Succotash

Greetings, Succotashians! I think this may be a record of time between episodes for the show. Apologies for the delay. Work, mostly, and I'm three weeks into a new diet which took some reconfiguring of my energy reserves to get the show done. Good news is that the diet's going well - dropped about 15 pounds in 3 weeks - but now Succotash is bloated. This week's epi runs about an hour and 15 minutes. We have much clippage to share, a funny song by Britcom Isabel Fay that's burning up the internet, a classic spot from our friends at Henderson's Pants, and our Burst O' Durst with our Ambassador to The Middle WIll Durst. The core of our show this time around is my interview with Hawaiian comedian David Lee. I first heard about David from his father when I was vacationing on Oahu last year. His dad's a bartender at the Outrigger Canoe Club and as we got to talking, he seemed a little less than pleased that his boy was pursuing the comedy, and was doing it in Colorado Springs of all places. Being a supporter of those who have chosen the noble profession, I was determined to get David a little attention, so I tracked him down and we got this epi's interview recorded via Skype a few days ago. His journey to the comedy stage is an interesting one, especially when you consider that not many stand-ups get their start as a drug dealer. David reveals that and more in our chat. I wanted to give a nudge to some of the places you can get Succotash nowadays, in addition to the omnipresent iTunes. Stitcher Smart Radio is a great way to stream our show to your device, whether you're on an Android or iOS gadget. And each episode gets rebroadcast over at Clutch & Wiggle Entertainment Radio, so you can pick us up there. Then there are a couple of other apps to check out as well. I've been talking up Podbay, which taps directly into iTunes' podcast library and stream whatever you select to your iDevice. And now Apple has just launched their own podcast app, which allows you to select, stream and/or download your favorite shows. Enough biz. Let's get to the stuff. Here's what's what on Epi28: Probably ScienceYour affable podscientists Matt Kirshen, Brooks Wheelan and Andy Wood return, along with their guest Bil Dwyer of TV's Battlebot fame. Thesse guys have such a good time kicking around some every day sorts of stories that this clip doesn't even get into the meaty, sciencey part of the show. (Incidentally, I'm reviewing this particular epi of PS as part of This Week In Comedy Podcasts over on Splitsider this week!) I Am IdiotHoward, Ben and Keith continue to crankout the p’casts and give us Yanks hope that not everyone in the UK is as sophisticated and cultured as that English accent would have us believe. Proudly ResentsBilling itself as “The Cult Movie Podcast”, this show tends to be pretty funny, thank to host Adam Spiegelman and his guests, who are frequently comedians. In this case, guest Bobcat Goldthwait gets together for Part 1 of a two-part interview. The clip we have features Bobcat talking about how some famous people got in (and out) of his directorial debut, the cult curio Shakes The Clown. Rob & Joe ShowRob Maher and Joe Robinson do their show live every Monday night on http://RobAndJoeShow.com. They’ve got features and guests, just like a real radio show. In the clip they've sent along, they’re talking about a potential new snack food: Dolphin! Sal & Angelo PodcastLocal (to me) podcast by San Francisco comics Sal Calanni and Angelo recently featured an interview with standup Kellen Erskine. We feature a clip with Kellen relating his perspective on the topic of auditioning for TV shows like Last Comic Standing and America's Got Talent. Thank You Hater by Clever Pie & Isabel FayPeople complain that the internet has become a place where people get away with posting outrageous things to others, mostly because they’re anonymous and there’s no retribution. Isabel Fay is a comedian in Britain who has decided to go after her faceless detractors in song. I wonder how many of the trolls Isabel is talking about in Thank You Hater have seen her video? <p><p>Electric Bonnoland (3:21)<br>Chris Bonno w/guest Dean Haglund<br>That last clip was actually from a video and so is this next one, although Chris Bonno has done podcasts before. This is going to be a very weird three minutes and twenty one seconds because this is truly meant to be seen – but truthfully, even then, it’s pretty odd. Chris’ guest is friend-of-the-show and TV’s Dean Haglund, from the Chillpak Hollywood Hour. The video’s on YouTube but I’ll have it posted at SuccotashShow.com as well.</p></p> Electric Bonnoland Comedian/musician/artist Chris Bonno has done audio podcasts before but Electric Bonnoland is video and truly weird. Chris’ guest is friend-of-Succotash and TV’s Dean Haglund, from the Chillpak Hollywood Hour. We've got the meaty part of the audio on our podcast, but Electic Bonnoland has to be seen to be...seen. Mimberz & The A-Hole (2:41)<br>I don’t know a lot about Mimberz and The A-Hole, a couple of guys podcasting “proudly out of Tampa, Florida”. But they’re past 50 epis now and they’re not afraid to talk about anything. Here’s a taste… Mimberz & The A-Hole I don’t know a lot about Mimberz and The A-Hole, a couple of guys podcasting “proudly out of Tampa, Florida”. But they’re past 50 epis now and they’re not afraid to talk about anything. Click in for a taste of MATA… The Rigid FistNew to the podcast scene is The Rigid Fist, an offering from Britain hosted by Kat Soren. (CORRECTION: The show's from Australia! Sorry, Kat!) I don’t know a whole lot about it, just that it’s getting some early talk up from some of the guys that like us — Royal & Doodall, Gee & Jay — the usual suspects. It seems to be Kat by himself but I’ve gotten the one clip. According to the homesite, there’s Uncle Morty and then various random guests. Kat sent in a rather sketchy boyhood tale. That's pretty much going to do it for your load of Succotash this time around. Don't hog the plate - when you're done, be sure to pass it around! — Marc Hershon

We're back in Studio P in Sausalito for Epi27, which means the show always sounds better and I certainly feel better when engineer/producer Joe Paulino is pushing the buttons and flipping the switches. PLUS it gives us the chance for another Boozin' With Bill segment, where our loyal booth announcer Bill Haywatt shares a libation with us that he picked up somewhere during his illustrious (some might say spotty) career in radio.

