Best Alex Fortin Podcasts (2024)

1
No new Starting Out this week 1:08

1y ago1:08

1:08

Hey everyone, just letting you know I'm taking a little summer break from the pod. Thank you all so much for listening and supporting. Have a great summer and you'll be hearing new episodes soon. Follow us @startingoutpod Music by @debateson All episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1632913 Thanks for listening. Especially you...…

1
SO #123 Isi Commisso - F#$@ing Ceili House 56:28

1y ago56:28

56:28

This week is a special episode of Starting Out for me. You may not know him for his standup, but the impact he had on me is huge. He actually started the infamous Comedy at Ceili House in Hamilton, it’s Mr. Isi Commisso. Isi is a sensitive, emotional, bloated, Italian male comic - I have no idea why he resonates with me so much… I know there’s been…

1
SO #122 Ryan Maglunob - Anything Lower Than Perfect is a Fail 1:10:42

1y ago1:10:42

1:10:42

My guest this week on Starting Out is a comic 20+ years in the game, and has the unique experience of being a booker at one of the prominent clubs in the country, the-oft talked about Absolute Comedy club here in Toronto, it’s Ryan Maglunob! Ryan talks about starting at 17-years old at a club in Kingston, where not only did his first time go great,…

1
SO #121 Johnny Rogers - Gotta Do This For My City 51:41

1+ y ago51:41

51:41

My guest this week on episode #121 of Starting Out is the first guest I’ve had where I was a guest on their podcast. It’s Brockville-native, now Nepean-dwelling, host of the “Johnny Rogers Podcast”, Mr. Johnny Rogers. I ran into Johnny in Ottawa back in March when I was hosting at Absolute, and we agreed to be guests on each other's pods. I was wor…

1
SO #120 Ricardo Mejias - Friendly to Minorities 52:11

1+ y ago52:11

52:11

My guest on Episode #120 of Starting Out is none other than one of the grinders, one of the hardest working comedians, it’s Mississauga’s own, Ricardo Mejias!! Ricardo talks about his two first times on stage, one at Yuk Yuks Toronto, and another where he met past guest Ernie Vicente and other legends from the Mississauga scene. We talk getting adv…

1
SO #119 Nicholas Rizzi - Archery Was the Scariest Thing To Do 1:12:00

1+ y ago1:12:00

1:12:00

My guest this week on Starting Out actually reached out a couple months back saying he had just finished listening to every single episode of this podcast, like a goddamn true completist. That was such an honour to hear because I remember seeing him do standup before I did it, and I thought he was one of the best I had seen, it’s Richmond Hill nati…

1
SO #118 Emilie Lefrancois - She’s Gonna Harvest My Organs 59:59

1+ y ago59:59

59:59

My guest this week on Starting Out, all the way from Whitehorse in the goddamn Yukon, it’s Emilie Lefrancois. I met Emilie at Comedy Kapow the first time I ever got to headliner a show, and she was on it and so nervous and in her head, and I tried my best to talk her down, and I think it worked because she went on to have a great set and I could te…

1
SO #117 Larry XL - It Hasn't Broken Me, Yet 53:59

1+ y ago53:59

53:59

I do mostly have Canadian comedians on this show, because that’s who I know, but this week is different. My guest is a guy 21-years into standup, who started in his native Baltimore, it’s Larry XL on Starting Out! I did a week with Larry and Paul Myrehaug about 5 years ago at Absolute Kingston, and knew he’d be a thoughtful guest, so I was excited …

1
SO #116 Hunter Collins - Where's The Full Frontal? 54:13

1+ y ago54:13

54:13

My guest this week on Starting Out is world-traveler, professional squatter, and simply one of the most unique, original, creative and fearless comics I’ve ever met, its Hunter Collins!! Hunter has graced the stage at festivals such as JFL42, The Halifax Comedy Festival, and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and toured extensively through North America…

1
SO #115 Alex Fortin - A Random Double Tree 59:48

1+ y ago59:48

59:48

My guest this week on Starting Out started standup at 19 years old, and has been at it 12-years with not one but TWO comedy albums under his belt - “Talking Reckless” and recorded during the pandemic, “I Am Their King”. It’s Alberta native-now-Toronto-resident Alex Fortin. Alex has one of the wildest first set stories I’ve ever heard and I’m so gla…

