An alumnus of Second City Toronto, Jennifer Whalen is a co-creator, executive producer, writer and star of Baroness von Sketch Show. She was head writer for the award-winning satirical comedy This Hour Has 22 Minutes and developed long-running shows Little Mosque On the Prairie (CBC/Mind’s Eye) and Instant Star (CTV/Epitome). She has also worked on The Ron James Show (CBC), The Jon Dore Show (Comedy Network/IFC) and the critically acclaimed Gavin Crawford Show (Comedy Network/Shaftsbury). She originated the role of the Aviatrix in the Tony Award Winning Drowsy Chaperone. Whalen won a CSA for Best Show and one for Best Writing for her work on Baroness von Sketch Show and has been nominated for three Geminis, four Canadian Comedy Awards and won both a WGC Award and a Canadian Comedy Award for her work on This Hour Has 22 Minutes. A bit about Baroness Von Sketch Show: Carolyn Taylor, Meredith MacNeill, Aurora Browne and Jennifer Whalen star in this six episode series that takes a comedic look at our narcissistic contemporary culture. Fast paced and irreverent, Baroness von Sketch Show is a single-camera comedy, shot on location, that offers a witty take on everyday concerns. From the politics of ordering a coffee to entitled coworkers to open relationships, this satirical sketch show holds a fun house mirror up to modern life. Be sure to follow Jennifer Whalen on Twitter at @JenniferWhalen and follow Baroness Von Sketch Show at @BaronessIFC ! And as always be sure to follow Experts Podcast on Twitter at @expertspodmtl for updates on how often we're crying about how beautiful this whole experience was and how amazing all of our guests are!

Experts

Season 2 Episode 11: Doing It Yourself with Jennifer Whalen

We're almost at the Labor Day long weekend but before that we're working hard to bring you more amazing interviews with awesome creators! This week is a big one! We discuss Running an Improv Theatre with force-to-be-reckoned-with Julie Dumais Osborne of Bad Dog Theatre in Toronto! A bit about our Expert: Julie Dumais Osborne is a Toronto-born improviser, producer and voice actor who has been improvising for more than 20 years. She has been Bad Dog's Artistic Director since 2010, and is also a multiple Canadian Comedy Award nominee. She has directed, taught and adjudicated improv across North America and in Australia. For over 35 years, the award-winning Bad Dog Theatre Company (previously known as Theatresports Toronto) has specialized in the art of unscripted comedy and improvised performance, and has provided affordable, accessible improv training for thousands of people of all ages and experience. You can find Julie on twitter at @juliedoom and Bad Dog Theatre on Twitter and Instagram at @baddogtheatre ! And as always be sure to follow Experts Podcast on Twitter at @expertspodmtl for all kinds of stats like how often someone screws up the pastry on Great British Bake off season four. 

Season 2 Episode 10: Running an Improv Theatre with Julie Dumais Osborne

Wow Summer-ville is rounding the corner and heading into Fall-town USA, but we're still going strong with amazing interviews of talented and fun guests! This week we discuss using Twitter for Comedy and Writing with the incredible Aba Amuquandoh and Sarah Hagi! A bit about our Experts: Aba Amuquandoh is an actress, writer, stand up comedian as well as a sketch performer. Aba performs with The Sketchersons every Sunday on Sunday Night live at Comedy Bar. She's also been frequently featured on shows such as Black and Funny, Yas Kween, SHADE, and QAPD in Toronto. Sarah Hagi is a writer based in Toronto. Her work has appeared in publications like GQ, The New Yorker, Buzzfeed, Hazlitt, The Guardian, Cosmpolitan, and more. You can find Aba Amuquandoh at @abaquan and Sarah Hagi on Twitter at @geekylonglegs!As always follow Experts at @expertspodmtl for news about upcoming episodes and halloween costume ideas 3 months before Halloween. Amen!

