Best Comedycourses Podcasts (2024)

1
THE END OF AN ERA [EP. 255] 19:14

3y ago19:14

19:14

Today we wrap up the long-running (6 1/2 years) School of Laughs podcast! It started in July of 2014 and has run the course of over 255 episodes. If you have a question about stand-up comedy we have covered it on this podcast. So as we wrap, where do you go from here? Today we talk about clearing off your schedule for upcoming goals. You can't add …

1
GOALS TRACKER WORKSHEET EPISODE [EP. 254] 32:07

3y ago32:07

32:07

Today we focus on the year ahead. What are you trying to accomplish moving forward? Yes, it's the annual goals tracker worksheet episode! You can download the Goals Tracker Worksheet .pdf by clicking HERE. Thanks to the Patreon sponsor for this episode John Smith. We'll cover how to set attainable goals in bite-sized pieces. Specifically, we get in…

1
MARKETING TIPS FOR COMICS WITH TRACY DeGRAFF [EP. 253] 32:53

3y ago32:53

32:53

Sharing marketing tips for comics is the one and wonderful Tracy DeGraff. After penning her first book, "Laugh Anyway Mom", Tracy took classes at The Second City in Chicago hoping to take her stories to the comedy stage. Today, she joins us to share insights on what has worked (along with a few things that didn't) on her way to creating her one wom…

1
17 SHOWS IN 27 DAYS - LESSONS LEARNED [EP. 252] 1:01:19

3y ago1:01:19

1:01:19

I just wrapped up 17 shows in 27 days. I am still learning how to be a comedian, speaker, facilitator, and actor. On top of that, I have to book travel and get myself to and from the gigs. Today I am going to share with you a lesson learned from each of the events. During the run, my shows consisted of two of my speeches, my stand-up, personal appe…

1
COMEDY WIN-WIN OPPORTUNITIES WITH CHESTER GOAD [EP. 251] 34:57

3y ago34:57

34:57

Today I am discussing comedy win-win opportunities with Chester Goad. I met Chester a few years ago at the BIG PODCAST conference with David Hooper. We've been in the loop ever since. During the past 18 months, we've spent many hours on coaching calls. Sometimes it is spent developing material, or creating a game plan. And always, trying to find wi…

1
CREATING A COMEDY CD with BRIAN KOHATSU [EP. 250] 30:37

3y ago30:37

30:37

Have you thought about CREATING A COMEDY CD? Brian Kohatsu joins us today to talk about a project that had been on his list for roughly 5 years. Coivd gave him time to finally knock it out and he knocked it out of the park! I'll play a few clips from his project "Secret Asian Man" and dig into the process for making the CD happen. CREATING A COMEDY…

1
FREQUENTLY ASKED COMEDY QUESTIONS [EP. 249] 41:22

3y ago41:22

41:22

Do you struggle with memorizing your jokes? Have you ever had problems with your voice during a show? What are the pros and cons of using props or musical instruments on stage? In this “after-school special” recorded with students from the writing class in Nashville, we discuss several techniques to help you tie your jokes together. We talk about h…

1
GETTING STARTED with CHRIS RUPPE [EP. 248] 41:48

3y ago41:48

41:48

Chris Ruppe is our guest on this episode, and he is also our Patreon sponsor. I first met Chris at a Christian Comedy Association conference. Since then he has developed material and started to think about going full time into comedy. Along those lines, Chris had some specific questions about making that move. If you are considering making comedy a…

1
LONG LIVE JEANNE ROBERTSON [EP. 247] 39:09

3y ago39:09

39:09

[This encore presentation of my interview with Jeanne Robertson is in honor of the late Speaker & Huomrists passing. Prayers and condolences for all those who were close to her. ] An interview with a rock star - Jeanne Robertson! In July of 2017, I had a great time talking with Jeanne. We discuss a career that started in the late ’60s and has carri…

