Podcast episode 529ish: Lauren Mather

Our guest in this episode was Lauren Mather, the darling of New South Wales. Lauren manages Vancouver's Yuk Yuk's comedy club, where she will also take to the stage on occasion and do some standup herself. She kind of stumbled into the business in Halifax, as you'll hear her explain here. And you'll hear lots more, if you download the episode. So go do that. We also talk about her video series, Yuk Yuk's – Who's There?, where she talks to the various comics who grace the Yuk Yuk's stage. A note on the photo: We usually commemorate the occasion before the show but it completely slipped our minds. Thankfully the three of us (including Sidekick Sam Tonning) found ourselves together the very next night at Yuks, where we snapped a pic in the greenroom.

We're at iTunes and Stitcher and Podbay and all the usual places. Subscribe to What's So Funny? on Apple Podcasts. That's an order!

Apr. 14: Ryan Williams

Tonight we've got another first-timer on board. Ryan Williams may be new to the show, but he's not new to the standup scene. He's originally from the 'Loop, he's a former footballer who exhibits as much energy on stage as he did on the field. I'm assuming he exhibited energy on the field. I never actually saw him play football. But we'll find out tonight. Ryan was a finalist in the Sirius XM Top Comic national competition in 2018. Oh, and he's also a really lousy karaoke singer. But funny!

Tune in at 11 tonight to CFRO 100.5 FM. Livestream us if you're sans radio at coopradio.org or you can search for us on the TuneIn Radio app. That works, too.

Apr. 7: Lauren Mather

Photo by Richard Lett

Tonight we're in studio with a first-timer to the program. We've got Lauren Mather all the way from Oz. Well, originally anyway. She's the manager at Yuk Yuk's here and managed another comedy club in Halifax before this. Not sure of the fine details but we'll get those all sorted out tonight. Ms Mather also is the creator and host of Yuk Yuk's – Who's There?, a video interview show with comedians from the green room of the club. And Lauren is also a budding standup comic herself. I know she's got a few shows coming up this week.

Tune in at 11 pm to CFRO 100.5 FM to get the full story, especially if you're an Australophile. You can livestream us on coopradio.org or on the TuneIn Radio app even if you're all the way down in Pappinbarra or in the maritimes.

Podcast episode 528ish: Neema Nazeri

Toronto's Neema Nazeri guests in this episode, while Sidekick Sam Tonning guest hosts. Nazeri was in town for the week and it coincided with spring break so he got the guest host treatment. It's a shorter-than-usual episode because Neema had to leave a bit early. But the pair talk about Persian comedy, pot rooms, how to correctly pronounce his name, how he got into standup comedy, and touring Australia with Joe White.

Enjoy! Listen right here and now, or listen to it on iTunes/Stitcher/Podbay.fm or any similar place. If you're over at Apple, why not subscribe to What's So Funny? It's the least you could do!

Mar. 24: Neema Nazeri

Happy spring break. Regular host Guy MacPherson is away in some exotic locale but the show will go on! Sidekick Sam Tonning takes over the hosting duties, while also keeping his fingers on the buttons. He’s one of the best multi-tasters in the business. Sam’s guest tonight will be Neema Nazeri, a Persian standup comic based in Toronto.

If you’re from Toronto, Iran, or some exotic locale, you can livestream the show at 11 pm Vancouver time on coopradio.org or on the TuneIn Radio app. If you’re in the Vancouver area and own an old-timey radio player, turn the dial to 100.5 FM.

Podcast episode 527ish: Susan Thompson

If you knew Susan Thompson like I know Susan Thompson... Actually, I didn't know Susan much at all before this episode. But if you listen to this hour with her, we'll be about even. We find out why she's a bit of a karaoke queen in Japan, she used to run an automotive shop, she's dropped about 100 pounds, she's done standup, and is now transitioning to more of a behind-the-scenes role in the comedy business. Those are the broad strokes. The details can be found in this episode. We weren't sure this would make it to air because about half-an-hour before going live, Susan used the hand dryer seen in this photo. At that exact moment, the power went off at the station and the whole block. She blamed herself, but I'm pretty sure she wasn't culpable.

The power returned in time for the show, which you can now hear here. Or you can go subscribe to What's So Funny? on iTunes (make sure it's the right one, though – there are a few, but we were the first). We're also available on all the other usual podcast providers.

