Just Can't Not

We’re putting the spotlight on Lake Ontario: a body in light — Alyssa Marzoff DeWitt’s big photo-and-performance project about Lake Ontario and how climate change is quietly (and not-so-quietly) remaking it, so if you care about water, weather, or just dramatic sunsets, this is the one to see.

Check out the episode on Just Can't Not wherever you get your podcasts or on Lunchador.org!

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/e41d4c49-7b18-47bf-a797-93195cdf9a85/

The installation of large-scale photos is up for the whole Fringe run and the live performances happen at the Central Library Rundell Arts Room on September 17 at 5:30pm and September 19 at 2:30pm — both shows are free, and you should definitely snag tickets at rochesterfringe.com or just rock up if you’re feeling spontaneous. Expect four very different acts — poems from Meredith Bready, a wind-and-wave-inspired modular synth piece from Precious Kindred, a quad-speaker ambient set by Sam Hirsh, and a noisier turn by Signal Chain Romance — mixed with Alyssa’s immersive, space-based photos that riff on scale, scope, and the sublime nature of the lake. We talk plainly about why this matters: warming water from industry and data centers, ballast-water invasions (hello zebra mussels and surprise algae blooms), and the tangible sadness and wonder that comes when a landscape you love starts to change — Alyssa’s approach is to invite people in rather than scare them off. The episode also digs into the weird political noise (yes, that baffling renaming stunt) that’s now threaded into how people will read the work, so the show becomes both an aesthetic experience and a small historical timestamp. Looking ahead, Alyssa’s got a yearlong residency lined up to expand the project into portraits, experimental water-based prints, collaborations with RIT scientists, and eventually a book — so come see it, sit with it, and follow the journey at alyssamdewitt.com or @alyssamdewittphoto on Instagram; we’ll be there making waves and maybe even a few puns about being shore-ish.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

Get ready, folks! We're diving into the world of the Rochester Fringe Festival with the fabulous Lauren Kee, who's bringing her one-woman show "Deal Breaker" to the stage on September 19th and 20th.

Check out the episode on Just Can't Not wherever you get your podcasts or on Lunchador.org!

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/22ce3fa6-9308-4ef4-b46b-4b146369080b/

This isn't just any show; it's a heartfelt, comedic exploration of dating while living with herpes, aiming to break down stigmas and help folks feel a little less alone in their struggles. Lauren’s got a knack for storytelling, blending humor and personal anecdotes to tackle a topic that many shy away from. She’s all about self-acceptance, and trust me, her journey is as enlightening as it is entertaining. So grab your tickets for just $25 at rochesterfringe.com, and let’s embrace the awkwardness together—because who doesn’t love a little laughter mixed with real talk?

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

We're previewing the Rochester Fringe Festival 2026 — and the main thing you need to know right now is that Penny Sterling is bringing her show HAVE I EVER TOLD YOU ABOUT to the Focus Theater (Sibley Building) on September 20 at 5pm and September 23 at 7pm — grab $20 tickets at rochesterfringe.com, and yes, go to as many shows as you can because we mean it.

Check out the episode on Just Can't Not wherever you get your podcasts or on Lunchador.org!

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/84d6e819-479d-4ec3-803d-fbfe80ec103d/

I promise it's not just another one-person show: Penny's built this as a choose-your-own-adventure of stories — an odds-and-ends set of hilarious, weird, and tender tales that ranges from small-town pies to a legendary KGB-bribing rum‑raisin ice cream caper. We talk about how her storytelling balances entertainment, education, and inspiration — the classic Fringe turn of taking you low and then slinging you high so the laughs and the lessons land harder. I loved hearing about her craft (she trains as an actor, rides to write, and insists on genuine truth rather than easy jokes), and she also plugs other Fringe bits like Catharsis Time and a walking story plus some photography on the side. Come for the grin satisfaction, stay for the human stuff — this is storytelling that makes you laugh, think, and maybe buy a slice of fruit pie after the show. Get your tickets, bring friends, and meet us downtown Rochester for Fringe — we’ll see you at the Focus.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

We're putting Blackfriars Theater front-and-center as the spot you absolutely don't wanna miss at the Rochester Fringe Festival — it's an intimate downtown venue doing 100% local, ambitious theater and serving up a wildly varied Fringe slate that literally has something for everyone.

Check out the episode on Just Can't Not wherever you get your podcasts or on Lunchador.org!

