Unsettling In with Michael Malamud

Beautiful teacher. Don't. Patience, young, grasshopper.

a good place, a good time, a good space, a good taste. Good. Goo. God. Through with expectations. First place goes to

Sound effects. Sound's effective? Sounds affective. Affected. Perplexed. Reflective.

Impression. Expression. Pressure release. Pressed for time? Unimpressed. Prophetic? Poetic? Pathetic? Treasure. Pleasure. Descent. Heaven. Respect the present.

Paul Cyphers (@realpaulcyphers) is a stand-up who has been on Kill Tony and on podcasts with Hans Kim. He has a great substack that you can find here: https://paulcyphers.substack.com/ He's an excellent joke writer. Go check out his instagram and enjoy all the good short stand up videos he has there. You'll fly through them and they're a lot of fun. As soon as you're done doing that, get off instagram. It really is terrible for your mind and spirit. Paul and I discussed the romanticism of artistic struggle, Kill Tony, and his professional poker player brother.

Jeffrey Berner (@jeffreygberner) is a Comedy Store regular now living in Austin and regularly performing at the Comedy Mothership. We discussed the allures and dangers associated with conspiracy theories (and censorship), the need to enjoy doing comedy while attempting to make a living off if it, and the qualities that make Jeffrey a good candidate in the dating pool. We also discussed the radio hit Breathe (2 AM) by Anna Nalick, which holds a significant place in both of or lives. I do not own the rights to Breathe (2 AM), they belong to Anna Nalick and Columbia Records. Whatever I need to write here to express that I did not write this song and am not seeking to profit from it as if I did. To be honest, I don't think I've ever written or made anything as true and complete as that song. It’s perfect.

Lauren Jamison (@thelaurenjamison) is a stand-up comedian, voice actor, singer, and wonderful hang. We recorded this episode after she had just driven back into Austin, having ended a tour. She made my podcast her very first stop (she didn’t even go home first). Pretty hardcore. When Lauren was still living in San Diego during COVID, she took part in guerrilla-style comedy shows in parking lots that would be broken up by cops. We talked about what it was like to take the risk and follow her friends and heart to make the move to Austin from San Diego for comedy. She also told me about her time working as an uncertified breathwork instructor. Who’s checking? Lauren informed me about “God shots,” which, in the world of recovery, is a term used to describe experiences where the universe seems to be communicating something directly to us, to point us toward a specific direction or give a head nod towards a choice we’ve already made. She was kind enough to share some of her own. I’ll let you hear those for yourself. Be sure to check out Lauren’s show, Yuk It Up Comedy, which happens every Thursday at 7:30 PM at Wanderlust (610 N I35).

SWIGGY (@the_artist_known_as_swiggy).

In the course of doing a weekly podcast, there inevitably comes a point where the host must ask, "what is this thing, exactly?" On this very special 20th episode with esteemed guest and very funny comedian Ray Chenevey (@ray_chenevey), I attempt to answer this question. During our time together, Ray regales me with a few of his brand new, extra fresh hot-off-the-press one liners. We also discuss his new interest in Buddhism, getting high off the lucidity of life, and how and why Cleveland, Ohio sucks. Then, we literally try to read each other's minds. I hope you're enjoying Unsettling In: the only comedy podcast that tests the supernatural abilities of its guests. Thanks for making it to 20 episodes.

Justin O'Donnell (@justinodv) is a comedian who works at Cap City Comedy Club. He is also a writer that has authored an entire novel. He told me a great story about the time a publisher sent him an accidental rejection letter. Then we talked about some recent chaos bordering on violence that he saw at an open mic, which adds more weight to the vital question, "open mics: why?" We also talked about the flippant, dismissive and sexual language we use to describe women, and how it's just a tool we use to protect ourselves from our emotions. Most importantly, he introducted me to the universe of Instagram clown girls. AI Art for the flyer was made with Midjourney. Thanks for listening! If you're on Spotify, be sure to answer the new question in the Q and A!

Austen Silver (@austen.silver) is an LA-based comic that I first met doing open mics in ATX around 2014. He informed me that he keeps a list in his phone of over 150 comics that have quit comedy since he started. At first I thought of it as a hilarious spite list, but it's more than that. It's a reminder to stay persistent. It's a diary of a wide range of characters who did the art form that most people find terrifying, and then disappeared to become real-estate agents and teachers. It's an archive of original jokes that will never be heard. Since I've quit comedy before, Austen has me on the list. Art for the flyer was made with AI (midjourney)!

Victor Martinez Jr. (@victormartinezjrbackup) is a comedian, a marijuana-themed talk-show host, and a baby daddy. This was my favorite episode in a while. We read Bible verses and talked about his past lives as a film student and a gore make-up artist, a marijuana-induced psychosis he experienced in Canada, and the horrors of raising a child in the digital age. Be sure to check out the High Tonight Show at thehightonightshow.com, and to come out to the next one at The Creek and the Cave on 3/29 at 10 PM!

What can I say about Ryan Radtke (@xdoodypoody)? He’s an authentic and peaceful creature making music and visual art here in Austin. He loves comedy and is a frequent spectator at the Banana Phone mic on Sundays. I love Ryan’s pure love of expression, his insights, and his sense of humor. He makes me laugh off stage more than a lot of comics. We discussed so much on this episode when my dog wasn’t licking his face, and I hope you enjoy it. Feel free to check out this audiovisual podcast poem he made that I got to be a part of as well: https://bit.ly/3Zjf7qy

Ike Rafferty (@ikerafferty) is a friend from Florida who has opened for Tony Hinchcliffe and been on The William Montgomery Show. He brought my dog a toy that was torn to shreds while we were still recording. He informed me that he is having an affair with my father. He has COVID, is fat, and is going to die.

Bilaal Swain (@bilaalswain) is the third comic from Detroit to come on the show. He’s got a dark absurdity and is highly improvisational in comedy as well as in conversation, which means that I never know what‘s going to happen when we talk. That’s how I like it. When we get beyond the myriad of outrageous hypothetical scenarios he wants to discuss, what’s left is a lot of authenticity, insight, and a pure love of comedy.

We're back! Markus Olind (@beardvonmarkus) and I recorded this episode back in December. Markus won the Detroit 2 LA Comedy Competition back in 2019. He also had a great set on the most recent Kill Tony (593). We recorded the longest episode of Unsettling In yet as we covered topics ranging from his world and cross-country travels, his varied experiences engaging with crowds and hecklers, and our thoughts on eating ass. He's an effortless conversationalist.

Timmy Gusto is a comedian, podcaster, singer, and fashion icon. We used to do open mics together in Chicago. I've recorded more unreleased podcast episodes with him than with any other person. We talk about our friendship, the time Timmy gave Ari Shaffir a 10K gold bar on Kill Tony, and what exactly Timmy means by the term "woke Jew."

Ben is a stand-up comedian and the best screenwriter I personally know. We discussed his incompetent grad student therapist, just how often I’m seeing UFOs, and the sequel to School of Rock that he attempted to write at 13 years old.

Reier Cammerman (@reier_cammerman) went up after me on the most recent Kill Tony. She had a great set and interview, which would surprise no one who has seen her before. She is delightful and brilliant. We discussed personal neuroticisms in childhood and adulthood, our comedic tastes, and Kill Tony. I was surprised by just how much we had in common.