People We Love

Florida's own, comedian Mandy Martino grew up an active kid who was a "just-get-by" student, and she recalls being surrounded by a funny family who loves all things comedy. Whether it was SNL or classic comedy films, the impact of these was strong enough that Mandy knew she wanted to pursue comedy and move to LA after college. So she did just that. But along the way she has been super inspired by one particularly very funny and talented woman, the one and only Molly Shannon. https://www.instagram.com/mandymartino/, http://instagram.com/peoplewelovepodcast, http://instagram.com/adamchoit, http://twitter.com/adamchoit, http://peoplewelovepodcast.com

Jacob Helzer is a cook and aspiring chef, but as a kid growing up in Oklahoma, he tragically lost his dad at 14. This sent Jacob into depression, substance abuse, and trouble with the law. But fast forward, overwhelmingly Jacob has turned things around. We recently connected in the Facebook group Liberty Memes $5 Dollar Charity Club, a group for helpers who want to make the world a better place by giving directly to those in need. And when admin / big hearted philanthropist David Andrew Gay heard fervent supporter of the group Jacob was in need of help with some serious dental issues, he and the group stepped up. Both Jacob and David are true inspirations. https://www.facebook.com/groups/506343186580255/about ($5 Dollar Charity Club), https://www.facebook.com/LibertyMemesOriginalPage/, https://www.patreon.com/LibertyMemes, http://instagram.com/peoplewelovepodcast, http://instagram.com/adamchoit, http://twitter.com/adamchoit, http://peoplewelovepodcast.com

Comedian Gena B. Jones was born and raised in the Washington, DC area. A quiet, high achieving kid, it wasn't really until high school and joining theater that she started to come out of her shell. In college Gena found her way into a music/comedy sketch group, and from there the path to LA and eventually into stand up was forming. But way back when, Gena recalls her family planted a seed, as they all always enjoyed watching one particular uber-talented comedian together, the one and only John Mulaney. http://instagram.com/juicygena, http://instagram.com/peoplewelovepodcast, http://instagram.com/adamchoit, http://twitter.com/adamchoit, http://peoplewelovepodcast.com

Comedian Sean White grew spending time in both Huntsville, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia. As a kid he got into trouble, but also eventually got into theater acting. Sean's journey from the theater into comedy has been quite the odyssey, filled with lots of loss in his always supportive family. We cover a lot, including Dad's time as a lawyer who found himself working in Petco of all places, and mom thinking all standup comedy is mean. I definitely appreciate Sean sharing his deeply personal and inspirational story with me.

http://instagram.com/seanwhitecomedy, http://instagram.com/peoplewelovepodcast, http://instagram.com/adamchoit, http://twitter.com/adamchoit, http://peoplewelovepodcast.com

Comedian Vinny Fasline grew up in Youngstown, OH then Pittsburgh, PA, and was always a silly kid who loved sports. But when he was 13, doctors found he had a brain tumor. Vinny is doing just fine today, but those years were not so much fun for him. But it was during his recovery when he was nudged into taking a stand up comedy class by his always supportive and encouraging mom, and the rest is kinda history. We talk sports, comedy, Will Smith, some medical stuff, family, and of course, mom.

https://www.instagram.com/vinnyfasline/, http://instagram.com/peoplewelovepodcast, http://instagram.com/adamchoit, http://twitter.com/adamchoit, http://peoplewelovepodcast.com

Jake Kroeger is a comedian and founder of The Comedy Bureau, the central source of information of all things comedy throughout Los Angeles. As the son of a military dad, Jake moved around quite a bit as a kid, including spending time in Los Angeles, Virginia, and Colorado. A rather serious, smart, and mature child who grew up loving Alfred Hitchock (and still does), it wasn't until years later that Jake discovered his true love for comedy and the comedy community itself. https://thecomedybureau.com/, https://www.instagram.com/notthesupermarket (Jake Kroeger), http://instagram.com/peoplewelovepodcast, http://instagram.com/adamchoit, http://peoplewelovepodcast.com

Stand up comedian Seth Lawrence is a Mormon man from Utah who came from a large family, and now has one himself. And he tells me all about his journey from aspiring lawyer to becoming both a dad and comedian. We cover a lot, including how much he appreciates his super supportive wife, Lorien, who's been there all the way from Utah to Los Angeles.

https://www.instagram.com/onlysethlawrence/, http://instagram.com/peoplewelovepodcast, http://instagram.com/adamchoit, http://peoplewelovepodcast.com

Comedian and Tosh.0 staff writer TK Kelly is originally from New York, and got more comfortable in school in 5th grade when he started to be able to make the other kids laugh. Before long, his grandfather introduced him to George Carlin, and really the rest is history. After college and living briefly in NY, TK moved to LA to study screenwriting at USC graduate school, and from there his journey as a stand up and writer truly began, in Los Angeles.

https://www.instagram.com/tkkellycomedy, http://instagram.com/peoplewelovepodcast, http://instagram.com/adamchoit, http://peoplewelovepodcast.com

The Bay Area's own, comedian Stuart Thompson was a rambunctious toddler but a good student throughout school, even if he was a procrastinator. In his teens he started to DVR SNL and Conan, and grew a passion for comedy. At UC Berkeley he started hitting the open mics, and after college made the journey to LA. But along the way, Stuart recalls the love and support of his family, especially from his grandparents, Brock and Ruth, and Sanford and Kate, who have always been a special part of his life. https://www.instagram.com/stuartbthompson, http://instagram.com/peoplewelovepodcast, http://instagram.com/adamchoit, http://peoplewelovepodcast.com

Comedian Tommy Wakefield grew up in small town North Carolina, and always gravitated toward the goofy, and the kids around him who were funny. In school he'd make video projects, and later in college started his own stand up comedy show. And Tommy's mom Chelsea Wakefield has always been an inspiration to him. She herself was a piano player, a musician, and after dedicating herself to new goals, became a successful psychotherapist and author. But mostly Tommy recalls making mom laugh to get him out of being in trouble.

https://www.instagram.com/tommywakefld, http://instagram.com/peoplewelovepodcast, http://instagram.com/adamchoit, http://peoplewelovepodcast.com