Hi Rhodesies! Sara Rhodes is back! Tom and his mom chat in his L.A. apartment after her trip back to Florida is delayed by Hurricane Milton.  They laugh about mom accidentally wearing Tom's Hells Angels t-shirt in LA and discuss how much they love the hidden charm of L.A.'s side streets, despite her overall dislike for the city.  Tom shares his recent read, Pockets: An Intimate History of How We Keep Things Close, which sparks a funny yet thoughtful discussion about how women’s fashion still lacks pockets. The episode wraps up with their thoughts on binge-watching Emily in Paris and some hit-or-miss restaurant adventures in L.A.   Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish. Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for  Smart Ramble (Tom talks) Smart Talk (Tom has a guest) Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan) Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies) 

Poet John Cooper Clarke is back! We talk about everything from ancient Rome and the birth of paparazzi culture to wild celebrity stories and the golden age of Hollywood. We dive into epic sword-and-sandal films, the origins of iconic stars, punk music, gangster and outlaws, and some behind-the-scenes gossip you won’t want to miss. It’s a journey through film, fame, and fascinating historical tidbits, all with a dash of humor. Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish. Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for  Smart Ramble (Tom talks) Smart Talk (Tom has a guest) Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan) Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies) 

Hey everybody, I’m back with my best friend Ashna, and we kick things off with a funny bit about how I’ve been confidently using the word "conversate" for years—only to find out it’s not even a real word.  I just had an incredible week performing at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club at the MGM. It felt like old times, hanging out with comedians between sets, watching each other perform every night, and laughing our heads off during the day. There’s something about those moments offstage that makes the comedy world feel like a family again. We also get into one of my favorite topics: thrift store treasures. We reminisce about some killer finds over the years, and Ashna expresses her appreciation for my trusty blender that’s still going strong after 30 years. We talk about how much cooler it feels to own something with history. It’s a fun, laid-back episode where we cover everything from comedy and quality vintage gear to the small pleasures in life.   ----   Please share your thrift store treasures on our Patreon page! ----   So kick back, relax, and join us for some laughs and good conversation. Enjoy the show!   Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish. Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for  Smart Ramble (Tom talks) Smart Talk (Tom has a guest) Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan) Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies) 

Hey, Ashna here! Tom—fresh off the plane—is raving about Chiang Mai like it’s the best thing since sliced bread. He’s all about the peaceful culture, delicious food, and stunning beauty. He also shares a wild mix of Muay Thai boxing, snake charmer music, and the calmness of the Thai people, which he says is a world away from the aggression in Los Angeles. We also talk about the symbolism of turtles in myths and how they connect to life’s mysteries. And, of course, we finish with a reality check on social media and how it affects real joy. Grab your headphones and join us for an hour of laughs, insights, and Thai-inspired chaos! Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish. Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for  Smart Ramble (Tom talks) Smart Talk (Tom has a guest) Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan) Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies) 

In this episode, Tom catches up with his friend Adam Palmeter, an artist and comedian living in Chiang Mai, Thailand. They reminisce about their first meeting in Seoul, Korea, where Adam was part of a comedy collective that brought international comedians to perform. They reflect on their experiences in Korea, Vietnam, and the creative inspiration they found in these unique environments. Adam shares his journey from being a teacher in New York to becoming a muralist in Thailand, discussing how the peaceful pace and culture of Chiang Mai have allowed him to focus on his art. Tom and Adam explore the contrasts between life in the U.S. and Southeast Asia, especially the lack of aggression and the deep sense of respect embedded in Thai culture. The conversation is filled with insights about creativity, living abroad, and the joy of sharing art with the world.Hooray for humanity! More Adam: https://www.instagram.com/adampalmeter/ We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish. Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for  Smart Ramble (Tom talks) Smart Talk (Tom has a guest) Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan) Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies) 

Cookie drops some real gems in this episode. We talk about how our differences are what make us unique and why that's crucial in a world trying to make everyone the same. Cookie also shares her sharp take on political strategy, comparing it to a chess game where every move counts. Plus, she dives into how the media exaggerates fear, and why it’s important to keep a positive attitude no matter what life throws at you. It’s a conversation filled with insights that will stick with you long after you listen. Tune in for a dose of Cookie’s no-nonsense outlook on life!   More Cookie: https://www.tiktok.com/@cookiehull   Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish. Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for  Smart Ramble (Tom talks) Smart Talk (Tom has a guest) Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan) Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies) 

Tom and Ashna discuss their love for the Olympics, drawing parallels between the dedication of athletes and artists. They reflect on recent Olympic highlights. Tom shares a personal story about a date that didn't go as planned, and the challenges of dating in Los Angeles. The episode also delves into books they are reading, including a history of pockets and Kara Swisher's critique of Silicon Valley. They touch on the influence of technology on society and the importance of finding purpose. The episode closes encouraging Patreon supporters to contribute audio messages for future episodes.   Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish. Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for  Smart Ramble (Tom talks) Smart Talk (Tom has a guest) Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan) Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies) 

Tom sits down with comedian Gabriel Rutledge for an insightful and humorous discussion about the life of a road comic, the challenges of balancing a family while pursuing comedy, and the unique experiences they've encountered along the way. Gabriel shares his thoughts on the sacrifices that come with following a dream, touching on the costs of both artistic pursuits and maintaining personal relationships. The conversation dives into the ups and downs of their careers, from performing in unconventional venues like a private sex club to navigating the ever-evolving world of social media and content creation. Gabriel also opens up about his long marriage, reflecting on how they overcame rough patches to reach a new level of happiness and connection. Both comedians discuss the importance of gratitude, the joy of having a career in comedy, and the relentless pursuit of improving their craft. Throughout the episode, they exchange advice, share laughter, and provide a candid look at the realities of life as a stand-up comedian. This episode offers a blend of comedy, wisdom, and the occasional offbeat story, giving listeners an authentic glimpse into the world of two seasoned comedians. More Gabriel: https://www.instagram.com/gaberutledge/ Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish. Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for  Smart Ramble (Tom talks) Smart Talk (Tom has a guest) Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan) Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies) 

In this Smart Bestie episode, it's just me and my smart best friend Ashna Rodjan. Seriously, what a week—there was an attempted assassination on Donald Trump and we lost the comedy legend, Bob Newhart. I grew up listening to Bob Newhart's records. His long-form storytelling was pure genius. I still laugh thinking about his bit as the night watchman at the Empire State Building during King Kong's climb. We dive into the Trump situation too. It's wild to think about how this might shake up American politics and the upcoming election. Ashna, with her background in cognitive psychology, brings up some fascinating points about how appearance plays such a big role in politics. It's funny how Americans and Europeans have such different approaches when it comes to picking leaders. I share a pretty intense story from my recent road trip where I picked up a homeless woman off the side of the road. Not something I'd normally do, but she looked like she needed help. Ashna talks about her own adventure, or misadventure, as a new driver navigating the streets of LA. We wrap things up by reflecting on how important it is to be kind and understanding, especially in these divided times. We talk about how even small acts of democracy in our daily lives can make a big difference. Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish. Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for  Smart Ramble (Tom talks) Smart Talk (Tom has a guest) Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan) Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies) 

In this Smart Talk episode, I sit down with the hilarious Shanti Charan. We dive into her comedy journey, starting out at The Punchline Comedy Club in San Francisco. We also chat about the unique vibes of Florida versus California audiences and how the world's chaos sneaks into our jokes. Shanti's got some wild stories from teaching in prisons. She talks about the challenges inmates face, the weird dynamics of masculinity and race behind bars, and those tiny bits of freedom we often take for granted. Plus, we geek out over our favorite prison movies, swap stories about food, and laugh about handling the toughest crowds. We also find time to discuss Shanti’s love for tacos, her take on The Dark Knight, and her thoughts on heteronormativity. We wrap things up with some deep thoughts on personal growth, the power of gratitude, and the quirks of social media. Tune in for laughs, insights, and a whole lot of fun! More Shanti: https://www.instagram.com/shanticharancomedy/ Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish. Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for  Smart Ramble (Tom talks) Smart Talk (Tom has a guest) Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan) Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies)  Tom I have been a comedian for more than 40 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast. Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, is my best friend and she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and the arts, Ashna shares her unique European perspective.  

Welcome to Tom Rhodes Smart Camp! Hooray, it's the first day of summer, my favorite season! I’m in my apartment with a massive, seeded watermelon from Sprouts. What’s with the obsession with seedless watermelons? I’ve been home for a few days between gigs in Minneapolis and San Jose. My suitcase is open, laundry is done, and I’m half a watermelon down. Remember when we thought swallowing watermelon seeds would make one grow in your stomach? Bring it on! After two rough summers, I’m feeling great and ready for joy. Did you know frisbees started as pie plates in the 1870s, and popsicles were invented by an 11-year-old in 1905? I just spent quality time with my mom in Florida. She’s 85, sharp, and has an amazing front porch. She beat me at Scrabble twice and uses hilarious expressions like “up the ding wat?” and “out the wazoo.” One of my oldest friends, Kodak, now called Dak after Kodak sued him, took us out on his boat. We explored swamp canals straight out of The Princess and the Frog. I hit Atlanta’s Punchline and Sarasota’s McCurdy’s, taking my mom along. She got to see the full scope of being a comedian. Then, I had a blast in Minneapolis with friends, including a Prince-themed Twins game. I’m excited about my upcoming trip to Oregon, hitting Eugene, Portland, and Pendleton for a rodeo and a Charlie Crockett concert. Remember to love yourself, practice positive self-talk, and be grateful. Here’s to peak summer joy and hooray for humanity!     Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp   More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures.   Join us for  Smart Ramble (Tom talks) Smart Talk (Tom has a guest) Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan) Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies)    Tom I have been a comedian for more than 40 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, is my best friend and she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and the arts, Ashna shares her unique European perspective.

Tom chats with comedian Ben Gonzalez, known for his sharp and insightful material. They dive into Ben's unique journey from being a paramedic to becoming a comedian, discussing how his background influences his comedy. Ben shares how becoming a father motivated him to pursue stand-up and how he balances his career with parenting. His new special, "Full Custody," draws from his personal experiences, especially gaining full custody of his children, and turning those challenges into humor. The discussion also explores the intense realities Ben faced as a paramedic, witnessing life-and-death situations, and how these experiences shape his perspective on life and comedy. More Ben: https://www.instagram.com/ben9humor/ Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish. More Ric: https://www.instagram.com/sadmanric/ Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for  Smart Ramble (Tom talks) Smart Talk (Tom has a guest) Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan) Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies) Tom I have been a comedian for more than 40 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast. Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, is my best friend and she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and the arts, Ashna shares her unique European perspective.

Tom sits down with comedian Ric Diez. Ric, originally from Spain but now living in Brussels, recently performed at the Netflix is a Joke festival at the Kia Forum in LA, a venue that has hosted legends like Elvis Presley and Led Zeppelin. Despite initial nerves, Ric managed to win over a tough crowd that had been booing many performers, although he didn't clinch the win against fellow comedian Hans Kim. Ric shares his journey into comedy, which started relatively late at 42 while living in Asia. He talks about his experience performing in different countries, noting how different cultures react to his material, especially his dark humor. Ric discusses his background in Brussels and his connections to Los Angeles, where his father worked as a prop master in the film industry. The conversation delves into the challenges of making a living as a comedian, the importance of writing strong material, and the struggle to maintain creative joy amidst personal and professional obstacles. The episode concludes with a discussion on the contrasts between living in different parts of the world and the universal human experiences that bind us all.  Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish. More Ric: https://www.instagram.com/sadmanric/ Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for  Smart Ramble (Tom talks freely) Smart Talk (Tom has a guest) Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan) Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies) Tom I have been a comedian for more than 40 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast. Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, is my best friend and she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and the arts, Ashna shares her unique European perspective.

In this Smart Talk episode, Tom Rhodes sits down with Andy Andrist in Eugene, Oregon. They delve into Andy's journey, starting with his roots in Oregon and how it has become his hometown after 30 years. Andy shares his brief stint in Los Angeles working on "The Man Show," and his long-standing friendship with comedian Doug Stanhope. Andy recounts a humorous yet intense incident involving missing shoes during a party in Death Valley, which led to years of a running joke between him and Tom. The episode is filled with candid stories, from Andy's outrageous road experiences to the influence of figures like Ken Kesey and John Belushi on Eugene's cultural landscape. Andy also opens up about his battle with cancer, the challenges of chemotherapy, and how his daughter provided support through the toughest times. They discuss the impact of this experience on his comedy and life perspective, highlighting the importance of cherishing moments and finding joy in the present. Two seasoned comedians navigating life’s ups and downs with humor and grace. More Andy: https://www.instagram.com/andyandrist/   Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan     About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for  Smart Ramble (Tom talks freely) Smart Talk (Tom has a guest) Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan) Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies)   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 40 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, is my best friend and she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and the arts, Ashna shares her unique European perspective.

In this Smart Talk episode, Tom Rhodes talks with Rudy Tyburczy, a notable figure because he was one of the founding members of the English comedy scene in Seoul, Korea. They reminisce about their shared experiences in Korea, emphasizing the close-knit comedy community and the unique challenges and joys of performing abroad. More Rudy: https://www.instagram.com/rudytyburczy   Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for  Smart Ramble (Tom talks freely) Smart Talk (Tom has a guest) Smart Bestie (Tom and best friend Ashna Rodjan) Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies)

Tom and Ashna delve into the complexities of therapy and personal growth. Tom shares his mixed experiences with therapists, recalling an unhelpful session with a therapist whose overly friendly dog proved distracting. He discusses his strategies for coping with traumatic experiences, emphasizing the importance of creating positive memories to overshadow negative ones. Ashna reveals her decision to stop therapy after realizing she has the power to make her own choices without external guidance. This insight helped her recognize her own strength and the unnecessary pressure to be perfect. She also reflects on attending a Bible study as a non-believer, discovering the wisdom and poetry it offers. They draw upon the wisdom of Winnie the Pooh, particularly Tigger's resilience, to illustrate maintaining a positive outlook and bouncing back from challenges. The conversation shifts to societal expectations and how they navigate their personal and professional lives. They highlight the importance of positive language and mindset, showing how changing the way they talk about their struggles can impact their overall well-being. Join Tom and Ashna for a candid discussion about therapy, personal growth, and self-determination. Whether you're a fan of comedy, interested in mental health, or looking for genuine conversations, this episode offers valuable perspectives on navigating life's challenges. Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for Smart Ramble (Tom talks freely), Smart Talk (Tom has a guest), Smart Bestie (Tom & best friend Ashna Rodjan), Smart Books & Movies (Review on Books & Movies).   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 40 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife,is my best friend and she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and the arts, Ashna shares her unique European perspective.

This episode of Smart Books & Movies reflects Tom's musings on love and nostalgia. He begins by sharing his recent benefit performance in Washington, D.C., and a heartwarming anecdote about his aunt's banana bread. Visiting his father's grave at Arlington National Cemetery reconnects him with poignant memories. From there, Tom transitions to a book report on Richard Ben Cramer's Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life. He provides fascinating details about DiMaggio's baseball career, family background, and personality, focusing on how he was often perceived as a distant and private figure. Despite his detachment from teammates and the public, Joe upheld a high standard as a Yankee, often emphasizing the importance of perfection both on and off the field. The most captivating part of the episode involves Joe DiMaggio's relationship with Marilyn Monroe. Tom discusses how their love story began, starting with their first date and evolving into marriage. Despite Monroe being late for their initial meeting and her reluctance toward dating athletes, they quickly became an iconic couple. However, their relationship was fraught with challenges due to Joe's controlling nature and Marilyn's career ambitions. He details how Joe struggled to accept Marilyn's stardom, culminating in a violent argument after she filmed the famous subway grate scene in The Seven Year Itch. This incident led Marilyn to divorce Joe just a few weeks later. Tom continues by highlighting Joe's unwavering loyalty even after their divorce, describing how Joe intervened when Marilyn was involuntarily placed in a psychiatric ward, ensuring she received proper care. Marilyn later reconnected with Joe, and the two planned to remarry. Tragically, Marilyn died before this could happen. Tom narrates Joe's heartbreaking grief at her funeral and his commitment to placing roses at her grave twice a week until he passed away. Tom concludes by reflecting on Joe DiMaggio's lasting love for Marilyn Monroe, emphasizing how his devotion transcended the tumultuous aspects of their relationship and the external pressures of stardom. He leaves listeners with the powerful lesson that love can endure despite hardships, providing hope and strength even in the most challenging times.   Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for Smart Ramble (Tom talks freely), Smart Talk (Tom has a guest), Smart Bestie (Tom & best friend Ashna Rodjan), Smart Books & Movies (Review on Books & Movies).   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 40 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife,is my best friend and she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and the arts, Ashna shares her unique European perspective.

Tom Rhodes welcomes comedian & Musician Dean Delray to the Rhodes Library. They explore personal growth, career transitions, and the profound impacts of dealing with loss. Dean shares insights from his journey of moving from music to comedy, shedding light on identity, purpose, and resilience. Dean's reflections on personal growth, the importance of authenticity in comedy, and his philosophy on life and materialism provide a raw, enlightening perspective for listeners. Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish. Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for Smart Ramble (Tom talks freely), Smart Talk (Tom has a guest), Smart Bestie (Tom & best friend Ashna Rodjan), Smart Books & Movies (Review on Books & Movies).   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 40 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife,is my best friend and she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and the arts, Ashna shares her unique European perspective.

  Join Tom Rhodes and bestie Ashna Rodjan! From Sara’s visit to humorous attempts at parallel parking in San Francisco, explore how classical music can connect with the homeless, the challenges of playing Scrabble in a foreign language, and the importance of self-awareness and resilience in building confidence. Ashna discusses the cultural differences in conversational styles between the USA and Europe and expresses concern over the potential loss of collective culture due to on-demand art creation. However, hope shines through with Radio Garden, an app that reignites the curiosity and wonder and Tom’s new favorite social account called Goodmorning Badass. Listen as they share wisdom from unexpected sources, like New York taxi drivers and even a fake Jesus in Israel, and learn about the power of gratitude in transforming negative thoughts, inspired by advice from a para-athlete. This episode is a blend of humor and seriousness, providing insights and reflections on life, relationships, and the subtle art of cherishing every moment. Don't miss these engaging stories and the lessons they hold about the human experience. Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan     Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for Smart Ramble (Tom talks freely), Smart Talk (Tom has a guest), Smart Bestie (Tom & best friend Ashna Rodjan), Smart Books & Movies (Review on Books & Movies).   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 40 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife,is my best friend and she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and the arts, Ashna shares her unique European perspective.

