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

Laurie Douglas on Comedy, Social Media, and Why Art Should Make People Uncomfortable

In this episode of Drinking During Business Hours, Sarah and Rich welcome Laurie Douglas for a funny, sharp, and honest conversation about comedy, acting, artistic risk, and what it really takes to build a career in entertainment. From the grind of getting stage time in Los Angeles to balancing stand-up with acting and self-promotion, Laurie shares a real look at the hustle behind the laughs.

The episode also dives into how comedians use social media, why live audience response still matters, and why great art should make people feel something. Laurie brings a fearless perspective on finding your voice, creating your own opportunities, and staying authentic in a business that constantly demands reinvention.

Guest Info

Laurie Douglas is a Los Angeles-based actor, comedian, and writer who performs across the U.S. and internationally, including the Dubai Comedy Festival. Her credits include both seasons of Laff Mobb's Laff Tracks on TruTV, multiple films on Amazon, and the short film The Hollies, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Her Instagram bio describes her as a "Comedian•Actor•Gluten Advocate."

Featured Beverage

Russian River Sauvignon Blanc

Follow Laurie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurie.douglas … https://www.instagram.com/laurie.douglas

Chapters

00:00 Intro and upcoming shows 03:51 Laurie Douglas's journey into acting and comedy 06:37 Stage time, hustle, and building a following 08:36 Social media and the modern comedy grind 10:13 Art, risk, and why comedy should provoke 18:36 Acting vs. stand-up 23:27 Producing your own opportunities 29:17 Industry insights, future projects, and final thoughts

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 http://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

📧 [email protected] 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts … https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drinking-during-business-hours-with-sarah-halstead/id1273935631 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform it helps more than you know!

Enjoyed the episode? Like, subscribe, and share it with a comic, actor, or podcast fan who'd appreciate a real conversation about stage time, social media, comedy hustle, and taking creative risks.

#LaurieDouglas #DrinkingDuringBusinessHours #ComedyPodcast #StandUpComedy #WomenInComedy #ActingAndComedy #ComedyLife #HollywoodComedian #SocialMediaComedy #ArtShouldProvoke

How Ben Gleib Reinvented Late Night on YouTube, Went Viral in Political Debate, and Helped Save Comedy During COVID

Hosts Sarah J. Halstead and Rich Chassler welcome comedian, creator, and disruptor Ben Gleib for a fast, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful conversation about career pivots, political courage, crowd work, and building comedy for a new era. Ben opens up about overcoming a childhood speech challenge, creating connection through stand-up, and why he's always pushed beyond the expected lane. The conversation moves from live comedy and dating confidence to the deeper purpose behind making people laugh.

This episode also dives into some of Ben's biggest career swings, including his viral Charlie Kirk debate, the launch of Nowhere Comedy during the pandemic, and his newest ambition: Good Night with Ben Gleib, a digitally native late-night show built for YouTube. It's a sharp, hilarious look at what happens when a comic combines talent, activism, and entrepreneurial instinct to build what traditional entertainment wouldn't hand him.

Guest Info

Ben Gleib is a stand-up comedian, TV host, and creator known for sharp crowd work, high-energy storytelling, and building projects that sit at the intersection of comedy, media, and culture. In the episode, he discusses his work on Idiotest, his long path toward becoming a late-night host, his co-founding of Nowhere Comedy during COVID, and his launch of Good Night with Ben Gleib, a YouTube-first late-night show designed for a global interactive audience.

Follow Ben

• Ben Gleib Website … https://www.bengleib.com/

• Ben Gleib on Instagram … https://www.instagram.com/bengleib/

• Ben Gleib on X … https://x.com/bengleib

• Ben Gleib YouTube … hhttps://www.youtube.com/@bgleib

• Nowhere Comedy Club … https://www.nowherecomedyclub.com/

• Good Night with Ben Gleib … https://www.youtube.com/@goodnight/videos

🍷 Featured Beverage Riondo de-alcoholized sparkling wine a de-alcoholized bubbly the hosts use to kick off a fun conversation about the difference between non-alcoholic wine and de-alcoholized wine. Chapters

Chapter timings below are adapted from the episode audio and your supplied outline.