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/b92233cb-154c-40e6-af7a-c2babad51aef/

I sat down with Brynn Tishka and we talked through the highlights: late-night Blackout Bingo with Mrs. Kasha Davis (drag, improv, and fabulous prizes), Misery Loves Company (improv folks riffing on Stephen King — yes, really), family-friendly acrobatics + dad jokes in Well Balanced Dads, a $5 puppet show of classic tales by Jose Ortiz, and Songs to Drink Wine To (think flirty arias with a prosecco wink). If you like improv that's equal parts clever and chaotic, Unleashed Improv’s Other People’s Shows will roast and promote whatever the crowd picks from the Fringe guide, and Jim’s Big Ego teams up with author Sean Peters for a delightfully unpredictable wheel-of-songs Q&A jam that can be funny, thoughtful, or both. A little backstage context: Fringe is a multi-venue arts festival (Sept 15–26) where venues host visiting and local acts that push form and take risks, and Blackfriars — with wraparound seating that keeps you no more than 20–30 feet from performers — is built for that closeness; you feel every laugh, gasp, and sweat bead. We also geeked out about Blackfriars’ season plans (Eureka Day opening, The Full Monty over the holidays) and how the theater balances supporting local artists with bringing in national acts — plus yes, they finally got a liquor license, so Fringe nights can include a drink or two.

Bottom line: go to rochesterfringe.com and blackfriars.org, pick a few shows (or a whole subscription — we won’t judge), and come see why we think Blackfriars is a Fringe must-stop — I promise you’ll leave smiling, maybe a little wiser, and only mildly tempted to do the Full Monty dance yourself.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

Sketch troupe Thank You, Kiss is doing two live shows at the ESL Rochester Fringe Festival — Friday, September 18th and Saturday, September 26th at 7pm at the Focus Theater (Sibley Building) — grab tickets for $18 at rochesterfringe.com and come laugh with them.

Check out the episode on Just Can't Not wherever you get your podcasts or on Lunchador.org!

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2cd87f09-d8bf-4229-a2b5-2237fe759866/

What you’ll see is sketch comedy — everything is written, rehearsed, memorized and blocked — but a lot of those sketches were born out of improv jams, so the spirit of “in the moment” is still there even when the lines are not. For folks who aren’t deep into the lingo, improv can mean short-form games or long-form formats like the Die Hard Herald style John loves (think recurring scenes and theatrical storytelling), whereas sketch is more like a mini-play — planted, pruned and polished. We chat about how the group formed back in 2013, how we write together (bring your five-page “same joke” drafts and we’ll lovingly murder half of it), and why trust and tiny moments — timing, eye contact, that perfect grunt — make the whole thing sing. The Focus is a real hub for local comedy and classes — there's even a free “improv plate” the first Saturday of every month where anyone can jump on stage — so after Fringe, consider taking a class; improv teaches listening, confidence, spontaneity and how to be less freaked out in real life. Come support local art, enjoy some weird meme-y sketches (our show’s title never quite matches the content — it’s our running gag), and bring your friends — parking’s easy nearby and the elevator noises are part of the ambience. Seriously, go to rochesterfringe.com, buy too many tickets, and they’ll see you at the Focus — they'll promise to be funny, heartfelt, and mildly selfish with their favorite inside jokes.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

We're putting a big neon spotlight on THE MOTHMAN COMETH at the ROCHESTER FRINGE FESTIVAL — it’s an immersive, interactive horror‑comedy where Richie Schiraldi plays the Mothman and guide you, yes you, through games, rituals, and spooky shenanigans in the dark.

Check out the episode on Just Can't Not wherever you get your podcasts or on Lunchador.org!

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/d97553f7-b5e6-4458-b565-3daa76d6c0ce/

The show runs at THE ROSE ROOM in the South Wedge on September 22nd at 8:30pm and Saturday the 26th at 9pm; tickets are $15 at rochesterfringe.com — don’t mothball ’em, grab ’em. For a quick rundown: Mothman lore goes back to a 1966 Point Pleasant sighting — big winged creature, glowing red eyes, bridge collapse, all the good ominous vibes — and in our show that history becomes playful, weird, and oddly cathartic. You’ll be in near‑darkness lit by Mothman's giant red LED goggles, l build a little army of minions together, and the audience participation is scaffolded so people feel safe, silly, and maybe a little healed by the end. The piece was developed in Chicago out of mask, movement, and circus backgrounds, so expect a mix of physical theatre, puppetry‑adjacent mask work, and laughable terror. Head over to ROCHESTERFRINGE.COM for tickets — come see how darkness, humor, and a 9‑foot wingspan of theatrical nonsense can actually help you find a little light.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

Mass Drag — a new, joyful musical by James Lapata about queer theology, church history, and a mysterious burial gone rogue — is playing at the Rochester Fringe (Sept 15–18 at the Biltmore) and, believe it or not, it’s already sold out.

Check out the episode on Just Can't Not wherever you get your podcasts or on Lunchador.org!

