Comedian and TV creator and showrunner Mike Mitchell is on to talk about having a week to prep for his first standup spot. Mike talks about going from musician to record label marketer to radio where he met Barry Taylor who first told him he was funny. We talk bad shows and long drives home eating fries, our discomfort with the word ‘hobbyist’, even more reminiscing about Ceili House, and sage advice from Michael Moses. Mike and I started within a year of each other so this is a good look into those first few, unglamourous years of doing standup. We also talk about starting a TV show - This is The Thing, Mike’s creation that recently premiered of Fibe TV. Music by Devin Bateson.

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I still can’t believe this week’s guest said yes to coming on the show, but I think that just demonstrates that underneath that harsh exterior, Mike Wilmot is incredibly generous with his time, and incredibly supportive of comedians in this country. At time of recording Mike was preparing for a return to the stage after months and months of a lockdown, and you’ll hear that he was raring to go. Mike talks about practicing being a comedian in the basement of his dad’s hardware store, the challenges of starting out in Toronto when there were few opportunities to even get on stage, and how beneficial a move to London was to his career. We talk about when his career and act stagnated, the desperation that caused and how it resulted in him leaning back into the open mic scene and back into failure to evolve as a comedian. Mike talks about being cast in the movies “It’s All Gone Pete Tong,” “The Wrong Guy” (a household favourite) and “That Old Feeling” before eviscerating my last question in a way only a true comic could.  Music by Devin Bateson. Email feedback or show suggestions to [email protected]

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For the second week in a row we have a relation of a previous guest. Comedian, singer, actor, dancer Erin Keaney is cousins with Episode #3’s guest, David Brennan. Erin talks about growing up with David in Hamilton, making Arkell Street way more famous than the Arkells ever did. Erin got her start singing Streisand tunes while babysitting David and dancing (inappropriately?) for men in Hamilton as a 16 year-old. At the time of recording, Erin was about to start virtual version of her very successful comedy show, Time Out and we talk about carving out a female-friendly, supportive show for her and her friends.  Erin talks about her incredibly successful tour throughout North America as a cast member of Rent, and the time she auditioned to play Carol Burnett, FOR Carol Burnett. We talk about mental illness and creating, and there’s even a sneak peak to next week’s guest on the pod. Music by Devin Bateson. 

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For the first time we have a relative of a previous guest! This week's guest, Cleve Jones, is married to comedian Kate Davis from episode 6. We start with Cleve describing how his household dealt with Kate’s COVID diagnosis early on in the pandemic. Frontman of the Toronto-based band Ready Jennifer, he also does standup and similar to Manolis the standup bug started with a wedding speech Cleve talks about leaning into self-doubt to get through writers block. He’s also a raconteur, and talks about starting many things - an IT career, toy making, authoring a book, creating a board game, and starting his standup show The Joke Show with his co-producer Victoria Stewart. Cleve eloquently talks about the importance of keeping the faith and connecting with whatever you’re doing. Music by Devin Bateson and Ready Jennifer.

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Cathy Boyd started comedy even later than I did, around age 60. She talks about being raised in a big family, needing humour to standout and get noticed, and being pissed off about never being voted class clown in high school. We share a love of Steven Wright, talk about struggles with comedy competitions, awkward social parts of being an ‘older' comedian, not wanting people’s pity, and feeling grateful for having the chance to even do standup. Cathy’s debut album “Wise Tracks” is available on her website boydsoflondon.com. Music by Devin Bateson.

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We start with the pandemic, because what else is there to talk about. There’s a recurring theme of improv classes really being the gateway to standup for a lot of comics, and Jen talks about how she found it horrifying and wishing she just could just text her thoughts rather than perform them. Jen’s intro to comedy was to sneak into her parents room and watch A&E’s Evening at the Improv, as a 5-year old! We explore shared social anxieties, disappointing people, the “rules” of open mics, crappy standup shows, and an absolutely crazy story about recording her first album “Border Crossing” which is on sales now on iTunes. Music by Devin Bateson.

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This week’s episode features a conversation with podcaster extraordinaire, Jordan Scherer. From listening to talk radio every night as a kid, not even knowing what was being discussed, to a crazy experience his first time on the radio, to his excellent podcast that he cohosts with Mayce Galoni, The Black Cat News Clubs, Jordan has always struck me as someone so passionate about broadcasting. Jordan talks about his somewhat complicated relationship with standup, and the differences between standup and podcasting that drew him closer to the latter. Jordan talks about starting, and stopping, podcasts, and what motivates him to start again. Music by Devin Bateson.

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Sandra’s unintentional journey went from academia, to business, to improv (to help you in business), a horrific car accident and finally to a career in comedy. Tony & Tina’s Wedding comes up for the second time in the podcast, as it vaulted Sandra forward and always where she met her long-time collaborator Phil Luzi. Sandra talks about the impact of studying the Pochinko Clown Method and how that helped her in standup, including a heckle involving urine. Finally we talk about her history brain, political brain, research brain, and comedy brain all came together to form CASC, The Canadian Association of Standup Comedians. We finish with Sandra talking about her new podcast - Small Battalion. Music by Devin Bateson.

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Kate and I started standup in complete opposite ways. While I over-thought everything, she just did it on a whim one night and didn’t look back.  If it wasn’t for a comedy club being on her daily route or her dog’s leaking vagina, Kate wouldn’t be the headliner, motivational speaker, author and corporate speaker she is today. Kate talks about leaning into what makes you you, the advice to listen to and the advice to ignore, and just diving in and figuring it out along the way. Music by Polyester Heart.

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A fairly epic, sweeping conversation with Manolis Zontanos about his ‘first set’ giving a speech at his brother’s wedding, the help he got from Russell Peters, the lack of help he got from others, acting alongside Katie Holmes and ‘Chandler’, and the importance of helping anyone who is a dude. Check out Manolis on his weekly radio show - Friday 420. Music by Devin Bateson.

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Music by @debateson
All episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1632913

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