For Chef Luke Zahm, food is more than just fuel. Rather, it’s about community, history, and tradition. As host of PBS’s Emmy award-winning show, Wisconsin Foodie, and owner of The Driftless Cafe in Viroqua, Wisconsin, Luke is all about celebrating the Midwest through cooking. In this episode of the Cripescast, he and Charlie discuss their favorite things about Midwestern culture and the easiest way to impress guests with your cooking. They also talk about their humble beginnings as fast food workers, Charlie a pretzel roller at Auntie Anne’s, and Luke as a sandwich artist for Subway Sandwiches. The conversation even takes a saucy turn when they each share some of the wildest DMs they’ve received from fans.
Check out our merch, tour dates, content and more at cripescast.com and find BTS exclusive content at patreon.com/charlieberens. Follow us at @cripescast on all platforms. 

Episode 186 - Luke Zahm

Emmy winning comedian, Charlie Berens interviews musicians, artists, comedians, creators, and more to talk about their story and connections to the midwest.

Comedy

Comedy Interviews

Christian Yelich has been a pillar for the Milwaukee community since he was first traded to Brewers in 2018. On the field, he’s an MVP, a golden glove winner, and a silver slugger just to name a few. Off the field, he’s a champion for the community by giving back with his annual Home Plate Charity Benefit that raises funds for Milwaukee little league teams. Today, Christian addresses the most common questions he gets about his personal life and confirms that yes, he can hear heckling fans when he’s in left field. Charlie and Christian have been pals since their first video collab in 2022 and use this episode to catch up, discuss regretful tattoos, the weirdest things they’ve autographed, and who they root for in the Brewers sausage races.  
Follow Christian on all platforms @christianyelich and for more information about Christian’s Home Plate Charity Concert, head to visitmilwaukee.org/yelich.
Follow the Cripescast and Charlie on all platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens. Find tour dates, merch, our Patreon, video clips and more at cripescast.com. 
Donate to Doctors Without Borders at doctorswithoutborders.org.

Episode 197 - Christian Yelich

Nobody knows Wisconsin fish like Max Wolter. Having grown up with a passion for the outdoors, it only makes sense that Max would end up working as a senior fisheries biologist at the Wisconsin DNR. For more than a decade, he’s been working to understand our state’s fish, protecting their habitats, and educating folks about best fishing practices. In this episode of the Cripescast, Charlie asks all of his burning questions about the current state of Wisconsin’s aquatic wildlife and where it’s headed. They discuss the birds and the bees of fish spawning, the impacts of El Nino on this past ice fishing season, and the best way to catch a muskie.
For more information about fishing in Wisconsin, head to dnr.wisconsin.gov and be sure to follow them on all platforms. 
Follow the Cripescast and Charlie on all platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens. Find tour dates, merch, our Patreon, video clips and more at cripescast.com. 
Donate to Doctors Without Borders at doctorswithoutborders.org.

Episode 196 - Max Wolter

Despite never planning to become a comedian, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes has undeniably made a name for herself in the world of comedy. Starting out as an Oakland Raiders’ cheerleader, then as an aspiring actress in Hollywood, she eventually found her home in stand up comedy after taking a joke writing class at her local church. Fast forward to today, Anjelah has put out six comedy specials, with her latest one being her first self-produced and self-financed hour called “Say I Won’t” on YouTube. This week, Anjelah joins the Cripescast fresh off of headlining in Wisconsin, and she and Charlie discuss all things comedy, siblings, and gratitude lists. Anjelah shares her tips for dealing with anxiety, her career dreams, and how the pandemic changed her views of motherhood. 


Follow Anjelah on all platforms @anjelahjohnson and check out her specials, show dates, merch and more at anjelah.com. 


Find us on all platforms @cripescast and for Charlie's show dates, merch, Patreon, and all that, head to cripescast.com 


For continued donations and aid to Doctors Without Borders, head to doctorswithoutborders.org. 

Episode 195 - Anjelah Johnson-Reyes

All bets are off whenever Grandma Sue joins the podcast. In this episode of the Cripescast, we're bringing you highlights from all three of her appearances on the show including her first solo interview and her two road trip episodes to the casino. From talking about "necking" at Stinky Point to giving unexpected dating advice, this episode is full of everyone’s favorite moments with Grandma Sue, Aunt Mary and Lois Bently. 


For more information about donating to Doctors Without Borders, go to doctorswithoutborders.org. 


Find us on all platforms @cripescast and our website at cripescast.com. 

Episode 194 - Best of Grandma Sue

Live from his garage in Colorado, Taylor Calmus, a.k.a. Dude Dad, makes his triumphant return to the Cripescast yet again. He and Charlie get comfortable on a vintage Davenport to shoot the breeze, answer fan questions, and sip on Charlie’s new Brandy. As good friends and frequent collaborators, they spend this episode reminiscing on the sketches they’ve done, including their recent sequel of “Husbands of Target” that they shot for a Super Bowl ad for Target. The two share stories from pheasant hunting at Taylor’s family farm in South Dakota to life on tour, and even debate the proper etiquette for changing sheets when guests come to town. To round it out, they share their favorite and least favorite thing about one another and talk about the time that Taylor’s wife Heidi signed a woman’s breast in Milwaukee.
Follow Taylor on all platforms @dudedad. 
Follow the Cripescast and Charlie on all platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens. Find tour dates, merch, our Patreon, video clips and more at cripescast.com. 
Donate to Doctors Without Borders at doctorswithoutborders.org.

Episode 186 - Luke Zahm

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