Funny People Talking

By Lightcircle EntertainmentComedy Arts Performing Arts

Funny People Talking episodes

March 04, 2019Grammy Winner Lucy Kalantari – The Answer is Yes
Bumping Bill Pullman, Pictionary with Ron Howard, being a cartoon, banana bread and winning a Grammy, Linda Perry in an elevator, too many Pixie Sticks, a new MIDI, and surprise jerky! Plus a new improv game with musical break-ups!
Lucy Kalantari (@lucytoon), 2019 Grammy Winner (Lucy Kalantari and The Jazz Cats – Best Children’s Album), joins hosts Marc Raco (@racomarc), Danielle Beckmann (@deebeck) and producer Elsie (@elsietheproducer) in the MouthMedia Network studio powered by Sennheiser.
In this episode:
Danielle’s new “side gig” with too many Pixie Sticks?
A music-themed nerd tip of the week that will either mean a lot or very little to people with a love for synthesizers
Marc shares how he and Lucy first met, and the role she played in his proposal to his fiancee
The perils of working on a laptop on the subway, and the general lack of awareness of personal space we encounter on our daily life
Danielle shares a story of how a friend bumped into Bill Pullman on the train and how working a toy fair at the Javitz Center led to playing Pictionary with Ron Howard
A round of our new improv game, “Musical Breakup,” where two people since their way through a parting of ways in conflicting musical styles
Lucy’s love for cartoons and why having the twitter handle @lucytoon helps her keep things light on social media
The experience of being nominated for, and ultimately winning, a Grammy for best children’s album
The happy coincidence where Lucy learned about her Grammy nomination on her son Darius’ birthday
All that goes into receiving a Grammy, from finding out you’ve been nominated the same way everyone finds out who the nominees are, to figuring out what to wear, to making through the junkets in time to receiving your trophy with 15 minutes to spare, and hearing the walk off music play during your speech
What it was like sharing such a career milestone with her son on stage next to her
Meeting Linda Perry and Fantastic Negrito at the Grammys
How winning a Grammy has solidified Lucy’s sense of community as a musician and performer
The evolution of Lucy’s relationship with her album “All The Sounds,” from the moments of inspiration for the songs to now after the album has been so well received
The themes behind the album, and how her approach with songwriting went for a more realistic and somewhat darker approach compared to her earlier albums like “Pockets Full of Joy”
Revising “All The Sounds” after winning the Grammy and finding satisfaction in accomplishing what she set out to create
Plus, Elsie surprises everyone with a type of jerky that’s healthier than anyone would expect!
The post Grammy Winner Lucy Kalantari – The Answer is Yes appeared first on Funny People Talking Podcast.
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1 hr 37 min
February 25, 2019Comedian Gina Brillon – Up and Come and Gonna Do Some More
Liquid cats, ferrets, loving horror, healing with comedy, dissecting New York accents, good vs. bad crowds in comedy and dealing with hecklers, and feeling like you’ve made it. Plus an improv game that puts the players in charge of the world, and a possibly perfect marshmallow treat.
Fast-rising actress, stand-up comedian and writer Gina Brillon (@gbrillon) , guests with hosts Marc Raco (@racomarc), Danielle Beckmann (@deebeck) and producer Elsie (@elsietheproducer) in the MouthMedia Network studio powered by Sennheiser. Find Gina at www.ginabrillon.net .
In this episode:
Danielle shares some helpful tips for anyone who works a 9-5 desk job
Marc brings in some weird science to the group, are cats solid or liquid? Is .999999 equal to 1? Is math broken?
