Drinking During Business Hours with Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler | Where comedy & fine wine meet!

Drinking During Business Hours with Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler | Where comedy & fine wine meet!

By Sarah HalsteadComedyArtsPerforming Arts
Download on the App Store

Drinking During Business Hours with Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler | Where comedy & fine wine meet! episodes

  • Stage Time or Social Media? Julia Jasunas Gets Real About Modern Comedy

    Stage Time or Social Media? Julia Jasunas Gets Real About Modern Comedy

    Comedian, actress, host, and writer Julia Jasunas joins Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler for a fast, funny conversation about building a career that lives on stage, online, and everywhere in between. Over glasses of Rutherford Hill Napa Sauvignon Blanc, Julia talks about starting as a performer at three years old, growing up in musicals and dance recitals, studying musical theater at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and realizing stand up came naturally once she stepped into it.

    The episode also digs into the modern comedy grind: whether a tight ten in the Belly Room matters more than a sharp clip on social media, how short form content has changed joke structure, why editing internet bits can actually improve stand up writing, and the harsh truth about what happens when comics build an audience online before they can handle an hour on the road.

    Julia and the hosts also get deep into the mechanics of live comedy, including the dreaded check drop, QR code ordering in clubs, the hidden difficulty of hosting versus featuring versus headlining, and what it really takes to captain a room. It is a smart, funny, inside baseball episode for comics, performers, and anyone curious about how talent becomes a real career.

    Guest Info

    Julia Jasunas is a Los Angeles comedian, actress, host, and writer whose background started in musical theater and grew into stand up comedy, acting, and digital content. She began performing as a child, studied musical theater at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and has built a comedy voice that mixes a sunny presence with darker, sharper punchlines. In this episode, she talks about performing on major comedy bills, hosting clubs around Los Angeles and Orange County, developing material for the road, and balancing stage time with a strong social media presence.

    Guest Social Links

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliajasunas/

    Website: https://www.juliajasunas.com/

    Linktree: https://linktr.ee/juliajasunas

    Drink of the Podcast

    Rutherford Hill Napa Sauvignon Blanc. Sarah picked one of her favorites and brought back a repeat guest of the wine variety for a repeat guest of the human variety. She calls out winemaker Stephanie Jacobs, formerly of Cakebread, and explains why this bottle stands out: a touch of oak, real minerality, a little extra body, and just enough richness to keep it interesting without losing the bright snap that makes Sauvignon Blanc work in hot weather.

    Chapters

    00:00 Intro: Welcome Back to Drinking During Business Hours

    01:08 The Drink: Rutherford Hill Napa Sauvignon Blanc

    03:17 Meet Julia Jasunas

    04:29 Performing Since Age Three

    06:42 Musical Theater vs Stand Up Comedy

    08:56 Why Open Mics Never Worked for Julia

    11:11 Booking Real Shows Early in Her Comedy Career

    12:50 Westside Comedy Theater and LA Comedy Geography

    15:15 Julia's Website, Image, and Comedy Persona

    18:02 Sunny Energy, Dark Jokes, and Deadpan Delivery

    20:07 University of the Arts and the Broadway Dream

    23:25 From Acting Training to Stand Up and Screen Work

    25:05 Stage Time vs Social Media in Modern Comedy

    28:45 How Short Form Content Sharpens Joke Writing

    31:06 The Check Drop and the Hardest Part of Headlining

    36:07 Why Hosting a Comedy Show Is a Real Skill

    40:55 Test Kitchen Comedy at Starlight Lounge

    45:20 Touring, Headlining, and Building an Hour

    48:37 Where to Find Julia Jasunas

    Call to Action

    If you enjoyed this episode, like, subscribe, and share it with a comedy fan who loves hearing how the business really works.

    Follow Julia Jasunas for stand up clips, sketches, and tour dates, and drop a comment with your favorite moment from the episode.

    Rate and review Drinking During Business Hours on Apple Podcasts or Spotify because every review helps more listeners find the show.

    FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS!

    Sarah

    IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en

    FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/

    X @sarahjhalstead https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead

    Website @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com

    Rich

    IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/

    FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/

    X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler

    Website richardchassler.com

    πŸ“§ [email protected] 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform β€” it helps more than you know!

    Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drinking-during-business-hours-with-sarah-halstead/id1273935631

    Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3EdszkVArwM4JvBBeLUL7T

    #JuliaJasunas #SarahHalstead #RichChassler #StandUpComedy #ComedyPodcast #LosAngelesComedy #ComedianInterview #WomenInComedy #ComedyCareer #PodcastClips #SocialMediaComedy #WestsideComedy #TestKitchenComedy #RutherfordHill #SauvignonBlanc #EntertainmentPodcast #ComedyWriters #ActressLife #FunnyPodcast

    33 min
  • Jane's Addiction's Stephen Perkins: 50 Years Behind the Kit and Still Not Growing Up

    Jane's Addiction's Stephen Perkins: 50 Years Behind the Kit and Still Not Growing Up

    Jane's Addiction founding drummer Stephen Perkins sits down with hosts Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler, and this one is personal. Rich and Stephen have known each other since junior high school in the Valley, carpools and Hebrew school and Grateful Dead shows, and Rich has never had his old friend on the show until now. Over ice cold Sierra Nevada Pale Ales, the most popular ale sold in the Grateful Dead parking lot, Stephen traces the whole ride: the seventh grader who told Rich off, the downtown L.A. underground parties that birthed a scene, becoming the house band at a club called The Scream, seeing Motley Crue era Sunset Strip shut down at midnight while the punk and art kids kept going, and the night Rich, tripping at an underground party, looked up and realized his childhood buddy was the drummer on stage.

    Stephen breaks down how Jane's Addiction actually came together: the metal band Disaster with Dave Navarro, the girlfriend who said come see my older brother's band, the audition at 17 that he thought he blew, and Eric Avery writing songs on the bass that refused to move, which is how Mountain Song and Summertime Rolls got their shape. He explains why drums are the oldest language known to man, why syncopation and space matter more than notes, why hips don't lie, how tap dancing and cut time changed the way he teaches, and why playing alone in the drum room can be better than any stage.

