Comedian, Writer, Producer and Zine enthusiast, Jason Van Glass is on the couch this week. Talking about obscure obsessions, specific collections, comedy nerdom, chance meetings with Seinfeld writers, cat magic, his bay area childhood, comic shop work, and his opinions on his own general weirdness. All that and much much more, as a normal podcast hour just isn't enough!
14 Years Later ( w/ Kortney Shane Williams )
Comedian Kortney Shane Williams joins Jake for an epic catchup. The two became fast friends early in their respective stand-up careers but lost touch for over a decade. The two talk standup and do some reminiscing and Kortney chats about growing up under watch of a minister mother, living nomadically, being an introvert, a fighter, a sibling, a self sustained enthusiast of numbers, and SO much more in what is sure not to be his last appearance on the program.
Swimming with Snarks (w/ Scott Krinsky)
Actor/Comedian/Artist and more Scott Krinsky joins Jake and talks about what it was like playing a geek culture icon on the hit NBC show Chuck without much real life geek cred! Plus the joys of swimming, living life at the beach, finding peace in solo activities, the culinary arts, balancing yourself and the box you've been placed in, the cardboarded glory of Dave Made a Maze, his incredible keytar skills, the lighting in the bottle that was JEFFSTER, and much much more.
Best at Beasts (w/ Dru Johnston)
Actor/Sketch Comedian/Improviser/writer and more, Dru Johnston is on the podcast this week. Jake gushes over how his work on The Chris Gethard Show helped keep Jake’s spirits up through the pandemic and then the two dive into being a part of creative communities, adopted families, 50 weeks of Wayne’s World, hanging out in grocery store parking lots outside of Seattle, love for the theater, Shakespeare, and a live crowd, playing Beast on stage and at home, artistic validation in quarantine, Almost Live, and all things improv and the often combative relationship between sketch and standup. All that and so much more in this extra long episode.
Slack Rope Roasting ( w/ Alex Hooper )
Comedian and Writer Alex Hooper from AGT, Comedy Central's Roast Battle, and much more, joins Jake on the pod to talk about meeting on the set of Kevin Smith's Zack & Miri Make a Porno, creative meandering, forging your own path, meditation, slack rope walking, yoga, managing mental health, and much much more!
Get Alex's book "Roast Yourself to Happiness" on Amazon : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T8FQ81W/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_DGJQ6FGXWSHYM65W6E9M
Do The Thing
Elaborate is coming back! But first, Jake is sitting down solo on his birthday to catch up and share some thoughts on being dark for all this time, the pandemic and what its highlighted of his shortcomings and strengths, getting older and his current journey of rediscovery, what he's learning about letting go of complete control, perfectionism and its firm and unrelenting grasp around him, the release of his feature film Pinch, music, bikes, comedy, and much much more.
Top Tier Ribbons (w/ Helen Highfield)
Actor/Singer Helen Highfield is on the couch sharing tales of and her super smart academic parents who also have no shortage of cool factor, being on the cover of her mothers debut album, being a child of an amicable divorce, riding show ponies and equestrian ribbons that are and aren't good enough, being an English as a second language ringer, and giving teachers much needed advice! Plus the Zima formula, bad college essays, New York City, school provided fake IDs, the daunting view of life after college, the law and order to booking law and order, the cush of privilege, calling in blind and learning how to fail. Be sure to check out Helen in I Ship It on CW Seed!
Your Mark Embarks (w/ Shane Hartline)
Actor/Producer/Director Shane Hartline is on the couch and sharing tales of a creative kid with a glorious VHS camcorder making home movies, taking improv classes at 13 and calling Universal Studios and Nickelodeon trying to get acting jobs! He also talks about training to be a wrestler at 15 with his supportive father who bought him a wrestling ring and may or may not have unintentionally started a wrestling school. He and Jake discuss their mutual experiences with the pro-wrestling industry and the toxic masculinity and other behaviors that pushed them away from it. They also talk about how the birth of YouTube and Wood and Steel productions and the weekly web series he coercing friends to be a part of, Shane's brilliant "Mark E. Xtreme" character, being in Rock of Ages, the Parable of the Horse that emotionally rocked Jake in the Bill Murray Stories and the way Shane feels he is tested by a higher power!
Shane also talks about his brand new short film, Cookie - about an aspiring actress living with spasmodic dysphonia, a rare disease affecting the larynx in which Shane himself lives with.
Debunk the Hunk (w/ Michael Wayne Foster)
Actor/Model/Host Michael Wayne Foster is on the couch! Michael and Jake are long time friends and collaborators and the two talk about how they met and instantly clicked. Michael also talks about growing up a big kid in Michigan, childhood insecurities and bullying, high school radio, breaking stereotypes, his tight-knit family and zombified father/son bonding experiences, being on season 3 of "The Bachelorette," Sylvester Stallone comparing him to Ivan Drago, his experience as a high school English teacher, the power of any level of celebrity, and even Energy Vampires! Yea you heard that right. All of that plus the two also talk a bit about being creative family members and share some behind the scenes stories from projects they've collaborated on.
Dossier of DNA (w/ Paul Bianchi)
Elaborate First Mate, Paul Bianchi is on the couch this week and joining Jake for a super unique episode in which our host talks about doing one of those ever so popular Ancestry DNA kits. Jake tells a story about how the results lead him to find some truth and discover way more than he bargained for!
Here are the photos referenced in the podcast!
The photo on the right is the first image Jake saw of Jack Colletti as discussed on the podcast. The left is Jake mostly clean shaven a few years ago for reference.