In this episode English actor and comedian Jeff Leach joins Tom for a dynamic and wide-ranging conversation that takes listeners from the nuances of cultural identity and family influences to the comedic depths of personal anecdotes and societal observations.  The conversation takes an adventurous turn into topics of societal norms, with Jeff candidly sharing his experiences at technology and innovation conferences in Romania, and his personal stories of liberation and exploration. Jeff and Tom delve into serious topics such as depression, mental health, and the journey toward self-improvement, making this episode a compelling mix of humor, honesty, and philosophical musings. This raw and unfiltered dialogue provides listeners with an insightful look into the challenges and absurdities of modern life, as seen through the eyes of two experienced and thoughtful comedians navigating their pasts and futures.   More Jeff https://www.instagram.com/jeffleach/ Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for Smart Ramble (Tom talks freely), Smart Talk (Tom has a guest), Smart Bestie (Tom & best friend Ashna Rodjan), Smart Books & Movies (Review on Books & Movies).   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 40 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife,is my best friend and she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and the arts, Ashna shares her unique European perspective.

In this episode of Tom Rhodes Smart Camp, Tom welcomes a special guest—his mother Sara, who is visiting him in LA. It's the once-a-month Smart Books & Movies episode, and they're diving into the lives and legacies of Aretha Franklin and Arnold Schwarzenegger through the lens of literature and documentary. Starting with Aretha Franklin, Tom recounts his deep appreciation for her music and the impact it has had on him throughout his life. Despite facing challenges, including coming out of a period of depression, Tom finds renewed purpose in his podcast and shares insights into Franklin's struggles and triumphs. He discusses the powerful influence of Franklin's music, touching on her overcoming hardships and drawing strength from her songs. The conversation shifts to a biography of Franklin, which Tom finds compelling until it delves into her life post-1980s, where his interest wanes. However, the early years of Franklin's career, her groundbreaking albums, and her undeniable talent in transforming the song "Respect" captivate Tom and his mother. They explore Franklin's relationship with her family, her contributions to the civil rights movement, and her encounters with prominent figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Oprah Winfrey. Tom and his mother also discuss another cultural icon, Arnold Schwarzenegger, through a documentary on Netflix. They admire Schwarzenegger's determination, his journey from Austria to becoming a bodybuilding champion, and his successful transition into acting and politics. The documentary highlights Schwarzenegger's ability to overcome adversity, his impact on environmental policy as the Governor of California, and his personal growth, including acknowledging a child from an extramarital affair. This episode serves as a rich tapestry of stories about resilience, creativity, and the pursuit of greatness against all odds. Tom and Sara's discussions reflect a deep appreciation for the arts, the complexities of human experiences, and the lessons that can be learned from the lives of those who have left a lasting mark on the world.   Listen to the audio version! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Qyybimu7PbTNWy9Hh4Xjk Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tom-rhodes-smart-camp/id426881872   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   About Smart Camp podcast Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. Join us for Smart Ramble (Tom talks freely), Smart Talk (Tom has a guest), Smart Bestie (Tom & best friend Ashna Rodjan), Smart Books & Movies (Review on Books & Movies).   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 40 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife,is my best friend and she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and the arts, Ashna shares her unique European perspective.

Dive into the latest Tom Rhodes Smart Camp episode featuring the incredibly resilient and hilariously insightful Natasha Pearl Hansen. Natasha, a comedian and the CEO of My Break-Up Registry, shares her journey from the heart of Wisconsin to the comedy stages of Los Angeles, discussing her personal and professional growth. Natasha transformed her canceled wedding into a groundbreaking comedy special. On what was supposed to be her wedding day, she recorded and self-produced her first comedy special, "I Was Supposed To Get Married Today...," at the venue she had booked for the event in Madison, Wisconsin, close to where she was raised. Performing a single take of the special in front of a live audience comprised of her family, friends, and would-be wedding guests, she sold out the room and turned the night into a comprehensive "wedding" experience for everyone present. As the founder of My Break-Up Registry, which she softly launched in 2021 following her canceled wedding comedy special, Natasha shares the highs and lows of starting businesses, pursuing comedy, and the significance of setting and achieving goals. With laughter and honest narratives, she demonstrates how she converts obstacles into opportunities, highlighting the therapeutic nature of comedy and the critical role of resilience. More Natasha: https://www.instagram.com/nphcomedy/ https://linktr.ee/NPHcomedy   Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   Listen to the audio version! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Qyybimu7PbTNWy9Hh4Xjk Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tom-rhodes-smart-camp/id426881872   Watch the video! YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha     ** About Smart Camp podcast** Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

In "Mexico Respecto," Tom Rhodes shares his latest adventure in Mexico with a mix of introspection and humor. This episode weaves together tales of adventure, moments of vulnerability, and insights into the human condition, all set against the vibrant backdrop of Mexico. He delves into his personal journey, exploring Mayan culture, navigating the aftermath of a breakup, and seeking self-discovery. Tom's stories range from humorous misunderstandings and cultural explorations to deep reflections on love, healing, and human connection. Encounters with locals, from a golf pro named Vigo to a potentially dangerous man, highlight the complexities of human interaction and the importance of respect and understanding. Through his experiences, Tom illustrates the transformative power of travel, the beauty of connecting across languages, and the continuous quest for personal growth and empathy.    Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   Watch the video! YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha     ** About Smart Camp podcast** Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

We dive deep with the hilariously insightful Paul Ogata, a master of punchlines and poignant observations, who's made waves from Las Vegas stages to international comedy festivals. Hosted in the soon-to-be historical backdrop of the Tropicana Las Vegas, this episode is a journey through the intricacies of humor, the evolution of stand-up, and the heartfelt stories behind the laughter.   We share tales from the road, the highs and lows of life as touring comedians, and the bizarre yet fascinating encounters with celebrities, from soccer legends to rock stars, on luxury cruise ships.   We also discuss the representation of Asians in Hollywood and the transformative power of acknowledging one's heritage through humor, the dynamics of social media, the mystery of TikTok's algorithm, and the beauty of finding comedy in everyday life.   More Paul: https://www.paulogata.com https://www.instagram.com/paulogata/   Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   ** About the Podcast ** Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast. Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology, and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique psychological perspective.

Step into an episode that's like a well-traveled suitcase—packed with stories, laughter, and a dash of the philosophical, all stamped with the unique humor and wisdom of Tom Rhodes. In this episode, the spotlight shines on Jen Kober, whose incredible resilience and humor light up the conversation.  https://linktr.ee/JenKober Together, they explore Jen's inspiring rise from facing homelessness to becoming a comedy sensation, sharing anecdotes that range from cleverly resourceful to deeply meaningful. Jen recounts her early days in Louisiana's comedy scene, revealing how unconventional choices like gym memberships for showers became stepping stones in her career.  These stories, woven with the support of mentors and unexpected life turns, highlight the essence of perseverance and creativity. The episode delves into themes of personal development, the complexities of substance use, and the importance of connections, making for a heartwarming exchange that's more than just comedy.  It's an invitation to reflect on the beauty of life's journey, underscored by Tom Rhodes' philosophical humor and Jen Kober's indomitable spirit. Tune in for an unforgettable conversation that merges comedy, life's ups and downs, and the wisdom found in between.  It's not just entertainment; it's a masterclass in embracing life with laughter and authenticity, brought to you by Tom Rhodes and Jen Kober; it's a lesson in living boldly, laughing at the bumps along the way, and always, always keeping it real. Join us for a chat that's as full of soul as it is of humor.   Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   ** About the Podcast ** Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast. Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology, and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique psychological perspective.

Dive into the heart of comedy in this compelling episode, as host Tom Rhodes sits down with the talented Jeffrey Baldinger. This conversation is a deep exploration of the craft of stand-up comedy, influenced by the legendary Rodney Dangerfield. Jeffrey shares his journey from an academic interest in Jewish humor to becoming a stand-up comedian himself, highlighting the nuances of comedy through the lens of icons like Dangerfield and Larry David. From personal anecdotes with comedy legends to insights into the evolution of stand-up, this episode is a rich tapestry of laughter, history, and the universal appeal of humor. Join us as we pay homage to the comedic art form that connects us all, one joke at a time. More Jeffrey https://www.instagram.com/jeffbaldinger   Highlights: [00:02:00] Jeffrey's Journey into Comedy Jeffrey discusses his early fascination with Jewish humor and how writing a college thesis on the subject led him to the stand-up stage. [00:05:00] The Influence of Rodney Dangerfield and Larry David A conversation about the self-deprecating humor of Rodney Dangerfield and the confrontational style of Larry David, illustrating how they transformed personal pain into universal laughter. [00:10:00] Comedy as a Reflection of Life Discussing how stand-up comedy offers a mirror to society, allowing for a collective experience of humor that transcends individual differences. [00:15:00] Meeting Comedy Legends Jeffrey shares memorable encounters with his comedic heroes, offering insight into the camaraderie and mentorship within the comedy community. [00:20:00] The Evolution of Stand-Up Comedy A look at how stand-up has evolved over the years, with a nod to the diversity of voices that enrich the art form today. [00:25:00] The Craft of Comedy Delving into the process of joke writing and performance, highlighting the balance between personal authenticity and audience relatability. [00:30:00] Advice for Aspiring Comedians Jeffrey shares words of wisdom for upcoming comedians, emphasizing the importance of honesty in humor. [00:35:00] Closing Thoughts Reflecting on the power of comedy to bring joy, provoke thought, and foster connection among people from all walks of life. [00:40:00] End Tom thanks Jeffrey for the insightful conversation and reminds listeners to find laughter in the everyday. End your search for a dose of laughter and insight into the world of comedy by listening to this episode.  Subscribe to our channel for more conversations with the guests who bring joy and reflection into our lives.   Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan     ** About the Podcast ** Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology, and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique psychological perspective.

  This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in comedy, personal stories of resilience, and the art of finding humor in the everyday. Tune into an insightful conversation with comedian Drake Nelson at the Elk Valley Casino, where laughter meets life's unexpected turns. This episode packs a punch with Drake's journey from Reno to Crescent City, blending comedy with personal growth and the quirks of transitioning from big city life to the charm of a small town. Hear about the challenges and triumphs of making it in comedy, from poignant family stories to navigating the professional world of laughter, and even a foray into the connection between wrestling and stand-up. Discover Drake's unique take on life, the comedy scene, and how embracing change can lead to unexpected opportunities.   Topics: Drake Nelson's Background: From Reno to Crescent City, tracing his journey and the impact of his move on his comedy career. Life in Crescent City: Insights into the small-town vibe, contrasting with the hustle of Southern California. Comedy and Professional Wrestling: Exploring the unexpected connections and how both careers have influenced Drake's life. Personal Stories: Touching on family moments, particularly moving to support his mother. Local Culture and Characters: Discovering the unique inhabitants of Crescent City, including a secretly trans WWII veteran with a love for '40s fashion. Challenges of Comedy: The reality of performing in small towns, building a comedy scene, and the dynamics of local entertainment venues. Adapting to Change: Embracing life's unexpected turns and finding humor in new beginnings. Future Aspirations: Discussing plans for a comedy festival and fostering local talent in Crescent City.   Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish. Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan    ** About the Podcast ** Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 40 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology, and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique psychological perspective.

Hey, Smart Campers! It's your pals, Tom Rhodes and Ashna Rodjan, back at it with an episode! We talk highways and byways of life (and California driving tests), chilling with music legends in spirit, uncovering the rich tapestry of Sammy Davis Jr.'s legacy, movies you should watch, and all while our feathered friends, the hummingbirds, hover nearby sharing their wisdom.  Join us as we blend laughter with learning, sharing stories that tickle the funny bone and warm the heart in true Rhodes and Rodjan style! Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish! Episode nuggets: Sammy Davis Jr. Biography Stray Dog (1949 film by Akira Kurosawa) Lady Snowblood (1973 Japanese film) Dune (2021 film directed by Denis Villeneuve) Willy Wonka (2023 film with Timothy Chalamet) The Undoing (HBO series with Hugh Grant and Nicole Kidman) Wages of Fear (1953 French film by Henri-Georges Clouzot)   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan    ** Video version ** If you'd like to watch the video version of the episode on YouTube.com/kingofhaha, please do us a favor by subscribing to the audio podcast on Spotify / Apple, etc. first! The podcast is a labor of love, and your audio subscription and downloads on Spotify/Apple, or direct support on Patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp, provide us with the incentive to pull together and record on a weekly basis beyond our busy schedules. Thanks for being part of the Rhodesies Team!   ** About the Podcast ** Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 40 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

I sit down with Julie Seabaugh, a renowned writer, documentarian, and comedy journalist. We explore entertainment's evolution, with Julie's insightful perspectives on the comedy landscape. Discussions meander from Hollywood tales, including an anecdote about Judd Apatow, to the significance of personal collections and the changing dynamics in comedy. Highlighting the resurgence of memoirs and their impact on comedy, the conversation also teases Julie's upcoming collaborations with comedy legends like Byron Bowers. This episode stands out as a seamless blend of nostalgia, cultural introspection, and a deep appreciation for the art of storytelling, all shared between two seasoned connoisseurs of the comedic world.  Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan More Julie https://www.instagram.com/julieseabaugh   Watch the video! YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha     ** Video version ** If you'd like to watch the video version of the episode on YouTube.com/kingofhaha, please do us a favor by subscribing to the audio podcast on Spotify / Apple, etc. first! The podcast is a labor of love, and your audio subscription and downloads, or direct support on Patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp, provide us with the incentive to pull together and record on a weekly basis beyond our busy schedules. Thanks for being part of the Rhodesies Team!   ** About Smart Camp podcast** Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan More Orion https://www.instagram.com/orion.levine   Watch the video! YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha     ** Video version ** If you'd like to watch the video version of the episode on YouTube.com/kingofhaha, please do us a favor by subscribing to the audio podcast on Spotify / Apple, etc. first! The podcast is a labor of love, and your audio subscription and downloads, or direct support on Patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp, provide us with the incentive to pull together and record on a weekly basis beyond our busy schedules. Thanks for being part of the Rhodesies Team!   ** About Smart Camp podcast** Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

Join us for an engaging conversation with Mario Adrion a model turned YouTube comedy sensation. Discover the modeling industry's dark side, pay differences, and Mario's transition to YouTube comedy star to stand-up comedian with a unique perspective to share, and the dangers of eating too many carrots.   Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan More Mario https://www.instagram.com/marioadrion   Watch the video! YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha     ** Video version ** If you'd like to watch the video version of the episode on YouTube.com/kingofhaha, please do us a favor by subscribing to the audio podcast on Spotify / Apple, etc. first! The podcast is a labor of love, and your audio subscription and downloads, or direct support on Patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp, provide us with the incentive to pull together and record on a weekly basis beyond our busy schedules. Thanks for being part of the Rhodesies Team!   ** About Smart Camp podcast** Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

Get to know the young comedy thunderbolt that is Pink Foxx. She joins me in the Rhodes library to talk comedy, life & show biz. Pink Foxx offers her unique perspective on the comedy scene, sharing personal anecdotes from her journey as a successful R&B musician to a comedian. And she imparts valuable wisdom on self-discovery, drawing from her experience as a transwoman. Hooray for humanity & hooray for Pink Foxx! Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   Watch the video! YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha     ** Video version ** If you'd like to watch the video version of the episode on YouTube.com/kingofhaha, please do us a favor by subscribing to the audio podcast on Spotify / Apple, etc. first! The podcast is a labor of love, and your audio subscription and downloads, or direct support on Patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp, provide us with the incentive to pull together and record on a weekly basis beyond our busy schedules. Thanks for being part of the Rhodesies Team!   ** About Smart Camp podcast** Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

Hey, beautiful people! This podcast episode is a wild ride through the realms of literature, punk, and the Art of Living. It's like being in the coolest book club you never knew you wanted to join.    About JCC:  John Cooper Clarke is a British performance poet, comedian, and musician known for his influential role in the punk and post-punk music scenes of the 1970s. His rapid and humorous poetry often explores urban life, working-class issues, and social commentary. Clarke's collaborations with artists like Joy Division, Nico, and The Fall have solidified his status as an influential figure in both poetry and the punk subculture.  Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.   Connect! Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan   Watch the video! YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha   ** Video version ** If you'd like to watch the video version of the episode on YouTube.com/kingofhaha, please do us a favor by subscribing to the audio podcast on Spotify / Apple, etc. first! The podcast is a labor of love, and your audio subscription and downloads, or direct support on Patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp, provide us with the incentive to pull together and record on a weekly basis beyond our busy schedules. Thanks for being part of the Rhodesies Team!   ** About the Podcast ** Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!   Tom I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.   Ashna Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

If you like the pod, please write a review! We appreciate you!  Hey, beautiful people!  This podcast episode is a wild ride through the realms of literature, punk, and profound human connections.  We're serving up an intellectual smorgasbord that's gonna tickle your fancy. It's a love letter to literature! John and I share our passion for the written word. It's not all about old books – we're taking you on a whirlwind tour of punk rock history.  We're spilling the beans on the movement's origins, from the fashion rebellion to its transformation into a political powerhouse. And John, he's got stories to tell, rubbing shoulders with legends like Nico and Chet Baker, making the punk scene come to life right before your ears.  We're delving into some profound stuff – atheism, religion, and the complex dance between the two. You'll hear names like Voltaire and Pascal's Wager dropped, and even get a glimpse into our Catholic school escapades. We're introducing you to the greats – Joan Didion, W.B. Yeats, Sartre, Kant, Hemingway, and more.  It's like being in the coolest book club you never knew you wanted to join.  Next Thursday John Cooper Clarke Part 2!   Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish!  If you would like to watch the video version of the epsisode on YouTube.com/kingofhaha please do us a favor and subscribe to the podcast on Spotify/Apple!    Send us a message! https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes/ More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan/   About: Tom Rhodes Radio Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures.  I have been a comedian for more than 30 years. I travel the world doing comedy. I almost drowned in Thailand, got maced in Paris and had my own Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can I will share my adventures with you on this Tom Rhodes Radio Smart Camp podcast.

We make bread, delve into the intricacies of envy, talk about the world of personal branding on social media, explore the realm of mood control, the Russell Brand controversy, and how envy can serve as a revealing mirror reflecting one's deepest desires in life, offering a unique perspective for listeners to ponder. The episode ends without us saying goodbye. So goodbye, thanks for listening! Tune in next time for Smart Camp guest Punk Poet: John Cooper Clarke! We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish!    Send us a message! https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp   More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes/ More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan/   About: Tom Rhodes Radio Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. 

