The Nerdologues Present: MBSing

If there's anything Abby McEnany is better at than making people laugh, it may be laughing at herself. Don't be fooled by the self-deprecating title: This conversation is about how Abby has embraced the person she is, how she has used it to influence her comedy, and how so much of one's path and career has to be about being happy in the place you are. In the same way that "improv is all about reframing," Abby is affecting change she wants to see by reframing and being true to herself, a "queer fat failure."

See Abby's one-woman show, Work In Progress, 8/19 or 9/2 at 10:30 at the iO Theatre.

Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for creating a community of podcasts and making them feel legit.

Allison Reese used to ball so hard she'd make enemies on the court, but now she mostly uses her love of basketball to create analogies for other aspects of her life (read: comedy). A total gem and softy when not shooting hoops, Allison shares some personal stories ranging from attending Phoenix Suns games with her dad to the kinds of things her mostly Mormon high school teammates would bring to conversations in the locker room to who she sees as the Steve Nash of Chicago comedy. Be glad she didn't opt for her life's alternate timeline of playing college ball or she may not be gracing the comedy scene with her wonderful presence. Comedy owes one to coaches who ruin things for athletes.

Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships.

Ali Keirn has been such a big fan of Walt Disney World since her first visit at three years old that she can trace her desire to study and perform musical theatre back to seeing the highly produced parades and stage shows the park had to offer. Since then she's been back to the park, seen all of the classic animated movies Disney has to offer, ventured to Disneyland in California, and become a performer still driven by her favorite Imagineer (Joe Rohde) and her favorite lyricist (Howard Ashman). Ali has ridden the wave of being a fan of the park as a kid to a full-on Disney World nerd watching YouTube videos of new attractions and scouring news stories about the evolution of the parks over the years.

Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for creating a podcasting community.

James T. Green is a coder, designer, podcaster, and all around creative type whose generalized anxiety has driven his work habits for his entire career. He has recently had to explore how his anxiety effects the way he can ennact social justice. As someone who doesn't feel comfortable or useful in a march, rally, or protest setting, he has learned to use his skills as a creative to raise money and awareness for the Black Lives Matter movement and amplify the voices of other marginalized groups. James spoke of his experience as a young black man in modern America, his relationship with social media, and some habits he uses to manage his anxiety on a daily basis.

Check out the shows on the podcast collective James cofounded with past guests Alex Cox and Cher Vincent, Postloudness and the BLM shirt he designed and sells to support Black Lives Matter's Chicago chapter.

Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and Board Game Bento (use code NERDS for $5 off a box subscription) for sponsoring this episode as well as the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and building a podcasting community.

As a performer and teacher in Chicago, Tim continues to define and redefine what success means to him as an actor and person. A lifelong cinephile, he thought for sure he would spend three years studying in Chicago before shipping off to be a big time movie star in LA. He's now passed the ten year mark here and has a world of friends and experience he never could have fathomed. We discuss striving for success (and happiness) in whatever forms your career and personal life take and how his goals were shaped as a young person, an actor with representation, and now as an improv teacher.

Thanks to Jackbox Games for sponsoring this episode and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for coordinating sponsorships and creating a creative community.

Mom and I break down nearly every branch of the Braverman family tree as we discuss her favorite TV show, Parenthood. We mostly focus on how the casting, writing, and even music of the show make it such a strong, emotional exploration of a variety of hardships and heartfelt moments in the life of a big family. We spend more time on the moments we can relate to more directly, and my mom shares a lot of insight on how the homemaker priorities of her generation and her mother's are examined in the show. Fans of the show will especially enjoy this ep, and non-fans won't be able to resist checking it out and sharing it with their families.

Notes:

We neglect to credit Sam Jaeger as Joel, Savannah Paige Rae as Sydney, Max Burkholder as Max, Joy Bryant as Jasmine, Tyree Brown as Jabbar, Sarah Ramos as Haddie, and Xolo Maridueña as Victor. I think we caught everybody else, but just because I couldn't rattle off these names doesn't mean they don't deserve some credit.

This didn't make the mic, but Parenthood is a loose adaptation of the 1989 film of the same name and was preceded by a star-studded show that lasted a season in 1990.

Thanks to Field Notes Brand for sponsoring and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative for providing sponsors and creating a podcasting community.

