The Digression Sessions

“Podcasting With Friends”

Hola Digheads! This week Mike and Josh are joined by the mega multi-talented director, writer, comedian, and thinker - Ben O’Brien!

Ben created the web-series Showbeast with Erin Gleeson back in 2006. Webster’s Dictionary defines Showbeast as “films for people who like TV for the internet.” Ben and his comrades have made over 21 videos with Showbeast including music videos for Beach House, Dan Deacon, Height with Friends, Dope Body, and Ear Pwr. They’re currently hard at work on creating a full length episode. In the meantime, check out Showbeast's videos here: showbeast.net

Ben also manages and performs in the Wham City Comedy Tour and co-hosts the monthly Wham City Comedy Night with Mason Ross and Ellie Beziat. The next Wham City Comedy Night is Tuesday August 28 at Liam Flynn’s Ale House.

Ben was a great guest and shares some stories from the road and how the Wham City Comedy Tour came together, how the concept for Dan Deacon’s “True Thrush” video is based on game they play called “Nipple My Garden,” his similarities with Ol Dirty Bastard and their affinity for things that are raw, his love for Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, his involvement live theatrical presentation of Jurassic Park, and his super hero origin story.

Also! CHECK OUT THE BALTIMORE IMPROV FESTIVAL THE WEEKEND OF THE 17th THROUGH THE 19th!

Have something to say about this ep? Or do you have anything else Digression Sessions related / unrelated to say? Should we create a Podcasting With Friends app?!?! Say it on our forum!!

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“Hit That Button!”

Hola Digheads! This week Mike and Josh are joined by comedian Wendi Townsend. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, funny man Alex Braslavsky takes on co-host duties as well.

Wendi has been doing stand up in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area for a few years now. In her act, Wendi attempts to take on issues that are normally taboo for women to discuss. Wendi’s style has been described as a “brazen, no holds barred approach to comedy which is executed with confidence, timing and biting wit.”

Wendi shares some good stories during this episode, including the time she was attacked by a crackhead while Wendi was on the throne right before she was going to perform. Mike also shares a story about the time he was jumped. Alex Braslavsky has never been assaulted – not even punched in the face once. And people are too afraid to accost Josh. He usually walks around with his arms raised in the air to make himself look bigger.

Also… one of the people on this show reveals they are not circumcised. Alright, we’ll narrow it down for you. It’s either Alex or Wendi.

We also discuss a number of to pics for this episode including, but not limited to: Penis prep school, Picture & Picture the cop duo, the Ravens, getting nailed to the wall, staying young forever, Olympics talk, Alex being from Moldova, and so much more!

Have something to say about this ep? Or do you have anything else Digression Sessions related / unrelated to say? Should we start an Olympic Curling team?!?! Say it on our forum!!

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“HPV Craft”

Hola Digheads! This week Mike and Josh are joined by director, writer, rock n roller, juvenile diabetic, and known pizza eater -Chris LaMartina! Chris has co-written, produced, and directed five feature films including: Dead Teenagers, Book of Lore, President’s Day, Grave Mistakes, and Witches Brew.

Ever since he got his hands on a camcorder at the age of 11, Chris has been making films. Before that he dictated his stories to his Godmother who would type them on a typewriter. And he’s been eating pizza since God knows when. While working for the Mayor of Baltimore in the office of Cable & Communications as a producer/director for their government TV channel, he produced Grave Mistakes and President’s Day. Sadly he was laid off 2 weeks before shooting began on Witch’s Brew. Chris used his savings and funds from Kickstarter to produce Witches Brew. Due to financial constraints, he thought that would be his last film.

However, Chris is forging ahead and currently he has two films in the works. The first is an 80s period piece that will be a found footage film and the second is a heavily HP Lovecraft influenced film entitled, Call-Girl of Cthulhu. Call-Girl will hopefully be funded through investors. And, if all goes to plan shooting will begin in the Spring of 2013.