• 00:00 Welcome + de-alcoholized wine vs. non-alcoholic wine

• 03:13 Meet Ben Gleib

• 05:00 Why great conversations deserve to be recorded

• 08:45 Dating, confidence, and being "cool"

• 13:15 Comedy, politics, and speaking your mind

• 16:28 The Charlie Kirk debate and going viral

• 23:27 Building Nowhere Comedy during COVID

• 31:30 Entrepreneurship, creativity, and doing "too much"

• 34:35 Childhood speech struggles and finding his voice

• 36:50 Crowd work, comedy instincts, and serving the audience

• 42:10 Old material, new material, and comedy philosophy

• 50:45 Ben's biggest new project yet

• 52:28 Reinventing late night for YouTube

• 55:25 Where to find Ben and what's next

🎙️ Hosts

📧 [email protected] 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Loving the show? Please rate and review on your favorite platform. Every single review helps us reach more listeners.

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

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

#DrinkingDuringBusinessHours #BenGleib #ComedyPodcast #LateNightTV #YouTubeComedy #StandUpComedy #CrowdWork #NowhereComedy #PoliticalComedy #PodcastShowNotes

Fizaa Dosani on Going Viral Without Selling Out | Comedy, Culture & Mental Health

Stand-up comedy is changing fast and Fizaa Dosani is right in the middle of that evolution. In this episode of Drinking During Business Hours, hosts Sarah J. Halstead and Rich Chassler sit down with the comedian, actor, writer, and creator of Facial Recognition Comedy for a funny, honest, and unfiltered conversation about authenticity, sobriety, social media, diversity in comedy, and the unpredictable future of stand-up.

Fizaa opens up about building a career without losing her voice, why organic conversations matter more than polished performance, and how comedians are adapting to a world shaped by algorithms, short-form content, and shifting audience expectations. The episode also dives into mental health, family, creative balance, and the cultural impact behind Facial Recognition Comedy, the nationally touring show and podcast she created in response to tokenism and underrepresentation in entertainment.

If you care about stand-up comedy, podcasting, creator culture, representation, or what it really takes to stay authentic online, this episode is for you.

About Fizaa Dosani

Fizaa Dosani is a Los Angeles-based stand-up comic, actor, writer, and producer who has performed at major festivals including Netflix Is a Joke Festival, New York Comedy Festival, and SF Sketchfest. Her screen credits include The Lincoln Lawyer, Dear White People, Snowfall, How to Get Away With Murder, The Company You Keep, Pivoting, and S.W.A.T. She is also the creator of Facial Recognition Comedy.

Follow Fizaa Dosani

Website: https://www.fizaadosani.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fizaadosani/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/fizaadosaniFacial Recognition Comedy: https://www.facialrecognitioncomedy.com/

If you enjoyed this conversation, like the video, subscribe to the channel, and drop a comment with your take on the future of stand-up comedy: Is authenticity winning over polish?

Chapters

00:00 - Organic conversations vs scripted interviews 02:22 - From performance roots to comedy 04:34 - Self-worth, therapy, and balance in entertainment 06:49 - How comedians are adapting post-pandemic 09:12 - Mocktails, sobriety, and mental health 12:21 - Social media comedy: creating vs performing 15:19 - Diversity and inclusive lineups in stand-up 18:36 - Directing, acting, and behind-the-scenes industry insight 22:22 - Family, ambition, and choosing your own path 26:59 - The origins of Facial Recognition Comedy 31:42 - Building comedy community and supporting other comics 43:58 - Remembering comedy legends and their legacy 46:29 - Industry saturation and how comedy evolved 50:23 - How TV and the internet changed stand-up 54:50 - Balancing performing, producing, and evolving

And if this episode made you laugh, think, or rethink the business of comedy, share it with a comic, creator, or podcast fan who needs to see it.

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

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

#FizaaDosani #DrinkingDuringBusinessHours #ComedyPodcast #StandUpComedy #FacialRecognitionComedy #SarahJHalstead #RichChassler #ComedyIndustry #PodcastInterview #MentalHealthInComedy

From ChoCo Krispies Commercials in Colombia to Netflix Is A Joke Fest: The Brittany Ross Story

Sarah J. Halstead and Rich Chassler sit down with the wonderfully funny and refreshingly honest Brittany Ross, a Los Angeles-based comedian, actress, writer, and podcast host whose life story reads like a comedy special waiting to happen. They kick things off with some Passover prep banter before diving into the kind of real, warm conversation this show does so well.

Brittany opens up about navigating identity and religion as a self-described "late in life Jew," the very specific chaos of being a working comedian and a mom at the same time, and how her comedy keeps evolving right along with her life. She walks us through a journey that starts with ChoCo Krispies commercials in Colombia as a kid, runs through a cheerleading scholarship in Hawaii, lands on the set of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and eventually finds its true home on the stand-up stage. She also gets into the competitive world of voiceover work, why stand-up gave her back a sense of agency she never quite had as an actor waiting for the phone to ring, and the sheer Wonder Woman energy of comedian Jodi Miller, who clearly left a mark. Plus: merch, childhood hustles, the pandemic gut punch, and what it actually feels like when family life and a comedy career finally click into place. A genuinely heartfelt and hilarious hour with someone who figured out that the best move was just to create her own lane.

