This week, Caitlin Comeskey joins Nighttime Benders for a lively, wide-ranging conversation about comedy, poker, and everything in between. With roots in theater and burlesque, Caitlin has spent the past several years making her mark in poker—as a player, content creator, and behind-the-scenes force. She and Julia Reed Nichols talk about being a woman at the table, the different pulls of tournament glory and the cash-game grind, and what it’s like to ride a winning streak in Vegas.

They also get into rage-bait algorithms, online criticism, first open mics, Austin’s changing character, and the modern manosphere. Along the way, there are stories about getting stood up, family Halloween costumes, and the kind of friendship that can handle a questionable joke. Smart, candid, and delightfully sidetracked, this episode is for anyone curious about poker and comedy.

After a comedy show in Cottage Grove, Julia Reed Nichols pulls up a chair with comics Jake Woodmansee, Chris G and Terry Geil for a conversation that wanders—in the best possible way—from touring and dating to news fatigue, angry beavers, and the finer points of being a good tourist. The crew swaps stories about building a comedy scene in Central Oregon, navigating modern relationships, and trying to meet people without looking like a suspicious person in the grocery store.

Along the way: the comics chats about Springfield’s claim to Simpsons fame, Reno’s Circus Circus, whether comedians make the news more bearable, and why the best jokes come from sounding like yourself.

This episode also features Seattle comic and software engineer Justine Ventura, who talks about starting in comedy, balancing a day job with late-night sets, and finding her lane in hosting, roast comedy, and community-based shows. We also get into what makes the Seattle scene welcoming for newer comics, how festivals sharpen stagecraft, and why creating shows around identity and shared background can make the material stronger.

Expect the loose, unfiltered energy of a post-show hang, plus local comedy tips, open-mic shout-outs, and a peek at upcoming shows and stand-up classes in Central Oregon.

Recorded LIVE at The Coyote in Downtown Bend, this week’s episode brings together Creach, Courtney Stevens, Pat C, and Julia Reed Nichols (Along with some pop-in guests!) for a conversation about the strange, hilarious, and occasionally frustrating realities of life in Central Oregon.

The crew dives into everything from e-bike-riding teens swiping solar lights to the bigger conversations around housing, development, and what happens when communities feel pushed around.

But don’t worry, this is still a comedy show at heart. The conversation quickly veers into the wonderfully relatable weirdness of Bend: roundabouts, road trips, haunted houses, and the very specific confidence it takes to call yourself a comedian before anyone has actually paid you to do it.

Come hang with us for the kind of conversation that feels less like a podcast and more like sitting around a table with your funniest Central Oregon friends.