    Plus the Porno for Pyros pivot to timpani and bongos, the sit in with a band whose names he never got, practicing dropping his sticks on purpose, why one dropped stick can ruin the greatest night of his life, his 40 year dream of playing with Peter Gabriel, the autographed tambourine he still has from meeting Gabriel at the Roxy in 1978, the Security album that taught him how to build a crescendo with no cymbals at all, his picks for the three greatest rock drummers ever, the Charlie Watts rental kit story from SIR, his son who plays guitar and found music on his own, and why he wants to live to a healthy 100 as a centurion who can still touch his toes. They only tipped the iceberg. There is a Hellride conversation still on the table, and Stephen promised to come back.

    Guest Info

    Stephen Andrew Perkins is an American musician, songwriter and producer, best known as the founding drummer of Jane's Addiction, the band he joined in 1985 at age 17 after convincing them to bring in guitarist Dave Navarro. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he also played with Porno for Pyros, Infectious Grooves, Banyan, Hellride, The Panic Channel and Think:EXP, and he recorded drums for Nine Inch Nails on The Downward Spiral. His style blends rock, jazz, swing, African, Indian and Latin drumming into something entirely his own, built on syncopation, tom work and space. He has played with members of the Grateful Dead, worked with producer Rick Rubin, and has shared stages with Sheryl Crow, Rage Against the Machine, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jewel and Rob Wasserman. Off the kit he runs drum circles for children and adults with disabilities and helped develop a wearable percussive instrument for people who cannot play a drum. He is currently opening his personal drum archive from decades of touring. Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Perkins

    Guest Social Links

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephenperkinsdrummer/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephenperkinsdrummer/

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StephenPerkinsDrummer

    Drink of the Podcast

    Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Sarah went straight to the Grateful Dead parking lot for this one: the guest is a beer guy who loves IPAs and ales, and the hosts have their own Dead history with him, so she poured the most popular ale sold in the parking lots, cold, straight from the bottle. Crisp, hoppy and endlessly drinkable, and per the table, damn good.

    Chapters

    00:00 Intro: Welcome to Drinking During Business Hours

    01:03 The Drink: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

    02:08 Meet Stephen Perkins

    03:16 The 7th Grader Who Told Rich Off

    04:00 Rich, Jeff, and the Junior High Years

    04:44 Hebrew School Carpool and the Grateful Dead

    05:15 Downtown Underground and Jane's Addiction at The Scream

    08:30 The First Time Rich Saw the Band Play Live

    09:56 Bill Graham and the Grateful Dead Business Side

    11:24 Infectious Grooves and the Metal Funk Detour

    12:42 Drumming Is the Oldest Language on Earth

    13:23 Tap Dancing, Cut Time, and Hips Don't Lie

    14:49 Syncopation: What Turns Rich On as a Player

    18:03 Alone With the Drums vs. On Stage

    20:25 Jazz Is a Conversation: Coltrane and Elvin Jones

    23:25 Neil Peart: Einstein Meets Bruce Lee

    24:06 How Jane's Addiction Came Together

    28:00 Eric Avery Writes on Bass: Mountain Song and Summertime Rolls

    29:07 Porno for Pyros and the Timpani

    30:53 Time Disappears on Stage

    33:51 Buildings Fall, But Beethoven Still Exists

    34:09 Stephen's Son and the Guitar

    35:40 What Changed in the Music Business

    38:55 The Electricity of an Impromptu Sit In

    40:31 Longevity and the Centurion Goal

    43:42 Round Tips, Nylon Tips, and the Ride Cymbal

    47:01 The Dream: Playing With Peter Gabriel

    50:27 Meeting Peter Gabriel at the Roxy in 1978

    52:00 The Three Greatest Rock Drummers: Ringo, Bonham, Moon

    54:12 Charlie Watts and the Gretsch Kit From SIR

    57:19 Where to Find Stephen Perkins

    Call to Action

    Enjoyed the episode? Like, subscribe, and share it with a rock fan in your life. Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite platform, every five star review helps us reach more listeners. Follow Stephen Perkins on Instagram at @stephenperkinsdrummer for the same positive, real energy he brought to the show, and tell a Jane's Addiction fan to give this one a listen. He promised to come back, so drop a comment and tell us what you want them to dig into next.

    Special thanks to Doug Bass and Bass Hole Studios, producer Corey Fry, and Maximilian Riedel and Riedel glassware for always supplying the best glassware.

    Host Links

    FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS!

    Sarah

    IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en

    FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/

    X @sarahjhalstead https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead

    Website @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com

    Rich

    IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/

    FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/

    X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler

    Website richardchassler.com

    πŸ“§ [email protected] 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform β€” it helps more than you know!

    #StephenPerkins #JanesAddiction #PornoForPyros #DrummerInterview #RockPodcast #SarahHalstead #RichChassler #DaveNavarro #EricAvery #Banyan #InfectiousGrooves #Hellride #DrumLegend #PeterGabriel #GratefulDead #SierraNevadaPaleAle #Percussion #RockAndRoll #CelebrityPodcast

    1 hr
  • Renee Percy Gets 30 Million Views a Month and STILL Isn't Famous
    Renee Percy Gets 30 Million Views a Month and STILL Isn't Famous

    Comedian and actress Renee Percy returns to Drinking During Business Hours for her second sit-down with hosts Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler, and the timing could not be better she is in the middle of a full-blown viral explosion, pulling over 30 million views a month on social media after 25 years of grinding in comedy.

    Renee gets real about what going viral actually means: why a Tonight Show spot doesn't move the needle like it used to, whether a follower count in Phoenix ever sells a ticket in Phoenix, and how she accidentally committed herself to touring Bangkok, Taipei, and SΓ£o Paulo because that's where her fans actually live. She opens up about the slow build the "overnight success" that took two decades, the body of work that justifies the break, and why comics are never satisfied. Sarah and Rich share the story of Renee's legendary last-minute wedding roast, she reveals the burger videos that made her hungry for fame (literally), the gang breaks down their red-hot weekly show Test Kitchen Comedy at the historic Starlight Cabaret in Studio City complete with the building's Oil Can Harry's cop-alert boot-window history and Renee previews her fourth year touring for the troops through Greece, Turkey, Portugal, and Norway, plus headlining dates in Arizona and Boise. All over bottles of Love Block Sauvignon Blanc, the wine from the woman who created Kim Crawford. Pour one and dive in.