Welcome to another episode of the "Tom Rhodes Smart Camp" podcast! Join us for an episode packed with laughter, wisdom, and historical intrigue as Tom Rhodes and Jesse Joyce take you on a deep dive into the realms of comedy, the challenges faced by writers, Jesse's new book, and the rich tapestry of 19th-century history.  Jesse Joyce is an American stand-up comedian, Emmy Nominated and WGA Award winning writer. In this episode: Dive into the recent controversy surrounding comedian Hasan Minhaj, exploring the intricacies of comedy and its relationship with truth. Discover the heartwarming and insightful friendship between Jesse Joyce and the late comedian Greg Giraldo, offering a unique glimpse into the world of comedy. Join Tom on a personal journey as he reflects on his decision to embark on a nine-and-a-half-year journey of sobriety, sharing heartfelt stories and wisdom along the way. Listen as Jesse Joyce opens up about his personal struggle with sobriety, recounting the pivotal moment that led to his life-altering decision to get sober. Gain a firsthand perspective on the impact of the ongoing writer's strike from Jesse's vantage point as the sole provider for his family, shedding light on the challenges faced by creative professionals. Explore the fascinating world of historical comedy as Jesse discusses his book, "Killing the Guys Who Killed the Guy Who Killed Lincoln (A Nutty Story about Edwin Booth and Boston Corbet)," offering a glimpse into the meticulous research and humor that brings the 19th century to life. Embark on a journey through time as Tom and Jesse delve into their shared passion for the 19th century, discussing the quirks, oddities, and historical events that defined this captivating era. Uncover the fascinating story of John Wilkes Booth and his less famous yet heroic brother, Edwin Booth, whose actions once saved Abraham Lincoln's son.   We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish!    Send us a message! https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp   More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes/ More Jesse Joyce https://www.instagram.com/jessejoyce1/ More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan/   About: Tom Rhodes Radio Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. 

Burning Man Drama!   Join me on a transformative journey into the extraordinary world of Burning Man!   In this episode, I'll share my personal experiences, from the magical moments of communal bathing and body positivity to the unexpected storm that challenged our resilience. Discover the meaning behind my Burning Man name 'Radiant' and how this incredible event helped me battle depression.    Plus, I'll share a unique behind-the-scenes tidbit – Ashna was actually making bread during the podcast recording!   Hooray for humanity!   We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish!   Watch: YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha     Connect: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes/   More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan/       About: Tom Rhodes Radio Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures. I have been a comedian for more than 30 years. I travel the world doing comedy. I almost drowned in Thailand, got maced in Paris and had my own Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can I will share my adventures with you on this Tom Rhodes Radio Smart Camp podcast.   My amazing Dutch photographer and ex-wife Ashna is my best friend. We are a mom & pop business and with her help I will putting out these episodes with all the wisdom I have gained in my life and telling you all of my greatest adventures while traveling the world.

We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish!    Listen: Spotify Apple   Watch: YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha     Connect: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes/   More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan/    

  We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish!    Listen: Spotify Apple   Watch: YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha     Connect: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes/   More Josh Blue https://www.instagram.com/joshbluecomedy/  

From childhood memories to societal gender norms, Tom & Ashna explore the influence of the 60s TV show, "I Dream of Jeannie," and how iconic toys like Barbie dolls and G.I. Joe figures have evolved to better reflect society's diversity. We also reminisce about their own experiences with toys and creative outlets, emphasizing the value of gratitude and cherishing happy moments. Inspired by one friend's brilliant idea, they introduce the concept of a "jar of special moments" to foster gratitude and happiness. Throughout the episode, we'll offer genuine insights and reflections, from heartfelt anecdotes to philosophical musings. Always ways for you to cheer up!!! We're dropping new episodes every Monday and Thursday!  Do you have topic suggestions? Let us know here! https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp More Tom https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes/ More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan/  

We talk about meditation, favorite sound, Barbie movie, toys we played as kids, and how Amazon can screw you. A lil bit of everything! Always ways for you to cheer up!!! Hooray for summer & hooray for humanity!   We're dropping new episodes every Monday and Thursday!  Send us a message! https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp Watch the video episode on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha     More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes/   More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan/    

Mom hugs are the answer to all of life's problems.   Episode 369 of Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is out now!   In today's episode come join me for this perfect moment in July while I have a happy mommy summer picnic. My dear sweet mother has been the guiding light of my life in this conversation we kick back in the park talking over nice cold beverages. It will surely bring you joy to rejoice in the very special relationship that I have with my mom. Don't forget, mom hugs are the answer to all of life's problems!   Hooray for summer & hooray for humanity!   We're dropping new episodes every Monday and Thursday!  Send us a message! https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp Watch the video episode on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha     More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes/   More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan/    

If you speak well of others you will always be in paradise. If you do not speak well of others you will be walking among the snakes in the briar patch.   In our continued conversation about the book 'The Mysterion' you will learn that Sufism is about relationships and attempting to be spiritually mature. If you can do this you will always sleep deliciously. Hooray for humanity & joy be upon you Hooray for humanity!   We're dropping new episodes every Monday and Thursday!    Do you have topic suggestions? Let us know here! https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp   More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes/   More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan/  

In this episode @ashnarodjan & I talk about this excellent new book I just finished reading called 'The Mysterion' by Kabir Helminski which is about Rumi and the secrets of becoming fully human. This book teaches you how to block out all of the negativity in the world & plug into the outlet of cosmic love. I fall short of this way of being all the time but this is a damn good book for reminding you how to live and view the world with the loving heart of the Sufi mystic poet Rumi. We also talk about the release of my third clean album of clean comedy "King of HA HA'. In this conversation you will learn about the best things I learned from Mitch Hedberg & Bill Hicks, plus the big plans I have cooking with Tom Segura.   Hooray for humanity! We're dropping new episodes every Monday and Thursday!  Send us a message! https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp   Watch the video episode on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha     More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes/   More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan/    

See me cry on the new episode of Tom Rhodes Smart Camp! Ashna Rodjan joins me as I tell the story of the miracle that happened to me in the dentist's chair. I cried when it happened, I cry retelling the story and I believe your face with be moist with tears after you hear this story also. From this tale you will learn how I went from having a root canal to having a new great and beautiful friend.  During our conversation, I delve into the surreal encounters I've had with homeless individuals in Los Angeles recently. Additionally, I'll reveal the enchanting world of hummingbird knowledge that I've gained from observing these captivating creatures on my balcony every day. Today’s literature highlight falls on the book: 'I Heard God Laughing' by Hafiz, a source of inspiration and solace during lonely and dark times. Discover how it unveils the astonishing light within yourself and feeds your brain with happiness. This uplifting episode is brimming with important truths that will pave the way for a happier and healthier existence. Let's celebrate the goodness of humanity together! Don't miss out on this emotional journey that will leave you feeling enlightened and uplifted for your path ahead.   Hooray for humanity! 🎉 Watch the video episode on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha   We're dropping new episode every Monday and Thursday! Send us a message!   More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes/   More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan/   Get extra podcast goodies at Patreon: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp

Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is back! And I am joined by the smarty pants that is Ashna Rodjan my eternal best friend. How is it possible to stay best friends with your ex-wife? Put this episode in your ear holes and find out! In this conversation we talk about books, knowledge, creativity and the many changes and challenges I have faced in the past two years.   We also talk about Rick Ruben's book 'The Creative Act: A Way of Being' and how I learned to flip thoughts of judgement toward others in my brain to acts of loving kindness. Rejoice in the glory that is the power of friendship and the joy of knowledge. Hooray for humanity!   Watch the video episode on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha   We're dropping new episode every Monday and Thursday! Send us a message!   More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes/   More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan/   Get extra podcast goodies at Patreon: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp  

Ashna Rodjan returns to the podcast for an in depth conversation about Stoicism and to give you the tools to live your best possible life. In this episode we talk about the book Breakfast with Seneca by David Fideler. Are you going to keep making the dumb mistakes over and over or would you like to gain the insight and wisdom of the ancient philosophers? I urge you to dive into this episode with the spirit of joy and friendship. Your life will be better for having done so. Thank me later, and thank Ashna right now for being one of the best friends I've ever had and an all around smarty pants when it comes to Stoicism. "WE spent the pandemic becoming Stoics." Hooray for humanity! Hooray for Stoicism! And joy be upon you! Like right now! Hooray! Patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp @_tomrhodes @ashnarodjan

Chris Spencer is one of the most respected comedy writers in Hollywood. We became friends 7 years ago when I moved to L.A. from the many times we have worked together at the Comedy Store. Chris was kind enough to come to the Rhodes library where we recorded this conversation about why racism isn't always a bad thing, sneaker culture, his friendships with Snoop Dog, Kevin Hart, Will Smith, Dave Chappelle and how comedians are under attack these days. We also talk about how I am a French lesbian when it comes to relationships and how focusing on hot yoga, my jokes and being my best self is my plan to win back the heart of the woman I love. For my L.A. History documentary project we talk about Tupac Shakur's legacy and songs about supreme male confidence. Finally we discuss white nationalist domestic terrorism and how the Republican embrace of the idea that the 2020 presidential election was stolen is just a cover to mask the fact that what they are really saying is that only white votes matter and only white votes should be counted. Chris is a man who I love and respect as a comedian and I'm happy that he can delight you here and now with his wisdom, insight and stories and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you the one and only Chris Spencer!

"A lot of comedians can't write because in order to write you have to spend time by yourself and these types of comedians are afraid of what the silence with tell them about themselves."   Willie Barcena is one of the realest mother truckers I have ever seen on stage. I respect him because he has a philosophy and outlook on life that he brings to every joke or story idea he brings to the stage and that is my favorite kind of comedy. He believes in the power of the pen and that to survive as a comedian you must always be writing which involves being alone and focusing your thoughts. "A man who can be alone with himself is a dangerous man. Willie has survived every imaginable hardship from childhood poverty to family betrayal during the pandemic and these circumstances have only added to his arsenal of funny things to talk about. In this episode we talk about Mexican heroes, the Low Rider culture of Los Angeles and many other dazzling knowledge nuggets to delight your brain. He is a man full of valuable wisdom and powerful punchlines and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Willie Barcena! Hooray for humanity!

Ron G has the best kind of powerful goodness & this is what you need in your brain right now. Stop fighting life & let the light in. Hooray for humanity!   Ron G is not only one of the funniest comedians working today, he has one of my favorite instagram accounts that always cracks me up and brightens my day. Ron is an expert on relationship advice and he showed up at the perfect time to help counsel me on the Toronto Muslim feminist that I am in love with but may have lost. Ron told me, "All you can do is show her how committed you are and what you are willing to do." His other excellent advice is "If you want to have the best sex of your life commit to one person." Ron G is not only a great comedian he is a great human being. He showed up at my place on a day that I was feeling really low and we spoke for 90 minutes on my balcony before we even recorded for my podcast. He was just the right friend I needed to talk to today and he lifted me up when I was feeling low. A spiritually centered, humble and funny man is what the world needs right now and Ron G is the first guest I ever had on my program that I prayed with after we recorded. It was just the prayer I needed at that time with exactly the right friend. If you don't know Ron G already then today is your lucky day. Put on your happy pants and enjoy this conversation I had with the one and only Ron G! Hooray for humanity!

"Get that money, get that money, get that money." - Piff the Magic Dragon   In 2014 when I did the Edinburgh festival in Scotland I remember that Piff the Magic Dragon was one of the most popular acts there that year. In 2015 he and his sidekick Mr. Piffles crushed it on America's Got Talent and ever since then he has been headlining the main main at the Flamingo hotel and casino. I was tickled to have this loose and fun conversation with him and I urge you to see his show if you are going to Las Vegas. Vegas is the top of the mountain for magicians and even though this dragon is notoriously grumpy he was kind enough to show me the view from this pinnacle. Hooray for humanity and hooray for Piff the Magic Dragon!

She's smart, she's funny, meet my friend Madison Sinclair! She is from Central Florida and currently crushing it in L.A.   When I first saw Madison Sinclair I was tickled to see such an attractive young woman with such a dark and twisted sense of humor. Watching her perform I laughed out loud at the wicked spin she put on her topics. When I heard her say she was from Florida I instantly wanted to be her friend. The fact that she spent a large chunk of the pandemic in Apopka is in itself rich with fact finding life experience. I like Madison's perspective and the journey she is on in this life while getting stronger as a stand up. You might be surprised to find out that she discovered she was a lesbian while in Thailand and her life has been happier ever since. When I see people with a pure heart and a pure love for stand up comedy I always want to get to know them and be friends because we are a part of the same tribe. As the summer heat arrives let this blast of Florida sunshine along with a cool breeze delight and inform your brains. People of the earth! Meet my friend Madison Sinclair!

Rejoice humans! Miracles still do happen. My Instagram was hacked and for 8 days I was locked out of my own account. I was having a terrible week until I saw a woman at the grocery store in a sun dress reach for something on a lower shelf and the sight of her exposed breast cheered me up instantly. In this episode you will learn why the orange Rufus hummingbird is the most special, the power of positive thinking from Ted Williams and the artist's mindset and mission as set forth by Balzac. I will also tell you what Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars triggered in me. Plus you will learn which Beatle I would eat first and which Beatle I would eat last if I had to eat the Beatles in order to stay alive if we were in a plane crash together in the Andes. To cap off this epic blockbuster episode I will tell you about my new project about LA History that I have been working on and the cherry on the cake that it was for me to go film at The Urban Con at the LA Convention Center to talk to people about Low Rider culture in Los Angeles. And of course to see the automobile masterpieces that were on display. There are so many beautiful humans on this earth and I am happy to be one of them. Hooray for humanity!   This episode is sponsored by manscaped.com Get 20% off and free shipping with the promo code: smartcamp

Make yourself a better human being by enjoying this fun chin wag I had with Judd Apatow about comedy and the George Carlin documentary he just made that premieres on HBO May 20th. Come get some laughter all over your face! I'll be honest with you, when Judd Apatow told me that he liked my podcast I thought he was bullshiting me. But then after I witnessed a suicide and put out a podcast about what happened and the PTSD that I experienced after, Judd sent me lovely message telling me that he thought it was brave that I talked about it and thought the episode would help a lot of people. Judd reaching out to me at that moment was also perfect timing because I had just watched the documentary Judd made about Garry Shandling and that had helped to lift me up when I was in my lowest, darkest place.   Judd is not only a comedian and comedy film director, he is one of the kindest and most thoughtful people in all of show business. I was tickled that he came to my humble little home to record this conversation with me. In this episode we talk about our tribe of comedians and the brilliant documentary on George Carlin that Judd just made that premieres on HBO May 20th. In a world full of stress and uncertainty comedy is more valuable than it has ever been.   I let the teenage comedy nerd in me run wild in this conversation, as Judd and I celebrated together our passion for comedy.   I know every drop of this interview is going to bring sunshine to your heart, and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you, the one and only Judd Apatow!   If you'd like to support our work, you can do so at patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp   Music intro: Sananda Maitreya Music outro: Matt Farley Production Ashna Rodjan

I first met Turner Sparks 12 years ago in China where I was performing and he was just starting out as an open micer. Since then he went on to start his own comedy tour of China and bring the Mr. Softee ice cream truck franchise to China. Both of these endeavors were not without complications. He lives in Brooklyn now and he is one of the kindest people I have ever met in comedy. Rejoice in this glorious conversation that we recorded together in Reno. Joy be upon you!

Preacher Lawson is a talented comedian who is now trying to start a career as a UFC fighter. In this conversation I am trying to talk him out of it and trying to convince him to stick with comedy. Joy be upon you and hooray for humanity!

Stay cheerful because there are enough bitter turds on this earth try to see the beauty that exists among all the ugliness.   JT Habersaat is a comedian, author, artist and my dear friend. He is also a Charles Bukowski enthusiast, so much so that he has Bukowski's face tattooed on his leg. In this episode JT and I sit down and talk about the poet Charles Bukowski and why he is meaningful to us. This conversation was also filmed as a part of a secret project I have been working on for the past year and parts of this talk will be puzzle pieces put into that project. Now with all of the hatred and violence set loose on the earth it is a good time to be reminded to stay cheerful because there are enough bitter turds on this earth and why you should always try to see the beauty that exists among all the ugliness. Special thanks to my friend JT Habersaat for flying all the way to California to be a part of my project. Friendships are the greatest treasures to be found on this earth. Hooray for humanity! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes! Russian warships go fuck yourself!   Patreon.com/TomRhodesRadioSmartCamp

This episode is a repost from September 2014. --------- Recorded at Johnathan’s house in Las Vegas, September 2014 I want to pay tribute to the Amazing Johnathan before he drops dead. We all avoid the thought of death and superstitiously try to avoid the topic but that dirty whore will strike each of us. The Amazing Johnathan has a heart ailment and his doctors have told him that if his medicine doesn't work he only has one year to live. Imagine what you would do if you were told you only had one year to live.   After years of touring relentlessly he wants to stay at home, maybe buy a new big screen TV, maybe do heroin, maybe a demolition derby in his back yard? I drove into his swank neighborhood, gated community with plush lawns and green trees in Las Vegas. Rich people can make it green anywhere. His house is a large sparkling palace with classic cars parked all over the front yard and back.  The 17 year old boy in me can't help but smile to see sitting in his drive way a 1967 midnight blue convertible GTO. His tasteful home has been modified to his specifications and every painting in his house has a trick or joke function hidden that can spring forth at his command. His opulent home is exactly the way you would dream Amazing Johnathan's house would be or a mad scientist with a wicked sense of humor. I'm impressed to see the life that he made for himself and I'm proud of him for being one of the few comedians who was smart with his money. He earned it! Going from comedy club headliner to doing countless television appearances he opened up The Amazing Johnathan Theater in Las Vegas and his ominous presence could be felt advertised everywhere in the city during his decades run. I would credit Amazing Johnathan with being right at that turning point in Las Vegas history where it went from being a sad joke to the cool upgraded spot it is today. George Carlin was a fan of his and once left him a long complimentary message on his answering machine. He listens to it when he gets depressed he tells me. He attributes everything he has to drugs. He tells me the best and worst times he had on drugs. He is open with me and honest about his lunatic partying days. He tells me that dying is a lazy way to get compliments.   I met the Amazing Johnathan doing comedy festival and television tapings and we have been friends from sharing those experiences. Our mad men party periods never met and I only knew him in a professional way that I respected. His comedy for lack of a better description I would call rock & roll comedy magician but whatever you would call it the man always hit the stage like a hurricane with jokes coming at you from everywhere. For me personally the reason I love the Amazing Johnathan is because when I was a young comedian watching every stand up comedy show on television while dreaming of getting there myself that is when I saw him for the first time. Destroying the audience on television and me at home. He was unlike all the other stiff, cookie cutter style comedians, he had his own style and his magic tricks involved fake blood and his eye popping out. Crazy shit! I loved him for his wildness and I respected him before I ever even met him.  In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Hamlet holds the skull of a comedian and he laments the fact that such a magic human who had made him laugh so hard is no longer of this earth. I ain't Hamlet and I ain't waiting until the man is dead to say how much I appreciate him. This tribute episode is not meant to be sad, it is meant to be alive and celebratory. For this reason I end the episode with a song I love instead of some sad sappy shit. The man left his mark on American entertainment and world wide comedy. I'm grateful that I know him and that he invited me over to his house to have this conversation with him. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Amazing Johnathan!