Some long-misheard song lyrics, and our tendency as a society to shorten things excessively
A round of our new improv game, “If I Were In Charge of the World,” where we take turns solving everyday problems in big ways
A (very brief) look into Elsie’s world, which involves an ill-advised pet playdate that also involves Gina and her pet ferrets
The joys and pains of being a ferret, and dog, and cat owner
Some of Gina’s favorite horror movies and TV shows, like V, Beast Master, and the Puppet Master series
The need for true passion and commitment to make it as a comedian
What draw Gina to comedy as a young child, and how comedy can help us heal in rough times
A quick rundown of the difference between accents in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens
What inspires Gina’s material and the importance of using comedy to bring people from different backgrounds together
The types of mentalities that make for a good crowd vs. a bad crowd
How Gina deal with hecklers, and why it’s unfair for some comedy clubs to expect the comics to deal with people interrupting their act instead of policing their own rooms
Two moments in Gina’s career that felt like she had made it as a professional comedian
Plus, Elsie brings in some marshmallow-y surprises for this episode’s end of show food which approach perfection!
The post Comedian Gina Brillon – Up and Come and Gonna Do Some More appeared first on Funny People Talking Podcast.
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1 hr 30 min
February 18, 2019Alysia Reiner – “OITNB” and “Egg” Actress – #FIGALICIOUS
Robotic sex, Alysia’s new film “Egg”, becoming and being “Fig” on Orange Is the New Black”, inhabiting a role and finding the comedy, returning to the same character with each new season, why producing roles is so important, and a tootsie roll you can drink? Plus an improv game makes new movies out of old one with “Recycled Movie Pitch”!
Actress/Producer Alysia Reiner (@alysiareiner) guests with hosts Marc Raco (@racomarc), Danielle Beckmann (@deebeck) and producer Elsie (@elsietheproducer) in the MouthMedia Network studio powered by Sennheiser. Recorded in front of a live audience.
Alysia is best known as “Fig”” on ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK for which she won a SAG award. Her dark-comedic feature about motherhood, EGG, premiered at Tribeca film festival 2018, and was released in January 2019. Reiner stars with Christina Hendricks and Anna Camp, and serves as a producer. She is passionately committed to protecting the environment (see livariclothing.com) and being a change maker for women.
In this episode:
Danielle shares some nerd tips for anyone looking for an agreeable (robotic) date
The case at CES this past year where a robotic sex toy had its award for innovation revoked for being “immoral,” and the gender biases in that industry
Alysia’s new film, “Egg”
The film’s 70% female cast and crew
The approach they took to produce the film much like a play, following the script closely and shooting in a manner that allowed for longer takes
The challenges as an actor and producer to prepare for shooting a film in this way
A round of “Recycled Movie Pitch,” where we combine two movies that are in no way connected, and have to pitch that hypothetical film
Alysia’s experience playing Fig on Orange Is the New Black, and navigating her character’s dramatic arc over the course of the show
How Alysia’s personality and work ethic on set may have influenced her character’s arc from a stereotypically mean character to one with more depth
Alysia’s belief that most people truly believe that they are doing their best and are trying to be a source of good, even if they may seem bad to others, and how that influenced her portrayal of Fig
Staying true to a character’s role in the story or the specific scene, rather than trying to be funny or to steal scenes to show off your ability
Alysia’s respect for comedians and comedy and why she’s still intimidated working with comedians she’s worked with for years
The challenges of returning to a character like Fig each season after months of working on other projects and other characters
How the makeup and costume design for Fig help her get in character, and which pieces Alysia would take home if she could
Why Alysia takes pride in being called a character actor
How Alysia’s notoriety has turned her daughter off from acting
Why producing roles are so important to Alysia as a way of supporting more women working in the industry
Plus, Elsie brings in a very bizarre seltzer for end of show food!
The post Alysia Reiner – “OITNB” and “Egg” Actress – #FIGALICIOUS appeared first on Funny People Talking Podcast.
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1 hr 22 min
February 12, 2019Comedian Sam Jones – Raising the Collective Vibe
Star Trek history and swag, furries, jealousy, a professional fluffer, growing up into comedy, Kris Jenner, a Food Network victory, and why it is OK to curse. Plus, an improv game allows reporting something from nothing on TV news.