    Guest Info

    Renee Percy is an award-winning actor, writer, and comedian who caught the acting bug at age 12 with a series-regular role, launching a career in Canadian television before making the move to the U.S. She has been seen on NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, Nickelodeon, Disney, FX, and Comedy Central, and her special The Komic Sutra is available now on Amazon and Apple. Her viral videos on Instagram pull over 30 million views a month, she performs at every major comedy club, and she is heading into her fourth year touring overseas for the troops.

    Website: https://www.reneepercy.com/

    Guest Social Links

    β€’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reneepercycomedian/

    β€’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thereneepercy

    β€’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReneePercyComedian/

    β€’ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6kL_EkNsl3ZYl_86_OT9Nw

    β€’ Website: https://www.reneepercy.com/

    Drink of the Podcast

    Love Block Sauvignon Blanc a crisp, vibrant white from Marlborough, New Zealand, made by Erica Crawford, the winemaker behind Kim Crawford before the brand was sold to a wine conglomerate. Named for the block of land the Crawfords fell in love with, it is a Sauvignon Blanc for people who loved the original and one of Sarah's all-time favorite wines from one of her favorite winemakers.

    Chapters

    00:00 Intro: Welcome to Drinking During Business Hours

    02:07 The Drink: Love Block Sauvignon Blanc

    04:10 Welcome Back, Renee Percy

    05:19 Still Not Famous: The Second Visit

    06:45 There Is No Such Thing as a Big Break

    10:15 Going Viral vs. The Tonight Show

    14:54 Do Followers Really Sell Tickets?

    21:24 A Play in New York (and Girls' Night)

    22:27 Touring for the Troops: Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Norway

    23:24 Headlining Dates: Arizona and Boise

    25:12 Test Kitchen Comedy: All-New Material Every Week

    28:47 The Wedding Roast Story

    31:55 Roast Rules and Sarah Tiana's Tom Brady Playbook

    33:55 Coming Up Together at Flappers Comedy Club

    35:31 The Burger Videos and Beating the Algorithm

    36:57 The Starlight Cabaret and Its Oil Can Harry's History

    39:41 The Magic Number Seven (and a Little Cheating)

    41:21 Where to Find Renee

    42:18 Thank Yous and Outro

    Call to Action

    Enjoyed the episode? Like, subscribe, and share it with a comedy lover in your life. Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite platform every five-star review helps us reach more listeners. And don't forget to catch Renee Percy live on tour dates at reneepercy.com and stream her special The Komic Sutra on Amazon and Apple. If you're in L.A., come see Test Kitchen Comedy at the Starlight Cabaret in Studio City all-new material, 90 tight minutes, only 5 bucks.

    Special thanks to Doug Bass https://www.instagram.com/dougbasshole/

    And Bass Hole Studios https://www.bassholepodcaststudio.com/

    Producer Cori Fry [email protected]

    Maximilian Riedel and Riedel glassware, and Erica Crawford of Loveblock Wines.

    Host Links

    FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS!

    Sarah

    IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en

    FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/

    X @sarahjhalstead https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead

    Website @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com

    Rich

    IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/

    FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/

    X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler

    Website richardchassler.com

    πŸ“§ [email protected] 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform, it helps more than you know!

    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drinking-during-business-hours-with-sarah-halstead/id1273935631 |

    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3EdszkVArwM4JvBBeLUL7T

    #DrinkingDuringBusinessHours #ReneePercy #TheKomicSutra #ComedyPodcast #SarahHalstead #RichChassler #ViralComedy #StandUpComedy #TestKitchenComedy #StarlightCabaret #LoveBlockWine #ComedianInterview #TouringTheTroops #WomensComedy #CelebrityPodcast

    43 min
  • Sarah Tiana on Bourbon, the Boys Club of Comedy, and the Joke She Won't Tell Yet

    Sarah Tiana on Bourbon, the Boys Club of Comedy, and the Joke She Won't Tell Yet

    Actress, stand up comedian, host, broadcaster, and self described baseball fanatic Sarah Tiana joins Drinking During Business Hours over Blackland Bourbon. Hosts Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler get her take on the one drink she has before every set to loosen up, why she happily takes the opening spot at the Comedy Store, and how marriage and motherhood completely reshuffled her material.

    Sarah opens up about growing up between a cow pasture and a sheep farm in Calhoun, Georgia after a Northern California start, the famous college radio station that turned a journalism major into a joke teller, DJing weddings and bar mitzvahs before comedy called, and the Pepperidge Farm dad who turned down the big job to coach her softball team.

    Rich shares what it was really like coming up with Mitch Hedberg, Sarah talks about starting comedy in a class with Tom Segura, Anthony Jeselnik, and Christina Pazsitzky, and the three of them get into how Daniel Tosh, Jeselnik, and Bobby Lee quietly protected women in comedy, Chelsea Handler's advice to go be funny and leave, Mitzi Shore's blonde waitress rule, the six year grind to finally get passed at the Comedy Store, and the perfect storm of podcasts, Uber, and Dave Chappelle that made the Store the center of the comedy world again.

    Guest Info

    Sarah Tiana is a comedian, writer, actress, and sports commentator. A Roast Battle runner up at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal on Comedy Central, she was a writer for Netflix's The Roast of Tom Brady, a regular on Chelsea Lately and @midnight, a writer for The Josh Wolf Show on CMT, and a correspondent on The Soup Investigates. She played Carmen on Reno 911, wrote for the ESPY Awards and the Rob Riggle NFL segments on FOX, and has done over a dozen comedy tours for the troops. Her stand up special 44, taped live at the World Famous Comedy Store, is on YouTube, and you can now catch her on ESPN's women's sports coverage every Thursday. Raised in Calhoun, Georgia, she has been a working comedian in Los Angeles since 2003.

