Spiraling Up

Excited to be back with guest Leah Bonnema. Leah has been featured on AXS TV's Gotham Comedy Live and TruTV's Comedy Knockout. She's an undeniable force of funny on stage and we got to chat about her love for performing. Plus, being in a relationship with a fellow comedian and how to know when you've found the right therapist and how to know when you haven't.

Back at the Olive Tree for Part 2 of talking with comedians about the ups and down of New York City comedy life. Joyelle Johnson from HBO"S Crashing and Late Night with Seth Meyers helps explain how she readjusted to the energy of New York City, the importance of a night off and 'therapy energy' at a show.

Then Derek Gaines from The Last OG and the Will & Grace reboot, breaks down the speed and the hustle of New York City comedy, how he was inspired by doubt and the push to be a better writer.

This episode I did a little something different. I sat down at the Olive Tree Cafe above the Comedy Cellar to do a quick chat with comics about New York City. Ups and downs, difficulties and positives and insights into starting to work at some of NYC's best comedy clubs.

This week its Chloe Hilliard from This Week at the Comedy Cellar and Last Comic Standing and then Liza Treyger from her Netflix Degenerates special and her Comedy Central Half Hour Special.

Lance Weiss is my guest. Lance is a fantastic comedian who performs nightly in NYC, is a regular on the festival circuit and was the co-creator of one of my favorite shows in NYC: "Gandhi, Is That You?"

We talk about the origins of my tiny head hats, why Lance if forever indebted to Anthony Devito and how to run a great show. Then we get down to the nitty gritty of some OCD struggles.

My guest this week is journalist and model comedy audience member Michael Stahl. He has written for Rolling Stone, Vice, and Huffington Post.

Sorry for making you listen to some chewing noises right out of the gate but a few weeks ago I found out that Michael had never had chocolate babka and I made it part of the podcast day experience and we ate it on air.

As the chocolate rush kicked in we talked about other substances and how they affect the bod. We talked about Michael's transition from teaching to freelance journalism, sleepless nights and how to live with integrity.

My guest this week is Brendan Eyre. Brendan has appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers and the Comedy Central show Adam Devine's House Party.

We jump in discussing our podcast origins, hear a background of Brendan's start in comedy and get a window into how he learned to headline comedy clubs. Then Brendan shares the story of how he navigated his mental health issues through the medicines, doctors, a suicide attempt, hospitals, psych wards, ECT and ultimately a return to New York City.

Evan Williams is a super funny man who has been seen on Comedy Central's Roast Battle and appeared at the Montreal Comedy Festival.

We jump in mid conversation about the joys of comedy condos. Then we learn who inspired Evan to be a better comic and talk about himself on stage when he moved to NYC. Evan shares a pretty great reason not to get high with your mom. We learn about the therapeutic value of a roast and who inspired Evan to feel okay about dealing with depression.

Jacob Williams is a regular cast member on MTV's Wild n' Out. He has appeared on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, America's Got Talent and Adam Devine's House Party on Comedy Central. A huge talent and an original voice, it was a pleasure to sit down and talk.

On the podcast Jacob tells us what it's like to get sort of recognized and how he finds value outside the approval of the gatekeepers.

Plus, find out who played successful wingman for Jacob and here me trick him into admitting some comedy confidence.

Anthony Devito is my guest this week. Along with being one of my absolute favorite comedians and people, he has appeared on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and on his own Comedy Central Half Hour Special and has been heard on This American Life.

On the podcast Anthony reminds me about the first time we met, explains how to treat a Special and breaks down why he's so hard on himself.

I am back with season 2. My first guest is Alison Leiby. She is a hilarious stand up comedian that has written for shows like The Opposition with Jordan Klepper and The President's Show. She also has one of the absolute best twitter minds in the game.

On the podcast we learn how Alison turned pain into comedy, what she misses every day and the difference between LA crazy versus NY crazy.

Then we delve into the mental gymnastics of writing for someone else, how to shut your brain off and how to be a better man in comedy.