1
SO #114 Bonez Poley - Time Passes Differently 53:42

1+ y ago53:42

53:42

Such an awesome moment in time for my guest this week on Starting Out - they are set to release their debut album “Inflammable Material”, it’s Bonez Poley! Bonez had so many creative endeavors that got dashed at an early age, and it was great to hear how they pressed through and did whatever they wanted first in the punk scene, and then in comedy. …

1
SO #113 Pat MacDonald - 6 Grandfathers Died 1:06:05

1+ y ago1:06:05

1:06:05

What a get! I thought this week’s guest had quit comedy and I’d never get to have him on again, and that’s because he quit comedy! But thank god he is back, it’s amazing comedian and podcaster Pat MacDonald on Starting Out this week. Pat and I met when I was a new comic and he was a headliner, and I was too in my head to talk to him, so I didn’t. A…

1
SO #112 Logan Brown - Guitar Hero 51:58

1+ y ago51:58

51:58

This week my guest on Starting Out is someone I am literally meeting for the first time. He is a young, up and coming comic that I describe here as seemingly being shot out of a cannon in the Ottawa scene, it’s Logan Brown! Logan actually sent me a voice memo, a very sweet one, saying when he started in standup one of his goals was to come on this …

1
SO #111 Rory Gardiner - A Fast-Metabolism Garth Brooks 50:57

1+ y ago50:57

50:57

My guest this week on episode 111 of Starting Out is the very first guest I have ever had who has opened for Keith Urban - it’s comedian and country music star Rory Gardiner! Rory has been nominated for a Canadian Country Music Award. He’s been featured on Funny or Die AND Ted Talk, and even in his 40s somehow has had over 50 million views on TikTo…

1
SO #110 Dr. Michael Friedman - I Didn't Prepare For the Laughs 57:33

1+ y ago57:33

57:33

My guest this week on episode 110 of Starting Out is my first actual doctor - it’s Ottawa-based comedian who also is a Chiropractor, Michael Friedman!! I ran into Michael at both Absolute venues we were performing at recently, and knew he’d be an awesome guest, so I had to limit the conversations we so wanted to have only to have it on this pod. Mi…

1
SO #109 Craig Fay - Sequels to Courses I Didn’t Enjoy the First Time 1:03:36

1+ y ago1:03:36

1:03:36

My guest this week on Starting Out is the cohost of one of the best comedy podcasts out there that he hosts with my former guest Rebecca Reeds called “The Villain Was Right”, it’s Craig Fay on Starting Out! I’ve always found Craig to be so kind, talented, and steady, and that’s a theme for this chat. He’s released two comedy albums, “Helicopter Ric…

1
SO #108 (That) Matt Carter - Disappoint People Merrily 1:11:53

1+ y ago1:11:53

1:11:53

My long-awaited-once-anticipated guest on Starting Out this week, is none other than Matt Carter, yes, THAT Matt Carter! Matt and I recently ran into each other at Absolute Comedy in Ottawa and had an incredible talk about comedy that I needed to cut off so that we could have it here, and he did not disappoint. If you’re a true lover of standup, of…

1
SO #107 Andrew Packer - Constantly Burning 29:24

1+ y ago29:24

29:24

I have a tight episode of Starting Out this week because my guest, besides being one of the best up and coming comedians in this country, is also a young, driven content creator who doesn’t have a lot of time and needed to go make more content, it’s Andrew Packer! Andrew is probably best know for being the host of Man News, which has a following of…

1
SO #106 Damonde Tschritter - Sit Here For a Day 56:30

1+ y ago56:30

56:30

I don’t know if 5-weeks can really be considered a hiatus, but we’re back!! Well, I’m back, and what a guest to have on the return of the pod, then none other than Slim Tschritty himself, the cohost of the best comedy podcast in Canada (my two pods included), it’s Damonde Tschritter on Starting Out. Damonde and I have only ever interacted on pods, …

1
SO #105 Desiree Walsh - No Wonder People Are So Smug 1:01:12

1+ y ago1:01:12

1:01:12

It’s the rare occasion that someone reaches out and asks to be on the pod, but this week’s guest did and I am so happy to have the amazing comedian Desiree Walsh on Starting Out! Desiree recently recorded her debut album “Everybody Panic” on Howl and Roar Records, and it’s release is imminent. Desiree and I talk about how she found a community in Z…