Cher has loved Thom York's Radiohead since she heard a track from Kid A on a joy ride with her dad during a difficult time in middle school. She built out her collection of their early albums thanks to the cashier at her local record store in Hyde Park, IL, giving her recommendations upon her purchasing Kid A, and she's now seen Radiohead (or Thom York solo) a followed-a-band-on-tour number of times and touts a tattoo of the Modified Bear. We talk her emotional attachment to their work, how internet culture has changed how fans of a band interact, and being a fan of something as an atypical member of its demographic.

Check out Cher's podcast collective Postloudness, which includes shows she cohosts Gossip Girls and Open Ended. Open Ended is a fellow member of the Chicago Podcast Cooperative.

On the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. The guest list filled quickly, and there were a handful of interested parties who wanted to catch me on another day (and a couple people I specifically reached out to as I knew they had incredible follow-up tales). Here are those six stragglers:

Rob Grabowski, who humored me with a discussion about the new Ghostbusters film and decried Clue and Hook as beloved films that do not hold up. For more of Rob's film thoughts, check out his show The Remake.

Matt Young, who talked about our mutual love of Paul F. Tompkins, the success of Hello From the Magic Tavern, and our fRiEnDsHiP.

Bret Dorman, who expounded on his move to Austin and the successful completion of his short film, Godzilla P.I. Which everyone reading these words should watch because how fucking cool is it that he made that happen?

Mel Evans, who lamented the tragic loss of Michelle MacNamera, shared some thoughts on the return of the OJ Simpson trial to the zeitgeist, and let me talk at her about how ill-regulated forensic science is across the country.

Rosie Moan, who shared how therapy has changed how she views her sexuality and her relationship since we spoke on them at length less than a year ago. Check out her podcast, Obsessed.

Jo Feldman, who recently appeared as the guest for a live recording of Gilmore Guys (!!!) and reflected on the upcoming Netflix season of her beloved Gilmore Girls.

On the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. Here's the fourth installment of nine calls from friends:

Nick Johnson, who shared a story about the worst NOFX concert experience he has ever had. 

Bryan Duff, who addressed some FAQs he gets about his episode re gluten, food allergies, and paying attention to what your body wants and needs nutritionally. 

Claire Friedman, who realized her life changed pretty drastically mere days after recording her episode.

Eileen Tull, who gets to rejoice over The Force Awakens surpassing her expectations for it.

Kevin Budnik, who ran me through a Kid's Choice Awards ballot from a 1998 issue of Nickelodeon Magazine.

Erin Lann, who talked to me about giant, penis-resembling ocean worms. 

Julie Marchiano, who asked me about my dad in Cats and explored the change her gluten allergy has had on her hot dog enjoyment.

Mark Colomb, who questioned my continued enjoyment of podcasting and speaks to the effect his change in environment and employment has had on his own podcasting habits. 

Lee Russell, who asked me if I'd seen any horror films recently and recommended The Invitation, Green Room, and The Lobster.

Thanks to Iron Galaxy and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative.

On the third anniversary of the release of the first episode of MBSing, MBS holed up in a studio and took 35 calls from past guests of the show. The topics ranged from specific episode updates to current concerns to catching up. Here's the third installment of nine calls from friends:

Vernon Mina, who remarked on how much we made each other laugh and offered a clarification of his parents' roles in his life. 

Eric Braband, who made a Spotify playlist of Rustic Overtones songs and remarked on our newfound cohabitation. 

Katie Wadsworth, who updated myself and the listeners on her transition from moving back in with her folks to making the move to LA.

Max Temkin, who laments our grounded Animorphs podcasting endeavor and pitches a few substitutes.

Katie Utke, who speaks her thoughts on Harry Potter and the Sacred Child, the film adaptation of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Emma Watson's turn in a live-action Beauty and the Beast.

Mark Logsdon, who updated on his status with new dad life becoming the new normal after almost a year of it.

Alex Talavera, who scolded me for not checking out someone I know being on No Reservations and updated me on US passport holder stats.

Matt Visconage, who confirmed the truth of all of his proposed conspiracies including the marking up of momentarily popular Mighty Muggs.

Bill Green, who got so fed up by the political system that he's going to law school at Notre Dame in the fall to tackle the issues as much as he can. (PS sorry my side of the audio for this one is VERY low.)

Thanks to Iron Galaxy, The Chicago Podcast Cooperative, and Lizzo.