The Comical Heathen Podcast

The Comical Heathen Episode Twelve: Dan O'Shannon

 

Greetings from me, Kelvin and Newton from our brief hiatus.  We are excited to be back with this new interview and new rant!  The interview is with Dan O'Shannon.  Dan is an American television writer and producer who has worked on shows such as Newhart, Cheers, and Frasier. He was an executive producer of the ABC show Modern Family, and he has won 6 Emmy awards for his work in television.  We sat down in the Barnes & Nobles in Mentor, OH (thanks Chad!) and had a great conversation about his career, TV writing and of particular interest to THE COMICAL HEATHEN his recent satirical book The Adventures of Mrs. Jesus!  I would like to thank Mike Polk Jr. for introducing us, and Chris Lambert for helping me arrange the interview.

  This episode also includes an update from the rabbit hutch, the lives of my two Holland lops Newton and Kelvin, and my reaction to a recent article on the news of Southern Baptist Paige Patterson and how he got fired for advising women in his congregation who were experiencing domestic abuse to pray, but to NOT seek divorce.  We make fun of his name, celebrate his getting fired, and point out some of the illogical foibles in his self-proclaimed "biblical" interpretation of divorce.  There is also a bonus mini-rant where I mock someone named "Theresa" who gave a negative review of Dan's book on Amazon, who suggested his book should be banned and burned for being hateful (irony much?).

 

As always, links to some of the things discussed in this episode:

 

Dan’s book The Adventures of Mrs. Jesus:

  https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Mrs-Jesus-Dan-OShannon/dp/0062340611/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1530047833&sr=1-2

 

Dan's book What are you laughing at?     https://www.amazon.com/What-Are-You-Laughing-Comprehensive/dp/1441162933

 

Friday Night, Saturday Morning - Monty Python's Life of Brian debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeKWVuye1YE

 

 

Paige Patterson gets fired:

  https://www.greensboro.com/news/us_world/tape-surfaces-purportedly-with-southern-baptist-leader-urging-abused-women/article_51b548fe-933a-5ea8-858d-1e28e16c27be.html

 

Paige's rant:

  https://archive.org/details/PaigePattersonsbcAdviceToVictimsOfDomesticViolence

 

My Trivia podcast Gold Star Classroom, with both Dan O'Shannon and Mike Polk Jr.:

  https://goldstarclassroom.podbean.com/e/season-2-episode-18/

 

The Comical Heathen Episode Eleven: Marc Jaffe

Like all the kool shows kids like these days, this episode has a rare cold opening--my guest Marc Jaffe telling a joke!  This is followed by my interview with Marc, an update from the rabbit hutch, and my rant about an article that attempts to defend politicians who evoke prayer in the face of mass shootings.  (PS listen all the way to the end for one more joke by Marc, hidden after the theme music!)

If you want to know more about Marc's involvement with Seinfeld, here is his IMDB page:  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1691039/

 

Marc mentions in passing a comedy show at "Toth's"--a subtle reference to a local show in Mentor, Ohio where he soemtimes performs.  Here is their facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/EastsideComedy/

And the object of today's rant, this article form the Jewish Journal:  http://jewishjournal.com/opinion/ben-shapiro/227174/dont-dismiss-power-prayer/

The Comical Heathen Episode Ten: Chili Challis

It has been a couple of months since our last episode, sorry for the delay. Lately I have been busy directing a play, and doing some other work. But, the holiday season should provide me with some time to get some more episodes in the can. And I am particularly excited about this episode, delay or no delay. I met up with my good friend Chili Challis. Known especially for his work as a writer for Jay leno and the Tonight Show, Chili is a touring headliner based now in Michigan where he also runs his dojo, mentoring comedians of every skill level. In his own act Chili doesn't usually do much satire or politics, so I asked him why. We also talked about writing for Jay Leno, who was famously NOT edgy. Along the way, Chili gives his experiences and opinions of some comedy greets like Richard Pryor, Bill Hicks, and also Will Durst. After my interview I will give you an update form the rabbit Hutch, the Jaffe family has a new addition I am eager to tell you about, and also I will give you my reaction to a newspaper article I found on the alternative medicine practice of salt rooms. Make sure you like us on iTunes, and leave a friendly comment.

The Comical Heathen Episode Nine: Chad Zumock

Kia ora!