If you’re in the Baltimore area, and you’re reading this on the weekend of July 21st check Chris’s and his long time film partner, Jimmy George’s VHS/VIP at Artscape. VHS/VIP is an exploration of VHS movies that includes local filmmakers Kristen Anchor, the 48 Hour Film Project’s Rob Hatch, and others, LaMartina made a video mixtape of his favorite scenes from videos.

And finally, we were lucky enough to have the hilarious and great artist Grant Lindahl sketch us while we recorded this ep. He killed it! Check it out!

We also discuss a number of topics for this episode including, but not limited to: karaoke podcasts (perform your favorite Dig Sesh live!), puns, lots of puns, making your hometown better, goodcest, Civil War era Penthouse letters, lunch in cemeteries, Pilates on ya body!, and so much more!

Have something to say about this ep? Or do you have anything else Digression Sessions related / unrelated to say? Should the Digheads start an Olympic Curling team?!?! Say it on our forum!!

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PLEASE rate, subscribe, and provide a nice comment on the iTunes!! It’ll help the podcast climb the charts!

Want stickers? Hit Josh up at [email protected]

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DO NOT (SERIOUSLY DON’T IT) forget that Mike Finazzo’s album “Stupid Genius” is available via Josh’s record label Better Robot Records on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify!? Only $3.99 on iTunes! (BetterRobotRecords.com)

“A Little Extraordinary!”

Hola Digheads! This ep was recorded a little while ago, but Josh’s external hard drive crashed and its contents were finally recovered! Mike and Josh recorded a rambling intro for about 40 minutes and then Josh interviewed the campy, extraordinary, uber-gay, electro-hop duo – Double Duchess. And, contrary to popular belief they’re not one woman with a huge butt!

After 12 years of living in New York, Berlin, Montreal, and Paris, the international Krylon Superstar moved back to his native state of California and in 2008 and met Baltimore/Annapolis based musician and producer d.a.v.O (Dave) in San Francisco. They soon formed Double Duchess. Their sound can be described as a dancey, campy, and hip-hoppy, which transcends genres and genders through a live and interactive theatrical experience. “These high-energy, playful, fun, divas will have you wishing you were as queer as they are…!” – Dave Coullier

We also discuss a number of topics for this episode including, but not limited to: coming out of the closet, big butts, Erin Brockovich, local nut jobs, travelling, astrology, vegans, hair dressers, political business, and so much more!

Have something to say about this ep? Or do you have anything else Digression Sessions related / unrelated to say? Should Josh stop saving farts in vitamin bottles?!?! Say it on our forum!!

DigressionSessions.com !!

PLEASE rate, subscribe, and provide a nice comment on the iTunes!! It’ll help the podcast climb the charts!

Follow us on the Twitters:

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@BetterRobotJosh

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@DoubleDuchess1

DO NOT forget that Mike Finazzo’s album “Stupid Genius” is available via Josh’s record label Better Robot Records on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify!? Only $3.99 on iTunes! (BetterRobotRecords.com)

“The Young Republicans”

Hola Digheads! Similar to a group of sweaty juggalos in a field in the mid-west of America, we have quite the gathering on this show! Mike Moran was shampooing his hair, so Josh had Mike Finazzo and Bryan Preston take up co-host duties to interview the young, the wonderful - comedian Grant Lindahl!

Grant’s stand-up style is a mix of traditional joke telling, musical integration, dramatic intros (ie being carried on a stage in a papoose), possessing spirit animals, and sometimes – he takes his shirt off (ladies!). For instance, Grant shares a story of orchestrating a ninja fight at the DC Improv and pretending to be in throws of an acid trip on stage. You can see that here.

Grant is also freelance animator and director based in Baltimore, Maryland. He is currently working on his BFA in Animation at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Grant recently published, “My Expensive Hobby,” a book about his experiences in the Baltimore comedy scene over the course of four months.

We also discuss a number of topics for this episode including, but not limited to: growing up on a farm, cursing in front of grandparents, pogs, ninja stand up, alt comedy, art students, and so much more!

DO NOT forget that Mike Finazzo’s album “Stupid Genius” is available via Josh’s record label Better Robot Records on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify!? Only $3.99 on iTunes! (BetterRobotRecords.com)

Have something to say about this ep? Or do you have anything else Digression Sessions related / unrelated to say? Should Mike Moran cut his hair?!?! Say it on our forum!!

