Alone At Lunch

This week we are joined by Justin Herman! Justin Herman is a stand up comic who's performed at clubs, theaters and s**thole dive bars (why did he put that one last?) all over the world. He's performed at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the 2018 Melbourne Comedy Festival and he's been seen on Late Night with Seth Meyers, TruTV, Travel Channel, Discovery ID and SiriusXM.

Justin has also directed, produced and written for networks including Netflix, Comedy Central, BET and Bravo. He’s written jokes for comedians and celebrities including Neil Patrick Harris, Paul Rudd, 50 Cent and more Real Housewives than he’d care to admit. Not to brag, but Paula Abdul once petted him on the cheek. He’s a pretty cool guy.

In this episode, we discuss growing up in a divorced home, having a twin that’s different from you, being a producer of documentary and reality shows, traveling the world, being an introverted observer, and so much more. You don’t want to miss our discussion about Justin and Emily’s experience performing comedy at Burning Man. Make sure to give this episode a listen!

Recommendations From This Episode: 

Child Star

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

Justin Herman

Follow Justin Herman: @justin_herman

Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag

Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh

Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod

Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! 

Email us: [email protected]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined by Jean Meltzer! Jean has the unique distinction of being the world’s only Emmy-award winning, chronically-ill and disabled, rabbinical-school drop-out. She is the author of the internationally bestselling book The Matzah Ball, Mr. Perfect on Paper, and Kissing Kosher, and the recipient of several writing honors including Amazon Best Romance, Apple Best Book of October, Apple Best Audiobook of the Year, and Booklist Top Ten Romances for 2023. Her fourth book, Magical Meet Cute, published August 27th, 2024. 

Jean is an experienced speaker, having shared her incredible story of chronic disability and found Judaism with countless organizations across America, from Jewish philanthropic groups to Google. She is also the founder Jewish Joy, LLC and the creator of Jewish Women Talk about Romance Books and The Jewish Joy Book Club, a monthly meet-up of over two thousand women reading novels that focus only on Jewish Joy and celebrating Jewish life. In July 2024, she also launched The Jewish Joy Box, the first Jewish book box exclusively focused on joy. (www.thejewishjoybox.com)

In addition, Jean continues to use her large social media platform for advocacy. In 2023, she became a founding member of The Artists Against Antisemitism, which works with a diverse group of artists to combat antisemitism through fundraising and education. She is also the host of the podcast, Chronically Fabulous with Jean Meltzer, produced in partnership with Zev Hurwich at Aeaea LLC, which highlights tips, tricks, and achievements of the chronically disabled.

In this episode, we discuss growing up in New Jersey, writing as escapism, being business savvy, having a chronic illness, antisemitism, authenticity, and so much more. You don’t want to miss our discussion about Jean’s regiment to manage her busy life while also being disabled. Give this episode a listen! 

Recommendations From This Episode:

Magical Meet Cute 

Shiva Baby

When Harry Met Sally

Follow Jean Meltzer: @jeanmeltzer

Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag

Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh

Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod

Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! 

Email us: [email protected]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined by Helen Laser! Helen is  an Audie Award Finalist and multiple Audiofile Earphones Award winner. Her  commercials have aired on TV, radio, and online/social media, including commercials for Tide, Advil, Annie's Homegrown, Dunkin Donuts, IHOP, and many more! Helen narrates for Audible Studios, Penguin Random House, Hachette, Simon and Schuster, Deyan, Podium, Tantor, Harper, Macmillan, Blackstone, Brilliance, Dreamscape and for a variety of clients in podcasts, e-learning, and more. Make sure to check her out!

In this episode, we discuss voicing different characters from a young age, being silly and self conscious, performing in regional theater, having encouraging parents, being a late bloomer, union vs nonunion actors, and so much more. You don’t want to miss out on hearing Helen’s Broadway Chicken character. Give this episode a listen!

Recommendations From This Episode: 

www.helenlaser.com

Audible - Helen Laser

The Singer Sisters

Behind Every Good Man

Netflix Presents: The Characters

Thank You For Listening

The Last Five Years 

Follow Helen Laser: @hlaserwolf

Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag

Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh

Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod

Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! 

Email us: [email protected]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined by Tagan Shepard! Tagan Shepard (she/her) is the author of eleven books of sapphic fiction, including the 2019 Goldie winner Bird on a Wire. When not writing about extraordinary women loving other extraordinary women, she can be found playing video games, renovating the fixer-upper house her wife convinced her to buy, or sitting in DC metro traffic. She lives in Northern Virginia with her very patient wife and two ridiculous cats. www.taganshepard.com

In this episode, we discuss growing up in rural Virginia, “code switching” to be friends with everyone, being a storyteller, gender expression, being a womens soccer fan, and so much more! You don’t want to miss our discussion about why Tagan wrote her first book and the importance of sapphic romance novels. Give this episode a listen!

Recommendations From This Episode: 

www.boldstrokesbooks.com

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner

Face/Off 

Sapphic Lit Pop Up Bookstore

Follow Tagan Shepard: @taganshepard

Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag

Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh

Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod

Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! 

Email us: [email protected]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined by Peng Shepherd! Peng Shepherd is the nationally bestselling, award-winning author of All This and More, The Cartographers, and The Book of M.