👤 Guest Bio

Brittany Ross is a Los Angeles-based stand-up comedian, actress, writer, and podcast host with a career as colorful and surprising as her origin story. Born in Texas and raised across multiple countries, she booked her very first acting gig at age 6 in Bogota, Colombia: a ChoCo Krispies commercial in Spanish. She followed the hustle through several countries before landing at Hawaii Pacific University on a three-time national champion cheerleading scholarship. A TV and film acting class in Hawaii changed everything. She booked a role in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, packed up for Los Angeles, and spent the next decade building a steady TV comedy career, most notably playing Courtney in a recurring role on ABC's The Middle, with appearances on 2 Broke Girls, The Rookie, and more.

Craving the creative control that acting rarely offers, she discovered improv at UCB, fell in love with live performance, co-created The Craigslist Monologues, started performing at The Moth, and eventually landed in stand-up, where she found her people. She produces and hosts Awkward Stand Up, a monthly show at The Virgil in Silver Lake, and performed at the Netflix Is A Joke Fest. She also hosts Full Out, a podcast where she digs into the personal stories and passions of her guests. She is officially managed by her six-year-old daughter.

Follow Brittany

🔗 Instagram: @iambrittanyross | TikTok: @iambrittanyross | YouTube

🎙️ Full Out Podcast: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Instagram: @fulloutpod

CHAPTERS

0:00

Introduction and Passover preparations

3:09

Welcoming Brittany Ross: a comedic journey begins

5:53

Balancing comedy and parenthood: the real talk

9:06

Navigating identity and religion: "I'm a late in life Jew"

11:59

How comedy material evolves as life changes

15:14

Acting background: from Colombia to Hawaii to Hollywood

18:00

Voiceover work: competitive, connection-driven, and not what you think

20:50

Why stand-up gives you something acting never can: control

24:59

The Wonder Woman of comedy: a tribute to Jodi Miller

25:55

The Full Out podcast: what it is and why she made it

26:47

Before the spotlight: personal stories and unexpected passions

28:34

Merchandising and the art of selling yourself

30:45

Childhood hustles: flips for tips and lemonade stands

32:49

Navigating parenthood and a comedy career at the same time

35:55

The pandemic's impact on live stand-up and what came after

39:46

The path from acting to stand-up: patience, timing, and instinct

43:47

Finding the right balance between family life and the comedy road

46:05

Upcoming shows, future plans, and where to follow Brittany

📣 Calls to Action

• 🎙️ Listen to Brittany's podcast Full Out on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

• 📲 Follow Brittany on Instagram @iambrittanyross | TikTok | YouTube

• 🎤 Catch Brittany live at Awkward Stand Up at The Virgil in Silver Lake: check @iambrittanyross for upcoming dates

• 🎧 Rate and review the show on your favorite podcast platform

🍷 Featured Beverage

Raise a glass to Passover, parenthood, and the long winding road to finding your voice.

🎙️ Hosts

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

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

📧 [email protected] 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Loving the show? Please rate and review on your favorite platform. Every single review helps us reach more listeners.

#DrinkingDuringBusinessHours #BrittanyRoss #StandUpComedy #ComedyPodcast #WomenInComedy #FullOutPodcast #Motherhood #ComedyMom #JodiMiller #Passover #NetflixIsAJokeFest #TheMiddleABC #ForgettingSarahMarshall #VoiceoverWork #AwkwardStandUp #ComedyAndParenting #LateInLifeJew #ComedianLife #ActingVsComedy #FindYourVoice

We Drink for a Living But Not Tonight (Mocktail Episode)

No guest? No problem. Hosts Sarah J. Halstead and Rich Chassler fly solo in one of the most wide-ranging and entertaining episodes yet, fueled not by wine, but by Malto Benny's Pink Grapefruit Sparkling Water.

They dive deep into the shifting alcohol landscape: why Gen Z is putting down the bottle, the ongoing debate over wine's health benefits, how premium wine is holding strong while budget bottles tank, and the unexpected role cannabis taxes played in nudging millennials back to booze.