Podcast episode 526ish: Amy Shostak & Tom Hill

Improvisers Amy Shostak and Tom Hill made their What's So Funny? debut in this episode. They are also instructors at Blind Tiger Theatre and they tell us what's going on down at the East Van school. Along the way, we learn about them... including a big reveal at the end! Who knew?! As much fun as we have through the hour, we stumbled into a heavier discussion right at the end so we run a little longer than usual, but it's worth it. And a special shout-out to Sam in the booth.

The episode is right here for your listening pleasure. But you'll probably prefer to go find us on your favourite podcast app.

Mar. 17: Susan Thompson

Is Thompson an Irish name? It better be because our guest tonight on St. Patrick's Day is Susan Thompson. Susan is a professional middleman. What's that you say? I don't know. She does. We'll find out exactly tonight but I know she's been a standup comedian (and probably still is if I know standup comedians), I know she's also been a club manager (I don't think she still is), and also sees the stage from an industry point of view. Which is to say she's a booker/producer. Don't worry, we'll get to the bottom of it all tonight.

We're on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM. If your old-timey radio is on the fritz, fire us up via livestream at coopradio.org or search for us on the TuneIn Radio app. They'll both do the job.

Podcast episode 525ish: Lady Rizo

What a perfect guest Lady Rizo was. She was raw and honest, funny, willing to go anywhere, and, as always, quick as a whip. Rizo (pronounced Reezo, but she's easy) was a Lady before the more famous Lady Blah-Blah. She took time away from the New York cabaret scene to spend almost half a year in Vancouver, where she starred in Bacio Rosso. We luckily got her in studio in her final week here. Growing up as Amelia Zirin-Brown in Oregon, she started her career in Seattle before heading to NYC. We talk about her experiences recording with the likes of Yo-Yo Ma, Moby, and Reggie Watts. She tells us about growing up among hippies. And she even sings us a little ditty. Great show.

You can listen right here, but maybe you want to savour it or take it with you on a walk. In that case, go download the show on iTunes or Stitcher or wherever you normally get your podcasts. We'll be there. Give us a rating, too, while you're at it.

Mar. 10: Amy Shostak & Tom Hill

I always love having improvisers on the show because there are no lines to memorize. As I'm sure you're all aware, there's a script for every other show. Tonight we've got a couple of Blind Tiger improvisers and instructors, Amy Shostak and Tom Hill. Amy is currently teaching a improv course for moms. We'll find out what that's all about and if moms improvise any differently than motherless ladies and men. Tom is also a member of the two-man group Hip.Bang! We've had his partner Devin MacKenzie on before so tonight he gets the attention.

This show is so old ("How old is it?!"), when we first started I had to remind listeners twice a year about the time change. You could go all day without remembering to put your clock forward or backward. These days you don't have to know. The robots do it for you. So when 11 pm hits tonight, you'll know to tune to CFRO 100.5 FM for What's So Funny? You can also livestream us at coopradio.org or find us on the TuneIn Radio app.

Podcast episode 524ish: Lisa Frischemeier

Our first German comedian graces our studio in this episode. Lisa Frischemeier hasn't been doing standup all that long, but she's making a name for herself in the English-speaking Berlin standup rooms. We learn about her hometown of Duisberg (the New Jersey of Germany), a bit about Muenster, and some about Berlin and a bit about Istanbul. But forget about all that learnin'; we had fun. We also talk about cookbooks and abortion!

Have a listen. Click below or download us on your favourite podcast dispensary. We'll be there.

Mar. 3: Lady Rizo

We've got a powerhouse on the show tonight. In our almost 15 years on the air, tonight's guest will be the first to have recorded with Yo-Yo Ma, Moby, and Reggie Watts. The first to have made an album at the famed Royal Studios in Memphis. The first who has had a solo residency at Joe's Pub in New York City. (But not the first to have performed at the Melbourne Comedy Festival.) The New York Times wrote: "Lady Rizo is a formidable belter who can sustain phrases and notes even when sprawled on her back on a piano and scissoring her legs". You might know Lady Rizo as the hostess extraordinaire at Bacio Rosso at Queen Elizabeth Park. I saw her there in November and was blown away not only by her voice, but also her extremely quick wit. She's hilarious. Tonight we'll get to know all about her.

We're on the air, as usual, at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM. If you're in, say, Oregon or Tennessee or New York, you can listen in via livestream at coopradio.org or find us on the TuneIn Radio (search for "CFRO"). If it's past your bedtime, give us a week and it'll be up in podcast format and you can listen whenever you damn well feel like it.