    Guest Social Links

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahtiana/

    X / Twitter: https://x.com/sarahtiana

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahtianafanclub/

    Special 44 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ArqsXiBzOU

    Drink of the Podcast

    Blackland Bourbon, made in Fort Worth, Texas. A quintessential American bourbon whiskey, poured over ice with soda, and the first bourbon ever requested by a guest on the show. Blackland was recently featured on the new Yellowstone spinoff Dutton Ranch.

    Chapters

    00:00 Intro: Welcome to Drinking During Business Hours

    00:37 The Drink: Blackland Bourbon from Fort Worth, Texas

    01:07 Wine With Grandma: A Trip to Michigan

    02:02 Meet Sarah Tiana: Comedian, Writer, Sports Commentator

    02:39 The First Guest Ever to Request Bourbon

    03:12 One Drink Just to Loosen Up

    05:19 Headliner Problems: The Dreaded Check Drop

    05:56 Why She Loves Going First at the Comedy Store

    07:58 Marriage, Motherhood, and Lost Material

    09:43 The Proposal That Closed a Chapter

    13:57 Engaged in December, Married on a Monday

    14:06 A Comedy Store and Improv Love Story

    16:03 Comedy Is Math and the Joke That Is Not Ready Yet

    17:55 From Calhoun, Georgia to Album 88 College Radio

    20:19 Six Flags, the Sorbonne, and Moving to LA

    24:09 Dad Turns Down the Big Job: The Pepperidge Farm Story

    30:53 DJing Weddings and Bar Mitzvahs Before Comedy

    31:21 Mitch Hedberg: Best Friend, Opening Act, Comedy Legend

    34:10 Coming Up with Segura, Jeselnik, and Christina P

    37:12 Tosh, Jeselnik, and Bobby Lee Protecting Women in Comedy

    43:11 Chelsea Handler's Advice: Go Be Funny and Leave

    45:41 Mitzi Shore's Blonde Waitress Rule

    50:58 Six Years to Get Passed at the Comedy Store

    52:28 The Perfect Storm: Podcasts, Uber, and Chappelle

    55:44 ESPN Women's Sports and a Trip to Japan

    56:57 Outro and Thank Yous

    Call to Action

    Enjoyed the episode? Like, subscribe, and share it with a comedy fan, sports nut, or Comedy Store lover in your life. Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite platform. Every five star review helps us reach more listeners. And do not forget to watch Sarah Tiana's special 44, streaming now on YouTube!

    Special thanks to Doug Bass ( https://www.instagram.com/dougbasshole/ )and Bass Hole Studios ... https://www.bassholepodcaststudio.com/

    Producer Cori Fry [email protected]

    Maximilian Riedel and Riedel Glassware for always supplying the best glasses, and Blackland Bourbon... https://www.riedel.com/en-us

    #SarahTiana #ComedyStore #RoastBattle #MitchHedberg #DanielTosh #AnthonyJeselnik #ChelseaHandler #SarahHalstead #RichChassler #BlacklandBourbon #ComedyPodcast #StandUpComedy #WomensSports #ESPN #FemaleComedian

    58 min
  • Stand Up Comedy and Why Deadheads Went After Sarah

    Stand Up Comedy and Why Deadheads Went After Sarah

    Sarah Halstead and Richard Chassler kick off this episode of Drinking During Business Hours with a summer-ready Austrian wine and a wide-ranging conversation about live comedy, producing their new weekly show Test Kitchen Comedy in Los Angeles, booking a first trip to Japan, and why movie theaters still matter. They also get into the vulnerability of stand-up versus acting, the changing business of comedy specials and social media clips, the backlash Sarah received from Deadheads online, what they're currently reading, and where fans can catch them next.

    Drink of the Podcast

    GrΓΌner Veltliner from Austria by Kracher

    Crisp, bone-dry, and described as having notes of honey, lemon, melon, and grapefruit β€” a quintessential summer wine.

    Chapters

    00:00 Welcome back to Drinking During Business Hours

    01:12 What Sarah and Richard are drinking: Austrian GrΓΌner Veltliner by Kracher

    04:34 Summer updates, local shows, and performing in LA

    05:45 Launching their new weekly comedy show: Test Kitchen Comedy

    08:32 Why audiences should see comedians work out new material live

    08:39 Booking a much-needed trip to Tokyo and Japan travel talk

    10:05 Conveyor belt sushi, travel costs, and why Japan sounds like a bargain

    11:22 Summer movies, packed theaters, and the return of the cinema experience

    15:25 Acting careers, movie stars, TV, and how the industry keeps changing

    16:20 Tom Hanks' advice on taking every acting job

    17:35 Stand-up comedy vs acting: vulnerability, pressure, and performance

    20:00 Comedy specials, social media clips, and the new stand-up business model

    23:58 Sarah's viral Deadhead backlash and the Grateful Dead subculture

    27:51 What Sarah is reading right now

    29:14 What Richard is reading and a possible film adaptation dream

    30:36 Where to find Sarah and Richard online

    31:01 Thank-yous, reviews, YouTube, and signing off

    Call to Action

    If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Drinking During Business Hours, leave a 5-star review, write a quick review if you can, and find the show on YouTube for more episodes, clips, and updates. If you're in Los Angeles, check out Sarah and Richard live and catch Test Kitchen Comedy on Tuesday nights.

    FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS!

    Sarah

    IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en

    FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/

    X @sarahjhalstead https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead

    Website @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com

    Rich

    IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/

    FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/

    X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler

    Website richardchassler.com

    πŸ“§ [email protected] 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform β€” it helps more than you know!