Unfortunately, Bill's drink this time – Barbecue Punch – turns out to be a dreadful cautionary tale. I'm reproducing the formula here but be warned: This drink is not for the timid, smart or sane.

Hideous beverage aside, it's a fast-paced episode, with a bunch of clips, a dip into the TweetSack, our Burst O' Durst, and a brand new Henderson's Pants spot for their newest line, The Drifter Chino.

Musically, I found a fun little ditty called Incompetent's Lament by Paul & Storm, a duo that has cranked out a lot of comedy tunes, much of which is available via their website. They also have their own podcast, Paul and Storm Talk About Some Stuff for Five to Ten Minutes (On Average), so click over and give 'em a listen.

Here's what's in the lineup this time:

Comedy Bang Bang

This is the week that CBB host Scott Aukerman brings his podcast to television. (Starts Friday, June 8, on IFC.) Our cut is from a recent audio version of the show, featuring comedian guests Sara Silverman and Kyle Dunnigan, who spend some time dissecting one of Sarah’s first TV roles – playing a scientist on Star Trek Voyager.

The Gentleman’s Club

Comic Caleb Bacon runs The Gentleman’s Club: Part comedy, part sports, part strippers and strippers’ parts. In this clip, Caleb’s talking to a “Vegas insider”, Rodric Bradford, about something everyone going to Sin City is looking for – indoor skydiving.

How Was Your Week?

Julie Klausner with Eddie Pepitone

Comedy writer/performer, podcaster, and author Julie Klausner hosts How Was Your Week, which was recently named one of the best comedy podcasts by the New York Times, Rolling Stone & GQ. In the clip we have, she gets into the touchy subject of panic attacks with the Bitter Buddha himself, Eddie Pepitone.

Too Heavy To Skydive

THTS is a big ol’ roundtable chat show with a great title. Hosts Matt, Alex, Erik, Fred, Neil, and Tim talk about news, sports, pop culture, movies, and…porn. But at least it's tasteful, sharing AND ecological porn. Check out their many segments, contributors and other stuff.

Murphy’s Law & The Mercenaries

Shane Murphy, Neil Mercener and Geoff Jewel host one of podcasting's “shootin’ the shit” show – a bunch of guys sitting around and talking about whatever’s going on. Nothing wrong with that, and it's nice to see these guys have differences of opinion about some of the subjects they talk about.

Mustache Rangers

Podcasts don't have to be long to be funny and entertaining. A number of the shows I don't pick clips from could take that lesson from The Mustache Rangers. The improvised episodes are short and clever, as performed by Corey Anderson and Aric McKeown. Local favorites of the Twin Cities, the show was named Best Podcast of 2011 by Mpls St Paul magazine. Note: They have a live version of The Mustache Rangers coming up on June 21st at the Twin Cities Improv Festival.

Nobody Likes Onions

Patrick Melton with Ryan Stout

Comedian and podcast pioneer Patrick Melton has one of the longest running podcasts around. Nobody Likes Onions started back in 2005. For his seventh anniversary, he has comedian Ryan Stout in the studio where, in this clip, Patrick reveals that he used to steal vans and sell waffles out of them. Hey, me too!

Sklarbro County

As brother Randy & Jason Sklar near Episode 100 of their popular podcast Sklarbro Country, their listeners are clamoring for more than one show a week. Here's their answer: Take the "r" out of Country. Shorter, easier to produce, with more timely, time-sensitive sports stories.

We wrap up Epi27 with a Burst O’ Durst, in which our Ambassador to the Middle, political wit Will Durst talks about Mitt Romney’s lack of discernible position on…anything.

— Marc Hershon

Joe Klocek

No clips this episode. Just warning you up front. Normally we bring you a barrage of comedy podcast clips from around the Net of Inter (hence our subtitle, the Comedy Podcast Podcast.) This episode there's mostly just room enough for my interview with our special guest Joe Klocek. NEXT epi, however, there will be a barrelful of clippage and no interview.

You'll like Joe. He's a funny, engaging standup comedian, solidly based in the San Francisco comedy scene — "a big fish in a small pond" as he puts it. Was not moving to Los Angeles or New York earlier in his career a misstep? Could be — we get to that and a whole lot more in our chat that took place this past week in the green room at San Francisco's historic Punchline Comedy Club. (A visit that really took me back, as I was hanging (and helping) out at the Punchline when it first opened more than 30 (!) years ago.)

If you're within hailing distance of The City By The Bay, do yourself a favor and check out Joe's monthly show Previously Secret Information (or PSI.) He, along with Bruce Pachtman and Ty Mckenzie, have been producing this kickass monthly storytelling show. Often featuring comedians, PSI also has actors, writers and other show folk telling tales that, while often humorous in part, stray frequently into other emotional landscapes that make for the best stories. Coming up in June you can not only catch Joe in the show, but also Jamie De Wolf, C.W. Nevius, Erika Lutz, and Jack Boulwere. Shows happen at Stage Werx Theater, 446 Valencia St. in the Mission District.

Although there aren't any podcast clips per se in this epi, you will hear I Want To Win, a cut off Karen Kilgariff's album, Behind You. Funny lady, funny songs — for just $3 bucks, you can download it from BandCamp.com.

