Broccoli and Ice Cream with Myq Kaplan

Comedian and human Myq Kaplan (pronounced Mike Kaplan) has conversations with friends about the work of their lives (as represented by broccoli) and the joys of their lives (as represented by ice cream). Everyone has the best time and learns a lot forever. Enjoy!

375: Liz Glazer and the 375th Broccoli and Ice Cream Episode Numerical Gala Extravaganza! 03/13/2025

374: Maria Decotis and the Intimacy of the Sea 03/07/2025

373: Gregory Lay and Greg in LA 02/28/2025

373: Gregory Lay and Greg in LA Gregory Lay! Actor! Writer! Filmmaker! Producer! Friend! Delight! More! About "Greg in LA": "Greg in L.A." originally began as a series on Instagram, where it quickly garnered a dedicated following thanks to its relatable humor and authentic storytelling. The creators, Sean Daniel Cunningham and Gregory Lay, captured the ups and downs of modern life in a way that resonated with viewers, leading to organic growth across social media. It was during this rise that the founders of 800 Pound Gorilla Media discovered the series, captivated by its charm and potential. Recognizing the opportunity to bring the beloved show to a wider audience, they approached Cunningham and Lay to produce a new season, marking an exciting new chapter for "Greg in L.A." as it transitions from social media to scripted content on their platforms. Says Damion Greiman, co-founder of 800 Pound Gorilla Media: “We discovered Greg in L.A. on Instagram, and were immediately drawn to its quirky charm, heartwarming moments, and relatable humor. After speaking with producers Gregory Lay and Sean Cunningham, we realized they not only shared our vision for creating high-quality, hilarious content on a budget, but also had a strong desire to incorporate comedians into their show, making it the perfect choice for our first scripted project.” Created by Sean Daniel Cunningham and Gregory Lay, "Greg in L.A." follows the life of Greg, whose world is turned upside down when his wife unexpectedly leaves him and he loses his job—all within a single tumultuous week. As he navigates the vibrant yet bewildering landscape of Los Angeles, Greg finds solace in his loyal dog, Winston. Their occasional existential chats provide humor and depth to Greg's journey through awkward job interviews, dating misadventures, and the eclectic characters he meets along the way. Blending laughter with heartfelt moments, "Greg in L.A." captures the essence of self-discovery and the quest for connection in a rapidly changing world. With its unique blend of comedy and poignant storytelling, this series resonates with anyone searching for meaning in unexpected places. Join Greg as he embarks on a comedic journey filled with heart, humor, and the pursuit of a fresh start in the City of Angels. Don’t miss out on the laughter and life lessons in this captivating series. We have a great chat! You can have a great listen! AND this is only the first HALF of our chat. For part two, subscribe via Apple Podcasts OR merely /episode/index/show/broccoliandicecream/id/35482380