Sam Jones (@therealsamjones), copywriter, comedy writer, and the director and star of At Home with Sam Jones; a Funny or Die comedy channel, guests with hosts Marc Raco (@racomarc), Danielle Beckmann (@deebeck) and producer Elsie (@elsietheproducer) in the MouthMedia Network studio powered by Sennheiser.
In this episode:
Danielle’s nerd tip of the week turns into a deep dive into the history of Star Trek
Marc’s accidental run-in with a furry convention in his hotel’s convention center, and the ways social media has exposed us to all sorts of ways we let our freak flags fly and get through the day from ASMR to true crime podcasts to shark attack videos
Reality TV and the pleasure we take from watching people we don’t know go through the ups and downs of unscripted life
Learning to push through feeling jealousy when seeing other succeed (or pleasure when people fail) and being your own cheerleader instead of dwelling on negativity
A round of “Meh News,” where someone announces uneventful events as if they were thrilling breaking news
Why Sam calls herself a “professional fluffer” (just not in the porn sense), as a writer/comedian who works in a variety of mediums
How Sam’s childhood (and present) relationships have influenced her comedically and serve as a basis for the show she’s scripting based on her life called Indecent Exposure
Why Sam prefers writing over standup, and why she feels the stories she tells may translate better to that medium
How taking improv classes have changed Sam’s comfort with performing her own material
Sam’s process doing copyediting for brands, looking to find comedy through truth and authenticity to connect with viewers rather than alienating people by showing unrealistic ideals
Why some celebrities who have not accomplished anything other than being aspirations of wealth are seen as influencers, when there are everyday people with more to offer
Appreciating the marketing genius of Kris Jenner
Sam’s victory on a Food Network competition where two comedians (who can’t cook) compete to make Hanukkah donuts from scratch
How comedy and media should be uplifting and inspiring, and why Sam wants to be someone whose works makes people feel good
The importance of accepting the good and the bad aspects of life, and why it’s okay to curse (just maybe not around kids)
Star Trek: Discovery, and the backlash regarding the decision to only stream through CBS All Access
Marc impresses Danielle with some of his Trek swag
Plus, Elsie brings in another surprise for our end of show food!
The post Comedian Sam Jones – Raising the Collective Vibe appeared first on Funny People Talking Podcast.
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1 hr 24 min
February 04, 2019Actor Ato Essandoh of CBS’s “The Code” – Shredding for Scorsese
Budgeting, Lindsay Lohan, reality TV, managing expectations in an entertainment career, a liquid surprise, socks, and an epic story on failing and succeeding for Martin Scorsese. Plus, an improv comedy game ranges from Nicole Kidman to Marvin the Martian, and much more!
Actor Ato Essandoh (The Code, Elementary, Blue Bloods, Vinyl, Altered Carbon, Copper – @atoessandoh) guests with hosts Marc Raco (@racomarc), Danielle Beckmann (@deebeck) and producer Elsie (@elsietheproducer) in the MouthMedia Network studio powered by Sennheiser.
In this episode:
Ato fills us in on his role in an upcoming CBS primetime drama, “The Code”
Danielle shares some nerdy finance tips for budgeting
Marc recounts his painful viewing experience with Lindsay Lohan’s Beach Club, and the bizarre allure of reality TV
Marc and Danielle share their own appearances on some reality TV shows
Learning the hard way not to rest your hopes on every role you land
A round of “The Big Announcement”, a new game where it’s all in the delivery
Ato’s path from working smaller roles in shows like Elementary to roles on Vinyl, Altered Carbon, all leading to being cast on The Code
How Ato’s work got him noticed by an executive producer to get on the shortlist
The reality of being a working actor in primetime TV
Remembering what the job really is when you’re auditioning
The importance of confidence and composure
What Ato’s goals are for his career
The road from Ato’s audition to landing the role and playing guitar on Vinyl in front of Martin Scorsese
Plus, Elsie surprises everyone with a liquid edition of End of Show Food
The post Actor Ato Essandoh of CBS’s “The Code” – Shredding for Scorsese appeared first on Funny People Talking Podcast.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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1 hr 37 min
January 28, 2019Nicole Monente of Scribbles by Nicole – Justify the Font
Stolen fonts, Dungeons and Dragons, the dark side of the NYC subway, furries, an anonymous scribbler with 99k followers, and root beer meets chocolate? Plus, a new improv game allows you to justify anything.