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/98d7de81-7c1f-4986-a93c-3de3225d004f/

I’m Chris Lindstrom, your host, and we sit down with James to unpack how this show grew from grad-school rabbit holes into a full-on “gay Da Vinci Code” sung by five drag sisters who mix history, humor, and hymnody. We explain the basics: queer theology means looking at religious history through LGBTQ+ experiences; James digs into medieval “brother-making” rites, the odd case of John Henry Newman’s missing remains, and how groups like the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence rose to care for communities the institutional church abandoned. The musical chooses joy as its weapon — it’s a 75-minute blend of satire, sincere grief, and showtunes designed to teach as much as entertain, because catchy lyrics are how people remember theology. If you missed Fringe tickets (yeah, we grinned about that), jump on massdrag.org to “join the congregation” and get on the email list so you don’t miss future productions or demo tunes — the sisters promise their emails are anything but boring.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

We're previewing the ESL Rochester Fringe Festival and hyping Cloudy with a Chance of Science — on Wednesday, September 16 at 7pm at the School of the Arts, tickets $15 at rochesterfringe.com, so please come hang out with us.

Check out the episode on Just Can't Not wherever you get your podcasts or on Lunchador.org!

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/8c996717-0a91-49fd-bf2f-221f240ad740/

I’m Chris Lindstrom and I’m joined by Dan Schneiderman from the Rochester Museum & Science Center and Rich Coniglia, your friendly local meteorologist, plus Scott and Lisa Fybush — they mix straight-up weather science with jokes, audience games, and a little theatrics. Start with the basics — like what weather even is (big idea: moving air, temperature differences, moisture = clouds, rain, snow) — then zoom into Rochester-specific quirks, the eclipse mishaps, odd storms and why forecasts are a gamble of probabilities, not crystal-ball voodoo. The point is: science doesn’t have to be scary or boring; they use humor and real talk to explain process, cite sources, and get people asking better questions instead of yelling facts into the void. Also, heads up: the Science Center’s doing more adult stuff at Fringe (planetarium shows, liquid nitrogen, tattoos in the dome — yes, really), and we’ve got other Fringe picks to catch like Catharsis Time (Sept 26) and Night of 1000 Johns (Sept 15). Come for the laughs, stay for the learning, and bring your shovel — Rochester weather is a group activity and we’ll be celebrating that glorious gray with a grin.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

We’re previewing Deep Fields — Synambient’s site-specific ambient show at the Strasenberg Planetarium, happening Sept 17–19 at 7:30pm as part of the Rochester Fringe (the whole festival runs Sept 15–26) — snag tickets at rochesterfringe.com ($19.99) if you want to come float with us under the James Webb images.

Check out the episode on Just Can't Not wherever you get your podcasts or on Lunchador.org!

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/26815ea4-15c1-4c95-bcdd-b472ad622c1f/

I’m Chris and guests James and Gerry gabbed about how they stretched a tiny two‑minute theme into a 47 minute, 30 second slow-burn sound journey — think ultra-elongated counterpoint, synth choirs, and textures that make you feel both infinitesimally small and oddly majestic. We walk you through the piece’s sections (First Light → Luminous → Penumbra → Event Horizon), including that glorious bit where the dome goes pitch black and the music almost disappears — a tiny, intentional silence that’s basically a sonic reset button. On top of the backing track we’ll perform live with two synths (including a Moog), plus a MIDI guitar that triggers choir/organ sounds so visually you’ll see guitarists doing choir duty — surprise! We also explain a bit about ambient music: it’s less about flashy riffs and more about long tones, subtle shifts, and feeling the space — influenced by classical slow‑arc composers and film music, but fully its own cosmic vibe. If you want a mellow, contemplative break from the perpetual scroll and some high‑resolution Webb visuals to stare at while we soundtrack the cosmos, come to Deep Fields — we’ll give you time to breathe, think, and maybe get a little cosmic chill. See you out on the Fringe — come feel small in the best possible way.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

THE GATOR digs into how people turn real-life violence into entertainment and conspiracy, and I sat down with its writer Brennan Sauer to preview the show at the ESL Rochester Fringe Festival.

Check out the episode on Just Can't Not wherever you get your podcasts or on Lunchador.org!

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/b7a19023-1fc0-4eb4-beb4-83d26ca079d8/

THE GATOR follows a group of young men obsessed with chronicling mass tragedies who get hooked on a pirate radio host called the Gator, and it centers on Harris as he scrambles to protect his daughter Annie while trying to unmask the broadcast prophet. We break down what “making entertainment out of tragedy” actually looks like — from true‑crime binges to livestreamed police scanners and niche forums that treat horror like fandom — and why that cultural machinery matters. Brennan walked me through the play’s origins (pandemic-era thinking, weird YouTube communities, and research into online subcultures) and how he uses sharp, conversational drama to expose those dynamics. Catch THE GATOR at The Muck on September 20 and September 26 at 4:30 p.m.; tickets are just $8 at rochesterfringe.com, so go snag one before they snap up. I had a great chat (Brennan was a trooper despite the flu), so swing by the Fringe, support local theatre, and follow Brennan on Instagram @brennansauer for updates.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!