Joe Vespaziani Started comedy back in '88 and has established himself as one of the most creative and prolific comedians around, producing two CDs Ribbed 4 Your Pleasure  and  Thank you very much... enjoy the headliner.  Because of his smart, conversational style, Joe won the Seattle International Comedy Competition '98 and has toured the globe since. In this episode, he talks about his health challenges and opens up about his writing methods that have helped him write reams of strong new material every time you see him. Both Susan and Art are huge fans. Joe is both a comic's comic and an audience favorite.

Mike Wally Walter has been a stand up since 1982, performing across the U.S. and Canada and has entertained the troops in the Middle East. Mike talks with us about working as a Don Rickles impersonator, booking comedy shows,  and his successful battle with cancer. Mike is one of our longest lasting friends and a very funny guy.

Everyone has trials and tribulations. Gripes and grumbles. When life gives comedians lemons, we make whiskey sours. Susan and Art talk about a hell gig they did together for and Elks club and other fun stuff.

It's 2019 and balls are dropping! How was your New Year's Eve? Did you drink as much as you'd hoped? Broken any resolutions yet? Susan and Art look back at 2018 with a mix of nostalgia and revulsion. There were good things and bad things about '18. But the best thing is that it's behind us. Yay 2019! Here's to a brighter year with new goals and new underwear.

It's our final show of 2018 and we are finishing strong! Long time friend and comedy powerhouse Brad Upton took the time to join us on his way to a show. In addition to being one of the most sought after comedians in the country, Brad is one of the funniest and most enjoyable people to hang out with. No wonder he performs on ships 8-12 weeks a year and opens for Johnny Mathis, Smokey Robinson, Lewis Black and many others. A past winner of the Las Vegas Comedy Festival and performer on HBO's Comedy Festival, Brad has released a video Brad Upton, Live from the 509 and a CD Will Work For Food (available on Apple Music, Amazon, and Spotify). And we're so happy that recently Brad's comedy went viral on Dry Bar Comedy's Facebook post getting over 100 million views world wide, propelling his CD to #1 on the iTunes comedy chart! We couldn't be happier for one of the best comics working and coolest guys in the industry.

A past winner of both the Seattle International Comedy Competition and The Laughing Skull Comedy Festival in Atlanta, Gabriel Rutledge has appeared on Live at Gotham, Nickelodeon's Nickmom Night Out, and Laughs on FOX. Gabe has also produced three comedy albums- My Safeword Is..., Breeder, and Sometimes Laughter Hurts, all available on iTunes among other places. And he's written a book, Happiness Isn't Funny. But we just know him as a genuinely likable, great guy and a monster level funny comedian. What a fun hour this was.

Johnny "Bagpipes" Johnston is one of our oldest friends in comedy. He started when we started back in '83 at the age of 18. Even though he was too young to legally be in a bar, he grew a mustache and charmed the hell out of audiences with his rock & roll bagpipes and youthful enthusiasm. We're glad to see that he hasn't lost that 35 years later. Since moving to Victoria B.C. three decades ago, John has performed across the U.S. and Canada for hundreds of corporate parties and numerous other venues. He has also filmed a special for the Comedy Network (Stand Up Safari) and a special for Bravo Network (They Pipe Among Us). We went a little longer than usual because he has so many great stories about his comedy, his brief experience with America's Got Talent, and his extensive travels through South Africa where he and his wife founded a school and a charity African Schools (https://www.africanpreschools.org). He's been charged by a rhino and a silverback gorilla and he's met the queen. And he can tell a great story. Enjoy.

So we've been slack lately for a variety of reasons, but we're back with a half an episode of explanations and excuses that we think you'll find entertaining. If you're looking for an episode for your 18 minute drive to work, this is it.

As the smoke clears from the '18 mid term elections, we brought back our comedian/political expert Carl Wolfson to help us understand the new landscape of our country. Carl received an M.A. from UCLA in Political Science and has been a political activist for forty years.  He was the host of two progressive radio talk shows from 2007-2017. Carl really knows his facts. This episode has some laughs but it mostly it's a chance for us to talk politics. So, given the current mood of the country and our unapologetically liberal bent, it gets pretty animated. You'll be able to hear the thumping of Carl's hands on the table. If that's your cup of tea I know you'll really enjoy this episode.

Ghosts, Goblins, and Get off my porch! What do we love about Halloween and what do we dislike the most? True stories of costume triumphs and fails. (Guess which one of us had our pants fall off trick or treating). It's the start of the three month diabetes festival known as the holidays. Three months of sweets marching straight toward your mouth. What's the favorite candy? Least favorite? What's the one that's most likely to get your house toilet papered? What is it about Halloween? Is it walking around town taking candy from strangers or dressing up the way you're not allowed to the rest of the year.