372: Becky Braunstein and From the Basement to the Stage 02/21/2025

371: Andrew Heaton and Tribalism Is Dumb 02/14/2025

370: Andrea Jones-Rooy and Behind the Data 02/07/2025

370: Andrea Jones-Rooy and Behind the Data Andrea Jones-Rooy! Comedian! Scientist! Podcaster! Circus performer! Friend! Delight! More! Want more information? Well, you've come to the right place: ABOUT ANDREA JONES-ROOY Ph.D.: Andrea Jones-Rooy is a unique voice who combines science with comedy to empower audiences of any education level to utilize data and tools accessible to all. AJR helps people learn to cut through the noise, better understand our world, and emboldens them to act. AJR holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan. Formerly a professor of data science at NYU and a quantitative researcher at FiveThirtyEight, Andrea speaks and trains globally at organizations that include Fortune 500s, tech companies, and the UN, on how to apply data science to their toughest problems. She currently hosts the podcast , and previously hosted the podcast . AJR is also a stand-up comedian and circus performer, although she has done neither at the UN (yet). ABOUT THE PODCAST "BEHIND THE DATA" (SEASON 2 COMING SOON) Data is all around us, and it powers a lot of our world, but where does it come from? Who collects it? How do we know if it’s any good? Each week data scientist and standup comedian Andrea Jones-Rooy, Ph.D. brings you a new story about the humans and decisions behind important data that influences our lives - from political polls to measures of democracy, from tracking happiness around the world to powering AI. Join us on a journey to understand why making sense of the world depends not just on our ability to analyze it, but on the data we source in the first place. At the heart of any data that matters are real human stories about why we care about what we do. For example, crime data describes ‘reported crime’, which is different from (and less-than) ‘actual crime’. The two deviate to differing extents for different crimes - auto theft has a high rate of reporting due to insurance claims, while rape is horrifyingly underreported. Andrea Jones-Rooy will discuss how to navigate this churning ocean of data in which we are all swimming (whether we want to or not). Joined by weekly expert guests, Andrea will bring her signature engaging style to investigate the ways data on polling, crime, jobs, movies, fitness, medicine, democracy, and happiness are created, and help us to understand what we can and cannot (yet) learn from it. If you are affected by ANY of these subjects (you are), you’re not going to want to miss this podcast! Season 1 guests include: Dhrumil Mehta, Journalism professor at Columbia University, formerly database journalist at Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight Ben Casselman, New York Times economics and business reporter Christie Aschwanden, science journalist and author of the NYT bestselling book, Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn from the Strange Science of Discovery Dr. Steven Novella, clinical neurologist and host The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe podcast Walt Hickey, pulitzer prize winning data journalist, author You Are What You Watch: How Movies and TV Affect Everything, creator and writer Numlock News And more! Behind the Data is produced as part of the Daily Tech News Show (DTNS) network, which is dedicated to providing news about technology that is easy to understand. With a unique blend of ‘smartypants’ comedy and actual science, Andrea seeks to help listeners understand how data shapes the world, and to teach everybody (not just scientists) to use data to inform their thinking. Remember, data doesn’t have to be a four letter word! ABOUT THE PODCAST CONVERSATION BETWEEN ME AND ANDREA: It is fun! Please enjoy! And this is only the first HALF of our conversation. For part two, subscribe via Apple Podcasts OR /episode/index/show/broccoliandicecream/id/35191390

369: Allen Strickland Williams and Ran Through 01/30/2025

369: Allen Strickland Williams and Ran Through Allen Strickland Williams! Comedian! Friend! Delight! More! ABOUT THE NEW ALBUM: A proper debut, Ran Through is a culmination of ASW’s stand-up since he started, up to the night he recorded. The album is filled with absurd, dark one-liners as well as well-structured pieces about the celestial bodies that hang in the sky above, his Florida roots, relationships, dating and being single, parenting (or lack thereof), vasectomies and guns. But ASW absolutely excels at crass jokes about sex, drugs, and residual trauma - the kind of jokes that you can’t help but laugh at while also relating to it just a little too much. Born in Texas and raised in Florida “because my parents really wanted to do a number on me, I guess”, ASW now lives “a totally normal life in the small, humble town of Los Angeles, California”. Starting with sketch comedy in college and then becoming an NBC Page upon moving to Los Angeles, Allen Strickland Williams claims he has been in the entertainment business “long enough to know if I provide an exact number I will never work in this town again”. It was actually due to happenstance that the album came together when it did. Album plans were scrapped in 2020 due to the pandemic. Then in 2023 ASW went to Austin to visit a friend, and it just so happened the booker of The Velveeta Room, where the album would eventually be recorded, saw that Allen was in town and enthusiastically booked ASW for some featured spots, followed by a headlining date six months out. ASW realized this timing provided a chance to finally record the album. Kind of crazy. ABOUT ALLEN STRICKLAND WILLIAMS: Salutations. Allen Strickland Williams lives in Los Angeles writing and telling jokes. He has done a half-hour for Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents and was named one of their Comics to Watch. He has performed stand-up comedy twice on CONAN, and appeared on Adult Swim’s The Last Open Mic at the End of the World, Netflix’s Cooking on High, Viceland’s Flophouse, and The Top 14 Greatest Valentine’s Day Movies of All Time on the CW. ASW has been funny at South by Southwest, Moontower Comedy Festival, Funny or Die’s Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival, Bridgetown Comedy Festival, RIOT Festival, and more. One time he got a standing ovation for telling a single joke. Another time, a guy passed out after one of his bits. They had to call an ambulance and everything. Enjoy our chat! This is the first half of it! For the second half, subscribe via Apple Podcasts OR /episode/index/show/broccoliandicecream/id/35089230

