WDEK Podcast Ep. 59: Emily Flake, H Jon Benjamin & Rob Townsend - May 29, 2018

Welcome to our 59th Episode of WDEK Podcast. Justin the intern starts the live show on a Tuesday night at the Red Room in NYC! Christian just returned from father's retirement party in Chicago. Shonali just returned from Nashville where she kept up with the news about a racist crazy tv star and her tweets. What's it like to have your creative work rejected in person to your face over and over? 

We ask our first guest that question. She is cartoonist, illustrator, writer and performer Emily Flake.  She has "cobbled" together a living as a cartoonist for a long time now. She's come a long way from being an ad sales person for alt weekly New York Blade to becoming a successful cartoonist who has had hundreds of her works featured in the New Yorker.  She's written a book about parenting called Mama Tried. She's a parent who refreshingly doesn't think being a parent is the MOST awesome thing in the world. How cool is that? Look out for her upcoming YA (Young Adult) book she's working on now, a fictional fanzine from 1992.

Our second guest is H. Jon Benjamin, a comedian, actor and writer probably most famous for his work as the voice of Bob in Bob's Burgers and the voice of Archer in Archer.  Benjamin as Shonali calls him (they are old friends) used to host a comedy show in the East Village called Midnight Pajama Jam. It was the best. JB's written a book that just came out called Failure is An Option: An Attempted Memoir.  Shonali's been listening to the audiobook and loves it.  She is intrigued by Jon Benjamin's love for disco, roller skating and disco balls.  Jon explains what the main take away from his book is in two words.

We Get It Off Our Chest with illustrator musician Marcellus Hall who refuses to rap with us.

Our final guest is musician, singer, songwriter Rob Townsend.  Rob is originally from Spartanburg, SC.  He's also a part time sailing instructor and may be the only gay sailing captain on the Hudson. We like the idea of a gay sailboat. We discuss the difficulty of selling music during an era where everyone gets their music free.  Rob moved to NYC from Austin, TX where he was in a folk band.  His music has changed drastically.  He is humble and self deprecating but we think he's awesome. He sings an original song called Clatskanie and a Randy Newman tune called Short People! Welcome to our new sound engineer Ezana Million! ENJOY!!! Photo by Daria Huxley.

Direct download: WDEK_Chapters_Ep._59.mp3
Category:general, comedy, good+times -- posted at: 12:14pm EDT

We Don't Even Know - Ep. 34: Eugene Mirman, Mima McMillan and Mike Denny - July 21, 2015

Happy Heatwave everyone! New York City is so adorable in the summer time.

Our first guest in comedian Eugene Mirman. Old friends, Shonali and Eugene, share their road stories from their rock n' roll comedy tour a decade ago. Eugene explains how a polka dotted scarf and moustache can cause trouble. Check out Eugene's new Netflix Special.

Our second guest is artist Karmimadeebora "Mima" McMillan. Mima is a Taurus like Shonali. She recently moved to NYC from NC via Boston. Mima's personality is just like her art, colorful, exuberant and bright! We talk Punky Brewster and the Black Panther coloring book. Mima is currently street artist Swoon's business manager. You can check out Mima's art which is currently on display at Fringe Salon.

Our final guest is comedian Mike Denny. Mike just got off of Tinder because it didn't feel right. Christian asks about Mike's tattoo. Mike spent his high school years exclusively on a skateboard. Christian knows a little skateboard lingo and that's about it. Do you know the 5 P's. Mike does. Mike hosts a the Monday night hit comedy show Broken Comedy, at Bar Matchless along with perfect attendance Nimesh Patel (former WDEK guest) and Michael Che. See you there!