Nicole Monente, the creative mind behind the popular observational humor cartoon series Scribbles by Nicole (@scribblesbynicole), guests with hosts Marc Raco (@racomarc), Danielle Beckmann (@deebeck) and producer Elsie (@elsietheproducer) in the MouthMedia Network studio powered by Sennheiser.
In this episode:
Danielle gets nerdy about fonts and D&D
Marc and the crew wonder if costume shops cater to furries as well as Times Square character impersonators
The dark side of the NYC subway system
The debut of the new improv game “Justify This!” includes a beat-up ice cream truck, a social media campaign for leopards, an awards show fashion protest, and a sandwich shop firing
How and why Nicole started Scribbles
Building a following on Instagram with your art
Finding inspiration in everyday moments
How Scribbles has helped Nicole in her daily life
The ways Nicole has monetized her work
Why Nicole started Scribbles anonymously and how she made the decision to take ownership of her work
How Instagram lets Nicole interact with fans all over the world
Resisting the urge to let Instagram post insights on posts drive Nicole’s creative inspiration
And Elsie brings in another surprising chocolatey surprise in this week’s End of Show Food!
The post Nicole Monente of Scribbles by Nicole – Justify the Font appeared first on Funny People Talking Podcast.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 hr 20 min
January 21, 2019Mark Normand – The Necktie Theory
The journey and drive of a stand-up comedian, nerd dating, fun socks, expensive Uber rides, and biopics. Plus, an improv comedy game discovers last words of celebrities moments before the meteor hits.
Comedian, writer and actor Mark Normand (@marknormand), who also cot-hosts the podcast “Tuesdays with Stories“, guests with hosts Marc Raco (@racomarc), Danielle Beckmann (@deebeck) and producer Elsie (@elsietheproducer) in the MouthMedia Network studio powered by Sennheiser.
In this episode:
Obscure nerd dating sites
Comic vs. Comedian
Is Comedienne an archaic term?
Upcoming biopics
Uncomfortable (and expensive) Uber rides
A round of “What’s on Elsie’s Socks?”
The debut and finale of “Famous Last Words”!
What drives Mark’s passion for comedy and his career goals
The division of standup, improv, and acting
Comedy as a way of connecting with people
Comedy as a meritocracy and the “necktie” theory
The pains and gains of writing material
What makes a joke work or not work
Elsie brings in a sour End of Show Food!
The post Mark Normand – The Necktie Theory appeared first on Funny People Talking Podcast.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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1 hr 19 min
January 14, 2019Jason Carrion – A Reality Star, A Wrestler, and a Fireman Walk Into a Bar…
A firefighting wrestler gets married to a stranger on a TV show, a friendship starts with a broken bottle over the head, a spooky prediction on the subway, the reality of being a reality star, a Kardashian who matters, an epic marriage proposal, a cat saxophonist, pickles. Plus, an improv comedy game creates a brand new wacky reality TV show, and much more!
Jason Carrion (@bklynbad), star of the Lifetime reality TV series “Married at First Sight”, professional wrestler, and FDNY Firefighter, guests with hosts Marc Raco (@racomarc), Danielle Beckmann (@deebeck) and producer Elsie (@elsietheproducer) in the MouthMedia Network studio powered by Sennheiser.
In this episode:
Salsa vs. salsa
Rick and Morty origins related to Marty McFly?