And, of course, we have our Burst O' Durst with a slightly belated Memorial Day message from comedy's Ambassador to the Middle, Will Durst.

Before I forget, big thanks to those Succotash listeners who contributed to friend-of-the-show Dean Haglund's Kickstarter campaign. The X-Files/Lone Gunmen alum reached his goal for the funds needed to publish his planned Shock n' Awesome graphic novel!

Since we don't have any podcast clips this time around, it seems like a good opportunity to remind any comedy podcasters that you're always welcome to submit a 3-5 minute MP3 clip from your show to me by sending it to [email protected].

That's about it. Shorter bit of blather from me than usual. More time for you to enjoy my chat with Joe Klocek! When you get done, kindly pass the Succotash!

— Marc Hershon

I always miss our engineer/producer Joe Paulino and the comfort of the awesome Studio P, but a little less so this show because Succotash Epi25 comes directly from the Four Seasons Resort on the island of Maui, Hawaii! No special reason, other than the fact I got a chance to hop over to the islands with friend-of-Succotash Dana Carvey as part of my celebrity ride-along program. It won't sound any different, unfortunately, but you might be able to hear the exotic birds squawking in the courtyard out the window.

Actually it DOES sound a little different in one regard: I recorded my tracks with the snappy new iRigMic Cast from 1K Multimedia - a tiny little microphone that plugs directly into the input jack on an iPhone, iPad or Android. GREAT for poddin' on the road!

We start off with a Kickstarter update from the X-Files Dean Haglund, who is THIS close to reaching his $7000 goal in order to get his Shock N' Awesome graphic novel off the ground. Just a few days left and, if he DOESN'T get the 7G's, he gets nothing. So start clickin' and kickin' right now - hit the link over in the right hand column of the blog or just click right here.

Our special guest this epi is Rich Pinder, one-quarter of the podcast team known as The Anti-Semantic Show. I had a nice chat with him via Skype this past week and we hit on podcasting in general, the equipment his guys use, the prep they do (and DON'T do for the show), and just how this ragtag team of web squawkers got together.

We have a new comedy ditty this epi, Let Your Geek Flag Fly, from John Anealio and his album Geek Dad. Thanks to editing, you'd never I had a hell of a time with the pronunciation of John's last name every time I had to say it...so I left one of the stumbling runs at it in the show. You can find more funny tunage from him at JohnAnealio.com.

As usual, we close out the show with Will Durst who, as the Presidential election looms ever closer, hones his political barbs sharper and sharper. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter @WillDurst.

There are not as many clips as we normally carry this week, because of the interview, but we still have a goodly amount of mostly new (and some old) podcast friends. Who, you're wondering? Take a looksee...

Truth Or TruthAnother podcast with semi-anonymous hosts, Truth Or Truth has John and Brandon at the helm. They're been doing their thing - bantering about news stories, movies, TV, entertainment...in short whatever's going on. Check ‘em out at http://truthortruth.com or on iTunes.

Oddcast PodcastFrom over in the UK, Essex to be more precise, comes the Oddcast podcast with Adam Barker, Will and Ash. These guys do a lot on movies, looking not just at new releases but older films as well, and the actors who star or starred in them, too! They've hitched their wagon to the Pod Gods Network and have over a year under their podcasting belts. Homesite is http://oddpoduk.wordpress.com or iTunes.

Monday Morning PodcastI have to apologize to comedian Bill Burr. I’ve been meaning to play something from his show, the Monday Morning Podcast, for a while but something screwy had happened with my iTunes subscription to it and I wasn’t picking it up every week. (Come on, I have a LOT of podcasts streaming into Succotash Sentral every week!) Funny guy. Funny podcast. Bill Burr. Find him at http://BillBurr.com, iTunes and look for his stuff on YouTube, too!

Mental Overload ShowWe play a promo from Jay, Figz and Ace from the Mental Overload show. They sound funny, so check out the show at http://www.mentaloverloadshow.com or on iTunes.

Cinematic MethodWe've featured these guys before but Gerry, Chris and Kyle are back. Playing movie clips, reviewing the clips and then predicting where the actual films are going to net out on the Rotten Tomatoes website. Fun premise for a site and guys that really have some nice banter going on. Catch up with them at http://cinematicmethod.com and iTunes.

As some of you know, I'm a regular contributor to Jesse David Fox's This Week In Comedy Podcasts up on Splitsider.com. Or maybe I should start saying irregular — I missed the deadline this week due to my Hawaii trip and by the time I got my review for the Laughspin Podcast #4 submitted, it was too late. Rather than have all that hard work disappear into the ether, I figured I'd drop it in here:

Comedy for comedy's sake has long been the mainstay of the comedy podcast. Interviews with comedians, audio sketchcasts and even improvisation with suggestions furnished via Twitter have all been part of the comedy podcast engine. Now the news of comedy has reached the download stage with the introduction of the Laughspin Podcast. Originating from Laughspin.com (known as PunchlineMagazine.com up until a year ago) and aims to bring its listeners all the news that's fit to chat about in the world of comedy. Including comedy podcasts. Hosted by Mike Gogel, with Laughspin's editor-in-chief Dylan Gadino Skyping in to help, it remains to be seen if there's enough of an audience to sustain what's basically an unfunny take on comedy news. The two guys are pretty engaging but it's not their place to bring the funny. This show's also not going to be evergreen - when news becomes old news, it no longer makes for compelling listening. So its audience is going to catch it fresh each week and the guys are going to have to keep it fresh just as often. In this episode they talk about NBC's comedy-laden upfronts (the annual trotting out of upcoming new shows for the media), as well as talking about the recent passing of East Coast stalwart Rich Ramirez. There is some comedy to be had in that they play a couple of clips each week related to stories. In their fourth episode, Gogen and Gadino mentioned Comedy Central's new show, The Half Hour, which gave them the excuse to play something from Rory Scovel, who will appear in the premiere episode. Can a podcast about the business of comedy sustain itself? Stay tuned.