In the USA we had a war on drugs, we had a war on terrorism, and now I think we need to declare war on anger. Each one of us should fight to keep that poison out of our lives. Listening to Curtis Mayfield helps. Another sure way to perfect joy is by  listening to this warm and lovely conversation I had with Zainab Johnson. She is someone I love and would always makes laugh. Let some light into your life and rejoice now that the new episode of TRR Smart Camp is here! It is my please to introduce you now to the one and only Zainab Johnson! Joy to you!   Patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Happy love day February 14! Today I want to introduce you to the bright ball of sunshine, intelligence & hilarity that is my good friend Monique Marvez. She is a fire breathing dragon on the comedy stage and a possessor of great pearls of wisdom from a life fully lived. Get happy with this glorious conversation that we recorded for delight of your brain & all of humanity. Joy be upon you!   patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Danny Fingers & The Thumbs have a new album coming out on February 22 & he has flown himself down from Bend, Oregon to tell me all about it. Danny is a fellow world traveler and artistic soul and that is why it is my pleasure to present him to you now. Joy be upon you!

My heart took a solid punch of sadness when I learned of the recent passing of Jonathan Atherton. He was a pioneer on the international comedy scene for nurturing and helping to develop the comedy scenes in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. He was a beautiful lunatic with a golden heart who made me and so many others laugh through the years with his all loving comedy in defense of the underdog. It was my pleasure to share many stages with him throughout South East Asia and I am forever grateful to him for introducing me to black pepper crab in Singapore which to this day remains one of my favorite things on this earth. I'm happy to have known him and even happier that I recorded this conversation with him in Singapore in 2013. Rejoice in his stories of a life fully lived and his rich voice full of expression. Performing stand up comedy and passing on the flame to the next generation were his greatest passions in life and it is my pleasure to honor him here and now by reposting this conversation that we recorded. My love and sympathy to his surviving love of his life Beatrice who helped him reach his full potential in life. I will miss your beautiful laugh and your caring world view, RIP my dear friend Jonathan Atherton.

Enjoy this conversation I recorded with my wonderful & amazing mother in Mount Dora, Florida. Joy be upon you!     * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Sign up for a conversation with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

This year has been rough and I have been on a mission to cheer myself up. Comedy, baseball, rollerskating and music have been my tools to repair my joy but most of all, friendships have been my glue holding it all together. I am blessed to have so many good true friends in my life and in this episode I review the many strange and joyous experiences I've lived recently. Hooray for humanity and hooray the many beautiful human beings who populate my life.   Are you interested in future podcast episodes? Support by sharing, donating and enjoying extra's on Patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Let me tell you about the time I smoked pot with Jack Nicholson at Dodger stadium during a Rolling Stones concert   I blew it! I have been dating an amazing woman and I broke up with her only to find out that my love is stronger than my pride and my principles. In this episode I talk about how I'm afraid to listen to music now because the right song could destroy me. I talk about the death of Charlie Watts and the time I smoked pot with Jack Nicholson at Dodger stadium. Also I remember the best lines from the movies of Jean-Paul Belmondo who also died recently. Special thanks to Erick Urquidez who produced this episode. Joy be upon you!   patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

It is best to stay a bus length away from a bison and a football field's length away from a bear.   Hear the story of my epic trip trip to Montana, from the best place to see bison, to where you can take bubble breaks along the highway and why mounted deer heads on walls all have the same facial expression. Come ride along with me to learn amazing animal facts and to hear stories that will make your belly quake with laughter. Joy be upon you and hooray for humanity!   patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Never become a bitter turd, no matter what happens to you.   For the first time in 37 years I had to cancel show due to illness because I got Covid 19! I am fully vaccinated so I felt bullet proof and hugged way too many people at the shows in Las Vegas last week. Fortunately I was about to perform at Brad Garrett's comedy club in Las Vegas when I found out that I had it. Brad Garrett is one of the most loving & generous people in show business & the glorious humans who work at his club are like family to me. I was allowed to stay at the MGM Grand hotel & quarantine here. The first few days I felt like a truck had run me over & the big jacuzzi tub in the room was a great relief to my body aches. Las Vegas is currently a hot bed for the Delta variant & it got me. Now this is just one more thing that I have survived. In this episode I talk about how the last 8 days of quarantine have been, the beautiful memorial celebrating the life of Carl LaBove that I spoke at that was held at Brad Garrett's comedy club on July 18. I tell you here about the legacy of the bright soul that was Carl LaBove is to never become a bitter turd, no matter what happens to you. I also talk about the influence that Annick Piel had on me, she was the mother of my first adult love story Nathalie & Annick recently passed away in Paris. With my girlfriend sitting beside me we talk about the Westwood Village memorial cemetery where we saw the graves of Rodney Dangerfield and Marilyn Monroe. We also talk about seeing Kool & the Gang at the Hollywood Bowl & seeing Charley Crockett at the Belly Up in Solana Beach. Going to cemetery's remind you to live & so does getting Covid 19. I'm ready to live & bust out of the MGM in Las Vegas & be rejuvenated & healed in the wilderness. The great wide open West stands open before me. I'm ready to breath easy among the mountains. Special thanks to Brad Garrett for paying me this week even though I didn't do any shows. I'm grateful for the people in my life & that is the best thing I learned during this illness. God bless the good hearted true friends! Hollywood be thy name!   patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Comedians are not fixing the world, we are making fun of it.   Bassem Youssef was a successful heart surgeon in Egypt before he left his career in medicine to become the Jon Stuart of the Middle East. His version of The Daily Show became one of the most controversial shows in the history of television. He was arrested, interrogated and had his life seriously threatened as can be seen in the documentary about what he went through called Tickling Giants. Bassem is one of the bravest comedians who ever lived in my opinion and when his life was being threatened by every kind of fanatic every day in Cairo he told me "I never feared for my life, I would fear the reaction on Twitter. If people tell you you are not funny, that is worse than a bullet." "In the history of the world, people have always done atrocities in the name of God, and they always give a justification for it." After leaving Egypt he started doing stand up in Boston and now he is crushing audiences in Los Angeles. See him this weekend June 25 & 26, 2021 @ The Brea Improv. I worked with Bassem a few months ago and I howled with laughter at his excellently written and crafted material. His goal now is to have an hour special on Netflix as a testimony that he could bounce back from what happened to him in his home country. The ability to reinvent yourself is an opportunity that most people don't have. Don't live in the past and don't listen to advice. Make a new friend today and get to know your new favorite comedian Bassem Youssef here on Tom Rhodes Radio Smart Camp! You will become a smiley person just like Bassem after listening to this episode. Joy be upon you and happy summer time 2021!   patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Laughter literally began in our species as a gesture of shared relief at the passing of danger.   The state of California just lifted the restrictions that have been in place for the past 15 months and a big collective sigh of relief along with hardy laughter is ours for now. I celebrated life getting back to normal by seeing the Dodgers at Dodger stadium and it felt so good to gather in a large group of humans again. In this episode I talk about visiting my mom in Florida and the loud Mustang that I rented that was so embarrassing to drive I took it back to the airport to get another car. Because California has so many natural disasters my mom gave me a "Life Straw" and even though I make fun of its concept it just might save my life one day. The three documentaries I recommend you watch in this order are 'The night James Brown saved Boston', 'Soul Power' and "When we were kings'. I talk about how Japan has the longest life expectancy in the world and how in Japan the birth rate is so low that they sell more adult diapers there than they do baby diapers. Also, in Japan black cats are considered good luck. I end this episode with a charming story of why I've held a grudge against the band The Monkees for so long and why now I can finally forgive them. Summer is here and the masks are finally coming off, hooray and hallelujah!   patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Peron means bad ass & other things worth knowing. Last week I was contacted by a listener named Big John who wanted to trade me his baseball cards for anything I could think of. I decided to trade him something that I loved greatly for his cards and to introduce him to my favorite tacos in Los Angeles. Enjoy this conversation I had with a new friend and if you are in Los Angeles, head straight to #tacos1986 as often as you can. Joy be upon you and hooray for humanity! patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp.com

Life is like a butterfly... One minute you are floating along and then the next... thummppp! Windshield.   This past week two men that I love dearly dropped dead. Gerke Nauta was the director of the first two seasons of the Kevin Masters Late Night show that I did in Amsterdam. He taught me how to be a television host and how to look into the cold black lense of the camera and speak warmly to the people watching at home. Gerke Nauta changed the course of my life when he and Jason Tegelaar chose me to be the star of their show. Another great loss to me was the death of Carl Labove. Before I ever met him he was my hero for his mastery of stand up comedy and then in the course of our friendship he was a never ending source of positive energy and an example of someone who never let hardship rob him of his joy for living or diminish his sparkle in any way. Both of these men are heroes to me in the story of my life and I praise, remember and celebrate them in this episode. I also talk about how I fell in love with the Toronto Blue Jays and why Bo Bichette is the Tom Rhodes of baseball. Furthermore I talk about why you shouldn't feed squirrels salted nuts, how to  solve the homeless crisis in Los Angeles and the most annoying thing that the artist Rembrandt did to his wife. There is new hope for the planet now that summer is arriving and because more people are getting vaccinated it means that it won't be long before we are allowed to gather in groups again to celebrate the best parts of being human. Hooray for humanity and joy be upon you!   Patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp Youtube.com/kingofhaha

I woke up April 5 at 4:44am to a 4.0 earthquake. Some days the world just tells you to wake up early. The meaning of Easter  is that Jesus rose from the dead and I like that we can use that as inspiration to rise from back from the dead in areas of our own lives. If you have been defeated, beaten down or immobilized for whatever reason in your life you can still rise back up as long as you have breath in your lungs. In this episode I give you rollerskating news and the hummingbird update. I'll teach you why those old knives might not be as bad as you think they are and why driving a Toyota Camry hybrid is so fucking hot. I will tell you about the moment of enlightenment I achieved last week in Las Vegas and explain to you Georgia voting restrictions caused me to purchase the entire Dodgers 2021 season from mlb.com. I will watch every delicious pitch this year as an act of political defiance. For educational purposes I will teach you how to properly use the phrase: "Stand down whitey! This is not the slave market." My most fervent entertainment recommendations goes to the brilliant acting in Pen 15, Promising Young Woman and Sound of Metal. Each of those productions are entertainment glory and you should digest them into your bosom. After I put you to bed with a slice from The Daily Stoic I will tell you my best personal news regarding the pandemic. Spring forward into life.

A Sapiosexual is someone who is attracted to intelligence. After listening to this episode you will become more intelligent & therefore more attractive to Saposexuals.   After months of not putting out a podcast I am finally joyful enough to record a new episode. This episode is called Mostly Sunny because it is mostly about happy topics. Here I give you the knowledge of the orange Rufous hummingbird that spends its entire life in a constant state of migration. Also you will learn about the snuggly curious facts about sloths to the disturbing pervert tendencies of the Borneo moth. I rejoice in the story of how a movie I once tried to make years ago and the footage that I owned but did not possess for 15 years, a story that once brought me grief, now makes me happy because I am now posting this entire movie one vintage short clip at a time on social media. You will also hear the story of the 12 year old boy in New England who wants to be a comedian and has been seeking my advice.   As Spring arrives with the singing birds informing the farmers it is time to plant their seeds there is so much to be happy about as the warm weather and flowers arrive. In my personal life the update is that my mother is among the people who do not wish to get the vaccine. I think that the right wing media led by Trump and Fox news will be to blame if she falls ill. I also think that the Republican party should be banned as the violent Nazi hate group that it is and that is the not so sunny part of my current episode. I only say that because of my overall love of humanity and because they are now putting my mother's life in danger with their lies and misinformation campaigns. Mom hugs are the answer to all of life's problems so let's all hug our mothers as often as we can while we can. Joy be upon you now and forever!   Go to Patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp for goodies

The best thing that you can do with bad memories is to pave over them with good ones.   Have you ever had your brain completely fucked by something that you witnessed? It happened to me last week and I now see that I have been misusing the word traumatized my whole life because I was truly traumatized by what I saw. If you have a weak stomach for harsh stories then this episode might not be for you. These are very hard times for a lot of people so I tried to pack a lot of sunshine in this episode as I always do but there is a doozy of a head fuck story coming your way here. My girlfriend experienced this trauma with me and she shares her side of this story with me and how we have been caring for each other since. I also share the philosophy of Seneca and the Stoics, my thoughts on the passing of Diego Maradona, Trump being the biggest snowflake of them all, how to deal with angry pick up trucks in rural areas, what not to do when driving through a blizzard and the mating habits of frogs. There is also the story of how a horse fell in love with me in Oregon and how being among animals can be a powerful healing medicine. The best thing you can do with bad memories is to pave over them with good ones. Hooray for the compassionate and hooray for humanity!

Not being dead is the number one reason to remain cheerful.   My girlfriend and I fled Portland last month because of the fires and unbreathable air. For the past month we have been in Los Angeles finding the simple things in life like miniature golf, the zoo and the beach to combat the fear, confusion and uncertainty that dominates life at this moment. There are still many reasons to be cheerful and in this episode my girlfriend and I take you on a stroll through some of the recent joys we have experienced in spite of the fact that we had a near death experience while playing in the Pacific ocean. There are so many things that beat you down in life and disturb our fragile little minds so it is essential to be reminded of the good things in life once in a while. So put on your happy pants and let's get giggly with Tom Rhodes Radio Smart Camp. Joy be upon you!

Let me tell you all about Oregon & why you should be listening to Bootsy Collins & Curtis Mayfield right now. Praise be to the plum wine man! I was playing the Rick James song 'Busting Out' when I crossed the border from California into Oregon. My girlfriend lives in Portland and for the past month we have been going on driving adventures all over Oregon. I had planned on exploring France this year but that got canceled so instead I am enjoying all of the best that there is to see in Oregon. This episode starts in Whale Cove, then on to Ona Beach then back to Portland. I have circled Oregon and I have some stories to share with you. From Crater Lake and Cannon Beach to the Last Blockbuster in Bend and seeing 'The Outsiders' at a drive in movie theater in Newberg I have been squeezing joy out of this last bit of summer. I went to Plush, Oregon just because I loved the name and slept in a grocery store parking lot in Lake View. On the news Portland looks like a lawless hellhole right now but those skirmishes all happen downtown and I have found the best places in this city  to relax with minimal pandemic stress. Let me tell you all about Oregon and why you should be listening to Bootsy Collins and Curtis Mayfield right now. Praise be to the man who makes plum wine and gin! Hooray for humanity! Joy be upon you! Shalom Amigos!

Grab some fruit and let me take you to Peru.   Have you eaten a peach lately?  Try eating slices of one while alternating bites with slices of mango. If you can do it while sitting in your underwear in the sun like I did then you are a true champion of summer in my book. In this episode I talk about Willie Nelson's new record 'First Rose Of Spring', George Carlin, The Wrong Missy, Eurovison Song Contest, Mean Girls, Booksmart, John Muir and his use of the word "Sambo", The Portland Riots and the leaf blowers sending back the CS gas to the unmarked federal agents. I also talk about my book that I'm writing and read to you one of the best parts of my Peru chapter. What could be better than that? Hearing all about my best moment while filming for a Travel TV show in Peru on assignment. Let your brain relax and allow my words to take you to Amantani island on Lake Titicaca. I got to experience the sacred ceremony of Pacha Mama (Mother Earth) with the local villagers and I wrote all about it for my book and now your ears. Grab some fruit and let's share this happy summer moment together. If you can listen to this episode with fresh summer fruits while sitting in your underwear in the sun all the better. Enjoy every sunset. Hooray for humanity!

The best thing you can do with bad memories is to pave over them with good ones.   This was my mom's last week in California so after four months of not leaving my neighborhood I rented a car and we blazed up the highway to Sequoia national park. During a life threatening virus outbreak it is good to look at 3,000 year old Sequoia trees and be reminded that the earth survives and life goes on.  We learned what not to do if you are attacked by a bear, cougar or struck by lightning. Our next trip to the Huntington library was a bust and we were turned away for not having reservations. For the 4th of July we drove up to Santa Barbara and discovered this gem of Spanish architecture with a gorgeous beach and vibrant pier. Because the fireworks were canceled we drove back home in time to catch all of the illegal fireworks being shot off that can be seen from my building. Thank God for the criminals of Los Angeles who provided the celebratory entertainment. On our last day today my mom crushed me 237-210 in our Mom and Tom Scrabble championship and she will take home the trophy. I'm thankful that I have spent these past four months with my mom, it is a memory that we will always cherish in that we survived it all together and nothing could make me happier than for my mom to thump me at Scrabble on our last day when it counted most. Her smile as she held up the trophy is a sight that made my heart glow. I will be lonely when she leaves but it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Sara Rhodes, my mom! Shalom amigos y amigas and long may you run!

In this bleak and anxious world there is still so much joy and beauty to discover.   My mom and I have successfully completed watching every art and educational program that I have and here and now we will delight you with all of the knowledge that we have just learned. In this episode we talk about Matisse, Picasso, Eugene Delacriox, Toulouse Lautrec, Antonio Guadi, Mother hummingbirds, Birds of Paradise and big cats. Our conversation reaches its crescendo of excitement when we talk about lions, cheetahs, jaguars, pumas, leopards and lynx. Many minds will be blown when you hear about the little known facts of the big cat family and hearts will be warmed when you learn about our favorite trees in my neighborhood, which are the African Tulip tree, the Monterey Cypress tree and the Persian Silk tree. Give your brain a ride on easy street with all of the best knowledge that my mother and I have gathered for you this week. Hooray for moms! Hooray for humanity! And as my mom would say, yay us!

With helicopters circling overhead, I wish you a happy end of slavery day! My mom is a true champion and the current reigning champion of our Scrabble competition. Mother and child is one of the eternal themes of art and that is the theme of my podcast right now as my mother and I search the history of world art to bring you the happiest and most interesting stories we could find for you this week. In this episode we talk about how art made the world, Stonehenge, Persepolis, Alexander the Great, Roman Emperor Augustus and Gilgamesh.  We then take you on a tour of Vatican City and The Louvre before ending with a celebration of the life of Georgia O'Keefe and her scandals that rocked the art world when she was a young artist and another when she was a mature artist. In my never ending search for heroes I'm happy to present you with these words: "A hero can not define himself a hero. A hero is defined by the actions they undergo. A hero is defined by the events that happen to them. The spiritual and moral response is what makes a hero."

During the rut the males exhibit tough guy behavior in order to attract a mate, me myself I always preferred dancing.   In these frightening uncertain times it is always good to be reminded of the good that humans have done while working together. That is why my mom and I have been watching the PBS docu series 'Great Museums of America'. In this episode we talk about and celebrate the best stories and information we learned from: The Metropolitan Museum of Art The Colorado History Museum The California Surf Museum The Molly Brown House The Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage The Museum of Modern Art The George Eastman House The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum The Smithsonian Institute The Morris Museum of Art The National Zoo The Franklin Institute The Whale Museum The New York City Fire Department Museum The Henry Ford Museum "Everything is soon to be history, therefore everything is collectable." Strive to be a better human in all that you do. Shalom Amigos y amigas!

In times of tragedy is when human beings show their best sides and their most compassionate sides. Now is the time to speak out and demand that everyone shows a better side of themselves.