Then it's tour recap time as they relive their recent Pacific Northwest comedy run, including a truly unforgettable front-row heckler who absolutely would not quit. The conversation evolves into a thoughtful breakdown of what it actually takes to move from featuring to headlining in stand-up, with shoutouts to comedy legend Zoe Friedman and the vital nonprofit Comedy Gives Back.

They also make a passionate case for going back to the movies, share highlights from Pike Place Market in Seattle and a wine tasting in Woodinville, Washington, and close with a call for listener wine recommendations.

Candid, funny, and surprisingly informative, this one's a keeper.

🎤 About the Hosts

Sarah J. Halstead and Rich Chassler are the co-hosts of Drinking During Business Hours, the podcast where comedy, wine, and real talk collide. Veteran stand-up comedians based in Los Angeles, Sarah and Rich have spent decades performing in clubs across the country and bring that hard-earned road wisdom to every episode, whether they're interviewing industry legends or just catching each other up on life. This solo episode is proof that the best conversations don't always need a guest.

⏱️ Key Topics & Timestamps

Time

Topic

0:00

Welcome & Mocktail Intro: Malto Benny Pink Grapefruit Sparkling Water

2:00

Is Alcohol Bad for You? The great wine health debate

6:30

Gen Z not drinking & the cannabis connection: how weed taxes boosted booze

10:00

Premium wine is thriving, cheap wine is not: what's happening in the market

14:00

Pacific Northwest Comedy Tour recap: highlights from the road

17:00

The Heckler Story: the front-row nightmare they'll never forget

21:00

Featuring vs. headlining: the real skill set required to level up in stand-up

24:00

Shoutouts: Pat Wilson, Zoe Friedman & Comedy Gives Back

29:00

Why you should go back to the movies: a passionate defense of the theater experience

34:00

Seattle adventures: Pike Place Market & Woodinville wine tasting

38:00

Listener love & a call for your best wine recommendations

📣 Calls to Action

• 🌐 Support Comedy Gives Back at comedygivesback.com … https://www.comedygivesback.com/

• 🍷 Send your best wine recommendations to [email protected]

• 🎭 See Sarah live at sarahjhalstead.com/tour-dates … https://www.sarahjhalstead.com/tour-dates

• 🎭 See Rich live at richardchassler.com … http://richardchassler.com

• 🍇 Plan a Woodinville wine tasting trip at woodinvillewinecountry.com … https://woodinvillewinecountry.com/

• 🐟 Visit Pike Place Market in Seattle at pikeplacemarket.org … https://pikeplacemarket.org/

• 🎬 Go to the movies – you know what to do

• 🎧 Rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform

• 📲 Follow the show on social media and join the conversation

🫧 Featured Beverage

Malto Benny Pink Grapefruit Sparkling Water – the mocktail making its Drinking During Business Hours debut. Crisp, citrusy, and surprisingly episode-worthy. (Small-batch brand, ask your local specialty retailer.)

🎙️ Hosts

📧 [email protected] 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts … https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drinking-during-business-hours-with-sarah-halstead/id1273935631 🎧 Enjoying the show? Please rate & review on your favorite platform – every review helps us reach more listeners!

#DrinkingDuringBusinessHours #ComedyPodcast #WinePodcast #StandUpComedy #PodcastLife #WineLovers #Mocktail #SoberCurious #GenZVsAlcohol #WineHealth #PremiumWine #HecklerStories #ComedyTour #HeadliningComedy #PacificNorthwest #SeattleWine #WoodInvilleWinery #PikesMarket #ComedyGivesBack #MaltoBenny #MovieTheater #WineRecommendations #ComedianLife #PodcastRecommendations #WeeklyPodcast

Meet Eric Guilmette: The Actor Rewriting the Rules of Hollywood One vertical At a Time

Hosts Sarah J. Halstead and Rich Chassler sit down with Los Angeles-based actor, producer, and poet Eric Guilmette one of the most prolific and buzzed-about names in the exploding world of vertical drama. A Massachusetts native who traded a math and economics degree and a likely Wall Street career for a one-way ticket to Australia, Eric's path to Hollywood is anything but conventional. He went from fitness coaching on a laptop while globe-trotting, to modeling, to commercial acting, to becoming a bona fide star of the vertical series format leading 45+ micro-drama series on platforms including ReelShort, Pocket FM, Vigloo, DramaBox, and ShortMax.

In this episode, Eric breaks down what vertical films actually are, why they're changing the entertainment industry, what it's like to produce your own content, and how he manages to also be a #1 Amazon bestselling poet. A genuinely fascinating conversation about creativity, reinvention, and seizing the future of media one phone screen at a time.

