Kill the Small Talk with Alex Caron

This week, Alex sits down with actress, comedian, and author Berenice “Barry” Diaz — a Chicago-raised, L.A.-based creative whose journey from small-town Mexico to Hollywood stages is anything but ordinary.

Barry shares how watching telenovelas inspired her to chase acting, how she secretly took classes behind her mom’s back, and how a hilariously bad self-tape somehow led her into the Theatre of Arts Acting Conservatory. From crying at 8 a.m. in scene study to surviving chaotic roommates and discovering her comedic voice at The Comedy Store, her story is both heartfelt and hilarious.

She talks about performing at Stay Gallery and how a one-off show turned into a three-year run, plus the absurd things she’s done for a role — including literally injuring her foot just to “feel the pain.” Barry also opens up about auditioning for the Selena Netflix series, being part of the book Today's Inspired Young Latina, and her passion for bringing Mexican culture to life through Día de los Muertos performances.

Alex and Barry close out with rapid-fire questions, stories about Love Island obsessions, wine vs. beer debates, and the eternal struggle between ambition and comfort. Through it all, Barry’s humor, heart, and hustle shine through — proving she’s as funny as she is fearless.

No small talk. Just a story worth telling.

#KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaronPodcast #BereniceDiaz #ComedyPodcast #StandUpComedy #LatinaComedian #WomenInComedy #ActressLife #HollywoodStories #ComedyJourney #ImmigrantStories #BilingualComedy #ComedyStore #StayGallery #SelenaNetflix #WritersJourney #DiaDeLosMuertos #UnfilteredConversations #NoMoreSmallTalk

This week, Alex sits down with his longtime friend and local legend David Devis, owner and founder of Epic Live — formerly the Epic Lounge — the heart of Downey’s live music scene for nearly two decades.

David shares how his venue grew from a humble internet café into one of Southern California’s most eclectic performance spaces, hosting everything from punk shows and art nights to church services and (almost) dwarf wrestling.

He opens up about surviving recessions, pandemics, and city politics while keeping live music alive. Alex and David reminisce about the early days of Make Music Downey, sneaking into The Blasters’ shows, and the unforgettable chaos of mixing cumbia, goth, and karaoke under one roof.

It’s a story about passion, community, and refusing to give up on local art — no matter what the city of Downey thinks.

No small talk. Just a love letter to live music.

https://theepicloungedowney.com/

#KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaronPodcast #DavidDevis #EpicLive #DowneyMusicScene #LiveMusic #MusicPodcast #EntrepreneurLife #LocalVenues #BehindTheScenes #MakeMusicDowney #TheBlasters #SoCalMusic #20YearsOfEpic #NoMoreSmallTalk #UnfilteredConversations #MusicCommunity

This week, Alex sits down with actor, comedian, and roommate Trevor Waggoner for the first in-house episode of Kill the Small Talk.

From childhood turkey musicals to discovering improv in college, Trevor opens up about his creative journey, sketch mishaps, and what it means to rediscover “play” as an adult. The two trade stories about hiking, growing up in Phoenix, and even the eternal debate: phone call or text? (Spoiler: always text first.)

You’ll hear them swap tales about overprotective moms, bad fashion trends, allergies, concerts, and their shared love of cozy nights, comedy chaos, and Creatures of Habit — the variety show they host together.

Trevor also dives deep into his experience performing improv with kids, how failure on stage keeps him humble, and why adults desperately need to remember how to play. It’s funny, heartfelt, and full of the kind of real talk you only get between roommates who’ve seen each other at their weirdest.

No small talk, no filters — just the good stuff.