When was the last time you let out a good yodel? You can yodel as my mom and I take you on an audio tour of the best museums in America... while wearing face masks of course.   Join me now for a few happy yodels and a celebration of knowledge as my mother and I take you on a tour of the best museums in America according to PBS. First you will learn how yodeling became a part of country music and how I got my oldest most authentic country music albums from a deceased black woman from Jamaica. My mother and I have been walking up and down each neighborhood street in my area and we got to experience for the first time being in a bank with everyone in the bank wearing face masks. My mom loves the stencil sidewalk graffiti all over Los Angeles, especially the updated Covid 19 graffiti on Melrose ave. I greatly appreciate the joy of getting a package and today I got a massive box from my friend Jasper in Delft, The Netherlands. Holland lives in my heart forever and my friend Jasper sent me a big box full of love that I share with you as well as honoring the HEMA highlighter pens for the copious amounts of joy they have given to me. We have gotten our news from the Grove shopping plaza because that is the main town square of the area I live in. A CBS Evening News woman who was filming there told us the stores have been given permission to open but the employees are reluctant to return. We rightly praise Rob Reiner's movie 'Flipped' for being the masterpiece that it is. Then for the past week my mother and I have been watching the PBS documentary series "Great Museums' about the best museums in America. Here for you now my mother and I share with you the best bits of knowledge from the following museums: The Living Museum of Music that is the city of New Orleans The Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio, Texas The Charleston museum in Charleston, South Carolina The Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi  The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York Ellis Island Immigration Museum Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian National D-Day Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana  The Library of Congress in Washington D.C.

"There is nobody I'd rather have with me in a beer hall brawl than my mother standing beside me with a broken beer bottle in her hand."   On our daily walks around my neighborhood my mother and I have been amazed by the exotic plant life and my mom wondered how it was possible that desert plants can survive and thrive next to plants that are predominantly in the North East of the United States. We stopped into the plant store on Beverly Blvd. to ask and the man who worked there said, "Plants here don't follow plant rules." I thought that was a funny image of our biker gang exotic flowers not following the rules of others.    In this episode my mom and I talk about the good things we have been putting into our brains in the form of the documentaries we have been watching and the books that we have read. We talk about the BBC's 'The Adventure Of English', all about the history of the English language and we learn the mind blowing story of Squanto, the Native American who spoke English and kept the Mayflower pilgrims from perishing during the first winter they spent in this new land. We talk about PBS Ken Burns' Mark Twain documentary and the book 'The Bohemians' by Ben Tarnoff, about Mark Twain's time in San Francisco and we learn that Artemus Ward was the first stand up comedian in America before Mark Twain. Then we talk about the PBS Ken Burns documentary 'Country Music.' From this we talk about how Bonnie and Clyde had to have the latest Jimmie Rodgers records, the powerful story of when Sarah Carter dedicated 'I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blues' on national radio to the man she loved and upon hearing it drove to Mexico to find her. We talk about Hank Williams and how his mother went with him to his rough early gigs and would fight beside him whenever bar room brawls broke out. "There is nobody I'd rather have with me in a beer hall brawl than my mother standing beside me with a broken beer bottle in her hand." We tell the best stories we just learned about Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Charlie Pride, Roger Miller and Dolly Parton.    Then we talk about the two books my mom read this past week, 'My Israel Trail' by Aryeh Green and 'When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple.' During this global pandemic lock down my mother has often said: "Sometimes you've got to call people and cheer them up."    I'm honored and privileged to have all of this uninterrupted time with my mom and this episode is a happy stroll through the best stories we learned this week delivered with love just for you. Joy be upon you!

If my mom ran Hollywood every movie would end with the family all going to church more often.   The great virus lockdown film festival continues! In this batch of films that my mother and I have watched we discovered that we both love any movie with Jeff Bridges or Clint Eastwood in it. We also discover that my mom won't stomach certain things and is not afraid to ask me to stop a film if she really doesn't like it. You can say what you want about Woody Allen but in not one of his films does anyone ever take a shit in the middle of the road in a wedding dress like happens in the Judd Appatow film. This week for us has seen us loosen our restrictions and start taking walks through my neighborhood every day. It is good for our souls to feel the sunshine on our face, cool breezes on our hair and to see how many extraordinary fig trees are living in my neighborhood. Each night we watch a film and in this conversation today we talk about the 25 films we have watched in the last 25 nights.  It is a hardy feast of movies and I hope you enjoy my mother and I's thoughts and feelings about the these celluloid stories.    Here is the list of the movies we have just watched: Space Jam Crazy Heart True Grit Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid For A Few Dollars More The Good, The Bad & The Ugly The Legend Of 1900 The Revenant Judy Bridesmaids Midnight In Paris The Only Living Boy In New York Talladega Nights Sleepless In Seattle You've Got Mail St. Vincent La Grande Belleza I Saw The Light Fantastic Mr. Fox Crossing Delancey A Walk In The Clouds My Fair Lady Hang 'Em High Gran Torino Parasite

The thing I love most about England is that they still put ugly people on television.   It has been a great week to learn some shit and my mother and I stuffed our heads with beautiful art knowledge and thanks to the BBC, we took a quest around the world for humankind's greatest achievements. First we talk about this past week in captivity as I undertook the task of sorting out and categorizing my boxes full of old paper photographs.  For the longest time I had wanted to categorize my photos separately in travel, comedy and family sections. Along with this labor came the joy of bagging up ex girlfriends and put them in a box and stuff that box in the deepest corner of my darkest closet. My mom said "Its like cleaning out the cobwebs from the corners of your life." I want to be clear that this doesn't include Ashna, because our whole history in photos is all digital, because she was my wife and because her and I are still friends. Also, Ashna still edits and produces this podcast and there were no dark corners in our relationship, it was most always bright sunshine. The one thing that this Corona virus Covid 19 lockdown has taught me is that I'm going to make someone a really good wife one day. I've been cooking all of our meals and washing the clothes and the dishes. My mom has the bathroom and the floors. Aside from keeping our one bedroom pirate ship clean we have been feeding our brains with the choicest slices of knowledge. In the episode we talk about the last two books my mom read here in the Rhodes library: The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes Goya, A Life by Evan S. Connell After this we talk about the last episodes we watched of The Great Artists by Tim Marlow which cover the artistic lives of Bruegel, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Goya, David, Turner, Vermeer, Stubbs, Constable, Delacroix, Whistler, Van Gogh, Schiele. From there our learning documentary trail led us to the BBC's 'Around The World In 80 Treasures With Dan Cruikshank' which is a quest around the world for humankind's greatest achievements. Considering that the human race is now currently down on its knees it is a good time to be reminded of some of our greatest achievements and some of the fun and beauty we created back in the good old days when we were allowed to spend time together. The thing that I love most about England is that they still put ugly people on television. I told my mother that there isn't a single person in the world I would rather be spending this lockdown with other than her and that is because we both talk the easiest with each other and because we are both interested in the same things. After 40 treasures faulty Dvds didn't allow us to see the last 40 that Dan Cruikshank wanted us to see so we took a trip with National Geographic on a show called 'Time Scanners' where the scan with a mobile laser scanner Petra, St. Paul's Cathedral, The Pyramids, The Coliseum, Ancient Jerusalem and Machu Pichu. This brought our conversation to Peru and the train journey I took once there going from Cusco bound for Puno. This episode ends at Machu Pichu as it should being that this concludes our week of learning here at Corona University. I hope you enjoy listening to this conversation with my mom as much as I enjoyed doing it. I hope this serves up as a good reminder for you to do something nice for your mother this coming Sunday May 10 because it is Mother's Day. Hooray for humanity and hooray for moms!     Why wait until Mother's Day to spoil your mother

When I was a kid my mom would ask "Are you ready for the best feeling in the world?" Right before dumping a warm basket of clothes over my head fresh out of the dryer.   "No one volunteers to fight in a war who is happy at home."   It is from my mom that I get my love of books and since she arrived here on March 9th she has crushed five books here at the Rhodes library:   Joan of Arc by Mark Twain Go Tell It On The Mountain by James Baldwin Picasso by Gertrude Stein The Success And Failure Of Picasso by John Berger Paris At The End Of The World by John Baxter   In this episode my mom and I talk about the books she just read and the one she just started, Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes. We also talk about our time together in this global lockdown and relive happy memories like when I was a kid my mom would ask "Are you ready for the best feeling in the world?" Right before dumping a warm basket of clothes over my head fresh out of the dryer. We also talk about the art documentaries we have watched so far in our pandemic university courses. The documentaries that we have watched so far are:   BBC 1969  Civilisation BBC Modern Masters (Matisse,Picasso, Dali, Andy Warhol). BBC The Private Life Of A Masterpiece BBC The High Art Of The Low Countries New York & Paris Abbott & Atget (Photography) Finding Vivian Maier (Photography) PBS The Life & Times Of Frida Kahlo Biography: Vincent Van Gogh - A Stroke Of Genius The Hermitage Museum Of St. Petersburg The Great Artists with Tim Marlow   The best way to relieve your mind from stress is to focus on art, beauty, books, cinema, comedy, music, appreciating the people who mean the most to you in life. We who are coronavirus free have a lot to be grateful for. After we recorded this my mom felt a little bad that she said at the end that: "we were rich" without clarifying that she didn't mean money in the bank rich but heart, mind and soul rich. So just to clarify for my mom before this goes public that when my mom says that her and I are rich she meant because of the people in our life and the love in our hearts. I hope your mom makes you feel as rich as mine does for me. Every day we still go out and watch the sunset and appreciate the moment. Spending time with the people you love is the key to happiness now and always. Please enjoy the knowledge that my mom lays out for you in this episode on art, life and books.    Hooray for humanity!

Hooray for moms! What good is money if you can't spend it on your mom? On April 15, 2020 my mother turned 81 years old and we recorded this conversation together under virus quarantine lockdown. My mother and I have had a beautiful relationship through the years and she has shared all of my triumphs and sorrows as I have shared hers. I love taking trips with her and we have been fortunate to experience together, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Rome, Zurich, Buenos Aires and Jerusalem but the unexpected joy of having her with me here in Los Angeles as my bunker partner for great virus lock down of 2020 is the most serendipitous event of my lifetime. From my mother I get my thoughtfulness and she is my hero not only because she has survived so much to make it to where she is today, but because she taught me how to love, and to love fully. Since the stay at home orders went down my mom and I have a very nicely structured day. In the morning we talk and read our books over coffee and then after breakfast I work (Edit notes on my next album 'The Honky Motherland'). Then after lunch we watch BBC art documentaries and or play Scrabble. After dinner every night we watch a movie from my vast collection of DVDs. In this episode my mother and I talk about and review every movie we have watched so far for the Tom & Sara 2020 Quarantine Film Festival. This is my mother's first ever podcast appearance and it was recorded on her birthday, a day that is always a day I love to celebrate the magnificent human that is my mother. The movies we talk about and the ones that we have seen so far are: Treasure Of Sierra Madre Asphalt Jungle The Killing What About Bob? Tropic Thunder The Outlaw Josey Wales Sexy Beast History Of The World Part 1 A Pigeon Sat On A Branch Reflecting on Existence Lion King Finding Vivian Maier Only Angels Have Wings Fist Full Of Dollars Ask The Dust The Mission True Romance Willie Wonka & The Chocolate Factory Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World The Way Mr. Turner 1900 The Agony & The Ecstasy Nebraska The Messenger - Joan Of Arc Lawrence Of Arabia Paris, I Love You Glen Gary Glen Ross Caravaggio Time Bandits Legends Of The Fall

Is the threat of our possible human extinction bringing you down? This is a big shot of love and sunshine from the Rhodes library. When this stink ball of shit virus shut down the world my dearly loved 80 year old mother was visiting me and I got lucky to be riding out this storm with her. Had she not been visiting me at this moment we both would have been alone for this and probably each of us would have been more casual in our attitude because of the virus. Because getting her through this alive is my main priority I love my combat preparedness that I consider when I have to go out for supplies.   I love cooking all of our meals and I've learned that as a son I have many duties to my mother but letting her win at Scrabble is not one of them. You've never seen someone get so trounced at Scrabble as I have so soundly been beating her. Qi baby! Qi is a word and you should remember that because if played right it is a crusher. This is a special time now if you are spending it with someone you love. My heart smiled when my mom told me that I remind her of Kanye West because I am always working on projects. Because my balcony faces West I get the most spectacular sunsets and everyday we go out and applaud the sunset. As the sun disappears I say: "Thank you sun you did great today. Enjoy your trip around the earth and we'll see you tomorrow." Because of my vast collection of books, music and movies we have plenty of brain food to feed ourselves with everyday. In the daytime we watch BBC art documentaries and at night we watch classic movies. Currently my mom is reading a book called 'The Success And Failure Of Picasso' and I am on page 713 of the Andrew Roberts' biography of Napoleon called 'Napoleon The Great. Whatever your sacred passions are now is the time to dive in to them and perfect your ability. There is no reason not to come out on the other side of this a better version of yourself. Shalom amigos y amigas!   * I collected postcards around the world for many years. Become a member of the podcast and receive handwritten postcards! Sign up here > Patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

"You can be whoever you want to be in America, in your gated community, away from all those dirty poor people who might cast judgement on you."   My own personal golden girl, Lynn Ruth Miller stops by the Rhodes library to share the best lessons she has learned in life and to tell me about her new life living in London and performing all over the world. After getting fucked by #wellsfargo bank on a refinancing scam she lost her house and disgusted with the ruthless nature of American capitalism she moved to England at 80 years old to take a chance on having a comedy career there. After a bumpy start in Brighton she is making a name for herself in London and now performing all over the world. "I don't think enough sympathy has been shown to the Germans for what they went through in World War II." "It must have been hell being a man in the 1950s. You had to work to support a home and family and you had to please a demanding wife." "Now is the best time to be alive because you can be whatever gender you want now." After Bush we got Obama so after Trump I think our next president will be a black left handed midget lesbian. "The world is going through a transition right now and I think it is headed in a great place because you can be whoever you want to be right now." "Why don't we have faith that the majority of people want to better themselves?" Republicans care about families, but specifically their family only. White college educated soccer moms are the reason why things are the way they are in this country now. They've got what they need so fuck everyone else. "You can be whoever you want to be in America, in your gated community, away from all those dirty poor people who might cast judgement on you." What's hot between the covers? 'The God of small things', 'How green was my valley', 'To kill a mockingbird' and 'Of mice and men.' "It's a funny thing when no one wants you. The thing you have to remember about rejection is that everyone is trying to protect themselves." You can't let other people decide how you feel about yourself. Happiness is not being dead and having something to look forward to. "Plant a tree and give someone a cuddle.That's all we can do. At her age her biggest break will be a hip fracture." Just remember, "The woods would be silent if the only birds who sang were the ones who sang best." Patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

  "If you tried to govern people by the rules of the bible it would be a bloody mess and women would be treated like property."   TRR # 320 Under the circus tent of knowledge with Dan Cummins!  Listen here > https://bit.ly/37hmW4C     Dan Cummins is a comedian that I love, respect and admire. He is the rare human that I can blaze any trail with mentality on any topic and we both dazzle each other with valuable knowledge nuggets.   Dan left Los Angeles and moved back home to Idaho, "Playboy of all brands brought our family back home." Since then Dan has created a handsome podcast empire with his "Time Suck" podcast.    Dan tells me about the sexually liberated intellectuals he had the best conversations with during his time working for Playboy television. We talk here about the brothers Grim fairy tales, Disney films, Ted X talks, how going dark gets you more followers than going light, Josephine Baker, John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, the Jumbo appendages possessed by Lyndon Johnson and Rasputin, Vlad the Impaler and how the Salem witch trials was essentially a land grab.    This episode was recorded in Las Vegas where people come to show the worst side of themselves, Dan and I have gathered here under the circus tent of knowledge to rejoice in all that we know and to celebrate the joy of friendship with intelligent observations like "The way young people now sit around inventing new apps, in the old days people used to sit around inventing new torture equipment."    It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Dan Cummins!

Rejoice in the glory that is the words and thoughts of Henry Miller! One of the greatest American writers all time. Your zest for life begins here! Eddie Pepitone and I celebrate the author Henry Miller, one of the best human examples to follow the path of the artist and smile in the face of struggle. “The Rosy Crucifixion trilogy is basically about being crucified on the cross of love”. Learn how the act of creativity is the way to pull out of your darkest moments in life and return to the light. “I have no money, no resources, no hopes. I am the happiest man alive”. The best writings of Henry Miller should be assembled into a single book and made into the new bible and placed in hotel rooms all over the world. "I want to write something that has real guts. Real hard realism. If every man wrote down what was his real truth the entire world word explode. Open yourself up and be super vulnerable in order to achieve your self liberation. Release the inner angel within! The theory of artistic creativity, when you feel a crisis coming on start writing, express yourself artistically. Charlie Chaplin gave dignity to poverty. Miller's fascination with exotic far away places in the secret desire to reveal the mysteries and truth of his inner self. In this episode Eddie and I read quotes from the books of Henry Miller spread out on my table and discuss the inspiring thoughts laid out by the zen master of artistic living. "The man of heart believes and the world belongs to the man who believes most." Regain your faith in life, learn how not to hold anything back and risk everything in order to be the greatest possible version of yourself that will be long remembered when you are gone. This is one of my favorite Smart Camp episodes ever because of the passion that Eddie Pepitone and I both have for the pure beam of inspiring light that was the life and words of Henry Miller. As the zen masters say the best joy can be found in perfecting your mind and soul and today I give you this powerful pill of knowledge that is Henry Miller book roulette with Eddie Pepitone!

"How you are on the golf course is how you are in real life, if you cheat on the golf course you will cheat in real life."   Alex Thomas and I met when we toured Israel together. I brought my mother on that tour and Alex brought his family because we both wanted to share the experience with the people we loved most. This conversation was recorded last week before the tragic death of Kobe Bryant. In this episode we talk about how the Republicans now are the 1919 Chicago Black Sox because they are all in on the fix. Alex is the self proclaimed Ghetto Tiger Woods or the black Bob Hope. "How you are on the golf course is how you are in real life, if you cheat on the golf course you will cheat in real life." "The bible is my favorite book, I was taught and value integrity, I believe in karma and the golden rule." Who was this guy Mulligan that was so bad at golf that the one fuck up do over is named after him? An amazing fact about Alex is that his father was 'Wind' in Earth, Wind & Fire. Alex grew up with the stars of 1970s funk hanging out with his dad at their house in South Central Los Angeles. "Funk is universal!" The one and only thing that will save the Middle East is roller boogie. Alex worked as a choreographer on Living Color for the Fly Girls with Jennifer Lopez and Rosie Perez. He was in Snoop Dog's Gin n' Juice video and he contributed voice comedy skits to 50 Cent and Kanye West's biggest albums. He wrote for the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air and has done recurring voice characters on the animated series Family Guy, this man has had a storied career as a stand up comedian. We talk about our experiences in Israel and why it is important to coordinate your yarmulke with your Jordans. "Visiting Bethlehem was like going to a penitentiary on visiting day." Israel is where all of the stories come from but the story that belongs to us is that Alex and I became friends while doing a theater tour in the holy land. "Always laugh, always smile. I am not a doctor and I am not the Lord, but I have the power to heal people through laughter."