That's what's the show this epi. We should be coming to you from Studio P next time, and I'm looking forward to a long overdue Boozin' With Bill. In the meantime, enjoy the hell out of this show and please remember to pass the Succotash!

— Marc Hershon

This is Episode 24 of Succotash, the Comedy Podcast Podcast! We’ve got clips. We’ve got the Burst O’ Durst. We’ve got an interview with actor/comedian/artist and podcaster Dean Haglund to talk about his exciting new Kickstarter project. We’ve got a funny song by comedian/songstress/chanteuse Karen Kilgariff from her album “Behind You”. A classic Henderson’s Pants commercial perhaps. And that about it.

Dean Haglund

A little bit more about Mr. Haglund. Fans of the XFiles and The Lone Gunmen know him as Langley, the gangly long-haired conspiracy wonk. He's also renowned for his improv and standup comedy chops. And Succotashians have heard Dean and his partner-in-podcasting, Phil Leirness, declared by me to be "podcast royalty" (given the tenure of their show Chillpak Hollywood Hour) when I interviewed them back in Succotash Epi4. In addition to those performance nuggets, Dean is also a talented painter and using that skill to create Shock N' Awesome, a graphic novel tracing the adventures and travails of a trio of intrepid journalists that may (or may not) bear a resemblance to three conspiracy theorists you might recognize. This is your chance to jump in and be a part of something cool. Click on the Kickstarter link over there on the right-hand side or just click here.

Starting immediately, the Succotash podcasts are being re-broadcast along with a gaggle of other podcasts over Clutch & Wiggle Entertainment, the home of…Clutch & Wiggle. We delighted to be asked to be part of that crew! So now you can add that outlet as well as iTunes, Stitcher and our own homesite as a place to get the latest serving of Succotash!

I've been making an effort to drop a bit more comedy-related music into the show. After listening to Karen Kilgariff sing as a guest on the recent 100th episode of the Walking The Room podcast with Greg Behrendt and Dave Anthony, I bought her album, Behind You, from BandCamp.com. And loved it! So I contacted her via Twitter and asked if we could feature her music on Succotash. This epi we start in with her song, Look At Your Phone.

What podcast clips have we got on tap for you in Epi24? So glad you asked...

Dead Authors Podcast

A monthly podcast with Paul F. Tompkins as H.G. Wells, using his time travel technology to bring in deceased authors to mix it up, reveal something of themselves and reflect on our world from their unique perspective. His guests in this clip are Paul Adomian as Friedrich Nietzsche and Paul Scheer as H.P. Lovecraft.

Clutch & Wiggle

Rob and Craig (you can figure out which is Clutch and which is Wiggle) are likely the only guys doing their podcast from atop an air hockey table. These guys are true podcast enthusiasts.

This Week with Larry Miller

Larry Miller is still recuperating from a nasty fall he took over a month ago. Our clip is show producer Jeff Fox filling the audience in on Larry's progress and health. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Larry!

Laughspin Podcast

Editor-in-chief at Laughspin.com, Dylan Gadino, and his co-host Mike Gogen bring the latest in comedy news and the comedy business in general (including podcasts) every week. They're just getting started and this clip is from their Epi3. Give a listen!

Comedy A Go Go

Our friend Dave Nelson hosts this show which often brings us insightful interview with comedians who perform across the spectrum, from emcess to headliners. This clip is from a recent show featuring W. Kamau Bell, who is still touring with his Laughter Against The Machine show (co-starring Nato Green and Janine Brito. At the same time, he's hosting a new FX TV show porduced by Chris Rock.

Cocktails & Kimonos

Retep and Big D bring their booming announcer pipes to the podcast world. They're got a point of view on a variety of issues including the ones in this clip that begins with a story about a woman who overdosed on coke...Coca-Cola, that is.

The Man Cave Podcast

Our first clip this show was from a monthly podcast. Jeff Schaeffer and Bobby Shortle ambitiously host a daily show. It's pretty well put together, too: Regular features, chats about sports, movies and pop culture-y things. This clip is a couple of weeks oldb, but with the success of the Avengers movie, I thought their discussion of how Iron Man might be featured in the film was apropos.

Shotgun Storyworthy

The monthly gameshow spinoff of the Storyworthy podcast, both hosted by Christine Blackburn and Hannes Phinney, is a hoot and a half. A dozen contestants are given the subject for a story by spinning the show's "Wheel of Truth", and then without any prep time, have to tell their story in one minute. The winner gets a prize. You get a lot of laughs.

Burst O' Durst

This episode our intrepid pundit Will Durst dips his wit into the steaming pool of Republican vice-presidential considerations. Nasty business.

All right. That's it. It's even better than it reads so get listening!

As always, please remember to pass the Succotash!