Istagram: @WaggsToWiches

#KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaronPodcast #TrevorWaggoner #ComedyPodcast #ImprovComedy #SketchComedy #StandUpComedy #SecondCity #PackTheater #Pleather #ComedyJourney #RoommateStories #BehindTheLaughs #PhoenixToLA #UnfilteredConversations #NoMoreSmallTalk

This Episode was so good, we decided to re-release it

Welcome to the very first episode of Kill the Small Talk, the podcast that says no thanks to networking fakery and fake laughter. Host Alex Caron kicks things off with stand-up comic Jason Collings—a guy who went from martial arts instructor to Tonight Show guest with a stop at “totally winging it” in between. They cover everything from the chaos of bar gigs to the emotional weight behind Alex’s WWII short film ( Little Boy ), Jason’s father’s final words, and why his first time on stage involved zero prep and 15 minutes of pure crowd work. It's raw, hilarious, and kind of beautiful. Just like life. And definitely not the kind of story you’ll hear at your cousin’s baby shower. New episodes every Wednesday. Bring your ears. Leave your filter.

#KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaronPodcast #JasonCollings #StandUpOriginStory #TonightShowComic #MartialArtsToMic #RealTalkOnly #UnfilteredComedy #PodcastDebut #BehindTheLaughs #WWIIShortFilm #CreativeMisfits #ComedyJourney #NoSmallTalkZone

This week on Kill the Small Talk, Alex Caron sits down with actress, comedian, and filmmaker Mason LeCompte, whose path through the entertainment industry has been anything but ordinary.

From making VHS horror shorts in high school to working on reality shows like Celebrity Rehab (complete with drug-fueled car rides), Mason has seen the wildest corners of Hollywood production. She opens up about working in a dungeon, chasing stand-up in LA, and the frustrations of navigating SAG rules and agency roadblocks.

Mason also shares hilarious and heartfelt stories about her time as a stand-in on Children’s Hospital, working with Rob Corddry, and why the entertainment industry can be as toxic as the black mold in the abandoned hospital where the show was filmed.

Funny, outrageous, and brutally honest — this episode proves that when small talk dies, the real stories come alive.

https://linktr.ee/mj_lavine

#KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaronPodcast #MasonLeCompte #ComedyPodcast #StandUpComedy #ComedianLife #ActressLife #FilmmakerLife #HollywoodStories #BehindTheScenes #CelebrityRehab #ChildrensHospital #AdultSwim #EntertainmentPodcast #UnfilteredConversations #NoMoreSmallTalk #WildHollywood

On this episode of Kill the Small Talk, Alex Caron sits down with musician, singer-songwriter, and self-proclaimed big-time nerd MJ LaVine.

From growing up in Chicago and falling in love with Blink-182 and Sum 41, to studying music at CalArts, MJ’s journey is filled with passion, persistence, and a whole lot of guitars (15 to be exact). She talks about the making of her EP Hear My Bedroom, balancing acoustic string arrangements with full pop-punk energy, and how she ended up on the set of a Sum 41 music video thanks to her day job at a music rental company.

MJ shares stories about working multiple jobs to chase her dream, her obsession with songwriting, and what it really takes to keep pushing forward as a creative. This episode is equal parts hilarious, inspiring, and packed with heart.

If you love music, nerdy tangents, and unfiltered conversations, this one’s for you.

https://linktr.ee/mj_lavine

#KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaronPodcast #MJLaVine #PopPunkMusic #SingerSongwriter #ComedianLife #MusicPodcast #SongwritingJourney #PopPunkForever #WomenInMusic #Sum41 #Blink182 #MyChemicalRomance #HearMyBedroom #IndieMusician #BehindTheMusic #UnfilteredConversations

This week on Kill the Small Talk, Alex Caron sits down with comedian John Campanelli (Comedy Central, Just for Laughs, Adult Swim) for a wide-open conversation about life, comedy, and everything in between.

John talks about growing up between New York and Pennsylvania, moving around as a kid, and how being the “new kid” over and over shaped his sense of humor. He and Alex dig into childhood bands, Catholic guilt, and awkward first crushes — all the strange, funny, and sometimes painful experiences that pushed John toward stand-up.