    #DrinkingDuringBusinessHours #SarahHalstead #RichardChassler #ComedyPodcast #StandUpComedy #PodcastClips #YouTubePodcast #MovieTheaterComeback #GrunerVeltliner #JapanTravel #DeadheadDrama #LAComedy

    33 min
  • From Small-Town DJ to Emmy Winner: Jim O'Heir's Wild Ride

    From Small-Town DJ to Emmy Winner: Jim O'Heir's Wild Ride

    Parks and Recreation legend Jim O'Heir joins Drinking During Business Hours for a hilarious, heartfelt conversation over ice-cold bottles of Pilsner Urquell. Hosts Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler get the Emmy-winning actor to open up about the wildest night of his career winning a Daytime Emmy for The Bold and the Beautiful when he was absolutely certain he'd lose, complete with Nick Offerman's infamous "these are not winner's seats" warning and an unplanned, from-the-heart speech. Jim takes us back to his Chicago roots at Second City, his days as a small-town DJ in Rensselaer, Indiana, the very first laugh that hooked him for life, getting fired from Santa Barbara, and the magic of truly connecting with James Spader on Boston Legal. He also shares the story behind his beloved memoir "Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation" from the all-publishers-bid book auction to the exhausting, joyful three-week book tour and what it was like playing Jerry Gergich for seven years on one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time.

    Guest Info

    Jim O'Heir is an Emmy Award–winning actor and comedian, best known for playing Jerry (Garry/Larry/Terry/Barry) Gergich on NBC's Parks and Recreation for all seven seasons. A Chicago native and Second City alum, his endless credits span Friends, The Drew Carey Show, Star Trek, Better Call Saul, Parenthood, Third Rock from the Sun, Boston Legal, and The Bold and the Beautiful which earned him a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Performer. He is also the author of the memoir Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation.

    Guest Social Links
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealjimoheir/

    • X / Twitter: https://x.com/JimOHeir

    • Welcome to Pawnee (HarperCollins): https://www.harpercollins.com/products/welcome-to-pawnee-jim-oheir

    Drink of the Podcast (NOT SPONSORED)

    Pilsner Urquell, the original golden pilsner from the Czech Republic, cracked open ice-cold straight from the bottle on a 100-degree Los Angeles day. A crisp, high-minerality change of pace from the show's usual wine, chosen because Jim is a self-proclaimed "Pilsner guy."

    Chapters

    00:00 Intro: Welcome to Drinking During Business Hours

    00:35 The Drink: Pilsner Urquell Straight From the Bottle

    02:00 Meet Jim O'Heir: Jerry From Parks and Rec

    03:40 The Emmy Mix-Up: It Was The Bold and the Beautiful

    04:05 Emmy Night: "These Are Not Winner's Seats"

    11:15 Soap Opera School: 40 Pages a Day

    16:00 From Small-Town DJ to Second City

    19:30 The First Laugh That Changed Everything

    26:30 Connecting on Set: The James Spader Story

    35:30 Getting Fired From Santa Barbara

    38:00 Parks and Rec Fun Runs

    40:00 Writing Welcome to Pawnee: The Book Auction

    44:30 The Book Tour and the Norovirus Story

    50:30 Gratitude and the Luck of Parks and Rec

    54:00 Where to Find Jim: Premarital, Middleman, and More

    57:00 Outro and Thanks

    Call to Action

    Enjoyed the episode? Like, subscribe, and share it with a Parks and Rec fan or comedy lover in your life. Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite platform every five-star review helps us reach more listeners. And don't forget to grab a copy of Jim's book, Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation, wherever books are sold!

    Special thanks to Doug Bass and Bass Hole Studios, producer CorI Fry, and Maximilian Riedel for always supplying the best glassware.

    Host Links

    FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS!

    Sarah

    IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en

    FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/

    X @sarahjhalstead https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead

    Website @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com

    Rich

    IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/

    FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/

    X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler

    Website richardchassler.com

    πŸ“§ [email protected] 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform β€” it helps more than you know!

    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drinking-during-business-hours-with-sarah-halstead/id1273935631

    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3EdszkVArwM4JvBBeLUL7T

    #JimOHeir #ParksAndRecreation #JerryGergich #WelcomeToPawnee #ComedyPodcast #SarahHalstead #RichChassler #EmmyWinner #SecondCity #PilsnerUrquell #ActorInterview #ParksAndRec #BehindTheScenes #BookTour #CelebrityPodcast

    1 hr
  • Irina Voronina Gets Real About Russia, Hollywood, The Playboy Murders & Comedy

    Irina Voronina Gets Real About Russia, Hollywood, The Playboy Murders & Comedy

    This week on Drinking During Business Hours, Sarah Halstead and Richard Chassler sit down with Irina Voronina for a funny, candid, and surprisingly emotional conversation about her journey from Russia to Milan to Los Angeles, her rise as a Playboy Playmate and working actress, and how stand-up comedy became the next chapter of her life. Along the way, Irina opens up about growing up in Soviet Russia, leaving home at 19, adapting to America, and finding her own authentic voice in comedy instead of becoming a stereotype.

    The episode also gets into the realities of show business, aging in Hollywood, getting typecast, the transition from modeling to comedy, producing shows at Bar Lubitsch, working at Comedy Chateau, and Irina's appearance in The Playboy Murders. Sarah, Rich, and Irina keep it loose and hilarious throughout with a full non-alcoholic beer tasting featuring Beck's Non-Alcoholic, Heineken 0.0, and O'Doul's, making this one equal parts heartfelt, insightful, and absurdly fun.

    🎀 Guest Info

    Irina Voronina is a Russian-born American comedian, actor, model, and producer best known as Playboy's Miss January 2001. According to her official bio, she built an international modeling career before expanding into film, television, and stand-up comedy, with credits including Reno 911!: Miami, Balls of Fury, Piranha 3DD, iCarly, Tosh.0, 13 Reasons Why, and more. She now performs stand-up regularly in Los Angeles and produces original comedy content for her social platforms.

