The Afterlaugh w/ Bill Dawes

Comic actress and content creator Tara Erickson comes by the yard to drink a beer and talk about the business that is show and how the changing landscape of new platforms and evolving media is a blessing and a curse for actors trying to get seen by the "right" people. If anyone is looking to try their hand at acting or the wild west of digital content creation, this interview serves as a funny primer on some of the do's and dont's as well as an insider's look at what this area of the business is all about. Tara is a funny and interesting actress -- you can check out her latest work, "Prime of Your Life," on her Youtube channel, which has garnered over 50,000 in two years. ENJOY!

Hank Chen (Laugh Factory, Home Again, Life-Size 2) comes by the yard to discuss the new Billy Eichner movie "Bros," but the result is an evisceration of acting schools and what faculty and staff are doing wrong to prepare actors for a career in show business. Comparing their experiences at NYU graduate school and The Actor's Studio, they discuss their disappointing experiences as well as the frustration in the acting world that led them to pursue a career in standup comedy. In particular, Bill discusses why he believes many acting schools like NYU are a scam. Finally, they get to the seminal movie "Bros" and why it's simultaneously great and groundbreaking and also a huge whiff at the film market. ENJOY!

Cameron Esposito (Moonshot, Mother's Day, A Million Little Things) comes by Bill's hotel room in Vancouver (in town shooting "Alaska Daily" with Hillary Swank premiering TONIGHT on ABC) to talk about discovering her sexuality in the strict crucible of Catholic high school and later Boston College. Cameron is a brilliant, authentic comic with a brilliant mind who calls Bill to task on his somewhat antiquated comedy, and enlightens Bill about how difficult it was to come out as a lesbian even in the mid-2000's. This is a fun and free-wheeling conversation that covers several subjects with something for everyone. ENJOY!

HAPPY OCTOBER, EVERYONE! Tommy comes by an hour late so Bill and Tommy do a short, ADD-riddled podcast ranging from Tommy's trip in New York watching Louis Ck perform and debating whether or not you can still like a comic even if he's a horrible person and/or sexual deviant. But mostly they talk about silly stuff. ENJOY!

Comedienne Lizzy Weisman comes by the yard to discuss her comedy career and her decision to harvest and freeze her eggs, so she can have the child she always wanted... at some indistinct year in the future. Egg-freezing is a massive procedure that millions of women are doing, and almost no one is talking about it. Lizzy uses her comedy skills to find some levity in a very serious procedure and hopes that her humor will be able to make more woman comfortable talking about it and sharing their experiences. If you are at all interested in the process of putting eggs on ice and want to meet a great comic, meet Lizzy Weisman! ENJOY!

RE-RELEASE. Before comic and friend and Laugh Factory stalwart David A. Arnold became a juggernaut comedy sensation with his brilliant Netflix special "IT AIN'T FOR THE WEEK," and his viral videos, David was a journeyman comic and creator who wrote, produced, created, and acted in dozens of films and television shows, including his first big break as a producer and writer on 'Fuller House."

David was a real inspiration to Bill and many comics who have been in the game for a long time, since David didn't really "break" until he was in his 50's with his charming and creative spin on domestic life with his beautiful wife and children. In this interview, David comes by the yard right at the beginning of his social media mastery that would soon become the tool to make him famous and a legend in the comedy community. Check out his videos, his special on Netflix, and listen to his inspiring story. More importantly, tell the people in your life that you love them, and hug your friends and family, because life is unexpected and you never know when it's time. Rip, David, you will be missed, but you will always be remembered. 

Jimmy Shin (Amazon special  "Wok of Shame") comes by the yard to talk about the reasons behind the obsessive drive that has made him one of the most prolific bookers and comedy show producers in Hollywood. Reasons that start with the pressure from being the only son of Korean immigrant parents desperate to give Jimmy a chance for success in America, which simultaneously propelled him into law school and simultaneously a life of crime and drug and alcohol addiction that turned his world upside down and set him on the unlikely path of standup comedian. Jimmy is an interesting guy and his story is a testament to the universe giving people second, third, and fourth chances when they follow their dream. Find him on @iamjimmyshin. ENJOY!

Tommy and Bill having another fun, freewheeling conversation about some of the awful; choices Bill made in his life, including an ill-timed affair with Martha Stewart's daughter and several jokes that could be in the cancel conversation. It's a fun one, but not for the weak of heart. ENJOY!

Rick D'Elia comes by Bill's hotel to introduce himself so the two comics can get to know each other before a weekend of shows at the Reno Laugh Factory. Rick talks openly about his shift from being a lifelong Democrat to aligning more with the GOP in recent years. What follows is a light and fun conversation about the state of standup comedy, the rise of Youtube and Tiktok stars, and why so many comics are shedding their "liberal" moniker so they can speak more freely and openly about things with which they disagree. Rick is a great comic and stay tuned for his upcoming film don't suck with friend of the podcast Jamie Kennedy. ENJOY!

After a quick tour with Bill around Florida, new comic and friend Mario Adrion talks about his wild and unlikely journey from the LITERAL "Black Forest" of Brothers Grimm and childhood nightmares to the runways of Milan, fashion weeks in New York, and comedy stages of Hollywood. They discuss lighter fare about the weird aggressiveness of the German accent, provincial life, finding your voice as a comic after being an internationally successful underwear model, AND his hilarious viral video with Katy Perry on "American Idol." But they also delve into the secret and dark world of modeling, where people are treated like commodities; where assault and misconduct run rampant. Mario tells a particularly harrowing story about an experience overseas that may change your perception on the nature and victims of assault and rape. Through it all, Mario has maintained a love for learning and creating and has come out the other side with a lot to teach everyone about. A MUST LISTEN! ENJOY!