Guest Bio

Eric Taylor Guilmette is an American actor, producer, and poet based in Los Angeles, CA. Originally from the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts, Eric studied mathematics and economics before catching the travel bug and ultimately finding his way to Long Beach, California where a spontaneous modeling test shoot ignited a career that has grown far beyond anything he imagined.

Best known as one of the most successful actors in the vertical drama space, Eric has led 44 vertical series for all of the major micro-drama platforms. His standout titles include You Belong With Me (ReelShort), Chosen By Fate (Pocket FM), Campus Rivals (Vigloo which he also produced and which won Best Love Story at the Vertical Shorts Festival and Best Pinnacle Ensemble Story at the 2025 Vertical Awards), and Love & Blood (ReelShort which he co-created and produced). His most notable feature film, Tails of Christmas, premiered on Great American Family and Amazon Prime in December 2024. He also appeared in Dungeons of Ecstasy (Full Moon Features & Prime) and Sabotaging the Squad (Lifetime).

Eric was voted the 2024 Vertical Legend and Best Actor in a Drama at the Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards, and won the Sapphire Vision Award at the 2025 Vertical Awards. He has also appeared on 200+ romance novel covers, including titles by J.T. Geissinger, Liz Tomforde, and Lexi C. Foss. His debut poetry book, sex and oatmeal, was released in August 2025 and debuted at #1 on Amazon New Releases for Poetry, with the audiobook and Kindle editions also hitting #1 in Poetry for several weeks. He has ranked as high as #75 overall on Cameo thanks to his devoted fanbase.

"I've created a much bigger brand for myself than I thought I ever would. Being a successful poet has opened a lot of doors for me."

Connect with Eric

🔗 Instagram: @erictaylorguilmette | https://www.instagram.com/erictaylorguilmette/

🔗 Website eric-guilmette.com | https://eric-guilmette.com/

🍹 Featured Beverage

Drinking During Business Hours style raises a glass to the future of entertainment!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Vertical Films and the Guest

02:58 The Evolution of Vertical Films

05:36 The Role of SAG in Vertical Films

08:43 Producing and Writing in the Vertical Space

11:17 Cultural Influences on Vertical Films

14:02 The Power of Poetry and Personal Expression

16:49 The Journey of an Actor and Poet

19:31 Community and Connection through Art

22:33 Future Projects and Upcoming Events

📣 Calls to Action

• 📱 Watch Eric's vertical series on ReelShort, Pocket FM, Vigloo, DramaBox & ShortMax

• 🎄 Stream Tails of Christmas on Great American Family or Amazon Prime

• 📖 Read sex and oatmeal — available on Amazon (paperback, Kindle & Audible)

• 🎥 Follow Eric on Instagram @erictaylorguilmette

• 🌐 Visit his official site at eric-guilmette.com

• 🎬 Book a Cameo from Eric for a personal video message

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

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

#DrinkingDuringBusinessHours #EricGuilmette #VerticalDrama #VerticalFilms #ReelShort #PocketFM #Vigloo #MicroDrama #SexAndOatmeal #Poetry #TailsOfChristmas #LoveAndBlood #EntertainmentIndustry #FutureOfFilm #VerticalLegend

10 Tonight Shows, One HBO Special, and 40 Years of Telling the Truth: The Unstoppable Cathy Ladman

Episode Summary

Hosts Sarah J. Halstead and Rich Chassler sit down with veteran comedian, actress, writer, and comedy coach Cathy Ladman for a rich and deeply personal conversation spanning four decades in stand-up. A native New Yorker now based in Los Angeles, Cathy has appeared on The Tonight Show ten times — with Johnny, Jay, and Jimmy — and was the only female comic to appear on the final two anniversary shows of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. She's won the American Comedy Award for Best Female Stand-Up Comic, headlined an HBO One Night Stand special, written for Roseanne and Caroline in the City, and appeared in films directed by Mike Nichols. In this candid and warmly funny episode, Cathy reflects on her earliest comedy influences (she memorized comedy albums at age 8), the turning points that shaped her career, navigating the comedy industry as a woman, the art and craft of writing jokes, and her upcoming solo show Does This Show Make Me Look Fat? — proving that after 40 years, she's still evolving, still performing, and still utterly herself.

👤 Guest Bio

Cathy Ladman is an award-winning stand-up comedian, actress, television writer, and comedy coach with one of the most accomplished and enduring careers in American comedy. Born October 15, 1955, and raised in New York, she fell in love with comedy at age 8 watching comedians on TV with her father and memorizing the entire Nichols & May Examine Doctors album performing selections for her mother at bedtime.

