuring comedy icon Robert Klein, where they riff on the legends who shaped stand-up: Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, and the controversial Bill Cosby. With Klein's razor-sharp wit and stories from his storied career, they unpack the groundbreaking documentary Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His Leg, premiering on Starz March 31st. From Klein's early days at Second City to his HBO specials and wild Hollywood tales—like sharing a scene with Marilyn Chambers—this episode is a laugh-packed journey through comedy history, cultural shifts, and personal anecdotes. Joined by Klein's son Alli and director Marshall Fine, the conversation sparkles with nostalgia, humor, and unexpected revelations, making it a must-listen for comedy fans and newcomers alike.The final year of my radio journey holds a special place in my heart, made even more poignant by the loss of my cherished friends, Carl Ruiz and Vic Henley. Reflecting on that time, I rediscovered the pure passion and exhilaration that drew me to radio in the first place. Amidst the chaos and challenges, we found endless moments of hilarity and camaraderie. Alongside Carl, Vic, and Sherrod Small, we shared unforgettable experiences both on and off the airwaves, our tight-knit bond shining through every episode. That year also marked Carl Ruiz's meteoric rise to stardom, inspiring me to launch the Opie Radio podcast with him. I'm immensely grateful to Erock, Clubsoda Kenny, Paul, and Louis for joining us on this wild ride. Get ready to dive into the rollercoaster of emotions—the highs, the lows, and the laugh-out-loud moments—that defined my last year in radio. 

GGACP celebrates the 50th anniversary of a Frank favorite, the western-comedy "Hearts of the West," (released October 8, 1975) co-starring GGACP guest Alan Arkin. In this interview from 2020, Alan (joined by Emmy-winning actor Adam Arkin) talks about portraying villains, directing dark comedies, the precision of the Coen brothers and the Cold War politics of “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming.” Also, Pat McCormick hits the hard stuff, Groucho drops in on Second City, Stephen King praises “Wait Until Dark” and Alan (almost) directs “Blazing Saddles.” PLUS: Captain Kangaroo! The brilliance of “The In-Laws”! Adam “reps” Chuck McCann! Alan records “The Banana Boat Song”! And Adam and Alan choose their favorite Arkin performances! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices