Yuk Yuk's Comedy Podcast

Greatest damn Host ever, Jake Hirsch interviews Calgary comedian James Moore. They chat about starting comedy at age 43, and creating Comedy Monday Night for his own stage time, and how it has become a staple in the comedy community. Known across the country, Comedy Monday Night has provided opportunities and a place for comics to do well and develop, making it one of the best places to catch comedians from all over. Jake also asks the big question: Are we doing enough for comedy in Canada? Tune in to find out. comedymondaynight.com

Yuk Yuk's Comedy Podcast episode #86! Host Jake Hirsch interviews Just for Laugh's Zoe Rabnett. They chat about her start up as a booker, how comedy is subjective, the opportunities in Canada, the strong comedy community throughout the country and the beauty of being able to say 'yes' and the one person who keeps saying 'no' to her. And remember, if she isn't laughing it doesn't necessarily mean she doesn't enjoy you! Keep your eyes open for the Town Hall in Toronto! Follow Zoe! @ZoeRabnett www.hahaha.com

Yuk Yuk's Comedy Podcast episode #85! Host Jake Hirsch interviews duel citizen Andrew Albert. They chat about his teenage years in Quebec, his hard work ethic, and the earth's shape... like, it's something else. No judgement. Take a listen.

Yuk Yuk's Comedy Podcast episode #84! Host Jake Hirsch interviews Toronto comedian Shannon Laverty. They chat about her early years in the Saskatoon theatre scene - where she learned the beauty of comedic timing, doing comedy in South Africa, and performing for the troops. Follow Shannon on https://www.facebook.com/Shannonlavertystandupcomic/ and buy her album, Don't Shush Me on iTunes! You can see Shannon live at Yuk Yuk's Mississauga next month. Check out her upcoming show dates!

Host Jake Hirsch does a "Master Class" with Vancouver comedian Kathleen McGee. Kathleen shares some insight into comedy, giving her tips and advice for newer comedians. Follow Kathleen! @ Kathleen_McGee http://twitter.com/Kathleen_McGee YYCP intro by Lane Argue @laneargue www.LaneArgueGuitar.com

This week we replay Jake's interview with Calgary comedian Nav Ghali who is bravely battling stage 4 cancer. Nav is an amateur comedian and finalist in the 2016 Yuk & Comers Comedy Competition. Nav and Host Jake Hirsch sit down and discuss his recent success on the amateur circuit, his journey into stand-up comedy and how important family support and taking risks are. Follow Nav @ NavGhali twitter.com/navghali YYCP intro by Lane Argue @laneargue www.LaneArgueGuitar.com

Host Jake Hirsch interviews Toronto comedian Jarrett Campbell. They chat about being a military kid, growing up in a county near Blue Mountain in Ontario, playing music and wanting to write comedy, going to college in Hamilton, moving to Toronto, being so miserable that he started doing stand-up, doing comedy across the country, working in the TV industry, and how he's pretty much useless now. Jarrett performs at Yuk Yuk's Vancouver this weekend! http://yukyuks.com/vancouver Follow Jarrett! @ jarrettcampbell http://twitter.com/jarrettcampbell YYCP intro by Lane Argue @laneargue www.LaneArgueGuitar.com

Host Jake Hirsch interviews Calgary comedian Jake Poirier. They chat about American politics, growing up in the Yukon, living with his dad in Manitoba after his parents divorce, living with his mom in New York for a year, moving to Calgary and starting stand-up, and the comedy scene in Calgary. Follow Jake! @ TheJakePoirier https://twitter.com/TheJakePoirier YYCP intro by Lane Argue @laneargue www.LaneArgueGuitar.com

Host Jake Hirsch interviews Alberta comedian Bobby Warrener. They chat about being from Sylvan Lake, his shitty day job, how he started comedy in Red Deer, Alberta, his tools for improving, showcasing for Mark Breslin, being one of the youngest comics ever signed to Yuk's, finding success pretty early in his career, and the benefits of being on the roster. Follow Bobby! @ BobbyWarrener http://twitter.com/bobbywarrener YYCP intro by Lane Argue @laneargue www.LaneArgueGuitar.com

Host Jake Hirsch interviews Calgary comedian Donovan Deschner. They chat about how Donovan started as as a magician before getting into stand-up comedy, growing up in Calgary, how he challenged himself and wrote 260 new minutes of stand-up in one year, what he learned through accomplishing that, his writing process, hosting the show Super Dogs, the Calgary comedy community, what he loves and hates about comedy, the misconceptions people have, and some advice for younger comics. Follow Donovan! @ donovandeschner http://twitter.com/donovandeschner --- http://donovandeschner.com/ YYCP intro by Lane Argue @laneargue www.LaneArgueGuitar.com

Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Podcast episode #77! Host Jake Hirsch interviews Canadian comedian Marito Lopez. They chat about being Latino, growing up in Calgary, how he started doing comedy and who he started with, drinking and getting into trouble, being inspired by fellow comic Dave Merheje and how it influenced him to move to Toronto, getting sober, his comedy crew Runnin’ At The Mouth, and who he looks up to in the scene. Follow Marito! @ FMaritoL http://twitter.com/FMaritoL --- http://instagram.com/nochampagnepapi --- http://twitter.com/RunninMouth YYCP intro by Lane Argue @laneargue www.LaneArgueGuitar.com

Host Jake Hirsch interviews Canadian comedian Nick Beaton. They chat about being from Cape Breton, how he started in sketch comedy, moving to Toronto to go to Humber College for comedy, starting stand-up, doing Edinburgh Fringe Festival, performing in South Africa at Parker's, the limitations within the Canadian comedy and television industries, acting and auditioning, and his podcast This is NOT a Safe Space. Follow Nick! @ Nick_Beaton http://twitter.com/nick_beaton Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/thisweekinoutrage YYCP intro by Lane Argue @laneargue www.LaneArgueGuitar.com

Host Jake Hirsch interviews American comedian Gareth Reynolds. They chat about being from Milwaukee where he started doing improv, then getting into sketch, the magic and joy he finds in performing live, how his friend Steve Byrne got him into stand-up, writing comedy, explaining his career to his mother, his podcast The Dollop, American politics, and his upcoming projects. Follow Gareth! @ reynoldsgareth htp://twitter.com/reynoldsgareth garethreynolds.com YYCP intro by Lane Argue @laneargue www.LaneArgueGuitar.com

Host Jake Hirsch interviews American comedian Steve Byrne. They chat about how he started doing stand-up because he got a job at Carolines Comedy Club when he moved to NYC, the comedy hustle, the NYC "ceiling" which made him move to L.A., who was in the scene when he was coming up, his sitcom on TBS, Sullivan & Son, how it helped him as a writer, and the hard work it takes to be a comedian. Follow Steve! @ stevebyrnelive htp://twitter.com/stevebyrnelive http://stevebyrnelive.com YYCP intro by Lane Argue @laneargue www.LaneArgueGuitar.com

Host Jake Hirsch interviews Toronto comedian Sandra Battaligni. They chat about how she first got into comedy, a near-death experience that made her realize she had to be a performer, acting, working with her comedy partner Phil Luzi, moving to the States, her letter to the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in hopes of changing the Visa process for performers, what's happening in the States and how the media portrays it, the comedy industry in Canada, and more! Follow Sandra! @ sandrbatt twitter.com/sandrabatt Read her letter to Trudeau here: http://sandrabatt.tumblr.com YYCP intro by Lane Argue @laneargue www.LaneArgueGuitar.com

Host Jake Hirsch chats with Hamilton comedian Anthony Mlekuz. They chat about his start in stand-up, how he bombed at public speaking as a kid but got over it by getting into acting, how his comedy is influenced by improv, joking your way out of a joke that isn't working, joke writing, having the support of his wife & family, the comedy communities in Hamilton and Toronto, his plans for the future and the future of Canadian entertainment, and more! Next month Anthony will be hosting at Yuk Yuk's Hamilton and co-featuring at Yuk Yuk's Mississauga! http://yukyuks.com Follow Anthony! @ anthonymlekuz twitter.com/anthonymlekuz http://www.anthonymlekuz.com/ YYCP intro by Lane Argue @laneargue www.LaneArgueGuitar.com

Host Jake Hirsch chats with Toronto comedian Rob Bebenek. They talk about living in Vancouver, his comic buddy Jeff Paul‘s Dope N’ Mic shows, how Rob got started in comedy, touring, his joke-writing process, how he looks up to fellow comics Jeff McEnery, Dave Merheje, and Rob Pue, what he thinks about comics that accomplish some success or move to the States before they’re ready, and a new TV show he’s writing and working towards making. Catch Rob MCing at Yuk Yuk's Vaughan this weekend! yukyuks.com/vaughan Follow Rob! @ rob_bebenek http://twitter.com/rob_bebenek http://robbebenek.com YYCP intro by Lane Argue @laneargue www.LaneArgueGuitar.com

Host Jake Hirsch talks about his trip to Toronto and then interviews Toronto comedian Nigel Grinstead. They chat about Nigel's start in comedy and going to Humber College Comedy School, the comedian lifestyle and alcoholism, bombing and getting better, funny stories from touring the Canadian east coast, and getting into acting. Catch Nigel performing at Yuk Yuk's Hamilton next weekend! http://yukyuks.com/hamilton Follow Nigel! @ NigelGrinstead https://twitter.com/NigelGrinstead YYCP intro by Lane Argue @laneargue www.LaneArgueGuitar.com

Host Jake Hirsch interviews NYC comedian Turner Sparks. They chat about growing up in California and playing in punk bands, his love for Canadian comedy and Norm MacDonald in particular, moving to China and creating the first open mic there, starting the Kung-Fu Komedy Tours, also starting the first ice cream truck company in China, running businesses in China, how comedy in English is working out there, what the crowds are like, and more! Follow Turner! @ TurnerBSparks https://twitter.com/TurnerBSparks www.turnersparks.com YYCP intro by Lane Argue @laneargue www.LaneArgueGuitar.com

This week we switch things around; host Jake Hirsch gets interviewed by his younger brother Jason! This makes for a very honest conversation that gets right down to the nitty-gritty. They chat about Jake's major career & location change - how he transitioned from being a private investigator in Texas to a podcaster in Canada, all the amazing people he interviewed in the beginning of his podcast days (Friday Night Lights podcast), how he first met & interviewed Yuk Yuk's founder Mark Breslin and then pitched the idea of the YYCP, the comics he most enjoyed interviewing, becoming a talent agent & show producer, how he hopes to change comedy in Canada for the better, what he's learned along the way, the shitshow that is the upcoming American election... and more! Great interview! Follow Jake! @ JakeHirschEG http://twitter.com/JakeHirschEG www.jakehirsch.ca/ YYCP intro by Lane Argue @laneargue www.LaneArgueGuitar.com