Vox Celeste

If Brooklyn born and bred Josh Carter (Northern Discomfort, Polished Beauty) was a superhero his super powers would be simultaneously pissing off the left and the right, no matter the topic.  

Recorded at Comic Strip Live Studios

Music Phantom Boyz and Arkitexx

Abe Gatling III (Cry Baby Comedy) joins Vox Celeste discussing his “prep school Negro” experiences at Taft.  We exchange our respective school daze “go back to where you came from” horror stories (yes bitches- we name, names) and the liberation of being unapologetically Black in predominately white spaces.

When one thinks of  New York’s Funniest Jewish Comedian, a tall man Black man rocking a glorious Afro with a yarmulke nestled inside,  is not what usually comes to mind.  Sha “Shabbat Man” James, joins Vox Celeste  to discuss his introduction to Judaism at eleven, his subsequent conversion (and no it wasn’t for the jokes) and how it’s Kosher with his Christian family.    

Recorded at Comic Strip Live

Brian Babylon (NPR’s Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me!, Comedy Central) joins Vox Celeste- talking about his sweet home Chicago; touring with Hannibal Burress in the motherland and old family friend, HUD director, “uncle” Ben Carson. Music: Phantom Boyz and Arkitexx Recorded at the Comic Strip Live.

Born to an Italian mother and Puerto Rican father, Mike Figs (PornHub) describes himself as the product of the  “real West Side Story.”  Raised by his Italian mother and extended Italian family, Figs’ first gigs were impersonating his obnoxious uncle during Sunday dinners, at his beloved grandmother’s house.  Figs opens up about reconciling with his abusive and estranged father; finding love with the same woman for the second time and figuring out this comedy game. 

Diagnosed with alopecia at the age of four, Zachary Levi (WBCR) learned very early on that being a bald, thin, sickly-looking kid can be very profitable. People tend to become more generous when you look like you have stage four cancer.

Music: Phantom Boyz and Arkitexx

Recorded: Comic Strip Live

When comedian Elsa Eli Waithe (High Bible Stories) made the cover of the New York Post, on July 8, 2016, it was not funny at all. The photograph of her arrest, at a Black Lives Matter rally, with the headline “Fury” in bold letters- documented one of the most traumatic days of her life. Elsa discusses the turning point in which she went from being politically apathetic to becoming an activist making front page news. (Comedy has everything to do with it).

Recorded at Comic Strip Live Music: Phantom Boyz and Arkitexx

The ever-affable and self-proclaimed odds beater, Jacob Machlis, joins Vox Celeste to discuss his childhood obsession with Manzai comedy which led to him moving to Japan; our mutual love for the “Magic School Bus”  (Lily Tomlin is the only Miss Frizzle we acknowledge); how his love for ice cream saved him from the clutches of two Tokyo ladies of the night and how he’s living his best life as an adult with Asperger’s.

Music: Phantom Boyz and Arkitexx

Recorded: Comic Strip Live

Returning guests Danny Cohen (Comedy Cellar, Caroline's) and Chewy May (She-Devil Comedy Festival)  kick off Pride Month discussing their experiences in “gay conversion therapy.”  Something, something, something naked men in a circle crying.  

Music: Phantom Boyz and Arkitexx

Recorded: Comic Strip Live.

Eric Piesco was living his best life until he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, at a relatively young age.  The only cure- the removal of his left testicle.  You would think walking around with a half empty nut sack would be demoralizing but for Piesco- it became his muse. When life hands you testicular cancer- be like Eric and have a ball.

Music: Phantom Boyz and Arkitexx

Recorded: Comic Strip Live