Papa's Basement

I'll just say this: Appearances can be deceiving.

I tell two new, unbelievable stories from my day job as a locksmith, Shawn Westfall of DC’s fantastic Unified Scene Theater returns to regale us with the aftermath of another trip to Burning Man and reveals that comedian Stavros Halkias is a former student and friend of his, and we pay homage to Beavis and Butthead. But if you listen to the episode, there's only going to be two words coming out of your mouth afterward: Eric Clapton. Listen and find out why. And then share with your friends and send us money.

John Papageorgiou - @PapasBasement

Shawn Westfall - @ShawnWestfall

Shawn's Unified Scene Theater - @UnifiedSceneDC

Click here to listen to the latest episode of Papa's Basement in your browser or here to open and listen in iTunes (you can also use the embedded player below). And, if you want to see our faces that very clearly are fit for radio, you can watch videos of our episodes on YouTube

If you truly love the show and realize money is the only way to show that, donate on a monthly basis to the show via our Patreon. Or buy a shirt at Redbubble, and become a walking advertisement for my creative aspirations at the cost of $20.

When men were so manly that you didn't feel like a sissy when they gave you a boner. RIP, Burt.

Burt Reynolds passed away, prompting me to explain definitively, once and for all, where you go after you die. You're welcome, theology. And you're welcome, America. Bill Rohland guest stars.

John Papageorgiou - @PapasBasement

Bill Rohland - @BillRohland

If you truly love the show and realize money is the only way to show that, donate on a monthly basis to the show via our Patreon. Or buy a shirt at Redbubble, and become a walking advertisement for my creative aspirations at the cost of $20.

Click here to listen to the latest episode of Papa's Basement in your browser or here to open and listen in iTunes (you can also use the embedded player below). And, if you want to see our faces that very clearly are fit for radio, you can watch videos of our episodes on YouTube

If I couldn't see both of his hands, the face would give me pause.

After a nine-month hiatus from stand-up comedy, following revelations that he jerked off near and/or via phone with several female co-workers, Louis CK returned to the stage of the Comedy Cellar to perform a 15-minute set. Was this too soon? Not soon enough? It's a complex issue, and emotions run high on both sides. That's why we saved you the difficulties of digesting and processing the matter and instead tell you what to think. YOU'RE WELCOME, AMERICA!

Follow this episode's cast on Twitter!

John Papageorgiou - @PapasBasement

Howard Flood - @HowardFlood

If you truly love the show and realize money is the only way to show that, donate on a monthly basis to the show via our Patreon. Or buy a shirt at Redbubble, and become a walking advertisement for my creative aspirations at the cost of $20.

Click here to listen to the latest episode of Papa's Basement in your browser or here to open and listen in iTunes (you can also use the embedded player below). And, if you want to see our faces that very clearly are fit for radio, you can watch videos of our episodes on YouTube

Shawn Westfall at Burning Man, or beloved Mad Max extra "Goggles Hobo #4"? You're right both ways.

I've never been to the hippie desert free-for-all Burning Man, and I don't think that will change anytime soon. While the art, attitude and copious nudity all sound fantastic, I enjoy showers and dressing my cats every morning in American Girl doll clothing too much to spend a week in the desert.

Fortunately for us, Shawn Westfall, owner of DC's only brick-and-mortar improv theater, the Unified Scene Theater, has gone to Burning Man for ten years running, and he's here to tell us the highs and lows of his collective experiences on the eve of another trip to the desert. Enjoy your trip, Shawn, and remember to jump if the sun attacks you!

Follow this episode's cast on Twitter!

John Papageorgiou - @PapasBasement

Shawn Westfall - @ShawnWestfall

Shawn's Unified Scene Theater - @UnifiedSceneDC

If you truly love the show and realize money is the only way to show that, donate on a monthly basis to the show via our Patreon. Or buy a shirt at Redbubble, and become a walking advertisement for my creative aspirations at the cost of $20.

Click here to listen to the latest episode of Papa's Basement in your browser or here to open and listen in iTunes (you can also use the embedded player below). And, if you want to see our faces that very clearly are fit for radio, you can watch videos of our episodes on YouTube

Fans of the show can see Pete Maybe perform dinner theater here up through the end of September.

Fan (and free clinic) favorite Pete Maybe is back! Hear all about his adventures since he was last on the show (including not wearing a shirt since April 24th), working at some paying theater gigs (they ARE out there, acting folks) and tips for "living your best life" (his euphemism for copious, anonymous Bumble-fuelled intercourse). Our improv buddy Mike also joins the scrum, as do Howard and his audibly upset baby. Come for the reunion, stay for stories of free-flowing backstage nudity at a Frederick, MD dinner theater. This podcast has it all. Except for a cure for melanoma, so continue to use sunblock this summer.

Follow this episode's cast on Twitter!

John Papageorgiou - @PapasBasement

Pete Maybe - @PeteMaybe

Mike Taylor - @MBrooksTaylor

Howard Flood - @HowardFlood

If you truly love the show and realize money talks more than kind words (fine, we like kind words, too), donate on a monthly basis to the show via our Patreon. Some of the rewards aren't bad! Or buy a shirt at Redbubble so people you walk past in the mall can ask you what a Papa's Basement is.

Click here to listen to the latest episode of Papa's Basement in your browser or here to open and listen in iTunes (you can also use the embedded player below). And, if you want to see our faces that very clearly are fit for radio, you can watch videos of our episodes on YouTube

I forgot to take a picture in studio with Sven Lloyd. This is close enough.