1
SO #104 Dave Shoalts - Crusading Young Lawyers 1:20:03

1+ y ago1:20:03

1:20:03

It’s another doozy of a guest on Starting Out this week. If you’re a Canadian sports fans you know the name of today’s guest. He’s been the hockey columnist for the Globe and Mail, the author of the books Tales From the Toronto Maple Leafs and Hockey Fight in Canada, it’s Dave Shoalts. I met Dave at comedy open mics probably 5 years ago, and like h…

1
SO #103 Jesse Singh - Leave That Kid Alone, He's Funny 1:04:54

1+ y ago1:04:54

1:04:54

What an awesome guest I have for episode 103 of Starting Out. He’s another one of my comedy brothers, we’ve been doing it about the same amount of time (even though I learned in this episode he’s 18-years younger than me) it’s none other than Jesse Singh on Starting Out this week. Besides being an amazing comic, by day Jesse is also a youth worker …

1
SO #102 Bret Measor - Not a Province For Fat People 1:06:23

1+ y ago1:06:23

1:06:23

My guest this week on Starting Out - which is sponsored by the pandemic "COVID" - is Hamitlon-based comedian, and video game creator, Bret Measor. Bret started standup a little after I did, and we used to have many deep conversations like the one you’re about to hear. Bret has gone through some loss in the last year, and we talk about death and gri…

1
SO #101 Rebecca Reeds - I Just Wanna Talk About Garbage Day 56:28

1+ y ago56:28

56:28

We’re keeping things going with just another incredible comic, one of the sharpest writers in the game, and one of the genuinely kind people on a sometimes unkind business, it’s Rebecca Reeds on Starting Out this week! Rebecca is perhaps the first guest I’ve had who went from a serving job in a comedy club to an actual comic, and what it was like t…

1
SO #100 Dave Marcotte (& Me) - The DTM Blonde 1:17:35

2y ago1:17:35

1:17:35

Happy New Year! There was no other guest I wanted to have on to celebrate the 100th episode of Starting Out, than my best friend of almost 40 years, one of the most talented musicians I know, and for sure the most humble, it’s Dave Marcotte on to interview ME! Dave and I have been circling this episode for a while and I think we managed to deliver.…

1
SO #99 Garrett Jamieson - I Really Wanted a Woman's Mullet 1:04:04

2y ago1:04:04

1:04:04

It’s Episode 99 of Starting Out, and I wanted to have a special guest on to celebrate. He’s someone like few others who take the biggest swings on stage, it’s Garrett Jamieson! Garrett talks about the Humber program, sketch comedy, Crest Whitestrips, and a whole lot of chasing funny. You can follow him on Insta @gjpartyhugs, you can buy the album “…

1
SO #98 Rob Pue - I'm Here for Ashton 42:42

2y ago42:42

42:42

Hoh boy, what a guest on Starting Out this week. It’s none other than the legend - another one of the best comedians Canada has produced, it’s Mr. Rob Pue. I did a gig in Hamilton with Rob several years ago, I knew who he was, and I knew he was an insanely good comic. I was terrified then, and I was a little less so now. Rob has been in the game 26…

1
SO #97 Max Ross - Pause For Laughter 1:07:04

2y ago1:07:04

1:07:04

My guest this week on Starting Out has been in the standup game for 11 years, and is a retired Canadian military reservist who spent 12 years in the Canadian army. He is my only guest who has been deployed, it’s none other than Max Ross on Starting Out. Like a few past guests, Max at heart is a shy guy who doesn’t really want to be shy, and we had …

1
SO #96 Jordan Hoath - I Ate Like a Hobo 52:59

2y ago52:59

52:59

This week’s guest on Starting Out I’ve had in my back pocket for a while. He started about a year and a half ahead of me in Hamilton, he was the first comic I got to geek out with my first night ever going to Ceili, and not only was he at my first ever spot, he might have been my first ever laugh, it’s Jordan Hoath on Starting Out. Jordan and I use…

