Returning guests Nick Hahn & Alek Seballes grace Top Shelf Studios for an episode fraught with both Nick Hahn’s anxiety for his upcoming Delta flight & his unparalleled passion for the movie Norbit.  I guess to be fair, public transportation disasters & beautiful films have that effect on all great men.  Alek Seballes keeps us on track with Muppet questions while being grilled by Nick on whether he is “ready to die” or not.  Chris is in the production chair for this one & helps pitch his idea: ‘Pits Unknown’ to the boys, hopeful someone will fund his fantasy for dishpit-cleaning human interest travel show.  

We explore rebooting Madea with Nick Cannon playing the role of Steve Bannon, who is being booked into federal prison (white-face will be required for the role).  A new policy to encourage streakers at sporting events for public health, Nick tells us about attending Boston University with AOC, and we conclude that every fifth liberal guest comes on the show and legitimately pitches something resembling the plot of Elysium as meaningful public policy. 

We’re doing the Lord's work folks. Want more of the show? Do you want to hear the EATIN’ segment with Nick Hahn & Alek Seballes? — Patreon.com/InTALLerable

All funds go to put more awesome food into the mouths of future guests. 

Thanks to Nick & Alek for coming back on. Follow Nick on Insta @NickHahnCarpentry & Alek on Insta @Alekwithak

FO & BW

My guest is the first to use our table as a school-desk; so you know he’s an educated man!  Ladies & gentlemen I am overjoyed to welcome today’s guest, a stand-up comic who you can also find bartending at the Denver Comedy Underground — Mike Long!  

You can follow Mike on Instagram @Black_Hagrid & find his upcoming dates to see him crush all around Colorado. 

A hard working man, Mike was tied up and made it a touch late to the pod, so we had the pleasure of ‘EATIN right off the top.  This wing review mattered, folks.  Mike is from Alabama & spent years of his life working in smoked barbeque restaurants.  See if I make the cut, or if Mike sends me back to school.  I do (of course) want some tips from Mike, so thankfully he shared some wisdom of how to take this speak-easy wing-pod to a whole new level — might even mess around and start learning to brine the wings — Thanks Mike!

We discuss literacy issues in Philadelphia, Mike gives me the best black impression of Sean Connery we have ever heard, and we learn that ‘Roll Tide’ is not just a football team and a lifestyle, but also the extent of spelling knowledge needed to graduate from (most) Alabama High Schools.  Mike shares about his family, digging into how grateful he is to have grown up in a family of educators.  He teaches me about his dad’s struggle to become educated in an era and place rife with racial & class segregation, and how he never let circumstance stop him from building the best life for his family — all while maintaining his signature ‘Smiley’ face of joy. 

Grateful for Mike giving us his time & making me cry laughing. 

He will be back soon, you have my word.

FO & BW

For 'EATIN with Big Mike — Patreon.com/intallerable

They’re two brothers… Well.. Not actually, but they may as well be.  I mean just look at those mustaches!  Jack Thomas Graham (@just_another_gary) returns to TSS & we welcome newcomer Keegan Casey (@thekeegancasey), overdue to join in the fun of the cast (my fault). 

Jack mourns the loss of his favorite skater from a shoe brand, we get the boys' opinions on everything from Crocs to Jesus’ depicted height to whether or not there is an ice wall down there in Antarctica, and I know you were worried, but fear not, Jack comes back from the break in his “French” shirt.  Keegan tells us about growing up in Montana & attending college in North Dakota at a school even smaller than his high school. 

I try to offer our fearless listeners my best guidance when I can; folks, I implore you to make it to the very end of this episode.  We had the surprise of our live-recording lives, as a recruiter for the US Marines called Jack just as we were getting ready to wrap up recording. Jack was working retail at Vans when this recruiter got his cell number — what an off-the-wall place to find America’s finest fighting force? 

Enjoy. Otherwise our boys die for nothing. 

FO & BW

My guest is a stand-up comedian & 2024 finalist in Comedy Works New Faces Competition: Ryan Ergo! We talked the first half about stand-up & his roots in performing sketch comedy, in the after-hours portion we discussed Ryan’s travels.

