MKE Black’s co-founder, executive director, and board president, Rick Banks and director of strategic partnerships and initiatives, Ayrton Bryan, join the Charlie on the Cripescast this week. They talk about the work that MKE Black is doing, the importance of supporting Black owned businesses, and ways to help further their mission of promoting, advancing and empowering Black businesses in Milwaukee.
 
Find out more about MKE Black at mkeblack.org or download the app MKE Black.
 
Want to contribute to the movement? Please donate here to further support the MKE Black mission: https://mkeblack21.givesmart.com/

Episode 77 - Rick Banks and Ayrton Bryan

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

Kristopher Pollard eats, sleeps and breathes cinema. As Membership Manager for Milwaukee Film and co-host of the “Cinebuds” podcast, Kristopher is continually working hard to advocate for Milwaukee’s film scene. He explains how Wisconsin is a hidden gem for the film industry and has a vibrant and receptive movie-loving community. He argues that the only difference between Milwaukee and cities with well-known film scenes is that people just aren’t paying attention to Milwaukee yet. This week, he joins Charlie on the Cripescast to discuss the use of AI in filmmaking, he crushes it in a movie trivia game, and shares what Milwaukee Film is doing to preserve the city’s historic theaters. Kristopher also explains the new state bill that aims to form a Wisconsin Film Office and dives into how it would create jobs, boost the economy, and amplify the local scene. 
Follow @cinebudspodcast and check them out anywhere you get your podcasts! Follow Kristopher @kpollyart. For more information about Milwaukee Film, including screenings and membership, visit mkefilm.org and follow @mkefilm. 
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 201 - Kristopher Pollard

This week Charlie celebrates the 200th episode of the Cripescast by answering all of your burning questions. Buckle up for his advice on dating, lawn care and how to craft the perfect junk drawer. He and his producer Colleen go on many tangents spanning from deep philosophical discussions to what cheese is best on a charcuterie board. Full episode out now!
Interested in donating to Doctors Without Borders? Check out doctorswithoutborders.org to see how you can help. 
Find the Cripescast on all socials @cripescast. 

Episode 200 - Charlie Answers Fan Questions

Kristen Kish may be new to hosting “Top Chef” but she’s no stranger to the show. Crowned the Season 10 champion in 2012, she became the second woman ever to claim the title and has since returned to host the show. After her 2012 win, she’s gone on to open her own restaurant in Texas called Arlo Grey, release a cookbook, and host other TV shows like National Geographic’s “Restaurants and the End of the World” and Travel Channel’s “36 Hours”. In this episode, she and Charlie talk about both of their experiences on the show, her as the fresh-faced host and Charlie as an eager diner, with no culinary palette, in the second episode. As a Michigander, Kristen says she felt at home while filming the newest season of “Top Chef”, which was set in Wisconsin, because of the nasally accents and Midwest niceness. The two discuss everything from Wisconsin supper clubs to anxiety, and Charlie even walks away with some tips for cooking as a single guy. 
Follow Kristen on all platforms @kristenlkish and be sure to catch this season of Top Chef!
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 199 - Kristen Kish

Comedian Cristela Alonzo isn’t afraid to grab life by the horns. Having grown up squatting in an abandoned diner with her mother and three siblings, she knows what it’s like to live like you’ve got nothing to lose. Her lifelong love for comedy had her jumping at the chance to work as an office manager at the Addison Improv in Texas circa 2003, even if it meant fudging some of the details on her resume to land the job. Fast forward to today, she’s headlining the country and has made history as the first Mexican-American woman to create and star in her own US primetime sitcom, “Cristela.” With two Netflix specials under her belt and another on the way, Cristela shares that she’s living comfortably with her bills on autopay and her “therapy money” in hand. This week, she joins Charlie on the Cripescast to chat about everything from professional wrestling, to her love for Wisconsin cheese curds, and of course Packers vs Cowboys.
Follow Cristela on all platforms @cristela9 and be sure to check out her specials on Netflix!
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 198 - Cristela Alonzo

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 77 - Rick Banks and Ayrton Bryan

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