— Marc Hershon

It's been roughly a year this month since I started Succotash and it's been an very interesting journey just getting to this point. Originally I foresaw us moving into a weekly model but as you can see, with us just now getting to Epi23, we didn't even get to a pair of shows a month. I've been working on streamlining the workflow, however, and hopes are that the remainder of 2012 will see more Succotash more often! Dana Carvey, Tom Carvey & Frank Cronin For the third time, Dana Carvey graces us in Studio P ("The Home of The Hit!") and he's not alone. Frank Cronin is a globetrotting Irishman, capturing his journeys on video and posting on YouTube on his Glowpunk channel. Currently in the United States for as long as his visa holds out, he's going to travel the country with his video camera, grabbing as much Americana as his hard drive will hold. This is Frank's very first podcast appearance, which makes this a Succotash exclusive. And, in another excloo, we also have Tom Carvey, in the studio — Dana's breakdancing teenage son. (Although there's no breakdancing in the show, Frank WILL have a video up soon featuring Tom's crew doing their thing.) Early in this show, I feature an audio clip from THIS video by Frank, called Cliff Jump. It's all about plunging off rocky ledges into the freezing cold North Atlantic on the coast of Ireland. Here's the video in its entirety...

Even with all of these guests, we got in a pile of comedy podcast clips AND our Burst O' Durst. Of course, the show also runs a full hour and a half. (Try THAT on terrestrial radio!) Here's who we have this time out:

PF's Tape Recorder PF Wilson uses his tape recorder to capture life's little moments (TV, too) and then the clips he selects are the springboards for commentary and sketches. This particular taste deals with a not-too-bright, pooch-stealing cable guy. The show's an inventive idea. Get more nuggets from the source, at either http://pfradio.podbean.com/ or on iTunes. The Gee & Jay Show I've referred to guest Frank Cronin as Succotash's Irish interpreter in the past but he earns his keep this show as we spin three clips from Belfast's The Gee & Jay Show. These lads - Gavin and James - host a rollicking time and the more listen the more you understand. For more immersion, hit http://geeandjayshow.com/ or iTunes. The JV Club This new podcast on the Nerdist site is hosted by actress/comedian/SF Sketchfest organizer Janet Varney. More conversation than interview, Janet goes one-on-one with a female guest who, like Janet, is in the entertainment world. In this clip, her guest is comedian Natasha Leggero. You can get extra helpings of the JV Club over at http://www.nerdist.com/podcast/the-jv-club/ or on iTunes. Jay V Mail This podcast, hosted by Jay V and Brady, started back in 2005, making it one of the earliest podcasts around. But then it disappeared two years later, only to reappear last year. Simple premise: Jay V answers his mail. One letter, one episode. They rarely run over 10 minutes. The hot button topic this clip? Zombies. More? Go: http://www.blubrry.com/jayvmail/, iTunes or Stitcher Smart Radio. Don't Quit Your Daycast DQYD is a new show, with about a dozen epi's now. And it's hosted by friend-of-Succotash Ed Wallick, who continues to sharpen his wit on bits of rant. Turns out that Ed doesn't like it when dismembered human feet wash up on his nearby beach. Who knew? Find Ed lurking at http://dontquityourdaycast.com/ as well as on iTunes. I Am Idiot Ben, Keith and Howard (they put the i's in Idiot…) are back for a second time, this time because one of the boy's has scribbled a children's book. Spoiler Alert: It sucks. And the others are only too happy to critique it. More in store at http://www.iamidiotcentral.com/ or on iTunes. The Green Room We haven't featured Sean Green's little slice of podcastland since one of our very first episodes, so it's good to be back in touch. And there's a great story by his guest Tess Barker about when her dad tried to scare her straight. Didn't work. But funny getting there. Drop into the Green Room at http://seantgreen.com/, iTunes or Stitcher. The Thom & Jeff Show These former radio guys - Thom and Jeff - have found a new lease on broadcasting life by jumping into a podcast. In this clip, they're playing a little something they like to call The Fuck No Game. Get more fun features and laughs at http://thethomandjeffshow.com/ or on iTunes. Burst O' Durst This time around, our in-house political pundit Will Durst points out how we can expect to watch Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney morph his performance and perspective into something that an unsuspecting moderate or liberal might fall for...if they were brain dead. Get more Durst at http://WillDurst.com or catch his tweet on Twitter @WillDurst. Things to remember: Rate Succotash on iTunes! Your rankings and reviews help to push us out into the light where more people can see us! Also, click on the Donate button on the website to contribute to the Save Our Hard Drive Drive! Will less than a hundred bucks so far, we may never get this drive fixed and the trapped interviews off of it. so give, won't you? And buy some merch at the Succotashery! Just click the link on our blog page. That's it. Until next time, please pass the Succotash! — Marc Hershon

I gotta tell you - trying to pull a podcast together with a fulltime job while moving and having sketchy Internet connectivity is harder than it sounds. Apologies for the gap between 'casts. And for the sound quality on this particular epi. Not only was I NOT in Studio P with ace producer/engineer Joe Paulino, but our featured interview with comedian/actor-turned-director/producer Jordan Brady turned out to be really echo-y, which I didn't discover until after we were all done. And then my audio wraparounds during the show were recorded late at night and I had to be quiet, so the whole episode sounds like it's been commentated by a golf announcer.

That rundown get you in the mood to listen?

Audio weirdness aside, this is a fun interview with Jordan, who I first met years ago during the half year he lived in San Francisco during his life as a road comic. He's gone on to direct some films, some TV and a boatload of commercials, but what put him back on the comedy radar bigtime was his release of I Am Comic, a documentary about being a comedian in and around the real world. We talk about that and a whole lot more in this chat.