"If we are to survive as a human race we have to hide our hatreds, we have to find things we have in common if we want to progress and move forward."   I first met Shazia Mirza in 2002 when I had my late night talk show in Amsterdam when we did shows around The Netherlands together. I was riding high with the dream TV job and Shazia was a cultural juggernaut at the time because she was playing a pro terrorism Muslim character on stage with her one liners and was getting a lot of media coverage at the time. When we met on this tour Shazia had a reporter from the Guardian following her and writing a story about her. It was a very exciting time for both of us in our careers and even though we are both from very different cultures we bonded because we are in the same tribe of stand up comedy. "The Jews have a great history of producing comedians, so do the Catholics, we have never had a history of comedians. Islam is a new religion and so is our comedy and satire. It takes time before you can laugh at something." "You have to have life experience to be a comedian and instagram is not a life experience. You can't not die, suffer and struggle and be a great comic." It is a privilege to be in this business and creativity is the key to happiness.  Last year Shazia was on a reality TV show on the BBC called Survival Island, for one month she had to survive with people from different backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities and she had a major revelation from the experience. "What we needed to do to survive was to keep our hatreds to ourselves. You can survive on your own for a while but in the end you need other people to survive. It made me see that if we are to survive as a human race we have to find things we have in common and hide our hatreds if we are to progress and move forward." "Spending time with people you don't like is a waste of life. You can only judge people by two ways... some people give you energy and other people drain you of your energy. Avoid the people who suck the joy out of life." Brilliant insights and sentences like "Starving to death on a desert island is a once in a lifetime experience." is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Shazia Mirza!   patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Shantaram with Jake Johannsen "I would never commit a felony, I am strictly a misdemeanor guy." Jake Johannsen comes to the Rhodes library to talk about his favorite book 'Shantaram' by Gregory David Roberts. In this conversation we talk about people losing the sparkle in their eyes in Hollywood, how Kurt Vonnegut will improve your life and how Kurt Vonnegut is to Jake what James Brown is to me. I teach Jake the 8 words of Spanish that saved me from getting ripped off by cops and I tell him about the one and only time I have ever been in jail which was when I was 19 years old in Little Rock, Arkansas. That weekend I spent in jail at 19 was very influential in my life because I would never commit a felony, I am strictly a misdemeanor guy.  In this episode we weigh the benefits of martial arts versus carrying mace and how in life, just like when you are dealing with a heckler, using kindness and charm is always the best course of action.We talk about how instagram is better than twitter because no one is going to get pissed off at a sunset, historical obsessions and how Clark from Lewis and Clark was a turd who died in obscurity. Arctic sea voyage disasters where heroic dogs were eaten, Captain Cook's murder by Hawaiian natives happened because he couldn't swim and why you should avoid durian because it tastes like ass pudding. Try everything once except incest and folk dancing. A man is not a man until he has earned the love of a woman, earned her trust and keep it.  The beautiful way Ashna and I ended our marriage by ending it in love just the way we started it. I can never not love Ashna. I never want to not know her. I would never be mean to her and I would help her succeed any way I can. Like we examine in the book Shantaram, you can't kill love. You only live once and when you are dead you are done so let the good times roll.  Connect with people, let go of your anger. Change your thoughts and change your life with simple acts of love. This conversation is the last time two older white guys did something important in Hollywood. Tell each other jokes! Collect street jokes or write your own, always make sure you always carry at least one joke that will make a little kid laugh, but no matter what never heckle Lawrence Olivier. Long may you run and long may you pee! Shalom amigos y amigas and long may you fill your beings with knowledge, wisdom and love! Be less of an asshole this decade! Hooray for humanity! patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Everyday my prayer is the same... God please make me less of an asshole. That is also my New Year's resolution, to try to be less of an asshole. The epidemic of modern assholishness is something I am not immune to and I was an unrelenting asshole recently when I appeared on the Tom & Dan podcast when I was back in Orlando during the holidays.The tidal wave of internet hate that followed let me know that plenty of people thought I was a turd. Also when I was back home I met the family of the soldier who had committed suicide who I had witnessed a year before experiencing peak grief at MCO airport. At the moment I saw them it reminded me of how I felt when I lost my sister and it put into perspective that pain from a divorce is a minor thing in comparison to having a loved family member plucked from you out of this life. While at home I had the realization that none of us should ever identify as Republican or Democrat, we should only indentify ourselves as friend, brother, son, husband or the female equivalent and stop treating each other like enemies. In this episode I talk about how my mother came to Los Angeles for Christmas with me and the adventure we had driving up the Pacific coast highway after Christmas. We saw Elephant seals fighting for dominance, the Henry Miller library in Big Sur, Folktales winery where I did a show, the John Steinbeck Center in Salinas and how I love honoring my mother anyway that I can to let me know how special she is to me. For New Year's Eve I flew to Toronto to celebrate with my new girlfriend. We danced all night at the Ritz - Carlton and had abundant fresh fruit all night as we refilled our glasses with champagne and sparkling water for me. I recorded this episode on January 1 in room 1109 at the Ritz - Carlton Toronto right under the CN tower. As a new decade knowledge nugget treat I read to you from the book 'Rad Women Worldwide' about the lives of Fridha Kahlo, Josephine Baker and Marta. As this new decade dawns I wish you all the best that life has to offer and I pledge my best to be less of an asshole especially to nice guys who don't deserve it like Tom & Dan. In truth I need to keep my jealousy of others in check and be grateful for what I have because I have a lot and my bottom is just as pampered as anyone else's. I am in love, I have great friends and the small group of hard core fans that I do have blow a lot of sunshine into my life. Joy be upon you all for 2020! Hooray for humanity!   patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

"Modern country music is like heavy metal was in the 80s, it's all about partying, girls and having fun." - Josh Wolf We start this episode with the remedy of a Charles Bukowski poem that is the shield against some of the monkey mouth chump shit of the world. How is it possible that some hayseed rednecks drink pickle juice and are the morality tales of the Andy Griffith show more important than the ones in the bible? How disappointed were little people when Willie Wonka and the chocolate factory was made and the glorious decision Martin Scorcesse made by saying that super hero movies are not cinema. We talk about current films and the reason I went to see the new Terminator movie and how it is connected to my family reunions. Josh grew up in Amherst, Massachucetts and became a huge country music fan and has more optimism and sunshine than your average New Englander. We talk about concerts of our youth and the time I saw the audience throw shoes at the B52s until they left the stage in Orlando in 1982. What order would Josh eat the Beatles in their prime if he was in a plane crash in the Andes with them and had to eat them to survive? He also explains the best strategy to use when fist fighting with your son. We discuss finding the funny end to jokes and the reason why you should always keep notes. Why New Zealand is so special and when is a good time to let large men in the front row take their shirts off. The secret to getting fans to bring you gifts of weed on the road is the result of High Life, his back yard live stream  video podcast he puts out every Monday evening on his facebook fan page. We rate the best country music songs of all time and I read to him the rarely known Johnny Cash song called 'The greatest cowboy of them all.' which is a song about Jesus as a cowboy. Don't forget to have fun because as Einstein said, "Play is just as important as work for the mind." Josh is a man happily married for 15 years so I end this episode by asking him about the key tips and rules for keeping a marriage alive while pursuing a career in comedy. Josh would never yell at his wife even if the house was on fire and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you the one and only Josh Wolf! Patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp.com

"It's not what is under the Christmas tree that is important but the people who are sitting around it."  Rinsing out the raisin hole with Jimmy Shubert! Listen here > https://bit.ly/346mWDu   Jimmy Shubert is a man dedicated to bringing joy to the human race. Fresh back from a trip to India, Jimmy tells me about the unique way people in India clean their raisin holes. How has his life changed since going to India?   In this conversation we talk about how traveling with Russell Peters in India was like traveling with Elvis and how the Hindu Gods were like the first comic book characters. We talk about Shantaram and other books that will change your life. We talk about the gift shops of Jerusalem and how they sell Jesus' crown of thorns for five dollars in case you want to walk around all day with a bloody forehead. Believe it or not Jerusalem is not a big Christmas city but in the Christian quarter they celebrate Santa Claus.  We both have had incredible lives from getting to travel the world doing stand up comedy. Here now we talk about our best experiences traveling and other activities that feed our souls.  Showbiz might not be looking for any older white guys right now but there have been few honkies in entertainment history who are as dedicated to uniting humanity as we are.    "It's not what under the Christmas tree that is important but the people who are sitting around it." To start this holiday season Jimmy and I exchange our favorite street jokes.  Our elected officials have firmly wrapped their lips around the cock of corporate greed and the media has successfully divided most of our nation.  Replace your news consumption with music that delights your soul Jimmy and I may disagree politically on some topics but that would never negate our love and respect for each other and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Jimmy Shubert! Patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

I love Tamer Kattan because not only is he funny, with deep profound thoughts packed into his comedy, but also because he helped me convert my marijuana farm into a hummingbird garden. In this conversation we talk about his time working in advertising, going to university in Sweden and living in Venice Beach where the homeless people charge you to hear the punchlines to their jokes. Of great importance we talk about how human nature never changes, how people use brands to find their tribes, political advertising and people are drunk on power and how humans never learn from the lessons of history. Individual lust for for power has driven all of human history and driven empires off of cliffs. Tamer lives with love in his heart because we are not supposed to live with hatred and fear. "No one ever got PTSD from hugging too hard." Getting death threats in Oklahoma City didn't stop him from bringing  his brand of love soaked laughter. Religion is just as drunk on power as our politicians and it is their duty to call out the nazi dictator doctrine but they remain silent on the most important things that are sending our country in the wrong direction. Kindness is making a comeback and it's not coming from the wall of hatred, bigotry and cruelty being generated by the red hat crowd and Putin's urine pawn. Don't drown in the sea of ignorance and stupidity flourishing on the planet now be a change agent to stand for something of meaning in truth and dignity. The strongest human desire is the desire to belong, people are confused now, fear lives in their heads, will Democracy survive if one side rejects truth, science and law? History will not be kind to Trump and the Republican party. Where are the good Cristians and the good Republicans to stand up and blow the whistle on their own team? Bernie Sanders is the most punk rock disrupter to ever enter modern politics. Tamer and I break down all of America's problems and we both pay our taxes so that we can run our mouths. Nazis are unhappy people and living a happy life while embracing knowledge, diversity and culture is the greatest revenge against them. Just like me his mission in his stand up comedy work is to unite humanity and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Tamer Kattan!

Charles Ezell is a guy I've known since my early San Francisco days. He used to do an impression of Ulysses S. Grant if he had done stand up comedy and the bit always killed me. "I haven't killed like this since Appomattox." Charles has always been a great friend to me and I've always loved shooting the shit with him and hanging out. For years he lived in the Gaylord building in Koreatown in Los Angeles and that was one of the reasons I moved there when I moved back to the U.S. after living in Amsterdam for 5 years. I wanted to pursue getting on television and I thought that if things didn't work out for me in Hollywood at the very least I could get to hang out with Charles Ezell all the time in Koreatown. We hit wiffle balls for hours on the roof of the Brown Derby Plaza and Charles experienced an excellent period of song writing for his band at the time called Hail The Size. I remember when Charles was writing these songs and rehearsing them in my apartment where he had his band equipment set up for a while. In this conversation we play some of those songs and talk about our long friendship and years of creative yearning, seeking and executing. Charles moved back home to Minnesota 5 years ago and I haven't seen him in 8 years. We have a lot of catching up to do and he is one of my favorite human beings in terms of kindness, intelligence and creativity and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Charles Ezell!   Music:  I Can't Die In LA (feat. Maria McKee) · Hail The Size Babies · Hail The Size Booze, Pills, & Her · Hail The Size ℗ 2009 Hail The Size

Hello lovers of knowledge and laughter! In this episode I talk about ruining the surprise ending of the movie Joker for those basement dwellers who hadn't seen it yet. I read hate filled tweets directed at me in the aftermath and choose to deal with them with a loving heart instead of playing along with the hate faucet that is twitter. Also in this episode I talk with James Inman who tells me about how Bill Hicks keeps appearing to him in his dreams. Happy Halloween! Here is a joke I heard as a boy, "Why can't witches have babies? Because their husbands all have hollow weenies." It's a silly joke but still funnier than anything that happens in the Joker. Buddhism is his favorite reading material and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only James Inman!

The Decline & Fall Of The American Empire with Rajiv Satyal In this episode we talk about how the failure of White Christianity will be the end of American democracy and how the American empire will reach its end when the Nazi dictator declares himself president for life. In this conversation we discuss how in the Hindu religion all of the stories are the stories of good versus evil and how if you have a good heart and are a good person you will always persevere over evil. Because we are fucked beyond human imagination and it is our stated aim to be good people who persevere it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Rajiv Satyal!

Hooray and hallelujah! This is the first ever live recording of my podcast coming to you from the hipster city of Portland, Oregon! Dante Rusciolelli is the co-founder of the Portland comedy festival and he and I riff like the skilled joke slingers that we are in front of a hot live audience at Harvey's comedy club. Dante and I are kind of related because in the late 1990s he was on a show on the BET network where he played my father's son. That's right! My father was on a BET show in the late 1990s and Dante regales us with those memories and how his comedy career began in the California desert. Dante is someone I knew I would like even before I met him and you will love this conversation and the light he brings to your soul with his musings here. It was a special weekend being a part of this first ever Portland comedy festival and I'm happy that this memory was commemorated and my friendship sealed with the man who invited me there. Like me, Dante seems to be on an upswing in his life and for creating this festival he is the mayor or fun city in my opinion. I know you will love this man as much as I do and be tickled silly by this conversation which is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Dante Rusciolelli!

Straight out of Mongolia and coming into your ears, brain and heart is Batbileg B! Pioneer and founder of the Mongolian comedy scene is my friend Bata, owner of UB comedy club and superstar of the Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia laugh providers. He is visiting Los Angeles at the moment and stopped by the Rhodes library to record this conversation. We talk about how Genghis Khan's influence still shapes the world, our once in a lifetime special visit to Ghengis Khan's 13th century camp sites and the shaman tents were we picked up our warrior spirits. My time in Mongolia was special and I dream of returning there one day. I first went to Mongolia because of Genghis Khan but it was the comedians of Mongolia who made me return for the second time. Aside from diving deep into history and loving my shows there for the brilliant Mongolian audiences, Bata's mother is a dentist and gave me a full cleaning and whitening while I was there. Free dental work is a very generous gift and that encapsulates how giving and loving the people of Mongolia can be. Batbileg B and Zolo treated name like a king on both of my visits to this magnificent country and that is why it is my honor to have in my home and a guest on my podcast the one and only Batbileg B!   Patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Brian Holtzman is one of my favorite comedians to watch at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles because he appears to be a man on the verge of a nervous break down or a genius shattering hypocrisy in his revolution against stupidity. There are few performers as exciting as this man because of the discomfort he causes the squeamish and his sharply written jokes often make them laugh against their will. He is a comedian who should be more famous than he is and that is why I am highlighting this man on my podcast in hopes of introducing him to people who may not know of this giant on the LA comedy scene. He came over to the Rhodes library to have a lengthy conversation about life and all the bullshit that is so easy to laugh at it you look at it the right way. He is a hard hitting joke master expressing himself beautifully in this world of angst and unease and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Brian Holtzman!

Tony Hinchcliffe grew up in an all black neighborhood in Youngstown, Ohio and it gave him an unshakable confidence that they don't teach you in private schools.   Growing up near real life super hero Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini gave him the world view of an unbreakable bad ass and he is determined to walk the razor's edge of speaking truth in comedy.   We talk about the poor ratty whites who will regret eight years of Trump if the still end up being losers during the white nationalist roar that the Trump presidency is. We talk about the trick of American society being that we chatter about race when we should be paying more attention to class and inequality. Now that our country has been sold out to the Russians we might be seeing those round pointy things that you see on the Kremlin on our white house to accommodate the real master of that domain.   Doing dark and twisted humor is now a crusade because everyone is so touchy about everything. Tony is committed to the big dick rock & roll approach to comedy and he reminds me that the "cancel generation" doesn't buy tickets to comedy shows.   As the earth spins out of control with hate, stupidity and cruelty it has never been a better time to be Tony Hinchcliffe, with his 'Kill Tony' podcast crushing the charts and him selling enough tickets to keep calling the shots. His comedy is fearless and he always slices out the heart with a hard edge and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now Tony Hinchcliffe!   patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Brad Williams is on a rocket ship that just blasted off to superstardom. His favorite book is 'The Prince' by Niccolo Machiavelli and he tells me how he has navigated his life using this map. In this episode we talk about sad pathetic lonely fuckers who complain about comedy specials, how Andy Dick portrayed little people as caged animals and the future cage that Brad has waiting for him one day. The Richard Nixon list of enemies is something he's not against keeping so I tell him that the opening scene of 'Wild Tales' is the best revenge film ever conceived. Human beings are not evolving, most human beings don't want freedom and democracy. Most humans in history desire power, tyranny and oppression and this surveillance state gangster third world path is full steam ahead. All we can do is make money and put a wall and gate around your house while creating an army of children that you program the thoughts in their heads. In this chat it is revealed that Brad and I both are Capricorns, grew up with Disney magic and how our fathers both shaped us into the funny men that we are. Now that Brad is approaching fatherhood he explains to me how it is important never to yuck someone's yum. What Brad's father did to a big plate full of mashed potatoes is one of the best laughs he's ever had and making your kid laugh might be the secret to raising children into becoming the best humans. He is one of the most naturally funny comedians crushing heads in America today and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you the one and only Brad Williams! Patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

People of the earth! Throw down your weapons and rejoice in this excellent conversation I recorded with Brazilian comedy superstar Rafinha Bastos. In the past year Rafi has become one of my best friends. He lives in my building and we often talk comedy, help each other with jokes and go to the clubs together, all in service to our number one love in life, comedy. Now he is moving to New York City so that he can be closer to Brazil for when he has to fly home to his son Tom and continue to follow his dream of making his mark as a stand up comedian in America. In this episode we talk about his favorite things about America, the best jokes he's written here, Bolsonaro letting the Amazon burn, CNN where the house is always on fire and the best advice a father could ever give to his son. Also in this chat is possibly the birth of what will become his next Netflix special. Also revealed is the knowledge nugget that is the connection between Crazy Horse and Nebraska. Great things happen when I gather with this friend and through the miracle of technology I can pour it straight into your head. You have to love a guy that cheered against his own country of Brazil when I saw the soccer match between Brazil and Peru with him and that guy is the one and only Rafinha Bastos! 

