Beecher, CT Comedy Festival co-founder, comic, and local celebrity joins us for the final piece of the Bill Burr volume story, among other shenanigans!

It's A Hustle

Beecher - Episode 127

We visit with Clare Livingston, aspiring comic and valued member of the CT Comedy Fest team for another inside look at the the new Mecca of the comedy world.

Clare Livington - Episode 125

Caitlin Reese, a CT Comedy Festival regular and fantastic comic joins us to discuss some of the more fun, and some of the more awkward moments of the festival!

Caitlin Reese - Episode 125

Emilio Savone, owner of New York Comedy Club, joins us for an inside look on the planning and execution of the Connecticut Comedy Festival and the drama that ensues.

Emilio Savone - Episode 124

The pod is back to celebrate the 2nd Annual Connecticut Comedy Festival. Join NY Comedy Club’s Director of Development (whatever the f*ck that is) and Fairfield Comedy Club’s Booker for an inside look at the Festival and its ensuing shenanigans.

Candi Clare - Episode 123

Stosh Mikita is a New Haven, CT based comedian whose comedy combines observational humor, self-deprecation, and dark personal stories from an unusual upbringing. Starting in 2013, Stosh has quickly become a regularly featured comedian in New England and NYC, performing on WNPR's Colin McEnroe Show, New York Comedy Club's Roast Battle, and Comedy Fight Club on the Gas Digital Network.

Stosh Mikita - Episode 122

Eric is the guitarist for the band The Alternate Routes. Their song “Safe Haven” was self-produced by Donnelly, drummer and engineer Kurt Leon, and singer Tim Warren, a sonic departure from previous efforts that highlight the use of the recording studio itself as an instrument. The Alternate Routes first burst onto the scene in 2005 with their breakthrough album Good and Reckless and True. They released several albums on Vanguard Records and on their own, toured extensively, and relentlessly refined their craft. They have collaborated with such seemingly disparate artists as singer-songwriter Patti Griffin, director Lisa Cholodenko (The Kids Are All Right), and guitarist Carl Broemel of My Morning Jacket. They’ve performed on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” and have been repeat guests on NPR’s “Mountain Stage.”

Eric Donnelly - Episode 121

Caitlin Reese is a Brooklyn based stand up comedian, improviser, and sketch writer. Caitlin has been a comedy writer since 2005 with a self-published magazine distributed by Tower Records and sold out copies at the Portland Zine Fest. In 2014, she kicked off comedy as a career and regularly performs at theaters, clubs, and bars throughout the northeast. She has traveled throughout the US for festivals and shows. She features for headliners on tour and auditioned successfully for the Academy at Upright Citizens Brigade New York. Her comedic voice is honest, goofy, and offbeat.

Caitlin Reese - Episode 120

Beecher has performed in the Rogue Island Comedy Festival, the World Series of Comedy, the Park Slope Comedy Festival, the Brooklyn Comedy Festival, Skankfest, & the Boston Comedy Festival. He was the winner of the Connecticut Comedy Festival. Beecher's recorded segments for the Wendy Williams Show, the Danish news network TV2, & MTV2. He can also be heard on SiriusXM radio, NPR, & appears in 'The Get Down' on Netflix.

Beecher - Episode 119

Paul Virzi is a stand-up comedian and many of the nation’s top comedy clubs have called him one of the strongest on the rise! His debut hour-long comedy special, Bill Burr Presents Paul Virzi: I’ll Say This debuted on Comedy Central in November and is available to stream now on CC.com. His comedy album Night At The Stand was #1 on iTunes and reached #4 on Billboards Top 100. He’s appeared on TruTV's Comedy Knockout, AXS TV's Gotham Comedy Live, The NFL Network’s Good Morning Football, and written for the ESPN ESPY Awards. Paul has made numerous appearances at the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and performed at the SXSW Festival in Austin, TX. Paul has toured with Bill Burr in some of the country's most iconic theaters including, Madison Square Garden, The Chicago Theatre and Carnegie Hall. Every week you can hear him host his very popular podcast The Virzi Effect. Paul grew up in the suburbs, outside of New York City. He loves his family, cigars and having pointless sports arguments with his friends. He never fails in keeping the laughs coming and making the audience feel comfortable with his hard-hitting personal approach. He is fun to watch and has a stage presence that is second to none.

Paul Virzi - Episode 118

Tommy DeFilippo is an aspiring stand-up comedian and the creator of Trumbull Memes, a popular social media account, and brand based in Fairfield County, CT that connects local residents to the community through comedy and shared interests. Created in 2017, Tommy took the idea of making fun of where you're from to a whole new level. Featuring humorous memes and videos related to the local area, Trumbull Memes has grown in size and scope within a two-year span and gained a cult following. The account has been an outlet for Tommy to share his humor and comedic chops, which he looks to transfer to stand-up comedy in the future. Follow @trumbullmemes on Instagram & Twitter!

