Podcast episode 467ish: Leland Klassen

Our old pal Leland Klassen returns for his third go-round on What's So Funny? even though he only remembers doing one of them before. I guess that's what it's like when you're a big-time movie star – you forget the little people. I always enjoy talking with Leland and this episode was no exception. We talked about his feature film Extraordinary, in which he is the star. That's right, the star. And this is a heavy-duty dramatic role. He plays an ultra-marathoner with the biggest hands you've ever seen... No, wait. I'm conflating his role with his standup (and his actual hands). He'll explain it all here for you. He tells us what it's like working with Kirk Cameron, about the perils of running and running around America, and getting mistakenly handcuffed by the authorities.

Enjoy! You can listen with the gizmo below, or search out What's So Funny? on iTunes or Stitcher or in the podcast aisle of your favourite podcast emporium.

Oct. 29: Shirley Gnome

It's been three years since Shirley Gnome last graced our studio. But she's back tonight! With guitar in hand, I presume, since she's played for us the three other times she's been a guest. Shirley's got a brand new CD out, which I'm looking forward to listening to. I'm sure it's chalk-full of dirty ditties. If you're not familiar with the comedic chanteuse, she's an incredible musician who just happens to sing hilarious and filthy songs about pudenda and such. She's exploded over the past few years, too, and she plays all over the world now. We'll find out all about that tonight plus she'll play for us some of her latest creations.

Tune in to CFRO 100.5 FM in Vancouver at 11 pm. That's when the party gets started. You can livestream us at coopradio.org or you can find us at your TuneIn Radio app.

Oct. 22: Shawn Farquhar

Tonight's guest was a tough one to nail down, folks. The guy is simply always on the move, performing all over the world. Shawn Farquhar is simply one of the world's best magicians and he lives right in our back door (a suitable place for a magician to be lurking, for sure). The Maple Ridge resident has won every major award there is in magic – he's a legitimate world champion, twice over. He's wowed Queen Elizabeth, Ellen DeGeneres, and has fooled Penn & Teller twice. He's that good. But one thing I always admire about him is the joy with which he performs whether it's for little kids at Science World or for celebrities, peers and dignitaries.

We got him between shows in Reno and on the high seas with Disney Cruises. On November 4 & 5, you can see him in town at the 75th anniversary of the Vancouver Magic Circle at Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island, where he'll be sharing the stage with magicians from South Carolina, Los Angeles, and South Korea.

We're on the air in Vancouver at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM. If you're outside the area, you can livestream us at coopradio.org or find the station on your TuneIn Radio app.

To whet your appetite, check out this gorgeous trick he created that won him the world championships. It's the most elegant trick I've seen. I could watch it over and over again. In fact, I have!

Oct. 15: Wes Barker

Regular listeners to What's So Funny? know I have a big soft spot for magic. I've had a few magicians on as guests over the years. Tonight, we'll have the first repeat magician guest. Wes Barker was with us first back in July of 2014. Since then, he's ripped apart many a phone book, appeared on America's Got Talent, fooled Penn & Teller, started a YouTube channel, and got married. On Saturday, Oct. 21, Wes, along with four other magicians (Kel, Vitaly Beckman, and Trevor & Lorena Watters) are performing at Bunaby's Michael J. Fox Theatre. So we'll talk about that and everything else he's been up to. I wonder if there's such a thing as audio magic? Maybe he'll perform some!

We hit the air running at 11 pm, as usual. Set your alarms and tune your radios to 100.5 FM in Vancouver. If you're outside the lower mainland, or don't own a radio, livestream us at coopradio.org or search for us on the TuneIn Radio app.

Podcast episode 466ish: Katharine Ferns

When life gives you lemons, make a Fringe show out of it. That's what Katharine Ferns did. In this episode of the old podcast, Ferns itemizes her hard luck story. She gives us the raw version, while in Katharine Ferns is in Stitches, you get the horror and the ha-has. Originally an artist, Ferns started out doing standup while a student in Vancouver. She took herself and her act to Toronto for a while and has been living in jolly old England the last five years. We talked all about all of it.

You can hear our conversation here or go download us on iTunes or Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podcast episode 465ish: Andy Cañete

Andy Cañete returns for his second go-round. Both times he's been talking about his latest Fringe show, but our talks always delve deeper. In this one, he talks about the dangers of being a soccer fan in his native Chile, the secrets of Gloria Macarenko, how Chris Farley makes him feel old, the dangers of some old jobs he's had, and the plausibility of Mariel Hemingway as a presidential bodyguard.

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