Semi-autobiographical podcast on drinking and the Catholic Church, inspired by the new Chicago-raised pope! CJ and Sean tell stories about growing up in the Catholic Church and how common drinking was at all religious ceremonies. Comedian Joe Kilgallon, one of our regulars at the live show, joins us in studio to also share some of his own stories about attending a Catholic, all-boys highschool. In recent news, and still on the subject of religion, Sean talks about the historical importance of Jimmy Swaggart, a grifting preacher who died this week. And, most importantly, the new Big Man Himself, 'Da Chicago Pope calls into the studio to answer some questions and give The Blackout Diaries an official blessing.

Checkout Joe's latest comedy album, "Life & Death", on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNVc-f4Z3KM

'Da Chicago Pope can be followed on Instagram via our buddy Mick Betancourt's profile: https://www.instagram.com/mickbetancourt/?hl=en Mick is a hilarious writer and performer from Chicago.

Comedian Carolyn Dickey shares a few hilarious stories at our live show, each showing how much her sister defends her when they party together. Carolyn's sister always has her back. Carolyn joins CJ and Sean in the studio and discuss what its like to drink, eat and live with sisters and brothers. This leads to a theme on siblings. We share some funny stories about our siblings either partying too hard, and us having to monitor them, and a few with the reverse happening. We also share some studies on the effect siblings have on your drinking and a couple funny news stories about drunk siblings.

Check out Carolyn's weekly comedy show, every Thursday in Chicago at My Buddy's

Summer block buster / Fourth of July Episode where we talk about how people spend the holiday week. Sean recaps seeing the newest Tom Cruise movie, where an old couple was more entertaining than the movie itself. CJ and Sean discuss fireworks, the fourth of July and the hilariously unsafe rules most lakes have around boating, where the consensus seems to be : if rich people want to kill themselves, so be it. CJ talks about how he might grade a hot dog eating contest and how, in general, those contests have become to specialized and commercial.

Comedian Manny Petty makes his debut at our live show and tells the hilarious story of when he accidentally took his parents to a nude gay play, a week after coming out to them. Manny then joins CJ and Sean in the studio and we talk about the play and how people used to attend more blind features -- where you know nothing about the play or bar back then. This is also Pride month so we talk about the Chicago Pride Parade, which is one of the best in the country and which Manny has marched in several time. CJ and Sean tell some of their favorite stories around Pride month, including the time CJ and a drinking buddy won a couple contests because so loving couple will ever know trivial details about each other, as well as drinking buddies know each other.

If you are in Chicago- make sure to get to Zanies on Thursday June 26th to see Manny Petty do his first headling set there as well.

The Blackout Diaries talks golf! Comedian Jason Burke joins us in the studio to share the story about his bachelor party, which was at The Waste Management Open in Phoenix, a golf tournament that is closer to a whiskey fest than an athletic event. Jason talks about some of the dos and donts to planning a good bachelor party in the sun and how his party was mostly "donts". CJ and Sean then tell some golf stories, including an insane John Daly one, some of their own golf stories and a news story about a famous LA course that was raided for also running a prostitution ring. We also share some studies on alcohol's role in golf injuries, particularly head injuries.

Special Blackout Diaries Memorial Day Weekend Episode. CJ and Sean talk about how the start of summer always sneaks up on a people and they realize their alcohol tolerance is not what it was at during the close of last summer, which is one of the reasons why Memorial Day Weekend is the busiest DUI weekend in most states. We also talk about summer blockbusters , specifically the new Mission Impossible movie and how CJ and Sean both love Tom Cruise, to the point where Sean has been ejected from parties for defending him. CJ shares a story about his uncle who loved to get drunk and watch the Yankees on Memorial Day- how his uncle ruined a Bob Hope show during the Vietnam War. We also talk flags and flag rules and why Trump's warm wishes on solemn holidays are always hilarious.

An episode on our favorite sport- horse racing! Comedian Sohrab Forouzesh tells a story from our live show about accidentally giving a horse drugs, along with accidentally receiving some himself. CJ and Sean talk about horse racing before that, sharing some of their own stories about bets gone awry and why the Preakness is The Blackout Diaries preferred stretch of the Triple Crown. We share some stats on horse racing and CJ details a famous incident he saw when a drunk guy got on the track at The Preakness years ago.

https://www.instagram.com/sohrabisbrown/?hl=en

Comedian Victoria Flynn shares some stories at our live show about all the times she probably should have been kidnapped while drinking. Victoria joins CJ and Sean in the studio and shares what it was like to attend college in Montreal along with some other kidnapping-inducing drinking stories. CJ and Sean then share stories on the only two kinds of kidnappings that are objectively funny: men who stage a fake kidnapping to stay out later and men who drunkenly steal a college mascot. Former Blackout Diaries sweetheart and Jeppeson's Malort marketing guru Sam Mechling also tells a story about being kidnapped during the Kentucky Derby and having to be ransomed for the loose change his friends had.

Comedian Joe Fernandez tells some stories, at our live show, from when he and his ex shared the same apartment after a breakup so he had to improvise whenever he had a one night stand, often leading to stupid lies or bad hotels (or both). Joe joins CJ and Sean in the studio and we talk about those nights and how difficult your social life becomes when your roommate situation is awkward or bad. This leads to a theme on bad roommates. CJ and Sean share some of their own stories, including the drug den CJ used to live in and how marriage did not make living together easier for Sean. We also share some stats on how people are keeping roommates longer post covid.

Checkout Joe's comedy albums, DEMENTED and UGLY, online or if you are in Chicago stop by Will's Northwood on Sundays where he hosts the best open mike in the city.

The Blackout Diaries Podcast is back after a break spent on filming the TV Pilot. Unfortunately we received some tragic news that a dear friend of the show, Mike Polino, passed away from a rare auto-immune disorder. Mike owned The High Hat Club, which is where the Blackout Diaries performed for two years while The Lincoln Lodge was moving. He was a great dude and a hilarious presence behind the bar. We share some Mike stories -- including one he told at the live show about his attempt to fake an injury to avoid relationship trouble. Mike's bar The High Hat Club, was filled with characters and is sorely missed. This leads to a discussion on closed or dead bars- bars that closed up shop and that we miss. We share stats on how bar and restaurant closings are not nearly as common as people think along with some stories about our favorite closed bars.