You can follow Ryan @Ryan_Ergo on Instagram or his website — RyanErgo.com

He produces fantastic shows around Denver, be sure to check out Kuhl_shows on Instagram

Stand-up @ The Thin Man (Monthly — 2nd & 4th Thursdays)

Stand-up @ The Corner Beet (Monthly — 2nd Wednesday)

Whether it's the strict bouncer policies of the Berlin nightclub scene, or how strangers became travel buddies for 2 weeks in South America — Ryan shared lots of terrific, and sometimes terrifying, tales from his travels. He tells me about the strange, dark energy surrounding the Bay Area where he grew up & I get educated from Ryan about the ‘Hyphy-Rap” scene, which was left fractured after a prominent performer passed. 

Thanks for Ryan for being a great guest & giving me his time when he could be traveling the world or making other people laugh. Grateful for this hang. 

FO & BW

My guest is embarking on a nation-wide, 50-state stand-up comedy tour — ‘Here to Pee Tour’ — Ren Q is building this tour through organic reach from queer & trans communities across the country, partnering with local nonprofits along the way, & bringing all transgender & queer stand-up comedy shows to every state in our “fair” land!  

Using potty humor to challenge legislative bodies & discriminatory laws?  

Please sir, I’ll have another. 

Follow Ren @RenQComedy

Check out the tour — @heretopee — HereToPee.com

We talked about the origins of this tour, Ren’s experience when he was accosted in the bathroom one night in Boulder, CO by a pack of drunk frat guys.  He shared how his fear in that moment led to inspiration.  He researched how many states passed anti-trans legislation, then rounded up, too well.. all of ‘em! 

I’ve only had the pleasure of spending time with Ren for this episode, but I dare say being the first trans comedian to complete a 50-state tour speaks to his drive & competitive spirit.  I would not bet against him unless you like losing.  The ‘Here To Pee’ Tour will feature local comics, crushing venues ranging from pizza shops to cool theatre shows, so be sure you check out where Ren will be when the ‘Here To Pee’ Tour visits your state in 2025!

He has a theater kid background and got his start performing stand-up in Atlanta, GA. We discuss people asking ignorant questions, Ren gives me stories of when his expectation of the people from a particular place didn’t end up aligning with his experience among those people, and we learn what it was like for Ren to grow up in West Virginia with “the people who are the best laughers in any state.” 

I look forward to being in Ren’s corner & celebrating his successes for years to come. Can’t wait to hear all about the long, winding road, when he completes all 50 states. 

Bonus ‘Eatin’ segment w/ Ren enjoying smoked wings & discussing trans-athletes — Patreon.com/InTALLerable

FO & BW

My guest is JD Lopez — a stand-up comedian & the host of ‘Left Hand Right Brain’ — his podcast that he started in 2013 has accumulated over 300 episodes with guests from all walks of life. Follow him on social @lefthandrightbrain

We discussed his early influences, how his love for radio led to pursuing broadcasting school, how smaller schools give you better access to equipment & accelerated learning than mid-sized programs, and learning the art of the conversation.  

How did dating an improver lead JD to try comedy for his first time?  

Where might stand-up go next in terms of new methods & styles?  

Will anyone flip past the cover of Sean’s book or is it doomed to flop?  

No promises of answers to the bigger & more important questions we explore, but I assure you JD guides me more than I could guide him.  He is the Denver Pod-father though, so maybe I should be honored to be ‘Soned’. 

We brainstorm how to break down the resistance between political echo chambers to help Americans better understand one another.  Again, no promises of meaningful answers. 

FO & BW

Folks, settle in real deep, maybe even draw a bath for this one. Our guest is a veteran O.G. Redditor, mother, a stand-up comedian, and former contract employee for the Department of Defense — and boy howdy, does she have some stories to share! 