Jordan's "Empty Nest" Residuals Check

Jordan is a big podcast fan and we not only talk about some of his faves but we play a few clips from them, too. Plus I've got some new finds that I'm happy to share with you in this episode. Throw in a classic Henderson's Pants spot, our Burst O' Durst with Will Durst and you've got yourself a massive helping of Succotash (the episode runs more than an hour and fifteen minutes.)

Here's who we're listening to this week...

Pub Guys

From a watering hole in north Texas comes Brian, Kyle, Terrill, Mike, and Curtis — the Pub Guys. These guys have logged more than 90 episodes, all from taverns and they've definitely created their own style and format. Their listeners become contributors to the show (and sometime even co-hosts), so check 'em out on iTunes and Stitcher. They also are big supporters of podcasts, so drop by their homesite at PubGuys.com if you want some recommendations on even more ear munchies.

Tiny Odd Conversations

I just discovered this quirky funfest, hosted by Travis and Brandi, and liked what I heard enough to give them a review over at This Week In Comedy Podcasting on Splitsider.com. Turns out that Travis is the son of comedian/actor Blake Clark, who drops in to bump memories with his son about raising a family when you make most of your living on the road. They're 40+ epis in, so get yourself more tiny and odd at TOCpod.com or on iTunes.

Dylan Brody's Neighbor's Couch

A lot of the podcasts I find on my own but we're getting more and more pings on Twitter from podcasters themselves. I'd been following the tweets of comedy writer Darren Staley (aka @Crobama) and didn't realize he was the host of this homegrown interview-based podcast. Check out his homesite for the backstory on the show's title. And to hear more, he does his show on Blog Talk Radio or you can scoop it up later at iTunes.

You Made It Weird

Guest Jordan Brady is a big fan of this fast-growing podcast on the Nerdist network and so am I. Host Pete Holmes is a comedian and the voice of the ETrade baby on TV - how's that for a pair of credits? He mostly manic in his p'cast and his guest often seem to get caught up in his energy. One guy who is too centered to be swayed is Larry Miller, who guests on this clip. Check out YMIW over at Nerdist.com or on iTunes.

WTF

The most popular show in podcasting today? Quite possibly, and with good reason. Host Marc Maron knows his way around an interview and usually, if its a comedy contemporary, he can dig pretty deep (often fueled by an ancient jealously the host has for the success of others.) In this case he's got nothing but adoration for the unassuming, comically brilliant Fred Willard. There's so much more over at WTFpod.com, iTunes and you might even consider picking yourself Maron's smartphone app for even more goodies.

Doug Loves Movies

There was a time when we weren't actively listening to DLM, way back after Epi9 when host Doug Benson had sent me a message requesting we not play clip from it because he didn't think the humor translated well in short chunks. AFter seeing guest Jordan Brady tweet about it being one of his favorite p'casts (and my subsequent followup as to why we don't feature it on Succotash), I received another message from Benson that, in essence, gave his blessing to play a clip once in a while. So we're back! And this is a rollicking sample, feature Doug with guests Pete Holmes, Rob Huebel, Kumail Nanjiani and Matt Myra.

That's everything I could cram in this time around. Hope you enjoy it - sound problems aside - and that you remember to pass the Succotash!

— Marc Hershon

Succotash is legal! Well, at least we've turned 21, as in episode 21. Now that our podcast is officially an adult, we intend to stay out late, stop listening to our parents, and vote for whatever candidate spends the most money on TV commercials.

I'm continuing the campaign we kicked off last episode, the Save Our Hard Drive Drive. In an effort to stir more emotions about donating money to our efforts to retrieve some unproduced interviews off of my broken external hard drive, I feature a quick Skype conversation with comedian/writer/podcaster Ed Crasnick, who is the subject of one of the lost interviews.

Here's the picture that I promised I'd include during this podcast - it's the contents of the "Bob Ducca Resolution Ointment Application Kit" that I discovered included in a shipment I'd ordered from First Aid Global in Tarzana. Considered that image of my eyeball is from my @hershco Twitter avatar, I have to assume that Todd West, GM of the company and whose card was included in the bag, must be a Succotash passer. I love it!

In addition to the bouquet of comedy podcast clips included in this 'sode, and the chat with Mr. Crasnick, I've got a couple of other little tidbits: An audio sketch by Steve Shaw from New York, a short musical ditty by writer Chet Haase and a fresh new commercial from the good folks at Henderson's Pants. Speaking of which, our announcer Bill Heywatt is observing Lent this year and has sworn off the sauce until after Easter. So in lieu of Boozin' With Bill, we have him onboard reading an original poem, Ode To A Rose.

This episode is capped off, as usual, by friend-of-Succotash and top-notch political wag Will Durst in our Burst O' Durst. (Get more of him at http://WillDurst.com and watch him tweet as @WillDurst on Twitter!)

Comedy podcast-wise, here's who we have in this new episode:

Affirmation Nation with Bob Ducca

This installment of AN is about three weeks old and was called in by Bob from the road. I'm a little concerned that there's been nothing new since then. Is Bob okay? You might check in with http://Earwolf.com or on iTunes to see if Mr. Ducca's been rescued.

The David Feldman Show

The edgy, funny, politically savvy David Feldman continues to create entertaining content each week for his show on Peninsula radio, which is then released as a podcast. This particular clip delves into the news of the Richard Nixon love letters to wife Pat that were recently made public, and features Frank Conniff and Rick Overton doing the voice of Nixon. Catch all the fun at http://DavidFeldmanComedy.com, iTunes or on Stitcher.