368: Mel Stephens and Overshare Comedy 01/24/2025

367: Max Gross and Teaching Doctors 01/16/2025

366: Beth Stelling and If You Didn't Want Me Then 01/08/2025

365: Mario Adrion and German Efficiency 12/31/2024

364: Victoria Vincent and Her Weird Brain 12/21/2024

363: Des Bishop and Of All People 12/15/2024

363: Des Bishop and Of All People Des Bishop! Comedian! Author! Polyglot! Delight! Des is a super funny comic and here is the proof in the form of nice things that have been said about him and it: “Funny, erudite and effortlessly delivered.” - The Scotsman “Charismatic, sincere, eloquent and always seeking the angle.”- Chortle “Fast paced and clever. A sure-fire winner.” - The Sunday Age, Melbourne Des Bishop’s new comedy special, , is an hour of original stand-up and a culmination of years of experience on stage all over including in Queens, Ireland, and China. Bishop crafts high-energy stories and jokes, bringing the audience on a wildly entertaining ride through tales of his international travels and the gap between his looks and attitude. The openness and honesty of his presenting style combined with his restless imagination and perceptive observations make Des Bishop a must-see for fans of unique, insightful and provocative comedy. Des’s material often focuses on cultural differences he noticed being a transplant into Irish Society from Queens, NY at a young age. He always incorporates a lot of material about language. He is likely the only comic many of us will see doing some of the set in Mandarin and some in Irish, which he learned so he could do comedy while living in China and Ireland. He spent 1 year in China to learn Mandarin and 1 year in Ireland to learn Irish, and he’s done 60 minutes of comedy in both languages. And he remains an international presence, with a home and massive career in Ireland, and a life in the United States. Of All People is the third hour from Des Bishop. You can see the special as of Oct 22, 2024, on the 800 Pound Gorilla Media YouTube channel and comedy hub. About Des Bishop: Now a massive star in Ireland, native New Yorker Des Bishop moved from Queens to Ireland in his mid-teens in 1990. The openness and honesty of his presenting style combined with his restless imagination and perceptive comic observations make Des Bishop a must-see for fans of unique, insightful and provocative comedy. He came to Irish fame with TV shows, The Des Bishop Work Experience (2004), where he lived on minimum wage working different jobs in Ireland, Joy In The Hood, where he taught stand-up comedy in disadvantaged areas of four major Irish cities, and In The Name Of The Fada (2008, winner of the IFTA Best TV Series Award) about when he decided to learn Irish from scratch and perform a 60-minute stand-up comedy routine in the Irish language. In 2010, Des wrote his most personal show called My Dad Was Nearly James Bond, inspired by his father, Mike who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Bishop won an Irish Book Of The Year Award for his memoir of the same name, and brought a solo show version to the Edinburgh Fringe to widespread acclaim and five-star reviews. In 2013, Bishop went to Beijing, China to learn Mandarin. He is now fluent and the show about his experience, Breaking China was another major hit series with another acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Des has appeared on many live stand-up shows including Edinburgh Comedy Festival Live (BBC), Live at the Comedy Store (Comedy Central) and Australia’s Spicks and Specks (ABC). He was also the star of HBO’s A Comic’s Climb, his Aspen Comedy Festival debut in 2005. He has released five best selling stand-up DVDs and his new digital special, Of All People comes out Oct 22, 2024 on 800 Pound Gorilla Media after his specials One Day You’ll Understand (RTE 2018) and Made in China (Universal 2015). About this podcast: You can listen to it! AND this is only the first HALF of my conversation with Des. For the second half, subscribe via Apple Podcasts OR merely Thanks and love, all! /episode/index/show/broccoliandicecream/id/34456630

362: Jenny Chalikian and Erin Judge and Romantic Comedy: Live at the Ripped Bodice 12/04/2024

