Susan Rousseau came in for a therapy session and she did a lot of hard work! Susan is charming and smart, the host of a great talk show, New In New York on RFB every Tues. 9am. Susan is very successful in television, most recently the interview producer for Desus & Mero. Susan, with a great TV career is obviously very talented, but like way too many of us, underestimates herself. In this session we dig into finding out more about where that comes from and we figure out a productive plan for her going forward.

More about Susan and NEW IN NEW YORK: Hosted by Susan Rousseau. New York is wild. But being new in New York is Out. Of. Control. On this show, we’ll bring you some of the funniest, most fascinating stories from the people who somehow found their way to the city that never sleeps, knowing if they could make it here, they could make it anywhere, because hot damn. It’s hard. Each week, a new guest shares their uniquely personal good, bad, ugly, embarrassing, hilarious adventures with listeners. What brought them here? What keeps them here? What makes them want to leave? You get to hear all of the messy details of their new in New York life, accompanied by the soundtrack of their time in the five boroughs. And if you have something to say about living in this amazing, insane, beautiful, expensive, and diverse city (and we all know everyone does), call in and share your own experiences with us!

Listen LIVE every Tuesday at 9:00 am

Category: Comedy, Music, Talk

About Susan Rousseau

Susan works in television and finally made her way to New York 4 years ago, after a long stint in Chicago and short stints in Montreal and Los Angeles. She falls in and out of love with this city on a daily basis but can’t imagine ever leaving.

When not asking lots of questions on this show, she’s asking lots of questions to strangers at bars… or asking lots of questions at her job as an interview producer for Desus & Mero.

I first met Martin Kramer when he was about 9 years old—his dad, artist David Kramer, brought him over to join in on a father/son therapy video I was creating. Martin is, above all else, a creative soul that marches to his own drummer. I can't help but think his highly active creative parents along with the myriad of opportunities that come with growing up in Manhattan have enriched his experiences, in many ways, from what might typically be assumed of a 19 year old sophomore at Concordia Film School in Montreal. Martin shares 2 of his films that he recently made at Concordia: Empty Nest and Blue Cowboy. WATCH THEM-they are only about 5 minutes each. EMPTY NEST: https://vimeo.com/332693808 BLUE COWBOY: https://vimeo.com/352360247

Both films are metaphorical but are directly born of Martin's emotional conflicts that he articulates surprisingly well for any adult filmmaker, and especially for one so young. Personally, I find it impressive to see any art that is so in touch and unafraid of personal revelations. In this case, as metaphors they are done tastefully as well, leaving plenty of room for interpretation and any viewer to see themselves in. We first discuss Empty Nest. The film shows an elderly woman at home and a dream she has about a young man whos photo is in a frame near an empty bird cage. We assume it's the woman's grandson. Martin and I discuss how this film was inspired by his feelings about leaving his parents, his grandfather at the time he was leaving New York for college in Montreal, right before he made this film. It was deep! Then on to Blue Cowboy. This involves Martin's thoughts about sexual identity which are also very well articulated and maybe too complex for me to describe accurately here since during this session, I learned a lot from Martin and don't want to interpret the conversation here. Martin and I were careful respecting boundaries and I think we did a good job. Listen to it for yourself!!!-do I have to tell you everything!

Emily Flake is a hugely successful New Yorker cartoonist, MOTHER, wife and so much more. She is inspiring but in the best most real way. She breaks down motherhood for me in a manageable way.

Emily Flake began cartooning for The New Yorker in 2008 and has had more than a hundred cartoons published in the magazine since. Her cartoons, essays, and illustrations have also appeared in Mad, the New York Times, the New Statesman, the Wall Street Journal, the Globe and Mail, and in many other publications. Her most recent book is “That Was Awkward: The Art and Etiquette of the Awkward Hug.” More about Emily HERE: https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/emily-flake

Leah Schrager and I were aware of each other because we both do therapy as an art endeavor. Leah does work as Sarah White, the Naked Therapist. But her work is much more multifaceted than just one character and one medium. We had a fascinating discussion where we hopefully helped clarify what her controversial work is about since it rides the line between pornography and art and is often (I believe) misunderstood.