1
BOUNCING BACK, BO BURNHAM & BITS [EP 246] 43:28

3+ y ago43:28

43:28

In today's episode, Jonnie W. & Brian Bates join me. We discuss how the comedy scene is bouncing back, the latest Bo Burnham special, and how changing one line in a joke can take it to newer and sometimes better places. This episode is sponsored by Patreon supporter Jeremy Lee. If you would like to support the podcast please visit www.SchoolOfLaugh…

1
12 COMEDY TIPS YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO IGNORE [EP. 245] 49:03

3+ y ago49:03

49:03

Join me for an encore presentation of Episode #2 of the School of Laughs podcast. This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Josh Liston. Find out how you can help us stay on the air at www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon. Producer Gavin Miller gathered questions from a club full of aspiring comics just like yourself. When the dust settled we c…

1
CHURCH PEOPLE - THOR RAMSEY [EP 244] 50:41

3+ y ago50:41

50:41

oday we are joined by Thor Ramsey. Thor is the force behind the movie Church People. The film takes us inside a megachurch whose pastor is caught up in gimmicks more than the gospel. Thor’s character, Guy Sides, is a rising youth pastor who is trying to get things back to being focused on the gospel. But, his agent and his pastor are going the othe…

1
CRISP AND CLEAN COMEDY COMPETITION RESULTS [EP. 243] 11:21

3+ y ago11:21

11:21

CRISP AND CLEAN COMEDY COMPETITION Welcome to the competition results episode. This showcase of clean comedy was open to all comedians. The clips ranged from stand-up, musical comedy to comedy without an audience delivered straight to the microphone. All clips submitted, as long as they were clean and clearly understandable, made it into the episod…

1
Crisp and Clean Comedy Submissions [EP. 242] 28:32

3+ y ago28:32

28:32

Welcome to the competition episode. This showcase of clean comedy was open to all comedians. Whether you are brand new, full-time, or fooling yourself. The clips range from stand-up, musical comedy to comedy without an audience delivered straight to the microphone. All clips submitted, as long as they were clean and clearly understandable, made it …

1
IS STAND-UP COMEDY BACK? [EP. 241] 30:03

3+ y ago30:03

30:03

In this episode, I will discuss the re-emergence of stand-up comedy. Battling shuttered clubs, empty showrooms, dry-docked cruise ships, and other venues it has been a tough year for comedians. I discuss a variety of things, including: Vaccination rates in the USA and how that affects audiences How some states are using Lotteries to entice vaccinat…

1
COUNTERING CANCEL CULTURE [EP. 240] 35:29

3+ y ago35:29

35:29

“Cancel Culture” is a term that has become more prevalent. In the world of comedy, it’s one step further down the path of political correctness. Today we talk about what it is, how it affects comedy, and what comedians can do to neutralize its invasion of our art form. Webster defines cancel culture as “a way of behaving in society or group, especi…

1
CRISP AND CLEAN COMEDY COMPETITION [EP. 239] 10:29

3+ y ago10:29

10:29

Crisp and Clean Comedy Competition Guidelines This showcase of clean comedy is open to all comedians. Whether you are brand new, full-time, or fooling yourself. Here’s how it will work. The clip can be stand-up, sketch, musical comedy - as long as it is clean and clearly understandable. Send your TV CLEAN audio clip, 60 seconds or less to SchoolofL…

1
3 TIME COMEDY FILM DIRECTOR RICK ALTIZER [EP. 238] 45:36

3+ y ago45:36

45:36

Have you ever wondered what it takes to produce a movie, write a jingle, or land Bob Dylan's manager? Well, today you are in luck! I have a pod-swap interview with Rick Altizer. Not only is Rick an incredibly good friend, but we also share an office! Over the years I've learned a lot about his character, his dedication to his work, and his incredib…