1
SO #95 Marc Anthony Sinagoga - Dude, That's Your Mom 57:11

2y ago57:11

57:11

This week on Starting Out it’s someone who is somehow both established and a burgeoning talent in Canadian comedy, and maybe even the States. He’s an incredible headliner, producer, writer and actor in some of the funniest sketch comedy coming out of Toronto right now, Marc Anthony Sinagoga is on Starting Out this week. Fresh off the release of his…

1
SO #94 Dave Getachew - You Should Say It Way Less 1:00:55

2y ago1:00:55

1:00:55

This week on Starting Out I have on another one of my comedy brothers, someone who started around the same time as I did, and as you’ll hear was equally amazed when we met that we were somewhat normal people deciding to pursue this weird standup thing. It’s Dave Getachew on Starting Out! Dave’s real start began in MMA, before getting into his real …

1
SO #93 Liam Kelly - Blank My Brain 55:34

2y ago55:34

55:34

This week on Starting Out it’s another person I’ve been wanting to have on for a long, long time. He’s one of the best comics, and one of the best crowd work comics in the country, and easily one of the nicest people, it’s Liam Kelly. Liam is originally from Richmond Hill and it seemed to me that he had carved out his place there, running a weekly …

1
SO #92 Janice Israeloff - That Baby is Coming Out 54:08

2y ago54:08

54:08

My guest this week on Starting Out actually reached out to ask to come on and I am so happy she did. She has been grinding it out in the Toronto scene for 5-6 years and it’s been impressive watching her commitment, it’s Janice Israeloff. Janice spent 25 years as an actor, writer, and playwright before developing stage fright during her one-person p…

1
SO #91 Sam Norton - Arsonists Fail Upwards 57:15

2y ago57:15

57:15

My guest this week on episode 91 of Starting Out is the second American-born comic I’ve had on, and for sure the only American born comic who moved to Canada to do standup, it’s Sam Norton! Sam and I talk about the phenomena that Canadians think he’s a failed comic because he lives here now, which just illustrates our inferiority complex so well. Y…

1
SO #90 Simon Cotter - The Chosen One 59:15

2y ago59:15

59:15

This is simply one of the best episodes of this show. I had no knowledge of Simon before we did a show together at Absolute, which is 100% my bad. On that show he completely blew me away, and I learned he’s one of the OG Canadian comics, someone who has done everything you can do and more in this country, it’s Mr. Simon Cotter on Starting Out. Simo…

1
SO #89 Joe Botelho - The Ketchup Bottle 58:15

2y ago58:15

58:15

My guest this week on Starting Out is comedian and now film producer Joe Botelho. By all accounts, Joe and I should be closer as he literally started standup in Hamilton a month or two after I did, but we never clicked. We never had that deep talk, that long car ride to a show where we had the type of conversation we’re about to have. Joe was quite…

1
SO #88 Dom Pare - Ego Wank 1:01:14

2y ago1:01:14

1:01:14

My guest this week on Starting Out is none other than one of the best comedians this country has produced, it’s Dom Pare! Again I was reluctant to ask Dom to come on as I hold him in such esteem, but we did a show together recently and we started by talking about whether he goes on last or not bothers him, and that just set up one of the best talks…

1
SO #87 Greg Houston - I’m Not Here to Yuck Anyone’s Yum 1:04:35

2y ago1:04:35

1:04:35

This week’s guest actually told me he had been waiting to be asked to come on this pod since I started it up, and I’m so happy he had the patience to wait through 86 episodes and he still said yes, it’s Greg Houston on Starting Out! Greg joined me from his new-ish home base in the UK. We talk starting out in the Ottawa scene, the discipline and dri…

1
SO #86 Sarah Ashby - How Am I Going to Fill 120 Seconds of Time? 52:41

2y ago52:41

52:41

My guest this week on Starting Out is the multi-talented, uber creative, roast battle master, and now 10-year comedy veteran before the age of 30, it’s Sarah Ashby! I met Sarah very early on in my standup journey as we were competitors in a comedy competition in a large room with few people, but Sarah left a mark on me and I was really happy that s…

1
SO #85 Dave Squeaky Wheelz - A Get-Me-Over Fastball 1:01:45

2y ago1:01:45

1:01:45

My guest this week on Starting Out is Dave Squeaky Wheelz! I ran into Dave at a show I hosted a little while back and I hadn’t seen him since first meeting him in his hometown of Windsor about 6 years ago. Dave and I had such a fun conversation about some of the challenges he faced growing up with a disability, and he was so eloquent and thoughtful…