Her novels have been acclaimed as a “Best Book of the Year” by the Washington Post, a “Best Book of the Summer” by the Today Show and NPR, and featured in the New York Times, the LA Times, and on Good Morning America, as well as a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize. Her work also has been translated into more than ten languages, and optioned for TV and film. Make sure to check her out! 

In this episode, we discuss growing up in Phoenix, wanting to be a writer from a young age, being introverted, performing ballet, book tours, enjoying science fiction and fantasy, and so much more. You don’t want to miss our discussion about why Peng didn’t start writing until later in life. Give this episode a listen!

Recommendations From This Episode:

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Challengers

Boswell Book Company

Follow Peng Shepherd: @pengshepherd

Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag

Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh

Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod

Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! 

Email us: [email protected]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined by Ryan Erwin! Ryan Erwin is a comedian who travels the country performing for colleges, corporate events, cruises and comedy clubs. He has been featured on DryBar Comedy with his first special (Vertical Claps) debuting in 2019 and his second special (The Shape of Wear) was released in April 2024. Make sure to check him out!

In this episode, we discuss growing up in Utah as a member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, going on a mission to Uruguay, having to be the interpreter for deaf parents, being a Big Brother and Survivor superfan, and so much more. You don’t want to miss our discussion about why Ryan left the LDS Church. Give this episode a listen!

Recommendations From This Episode: 

CODA

Sound of Metal

The White Lotus

Under the Banner of Heaven

Follow Ryan Erwin: @ryerwin

Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag

Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh

Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod

Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! 

Email us: [email protected]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined by Natalie Naudus! “A fave among audiobook listeners” (Buzzfeed), Natalie Naudus is one of the most beloved audiobook narrators working today. She has won an Audie award and nine Earphones awards, and maintains a robust social media following. She lives with her family on a mountain in Virginia. Gay the Pray Away is her debut novel.

In this episode, we discuss growing up in Virginia as a member of the Institute in Basic Life Principles, having to “witness” to people in the neighborhood, being able to take piano lessons and go to college, being an opera singer, coming out as queer later in life, and so much more! You don’t want to miss our discussion about the importance of books to Natalie. Give this episode a listen!

Recommendations From This Episode:

Gay The Pray Away

One Last Stop

Educated by Tara Westover

The Glass Castle

Follow Natalie Naudus: @natalienaudus

Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag

Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh

Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod

Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! 

Email us: [email protected]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined by James L. Sutter! James L. Sutter is a cocreator of the bestselling Pathfinder and Starfinder roleplaying games. He's the author of the queer young adult romance novels Darkhearts and The Ghost of Us, as well as the fantasy novels Death's Heretic and The Redemption Engine. His short stories have appeared in Nightmare, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, the #1 Amazon bestseller Machine Of Death, and more. James lives in Seattle, where he's performed with bands ranging from metalcore to musical theater.

In this episode, we discuss growing up around Seattle, being an extreme extrovert, intentional communities, taking creative risks, writing YA queer novels, being an early bloomer, being bisexual, and so much more. You don’t want to miss our discussion about the ins and outs of tabletop role playing games. Give this episode a listen!

Recommendations From This Episode: 

Darkhearts 

The Ghost of Us

To Cheer as They Leave You Behind

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

The Great Believers

Rough Draft Bar & Books

QED - Astoria

Old Town Books - Alexandria 

Follow James L. Sutter: @james_l_sutter

Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag

Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh

Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod

Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! 

Email us: [email protected]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined by Betty Corrello! Betty Corrello is a writer, comedian, and proud Philadelphian. She is the author of Summertime Punchline (2024) and 32 Days in May (Spring 2025). Despite her hardened exterior, Betty is biologically 95% marshmallow. Her greatest passion is writing stories where opposites attract, but love is chosen. When she’s not writing, she can be found fretting about niche historical events most have forgotten­­––or petting her very tiny dog. 

In this episode, we discuss growing up in Philadelphia, being obsessed with your hometown, wanting to be a novelist, the process of being an author, writing genre-fiction,being a self-conscious kid, going to Catholic school, loving Whose Line is it Anyway?, and so much more! You don’t want to miss our discussion about which character in her book, Summertime Punchline, Betty relates to the most. Give this episode a listen! 

Recommendations From This Episode: 

Summertime Punchline

Inside Amy Schumer

Don’t Think Twice

Follow Betty Corrello: @becowrites

Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag

Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh

Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod

Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! 

Email us: [email protected]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined by Annabel Monaghan! Annabel Monaghan is the national bestselling author of Same Time Next Summer and Nora Goes Off Script, published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons. Her latest novel, Summer Romance, topped the lists of Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Washington Post, & Amazon Editors.  Make sure to check her out!

In this episode, we discuss being raised by a single mother, starting to write at six years old, the writing cycle experience, teaching novel writing, having children, joining Elin Hilderbrand for a book signing, and so much more. You don’t want to miss our discussion about the impact of not having a television growing up. Give this episode a listen!

Recommendations from this episode: 

Nora Goes Off Script

Same Time Next Summer

Summer Romance

The Pivot Year

Follow Annabel Monaghan: @annabelmonaghan

Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag

Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh

Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod

Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! 

Email us: [email protected]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.