From Division 1 baseball to writing jokes in college, to eventually taking the leap into comedy, John shares the journey of finding his voice on stage and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Equal parts hilarious and insightful, this episode is proof that the best conversations happen once you kill the small talk.

Instagram: @Johncampanelli1

#KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaronPodcast #JohnCampanelli #ComedyPodcast #StandUpComedy #ComedianLife #JustForLaughs #ComedyCentral #AdultSwim #ComedyJourney #GrowingUpCatholic #NoMoreSmallTalk #BehindTheLaughs #PodcastInterview #EntertainmentPodcast #UnfilteredConversations

This week on Kill the Small Talk, Alex sits down with comedian, filmmaker, and writer Kevin Heisinger for a conversation that dives deep into the highs and lows of chasing comedy in Los Angeles. Kevin shares his journey from starting stand-up in Sacramento to moving to LA right before the pandemic, and how that timing shaped his career.

They talk about the grind of open mics, the frustrations of “bringer shows,” and what it’s like to produce your own comedy nights in a city full of competition. Kevin also reflects on his old podcast The Midnight Movie Podcast, where he reviewed the “best bad movies,” and how those screenings turned into hilarious traditions with friends.

From discussing the unglamorous side of LA comedy culture to laughing about birthday parties filled with terrible films, Alex and Kevin keep things raw, funny, and real.

Instagram: @kevinheisinger

#KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaronPodcast #KevinHeisinger #ComedyPodcast #StandUpComedy #ComedianLife #LACreatives #SacramentoComedy #ComedyJourney #PodcastInterview #EntertainmentPodcast #BehindTheLaughs #ComedyCommunity #OpenMicLife #BringerShowStruggles #FilmmakerLife #WriterLife #NoSmallTalk

This week on Kill the Small Talk, Alex Caron sits down with Canadian comedian and actress Geneviève Dubé Carpenter, whose journey to the stage is anything but ordinary.

From competitive figure skating to fitness modeling, and now starring as the female lead in a brand-new TV comedy, Geneviève has reinvented herself time and again. She opens up about imposter syndrome on set, the discipline she carried over from sports, and how a single open mic snowballed into a full-blown comedy career.

Funny, sharp, and refreshingly honest, Geneviève shares what it’s like balancing life between Canada and Los Angeles, why comedy feels like “finding your people,” and how she’s embracing her next chapter as an actor.

New episodes every Wednesday — because small talk is dead.

@genevievedubec on instagram and TikTok

#KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaronPodcast #GenevieveDubeCarpenter #ComedianLife #FromSkatingToStage #ComedyPodcast #CanadianComedian #ActingJourney #TVComedy #BehindTheLaughs #UnfilteredConversations #EntertainmentLife #NoMoreSmallTalk #WomenInComedy #PodcastCommunity #CommandCreativeStudios #CommandRecordingStudios

This week on Kill the Small Talk, Alex Caron sits down with actor, comedian, and director Keinon-Pierre—a creative force who’s been making people laugh since childhood.

From growing up inspired by Jim Carrey and Robin Williams to going viral with impressions that caught the eye of Hollywood heavyweights, Keinon shares the highs, lows, and hilarious detours of carving out a career in entertainment. He also opens up about the projects that matter most to him and why leaving behind a legacy means more than chasing clout.

Funny, unfiltered, and surprisingly heartfelt—this is small talk’s worst nightmare.

Founder of @newblackcinema

Artist: @thehausofpierre @picturesbykeinon

TikTok: keinonpierre

[email protected]

#KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaronPodcast #KeinonPierre #ComedianLife #ActorDirector #ViralComedy #ImpressionKing #HollywoodJourney #ComedyPodcast #CreativeLegacy #UnfilteredConversations #BehindTheLaughs #RealTalkOnly #EntertainmentIndustry #FunnyPodcast #StandUpAndBeyond #NoMoreSmallTalk #PodcastCommunity #ComedyInspiration #AuthenticStories