What's So Funny?

Steve McGowan isn't called "Shooter" because he loves to drink shooters. But he does love to drink shooters. He tells us how he got the nickname and what he thinks of it. He tells us of his long-lost days managing a comedy club before committing full-time to his special brand of party comedy.

Daniel Chai started out as a lowly journalist but has steadily risen in status as an improviser. And he's a patron of the arts, too. You'll see him about town at all kinds of shows, not just improv. The Surrey native is a nice guy who owes his career to karaoke.

Glenn Wool returns for his third go-around with us. We talk about kids birthday parties, the dangers of living in Canada, opening for Jim Jefferies, harrowing cab rides in Vietnam, behind the scenes on Paul Provenza's Green Room, and getting fired from being a mascot.

Nestor Pistor is a Canadian comedy legend. But we don't need to tell you that. The Ukrainian entertainer is a many-timed Juno Award nominee. Don Ast created the character (what?!) back in the seventies and he's still going strong. In this episode, regular host Guy MacPherson was away, but sidekick Sam Tonning ably took over and asked all the right questions. We learn about the history of Nestor Pistor, plus we learn what he likes to cook, he gives us some fitness advice, and he tells us what his biggest pet peeve is.

Dino Archie returns... with friend! We didn't know Dino would be bringing along a pal, so musician Jon Bryant doesn't get the introduction he deserves off the top. We talk about retirement, hanging with Johnny Depp, weddings, door-to-door knife salesmen, and an idea for a new podcast.

Travis Watters sounds like a wrestling villain. That's because that was his gig for 20 years. He grappled with all the greats as the heel Ladies Choice. We talk about his years in the ring and the toll it took on his body – but he's making a comeback in 2020! We also talk about growing up in Fredericton and his rivals in Oromocto, his side hobby oil painting, and his latest work on standup stages around the city.

Kalvin Olafson is a Vancouver actor with ties to the comedy scene here. He visited us to promote a play he was in, but we talked about all sorts of things with him and guest sidekick Lars Callieou. We talk about Kalvin's process and motivation, growing up on a farm in Manitoba, flying first class, and playing in his band Minto.

Kyle Bottom may not have been with us for five long years, but in our defense, this was his fourth visit. In this episode, we discuss him phoning in his SiriusXM Top Comic competition duties, what he's learning in radio school, honeymooning in Japan, vetoed baby names, and altogether too much toilet talk.

Shawn Farquhar makes himself appear on the show for the third time. We may be running out of lame magic puns, but not songs about the art form. It's always fun to surprise him with a new one. And in this episode he surprises us with some facts about him. Did you know he was almost an Anglican minister? Do you know what his hobbies are? You will after you listen to this episode. Plus what it's like to perform sick.

Ola Dada makes his What's So Funny? debut, and he comes bearing dad jokes a-plenty! This standup comedian from Nigeria by way of Fort McMurray. Could there be two more different places? We learn what it was like making the move from western Africa to western Canada. At the time of this recording, Dada was waiting to hear if he made the finals of the SiriusXM Top Comic competition. Spoiler alert: He did!