Tommy DeFilippo and the End of @TrumbullMemes- Episode 117

Christian Finnegan is perhaps best known as one of the original panelists on VH1’s “Best Week Ever” and as Chad, the only white roommate in “Chappelle’s Show’s” infamous “Mad Real World” sketch. He played Martin on the popular syndicated sitcom “Are We There Yet?” and politics junkies will recognize Christian from his many appearances on “Countdown with Keith Olbermann”. Most recently, Christian was the creator and co-host of A&E’s “Black & White”, which examined current events and social trends through the lens of Race. He can also be heard filling in as a regular guest host on “Standup with Pete Dominick” on SiriusXM Insight. Over the years, Christian has been a fixture on Comedy Central, having starred in his own one hour stand up special “Au Contraire”, as well as “Comedy Central Presents”, “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn” and countless network interstitials. He’s also appeared on “Conan”, “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”, “Good Afternoon America” and “The Today Show”. Christian’s three comedy albums/specials (“Two for Flinching”,“Au Contraire!” and “The Fun Part”) are available on iTunes and Amazon and his standup is in regular rotation on all major streaming services. His fourth album, “60% Joking” will be released on June 7, 2019. When not on tour, Christian Finnegan can usually be found in Queens helping his wife, author Kambri Crews, with her venue QED in Astoria or walking their faithful pooches, Griswold and Chief Billy Bowlegs.

Christian Finnegan - Episode 116

Michael Barker joined Westport Country Playhouse in September 2016 from Mill Valley, CA, where he was the managing director of Marin Theatre Company. Previously, Barker was general manager of Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach, CA, and managing director for the Los Angeles classical theater ensemble The Antaeus Company. Before moving to California, Barker was associate managing director at Yale Repertory Theatre and managing director of Yale Summer Cabaret, where he produced the first annual Carlotta Festival of New Plays. He was Seattle Repertory Theatre’s 2008 Managing Director Fellow. Barker holds an MFA in theater management from Yale School of Drama and an MBA from Yale School of Management. At Yale, he was the recipient of the Daniel and Helene Sheehan Scholarship for theater management and a Kosciusko Scholarship for outstanding students of Polish descent. He currently serves as vice president of the board of the Yale School of Management Alumni Association. Prior to graduate school, he was associate director of marketing for Court Theatre in Chicago, and also worked with Goodman Theatre, American Theater Company, Sansculottes Theater Company, and The Playground Theater. Jeremy is ballsy. A risk-taker. The type of guy who won't take no for an answer (unless you mean it in which case he'll totally respect your boundaries). After growing up in Nashville, TN, studying finance at the University of Georgia and working in marketing in Dallas, Jeremy realized there is more to life than helping State Farm sell insurance, so he quit his corporate job (like a boss) and moved to New York to become a comedian. Through countless hours of grueling labor and an endless supply of Tony Robbins DVDs, he made himself a regular at clubs all over the city and sells-out venues across the country from Zanies in Nashville to Second City in Chicago. He's a writer for Funny or Die, a 6-time roast battle champion, and he currently runs the city's best monthly charity based comedy show, "Stand Up and Save the World" at the New York Comedy Club. So yeah, he's basically a hero. Audio Player

Jeremy Pinsly and Michael Barker - Episode 115

Allie Zisfein is a comedian, writer, actress, host and producer. Zisfein is based in Los Angeles and has performed all of the country. Being born in New York and raised in Westport, CT, could have made her entitled and bitchy, but she's really down to earth, just ask her dog. Since arriving in Los Angeles Zisfein focused on the stand-up comedy circuit and has performed at the Hollywood Improv, The Comedy Store Belly Room & Main Room, I.O. West, Second City and more. She is part of an online Sketch Comedy Group, "Nick and Trevor and Other People" and runs her own monthly show "Heist" at Oeno Vino.

Allie Zisfein - Episode 114

Born in Connecticut, and now residing in Connecticut, Daniel has been involved in the entertainment business since he was a fat 3rd grader. At 8 years old Dan starred as Paul the Paleontologist in the off-broadway smash: "Where'd the Dinosaurs Go?!" and played drums in various funk and punk bands over the years. A self-confessed film geek, Daniel finally got out from behind the drum kit and got involved in stand-up in 2009. His big break came when he met the lead singer of Soul Asylum at a Bar in New Haven, Connecticut. In the last year, Daniel has shared the stage with some of the funniest people in comedy & would probably like to share your stage too.

Dan Kalwhite - Episode 113

A quick and casual comedy podcast about turning your passion into your career

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It's A Hustle

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