    πŸ”— Guest Social Links
    • Website: https://www.irinavoronina.net/

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irinavoronina/

    • Comedy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irinavoroninacomedy/

    • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamirinavoronina

    🍺 Drink of the Podcast (NOT SPONSORED)

    Non-Alcoholic Beer Tasting Flight:

    • Beck's Non-Alcoholic

    • Heineken 0.0

    • O'Doul's

    This episode's drink theme was a refreshing non-alcoholic beer tasting, chosen for a hot Los Angeles day and inspired by Irina's request for non-alcoholic beer. The group sampled Beck's, Heineken 0.0, and O'Doul's, with Heineken 0.0 emerging as a favorite, while the overall verdict was that all three were surprisingly solid.

    ⏱️ Chapters

    00:00 Welcome back to Drinking During Business Hours

    00:56 The beer lineup: Beck's, Heineken 0.0, and O'Doul's (NOT SPONSORED)

    02:09 Introducing Irina Voronina

    04:05 How Irina got involved with Comedy Chateau

    11:29 From Russia to America: Irina's early life story

    15:22 Why Irina no longer feels safe traveling back to Russia

    17:29 Family, WhatsApp, surveillance, and life back home

    21:28 How Irina accidentally landed in Playboy

    25:01 Moving to LA and taking the risk at 23

    25:43 Modeling, acting, and building a career in Hollywood

    27:51 Turning 40 and when the phone stopped ringing

    31:18 Why Irina turned to stand-up comedy

    36:30 Comedy Chateau, bar shows, and learning to perform

    38:35 Producing Comedy Stew at Bar Lubitsch

    43:05 Comedy classes, writing groups, and bad advice for comics

    45:37 The Playboy Murders and Irina's connection to the story

    48:04 Social media, comedy accounts, and where to follow Irina

    49:19 Final drink rankings and shout-outs

    50:00 Thanks for watching and sign-off

    πŸ“£ Call to Action

    If you enjoyed this episode, like, comment, and subscribe to Drinking During Business Hours for more hilarious and honest conversations with comics, actors, creatives, and unforgettable guests.

    Drop a comment with your favorite moment from the episode, tell us which non-alcoholic beer you would pick, and share this episode with anyone who loves comedy, pop culture, and wild Hollywood stories.

    FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS!

    Sarah

    IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en

    FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/

    X @sarahjhalstead https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead

    Website @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com

    Rich

    IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/

    FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/

    X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler

    Website richardchassler.com

    πŸ“§ [email protected] 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform - it helps more than you know!

    #IrinaVoronina #PlayboyMurders #PlayboyPlaymate #StandUpComedy

    51 min
  • Chef Steve Samson on Rosso Blu, Bologna, Gnocchi, and the Real Cost of Running a Restaurant
    Chef Steve Samson on Rosso Blu, Bologna, Gnocchi, and the Real Cost of Running a Restaurant

    The Italian Food Secret LA Has Been Hiding

    This week on Drinking During Business Hours, Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler sit down with Michelin-recognized chef and restaurateur Steve Samson for a rich, hilarious, and deeply personal conversation about Italian food, the restaurant life, and what it really takes to build something lasting in Los Angeles.

    Steve is the chef and co-owner of Rosso Blu in downtown LA, a Bolognese-inspired restaurant that Rich and Sarah recently visited and could not stop raving about. From the wood-burning oven to the legendary gnocchi to the iconic burro e oro tortelloni, this episode is a love letter to great Italian cooking and the people who dedicate their lives to it.

    Steve opens up about growing up spending summers in Bologna with his grandparents, how food was always the center of family life, and how those memories eventually led him to leave behind a stack of med school applications and enroll in culinary school in New York City. He talks about his early kitchens in Soho and Maine, his time working with Piero Selvaggio at Valentino in Las Vegas, and how the vision for Rosso Blu was born from a simple idea: cook the food his mother made.

    The conversation gets real when Steve talks about the economics of running a restaurant in California, the crushing costs post-pandemic, labor laws, tip credits, and why places that used to be neighborhood spots are now special occasion dinners. His wife and partner Dina gets a major shout-out as the operational backbone of everything they have built together.

    It is funny, warm, food-obsessed, and packed with the kind of honesty you only get when great wine is flowing. Do not miss it.

    Guest Info

    Steve Samson is a Los Angeles-based chef, restaurateur, and co-founder of Rosso Blu, a critically acclaimed Bolognese-inspired restaurant located in the Fashion District of downtown Los Angeles. Steve was born in Brooklyn, raised in Los Angeles, and spent formative summers in Bologna, Italy, where his mother's family shaped his deep love for traditional northern Italian cuisine. He trained at Peter Kump's Cooking School in New York City, cooked in celebrated New York kitchens, and worked with legendary restaurateur Piero Selvaggio at Valentino in Las Vegas before returning to LA. He co-founded Sotto on Pico Boulevard, a beloved Southern Italian restaurant, before opening Rosso Blu with his wife and business partner Dina Samson. Rosso Blu has received Michelin recognition and has been written up in virtually every major food publication. Steve is known for presenting dishes with photographs of his family in Italy and the stories behind each recipe, making every meal at Rosso Blu a deeply personal experience.

    πŸ”— Guest Social Links
    • Restaurant Website: https://www.rossoblu.com

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefstevesamson/

    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.samson.311

    • Restaurant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rossoblula/

    • Chef's website: https://www.chefstevesamson.net/

    Drink of the Podcast

    Feudi di San Gregorio Cutizzi, 100% Greco di Tufo, Campania, Italy

    Rich and Sarah kicked off the episode with this stunning summer white from the Campania region of southern Italy, made entirely from the Greco grape. Feudi di San Gregorio is one of the most respected producers in southern Italy and the Cutizzi is their flagship expression of Greco di Tufo, known for its mineral-driven structure, stone fruit aromatics, and refreshing acidity. Rich described it as one of his favorite summer whites and noted it goes particularly well in a jacuzzi. They also poured Castello di Bolgheri by Antinori cousins, a Super Tuscan at around $150 a bottle, which Steve got to enjoy toward the end of the episode.