1
The Art of Bombing with Dan Bublitz [EP. 237] 33:16

3+ y ago33:16

33:16

Have you ever wondered what goes through a comedian’s mind when they tell a joke that doesn’t work? Whether you’re an aspiring comedian or a hardcore comedy nerd, The Art of Bombing Podcast has something for everyone. From useful comedy insight to entertaining stories of bombing and failure told by the comedians that lived through them. Join Rik Ro…

1
PREPARING FOR A TV SET - PART 2 [236] 21:26

3+ y ago21:26

21:26

This is the follow-up podcast to episode 235 where I shared my process of preparing for my last recording. You can listen to that podcast HERE. In this episode, I review the live recording. Offering up insights into my thinking for choosing certain jokes, we talk about what went well and what could have been different. We start off by listening to …

1
PREPARING FOR A LIVE COMEDY RECORDING 38:57

3+ y ago38:57

38:57

Preparing for a live comedy recording involves choosing your jokes, timing out the set, editing, making segues, practicing it live, and more. Today I share the process I went through for my last recording. Things were a little different this time due to COVID-19. But the overall approach is still similar to the way I have done it in the past. We co…

1
LISTENER QUESTIONS [EP. 234] 22:30

4y ago22:30

22:30

Over the past few weeks, I've received a handful of questions from listeners. I thought I would share the answers with everyone. The questions are ... Do you think comedy will return to the way it was before the virus? What books do you recommend to comedians? What are some crowd work tips? When do you make money in comedy? LISTEN NOW: Thanks to Bi…

1
DAN RUPPLE - MEDIA MASTER [EP. 233] 1:06:36

4y ago1:06:36

1:06:36

Today I am happy to introduce you to my friend Dan Rupple. As a respected comedy writer, producer, and speaker, Dan has been featured on NBC Nightly News, CNN, FOX News, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Dallas Morning News, Radio America, and more. Show Notes How did he get started in comedy? What is…

1
Facebook Pixels and YouTube Shorts [Ep. 232] 45:37

4y ago45:37

45:37

Facebook Pixels and YouTube Shorts Today I learn about Facebook pixels and Youtube Shorts with Zack Lyman. Zack is a funny comic out of Phoenix. When not on stage, he consults on marketing projects for companies and individuals. We tap into that expertise today to find out how we should be using Facebook Pixels in conjunction with ads to drive traf…

1
2021 GOALS TRACKER WORKSHEET PODCAST [EP. 231] 35:06

4y ago35:06

35:06

Today we review the year that was, the year ahead, and what we are trying to accomplish moving forward. Yes, it's the annual goals tracker episode! If you aren't a member of the Insider Tip Sheet Newsletter, you'll want to shoot an email to schooloflaughs@gmail.com and request to be added. This episode comes with a .pdf that is only available to Cl…

1
QUESTIONS ABOUT COMEDY WITH JOSH LISTON [230] 32:10

4y ago32:10

32:10

Today I answer questions about comedy as I am interviewed by Josh Liston, host of Tips of the Slung and Punching Sideways podcasts. Josh is an avid listener of the School of Laughs podcast and noticed I left a few topics uncovered. He noted that occasionally I will say, "one day I should do a whole episode on that topic". But ... sometimes I never …

1
DRIVE-INS, PARKING LOTS AND VIRTUAL GIGS [EP. 229] 43:08

4y ago43:08

43:08

Virtual gigs, drive-ins, outdoor parking lots ... is this what it has come down to? I discuss the options for comedians with former students Brain Bates and Jonnie W. If 2020 has taught us anything it is this: "adapt or die." There just aren't as many inside gigs as usual. If you want to earn some money you have to get outside your comfort zone. To…

1
THANKFUL DURING A PANDEMIC? [EP. 228] 14:17

4y ago14:17

14:17

This episode is all about YOU! That’s right. It’s time to pause and recalibrate. The podcast is going on its 7th year in 2021 and I want to make sure it still serves a purpose for you. It started out as a weekly comedy class-style show. Then evolved into an interview format. Where do we go from here? It’s up to you. Let me know how I can serve you …