Marc gets spooked by a guy in the subway
Finding friends who ghost you
A fight and a broken bottle result in a friendship
Married at First Sight
Reality shows
A round of the improv game of What If brings DeVito, Schwarzenegger, a new kind of reality show, Last Comic standing in Home Depot, knock-knock jokes and Carl gets a Wife
The decision to do a reality show in which you get married to a stranger, a rough few months of marriage, the strain of becoming a firefighter, a wrestling alter ego
Losing a mom and sharing her art
The reality of being a reality star
Angie Kardashian, an American hero after 9/11
Marc tells the story of his epic marriage proposal
Elsie on her jazz band and the sax-playing cat
End of Show Food gets the gang into a pickle
The post Jason Carrion – A Reality Star, A Wrestler, and a Fireman Walk Into a Bar… appeared first on Funny People Talking Podcast.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 hr 17 min
January 07, 2019Dara Pollak of The Skinny Pig – Tastes Like Space
A former ballet dancer survives a devastating car accident, chooses a new career path, realizes her strong passion for bacon, and becomes a professional writer (and eater). Plus, improv comedy, a song, a dream about Pee Wee Herman, matcha, and much more…
Dara Pollak (@skinnypignyc), founder of The Skinny Pig (a social media, marketing, and branding consultant for hospitality groups and restaurants around the country, as well as a recipe developer for national brands), guests with hosts Marc Raco (@racomarc), Danielle Beckmann (@deebeck) and producer Elsie (@elsietheproducer) in the MouthMedia Network studio powered by Sennheiser.
In this episode:
Real trained squirrels with Johnny Depp, and the Squirrel Actor’s Guild
Advertising that is pushing the envelope, as enough businesses and people that are deciding a new reality of advertising
Fighting in public
A Medieval festival
Star Trek Vodka!
Everyone’s mixed-up dreams
Dream analysis
The epic Pee Wee Herman dream
A horrible accident changing Dara’s life path and earns her the nickname “Superwoman”
Creating The Skinny Pig brand
Everything bacon!
The United States of Bacon song
How food connected with Dara
A ghost pepper chicken wing
What restaurants are doing wrong with their food
La Pecora Bianca, Flex Mussels, and ROKC restaurants
An hilarious round of the improv game “Audible” involves Tom Cruise, piranhas, and foie gras, and the worst Thanksgiving ever
Plus, Matcha makes an appearance in End of Show Food
The post Dara Pollak of The Skinny Pig – Tastes Like Space appeared first on Funny People Talking Podcast.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 hr 48 min
December 17, 2018Klarity – The First Episode – The Power Rangers vs. Lucille Ball
From a near death experience to millions of followers, a career in Hollywood, and sold out venues—plus improv comedy, music, and surprises…
Klarity (@klarity — a.k.a. Greg Davis Jr.), comedian, actor, producer, and global social media powerhouse, guests with hosts Marc Raco (@racomarc), Danielle Beckmann (@deebeck) and producer Elsie (@elsietheproducer) in front of a live audience. Special musical appearance by accomplished guitarist Stephen Benson. Presented with the support of GIVZ and Smashmallow. Special thanks to John Di Domenico.
In this episode:
How Klarity amassed such a following on Vine and Instagram
Some nerd tips from Danielle to help survive gaming with family this holiday season
A round of “What Would Arnold Do?”
Some uncomfortable MTA experiences
The many differences between New York and LA
Whether or not it’s okay to mix your cereals
Everyone makes up some songs on the fly in a round of “Mish Mosh Mix”
Klarity shares his influences, how he found his calling, and what dramatic incident inspired him to move to LA
Why Klarity’s mom is his biggest inspiration as a performer
The inaugural round of “Rollercoaster Argument”
Elsie picks a winner with the first “End of Show Food”, sponsored by Smashmallow!
The post Klarity – The First Episode – The Power Rangers vs. Lucille Ball appeared first on Funny People Talking Podcast.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 hr 13 min

About Funny People Talking

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Marc Raco and hosts interview entertainers, influencers, icons, innovators, and incredible people who have one thing in common: they are funny! Episodes feature improv games, the latest and funniest…

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Funny People Talking episodes

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