The last of my 3 part series on the life of Lord Byron concludes here with his exile in Switzerland and Italy and his death in Greece. Delight in this dashing dandy's style, his endless carousing with women and his adventurous spirit that eventually led to his death fighting for the independence of the Greeks who weren't willing to fight for it themselves. So many of his heroic moments can be off balanced by the poor choices he made in life. From his Villa Diodati on Lake Geneva where literary history was made to the canals of Venice where he lived every human depravity this episode will take you to his final act of redemption while trying to do good for the people of Greece.   As a boy I lived briefly on Lord Byron road in Wilmington, NC and finally today after spending the summer reading about the life of Lord Byron I have found the answer to why this man would be worthy of having a road named after him in North Carolina. Here I also rejoice and recount the brilliant friendship that Byron had with the poet Shelley as I talk you and read you to the conclusion of both of these poets lives on foreign soil. Fill your learning goblet with the scandalous and remarkable life of the one and only Lord Byron. Joy be upon you!   www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

In the year 1812 Napoleon was defeated, the waltz was the new hit sensation of aristocratic Europe and Lord Byron became a literary superstar over night and the toast of high society England. He was born a gorgeous full lipped curly headed boy and as a man spent vastly to always be stylishly dressed and fancied himself a dandy. He was born with a club foot that he drag slide when he walked. He was both ashamed and short tempered when it came to the topic of his club foot.  Some historians believe his numerous conquests with women were just an attempt to mask his real attraction to young men. What can be agreed upon by all who studied Byron is that no hole was safe around this guy. His foot might have been lame but there wasn't anything lame about his dick. The married Lady Caroline Lamb had to be dragged out of London because she was acting like a shameless hussy over our poet and disgraced her family name. He reluctantly married Lady Annabella Milbanke who he tortured mentally by being the shittiest most spoiled husband who ever pranced over the streets of London. When the dirty little secret that Byron had fucked his half sister Augusta and had a baby by her, that was the straw that broke the back of this opium addicted household. Annabella took the kid that she had by Byron and ran off back to her mother and father at the family estate. Annabella being much perturbed by the heinous stupefied state with which our poet had spent their married year was all too happy to help spread the very true rumor that not only did Byron fuck his sister he squirted inside of her like an animal and made a baby with her. Once this news hit the mass consciousness of England the people couldn't shut up about it. It was all they wanted to talk about and Byron now being the most loathed turd of society was not welcome anywhere. Byron never liked scenes and now he was afraid to visit the theater for fear of being hissed in public. His life has fallen apart and his shit was weak but at this moment the sales from his books are bringing money in and he sells his family estate to give him the bank roll needed to go live any kind of life he would want to live anywhere. This story I'm going to tell you today is about the period in Byron's life when he was riding high and famous in London. I will read you many highlights from the Peter Quennell book 'Byron The years of fame'. "Rumor and legend are potent aphrodisiacs." Come get some of this in your brain. Enjoy the feast! Long may you run! Or rather, long may you side shuffle while dragging your club foot Lord Byron!

Hooray & hallelujah! For episode 300 the lovable human Cameron Hattan has taken me out to the center of Lake Tahoe on a sail boat. After cruising around the majestic beauty of the lake we parked and went down in the cabin to record this episode. Cameron taught sailing on Lake Tahoe for many years, teaches me what a zephyr is and then he goes to intensely pull lines when our lives were in danger. Sun sparkles on water go perfectly with Native American beliefs in how they read signs from the mountains, the classic Western TV show Bonanza and other California factoids. His worst sailing experience took place on the sea of Cortez in Mexico and mine was in Malaysia between Penang and Langkawi.  You will learn about the sea gypsy people of the world who are raising their kids at sea, how to properly clean out the butthole of a lobster, and how to bring vision aid glasses to Honduras. Find your center with the zen wisdom of the film Captain Ron and the Cheech and Chong film Yellow Beard the pirate. Cameron has been a strong advocate of cannabis as medical treatment and this has led his mother to block him on facebook because she doesn't want her quilting group to know that her son is a drug dealer. Genesis 1:12 in the bible clearly states "All seed baring plants I give to you." For the first time in human history we have a chance to treat serious illnesses with cannabis and Cameron eloquently explains how his company Fiddler's Greens is forging the way in this treatment. Louis Armstrong got Richard Nixon to smuggle marijuana into the Unites States for him? According to Cameron this story is true. Its great to have a friend but its even better to have a friend with a boat. Add to this a friend who is also a cannabis expert and you get the nautical adventure that is the celebratory sun sparkles on the lake enhanced episode 300 that will trigger the serotonin in your brain and make you happy. In the immortal words of Bill Murray in the film 'What about Bob?' "I'm sailing! I'm sailing! I'm really sailing!" Ahoy and joy be upon you! Community over competition! Long may you sail!   patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Bonjour y’all! It was a big week in the news! I am in Paris and experienced the hottest day ever recorded at 109 degrees. I beat the heat by jumping into the fountain at Saint Sulpice and climbing to the top. This week also saw the end of democracy and Donald Trump declaring  the 2020 election to be white people versus everyone else. Other big person news is revealed in this audio postcard from my favorite city in the world. With peach tart breath I give you a quick update on myself and all of the pertinent news in our ever crumbling world. Make America less pea brain fuck witted! Make the world more compassionate and get this sweltering holiday treat within your skull. Joy be Upon you my friends! Patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Tony Woods is not only one of the most influential comedians ever to grip a microphone he is also one of the most naturally funny human beings you will ever meet in you in your life. This episode needs to other introduction other than in my opinion statues should be erected all over the world to Tony Woods for the amount of laughter he has brought to this suffering globe. No one makes me laugh harder than Tony Woods and he rings my bell multiple times in this conversation. I love this man with all my heart and there is no one better to share Aunt Margie's banana bread with, that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Tony Woods!

The life of Lord Byron was more adventurous and debauched than any rock & roll biography you have ever read. In the words of Lady Caroline Lamb, he was "mad, bad and dangerous to know." Get ready for your mind to be blown away by the life of the king of the romantic poets and learn why no hole was safe around this guy!!   When I was 10 years old my family lived in Wilmington, North Carolina in a housing development called King's Grant where all of the streets were named after English writers. My family and I lived on Lord Byron road. Because of this I have always wondered what was so important about this man that he earned a street in North Carolina to be named after him. Through the years I have collected many books on the life of Lord Byron and I brought them with me to England on this last trip. For the past two months I have been reading all about the life of Lord Byron and I'm happy to present to you now this amazing tale that has receded from many people's memories because it is so far in the past. His life was filled with much tragedy, triumph and swinging of his dick. It is a story so epic in its scale that I have to break it up in multiple episodes to tell it. For this episode we learn about his youth and the adventurous trip he took as a youth to Turkey and Greece that would forever color his poetry, dreams of the future and life the way he thought that it ought to be lived. It is my pleasure to present to you now the life of Lord Byron: Youth & Adventure.    Subscribe on Patreon and I will send you hand written postcards form different places in the world! patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

The legendary punk rock poet John Cooper Clarke returns to TRR Smart Camp! One of the highlights of my trip to the UK was getting to spend the day with JCC at his house and record this conversation at the very table where he writes and is currently writing his memoirs. We discuss the difficulty of writing the story of your life when your life continues to move forward. If anyone has a life story worth retelling it is this man who has tasted the whip of unemployment, been a friend to the China man's night cap, pissed pure gold, operated in the world of degenerate gamblers, the fickleness of fame and the feeling of being an iconic live performer. He's under pressure to finish his memoir before his deadline but he tells me that the defining turning point in his life was when he could start picking out his own clothes and have the style of his own choosing. We talk about  the teacher who introduced the love of poetry into John's life, the 19th century romantic poets, how Poe knew how to drive people mad and how Baudelaire changed his life. In this lively chat JCC tells me the ten songs he would take with him on a desert island and the one book he would like to read forever other than the exciting fucking and fighting books of Shakespeare and the bible. We talk about his none poet heroes Elvis and Napoleon, wages and holidays and how the vanity of small differences is the psychological blip that keeps the whole world from collectively getting their shit together. It is an honor to call this man a friend as he is who I want to be when I grow up and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only John Cooper Clarke!

In the past 5 years since I worked with Romesh Ranganathan at the Comedy Store in London it has been a joy watching his star rise to where he is now crushing it at the highest levels of the British comedy scene. He was kind enough to take a break from his current TV duties to sit down and record this conversation with me. In this soul and brain enriching episode we talk about his show Judge Romesh where he hands out verdicts of domestic disputes where the punishment is ridicule.  Bringing his mother back to Sri Lanka where her humor is archived forever thanks to the BBC and the show that was made from it. Any man who loves his mom and makes time for a comedy brother is a top quality human in my book. If you already know Romesh you will be elated by his personal stories and if you don't know him yet you will fall in love with him now for the knowledge nuggets he is about to insert into your brain. In this chat he drops potent knowledge like what is the most historically significant event ever to take place in Crawley, the area of London where he grew up. Also, the secret to unlocking the mystery of maths, the best secret technique for acting and why the Wu Tang Clan and Mango coconut beard oil will change your life for the better. That is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Romesh Ranganathan!    www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Beast master Reginald D Hunter has invited me to open for him on his UK theater tour called Facing The Beast. Now after our first week of performing in lovely old English theaters in Devon we sit down to iron out the problems of humanity with the greatest minds ever to assemble in Walthamstow. With Reginald D Hunter, Kash Yusaf, and Pete Johansson I cover, meander and collide with some of the most complex issues humanity faces today. Also this conversation is sauced with the explicit joy of a group of comedian friends just sitting around shooting the shit. "I think I was unconsciously affected by 70's children's television, because they would make you laugh but also teach you something." - Reginald D Hunter Patreon.com/TomRhodesRadioSmartCamp

"So let us face up to the blows of circumstance and be aware that whatever happens is never as serious as rumor makes it out to be." Get to know the life and words of Seneca! TRR Smart Camp #293!  In celebration of little bitches everywhere I'm highlighting Seneca because his thoughts were immortal and they should live in your brain. He was a contradiction because in his own life he failed to live up to his own teachings but his works may have inspired the birth of the essay and modern psychology. Here is a little taste of the narcotic that is Seneca: "So let us face up to the blows of circumstance and be aware that whatever happens is never as serious as rumor makes it out to be." "A setback has often cleared the way for greater prosperity. Many things have fallen only to rise to more exalted heights."  “What you must do, then, is mend your ways and get rid of the burden you're carrying. Keep your cravings within safe limits. Scour every trace of evil from your personality.  “If you want to enjoy your travel, you must make your traveling companion a healthy one."  Everyone should read Seneca! Start with the book 'Letters From A Stoic' and before you dive in give this episode of Smart Camp a listen to learn about this extraordinary man and his thought provoking words that still resonate today.    Hooray for humanity!

Jon Stringer is a lovable human and a top quality comedian! When I was young many older comedians I admired helped me up along the way and I'll never forget them for that because their endorsements opened doors for me that allowed me to thrive in a very competitive business.   In the pay it forward tradition I want the comedy world and the regular human world to know about Jon Stringer. I met Jon in his hometown of Austin, Texas several years ago and have worked with him many times since and he always leaves me feeling uplifted and proud to be a member of the human race because of his joyous bitter free spirit. His attitude towards stand up comedy is one that embraces the gift of being able to do this and that we have the privilege to hone our skill of trying to get better at it each and every day that we are alive. He is the exact opposite of the bitter turd comedian who is miserable and takes cheap shots at other humans. Jon's approach to comedy is the same that he approaches in life and that is that we are here to uplift humanity and that is why I enjoy being his friend so much and why I love to see him perform.    With his lovely wife Joanna they are burning up the American highways living an adventure that few people ever get to experience. It reminds me of the days Ashna and I had no home and traveled every inch of America in search of jokes, art, photography and laughter.    He is someone I am proud to call a friend, someone comedy lovers should follow, someone festivals and comedy clubs should have on their rosters, someone who is valuable in the art of making life a happy experience for all and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Jon Stringer!

Jon Stringer is a lovable human and a top quality comedian! When I was young many older comedians I admired helped me up along the way and I'll never forget them for that because their endorsements opened doors for me that allowed me to thrive in a very competitive business.   In the pay it forward tradition I want the comedy world and the regular human world to know about Jon Stringer. I met Jon in his hometown of Austin, Texas several years ago and have worked with him many times since and he always leaves me feeling uplifted and proud to be a member of the human race because of his joyous bitter free spirit. His attitude towards stand up comedy is one that embraces the gift of being able to do this and that we have the privilege to hone our skill of trying to get better at it each and every day that we are alive. He is the exact opposite of the bitter turd comedian who is miserable and takes cheap shots at other humans. Jon's approach to comedy is the same that he approaches in life and that is that we are here to uplift humanity and that is why I enjoy being his friend so much and why I love to see him perform.    With his lovely wife Joanna they are burning up the American highways living an adventure that few people ever get to experience. It reminds me of the days Ashna and I had no home and traveled every inch of America in search of jokes, art, photography and laughter.    He is someone I am proud to call a friend, someone comedy lovers should follow, someone festivals and comedy clubs should have on their rosters, someone who is valuable in the art of making life a happy experience for all and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Jon Stringer!

Insatiable Curiosity with Jim Gaffigan on episode 291 Tom Rhodes Radio Smart Camp! >    Jim Gaffigan and I both have an insatiable curiosity to travel and educate ourselves through world travel. As a comedian your experiences fuel your material and when you are forced out of your comfort zone is when you are exposed to new ideas. Jim is fresh off the plane from Asia, so we talk about Asian history, Europe, Russia, self censorship, cultural sensitivities and where in Manhattan you can find the best world cuisine that the city has to offer. We also answer the big question of when is it appropriate for a straight white male performer to advance transgender issues and the sad missed opportunities of movies that don't address this issue. Here is a man that I respect as a comedian, am inspired by as a human being and find a comrade in the quest that we are both trying to season our souls with the flavor that only world travel can give you. Sometimes we feel like circus animals, sometimes we feel like super heroes blessed with the power to cheer up humanity with gift of laughter and that is why I love the one and only Jim Gaffigan!   www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

W. Kamau Bell has the most important show on television where he examines race in America and in this episode he tells me how close we are to Civil war and what to expect. I've know Kamau since my old San Francisco days and he is a great old friend that I can cover the current most important questions with him like, will rich white people be in charge forever? How does the electoral college system relate to slavery? Why do Supreme court justices get to keep that job for life? Will I ever get a stamp commemoration for blocking my brother Dave on facebook? Kamau is a good friend for me to vent my frustrations to right now and getting to talk to him after both of my brothers have declared war on me and want to hold me accountable for all the actions of the left. I'm proud that I told mat brother Dave, "What you call the liberal gay agenda I call the teachings of Christ." To be compassionate and caring to others the way Jesus taught us to be. If you are going to a church that preaches war and enemies you are going to the wrong church. "The money is in fear, not love." Professional politicians are more interesting in keeping their jobs than they are in protecting democracy. Should Brett Kavanaugh breaking down and crying like a baby disqualify him from ever being considered a serious decision maker of laws and when we stop laughing about that?  We recorded this conversation right across the street from CNN in Kamau's hotel room and we talk about the Trump wake up call making some true believers in journalism step up their game at CNN. We talk about the episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations where Kamau filmed an episode in Kenya with Bourdain right before he died. Bourdain is a god to me and Kamau generously tells us the best advice Bourdain gave him about filming for television. If anyone at CNN or anywhere else had any sense in their head they would give Tom Rhodes his own epic world travel comedy show. The New Zealand mosque shooting is fresh pain in the world where slaughters at synagogues, churches, elementary schools are never enough for everyone to yell "Enough! Stop the senseless slaughter of innocents" Even in the pursuit of making television Kamau tells me, "You should show respect to all religions." Your actions in the world should show what kind of person you are. Everyone should watch the film 'Starman.' "You humans are at your best when you are working together during tragedies." Do as much as you can, while you can to make the world a better place. Make the world a better place by listening to W. Kamau Bell and and improve humanity and you can do the same afterwards by going to www.donorchoose.org

Ari was already one of my favorite human beings on the planet to hang out with and then he went above and beyond giving me the gift that would truly improve my life.   Ari is the one who is responsible for getting Delta airlines to restore my Diamond medallion status. For this I will be forever grateful and his dear listeners who rallied to his call to help saved me from a year of baggage fees and zone 3 boarding.   Then there was that magical moment on my last day in Jerusalem with my mother when we ran into Ari and his brother at the most sacred place in Christianity. In this episode we talk about how to avoid getting kidnapped in East Timor, what are the best motorcycle adventures to take in the world, dreams of Mongolia, Romania, Eastern Europe and where to find the best pastrami or pizza in New York City.   You can only judge people whether they are friends or family by if they give you energy or drain energy out of you. Because of my friendship with Ari my life has been overflowing with goodness and that is why today I am in praise of Ari Shaffir! Shalom amigo and pass the pastrami!   www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp  

Every year when I do San Francisco I appear on Rick Tittle's sports radio talk show and I love it because we talk about everything but sports. He is a voracious reader like I am and I love to free form riff talk and share important knowledge with each other. Now I turn the microphone on him to squeeze the answers out of him and ninja joust with our collective intelligence. Learn now how WW I changed the world, who invented the modern game of soccer and what is most important to know about San Francisco. We gab it up joyously until the parking meter runs out and Rick has to run off to move his car. That is life in San Francisco and this is a human I love talking to when time allows. There is more to life than sports and I can't tell you how much time I save by not giving a shit about sports. Now it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Rick Tittle!

In this episode I rejoice in the glory of a Florida back porch with my oldest best friend in life Lou Angelwolf. On his back porch in Palm Harbor, Florida we discuss the secret language of trees, evolution, reincarnation, UFOs, and how the responsibility of paying rent keeps us from following our creative instincts. On this first day of Spring I am being healed by the joy of having deep meaningful conversation with one of my guest lifelong friends. The bad news is that seeking revenge will kill you but the good news is that "we create order out of chaos naturally." According to my buddy Lou the three things that control us and keep us hypnotized are: "Climate controlled environment, easy access to food and cars with shiny wheels." So much wisdom and strange new ideas always abound when I get to recharge my batteries with a good warm loving visit with my brother Lou. Spring is upon us and the world is full of new possibilities. Don't get chewed up by the system and fill your head with ideas worth knowing and reasons to be cheerful. Hooray for humanity!