Season 2 Episode 9: Twitter with Aba Amuquandoh and Sarah Hagi

Well, here we go again! It's full on SUMMER and we keep on pumping out more great, informative and entertaining content. This week we speak with the Templeton Philharmonic (Gwynne Phillips and Briana Templeton) all about voice and sound in comedy. They're truly experts on the topic and we learn a lot and hopefully you will too! A bit about our Experts: The Templeton Philharmonic are a Toronto-based comedy duo comprised of Gwynne Phillips and Briana Templeton. The two are known for their sketches which blend period pieces, surrealism, dance sequences and biting social commentary - all with a feminist bent.  They've performed at festivals like the San Francisco Sketchfest, New York City Sketchfest, and even on stage at Massey Hall one time with astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield. They've picked up awards for their work like "Producer's Pick" at Toronto Sketchfest, "Patron's Pick" at the Toronto Fringe Festival and "Best Comedy Duo" at the LA Comedy Festival. Follow The Templeton Philharmonic on Twitter at @templetonphil and separately you can follow Gwynne at @Gwynne_Phillips and Briana at @BrianaTempleton As always follow Experts at @expertspodmtl for news about upcoming episodes and 9000 recipes for potato salad. Amen!

Season 2 Episode 8: Sound and Voice with Templeton Philharmonic

Can you believe....it's another amazing episode of Experts? We all want to know what it takes to make it in *showbiz*, so Alix Kazman and Alicia Faucher from Fountainhead Talent are our guests this week, telling us what agents want! A bit about our Experts: Alicia Faucher knew from a young age that she would work in the film industry. After three years assisting in various roles on various tv shows she crossed over to the agent side, landing at LeFeaver Talent. In 2017 she joined the team at Fountainhead, where she continues to build performance careers as well as her own. Alix Kazman studied acting at Dalhousie University where she decided to remain in the arts…offstage.  She worked in makeup & special effects for 7 years before she woke up one morning with a severe makeup allergy.  This prompted a sudden shift and after a brief stint in casting, she found her home representing and advocating for performers. Follow Alicia on Twitter at @AJFaucher and Alix at @alibeekay, as well as Fountainhead Talent at @fountainheadzup

Season 2 Episode 7: What Agents Want with Alicia Faucher and Alix Kazman

After a break we're refreshed and feeling renewed and ready for another fun episode of Experts podcast!! This week we speak with Expert Jennifer Wilson, all about producing for television! Let 'er rip! A little bit about our expert: Jennifer Wilson is the producer of Fubar: Age of Computer TV show on Viceland, among a myriad of credits. She is a powerhouse producer in Canadian television and film, so we could think of no one better to teach us what it’s like to produce for television! Follow Experts at @expertspodmtl for news about upcoming episodes and 55 ways to please your lover. Amen!

Season 2 Episode 6: Producing Film and TV with Jennifer Wilson

It's another Monday, which means it's time for another episode of Experts! This week we spoke with a couple of very charming and talented individuals: Nadine Djoury and Allana Reoch, all about being on the Toronto Second City Mainstage!A little bit about our experts:Nadine Djoury is an actor, improviser and writer based in Toronto. Nadine is currently a member of Second City's Mainstage Company. She has previously performed with Second City's Touring and Family companies and earned a Dora Award nomination for Best Ensemble in Super Dude vs. Doctor Rude. You can also catch Nadine making up funnies on the spot with improv troupe Your Kids at Bad Dog Theatre.Allana Reoch is a current member of the Mainstage cast for The Second City’s 82st revue, Walking on Bombshells. She is a four-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee & past winner of the Tim Sims Encouragement Fund Award. She can be seen performing around Toronto as a solo performer and with her troupe, Panacea.Be sure to follow Allana on Twitter at @allanacreoch and follow Nadine on Instagram at @nadinedFollow Experts at @expertspodmtl for news about upcoming episodes and delicious meal ideas for the holidays. Amen!

Season 2 Episode 5: The Toronto Second City Mainstage with Nadine Djoury and Allana Reoch

It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new EPISODE OF EXPERTS PODCAST! This week we feature two seriously amazing performers who are also incredible producers teaching us all about producing diverse comedy shows: Nelu Handa and Anasimone George! A little bit about our experts: Nelu Handa is an actor, comedian and writer based in Toronto. She has performed on a variety of TV shows, including The Beaverton and CBC’s Working Moms, as well as written for Seasons 1-3 of Baroness Von Sketch Show. She is the creator, producer, and host of YAS KWEEN, a groundbreaking monthly night of comedy that showcases ethnic women. Aside from hosting and producing her sold out shows SHADE , Super Gay Friday, and Funny People Anasimone George has opened for Baron Vaughn, Aparna Nancherla, and Emily Heller and more. Be sure to follow Anasimone on Twitter at @theanasimone and follow Nelu at @neluhanda! Follow Experts at @expertspodmtl for news about upcoming episodes and spicy rumours about who DJ and Alex have crushes on (hint, it's each other). Amen!