Her stand-up career spans more than four decades of headline performances at top venues across the country. She is perhaps best known for her 10 appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (1989–1992), Jay Leno, and Jimmy Fallon (2023) and for being the only female comedian on the last two Tonight Show anniversary specials. She won the American Comedy Award for Best Female Stand-Up Comic (1992), headlined her own HBO One Night Stand special and a Showtime special, appeared 6 times on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and earned a special on Dry Bar Comedy.

As an actress, Cathy has appeared in two Mike Nichols films (What Planet Are You From? and Charlie Wilson's War), as well as Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, White Oleander, My Fellow Americans, and The Aristocrats. Her television credits include Mad Men, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Everybody Loves Raymond, Modern Family, Pretty Little Liars, Brothers & Sisters, Dr. Katz Professional Therapist, Politically Incorrect, and a recurring role in Caroline in the City. As a writer, she worked on Roseanne, Caroline in the City, The Caroline Rhea Show, The Wayne Brady Show, and co-wrote an episode of The King of Queens. She also performed Off-Broadway in J.A.P. The Princesses of Comedy and was in the 25th anniversary production of Last Summer at Bluefish Cove. Her current project is the upcoming solo show "Does This Show Make Me Look Fat?"

The Los Angeles Times said it best: "Ladman has such clever, well-written material and such a breezy, unassuming delivery that it would be easy to overlook just how good she is: Her act seems effortless."

📣 Calls to Action

• 🎤 See Cathy live — check upcoming dates at cathyladman.com … https://www.cathyladman.com/

• 📺 Watch her Dry Bar Comedy special for a taste of her brilliance

• 🎥 Subscribe to her YouTube channel for classic sets and clips: @cathyLadman … https://www.youtube.com/user/cathyLadman

• 🌐 Explore Moon Tower Comedy Festival at moontowercomedy.com … https://moontowercomedy.com/

• ❤️ Follow Cathy:

• Instagram @cathyladman1 … https://www.instagram.com/cathyladman1/

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

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

02:40 Comedy and Personal Experiences

05:32 Wine and Relationships

08:19 Self-Care and Personal Growth

11:09 Comedy Journey and Family Dynamics

13:58 Early Influences and Career Beginnings

16:38 Navigating the Comedy Scene

19:25 Reflections on the Comedy Industry

22:29 The Evolution of Stand-Up Comedy

25:07 Women in Comedy and Personal Stories

29:31 The Journey to Stand-Up Comedy

37:27 Navigating the Comedy Scene

42:25 The Impact of The Tonight Show

48:52 The Art of Writing Comedy

52:33 Balancing Performance and Writing

57:22 Future Projects and Aspirations

🍷 Featured Beverage

Wine - discussed warmly alongside relationship stories and self-reflection.

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

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

#DrinkingDuringBusinessHours #CathyLadman #StandUpComedy #WomenInComedy #TonightShow #HBO #ComedyPodcast #AmericanComedyAward #40YearsOfFunny #ComedyCraft #DoesThisShowMakeMeLookFat

How a Comedy Legacy Shapes Today's Industry: Zoe Friedman's Mission

Hosts Sarah J. Halstead and Rich Chassler sit down with Zoe Friedman, comedy industry veteran, co-founder of Comedy Gives Back, former Late Show with David Letterman talent booker, and daughter of legendary Improv founder Budd Friedman. Zoe didn't just grow up around comedy she grew up inside it, doing cartwheels on stage during Andy Kaufman's Children's Cabarets and getting homework help from Richard Pryor at the bar. From talent booking at Letterman to VP of Development at Comedy Central to co-founding the only nonprofit dedicated solely to the financial, mental health, and recovery needs of stand-up comedians, Zoe's life is a master class in turning a legacy into a lifeline. This episode is a rich, warm, and illuminating conversation about the business behind the laughs, the people who make comedy possible, and why giving back to the comedy community isn't just important, it's essential.

Guest Bio

Zoe Friedman is a Los Angeles-based comedy executive, co-founder of Comedy Gives Back, and one of the entertainment industry's most respected behind-the-scenes forces. The daughter of Budd Friedman, who opened the first comedy club in America The Improvisation in New York City in 1963, Zoe literally grew up in the greenrooms and bar stools of stand-up history, rubbing shoulders with Richard Pryor, Jay Leno, Andy Kaufman, and Jerry Seinfeld before most kids knew what a punchline was.