Kelsey Caine has invented an inspired hit, #METOO character, Penis C K. where she… well… see it for yourself here: https://twitter.com/kelsey_caine/status/1035573794516160512?lang=en Kelsey tells us the story behind Penis C.K., including her experience of buying a “realistic” penis, and the joys and fallout of going on tour with this character. We also learn that Kelsey comes by this hilarious activism honestly as she describes a project she initiated at her old high school in Texas. https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bellaire/news/article/St-Agnes-alumna-pushes-for-sexual-assault-12913306.php Kelsey’s original Dr. Lisa session from 11.15.18: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/drlisa/episodes/2018-12-23T10_50_45-08_00

A close friend of mine, artist Sharilyn Neidhardt was describing watching the debates with her parents while visiting them at home in California, so I knew they were Trump voters AND nice people. In the spirit of we all need to understand each other better, Carole generously agreed to come on the show and have a frank, honest discussion about the president, how she feels about voting for him....the insurrection, you name it.

I think we got a lot done!

This is the third year in a row that Ben has been my first guest of the year. Ben is 30 now, and if you follow Ben's story, this year is a triumph! Through hard work and going back to school, Ben has taken his beginnings as a volunteer at Radio Free Brooklyn 3 years ago to a dream job at Sirius XM. Recently, Ben was actually one of 4 people from Sirius to be on a Zoom with LL Cool J!

Although personally I am sad to have seen Ben leave RFB for a great career move, I am secretly proud and THRILLED. But that's not all, Ben has improved his relationship with his family and "the ladies." Ben is in a healthy, supportive relationship which he is very satisfied and happy in.

It is nice, (inspiring, really!) to see someone progress in their life in such a positive way, through their own honest hard work and efforts, But let's not get too idealistic here—he was late in getting our management reports filed a few times.

If you're interested in a deep dive on Ben's up's and down's (our first episode includes a break-up), here's the links:

PREVIOUS EPISODES:

Ben Louis: First session - 3 years ago Follow up to that session, 9 months later.

Ben Louis: Second Session - 2 years ago

Also we talk about Ben's girlfriend's business—check it out!! http://www.royalgoodiesbox.com/

Ben Louis is one of our RFB hosts with his top rated show, https://radiofreebrooklyn.com/show/ben-talks/ I know Ben a bit from the station and his show, but he surprises me with his openness about discussing his recent breakup with his long-time girlfriend. Ben hasn't been in therapy before, and I have to say, I didn't expect our session to get this deep. So much so, that I invited Ben back the next week to do some follow up. Ben accepted, but then he had a chance to go to the Superbowl Parade, so he had to cancel. Go Eagles! Go Ben!

I really enjoy spending time with fellow RFB host Benjamin Louis, of the ever popular, Ben Talks. Over the last few years, we have done many an RFB boondoggle together. Also Ben has been my first guest of the year, this being the second year in a row.

In this session, we reflect on Ben’s previous two sessions, where his life has gone, where it’s going and how he’s grown.

Ben, 29, talks candidly and honestly about his relationship with his work, women, religion and his family. He’s come to realize how pursuing a long-term career in radio is his passion and priority right now above all else (including the chicks!). We also discover that Ben is a lot more like his dad than it might seem….

Follow Ben! @BenTalkShow Listen Live every Thurs. 5-7, and for past episodes: https://radiofreebrooklyn.com/show/ben-talks/

Jeanette is a professionally UCB, Second City, trained improvisor/comedian, etc. She met her husband when she was living in Chicago and moved to Los Angeles 2.5 years ago, to pursue comedy et al. She was getting going and then the pandemic hit.

The pandemic has made all of us rethink a lot, but for Jeanette the situation has moved her into other areas of performing that are satisfying for her, including writing, producing and performing in this one: Livin' Notoriously Notorious RBG.

In this therapy session, Jeanette reviews her thinking about why she moved to L.A., what that's been like and why she is seriously thinking of moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Check out more about Jeanette and her work here.