The Maori "hello"!  This episode features my interview with comedian Chad Zumock.  He discusses his opinions on satire, Amy Schumer, Doug Stanhope, and his ups and downs.  This episode also includes an update about our pet rabbit Newton and also my rant on religious body shaming in the story of nude model Jaylene Cook's recent topless photos on a sacred mountain in New Zealand.  Be sure to like us and rate us on iTunes.  Here are some useful links:

 

Chad's website:  http://chadzumock.com/

Chad is also on Facebook and twitter:  <https://www.facebook.com/chad.zumock/> and @chadzumock

More about the cult Heaven's Gate:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven%27s_Gate_(religious_group)

The Jaylene Cook story:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/03/playboy-model-angers-maori-community-nude-shoot-sacred-new-zealand/

Jaylene Cook's instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jaylenecook_/?hl=en

The Malaysia story:  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/malaysia-earthquake-british-woman-arrested-for-stripping-naked-and-causing-quake-on-mount-kinabalu-10309866.html

 

 

 

 

 

The Comical Heathen Episode Eight: Mark Riccadonna

Welcome to episode 8 of THE COMICAL HEATHEN!  This features my interview with Mark Riccadonna (recorded at the smoke shop in Akron!).  We talk religion and comedy, Mark recounts his curiosity about religion and some of his favorite satirists.  This episode includes an update form the Rabbit Hutch and my rant about the 3 million dollar fine recently levied on Hobby Lobby.  Plus, beautiful organ music played by Mark Bell.

 

More about Mark:

His website:  http://www.markriccadonna.com/

His podcast I DID THAT!: http://ididthat.podbean.com/

The Hobby Lobby case: 

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/can-hobby-lobby-buy-the-bible/419088/

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/07/hobby-lobby-smuggled-thousands-of-ancient-artifacts-out-of-iraq/532743/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/hobby-lobby-emboldens-a-black-market-that-robs-countries-of-their-heritage--and-lets-the-violent-profit/2017/07/09/2214adae-635d-11e7-a4f7-af34fc1d9d39_story.html?utm_term=.1226fe3634f8

 

 

The Comical Heathen Episode Seven: DJ Dangler

 

"Sometimes I'm such a hypocrite I'm surprised I'm not religious."--DJ Dangler

I met DJ at the 2017 Indiana Comic Con, where he mounted a "fake" protest cos playing the Westeros Baptist Church!  He and his friends did a comedy show, me and the Action Comedy Nerd Show did a show, and in the mean time I got to interview him for this podcast.  Raised in a very religious environment, he had a lot to say about both religion and religious satire.

This episode also includes an update about my two Holland lops Kevin Bacon and Newton and my rant about Ken Ham and creationism.

DJ's: website:  http://www.djishandsome.com/

DJ's Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/dee.j.dangler

DJ's twitter:  https://twitter.com/DJDangler

The "Nazz":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0x5x8lyON8

Rabbit poops:  https://www.saveafluff.co.uk/rabbit-info/rabbit-poo

"Evolution 'Attacks the Character of god'":  http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20120211/ISLAND08/702119991

 

The Comical Heathen Episode Six: Mark Evans

This episode features my interview with comedian Mark Evans and my review of the new CNN series Believer with Reza Aslan.  Mark is a touring pro and road warrior who began in 1993. Since then he has worked in 46 states, several cruise ships and a number of countries. The venues include, but not limited to, comedy clubs, casinos, country clubs, military bases and corporate events.  He also recently released a song video titled after my trademarked brand, Southern Not Stupid. The song is on iTunes and was even picked up by Pandora!

Find Mark's song here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R3C0DB1IEQg

 

Mark's website:  markevanscomedy.com 

 

His merchandise site:  http://www.southernnotstupid.com/

 

He can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Here is a link to a trailer for Believer with Reza Aslan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axwjRiD4UvE

 

A link with more information about dental diseases in rabbits:  http://rabbit.org/dental-disorders-in-rabbits/

 

The Comical Heathen Episode Five: Sean Lynch

This episode features my interview with Sean Lynch.  Sean is an actor, comedian and writer best known for his work on Celebrity Deathmatch.  He is also a featured performer on the current season of The Walking Dead, reprising the role of Max which he is plays on The Walking Dead video game, A New Frontier.  This conversation includes his work on Deathmatch, his love of Bill Hicks, a very personal account on the role spirituality played in defeating some personal demons and--as this conversation was originally recorded the summer before the election of November 2016, it includes Sean's prediction of what comedy might be like under a Trump presidency!