1
SO #84 Mark DeBonis - A Writing Program With No Shakespeare 54:02

2y ago54:02

54:02

This week on Starting Out its another guest I hesitated to ask to come on because I was afraid he’d either ignore me or just say no. He is truly one of my favourite comics out there, in my mind one of the most unique, creative people to do comedy, it’s Mark DeBonis! Mark chatted with me from his new city of Buffalo, and we had such an awesome conve…

1
SO #83 Ted Morris - Eventually We Noticed 51:37

2y ago51:37

51:37

I was so excited to this week’s guest on because he quit being a veterinarian to pursue standup comedy full time, it’s the incomparable Ted Morris on Starting Out! Ted quit his very successful, though mentally challenging job as a vet a whole 3 months before a global pandemic hit. We talk about his first time on stage at Club 54 in Burlington, and …

1
SO #82 AJ Bate - House of Cards at an Early Age 54:13

2y ago54:13

54:13

This week on Starting Out it’s someone I consider my comedy little brother, as he started in Hamilton about a year after me. I’ve loved watching him grow and become even more creative in standup and now film, it’s AJ Bate on Starting Out. AJ talks about growing up in Libya and how speaking English so well prompted him to take a job at a radio stati…

1
SO #81 Max Sheldrick - I Would Hate Me 58:11

2y ago58:11

58:11

This week on Starting Out my guest is one of the hardest working up-and-coming comics. I’ve known him for almost as long as I’ve been doing standup as we started at the same time, though in different cities, it’s Max Sheldrick! If there’s a theme to this episode it’s hard work and not getting down. Max explains how growing up on a farm set the cour…

1
SO #80 Paul Haywood - I Don't Take Requests 1:12:54

2y ago1:12:54

1:12:54

Holy hell what a treat of a guest I have this week on Starting Out. It’s comedian, actor, and writer Paul Haywood. Paul is my first guest who’s had something thrown at him his first set, and told “you suck” the second, and it turns out he’s one of the best comics this country has produced. He has even opened for Mitch Hedberg which we obviously get…

1
SO #79 Ana-Marija Stojic - Better Than One 1:00:06

2y ago1:00:06

1:00:06

Somehow I inadvertently booked two straight guests who are LA residents by way of Canada. This week on Starting Out it’s the incomparable comedian, writer, actor and artist, Ana-Marija Stojic. It was so great learning about all the big life changes that have happened for Ana during the pandemic. I wanted to have her on because I’ve always admired h…

1
SO #78 Henry Sir - A Derpy, Eeyore-ish Dude 57:08

2y ago57:08

57:08

Oh what a guest this week on Starting Out. I didn’t know him very well, we did one show together at Absolute Comedy but I knew he was a great guy. It’s LA-based comedian by way of Edmonton, Mr. Henry Sir is on Starting Out this week. Not only is he an incredible comedian, regular at The Comedy Store and nationally touring headliner, the real reason…

1
SO #77 Drew Grav - She Licked All Of My Teeth 1:06:42

2y ago1:06:42

1:06:42

Holy hell I was so excited to catch up with truly one of the smartest, kindest comics I’ve met and have the privilege of calling a friend, Drew Grav is my guest this week on Starting Out. Drew is one of those smart people you can actually have an intellectual conversation about conspiracy theories, and that’s what we start with, before moving on to…

1
SO #76 Kelly Zemnickis - Proverbial Lemonade 48:25

2y ago48:25

48:25

This week on Starting Out I have another multi-talented, comedian, filmmaker, writer, and baking show host, it’s Kelly Zemnickis! I only knew Kelly casually from running into her at open mics here in Toronto, but I was fascinated to learn about her documentary No Responders Left Behind that was recently snubbed for an Emmy. Kelly was great about op…

1
SO #75 Foad HP - There’s Gotta Be More Than One Baby in There Bro 47:47

2y ago47:47

47:47

It’s episode 75 of Starting Out with my guest the multi-talented comedian, actor, and now feature film writer and producer, it’s Foad HP! Born in Iran during the Iran-Iraq war, Foad tells me the harrowing story of his family’s escape, ultimate capture, brief imprisonment before they finally made it to Toronto. Foad also was great about opening up t…

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