Zoe launched her professional career as a talent booker and producer for the Late Show with David Letterman (1992–2000), helping shape one of the most iconic comedy platforms in television history. She then moved to Comedy Central as Director of Development, rising to VP of Development & Original Programming, before consulting for Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2012–2014) as a comedian development specialist earning the nickname "the Comic Whisperer" for her rare ability to connect with and develop stand-up talent.

In 2010, alongside co-founders Amber J. Lawson and Jodi Lieberman, Zoe co-founded Comedy Gives Back the only 501©(3) nonprofit dedicated exclusively to stand-up comedians. The organization has granted over $1 million to more than 1,000 comedians, providing financial crisis relief, mental health therapy (in partnership with Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services), and chemical dependency treatment. She is also a co-producer of The Improv: 50 Years Behind the Brick Wall, a documentary featuring Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, and Judd Apatow.

Connect with Zoe

Instagram: @wowiezowie … https://www.instagram.com/woweezowie

Facebook … https://www.facebook.com/zoefriedman

Website … comedygivesback.com … https://comedygivesback.com/

Chapters

0:00

Opening, podcast growth milestones, host check-in

3:02

Wine story and guest introduction welcoming Zoe Friedman

5:48

Legacy of comedy: growing up at The Improv, Budd Friedman's founding story

11:26

The evolution of comedy how the industry has shifted over decades

17:15

Business dynamics in comedy: booking, deals, and personal reflections

22:52

Childhood aspirations, early influences, and formative comedy memories

28:29

The currency of laughter what comedy means as a cultural force

30:15

The craft of stand-up: what makes a great comedian

32:22

The evolution of comedy and its modern challenges

35:12

Behind the scenes of comedy booking (Letterman, Kimmel, Comedy Central)

37:15

The importance of opportunity discovering and developing comedians

41:09

Comedy Gives Back: origin story, mission, and what the org provides

47:24

Supporting comedians in crisis mental health, financial relief, recovery

50:05

Building a sustainable future for the comedy community

Projects & Resources Mentioned

Project / Resource

Description

Link

Comedy Gives Back

501©(3) nonprofit — financial relief, mental health & recovery for comedians

comedygivesback.com

Entertainment Community Fund

Support org for actors & entertainment workers

entertainmentcommunity.org

MusicCares

Music industry equivalent of Comedy Gives Back

musiccares.org

Calls to Action

• 🌐 Visit comedygivesback.com to learn more, donate, or apply for support

• 🎭 Encourage your local comedy clubs to partner with Comedy Gives Back's Club Network

• 🤝 Share resources and CGB information with struggling comedians in your network

• ❤️ Follow & support Zoe: @wowiezowie on Instagram | Facebook

🍷 Featured Beverage

Wine for this episode — pair it with a conversation worth savoring.

🎙️ Hosts

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

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

#DrinkingDuringBusinessHours #ZoeFriedman #ComedyGivesBack #TheImprov #BuddFriedman #StandUpComedy #ComedyPodcast #MentalHealth #Philanthropy #LettermanShow #ComedyCentral #GivingBack

I Don't Want to Be Strong Today: Vanessa Graddick, The Social Worker Who Became a Comedian

Hosts Sarah J. Halstead and Rich Chassler sit down with the brilliantly funny and deeply thoughtful Vanessa Graddick, comedian, producer, social worker, and now published author. Vanessa opens up about starting comedy on November 1, 2006, after her mother's cancer diagnosis, serving Allen Iverson at Applebee's, performing for troops across Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, and Japan, and why she believes every human being should be required to work in a restaurant for 90 days. The conversation weaves between hilarity and genuine depth, touching on female safety on the road, the psychology of performance, and the powerful new affirmation journal she wrote I Don't Want to Be Strong Today.

👤 Guest Bio

Vanessa Graddick is a Los Angeles-based stand-up comedian, supervising producer, and author originally from St. Paul, Minnesota. A psychology major with a Master of Social Work (MSW), Vanessa brings a uniquely sharp, emotionally intelligent lens to her comedy fiercely funny, Midwest-grounded, and unapologetically edgy. She's been a regular at the Comedy & Magic Club and the Laugh Factory, has performed for U.S. troops overseas, and has built an impressive producing career behind the scenes in Hollywood. Her credits include supervising producer on Miss Pat Settles It, and producer on Funny You Should Ask, Comics Unleashed (CBS/Paramount+), and Ida Rodriguez's podcast Say What You Mean. Her debut book, I Don't Want to Be Strong Today, is an affirmation journal now available on Amazon.