 

This episode also includes my rant about Greek Theatre, soft journalism, as well as an update from the rabbit hutch about Kevin Bacon and Newton the Bun Bun.

Sean's Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sean.lynch.5458498

Sean Lynch comedy video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL4ivsGgjAA  

Facebook page for the archaeological dig at Hippos:  Hippos-Sussita Excavations Project

The Comical Heathen Episode Four: Emily McManus

This is our fourth episode, with many more to come, and I am personally very psyched about today’s interview. Do you TedTalk? I have a lot of friends who like to binge watch Ted Talks. There are over 2000 Ted Talks available for free over a range of platforms including YouTube and Netflix, and their videos have been watched world wide over a billion times. 

 

Well, "Ted" is not just some anonymous entity, it are run by people, and as it happens an old college chum of mine is the Managing Editor over at TED. Her name is Emily McMananus, and we first met in a class at the University of Toledo in the 80s on, of all things, satire! It got me thinking, I wonder what kind editorial processes TED uses, how they curate their videos, and how they incorporate or manage controversial topics, things like religion or psychics or other pseudoscience and just stuff like that? TED’s motto is “Ideas worth spreading” and I wondered, how do they decide which ideas are the ones worth spreading and which are too fringe, or too unscientific, to be worth not spreading. So, Emily and I had a great talk, including her involvement in trying to help TEDx event organizers have some standards and a controversial memo she helped pen. She also gives us a run down of how TED started, and tells us about some of her favorite talks.  Please enjoy my conversation with the managing editor at TED, my friend Emily McManus.

Some Links:

Emily's contact page at TED:  https://www.ted.com/profiles/20

The TED "pseudoscience" memo:  http://tedx.tumblr.com/post/37405280671/a-letter-to-the-tedx-community-on-tedx-and-bad

 

PEW research on the rise of the "nones":  http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/05/13/a-closer-look-at-americas-rapidly-growing-religious-nones/

 

Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie's essay "There are no Irreligious People":  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-eric-h-yoffie/there-are-no-irreligious-people_b_1418945.html

 

The Turbo Encabulator:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLDgQg6bq7o

 

Kevin Bacon & Newton's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinythebunbunandnewton/

 

The TED Talks mentioned in the episode:

Richard Dawkins:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxGMqKCcN6A

Michael Shermer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T_jwq9ph8k

Reggie Watts:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJvW32FS8Z8

Will Stephen:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S0FDjFBj8o

Contact the Comical Heathen:  comicalheathen@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

The Comical Heathen Episode Three: Ken Evans

Welcome to The Comical Heathen. The Comical Heathen documents my investigations into the art and craft of religious satire.  Today’s episode features my conversation with Ken Evans.  Ken and I were performing at the Historic Holly Hotel in Holly, Michigan. The Holly Hotel is a great comedy venue known throughout the region.  When you work the Holly Hotel, between shows they provide the comics with a meal (the food there is delicious, by the way!). During this meal break in the green room, I set up some mics and Ken and I talked about religious satire. There is some crowd noise in the background, as the crowd for the second show began showing up.   It gives this conversation a little more of that green room feel, and I want to warn my listeners that there is some adult language in this episode.

A delightful raconteur with 30+ years experience in comedy, Ken had a lot to say on the topic of religious satire. Ken has appeared on Comedy Central and performs often in Las Vegas.  Our conversation included many anecdotes about humorous encounters with religion in real life, and some of the difficulties of using them as material on stage. He ranks Sam Kinnison as one of the best comedians who do religious satire. Ken tells a really good Doubting Thomas joke and also tells the story of when someone actually said to him “Thou art Satan.” He also brings up the irony of religious satire being a god-given talent. And now, my conversation with Ken Evans.

Intersting Links:

Ken Evans website:  http://kenevanscomedy.com/

Ken's haunted house:  http://www.slaughterhouseadventure.com/

The US Constitution on Wikipedia:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Constitution

Stress bonding bunnies:  http://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Bonding_rabbits_together#Stress_bonding

The Holly Hotel:  http://www.hollyhotel.com/comedyclub.html

Contact the Comical Heathen:  comicalheathen@gmail.com