DigressionSessions.com !!

PLEASE rate, subscribe, and provide a nice comment on the iTunes!! It’ll help the podcast climb the charts!

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“Nose Whistling at Girls”

Hola Digheads! On this week’s show we are joined by comedian Ben Kronberg!

Ben has a unique style, which blends one-liners and observations with catchy songs that he performs while playing instruments like the guitar, casio-keyboard, and loop-pedal. Much of his material has been inspired by girlfriends, who are now incidentally ex-girlfriends.

Ben has performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live and Last Call with Carson Daly. Ben has also appeared twice on ABC's hit game show, Wipeout — one time as a normal contestant, and most recently in the All-Star Episode. Would he go back for a third time? You’re god damn right he would.

Ben is also one of the costars of the hilarious web series, “Ted & Gracie.” Check them out here.

Also, if you’re in the Baltimore area go see our friends Dan & Alex at Chucklestorm on June 19th for their second anniversary show!

We also discuss a number of topics for this episode including, but not limited to: Trader Joes vs. Whole Foods, bleu cheese vs. ranch, soap opera sex, booger construction, Weird Al Yankovic parodies, paying 5 dollars to strangers to run your errands, and so much more!

Don’t forget that Mike Finazzo’s album “Stupid Genius” is available via Josh’s record label Better Robot Records on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify!? Only $3.99 on iTunes! (BetterRobotRecords.com)

Have something to say about this ep? Or do you have anything else Digression Sessions related / unrelated to say? Should Mike Moran cut his hair?!?! Say it on our forum!!

DigressionSessions.com !!

PLEASE rate, subscribe, and provide a nice comment on the iTunes!! It’ll help the podcast climb the charts!

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“Wicked Mustanes”

Hola Digheads! On this week’s show we are joined by a couple very funny and knowledgeable men - John Bennett and Patrick Storck - for a nice chat in the Dig Sesh HQ.

Patrick writes comics, plays, movies, and wonderful bathroom wall poetry. John is the host of Mondo Baltimore and The Chuckwagon Revival podcast. Recently, Patrick and John combined their powers to create the hilarious show Expert of Nothing.

Expert of Nothing is a monthly live show where contestants challenge their knowledge (or lack thereof) in a battle of wits to be Baltimore top know-it-all, where it's not what you know but how you flow on topics ranging from Astronomy to Zooey Deschanel.

As John describes it, it’s like watching a “A guy in a bar who has no idea what he’s talking about, but every reason to justify it.”

The next show will be Sunday June 17th at The Windup Space in Baltimore.

We also discuss a number of topics for this episode including, but not limited to: Dave Mustane’s inability to read, David Blaine’s greatest magic trick of all, meeting celebrities, the 90s obsession with polygons in virtual reality, radio theater of the mind, how Nintendo made bowling an even lazier sport,

AND….it’s official Mike Finazzo’s album “Stupid Genius” is available via Josh’s record label Better Robot Records on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify!? Only $3.99 on iTunes! (BetterRobotRecords.com)

Have something to say about this ep? Or do you have anything else Digression Sessions related / unrelated to say? Should Mike Moran cut his hair?!?! Say it on our forum!!

DigressionSessions.com !!

PLEASE rate, subscribe, and provide a nice comment on the iTunes!! It’ll help the podcast climb the charts!

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A Career in Grammar Enforcement

Hola Digheads! Sorry for the delay! On this week’s show comedian and improviser Dan Lisle returns to the shores of the Dig Sesh and he brought along improviser Megan Wills with him for a nice chat.

Mike and Megan will be performing with the rest of Population 6 at the Hudson Guild Theatre at 6 pm June 30, 2012 as a part of the Del Close Marathon!

Dan will be performing as a regular The Underground Lounge in NYC. Go check him out if you’re in the NYC area!