1
HOT DOG - IT'S JUNE COLSON [EP. 227] 29:55

4y ago29:55

29:55

In this episode, I get to catch up with a former student, June Colson. I met June in 2017 at the Christian Comedy Association annual conference. She was eager to learn comedy but still wasn’t sure if she was in the right place. After meeting some fellow comedians with similar interests she decided to give it a go. Lucky for us. If she hadn’t, we wo…

1
THE ONION UNPEELED WITH SCOTT DIKKERS [226] 40:03

4y ago40:03

40:03

In this episode, I get to discuss the history of The Onion with founding member Scott Dikkers. Dikkers helped found the original Onion newspaper. He’s served as The Onion’s owner and editor-in-chief, on and off, for much of the last quarter-century. In 1996 Scott founded the website, TheOnion.com . In the mid-2000s, Scott headed up the creation of …

1
CREATIVE COMEDY WITH JOSH HARRIS [225] 52:32

4y ago52:32

52:32

Learn how to generate creative comedy with Josh Harris. Josh is a talented, creative stand-up comedian. He expresses his vision through music, video, and sketch comedy. Josh provides a great example of how stand-up can evolve off-stage. His high energy performances are more like a one-man show in quality. With over 10 million views of his hilarious…

1
SWORD SWALLOWER DAN MEYER [224] 42:07

4y ago42:07

42:07

Sword Swallower Dan Meyer grew up as a scared, shy, skinny, wimpy kid who was teased and beat up by the bullies. He convinced himself that someday he would perform superhuman feats, DO the IMPOSSIBLE, and change the world. And he did! Today Dan mixes danger, laughter, and swords to defy death with a smile. And as he does … he inspires audiences to …

1
OVERCOMING STAGE FRIGHT [223] 55:09

4y ago55:09

55:09

OVERCOMING STAGE FRIGHT Today we make a call all the way to Scotland to talk about overcoming stage fright. Elissa Di Napoli is the best-selling author of “Dare to Be Seen” from Stage Fright to Stage Presence. She helps performing artists command the stage and magnify their presence. By doing so, they can share their gifts with their audience and s…

1
CREATING A TV SHOW with JIM HOPE [222] 35:50

4+ y ago35:50

35:50

CREATING A TV SHOW with JIM HOPE Today we are talking about creating a TV show with my friend Jim Hope. He's a whiz who writes, performs, and produces comedy. I first met Jim when I performed on the Henry Cho Show on Great American Country (GAC Cable TV). He was a co-writer and producer and I could tell a smart guy. I caught him again a few years l…

1
STORYTELLING TIPS WITH DAVE BRICKER [221] 47:17

4+ y ago47:17

47:17

I am extremely excited to share with you some storytelling tips for speakers with Dave Bricker. Dave is an experienced speaker, trainer, and coach. Even more cool is he is a sailor! In fact, he combines his love of sailing with storytelling and is able to help people tell remarkable stories—through writing, speaking, graphic design, video, technolo…

1
COLLEGE COMEDY WITH ERIC O'SHEA [EP 220] 28:30

4+ y ago28:30

28:30

On this episode we are talking college comedy with Eric O'Shea. Colleges have entertainment budgets and seek out comedians, bands and other performers to fill their schedule. Could you fill your schedule with college work? Eric breaks down what you need in terms of material, personality, flexibility and longevity. If you are curious what it takes t…

1
CHRIS WINELAND - THE GREAT HECKLE [219] 43:48

4+ y ago43:48

43:48

Today I talk with Chris Wineland, the author of “The Great Heckle.” Chris popped on my radar when her performed on the Huckabee show in Nashville. He’s a busy guy. He has written for Emmy Nominated “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” Pursuing his love of late night comedy, Chris co-created the acclaimed Christian late night show “Next Week with Jeff Du…