Nance Nagel joins our host Sean Connolly & fearless producer Chris in TSS for an episode full of open conversation & sharing ideas about how (if at all) we can reign back this chaotic world.  Nance teaches two naive 20-somethings (thank God someone can) about how veterans do not receive the care they deserve through the VA health system, how the pharmaceutical industry high-jacked doctor’s incentives to change mental health services in the 80’s & 90’s, & she shares her unbelievable storytelling skills with our audience through an epic tale of her relatively recent departure from her contracted job with the DoD. 

She is from Bloomington, IL, holds a PhD in cognition & perception, and worked as a biological statistician studying diabetes in the VA. Much of her career was spent as a research manager within the state of CO mental health system, so she knows how messed up things can get when the money lines up with death, instead of life.  

“Are people paying attention?” — it’s a fair question, Nance!  I sincerely hope young people hear this one, because there is wisdom to be gained from Nance’s story, her resiliency, & how through it all she is continually bringing joy into the world through her interactions & her stand-up. 

She runs a monthly show on the 2nd Saturday at the Red Rocks Grill in Morrison.  I implore you to please check it out, especially if you get to bed early, this is the show for you!

Follow her on socials @NanceNagelComedy or check out her website — NanceNagel.com

FO & BW

We’re movin’ at mach fuck for our guest, stand-up comedian & alleged necronomicon — Grant Lucas — who joins Sean & Chris in Top Shelf Studios to talk about rods in space, advanced drones, superyachts, and whatever the hell we want, at least until the global social credit score system gets in place.

Grant is fully-fed from the jump on this one, eager to blow our minds with satirical thought experiments through the minefield that is discussing modern news & war.  He teaches us history — from why the U.S. ended up in Laos, to the Rockefellers & wealth creation on a scale the world hadn’t seen before, to Grant finally getting his chance to talk about the Mormons.

Folks, if you like an absurdist silly time, joking about things you shouldn’t joke about, then please pull up an eye or ear — better yet both — and enjoy. 

This episode especially, is contrived entirely of satirical jokes, bad attempts at humor, and poorly-placed levies at pulling back the veil on our inherent lack of control.   

I mean, come on.. I’m supposed to sleep safe at night knowing that switchblade drones can remotely target bipedal lifeforms.. anywhere?!? Get out of town. 

Follow Grant @GrantLucasComedy on Instagram

FO & BW

Two hilarious guests join Sean to discuss gonzo-capitalism, the surprising age of Enron’s CEO, and the gift that keeps giving: the Pop-Tart Bowl (RIP Strawberry) — among other things, of course!  We learn more about Jack’s life, from what it was like for him growing up in California, to starting out in the LA comedy scene, to Jack’s dad being a WW2 veteran. 

How is that even possible?  Listen and you will find out!! 

Follow Jack on Instagram @Just_Another_Gary 

Follow Jacob on Instagram @Chrashcompactor 

Check out Jacob’s new podcast: ‘Dumb Answers Podcast’ on YouTube!

Jack Thomas Graham is a new face here at TSS — he is a stand-up comic & fellow Comedy Works door-guy.  Jack started comedy in LA, but moved to Denver last year with a plan to chase his dream, and a less-than-ideal bed in his, well not ‘in’ — his — ‘09 Honda Accord.  He claims it’s one of the most reliable beds money can buy. 

Jacob Humphries returns with a question — When did we make the leap to Orbs?  He also shares how he raised money to move to Colorado by using a miracle of modern technology: OnlyFans.

FO & BW

Our returning guest comes to us bearing mysterious speculations surrounding the Orb activity that has been reported across the skies over the Eastern US. Plasmoid-like orbs captured in both amateur & professional settings (live news broadcasts), but most commonly brought to the public’s eye through ‘Ole reliable when it comes to the topic of Alien speculation: Reddit. 

Chris has done the hard work of weeding through semi-lucid rants to find morsels of possibility. What more can a couple of guys on a floating soul farm want out of life? Sharing some laughs and thinking how cool ‘Pits Unknown’ could be if someone would just buy into Chris’ vision. 

Lock in. Read up on The Soul Tenants, hike up any wizard sleeves that might get snagged on our journey, and let us lead ourselves to the gallows with what can only be described as crude & unusual punishment.  

“It’s a buddy-guy comedy…” after all. 

FO & BW