    Chapters

    00:00 Welcome & Drink of the Podcast - Feudi di San Gregorio Cutizzi, Greco di Tufo

    03:15 Introducing Chef Steve Samson - Michelin-Recognized Chef & Owner of Rosso Blu

    09:05 The Story Behind the Menu - Presenting Dishes with Family Photos from Bologna

    13:05 Bologna's Three Nicknames - La Dotta, La Grassa, La Rossa

    18:45 Peter Kump's Cooking School, NYC β€” Now Called ICE, Institute of Culinary Education

    19:45 First Kitchen Job - Little Cranberry Island, Maine & the Lobster Dock Next Door

    23:35 In the Weeds - The Term, What It Means in Any Vocation & Getting Through It

    26:05 After-Hours NYC - Blue Ribbon, Seafood Towers & the Chefs Who Ran the Night

    29:00 Building Your Chops - Garmanger, Pantry Station, Day Rates & Learning to Cook Professionally

    31:50 Chefs Don't Trash Talk Each Other - Tom Colicchio, Nancy Silverton & the Respect in the Industry

    35:55 No Tip Credit in California - What It Means, What It Costs & Why Sacramento Won't Change It

    38:30 Shout Out to Dina Samson - The Glue, the Beast, the Operational Backbone of Rosso Blu

    40:30 Post-COVID Costs - How Rising Prices Changed the Dining Landscape for Everyone

    43:45 Your Gnocchi Changed My Life - The Secrets, Old Potatoes & Why It Goes So Wrong

    48:20 The Test Kitchen Space - What Was There Before Sotto & the Chefs Who Came Through

    50:30 Michael Voltaggio, Ink, Ink Sack & Great LA Restaurants We've Lost

    55:00 Molecular Gastronomy, Emulsifiers & Why Italian Cooking Needs None of It

    59:50 Paris, Amsterdam, Youth Hostels & the Bouillons - Traveling with the Kids on a Budget

    61:00 CafΓ© d'Argent, Paris - The Numbered Duck & a Wine Cellar with 50,000 Bottles

    64:00 Where to Find Steve & Rosso Blu + Thank Yous & Sign Off

    πŸ“£ Call to Action

    If you enjoyed this episode, like, comment, and subscribe to Drinking During Business Hours for more conversations with chefs, winemakers, comedians, actors, and creatives who know how to live well.

    Drop a comment telling us your favorite Italian restaurant experience or what your go-to summer white is right now. Share this episode with anyone who loves great food, great wine, and great stories. And if you are in Los Angeles or visiting, get yourself to Rosso Blu in the Fashion District downtown. You will not regret it.

    πŸ₯‚ Host Links

    FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS!

    Sarah

    IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en

    FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/

    X @sarahjhalstead https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead

    Website @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com

    Rich

    IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/

    FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/

    X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler

    Website richardchassler.com

    πŸ“§ [email protected] 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform β€” it helps more than you know!

    Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drinking-during-business-hours-with-sarah-halstead/id1273935631

    Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahHalsteadComedian

    Sarah and Rich are the husband-and-wife comedy duo behind Drinking During Business Hours, where comedy, conversation, great wine, and incredible guests collide every episode.

    #SteveSamson #RossoBlu #ItalianFood #LosAngelesRestaurants #MichelinLA

    1 hr 5 min
  • Apparitions, the FBI and a Bottle of Chardonay with Jennifer M Shaffer

    Jennifer M Shaffer Talks Apparitions, the FBI and a Bottle of Chardonay

    Comedians Sarah J. Halstead and Rich Chassler pop a 2021 Gentleman Farmer 100% Chardonnay and pour it out with Jennifer M. Shaffer internationally recognized intuitive, spiritual medium, medical intuitive, and former stockbroker-turned-triathlete who's worked with the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and Dark Web Division. They cover ADHD-approved Chardonnay, 800 bottles stashed in kitchen drawers, the secret to a 30-year marriage, why Jennifer never watches the news, the French Bulldog bedspread that cracked an FBI fentanyl case, and the night she sees full-blown apparitions walking through her bedroom window. Equal parts hilarious, terrifying, and oddly comforting.

    πŸ‘» Guest Info

    Jennifer M. Shaffer is an internationally recognized Intuitive Spiritual Medium, Investigative Case Expert, and Medical Intuitive based in Manhattan Beach, CA. A former stockbroker who managed half a billion dollars in her 20s and a professional triathlete, she's a Founding Member of the Intuitive Investigations Academy, a Social Activism Award winner, and the subject of four best-selling books. Jennifer hosts her signature Wine & Spirit Gallery Readings at Uncorked Manhattan Beach twice a month.

    πŸ“± Guest Social Links
    • Instagram: @jennifermshaffer … https://www.instagram.com/jennifermshaffer/?hl=en

    • Facebook: JSIntuitiveInvestigationAlliances … https://www.facebook.com/JSIntuitiveInvestigationAlliances/

    • LinkedIn: Jennifer M. Shaffer … https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermedlynshaffer

    • 🌐 Website: jennifershaffer.com …https://jennifershaffer.com/

    🍾 Drink of the Podcast (Not Sponsored)

    Gentleman Farmer 2021 100% Chardonnay Made by DDBH friends Jeff Durham & Joe (Joey) Wallows of Gentleman Farmer Wines.

    • Varietal: 100% Chardonnay

    • Style: Full malolactic fermentation β€” that buttery, creamy mouthfeel

    • Climate: Warm climate β€” pours a rich, deep gold

    • Flavor: Fuller-bodied, lower acid

    πŸ“ Find the wine at the Gentleman Farmer Bungalow … https://gentlemanfarmerwines.com/ - featured this month in Wine Spectator Magazine.

