We chatted with NYC improviser, performer, and co-founder of VoteDown, Matt Abedi. In this engaging conversation, Jason and Matt discuss the intricate relationship between politics and comedy. Matt shares his journey from a politically-inclined youth to a comedy lover, drawing inspiration from icons like Chris Rock, Robin Williams, and Jim Carrey. His debate background and experience working on the Obama campaign reveal how humor can be a powerful tool in political settings. The conversation delves into the problematic nature of current political structures and how Matt's initiative, Vote Down, aims to empower voters and hold politicians accountable. It's a great chat!

www.votedown.org

Their fundraising page: www.votedown.org/Campaign/votedown

Instagram: @MattAbedi, @VoteDownOrg, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics 

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We had a lively chat with "DRANKIN' with Dory" host, Dory Gail Greenberg! Dory is a neighborhood pal of Jason and Justina's. We had to have her on to talk about her fun live show "DRANKIN' with Dory" and how she got into doing shows. Dory talks about her time coming up in Boston, how she got into doing shows, her approach to interviews, her career, and much more. It's a super fun chat with some libations because if you're going to have Dory on you have to do it while DRANKIN'!

www.drankinwithdory.com

Support for the podcast: www.thereitispod.com/support

Instagram: @DrankinWithDory, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics 

Threads: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics

Facebook: @ThereItIsPod 

Twitter: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes 

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We got to talk to the talented actress and filmmaker, Melissa Center! Melissa talks about her time in Los Angeles before moving to New York City, developing short films, starring in TV shows like Chicago Fire and True Detective, her early love for acting, and performance troupes in her youth. We also explore her creative process, the inspirations behind her projects, such as the intriguing play Marrying Jake Gyllenhaal, and her experiences with crowdfunding. Insightful and full of personal anecdotes, this episode offers a peek into the life of a committed artist maneuvering through the challenges and triumphs of art.

GoFundMe for Craig Holcombe's son: https://gofund.me/ea4a979e

melissacenter.com

Crowdfunding: https://themelissacenter.ck.page/7ec415f908

Instagram: @officialmelissacenter, @reifenberger, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics 

Twitter: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes 

Facebook: @ThereItIsPod 

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The "Of the Show Fellas" are here to talk all that pop about their favorite Summer for going to the movies! After Jason shares his new ranking for popcorn movies and issues a necessary rebuke of snobby film critics he talks to "Best Friend of the Show" Rob, and "Brother of the Show" Trey, about how much they liked Deadpool & Wolverine, how well they think it and Twisters will do at the box office this year, and their favorite Summer for moviegoing. It's a fun chat! LFG!

Twitter: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes 

Instagram: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics 

Facebook: @ThereItIsPod 

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We got to talk to Magnet Theater musical improv director, instructor, and performer, Chris Bell! Chris reveals his journey from performing in high school drama classes to becoming an accomplished musical improviser. Jason and Chris discuss the importance of ensemble mentality, theatricality in musical improv, and balancing real-life experiences with performance emphasizing how commitment and making definitive choices on stage can overcome perfectionism. Chris also reflects on his experiences teaching improv and his journey to dig deeper because it's a journey, baby!

Undressed: The Musical: www.undressedmusical.com

Instagram: @UndressedMusical, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics 

Twitter: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes 

Facebook: @ThereItIsPod 

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We talked to stand-up comedian Lauren Reilly! This lively and relatable conversation touches on navigating comedy through personal challenges. Jason and Lauren discuss the nuances of comedy careers, the significance of knowing oneself, and the benefits and challenges of taking breaks due to life events. They touch on impactful moments, finding their comedic voice through authenticity, and how comedians use physical appearance in their comedy. This episode is a candid and humorous exploration balancing personal hardships with the relentless pursuit of a comedy career that highlights the importance of therapy and self-awareness.

Instagram: @LaurenRei, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics 

Twitter: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes 

Facebook: @ThereItIsPod 

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We talk to performers and founders of First Coast Comedy, Alex and Madelaine Grindeland! Alex and Madelaine bring a whole new meaning to the term "power couple," Alex and Madelaine do improv, run a comedy theater and festival together, and wrestle. Yes, they are improvisers AND pro wrestlers! They both have unique backgrounds and Jason talks to them about it all. Alex and Madelaine talk about their theater background, how they got into improv, doing short form improv at Comedy Sportz in Seattle (CSz), what make them fall in love with pro wrestling, what made them want to start wrestling, Madelaine's training at the Nighttime Factory in Atlanta, the many parallels between improv and wrestling and how one has helped them be better at the other, how doing less is crucial sometimes in improv and wrestling, and much more! It's a bone crushingly good chat!

Instagram: @FirstCoastComedy, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics 

YouTube: @FirstCoastComedy, @ThereItIsPod

Facebook: @FirstCoastComedy, @ThereItIsPod

Twitter: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes 

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In this mini episode Jason gives tips on how to start a podcast. We delve into the essentials of starting your own podcast! We cover the basic steps, from choosing your podcast type and target audience to deciding between audio or video formats. Learn about ideation, hosting sites, and distributing your podcast to platforms. We'll also share tips on planning and avoiding burnout by staying flexible with your bandwidth. These are evergreen tips for podcasters who are just starting out to help you launch and sustain your podcast with confidence.

www.thereitispod.com/support

Twitter: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes 

Instagram: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics 

Facebook: @ThereItIsPod 

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In this mini episode Jason tackles the intriguing question: does comedy have to be funny? Is The Bear a comedy? Does comedy have to be funny? Why is this such a jarring subject? Jason delves into various perspectives on what defines comedy, using examples from different TV shows and movies. He discusses the subjective nature of humor and how intent and laughter frequency contribute to the comedic genre. With references to shows like 'The Bear,' 'M.A.S.H.,' and 'Scrubs,' Jason explores how comedy can come in different tones and approaches making the work land differently with audiences.

www.thereitispod.com/support

Twitter: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes 

Instagram: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics 

Facebook: @ThereItIsPod 

Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

Coaching an improv team? Here are some tips to help steward the team! In this mini episode we share a few thoughts on best practices when coaching an improv team. It's not covering everything to do because if you were selected to coach you probably know how to do that. This chat is more about what to and what not to do when coaching an improv team. These tips can apply whether it's your first time coaching or you have been coaching for awhile.

Twitter: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes 

Instagram: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics 

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