Good Times, Noodle Salad

Matt is joined one-on-one by comedian Vontae Bailey for a candid conversation that bounces between comedy, life, and the kind of stories you can't make up. Topics include Matt's ex-girlfriend being committed to a psychiatric hospital, the effort to launch a new open mic for comedians in Metro Detroit, whether paying for social media followers is ever worth it, dating someone who's completely unhinged, and the reality of having to start over after life knocks you down.

Vontae shares the tough-love lessons that helped him rebuild after moving home from Las Vegas, while Matt and Vontae trade perspectives on personal growth, stand-up comedy, and learning from the chaos life throws at you. As always, the conversation takes plenty of unexpected detours, mixing serious moments with the kind of humor that's become a staple of Good Times, Noodle Salad.

New episodes of Good Times, Noodle Salad drop every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with comedians, musicians, creators, and interesting people from all walks of life.

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Good Times, Noodle Salad #71 welcomes comedian Andrew McFarland for a conversation that bounces between the comedy scene, career changes, blue-collar life, and the ever-changing culture surrounding stand-up.

Matt and Paige sit down with Andrew to talk about the closing of The Independent Comedy Club and what it means for local comics, before diving into Andrew's start in stand-up comedy and the winding road that got him there. They also discuss how the 2008 economic collapse pushed Andrew into an entirely new career, leading to a conversation about the pros and cons of trades versus office jobs and how different career paths shape people's lives.

Of course, no comedy podcast would be complete without tackling the topic of comedians getting cancelled, where the three explore changing audience expectations, controversial material, and how comics navigate today's comedy landscape.

As always, GTNS is full of side quests, laughs, questionable opinions, and the kind of unfiltered conversation that can only happen when three comedians sit around a table with microphones.

Topics include: Andrew McFarland, stand-up comedy, The Independent Comedy Club, the 2008 recession, career changes, trades vs. office jobs, cancel culture, local comedy, and everything in between.

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Good Times, Noodle Salad #70 welcomes comedian Andrew Guay for an episode that somehow manages to connect stand-up comedy, hyperscale data centers, engineering, Michigan politics, and a whole lot of nonsense.

We dive into Andrew's journey through stand-up comedy before taking a surprisingly nerdy detour into the world of data centers, including the differences between closed-loop and open-loop cooling systems and why that stuff is way more interesting than it sounds. Along the way, we also get into the Michigan U.S. Senate race between Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens, throwing around opinions, jokes, and the occasional half-baked hot take like only Good Times, Noodle Salad can.

As always, the conversation rarely stays on track for long. Expect plenty of tangents, ridiculous stories, terrible puns, unexpected laughs, and the kind of conversational chaos that's become the show's trademark.

If you enjoy podcasts about comedy, current events, engineering, music, and absolutely everything in between, this one's for you.

Topics include: stand-up comedy, Andrew Guay, data centers, open-loop vs. closed-loop cooling systems, Michigan politics, Abdul El-Sayed, Haley Stevens, comedy writing, and everything in between.

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Episode 69 is here, and we somehow spend over 2 hours talking about... almost nothing.

We're joined by the guys from Armada Lodge for a conversation that wanders everywhere and nowhere at the same time. We dive into our mutual love of Periphery, question why certain other metal bands just don't click with us, marvel at the absurd talent of the new generation of professional disc golfers, and revisit the completely ridiculous Steve Vai inside joke that refuses to die.

Between all that? An unhealthy number of terrible puns, nonstop malarkey, pointless tangents, and the kind of conversations that happen when nobody in the room is interested in staying on topic.

If you're looking for deep life lessons, this isn't the episode. If you're looking to hang out with a group of friends who can't stop making each other laugh, you've come to the right place.

Grab a drink, settle in, and enjoy Episode 69 of Good Times, Noodle Salad with Armada Lodge.

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This week on Good Times Noodle Salad, we're joined by special guest Jake Mattes for a wildly entertaining conversation that somehow connects Game of Thrones, The Bear, Shameless, Toy Story 5, and the strange world of irreverent horror movies with terrible puns.

Along the way, the crew debates why cheating sounds like way more work than it's worth, Matt jokingly informs Paige that if she ever cheated she'd be "pig shit within a week," everyone shares some Fireball, and the studio slowly transforms into a sweltering sauna. As the episode unfolds, Jake and Matt also discover they share a deep appreciation for filmmaker and comedian Kevin Smith, leading to plenty of nostalgic movie talk.

It's another unpredictable mix of pop culture, questionable life advice, ridiculous tangents, and laughs that could only happen on Good Times Noodle Salad.

Topics include:

• Game of Thrones
• The Bear
• Shameless
• Toy Story 5
• Weird pun-based horror movies
• Why cheating seems like way too much effort
• Fireball-fueled conversation
• The studio becoming unbearably hot
• A shared love of Kevin Smith and his films
• And plenty more nonsense along the way

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Matt and Paige sit down with comedian Troy Foust for an honest conversation that blends humor with some of life's heavier moments. Troy shares what it was like growing up as a military brat, moving through 13 different states before eventually calling Michigan home, and how that constant change shaped who he is today.