Delicious Mediocrity

After some 86 episodes, the guys behind this Seattle-based comedy p'cast are calling it quits. Well, not quits, but they ARE switching gears, changing formats and ditching the current title in favor of a new monthly show that will be performed in front of a live audience. This is part of their farewell announcement.

Girl On Guy

Providing a woman's touch to the heavily testosteroned world of comedy podcasts, comedian Aisha Tyler goes one-on-one with Jimmy Pardo. Pardo's Never Not Funny podcast set the bar for comedy podcasts when he hit the 'net in 2006 with a paid model for a show and he proved the exception to the rule that people wouldn't pay for such a thing. Check out the full conversation at http://GirlOnGuy.net, iTunes or download her smartphone app for iOS or Android.

Podsmack

Fun title for a rollicking show from Walla, Australia. The three hosts - Matt Olsen, Sheyne Halloran, and Dana Simpson - are less than a dozen episodes into the podcasting game so far, but they're such big supporters of Succotash that we figured we'd give 'em a spin. The focus of this particular clip was so captivating that it actually inspired this week's Henderson' Pants ad. See more of them at http://podsmack.net or on iTunes.

The Rob & Joe Show

Booming out of the Baltimore area, comedian/radio personalities Rob Maher and Joe Robinson have pulled themselves from the rubble of terrestrial radio and now put this show on live, online, every Monday night at 7:30 PM EDT. It then gets the podcast treatment at http://RobAndJoeShow.com and on iTunes.

The Thrilling Adventure Hour

TAH is one of the hottest comedy tickets for live shows in Los Angeles. It stages once a month and sells out way in advance. Presented in the fashion of an old-style radio show, it's a perfect format for modern-style podcasting. This clip features TV star Nathon Fillion (Castle, Firefly) as Cactoid Jim, King of the Martian Prairie.

BTW, this 21st episode of Succotash originates from Studio P in Sausalito, California - The Home of The Hit! - and I want to thank our engineer/producer Joe Paulino for pulling it all together, as well as Scott Carvey, our Musical Director.

If there's a comedy podcast out there that YOU listen to (or that you HOST), feel free to tell us all about it via [email protected], on our Succotash Hotline at (818) 921-7212.

Until next time, please remember to pass the Succotash!

— Marc Hershon

I had no idea it was going to take this long to get to the next episode of Succotash. Between moving, a bum hard drive and the day gig (you don't think podcasting actually pays, do you?), it's been hard to scrape this epi together. But because it's been so long since the last show, I kicked in an extra half hour of audio goodness.

Dorien Davies and Kenny Stevenson

The core of this epi is my interview with Kenny Stevenson and Dorien Davies, a couple of sketch players, actors and now movie "hyphenates" who were recently in range while Kenny's group Oh, Brother! was performing in the 2012 San Francisco Sketchfest. (A few years ago, the three of us were also heavily involved in an innovative LA-based sketch group, called Fries On The Side.) I caught them on a sunny Sunday just before they headed back down south and we did the interview in Washington Square Park. (Needless to say, the audio experience of being outside is a little different than the perfectly balanced environs of Studio P - so please bear with the lesser sound quality.)

Kenny and Dorien not only talk about their experiences going through training and performances with The Groundlings in LA, but the excitement of writing, producing and starring in their first feature-length film. Missed Connections is heading for film festivals starting this month, so get the inside scoop on how it all came about right here.

During a break in the interview, I play Drinking Beer And Smoking Cigarettes, a novelty comedy song by comedian Perry Kurtz that dropped on YouTube less than a month ago and already has almost a million hits.

Tacking on an extra half-hour allows us to hear a decent number of podcast clips as well. Here are the shows in store for you, along with links to their homesites:

• Way Too Hip Radio

I've been meaning to get a clip up from LyonHart and Labrat for some time. I had an interview with LyonHart back when Succotash was just a few episodes old and they've been big supporters of the show You can check them out live every Monday night at 7 PM EST at http://WayTooHip.com or afterwards on iTunes.

• The Dana Gould Hour

Our clip is harvested from the second-ever episode of The Dana Gould Hour, a brand new offering from the show's namesake, who is a very funny comedian and writer (most notably on The Simpsons). In this segment, he's joined by fellow comic and writer Ed Crasnick. This and all future episodes of TDGH can be had at http://DanaGould.com and on iTunes.

• Probably Science

What is it about comedians and science? From Bill Nye, The Science Guy to the Professor Blastoff podcast, they go together like Goober's peanut butter and jelly. This newcomer to the podcast fold (less than a dozen 'sodes so far) features a trio of self-avowed "professional comedians and incompetent scientists" - Matt Kirshen, Brooks Wheelan, and Andy Wood - who take a look at science-oriented items in the news and have at them. Episodes also features guests, such as this clip from epi7 with Kyle Kinane. Catch up with the eggheads at http://ProbablyScience.com and iTunes.

• Royal & Doodall

This pair of rollicking Brits - Angus Doodall and Tommy Royal - have been stalwart retweeters of our Succotash Twitter feed and are fans of the show, despite the fact we haven't gotten around to playing a clip from their show...until now. In this clip, a segment they call "Redneck Sports", you'll hear their impression of a couple of Southern-fried hicks. There's a lot more to be had at http://RoyalAndDoodall.podbean.com or on iTunes.

• The Anti-Semantic Show

These spirited East Coasters - Ryan Anti-Hero, Pinder, Pradogod and Drew - describe themselves gleefully as "four assholes with microphones" so prepare to take the show as advertised. It's all in good fun, of course, including this clip where they're talking about possible ways, if unconventional, ways to protect yourself from a wolf attack. Find more fun at http://anti.libsyn.com and iTunes.

