Show Notes

This episode features my recent conversation with Lewis Black.  From his many comedy specials and TV appearances, including The Daily Show, and his work as an actor as seen on The Big Bang Theory (2009), Inside Out (2015), The Last Laugh (2019) and many more, Lewis is known as one of this generation's leading satirists.  We discuss his 2002 Comedy Central Presents episode in which he discuses the then-recent events of September 11.  He also talks about his influences, his ideas about satire, and his upcoming tour.  Also on this episode is guest co-host, calling in from Japan, Jeff Gedert.  Jeff is most famous for producing the original theme music for the podcasts Gold Star Classroom, The Action Comedy Nerd Show, and us, The Comical Heathen.  (Thank you Jeff!).  We debrief the interview, give our reactions, and discuss this so-called book I claim to be so-called writing!  Enjoy!

Lewis Black's website:  https://www.lewisblack.com/

The 2002 Comedy Central Presents episode we discuss:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318371/?ref_=nm_flmg_slf_122

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Email us:  [email protected]

This is an ad-free and independently produced podcast.  Please consider donating via this link (to our other podcast):  https://www.goldstarclassroom.com/

Season 2 Episode 7 (Bonus material)

Show Notes

This episode is a supplement to my S2 E7 interview with Leighann Lord.  Since her website bio describes her as a nerd AND she sites her favorite science fiction film as Terminator 2, I had to ask her about these things.  And sure enough, a 20+ minute digression broke out on some of our favorite nerdy fandoms.  Turns out she's a huge Star Trek fan (she was wearing Star Trek Jewelry and had a Star Trek background up during our interview!).  Other topics we discuss include Star Wars, Game of Thrones, Watchmen, as well as talking about doing comedy at anime and comic book conventions.

Leighann's website:  http://www.veryfunnylady.com/

Leighann on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LeighannLord

Leighann's Dry Bar Special: https://store.drybarcomedy.com/pages/leighannl

A link to my Action Comedy Nerd Show podcast where we discuss Star Trek:  https://actioncomedynerdshow.podbean.com/e/action-comedy-nerd-show-18-talking-star-trek-discovery-the-orville-wmark-clark/

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Have ideas for topics or questions for upcoming Livestream Q&A?  Email us:  [email protected]

This is an ad-free and independently produced podcast.  Please consider donating via this link (to our other podcast):  https://www.goldstarclassroom.com/

Show Notes

Nerd. Comedian. Science communicator.  Star Trek fan.  And a theatre kid??  Finally getting to interview Leighann Lord was a fantastic and fun moment for me.  We discuss her background in theatre and her experiences in comedy.  She has her recent Dry Bar special and, oh, not to mention, she is the 2019 recipient of the Humanist Arts Award.  She had a lot to say about approaching comedy like a thinking person (she also had a lot to say about Star Trek, but I'm going to have to save that part of our conversation for a future episode!).  This might be too much nerdy science in one place -- except there is no such thing as too much nerdy science!!-- But I asked Brian Malow Science Comedian to join in as today's guest co-host.  He has appeared on the Comical Heathen before (see link below) and so I knew he'd be a perfect comic to add some commentary.  Also, with my rant about anti-vaxxer legislation in Ohio, he had thoughts to add about science literacy!  There was a journey to today's episode, one that involved me meeting Ian Harris, who then introduced me to the comedy of both Leighann and Brian.  Ian gets mentioned waaaay more than necessary for an episode of my podcast that he's not even in!! LOL... Enjoy!

Lieghann's website:  http://www.veryfunnylady.com/

Leighann on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LeighannLord

Leighann's Dry Bar Special:  https://store.drybarcomedy.com/pages/leighannl

Brian Malow on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/sciencecomedian

Brian Malow on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sciencecomedian

Brian Malow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sciencecomedian/

Brian Mallow interview from Season1 Episode 15:  https://comicalheathen.podbean.com/e/the-comical-heathen-episode-15-brian-malow/

"Legislators align with anti-vaxxers" by Jake Zuckerman, Norwalk Reflector 9 April 2021.

"'Just a theory': 7 Misused Science Words" by Tia Ghose, Scientific American 2 April 2013

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Email us:  [email protected]

This is an ad-free and independently produced podcast.  Please consider donating via this link (to our other podcast):  https://www.goldstarclassroom.com/

Season 2 Episode 6 Show Notes:

I got on a Zoom call the way from Aruba Ray's Comedy Club in Aruba and spent some time talking comedy with Brian Scott MacFadden.  From a show business family, Brian has a quick wit and a lot of deep thoughts about the art of comedy.   Joining me is guest co-host Dan Brown of the Action Comedy Nerd Show and his podcast Dan and Mark Meets World.   He joins me on my rant about evangelic preacher Franklin Graham calling some people he disagrees with worse than Judas, which seems like some serious Xtian ad hominem attacks to me.