Sven Lloyd, a DC-area radio personality and comedian, is kind enough to come on and share war stories from his time on Grindr, Growlr, Scruff. As a straight dude who knew of none of this stuff, I can honestly say I was traumatized and delighted in equal measure. You will be, too.

Follow this episode's cast on Twitter!

John Papageorgiou - @PapasBasement

Sven Lloyd- Patreon. Some of the rewards aren't bad! Or buy a shirt at Redbubble so people you walk past in the mall can ask you what a Papa's Basement is.

Click here to listen to the latest episode of Papa's Basement in your browser or here to open and listen in iTunes (you can also use the embedded player below). And, if you want to see our faces that very clearly are fit for radio, you can watch videos of our episodes on YouTube

Every time I look at this picture, I hear the fading strands of Zack Attack's "Friends Forever"

I need to have sports radio legend Bill Rohland on more, because he knows how to sell an episode.

How I described this episode? "Uh, I went to NYC to do my grad show for my latest Upright Citizens Brigade improv class."

How Bill (accurately) described it? "We get into the life of high school drama kids (which, oddly enough, Bill was), a creepy bar owner in Baltimore who behaved like he was a pimp extra from Scarface and somehow find a way to make you feel worse about modern American politics."

It's a good episode. A great episode. Just because you haven't heard of the show, doesn't mean you shouldn't try it. Kurt Warner was bagging groceries until the Rams took a chance on him, and look how that turned out: Yep, a lifetime of exposure for all of us to his wife's weird, shiny hair.

Follow this episode's cast on Twitter!

John Papageorgiou - @PapasBasement

Bill Rohland - @BillRohland

If you truly love the show and realize money talks more than kind words (fine, we like kind words, too), donate on a monthly basis to the show via our Patreon. Some of the rewards aren't bad! Or buy a shirt at Redbubble so people you walk past in the mall can ask you what a Papa's Basement is.

Click here to listen to the latest episode of Papa's Basement in your browser or here to open and listen in iTunes (you can also use the embedded player below). And, if you want to see our faces that very clearly are fit for radio, you can watch videos of our episodes on YouTube

How I previously saw my depression coming to an end.

Forgive the delay in episodes: We honestly don't know where Travis Dorward is and if he's alive or dead. But, the show must go on. A revitalzed me, possibly the least-depressed I've been in years faces a quandry: What the hell do I do with my life now that I'm not busy self-sabotaging? There's also a homework assignment for you listeners for the next episode: Watch Nanette on Netflix so we can discuss it with you live via the phones!

Follow this episode's cast on Twitter!

John Papageorgiou - @PapasBasement

Howard Flood - @BasementHoward

If you truly love the show and realize money talks more than kind words (fine, we like kind words, too), donate on a monthly basis to the show via our Patreon. Some of the rewards aren't bad! Or buy a shirt at Redbubble so people you walk past in the mall can ask you what a Papa's Basement is.

Click here to listen to the latest episode of Papa's Basement in your browser or here to open and listen in iTunes (you can also use the embedded player below). And, if you want to see our faces that very clearly are fit for radio, you can watch videos of our episodes on YouTube

Howard drew this on the studio computer when I stepped outside to use the bathroom. Picasso truly wilts in comparison.

Chris Hardwick is an annoying comedian who launched a podcast empire (I'm not jealous) and also spends (well, spent) a lot of time on TV (again, "not jealous," said the man through clenched teeth). Over the weekend, he was accused of his ex, Chloe Dykstra, of some unsavory behavior in their relationship, and summarily lost pretty much every job he had.

We dive into this case, #MeToo as a whole, and what the most delicious flavor of pie is on this latest episode of Papa's Basement. Spoiler: coconut cream pie puts up a strong finish. Also spoiler: I might be lying about the pie thing, but now I really want to do it after typing this.

Follow this episode's cast on Twitter!

John Papageorgiou - @PapasBasement

Travis Dorward - @TravisDorward

Howard Flood - @BasementHoward

If you truly love the show and realize money talks more than kind words (fine, we like kind words, too), donate on a monthly basis to the show via our Patreon. Some of the rewards aren't bad! Or buy a shirt at Redbubble so people you walk past in the mall can ask you what a Papa's Basement is.

Click here to listen to the latest episode of Papa's Basement in your browser or here to open and listen in iTunes (you can also use the embedded player below). And, if you want to see our faces that very clearly are fit for radio, you can watch videos of our episodes on YouTube

I forgot to take a photo with Shawn in studio, so here's my cat looking despondent.

I realize the title makes it sound like Shawn Westfall was there, watching Anthony Bourdain at the end...AND THAT WAS MY INTENT (no, it wasn't). Mr. Westfall, who runs DC's Unified Scene Theater talks with me about Anthony Bourdain's suicide and why it shouldn't come as a shock that a celebrity or anyone else who seems to "have so much" would do something like this, before we both detail our own battles with the "Black Dog." (No, I'm not referring to the euphemism Winston Churchill employed to describe depression: We both do daily battle with a literal, massive Rottweiler. Juuuust kidding.)

Follow this episode's cast on Twitter!

John Papageorgiou - @PapasBasement

Shawn Westfall - @ShawnWestfall

If you truly love the show and realize money talks more than kind words (fine, we like kind words, too), donate on a monthly basis to the show via our Patreon. Some of the rewards aren't bad! Or buy a shirt at Redbubble so people you walk past in the mall can ask you what a Papa's Basement is.

Click here to listen to the latest episode of Papa's Basement in your browser or here to open and listen in iTunes (you can also use the embedded player below). And, if you want to see our faces that very clearly are fit for radio, you can watch videos of our episodes on YouTube