This week, I’m joined by Denver comedian and producer Christina Vasili (@heystinahey), host of Death Comedy Jam at The Brutal Poodle. We talk about starting stand-up later than planned, navigating rooms full of dude comedians, and the quiet labor of recalibrating a space while hosting. Christina opens up about grief, losing her dad, gym community, and the struggle and reward of continuing to show up.

Also: gut health, poop shaped like letters, and the long art of punching a joke up until it refuses to stop getting laughs.

This week, we’re joined by comedian Kelly Zemnickis, fresh off the release of her new Comedy Dynamics album Lady Comic and her documentary short Making Connections, about telling jokes during a pandemic. Kelly is a sharp storyteller with a deceptively polite delivery, the kind where the joke sneaks up on you and then ruins balloons forever.

We talk about punch-ups as a supportive art form, finding your comedic voice without forcing authenticity, and what it’s like navigating comedy scenes between Toronto, Montreal, and New York. Plus: why balloons are a logistical nightmare, an emotional liability, and possibly damned to hell. Kelly also shares her favorite advice for doing scary new things, and why writing things down might save your life (or at least your set).

Bio:a

Kelly Zemnickis is a Toronto-based comedian and podcaster who has tattoos and likes to bake banana bread. She has been featured on CBC Radio's LOL and has graced stages from Kamloops to New York City. She made her Stratford Festival debut in 2024 as part of their Funny Forum Friday series, and has opened for such headliners as Brian Kiley and Michael Harrison. Kelly is also an acclaimed documentary filmmaker and her sophomore comedy album Lady Comic (Comedy Dynamics) is available now wherever you get your quality comedy!

Find Kelly on YouTube and follow her on Instagram and Threads @TheLatvianFoodie.

For our Season 3 Premier, I got to interview rising star and Chicago icon Rey Tang! We talked about touring the South as a trans comic, how satire is evolving in our current political climate, and punched up a really fun joke about lesbian love.

Rey Tang is a Chicago-based writer, stand up, and performer. She believes that, through an intersectional understanding of media, she can one day achieve her dream of writing for television.

https://www.instagram.com/reytangerine/?hl=en

This week I got to sit down with one of my all time favorite trans comedians: Rosalie! We discussed structural and performance punch up techniques, and may have even found a way to make a joke about slurs CHRISTMASY? Tune in!

Rosalie, the tall doll of stand-up, offers her unflinchingly honest and unfiltered perspective on the world through the lens of a trans woman. She's headlined all over CO and had the chance to work with some of the best in the industry. She may not be the representation you envisioned, but she is the icon you'll come to embrace.

https://www.instagram.com/omghirosalie/?hl=en

This week, I got to sit down with one of my favorite people and comedians: Bailey Pope! We talked about the current political climate for trans comedians, teasing vs. bullying an audience, and about punk rock philosophy in comedy.

Bailey Pope (She/Her/Etc) is a New York based Comedian, writer, and pigeon-holed actor, providing the overly-tattooed, failed rock star transgender woman comedy that everyone has been searching centuries for. Bailey has shared stages with Roy Wood Jr, Sam Jay, Mark Normand and Ashley Gavin. As an actor, she often appears as “Angry bartender” or “Aloof tattoo artist” in shows such as AppleTV+ “City On Fire”. Her writing has been published by Hard Times and Refinery29.

She also has a special upcoming on Amazon Prime, dropping October 2025!

Check out more about Bailey @TheActualBaileyPope https://www.instagram.com/theactualbaileypope/?hl=en

This week I got to sit down with comedian Dezzy!

Dezzy is a Philly comic who is just blowing up this last year, seen on the Here to pee tour, at Helium, Punchline, and a bunch of cool venues on the east coast.

You can catch them opening for Chanel Ali in NY this Fall,

You can follow Dezzy here! https://www.instagram.com/dezzirablecomedy/?hl=en

Mack is nonbinary comic & Portland native. Their gender identity is a mix between Mac Demarco & Shadow the Hedgehog: trashy, edgy, and a little furry in some places. Mack's comedy aims to eliminate feelings of shame through exploration of kink, mental health and queerness. They are the co-host & co-producer of Queer AF, Hear You Loud & Queer, & Heart Throb, the comedy dating show. They love standup because they need attention, and getting it on stage is a lot healthier than other ways they've acquired it in the past.

• @bong_jon_bovi (me)
• @queerafcomedy
• @hearyouloudandqueer
• @heart_throb_the_show

I got to sit down with Gabe Sklan this week and it was great!

“Gabby” Gabe Sklan is a Chicago based comedian and clown known for their direct and sincere approach to performance. They are the creator/director of Character Creator Show and a host of the Bad Boyhavior podcast.