TanGent Show

I'm joined this week by Karen David - actress, singer-songwriter, and one of the most versatile performers working today. You know her from Fear the Walking Dead, Galavant, Once Upon a Time, and films like The Scorpion King 2 or Isabella's Garden, but this conversation goes far beyond credits. Karen and I talk about what it actually takes to sustain a creative life - from running through literal fire on set to walking onto stage scared, prepared, and determined to care anyway.

We get into her upbringing as a half-Indian, half-Chinese kid, the impact of bullying and loneliness, and how those experiences shaped her deep commitment to kindness, courage, and leadership on set. Karen shares stories from Fear the Walking Dead, learning guitar in two weeks to perform on camera, working with legends like Lenny James and Sheryl Crow, and why staying curious (and a little scared) is part of doing meaningful work. It's a wide-ranging, thoughtful, and surprisingly funny conversation about preparation, empathy, and saying yes to challenges you never imagined you'd face.

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In this episode, I sit down with one of my favorite comics to talk shop with – Dwayne Perkins. Dwayne has one of the sharpest joke brains in the business, but more importantly, he's just a great hang. We get into everything from his early days growing up in Coney Island to why international crowds sometimes understand his comedy even better than Americans do. Along the way, we compare notes on alt rooms, likability, nerd culture, and what it really takes to carve out a lane in this industry without losing your identity.

We also go off on a ton of fun tangents - New York borough politics, the psychology of audiences, why some comedy styles only work on certain "surfaces" (like tennis courts), and how Dwayne accidentally became the Wiz Kid of his neighborhood. If you're a comic, you'll relate. If you're not a comic, you'll still have a blast listening. And yes… we somehow end up talking about fortune cookies and Vietnamese restaurant puns.

Dwayne's book: Hot Chocolate for the Mind Follow Dwayne:IMDBWebsite Instagram Facebook X (Twitter)

I sat down with writer and showrunner Vijal Patel to talk about one of the questions I get asked the most: how do you turn your comedy and point-of-view into a TV series? Vijal is the creator of The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh, which became Amazon Prime's #1 comedy, and this conversation is a real look at how a personal voice turns into a fully-realized show.

We talk about growing up between cultures, moving from India to the Midwest as a kid, and how those early experiences shaped the way he sees the world— and writes about it. We also get into the mechanics of writing for television, the importance of a strong point-of-view, and why some shows feel like they're speaking directly to you while others don't quite land the same way. Along the way, we riff on sitcoms, sports, identity, family, and the long road from stand-up and writing to actually getting something made. If you're interested in comedy, TV writing, or building a creative career that reflects who you are, there's a lot in here to chew on.

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I've known Humble the Poet for years, but this conversation reminded me why he's one of the most thoughtful, grounded, and quietly intense people I've ever met. We started light — Punjabi pronunciations, growing up with big families, why Canadians seem to understand America better than Americans — and then jumped headfirst into the big stuff: identity, privilege, race, class, capitalism, and why resentment might be the most corrosive emotion in the world.

What I love about talking to Humble is that he never drifts into hollow inspiration. Everything he says comes from lived experience: teaching school in Toronto, grinding in the arts for over a decade, navigating fame, navigating community, and learning how to build a life that doesn't fall apart the second the algorithm looks away. We dig into his book How to Be Loved, the privilege we ignore, the trauma we glamorize, and the weird, beautiful freedom of creating before anyone knows your name. This is one of the most honest conversations I've had on this show.

Pick up his most recent book, How To Be Love(d).

Pre-order his upcoming book, Unanxious.

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I had the chance to sit down with Dr. Deepak Chopra, and in classic TanGent Show fashion, we covered about eighteen lifetimes' worth of ideas in under thirty minutes. From identity, to consciousness,to whether any of us have actually "made it," this conversation goes everywhere. It even hits Groundhog Day, the human experiment, and why we might all just be God in drag. Deepak brings that signature mix of clarity and cosmic perspective, and I mostly try to keep up while cracking jokes about ticket prices and my tour name.

What struck with me most is how effortlessly he moves between philosophy and practicality. One minute he's talking about the failure of modern civilization, and the next he's offering a simple path back to compassion, creativity, and self-awareness. It's a short episode, but one of the densest we've ever done, and I left feeling both existential and oddly hopeful.

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I've been following Rajeev Ram's career for years, so sitting down with him felt like talking to a real-life tennis legend who just happens to be one of the most humble guys around. For those who don't know, Rajeev is a multiple Grand Slam champion and Olympic silver medalist who's represented the U.S. on the biggest stages in tennis. We got into everything from his early days in Indiana and the mindset that separates good athletes from great ones, to what it takes to stay competitive and mentally sharp well into your 30s.

We also talked about his doubles partnership with Joe Salisbury, his philosophy on longevity, and how he's managed to balance the mental demands of elite competition with life off the court. It's a rare, honest look into what drives a world-class athlete beyond the trophies.

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I really enjoyed sitting down with Ravi Mehta for this one. Ravi is the head of physical production, post-production, and visual effects at 20th Century Studios, and before that, he spent years at Warner Bros. helping shepherd some truly massive films into the world. We talk about his path into the industry — growing up in Burbank as one of the only Indian kids around, taking a job in a hospital basement for minimum wage, and slowly working his way into positions of real influence in Hollywood.

Along the way, we get into mentorship, identity, problem-solving at the highest levels, and what it actually looks like to build a long career behind the scenes. There are also some great stories involving Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone that made me laugh out loud. You don't need to work in film to enjoy this one — it's really about patience, trust, and figuring things out as you go.

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I finally got to sit down with Paul Chowdhry, right as he's gearing up for his biggest North American run yet. Paul is one of the most successful British Indian stand-up comedian in history - selling out arenas across the UK and coming off a massive, multi-year tour that culminated in a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe with 5 star reviews. Now, he's bringing that momentum stateside with his Artificial Indian tour across the U.S. and Canada.

We talk about what it's like taking a career built overseas and introducing it to American audiences, and how Paul has managed to stay sharp, relevant, and fearless after more than 25 years on comedy stages. Along the way, we get into British vs. American humor, touring at scale, and the very real pressure of betting big on yourself. If you're curious about Paul's journey, or deciding whether to grab tickets when he hits your city, this conversation will give you the full picture.

Grab tickets to Paul Chowdhry's "Artificial Indian" USA/Canada Tour

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I sat down with comedy writing duo Arasha and Lily Abha Cratsley to talk about creativity, collaboration, and what it actually takes to build a trusting partnership as co-creators. We get into how their friendship grew through writing, how they challenge and support each other in the room, and why honesty and vulnerability are non-negotiable when you're trying to make something good together.

We also spend time on the show they've been developing — the writing process, the pilot, and what it feels like to watch an idea slowly turn into something real. From balancing ambition with authenticity to finding humor in the messy parts of collaboration, this conversation is a solid look at what it means to build comedy with someone you trust.

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