362: Jenny Chalikian and Erin Judge and Romantic Comedy: Live at the Ripped Bodice Jenny Chalikian! Erin Judge! Comedians! Friends! Delights! More! Erin Judge and Jenny Chalikian have a new combo comedy out now called , available everywhere comedy is streamed or sold. ABOUT THE ALBUM: Erin and Jenny have been hosting a monthly comedy showcase at the Los Angeles romance bookstore The Ripped Bodice since 2016. For this stand-up album, Erin and Jenny opened the show together, then each performed long sets of their own material. The result is a delightful and hilarious glimpse into what these two dynamic co-hosts experience in their day-to-day lives as queer women in LA. The two met performing comedy in North Carolina in 2012 (Erin was on tour; Jenny was local). After making LA their home, they approached Leah and Bea Koch, sisters and co-owners of The Ripped Bodice, about launching a monthly comedy showcase at the bookstore just a few weeks after it opened. Leah and Bea agreed to give them a shot, and Erin and Jenny named the new show Romantic Comedy. By bringing some of the best voices in LA comedy to the mostly-women book lovers that make up Ripped Bodice audiences, they built Romantic Comedy into a unique and fun monthly event that’s beloved by fans and comics alike. When Erin and Jenny started talking about making an album, they knew that The Ripped Bodice would be the perfect venue, and they were thrilled that Blonde Medicine was on board for a joint comedy album. Romantic Comedy: Live at The Ripped Bodice features both comics performing together up top, just like they do every month. Since Jenny is a regular caregiver of Erin’s two kids, their unique chosen family inspires a refreshing departure from the usual parenting material, that is still relatable to anyone who has to cope with the ridiculous and unexpected challenges of raising kids. Erin shares stories of dealing with being old-pregnant and reluctantly polyamorous, and Jenny jokes about coming of age as a college gay in North Carolina and being a godmother with intense demon-fighting responsibilities. ABOUT ERIN JUDGE: Erin Judge is an accomplished comedian, writer, and performer. She co-wrote (with Tina Romero) the forthcoming horror comedy film Queens of the Dead, starring Margaret Cho, Katy O’Brian, Jaquel Spivey and more. Erin also wrote the award-winning novel Vow of Celibacy. Her previous comedy album, So Many Choices, is also available on Blonde Medicine. ABOUT JENNY CHALIKIAN: LA-based comedian Jenny Chalikian started out in North Carolina and quickly fell in love with stand-up comedy. After landing in LA in 2015, Jenny honed her voice working as a manager and a regular performer at the popular alt-comedy venue NerdMelt. Jenny blends observational comedy with personal anecdotes that touch on themes of identity, relationships, and the quirks of daily life. ABOUT YOU: You are someone reading these words, considering listening to this podcast and I commend you for it. ABOUT THIS PODCAST EPISODE: This is only the first HALF of the conversation I had with Jenny and Erin. For the second half, subscribe via Apple Podcasts OR merely click on over here to Patreon! Thanks and love, all! /episode/index/show/broccoliandicecream/id/34289275

361: Shain Brenden and Either Way Pretty Funny 11/29/2024

360: Courtney Maginnis and White Noise 11/22/2024

359: Jesse David Fox and COMEDY BOOK! 11/13/2024

358: Caroline Clifford and Authentic Comedy 11/08/2024

357: Wil Sylvince and I Am Maurice 10/31/2024

356: Carmen Lagala and Sweet Batch 10/24/2024

355: Daniel Van Kirk and Rose Gold 10/16/2024

355: Daniel Van Kirk and Rose Gold Daniel Van Kirk! Comedian! Actor! Writer! Podcast host! Friend! Delight! Guy with a new special out now called ! ABOUT ROSE GOLD: Rose Gold is a Midwestern man’s wish that we all stop finding ways to disagree, start high-fiving strangers again, and party in Wisconsin. Daniel laments the assumptions we make about his shaved-head and bearded appearance, dictates when old people should and shouldn’t be treated kindly, and teaches us how to have a fight while also putting some goodness into this world. He draws from his youth in Rochelle, IL, his formative years in Chicago, and his time spent at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Resort. Rose Gold is named for Daniel’s grandmother Rosemary, who at 94 years old is a living example of what it means to just roll with whatever life throws at you. Says Dainiel “We live in a time of generational divides and hell, the people who are running our country are extremely old. But a section of this hour is about how old people still have to live in this current time and for me, Rosemary is a shining example of that.” The process of creating this hour was a search for commonality. Rose Gold is an hour of comedy for everyone who simply wants to have a good time again. ABOUT DANIEL VAN KIRK: Daniel Van Kirk is a stand-up comedian whose comedy has charted at #1 on Apple Music. He’s been named a “Comic To Watch” by Comedy Central as well as one of JFL’s 42 in Toronto. You may know him from his characters on Bob’s Burgers (FOX), Physical (Apple TV+), Central Park (Apple TV+), and the lead in the feature film, Wine Club (Prime). Daniel can also be heard every week on the hit podcasts, Pen Pals with partner Rory Scovel, and co-hosting Dumb People Town along with The Sklar Brothers. ABOUT THIS PODCAST: You can listen to it! Also, this is only the first HALF of our conversation. For part two, subscribe via Apple Podcasts OR /episode/index/show/broccoliandicecream/id/33492037

