Starting Out

My friend George Burgess is my guest this week on Starting Out. If you don’t know George, he’s only a few years into standup, but his unique style of one-liner comedy, his complete dedication to it, and his comfort in negative space makes him one of those comics that even the other comics stop and listen to. (He’ll explain what negative space is). I didn’t even really know he’s a fan of this pod which was nice, and he told me after this is his very first podcast. We talk about the restraints being a one-liner comic put on him, or that he puts on himself, and the best and most awkward advice each other has received as a comic. George is a true comic nerd so if you are too you’ll love this. Follow George on Instagram at @gorgeousburgess, and please go see him the first chance you get.  Music, as always, by the insanely talented Devin Bateson. Thanks for listen, please share the pod with someone - I'll literally take anyone.

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

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I reached out to Simon Rakoff to see if he wanted to come on after reading a Facebook post that he was celebrating his 44th year as a comedian. Simon walks me through what it was like when no comedy scene existed at all in Toronto, as he was one of about a dozen people who started the scene when the first comedy club opened in 1978. Simon has achieved just about everything you can in comedy, even mentoring people who would go onto insane amounts of fame, but it was never really about that to him. As you’ll hear, his lack of ambition has enabled him to have what I think is one of the healthiest relationships with comedy that I’ve ever heard. Thanks for listening, and please go see Simon if you have the chance.

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

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My guest this week on Starting Out is the comedian, amazing producer, and soon to be entertainment king of Kitchener-Waterloo, Sandy McFarlane. Like me, standup came to Sandy later in life and we talk a bit about managing regret. Sandy produces by far the best shows in Kitchener-Waterloo,  and if you’re ever in K-W and need a laugh, Sandy’s show Rusty Nail at the Crazy Canuck will not disappoint. You can follow Sandy at @rustynailcomedy1 and they have shows every weekend and feature literally the best talent in the country.  If you're into two middle-aged men who identify as empaths, then this is the pod for you! Thanks for listening and supporting, and please share the pod with someone, anyone! 

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

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This week my guest is a comedian, a prolific comedy show producer, a father of three girls, and the first decathlete ever to appear on Starting Out, it’s my friend Patrick Russell. Patrick was a member of the Canadian Junior Olympic team before retiring at 25, putting himself through teacher’s college, starting a family, all before deciding to try his hand at standup at age 32. He set a ten year goal for himself to do at least a set a week, and he’s almost done it, pandemic aside.  Patrick puts on shows at the SoCap theatre in Toronto, if you’re comic looking to get on message him, and follow him at @real_p_russ on Instagram. We talk producing, juggling other life responsibilities, and accepting comedy as a hobby. This was another great talk. Thanks for listening and supporting the show.

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

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I ran into this week’s guests at a show a little while ago, and since they have just released their new podcast, I thought let’s do another two-fer episode. It’s my friends Doug Koning and Tim Nicholson. Doug and Tim’s pod is called the Best Worst Friends, where they basically see how mean they can be to each other while still being sensitive guys. It’s absolutely hysterical, and as you’ll hear in this conversation, it’s the perfect premise for these two up and coming comedians. Both started in and around the London Ontario area, and we share bad open mic stories, worst bombs, and doing standup at funerals. It’s a great talk. Please support their pod - Best Worst Friends wherever you get pods. Keep listening and sharing this pod, I really appreciate it. 

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

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My guest on episode 59 of Starting Out is my friend, fellow comedian, graphic designer of this podcast’s logo, and producer of one of the best comedy shows in Toronto, Jeff Tseng. Jeff and I have been doing standup almost the same amount of time, and we talk a lot about our own insecurities, anxieties, and about being shy as a comedian. This was an awesome talk and I was so thankful to catch up with Jeff. He produces Comedy Kapow, a weekly standup show that has been around for 6 years, every Friday at Mandy’s Bistro at 123 Danforth Ave. If you are a fan of standup, or have been thinking of trying standup, I can’t recommend Comedy Kapow enough, and I will be performing there April 1st! Follow for upcoming shows at @comedykapow. Thanks for listening, and please share the pod with someone. One GD person is all I ask!!

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

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My guest this week is a TEDx Speaker, coach, teacher, and standup comedian, Joze Piranian. I met Joze at The Corner Comedy Club, where he approached me and immediately sucked me in with his charm, openness, and mostly his self-deprecating way of addressing his lifelong stutter. Winner of the Inspirational Speaker of the Year award in 2017, Joze has shared the stage with Drake music video producer Director X, Disney’s CIO, Brendon Bouchard, Jim Kwik, Dragon Den’s Arlene Dickinson as well as comedians Hannibel Buress & Whitney Cummings. Joze’s is an incredible story, and I can't stress enough how awesome his TED Talks are. He just uploaded a new one to Youtube, and you can follow him at @yeswayjoze on Instagram or https://www.jozepiranian.com/. Thanks for listening, please share the pod with someone.

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

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This week’s guest on Starting Out is a guy I was so excited for you to hear his story because it’s a unique one, it’s my comedy brother Pete Van Dyk. Pete was a commercial banker with the goal of quitting after 5 years. 5 years turned to 15 and Pete did it, he quit his corporate job to pursue something creative. Starting in 2013 with a podcast - The Dutch Hall, which is still going strong - Pete then turned his attention to standup in and around the London area. From Norfolk county, Pete’s story is that of focus, persistence, and carving out his own niche in pursuit of living a creative life. Please support his pod - The Dutch Hall wherever you get pods, follow him on Instagram at @dutchhall, and contact him at https://www.petevandykcomedian.com/ for bookings. 

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

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It’s a first for the pod as I have not one, but two excellent comedians on Starting Out this week. It’s the comedy partnership of Brandon Sobel and Ariel Kagan, aka Bubbie's Boys.  Originally from Hamilton, Brandon has always been drawn to team work and team building, and he found an excellent one in the South African-born Ariel. We get into their individual stories, when they first clicked as friends, and of course everything they're doing now including opening up their own freakin’ comedy club called Backroom Comedy!! Give them a follow at @backroomcomedyclub. Please support the show and go see Brandon and Ariel, support their podcast, CokeDads. Thanks for listening. 

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

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This week on Starting Out it’s another guest I’ve wanted to have on for a while, comedian, co-founder of Comedy Records, former DJ on 102.1 The Edge, and all around amazing dude, Barry Taylor. Barry talks about managing a record label through the pandemic, along with some excellent advice for newer comics thinking about putting their material out there. Too quiet and shy to try standup when he was a teenager, Barry had an epiphany listening to late-night radio that that was the venue for him. So he stopped going to business school and enrolled in Radio & TV at Mohawk College. Eventually, that lead to an internship and job on air as overnight DJ at the height of 102.1 The Edge’s popularity. But none of that ever went to Barry’s head, and standup was always the thing he was going to come back to.  Not only an amazing comedian, but Comedy Records is now in it’s 12th year and going strong, and it was great to hear how it all came about. Please support Comedy Records anywhere you listen to standup, and listen to Barry’s pod, Talking Raptors, with cohost and future guest of this pod, Nick Reynoldson. Please share the pod with someone if you're enjoying. Music by Devin Bateson.

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

Thanks for listening. Especially you...