1
MESSING WITH MOODY MOLAVI [EP.218] 27:06

4+ y ago27:06

27:06

MOODY MOLAVI joins us today to talk comedy. Specifically we talk about: MOODY MOLAVI SHOW NOTES Getting started in Chattanooga Crashing cars and motorcycles Learning about trigger words in a joke Using his background for stage material His desire to perform for the military Doing his DryBar comedy special Going on the road with Killer Baez and much…

1
CHANGE YOUR STORY with DAN LeFAVE [EP. 217] 38:08

4+ y ago38:08

38:08

On today’s podcast I talk with Dan LeFave. Dan is a business success coach for experienced and motivated entrepreneurs at the "Shortcut To Success". Dan’s specialty is empowering six and seven figure business owners to shift from being overwhelmed & disorganized to in control & systematized. He can help you focus on Business Mindset, Strategic Pro…

1
HOW COVID-19 AFFECTS COMEDY AROUND THE WORLD [216] 49:29

4+ y ago49:29

49:29

Since the COVID-19 virus popped on the scene live entertainment has taken a major blow. Who can crowd surf with ten people spread six feet apart anyway? Comedy has taken the punch and has had difficulty delivering the punchline back. Entertainers in every country are affected. But are they all affected the same way? Today I get to speak with folks …

1
Maryellen Hooper Dignity Under Duress [215] 37:37

4+ y ago37:37

37:37

MARYELLEN HOOPER joins us today on the School of Laughs podcast. A veteran in the world of stand-up, Maryellen Hooper’s comedy has taken her from clubs and colleges to theaters and television. She’s appeared on many late night talk shows including several appearances on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno. Her half-hour special on Comedy Central calle…

1
TIPS ON SPEAKING WITH (CSP) STEVE LOWELL [214] 47:46

4+ y ago47:46

47:46

Learn tips on speaking from Steve Lowell (CSP). Steve is the past National President, Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS). Steve is incredibly gifted at helping identify their “expert insights.” These are the things or then thing that makes a speaker different from all the others. The expert insights are what you can provide that p…

1
EASYGOING AARON WEBER [EP. 213] 36:53

4+ y ago36:53

36:53

Aaron Weber is a standup comic born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. After graduating from Notre Dame in 2014, he moved to Nashville and started doing standup. Since then, he’s become a regular at Zanies Comedy Club and has performed all over the country. In 2018, he competed in the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival and was a part of John Crist‘s re…

1
COVID, COMEDY & CONTRACTS [EP. 212] 31:36

4+ y ago31:36

31:36

Today’s episode is in response to the extreme number of cancellations of events due to the COVID-19 Corona Virus Outbreak. We will approach it from three angles. First, let’s take a brief moment and acknowledge how lucky we are to be performers in the first place. Second, let’s remember the others affected in our industry. And third, how can you ad…

1
VICTORIA JACKSON HANDSTANDS TO HOLLYWOOD [EP. 211] 38:10

4+ y ago38:10

38:10

By Rik Roberts

1
DOC KENNEDY - FREE TO LAUGH [EP. 210] 23:22

5y ago23:22

23:22

By Rik Roberts

1
DAVE CHAPPELLE MARK TWAIN PRIZE [EP. 209] 25:19

5y ago25:19

25:19

By Rik Roberts

1
JEREMY NUNES – DON’T FORGET THE MAKE UP [EP. 208] 30:23

5y ago30:23

30:23

By Rik Roberts

1
COMEDY GOALS TRACKER [EP. 207] 8:46

5y ago8:46

8:46

By Rik Roberts

1
BE A WEALTHY SPEAKER OR COMEDIAN: JANE ATKINSON [EP. 206] 50:51

5y ago50:51

50:51

Jane Atkinson is founder of The Wealthy Speaker School, which provides online courses, group coaching and live events for all levels of speakers, helping people look at speaking as a business. Jane has over 30 years experience in the speaking business, has authored four books and is host of The Wealthy Speaker Podcast. JANE ATKINSON SHOW NOTES If y…

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