🔗 Instagram: @VanessaGraddick | vanessagraddick.com

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

02:58 Comics Unleashed Experience

05:56 Guest Introduction: Vanessa Gratik

08:52 The Journey from Social Work to Comedy

12:00 First Stand-Up Experience

14:59 Plans for a Comedy Special

18:06 The Psychology of Comedy

20:53 Navigating Comedy and Personal Life

24:42 The Art of Bartending and Hospitality

31:24 Relationships and the Importance of Kindness

32:43 Navigating Career Paths in Comedy and Production

45:32 Empowerment Through Self-Publishing and Personal Growth

🍷Featured Beverage

Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc — Vanessa's favorite grape, shared with the hosts during the episode.

Special thanks to Doug Bass at Bass Hole Studios for recording.

#DrinkingDuringBusinessHours #VanessaGraddick #StandUpComedy #IDontWantToBeStrongToday #WomenInComedy #ComicsUnleashed #MissPat #Affirmations #ComedyPodcast

We've All Been One - Doug Bass Gets Real

Grab your favorite glass and pull up a chair this week, comedians and husband-and-wife duo Sarah J. Halstead and Rich Chassler welcome a familiar face to the DDBH couch: LA-based comedian, actor, and podcast host Doug Bass.

You may remember Doug from when Sarah and Rich were guests on his show The Basshole Podcast — in what Doug himself called "the first time a married couple has ever graced the show." Now the tables are turned, the wine is poured, and Doug is spilling everything about building a comedy brand from the ground up, the art of getting people to share their most embarrassing stories, and what it really takes to survive and thrive in the entertainment industry.

GUEST

Doug Bass is a stand-up comedian, actor, director, and podcaster based in Los Angeles, originally from Cedar Grove, New Jersey. He trained at The Groundlings, UCB, and IO West, performs regularly at major LA clubs including the Hollywood Improv, and has appeared on national television and in commercials.

Doug is the creator and host of The Basshole Show a live stand-up and storytelling experience turned hit podcast where comedians, actors, celebrities, and everyday people share their best a**hole stories, get roasted and judged, and then try to redeem themselves. Past performers on the live show include Jo Koy, Kevin Hart, John Mulaney, Tom Arnold, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jamie Kennedy, Alonzo Bodden, Kimiko Glenn, Brittany Furlan, and Mindy Sterling.

He also owns and operates Basshole Podcast Studio in West Hollywood, a fully equipped recording space available to independent podcasters.

Connect with Doug:

• 🌐 bassholeshow.com

• 🎧 Basshole with Doug Bass on Spotify

• 🎧 Basshole with Doug Bass on Apple Podcasts

• 📸 Instagram: @dougbasshole

• 📸 Show Instagram: @bassholeshow

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

01:15 Milestone: First Monetized Episode

02:20 The Role of Basshole Studios in Success

03:18 Guest Introduction: Doug Bass

06:57 The Basshole Show: Concept and Evolution

08:34 COVID-19 Impact and Podcast Growth

10:43 On the Road: Touring the Show

12:35 Building a Podcast Studio at Hollywood Improv

14:25 Challenges of Podcasting and Monetization

16:10 Celebrity Podcasts and Industry Trends

18:23 Balancing Acting and Diversification

20:05 Wine Tasting and Storage Insights

22:18 The Art of Wine Collecting and Cellaring

25:57 Doug Bass: From Theater to Entertainment

27:44 Lessons from Acting and Industry Advice

29:59 The Future of Podcasting and Content Creation

32:00 Closing Remarks and Guest Socials

CONNECT W/ THE HOSTS

Sarah J. Halstead and Rich Chassler are comedians, podcasters — and husband and wife. Together they host Drinking During Business Hours, where guests from the worlds of entertainment, food, wine, and culture sit down for real conversations over a drink (or two). Their warmth, wit, and genuine curiosity make every episode feel like a night out with your funniest friends.

• Sarah J. Halstead — @SarahHalstead on all platforms

• Rich Chassler — @RichChassler on all platforms

• 📧 Email: [email protected]

DID YOU LOVE IT?

Please subscribe, rate, and leave a review wherever you listen — it makes a huge difference and helps Sarah and Rich bring incredible guests like Doug to you every week. And while you're at it, go check out The Basshole Show — you won't regret it. Cheers! 🥂

Drinking During Business Hours — Where Comedy & Fine Wine Meet.

#Viral #Trending #FunnyAF #MustListen #PodcastRecommendations #FYP #ForYouPage #Reels #PodcastClip #Funny #Comedy #LOL #TrueStory #RealTal