Season 2 Episode 4: Producing Diverse Shows with Anasimone George and Nelu Handa

It's Easter Monday. That can only mean two things: 1) 50% off Easter chocolate at the drug store, and 2) episode 3 of Experts, season 2! This week we talked with Natalie Miller, co-owner of the Vermont Comedy Club, all about what it's like creating and running your own comedy club and being a boss ass bitch. Natalie's an extreme authority on both of these topics and we had a great time talking with and learning from her, and we know you will too!But first, as always a little bit about our expert: Natalie Miller is an improviser and the Owner/Operator (Teacher & Performer) at Vermont Comedy Club. Opened in 2015, VCC is a comedy venue and training center in Burlington, VT. that has played host to a myriad of amazing stand up and improv, including Rhea Butcher, Todd Barry, DeAnne Smith and Moshe Kasher, to name a few! In addition to managing the club she also performs improv on the Mainstage team, The Unmentionables, at VCC. They’ve gone to Montreal Improv Fest, Hartford Improv Fest, UCB’s Del Close Marathon, Providence Improv Fest and San Diego Improv Fest!Be sure to follow the Vermont Comedy Club on Twitter at @vtcomedy! Follow Experts at @expertspodmtl for news about upcoming episodes and retweets of the best most excellent twitter content. Amen.

Season 2 Episode 3: Creating a Comedy Club with Natalie Miller

Picture it. It's Monday morning. You're sitting (let's be real, you're most likely standing) on the subway, wondering how you got there after the weekend that seems to have all but passed you by. You hit play on your new fave podcast, Experts, and suddenly you find yourself being simultaneously soothed, enthused and educated by the sheer amazingness coming through your headphones. You have a new lease on life, you can do anything - maybe you'll start a band! Maybe you'll start doing stand up! Or both! This newfound self confidence is brought to you by this week's guests: Tatyana Olal and Kelly Kay, as we discuss this week's topic, The Intersection Between Comedy and Music. You're welcome. A little bit about our experts: Kelly Kay is a writer, podcast host, musician and self-proclaimed trash queen who lives in and works out of Montreal. She hosts The Brunch Club’s celebrity gossip and pop culture podcast The Hot Goss Podgosst and is the author of Fucken Yum, a satirical cookbook/lifestyle guide. She earns her living writing pornographic masterworks for websites you may or may not frequent, and is the co-writer and star (one of four, anyway) of the upcoming (non-pornographic) horror film Death Trip. She is also ¼ of the band Gashrat. As you may have guessed, she is a double Virgo. Tatyana Olal is a Montreal-based performer and reluctant stand-up comedian. She has performed and been featured at Montreal Monochrome Festival, OFF-JFL, Montreal SketchFest, MoMA PopRally, JFL (Comedy PRO) and LadyFest. She is the co-producer of the monthly stand-up comedy show, Squad Laughs, and has committed to plaguing the city with her acerbic performance style that has more accurately been described as "a public airing of grievances." Follow Kelly on instagram at @lamegenerator and listen to Hot Go$$ Podgosst on The Brunch Club and iTunes; and follow Tatyana on Instagram at @blkvanessacarlton and on Twitter at @alexusnhihon! Follow Experts at @expertspodmtl for some Easter eggs of what's to come and maybe some actual Easter eggs because Easter is coming up. Amen!