We also discuss a number of topics for this episode including, but not limited to: Fat Burger, grammar enforcement, raper vs. rapist, video games before you could save your progress, Expert of Nothing, Business Connects, Magnet Improv? How the fuck does that work?, pope selection, Josh’s story about the time he thought he had HIV Cancer Herpes, and much more!

AND….it’s official Mike Finazzo’s album “Stupid Genius” is available via Josh’s record label Better Robot Records on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify!? Only $3.99 on iTunes! (BetterRobotRecords.com)

Have something to say about this ep? Or do you have anything else Digression Sessions related / unrelated to say? Should Mike Moran cut his hair?!?! Say it on our forum!!

DigressionSessions.com !!

PLEASE rate, subscribe, and provide a nice comment on the iTunes!! It’ll help the podcast climb the charts!

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"Why This Typewriter Don’t Do Capital Letters?"

Hola Digheads! On this week’s show comedian, writer, educator, Bryan Preston, joins Josh and Mike Moran for a nice interview in the Dig Sesh HQ.

Bryan is a very funny man – or at least that’s what they say…And we agree with “they.” Bryan has been doing comedy for a few years in the Baltimore DC Virginia area. But, on this episode we dive deep into Bryan’s history of terrible jobs. From selling mattresses, working at Best Buy, and educating America’s youth – Bryan has hated all of his day jobby jobs. Apparently, the world of mattress sales is exactly like Glengarry Glen Ross. If you flip that mattress, there’s a dirty under belly! Bryan shares some great stories on this one.

We also discuss a number of topics for this episode including, but not limited to: Shifty “Shiflock” from the Butterfly Group, Comics Unleashed, 50 Shades of Grey, romance novels in general, breast feeding, hiding your personal life from coworkers, what happens when Mom’s go to your comedy show, terrible college students and the horrible things they say, and much more!

AND….it’s official Mike Finazzo’s album “Stupid Genius” is available via Josh’s record label Better Robot Records on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify!? Only $3.99 on iTunes! (BetterRobotRecords.com)

Have something to say about this ep? Or do you have anything else Digression Sessions related / unrelated to say? Should Mike Moran cut his hair?!?! Say it on our forum!!

DigressionSessions.com !!

PLEASE rate, subscribe, and provide a nice comment on the iTunes!! It’ll help the podcast climb the charts!

Follow us on the Twitters:

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@JKuderna

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@TheSkullBase (Bryan Preston)

"Prehensile & Gretel"

Hola Digheads! On this week’s show veteran comedian, writer, scuba diver, actor, voice of the Iron Birds, Hyundai owner, Jim Myer, joins Josh and Mike MORAN for an interview in the Dig Sesh HQ. That’s right, digheads. Mike Moran is black! Wait…I mean back!

Jim has been called the “White Bill Cosby” of comedy (by Mike Moran). Jim has been performing the stand ups all over America for over 10 years now. Jim recently earned his Masters in writing from John Hopkin’s University and lends his talents to Baltimore’s City Paper, Grist, and Urbanite magazine.

During this ep, Jim shares some great stories about some of his worst shows. While they may have been terrible shows for Jim, they make for fantastic podcast stories for us! These stories involve audience members riding horses, flashing guns, and what to do when a BET audience turns on a comedian and the promoter pays the comedian little to nothing. But, it’s not all bad. Jim also shares some of his best and most fulfilling stand up moments.

We discuss a number of topics for this episode including, but not limited to: brag club, fighting rednecks and kissing them after, Cracker Jack, laughing like Seth Rogen, performing for BET, what to do when hecklers have guns, elephant sex, prehensile penises, 28 Days Later vs. 28 Days, what “CT Scan” actually stands for and much more!

Did you know Mike Finazzo’s album “Stupid Genius” is still coming out May 29th via Josh’s record label Better Robot Records!? WELL IT IS! Please check it out!

Have something to say about this ep? Or do you have anything else Digression Sessions related / unrelated to say? Should Mike Moran cut his hair?!?! Say it on our forum!!

DigressionSessions.com !!

PLEASE rate, subscribe, and provide a nice comment on the iTunes!! It’ll help the podcast climb the charts!

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