• Snitch & Lins

This is why it helps to reach out and let us know about your comedy podcast. Michael Snitch and Lindsey Price have just dropped their 30th 'sode and I'd never heard of them until they shot me a clip from their show. Have a listen and go find yourself a bunch more at http://SnitchAndIns.com or on iTunes. You can even see them here on YouTube.

We close the show with a Burst O' Durst, our episodic commentary by political comic and raging moderate Will Durst. Find more of his insights at http://WillDurst.com and follow him on Twitter @WillDurst.

To help remind you that we now have merchandise, faithful listener Mary Bernstein got herself a Succotash baseball jersey and is currently using a picture of her in it as her Twitter avatar (follow her @MaryElizabethhB). Take a look...

Finally, I've found a good use for funds that we take in through our Donate button on the website. (You DO know that we are listener-supported, right?) I have several very good interviews with comedian friends that are trapped on the faulty hard drive I mentioned way back at the start of this blog. turns out that it's going to cost a cool $1000 bucks to retrieve the data off that drive, so I'm kicking off the Succotash Save Our Hard Drive Drive! So far, we've still got $988 to go, so give generously won't you? And we'll see you back here next time.

Until then, please pass the Succotash!

Cheers,

Marc Hershon

This epi is really a mixed bag. No interview this time around, but plenty o' clippage. Including two of the biggest big names in show biz, stuff from across the pond in the UK. And a song — more or less — from past guest and Friend of the Succotash Fred Stoller, all about a podcast interview gone wrong.

Are podcasts changing the way people relate with each other? The more of them I listen to, the more I believe that it may turn out to be doing so, slowly but surely. We've got a clip from one show where a host returns after a stay in a mental health facility and I talk a bit about how such a thing used to be something shameful, not to be discussed. The way the others on the show treat the situation takes a lot of the gravitas out of the proceedings. (You may heard about comedian Todd Glass and his recent visit to Marc Maron's WTF podcast, where he chose to reveal that he is not a heterosexual. Again, a fascinating (and brave) approach to breaking social convention wide open.)

As trumpeted in the headline for this epi, our booth announcer Bill Haywatt returns for a Boozin' With Bill segment. His featured drink, "Life & Death", takes so long to prepare that we end up playing a couple of clips before drinking this most recent concoction. Follow the directions and prepare the recipe at your own risk.

You can now get Succotash all over yourself by patronizing our webstore and grabbing some of our merch over at the Succotashery. If you don't want to help us to keep the show going that way, perhaps you'd consider giving our Donate button a click and shoot us some bucks. It's right on our site, on the right.

Here's a rundown of this epi's clips. Click their titles for links to their home sites or check iTunes or Stitcher Smart Radio for the episodes...

Here's The ThingCatch a few minutes of superstar actor Alec Baldwin, slumming in podcastland and interviewing superstar executive producer Lorne Michaels. Baldwin talks about his experience of hosting Michael's baby, Saturday Night Live, and does he say the writers raped him? You'll have to listen...

IllusionoidThis show is fast becoming a favorite of mine — some shows I listen to just for the clips, favorites I catch every week — and these Toronto-based improvisors (Paul Bates, Lee Smart and Nug Nahrgang) JUST took the coveted Globehead Improv Tournament championship for 2012. In this clip, they are joined by Whose Line Is It Anyway alum Colin Machrie.

The Last Podcaster StandingAs mentioned above, this clip earmarks an interesting milestone in comedy podcasting: A near-straight forward account with a regular kind of guy revealing the depths of the difficulty of dealing with everyday life. To the point where the guy — TK1 — checked himself into a mental hospital. His sympathetic-yet-laughing confederates on the show (Grant, Jason, Joe, Tom, and Stephanie) make his re-entry as painless as four cut-ups possibly can, one imagines.

Van Full Of CandyThe guys from VFOC are trying their hands (mouths?) at livecasting (as opposed to podcasting) and I happened to be privy to their "Episode Zero" test of the system over at Blog Talk Radio. So I called in to see how it was going.

I Am IdiotOver in London, three blokes (Howard, Keith and Ben) are I Am Idiot.They shot this clip over to me and most of the action deals with a little mind game they like to call "Impossible Choices".

Self-Help For StonersAuthor Robert "Chazz" Chute has turn the topic (and title) of one of his books, Self-Help For Stoners, in a platform (and title) for a podcast. Here we catch a blast from his Letters section. (Wonder if he's going to turn another of his tomes into podcast fodder? It's got a great title: Death & Mind Control (For Fun And Profit).

Nick Creeps On PeepsThere's a podcast for everything, as is proven by Nick Gauss, host/stalker of NCOP. In this clip, he's joined by one of his co-hosts from the other podcast he's involved with, Divided by Zero. In each edition, Nick stakes out some person to watch in a public place, then riffs on what they're doing and what their lives must be like.

Burst O' DurstOr, rather, BURSTS O' Durst. We've got a double header this week — one in the first half, one in the second. Politicomic Will Durst supplies us with straight unadulterated comic views of first White House resident Barack Obama's State of the Union address and then the GOP Soap Opera that IS the run-up to this year's presidential election.

In addition to the clips, we've got promos from Chillpak Hollywood Hour, the UK's Badger's Briefcase, and The Thrilling Adventure Hour (with Superego). And, of course, a word from our perennial sponsor Henderson's Pants.

That's it. Fingers tired now. Go, friends, and pass the Succotash!

— Marc Hershon