Season 2 Episode 2: The Intersection of Music and Comedy with Tatyana Olal and Kelly Kay

Annnnnd we're back! It's been a long road, but season 2 of Experts is officially here!!!! We have got two amazing guests on the pod to get things kicked off: the wonderfully hilarious Celeste Yim and Monica Heisey to talk to us all about comedy writing! A little bit about our experts: Monica Heisey is a writer and comedian from Toronto. She's written for shows like Schitt's Creek, Baroness von Sketch Show, and Workin Moms. Her written work has appeared in the New Yorker, the Guardian, Playboy, the Globe and Mail, and many other print and online publications. She's done two sold out runs of three shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, and performed improv, sketch, and stand up at venues all over Canada, the US, and the United Kingdom. Her first book, a humour collection called I Can't Believe It's Not Better, is out now. Celeste Yim is an award-winning writer, comedian, and friend with bylines in VICE, The Globe & Mail, MTV, and more. She performs weekly as a cast member of The Sketchersons and in the past year, Celeste was named a Bob Curry fellow at The Second City, one of "Canada's Top 100 Women" by FLARE Magazine, and "racist to whites" by a Twitter user. Follow Monica on Twitter at @monicaheisey and Celeste at @celestrogen Follow Experts at @expertspodmtl for some Easter eggs of what's to come and maybe some actual Easter eggs because easter is coming up. Amen!

Season 2 Episode 1: Comedy Writing with Celeste Yim and Monica Heisey

In the immortal words of Stanley Tucci in 2003's 'The Devil Wears Prada': GIRD YOUR LOINS, because we've got the amazingly talented and wonderful APARNA NANCHERLA. Her extensive bio, including late night writing credits, Netflix series appearances, and about one million top ten lists can be found on her website- but why not take a listen here to get info straight from the source? So tune in while hosts Alex Brown and D.J. Mausner chat it up with the best of 'em and maybe learn a thing or two about breaking into the professional side of this thing we call Show Biz™

Episode 10: Big Breaks with Aparna Nancherla

Get to know yourself with Nancy Webb (OFF-JFL & Ladyfest) and Amanda McQueen (WICF, CWFF, Cinderblock)! This week we speak to these two Montreal based stars all about figuring out your stand up persona. So get your Cinnabon out of the microwave and settle in for episode nine of Experts!

Episode 9: Crafting Stand Up Personas with Nancy Webb and Amanda McQueen

We pick the brain or Tranna Wintour, OFF-JFL alum and Fringe darling, about what it takes to market yourself and your comedy, tricks for the most effective promotional materials, and creating content people want to see.

Episode 8: Marketing Yourself as a Comedian with Tranna Wintour

Hosts Alex Brown and D.J. Mausner interview international sensation Steph Tolev, a stand up and sketch comedian from Toronto, Canada. Her unique brand of absurd and personal comedy has made her an audience favorite across North America both on stage and on television. As a stand up, Steph has done the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and featured in a TV Gala as well being part of the Homegrown competition in 2014. She also taped a TV set for the Halifax Comedy Festival that airs on CBC. She was one of the 42 with her sketch duo Ladystache at the Just For Laughs 42 festival in Toronto. During JFL42 she was also a finalist for Sirius XM Radio’s Next Top Comic competition and featured on Andy Kindler’s Alternative show. She was well-received at the acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe Fest, Bridgetown Comedy Festival, San Fran Sketch Fest, Big Sky Festival, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver Sketch Fests, as well as North By North East. She’s also opened for Rob Delaney, Eugene Mirman, Brent Morin, Kyle Kinane, Kurt Braunohler, Todd Glass and appeared on the international show “Set List.” She won the award for Best Female Stand Up at the Canadian Comedy Awards in 2015 and was nominated for her sketch troupe. Her first stand up album “Hot N’ Hungry” was released this January and hit number one on iTunes and had amazing reviews from both the Comedy Network and Exclaim Magazine. Ladystache also released their first full length sketch comedy album through itunes entitled “So Many Wolves” that had rave reviews from the Comedy Network and also hit number one on iTunes. Holy! Look at those credits! And while you're at it, listen to all the stories, tips, and tricks Steph has to offer about moving to L.A. and when not to eat cinnamon hearts.

Episode 7: Moving To America with Steph Tolev

Experts is an upbeat and informative podcast that blends casual conversation and genuine curiosity about comedy and The Industry ™. Each episode features one or two of the best women in the scene right now, focusing on a specific topic related to performing or producing comedy. Alex Brown and D.J. Mausner curate guests and topics, pairing comedians and industry with subjects the hosts believe their guests are experts in- and then chat with them about their process, obstacles, and successes!

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Experts

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