354: Jamie Shriner and Corn Baby 10/09/2024

353: Bob Eckstein and Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums 09/30/2024

352: Natasha Vaynblat and Childless Freak 09/23/2024

351: Geoff Tice and Joy and Money 09/15/2024

350: Liz Glazer and the New Comedy and Life Point System! (350th Episode Spectacular!) 09/06/2024

349: Adam Mitrani and My Roommate Plays the Cello 08/31/2024

348: Laura Merli and Belly Slappin' Fun 08/25/2024

348: Laura Merli and Belly Slappin' Fun Laura Merli! Comedian! Delight! Human with a new standup special out now! ABOUT THE NEW SPECIAL WHICH IS ALSO HER DEBUT SPECIAL, "" After cutting her teeth for 8 years in the indie comedy scene, Brooklyn comedy-favorite Laura Merli has amassed over 2 million likes on TikTok. Laura specializes in set-up/punch-line jokes and one-liners rather than storytelling, in the vein of her influences Mitch Hedberg and Maria Bamford, although Laura adds her own distinctive and unique flavor. This style lets her cover A LOT of ground: drugs, sex, family/childhood, her ADHD/autism, and her dog. While the jokes emanate from a wide array of departure points, the humor centers around the awkwardness and absurdity of being alive. Laura’s delivery is distinctive as well - people describe her voice as deadpan but she promises she is being very expressive! Since childhood Merli has been enamored with acting and writing. Although to Merli, improv initially seemed like “paying to embarrass yourself”, she finally followed the lead of some friends and tried classes at ImprovAsylum. She had a great experience and ended up obsessed, but was still wanting the ability to write before stepping onto the stage. Realizing this pointed toward stand-up, Laura got her start at a friend’s variety show called “What Else You Gonna Do Wednesday Night” and never looked back! Merli has taken her art and career in her own hands, refining her material all around NYC, and on the road via The Awkward Route Tour with fellow stand up Freddy G (Sirius XM, NPR). With comedy well-suited to the TikTok format, Belly Slappin’ Fun is eagerly anticipated by her large online following who, along with fans-to-be will get their dose of Belly Slappin’ Fun on July 18! ABOUT LAURA MERLI: Laura Merli is an NYC-based standup, actress, and writer. She amassed over 2 million likes on TikTok, was “passed” at New York Comedy Club, has headlined the “Don't Tell” and “Modelface” comedy shows, and appeared at the New York Comedy festival as well as the Women in Comedy Festival. Every third Thursday, she hosts the Good Girl stand up show at Friends & Lovers, one of the hottest alt-comedy spots in Brooklyn. She has performed at top-tier venues across the city including The Bell House, Littlefield, Caveat, and more. As someone who didn’t start comedy until their late 20s, Laura has held a wide variety of odd jobs including cashier, ebay store photographer, project manager, zombie in an escape room, business analyst, and carnival worker (her grandparents family business). She has since written for and acted on sketch house teams at the PIT and Improv Boston as well as Reductress, The Hard Times, and McSweeney’s. Merli has hosted/written/produced videos for the female-focused humor brand Cheezcake. ABOUT THIS PODCAST!: You can listen to it! We had a great chat! You can have a great listen! And this is only the first HALF of our conversation! For part two, subscribe via Apple Podcasts OR just /episode/index/show/broccoliandicecream/id/32730882

347: Darren Staley and CrobamaNation 08/15/2024

346: Emily Catalano and Hey. 08/08/2024

Broccoli and Ice Cream with Myq Kaplan

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