Brian Scott MacFadden's website:  https://brianscottmcfadden.com/

Dan Brown's Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/danbrowncomedy

Dan and Mark Meets World podcast:  https://open.spotify.com/show/4RC1eVaP0EsfIUn4jJZTSp

Comical Heathen S1 E (w/my rant about evangelical preachers!):  https://comicalheathen.podbean.com/e/the-comical-heathen-episode-eighteen-bill-squire/

"Franklin Graham says Republicans who voted to impeach Trump are like Jesus’ betrayer" by Simone Jasper (https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article248528080.html)

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Email us:  [email protected]

A comedy club called CHURCH OF SATIRE?  How did I not know about this!  In this episode I interview club founder, owner, and touring headliner Jim Bryan.  In addition to getting his take on satire, we go into his club, how he started it and why he called it CHURCH OF SATIRE! Along the way we name-check Mark Riccadonna, Robert Mack, Craig Paul, and Dwayne Duke.  Joining me is guest co-host Kristin Galewood of the sketch group Sad Boys' Social Club.  She joins me on exploring some of the alternative medicine woo-woo of Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP brand, including her Netflix series THE GOOP LAB.  But Gwyneth, what about burden of proof and you know evidence?  And if you've ever heard of the new age concept of the "4 Clairs" I explain the "4 Jers"!

Show notes:

Church of Satire:  https://www.churchofsatirecomedyclub.com/

Jim Bryan's Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/vaneldu.jim

Jim's Special "Laid back Maniac":  https://www.amazon.com/Jim-Bryan-Laid-Back-Maniac/dp/B085W2M1Z7

Kristin Galewood's Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/PuffyPinkCow

Sad Boys Social Club on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sadboyscle

Sad Boys' Social Club Easter Special:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=YpiVp_Zgu0w&fbclid=IwAR1QwQjJ3NpTjdPlsnGbeWFLoWcm71mCf70-wHLgSL3qGm5RCkI60q7sw2M

"Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop has been accused of peddling pseudoscience. She’s not having it." By Lindsey Bever (Washington Post Oct. 9, 2018).

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Email us:  [email protected]

Welcome to our most recent live Q&A episode, recorded live 11 April 2021.

Join me and my guest co-host Jesse Pimpenella as we answer your questions and respond to your comments across the Comical Heathen social media landscape.  We welcome special guest DJ Dangler into the madness.  A lot of this episode's topics seemed to come back again and again to the nature of faith (hilarious, right!).  For example, we discuss whether or not Christians using Christian Mingle actually lack faith, we discuss if time traveling Christians would try to save Jesus (and, you know, break their religion), and we discuss movies with Jesus/savior motifs. 

Show notes:

DJ Dangler website:  http://www.djdanglercomedy.com/

Jesse Pimpinella website:  https://www.jessepimpinella.com/

Get a Comical Heathen coffee mug at Jerry's merch shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/JerryJaffeComedyShop?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=624456037

Season 1 episode w/DJ:  https://comicalheathen.podbean.com/e/the-comical-heathen-episode-seven-dj-dangler/

Season 1 Q&A 3 "Conspiracy Stories":  https://comicalheathen.podbean.com/e/the-comical-heathen-qa-3-%e2%80%94-conspiracy-stories-theyre-not-theories/

Email us:  [email protected]

Show notes:

This episode of the Comical Heathen features my interview with Dennis Blair.  We discuss his early career opening for the likes of Rodney Dangerfield, Joan Rivers, and George Carlin as well as his thoughts on the dangers of doing satire while working the road.  This episode includes my rant about politicians and preachers who claim (with a straight face) that "God" (Jesus, Moses, etc...) "wrote the constitution"!!!  With my guest cohost John Hensler, we talk about how this is an example of the logical fallacy known as "argument from authority."  This episode includes a special call-in complaint from "Mad" Marv Conner of the Trillion Dollar Dreadful satire news site.

Topics discussed include:

• Dennis Blair's website:  http://www.dennisblair.com/home.html

 Additional resources:

• Find the Comical Heathen on Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/comicalheathen

Show notes:

This episode of the Comical Heathen features my interview with Myq Kaplan.  We discuss his comedy beginnings, his thoughts on religion and hallucinogenics, and some of his ideas about satire.  What a mensch!  This episode includes my rant about Bill Maher's recent use of the made-up odds "50-50" while talking about the coronavirus!  With my guest cohost Jesse Pimpinella, we talk about how this is an example of the logical fallacy known as "argument from ignorance."  This episode includes a special PSA on the subject of cults.

Topics discussed include:

• Myq Kaplan's website:  https://myqkaplan.com/

 Additional resources:

• Find the Comical Heathen on Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/comicalheathen

Part II

Show notes:

Following my interview with Peter Hinchliffe and Michael Nugent from Atheist Ireland (found in S2E1 Part I), guest co-host Sean Lynch and I discuss some of the issues raised in the interview.  We are also visited by Ian Harris who calls in to get something off his chest (arguing with people who don't understand the benefits of raising the minimum wage).

Topics discussed include:

• The Waterford Whispers News sketch (arresting god for rape)

Additional resources:

• Find the Comical Heathen on Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/comicalheathen

Part I

Show notes:

Features my interview with Peter Hinchliffe and Michael Nugent from Atheist Ireland.  We discuss a controversial sketch about the arrest of God for rape by the Irish parody news group Waterford Whispers News.  The sketch was part fo RTE's New Year's Eve programming and garnered over 1000 complaints and was eventually removed.  We also discuss blasphemy laws and the effects of censorship on free speech.

Includes my own take on satire/censorship as well as special guest co-host Sean Lynch.  Sean and I also discuss corporate censorship, his time working on CELEBRITY DEATH MATCH, and Jewish Space lasers.  My friend Ian Harris calls in from LA to complain about people who don't understand the need for raising the minimum wage.

Additional resources:

• Find the Comical Heathen on Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/comicalheathen