In this one-on-one episode of Good Times, Noodle Salad, Matt sits down with comedian James River for a wide-ranging conversation. They dive into the craft of comedy, debate the impact of Reaganomics and the fateful decision to let Wall Street gamble on mortgages, and share their love for the late Norm Macdonald. Insightful, irreverent, and unapologetically funny, this episode is perfect for anyone who loves smart comedy and big-picture conversations about culture and economics. 

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On episode 40 of Good Times, Noodle Salad, Matt and Paige sit down with musician Josh Story for one of the most honest and heavy conversations we’ve had yet.

Josh opens up about his battle with cancer and the physical toll radiation took on his body — from the unexpected side effects to the long-term impact on his strength, energy, and identity. As a lifelong musician, one of the hardest blows was losing the ability to sing the way he once could. We talk about what it feels like to have a core piece of yourself altered, and how you begin redefining who you are when your abilities change overnight.

Beyond music, Josh shares what it’s like running a day center for adults living with mental illness — the emotional weight of that responsibility, the purpose it brings, and how his own health battle reshaped the way he approaches compassion and leadership.

The conversation also turns toward the brighter parts of life: getting married, having kids, and learning how to adjust expectations while still showing up as a husband, father, and creative. Josh talks candidly about adapting his life to meet his post-treatment reality — physically, emotionally, and spiritually — and how resilience isn’t always loud… sometimes it’s just continuing to move forward.

This episode dives into:

• The hidden havoc radiation can cause
• Identity loss and rebuilding after illness
• Fatherhood during crisis
• Marriage under pressure
• Music, creativity, and adapting when your body won’t cooperate
• Finding purpose in service to others

It’s vulnerable. It’s real. It’s heavy at times — but it’s also hopeful.

Episode 40 is about strength that doesn’t look like strength.

Listen, share, and as always — thanks for hanging out with us.

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Episode 39 of Good Times, Noodle Salad features special guests King Norman for a loose, three-hour conversation that drifts between music, comedy, culture, and real-life habits.

The crew gets into favorite stand-up comedians and how comedy influences performance, timing, and confidence on stage. There’s plenty of band talk too — writing, rehearsing, gigging, and what it actually takes to keep a group moving forward while balancing work and real life.

They also wade into the controversies surrounding Dan Schneider and the broader discussion about accountability in entertainment, including the legal case involving Drake Bell and his conviction for attempted endangerment of a child. It’s an honest conversation about media narratives, fame at a young age, and how public opinion shifts over time.

Add in a real discussion about quitting cigarettes — the mental battle behind it and what finally pushes someone to make a change — and you’ve got another wide-ranging episode of Good Times, Noodle Salad that goes wherever the conversation takes it.

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This week on Good Times, Noodle Salad, Matt sits down one-on-one with touring comedian Chris Harvey for a real behind-the-curtain conversation about life in stand-up.

Chris shares what it’s actually like touring with Steve-O — from wild crowds to the discipline required to survive the road — and how the day-to-day grind of being a working comedian is way less glamorous than people think. The two get into staying humble while chasing success, learning your love language, and why relationships can be harder than bombing on stage.

It’s part comedy talk, part self-reflection, and part therapy session — the kind of honest conversation that happens after the show when the mics are still on.

Expect laughs, perspective, and some surprisingly real moments about balancing ambition, ego, and connection while trying to make people laugh for a living.

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Matt and Paige are joined by musician Stick Boovy and stand-up comedian Floyd Jones for a chaotic, funny, and surprisingly philosophical hang.

Floyd talks about performing on Kill Tony — what the experience was really like, the pressure of those sixty seconds, and how brutally honest live comedy feedback changes the way you write jokes afterward. The group dives into bombing vs. killing, chasing stage time, and why comedians willingly put themselves through psychological warfare for laughs.

Stick shares the moment he realized his TV was quietly murdering his creativity… so he sold it. That decision spiraled into a deeper conversation about boredom, discipline, and why removing distractions is sometimes the only way to actually make art. He also explains the legendary pizza tattoo — yes, it got him free pizza for a year… but only once a month, so technically 12 pizzas total. Worth it? Debatable.

Also discussed:

• Motivation vs comfort
• Creative habits that actually work
• The comedy grind in Michigan
• The strange psychology of artists
• Whether small rewards can trick your brain into big productivity

A classic Good Times, Noodle Salad episode — equal parts jokes, existential crisis, and terrible life decisions that somehow make perfect sense.

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This week on Good Times, Noodle Salad, Matt sits down with stand-up comic Peggy Beatie to break down the emotional rollercoaster of doing your first ever set — the nerves, the silence, the laughs you didn’t expect, and the jokes that absolutely betrayed you.

They get into what it’s really like trying to carve out a place in the Michigan comedy scene, why a heated garage might secretly be the perfect social environment, and the eternal internal argument between doing the responsible thing and doing the thing you actually want to do.

It’s part comedy talk, part life philosophy, and part justification for questionable choices.

Expect:
 • bombing stories
 • comedy process talk
 • garage hang theory
 • rational decisions vs self-indulgence
 • Matt reliving his first set trauma in real time

Follow, rate, and share if you enjoy honest conversations with funny people figuring life out as they go.

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On this episode of Good Times, Noodle Salad, hosts Matt Smith and Paige Teregan sit down with special guests Forge The Sun for a fun mix of music talk and absolute nonsense.

The band breaks down how they eventually figured out their real sound (after plenty of trial-and-error eras), and why songs mysteriously get played way faster once you’re on stage. From adrenaline-fueled tempos to the weird quirks that only happen during live performances, the conversation turns into a behind-the-scenes look at what actually goes through a musician’s brain mid-set.

Naturally, things spiral into a discussion about hilariously dumb pun-based horror movies — including Santa Jaws and Zombie Ass: Toilet of the Dead — and why terrible movies sometimes end up being the most memorable.

Music philosophy, stage chaos, and completely unserious debates — classic GTNS.

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On episode 34 of Good Times, Noodle Salad, Matt and Chris are joined by the band Aqua Monkey for a wide-ranging, unfiltered hang. Paige sits this one out, and things get loose fast.

The crew digs into what it’s really like managing relationships within a band — creative tension, egos, communication, and staying friends while chasing something bigger. They also wade into the controversy surrounding Ozempic use, culture, body image, and where health conversations can go off the rails. And somewhere along the way, Matt shares the story of his first-ever mushroom experience, lessons learned included.

As always, it’s honest, funny, slightly unhinged, and very GTNS.

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Episode 33 of Good Times, Noodle Salad sits down with special guest Drew Alkema for a grounded, honest conversation about chasing purpose through art while balancing real life. Drew talks about finding meaning in creativity, why acoustic guitar is wildly underrated and often overlooked, and what it’s like being a dad with a dream that refuses to die. The crew also digs into the nuts and bolts of building genuine relationships with local venues, showing up consistently, and carving out space in your scene without selling your soul. Thoughtful, funny, and relatable for anyone trying to create something while still paying the bills. 

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Comedian Darren Lewis joins Good Times Noodle Salad for a raw and hilarious conversation about starting stand-up comedy, finding his voice, and learning the hard way what freedom actually costs.

Darren shares the wild story of getting arrested for handing out food to the homeless, the moral whiplash that followed, and how it shaped his worldview. He also opens up about the pressure from church to marry the wrong woman, navigating guilt, expectations, and choosing his own path.

Plus, a family twist you won’t see coming: Darren’s dad used to sell drugs, then completely flipped his life by getting into the very unexpected business of breeding koi fish.

Funny, honest, and deeply human — this one goes places.

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