    πŸ₯ƒ Drank from RIEDEL Chardonnay-specific varietal glasses …https://www.riedel.com/

    πŸ•’ Chapters

    00:00 Welcome & The Pour (Gentleman Farmer Chardonnay)

    02:28 Meet Jennifer M. Shaffer

    07:12 The Wine Snob & 800 Bottles in Kitchen Drawers

    12:45 The Secret to a 30-Year Marriage

    16:33 Working With the FBI, U.S. Secret Service & Dark Web

    23:31 When a Killer Calls Her Office

    26:31 Why She Never Watches the News

    31:29 Alzheimer's & "Having Fun on the Other Side"

    41:26 Vulnerability & Letting the World In

    48:58 Dr. Phil & The Heart Attack She Predicted

    51:33 Psychedelics: Ketamine, MDMA & Psilocybin

    56:46 Sleep, Alpha State & Seeing Apparitions

    60:42 The Mentalism Card Trick with Gabe Abelson

    64:18 Wine & Spirit Gallery Readings at Uncorked Manhattan Beach

    🎯 Call to Action

    If this episode made you laugh, gasp, or reach for the Chardonnay 🍷 three things:

    1. LIKE this video on YouTube

    2. SUBSCRIBE on YouTube, Apple Podcasts & Spotify

    3. Leave a 5-star review it fuels the algorithm

    Attention Hproof your product got mentioned four times. The door is open. Walk through it.

    Want to be read? Come to the next Wine & Spirit Gallery Reading at Uncorked Manhattan Beach… https://uncorkedwineshops.com/ $40. 35 readings. Twice a month.

    πŸŽ™οΈ Host Links

    FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS!

    Watch the Episode on YouTube...https://www.youtube.com/@Sarahhalsteadcomedian

    Sarah

    IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en

    FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/

    X @sarahjhalstead https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead

    Website @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com

    Rich

    IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/

    FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/

    X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler

    Website richardchassler.com

    πŸ“§ [email protected] 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform it helps more than you know!

    The Show

    • 🎧 DDBH on Apple Podcasts … https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drinking-during-business-hours-with-sarah-halstead/id1273935631

    • 🎧 DDBH on Spotify … https://open.spotify.com/show/0S1heAKEiAufmBft90DK9m

    • πŸ“Ί DDBH on YouTube … https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLKMYmcbbBTHU473qSah0WsKKy5ztyZyiNQ

    • 🎬 Basshole Studios / Doug Bass … https://www.bassholeshow.com/

    • Producer & Editor Cori Fry PodChic Media - https://www.instagram.com/thepod_chic/ or https://www.instagram.com/corifry/

    #DrinkingDuringBusinessHours #ComedyAndWine #JenniferMShaffer #IntuitiveMedium

    #SpiritualMedium

    Drinking During Business Hours - Where Comedy & Fine Wine Meet. πŸ₯‚

    1 hr 6 min
  • Keith Reza on Comedy, Fame, and Never Giving Up

    Keith Reza on Comedy, Fame, and Never Giving Up

    This week on Drinking During Business Hours, Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler sit down with comedian, actor, writer, and podcaster Keith Reza for a funny, candid, and inspiring conversation about building a career in comedy, staying persistent in entertainment, and carving out your own voice in a brutally competitive business.

    With roots in stand-up, a long-running podcast of his own, and years spent learning from the legendary Norm Macdonald, Keith brings the kind of behind-the-scenes perspective comedy fans love.

    From the grind of live comedy to storytelling, podcasting, industry survival, and the mindset it takes to keep going, this episode is a great listen for comics, creators, and anybody chasing a creative life. If you love conversations about stand-up, entertainment, mental resilience, and the reality behind making it, this one belongs on your watchlist.

    🎀 Guest Info

    Keith Reza is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and podcast host with more than 20 years in comedy. He was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at 13 and found comedy as a way to connect with people and navigate the world. He was mentored by Norm Macdonald for nine years, contributed as a writer on Norm Macdonald Has a Show and Norm Macdonald Live, has appeared on NBC, Animal Planet, and Netflix Is A Joke, and released the special Keith Reza: Make It Happen. He also hosts the long-running celebrity interview podcast Reza Rifts.

    πŸ”— Guest Social Links
    • Website: https://www.keithreza.com/

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithreza/

    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realkeithreza

    • X / Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/keithreza

    • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keithreza

    • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpyRbdbee3pBlDrtMDd6Pww

    • Podcast - Reza Rifts: https://www.keithreza.com/gallery

    🍷 Drink of the Podcast

    Drink of the Podcast: Molto Bene Mocktails

    Whether it's wine, cocktails, or something unexpected, the drink always sets the tone on Drinking During Business Hours, where comedy, conversation, and happy hour energy always meet in the middle.

    ⏱️ Chapters

    00:00 Intro to Keith Reza

    02:15 Keith's comedy journey

    06:40 Learning from Norm Macdonald

    11:05 Writing, performing, and finding your voice

    16:20 The reality of stand-up life

    22:10 Hosting Reza Rifts

    28:35 Comedy, resilience, and mental toughness

    35:00 Entertainment industry lessons

    42:25 What keeps comedians going

    49:10 Final thoughts and where to follow Keith

    πŸ“£ Call to Action

    If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you like, comment, and subscribe to Drinking During Business Hours for more conversations with comedians, actors, writers, and creatives from across entertainment and culture.

    Drop a comment with your favorite Keith Reza moment and share the episode with someone who loves stand-up comedy, podcasts, and behind-the-scenes industry stories.

    πŸ₯‚ Host Links

    Sarah

    IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en

    FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/

    X @sarahjhalstead https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead

    Website @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com

    Rich

    IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/

    FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/

    X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler

    Website richardchassler.com

    πŸ“§ [email protected] 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform β€” it helps more than you know!

    Follow the podcast here: 🍷 Apple Podcasts: Drinking During Business Hours ,,, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drinking-during-business-hours-with-sarah-halstead/id1273935631

    Watch it on YouTube ... https://www.youtube.com/@Sarahhalsteadcomedian

    #KeithReza #StandUpComedy #Podcasting #ComedyPodcast #DrinkingDuringBusinessHours #SarahHalstead #RichChassler #ComedianLife #EntertainmentPodcast #PodcastGuest #ComedyJourney #CreativeLife #NormMacdonald #JohnCusack #SuccessMindset

    54 min

About Drinking During Business Hours with Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler | Where comedy & fine wine meet!

From the publisher's feed

Comedians - and husband-and-wife duo - Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler, bring their love of great beverages to every conversation. Each episode features a guest from the worlds of entertainment,…