The conversation dives into Troy's journey through addiction and recovery, the lasting impact of losing his brother to mental health struggles and addiction, and what it's been like becoming a stepfather while chasing a career in comedy. They also talk about pursuing dreams later in life, balancing ambition with the responsibilities of being an aging father, and finding purpose through it all.

To lighten things up, Matt and Troy discover they have something unexpected in common as they compare notes on life with GLP-1 medications, leading to plenty of laughs along the way.

It's a heartfelt, funny, and deeply personal episode about resilience, family, second chances, and never giving up on the life you want.

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On Episode #66 of Good Times, Noodle Salad, Matt sits down one-on-one with Farmer Beth Wojo for an honest and fascinating conversation about life on the farm, family legacy, and finding purpose through hard work.

Beth shares what it was like growing up in the family business at Wojo's Greenhouse, why she made the transition into dairy farming, and how navigating a difficult divorce shaped the person she is today. Along the way, Matt and Beth dive into the surprisingly clever, low-tech solutions farmers use every day—simple, elegant tricks born from generations of problem-solving and ingenuity.

If you've ever wondered what life is really like behind the scenes on a working farm, this episode offers an authentic look at resilience, family businesses, agriculture, and the practical wisdom that keeps farms running.

🎙️ Topics include:

• Growing up at Wojo's Greenhouse
• Transitioning from greenhouse work to dairy farming
• Life after divorce and personal growth
• Clever farming hacks and practical problem-solving
• Family businesses and rural life
• The realities of modern agriculture

If you enjoy conversations about farming, entrepreneurship, resilience, family businesses, and the people behind essential industries, be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Good Times, Noodle Salad.

#Podcast #DairyFarming #Farming #Agriculture #FamilyBusiness #WojosGreenhouse #MichiganFarming #RuralLife #Entrepreneurship #GoodTimesNoodleSalad

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Paige sits this one out as Matt goes one-on-one with Jackson, Michigan's own Hyporium, the genre-bending band that's built a unique sound by blending metal, rap, trap, and EDM into something entirely their own.

The conversation dives deep into finding purpose through music, the creative process behind making meaningful art, and how becoming parents has changed their perspectives both on and off the stage. The guys also talk about bringing Hyporium back to life after a multi-year hiatus, rebuilding momentum, and what the future holds for the band.

Of course, this wouldn't be a Good Times, Noodle Salad episode without a little chaos. What starts as a routine bathroom break quickly spirals into disaster as an unexpected accident leaves half the podcast set in shambles, turning an already great conversation into one of the funniest moments in GTNS history.

If you're a fan of heavy music, creative minds, parenting stories, or watching things go completely off the rails, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Topics Include:

•  The return of Hyporium 
•  Blending metal, rap, trap, and EDM 
•  Finding purpose through creativity 
•  Creating art that matters 
•  Parenthood and personal growth 
•  Life after a hiatus 
•  The future of the band 
•  The Great Pee Break Incident™ 

Listen, laugh, and enjoy another serving of Detroit's best comedy podcast, Good Times, Noodle Salad.

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This week on Good Times, Noodle Salad, Paige takes the episode off while Matt sits down with married comedians and actors Dani Lee and Malachi Lee for one of the most honest and emotionally layered conversations the podcast has had.

The three dive into the challenges of building a relationship while navigating grief, including Dani's heartbreaking story of losing her sister through a series of devastating family events. The conversation also explores race and identity, with Matt opening up about witnessing discrimination through the experiences of his mixed children and how that has changed his perspective on the world around him.

Along the way, they discuss the strange realities of modern dating, balancing marriage with creative ambitions, and what it takes to pursue careers in comedy and acting while dealing with life's inevitable hardships.

Equal parts funny, thoughtful, and deeply personal, this episode is a reminder that behind every performer is a story that rarely gets told on stage.

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This week on Good Times, Noodle Salad, Matt is joined in the studio by the members of Triple Threat Entertainment for a conversation about what it really takes to keep a music group together while balancing the responsibilities of everyday life.

The crew shares stories from performing live shows, building a loyal fan base, and maintaining friendships and relationships with bandmates through the highs and lows of chasing a dream. They also open up about raising kids while pursuing their passion for music and the challenge of finding balance between family, work, and the stage.

As always, the conversation takes a few unexpected turns, including a discussion about the hilarious nicknames that come from working on job sites. Then Matt breaks out one of his favorite games, "Guess the Artist's Real Job," where the guys try to figure out what musicians did to pay the bills before making it in the entertainment world.

It's a fun episode packed with laughs, behind-the-scenes music stories, and a reminder that the road to success is usually built one day job at a time.

Like, subscribe, and leave a review to help more people discover the show!

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