Today started out so shitty for me. First I woke up to a text message from a woman in Florida who I was ready to pledge my alliance to telling me that she was dropping the Guillotine on the neck of our beginning relationship which hurt my feelings greatly. And she let me know that I am a self centered narcissist but I knew that already because that is the kind of person that it takes to do stand up comedy and put out a podcast. So as shitty as my day began it got progressively better in everyday starting with Pam Worthington bring me an egg McMuffin. I've sworn off junk food but on shitty days you are allowed to spike your cholesterol. I think it says that in the bible in Leviticus.  In case you've missed the saga, I went on Ari Shaffir's podcast 'Skeptic Tank' a few days ago and I was ragging on Delta for downgrading me. It takes 125,000 miles flown and spending $15,000 to reach Diamond status which is Delta's highest level of frequent flyer. In 2018 I flew 155,621 miles and spent $13,000. Not many people have traveled as much as me and I'm proud to say that Delta is my airline, but they downgraded me. Ari said that he felt Delta would do the right thing if enough people tweeting at Delta to do the right thing. In the past 48 hours hundreds of people have been tweeting to Delta. Then about an hour ago I got a call from Delta airlines. Guess what happened next… I rarely use twitter because it seems like a vacuum of hate and frustration but after today I saw that twitter can be used for good. Now I wish in life it was just that easy for a wrong to be corrected but I'm pretty sure that woman that I liked doesn't even use twitter. And yes please let it be known that I am a self centered narcissist, how else could anybody get things done if they weren't? Shalom amigos & fly Delta!  

At any one time there are more people who are suffering than there are who are happy, many more people who are heartbroken than there are who are in love. Apparently the dark sad days I'm living have increased my fans and friendships. This week I learned how because I am hurting and going through troubles that makes it possible for more people to relate to me and get closer to me. Electronic messages and things said to my face confirm that some people I know are happy that I'm emotionally in the toilet these days because now I belong to the majority of humans who grapple with life.   This is when I discovered the joy of suffering. Because so many people have told me they feel for me in my suffering. Brian Holtzman at the Comedy Store told me "When you were happy and in love I couldn't relate to you but now that you are divorced and miserable I think we can be friends now." Hilarious!   The Comedy Store was hit by a tsunami when all of our friend Brody Stevens killed himself this past week. I saw him two nights before he killed himself and he told me that he was sorry that I was having some trouble right now. That beautiful human being was worried about me. I wish I had more perceptive but that is how we all feel who are at the Comedy Store. Hug your people. Heal for your people. Mental illness is real! Take care of your people.   In this episode I praise Don Neto for saying that "I love people more than money." I read to you a curious piece of wisdom called 'Loving each other in joy' which my mother mailed to me in the 1990s. I just found the Xerox pages of it and the contents are worth buttering your skull with. People in poor countries and people with disabilities laugh more and enjoy life more than most of us. Hear the story of the perfectly happy burn victim woman I saw on the streets of London on her victory walk and then rejoice in the story of the hummingbird that got caught inside my apartment  and what I had to do to get this fucker to trust me so that I could save it's life.   Throw out the aspirin and giggle away despair! Butter your skull with TRR Smart Camp # 285!

Shalom Amigos y Amigas! After spending this year mostly by myself in my apartment I have found light in the eyes of the Mexican cops who wanted to squeeze me for money in Tulum and in the dead cat of an Uber driver. Most importantly it was the words from my listeners and people who care that has gotten me through these cold winter days of the nuclear break up. These have not been my best days but if pain makes the best comedy then I am about to become a very funny mother trucker. I'm happy to present to you now the one and only ME!

My life is falling apart and I am a mess! This year has broken me physically and emotionally. My amazing wife Ashna is divorcing me and I am at a low point in my life. What better time to take my very Christian mother to the holy land to visit Jerusalem! What good is a spiritual pilgrimage unless your life is in the toilet! After a very long break of not putting out episodes because I had nothing to say and was sorting out how I felt about what was happening in my life I am back with a new episode just in time for Christmas. It was a powerful experience to take my Jesus Freak mother to Jerusalem and visit the spot where Jesus was crucified and some of the other most important places in Christianity. My report and feelings about Jerusalem will surprise you and the tense moments we experienced made me grateful for the lack of history we have in the United States. Does extreme religion make you a better person or will it make you murder innocents with a rock? In the words of the fake Jesus I met at the most sacred place in all of Christianity: "The true miracle is when a bad person becomes a good person." No truer words have ever been spoken. I got to live so many moments I thought would never be attainable and now I am back to tell you the stories of this epic trip to the holy land. Doing comedy around the world and traveling away from home for too long has cost me everything. I will explain it all to you in this episode here and now. The only thing left to say now is: Merry Christmas from Jerusalem!

If you come to Ireland you must come to Galway, and if you come to Galway you must take Jonathan Hannon's walkinghistory.ie tour. Jonathan Hannon is my favorite kind of human, a knowledgable historian, passionate storyteller. Overflowing with an abundance of knowledge on a variety of topics, but a special in Irish history and culture, Ashna and I were happy to have taken his tour the last time we were here two years ago. Now October cold rain outside Jonathan sit down for a cup of tea and chat in his charming bungalow close to the river. On this day October 26, 2018 it is an historic day in Ireland because they are voting for their president and to decriminalize blasphemy. In recent years Ireland has leap greatly forward in human rights and freedoms while the United States stubbornly drags everyone backwards. Which is why history is so exciting! In this episode we talk about the Romantic period writers Byron and Yeats. Significant events in Irish and human history. Jonathan debunks the lies of mythology I and everyone else has been told about where the phrase "Lynch mob" comes from as well as the phrase "I wouldn't give him the time of day." The cultural history of modern Ireland is portrayed here as well as the golden glowing personality of my history expert friend that I met on my last visit to Galway, a place I would buy a home if I was swimming in cash. I always tell people, if you like to drink and laugh a lot go to Ireland. And when you come here I want to to treat yourself by coming to Galway and meeting my friend Jonathan by going on his walking tour and letting him bust your head open with powerful knowledge. That is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Jonathan Hannon!

Rui Xara put on a comedy festival in Porto just to bring me to Portugal for the first time. He bent over backwards to show me everything that is great about Portugal and now I'm in love with the place. In this episode we talk about all of the glorious things about Portugal and why Porto is a better city than Lisbon. He is a beautiful man and he is now my friend for life, that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Rui Xara!

Joe DeRosa is a beast killer of a comedian. He is obsessed with death and destroying the institutions that hold us back from evolving spiritually. He is against anything that impedes our own personal happiness. I love conversing with him and delighting in his view of the world. We crossed paths in Atlanta and sat down for this gab session to enrich your life with wisdom and laughter. Hooray for humanity!   * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Sign up for a conversation with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Buy my new albums "All Hail Laughter" & "Clean 18" www.tomrhodes.net www.tomrhodes.net

The reason I first found Jared Logan to be a lovable human was when I saw him onstage talking about the Lincoln assassination. In this episode we talk about the hilarious personality shortcomings of John Wilkes Booth, the man who killed president Lincoln. We also discuss the presidents who lost their lives while in office and the Battle Of Little Big Horn. I feel like Jared Logan is a man like myself, who is full of historical knowledge and that we could record many more episodes of this nature. Being from West Virginia, Jared also has valuable insights on the coal industry and the current presidents promise of reviving the industry. Many knowledge nuggets will be delivered to your brain in this lively conversation I had with Jared. History is just one damned thing after another and discussed with someone like my friend Jared Logan, is always going to be entertaining. Current history is a mess so let's talk about the past. Hooray for history! And hooray for humanity!

This is a bonus episode where I am forced to make a statement about my story concerning Louie Anderson. As it turns out the hard hitting investigative journalism of Jay Cridlin from the Tampa Bay Times newspaper has uncovered the 32 year old story of a young rube from Florida who went to Hollywood for the first time and got his ass squeezed by one of America's most beloved clean comedians. Is this newsworthy or just a cheap shot from an entertainment writer at a family newspaper to create a click bait story that will drive traffic to their website? In this episode I recount, read and emote the correspondence and my personal plea to Jay Cridlin not to punch down at Louie Anderson by bringing my name up to him in his interview. He chose to do so anyway so that it why I am addressing this now in the full glory of emotions that I have experienced from the time of the incident, to now being put on the spot for a comment that was requested by Jay Cridlin from the Tampa Bay Times. I will read to you now both, the first draft of my official statement and the final short official statement that I sent after talking with my most trusted friends. I do not believe that journalists are the "enemy of the American people" like Trump keeps repeating but I do believe that some of them might consider applying the standards of human decency to their work. Bravo to the Tampa Bay Times for such hard hitting investigative journalism and I hope that this story earns them the Pulitzer prize that they so richly deserve. Shalom Amigos y Amigas.     * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Sign up for a conversation with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Buy my new albums "All Hail Laughter" & "Clean 18" www.tomrhodes.net www.tomrhodes.net

When is enough, enough? How many times can you go to the Great Wall of China or to Wrigley Field in one lifetime? How much dirty filthy shit can a country tolerate from their president? How much time away can the wife of a comedian put up with? These any many other big questions are presented as I ponder the cross roads I am at in my life now. Shall I continue traveling the world at the detriment of what it is doing to my marriage? Shall I give up smoking weed and be 100% sober since the weed I fell in love with no longer exists? I say it often but, every warrior eventually needs to move on to wise man. Certain things I will never stop doing, like performing stand up comedy. Making jokes against bullies and totalitarian psychopath presidents is my biological function in life. Dehumanizing anyone ever by a thought from my brain is never my intention. Snowflakes need to stay flakey together. I am away from home far from the one true love of my life. I need a friend. James Hatfield thinks I'm funny. Everyone is beautiful when they laugh. I've seen more teeth than a dentist. I'm off to Wrigley Field to rejoice in something I will never get tired of and that is watching the Cubs play at home while thinking of John Dillinger and Eddie Vedder.     * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Sign up for a conversation with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter www.tomrhodes.net

I first came to Mongolia because of Genghis Khan but I returned because of the comedians of Mongolia. There is a very special thing happening at UB Comedy Club and I am proud that I am a part of their history. Not only did I get to sleep in a ger at the 13th century camp site of Genghis Khan but I also go to drink fermented mare's milk and have my teeth whitened for free from the greatest dentist who exists on the planet earth. There is so much I love about the people of Mongolia and it is their generous spirit and loving hearts that will bring me back again. I'm blessed to know so many distant remote lands but the amount of love I have been shown here will always keep Mongolia close in my heart. I guess I feel the most at home among nomadic people but I also feel the most at home with people who have dedicated their lives to stand up comedy. In this episode you will learn why I think Genghis Khan is the most underrated comedian of all time and how the ancient Mongolians gave the world my favorite word in the English language: Hooray! Hooray for you and hooray for Mongolia!

Book Roulette is back with the brilliance of Guy de Maupassant! Guy de Maupassant died at the age of 42 stark raving mad in an insane asylum but he left behind the greatest short stories ever written. Maupassant is a writer like no other because he is the ultimate master of the short story form and portrays all facets of human drama, ugliness, glory and comedy that is timeless but each new generation thinks exclusively belongs to them. I recommend if you ever see any of his books in a used book store to buy it because all of stories pack a punch and linger in your brain long after your eyes have passed over his words. In this episode I want to introduce you to to this French writer that I love and the stories I read to you here are: Idyll Doubtful Happiness Julie Romain Femme Fatale With the fragrant orange blossoms of the Mediterranean I welcome you into the wonderful world of Guy de Maupassant!   * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Sign up for a conversation with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter www.tomrhodes.net

Rafinha Bastos is the Lenny Bruce of Brazil and he has the court orders to prove it. He has been sued and had his life threatened over jokes he has made in Brazil. His hard hitting, head cracking jokes earned him the titled of most influential person on twitter in 2011, Barrack Obama was number two. He is a film and television star in Brazil but he loves stand up comedy above all else, which is why he now living in Los Angeles and bringing his comedy thunderbolts to American stages. I am happy to now call this man my friend even though he thinks all Americans have the same color lips as is the color of their skin. This is a mystifying to me as is the fact that Americans spell Brazil with a z and Brasilians spell Brasil with an s. Some things in life will remain a great mystery but great comedy rises to the top and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Rafinha Bastos!   * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter www.tomrhodes.net

Let the soothing words of Malcolm X fuel your summer party. Going on a road trip? Sitting by the fire in the Mongolian country side or just strolling the hot streets of London, let my summer mix put a bounce in your step. Using my vinyl records, CDs and cassette tapes I put together for you this joyful array of head cracking numbers for your peak summer pleasure. Happy summer and joy be upon you!   * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Sign up for a conversation with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter www.tomrhodes.net

Greg Behrendt shot to notoriety when he co-wrote the book 'He's Just Not That Into You' and now he is about to release a book he co-wrote with his wife called 'How To Keep Your Marriage From Sucking.' He is an old friend of mine from back in my San Francisco days and he has advice for you on how not to let poison into your relationships. We could all use a refresher course in how to make love lives best. Snuggle up with a pillow and get cozy with the words of improving your life.     * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Sign up for a conversation with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter www.tomrhodes.net

"All of us can take fright, but it requires greatness of soul to laugh at the moment when not merely life, but humanity itself is endangered."   In my ongoing celebration of all things France I am reading a book called 'The Banquet Years' by Roger Shattuck. It is about the origins of the avant-garde in France from 1885 - World War I. From this book I regal you with the story of Henri Rousseau and the ridicule he faced while keeping his childlike innocence intact. Then our July fireworks reach their crescendo with the spectacular story of Alfred Jarry and his groundbreaking play Ubu Roi that created a scandalous riot when it premiered at Theatre L'Oeuvre in Paris in 1896. Alfred Jarry was the precursor to the Dada art movement, surrealism and the Theater Of The Absurd. Learn all about this man who rode his bicycle around Paris with a rifle over his shoulder, two pistols in his belt and tried to make his life a living hallucination.   I talk about the triumph of France at the World Cup and how they did what Napoleon failed to do and that is to be victorious in Russia.   I talk about how Vladimir Putin and the good people of Russia are the real winners of the World cup and how we could all learn to conduct our lives in victory and defeat the way the team of Japan does.   The opposite of Japanese politeness and concern for others is President Trump, who I am now calling the Urine Pawn. Just this week he called Canada and the European Union the enemies of America and stood with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki never mentioning the Russian influence on the 2016 election. When asked directly by a reporter if he had anything to say to Putin about this or the 12 Russians indicted days ago for hacking our election he said that he takes Putin's word for it when he said he didn't do it and asked why no one has found Hillary Clinton e-mail server yet. This is theater of the absurd on the world stage, which makes me think that this video of Trump with Russian prostitutes urinating must be worse than we could ever imagine. Where is the outcry from the American people over this treasonous act at the highest level? Thanks to the Urine Pawn we are now living in a world where our allies are now our enemies and our enemies are now our allies. The tough bully president of America acted like a neutered cat in the lap of the ultimate chess master Putin. And yet, this is somehow Hillary's fault? Back to reasons to be cheerful... TRR Smart Camp * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Sign up for a conversation with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter www.tomrhodes.net

Hannah Gadsby has set the comedy the comedy world on fire. If you have not seen her new Netflix special Nannette you need to do so immediately. It is one of the most powerful comedy specials ever made and I think it will be a game changer in that it will inspire comedians to be more truthful and revealing about themselves. This episode is actually a repeat and it is well worth reposting. Hannah and I recorded this conversation in 2014 when we were doing the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2014. I loved the show she did that year because it was all about art and art history, which is what makes her special Nannette so brilliant, the way she weaves in her art history knowledge. Hannah is a comedy artist who has achieved a magnificent triumph in being able to be honest about the pain she has experienced and chop the head off of our common notions of what comedy is. Aside from being a powerful storyteller she is a lovable, warm and funny human being. Enjoy this conversation we had and watch Nannette on Netflix repeatedly. Shalom Amigos y Amigas!   TRR Smart Camp * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Sign up for a conversation with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter www.tomrhodes.net

Happy Birthday America! In this episode I talk about my obsession with the World Cup in Russia and all of the human drama and heroic stories that you should be aware of in the world's greatest sports spectacle. I also tell you about the many great experiences I discovered in Philadelphia and how that city is very much like Paris in terms of attitude. This past weekend I got to perform in Philadelphia and it was my first time there since I busted my head open there 4 years ago and became sober. Philadelphia changed the world! The racism of the a Starbucks manager in Philadelphia is what made Starbucks change their corporate policy to that no one has to buy anything when we go to Starbucks. Because of a racist incident that happened at a Philadelphia Starbucks we are all free to loiter there or hold meetings without spending a dime. And you don't want to see what will happen if you don't give me that bathroom key. I love Philadelphia because they hate everyone and everyone is equal because of that. Shalom Amigos y Amigas!

In this episode you will learn how the first game of football was originally played by the ancient Mayans and how the Captain of the losing team would be executed. In Europe the first games of football were evolved from bored soldiers kicking around the severed heads of their dead opponents. There are so many fascinating elements to the beautiful game but none more important than how the game of football cured racism in Brazil.  Happy World Cup 2018! Enjoy!   TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Chat with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net 

Prepare to have your brains busted out by the powerful words of Charles Bukowski! Bukowski invented a poetic language free of literary pretense by writing about the hard scramble life he grappled with daily. His life and poetry was about the low life bars of Los Angeles, whores, drunks, bums and betting on horses at the race track. Mingled with the hard truths of his existence were also some of the most tender and thoughtful insights on human struggle and our desire for love and acceptance. His bitterness had humor and his drudgery produced thoughtful meditations on the beauty of hard working people, broken down bums and pathetic alcoholics and street fighters. He was a man of a different age and his works remain timeless. In this episode I pull down his books from my private collection and read to you excerpts from the following books that lit my brain and made me his fan for life: War All The Time, Love Is A Dog From Hell, It Catches My Heart In Its Hands, The Last Night Of The Earth Poems, Burning In Water Drowning In Flame, South Of No North, Mockingbird Wish Me Luck, Dangling In The Tournefortia, Post Office and Hollywood.  If you are unfamiliar with the works of Charles Bukowski then buckle up for a journey of how I discovered him at City Lights bookstore in San Francisco and delight in my reading to you my selections of the profound insights and timeless with of the street fighter poet true American original that is Charles Bukowski! TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Chat with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net

Fun with books is back! In this episode I randomly select choice passages from the biographies that line my shelves. The gritty, grappling lives of heroic characters are served up to you now in chunks of read passages from some of my favorite biographies. Including on the list of books I read from for you now are: Steve Jones - Lonely Boy My Lunches With Orson  Furious Cool - Richard Pryor James Brown- The Godfather Of Soul Brando - Marlon Brando Errol Flynn - My Wicked Wicked Ways The Shameful Life Of Salvador Dali Steve McQueen - Portrait Of An American Rebel Lou Reed - Transformer Led Zeppelin - When Giants Walked The Earth Fill your brain with gladness now!   TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Have a one time private skype session with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net   SimpleContacts To save $30 on your lenses, just go to or enter the code TRR at checkout

In this episode I talk about my Mom visiting me, getting my first colonoscopy, the Genghis Khan exhibit at the Reagan library, The controversy of Roseanne Barr and Samantha Bee's lack oh humor and the new Star Wars film Solo. I don't think Samantha Bee should lose her job because she used the C word, I think she should lose her job for using the word feckless. Shalom Amigos y Amigas.   * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Have a one time private skype session with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net * More episodes on www.tomrhodesradio.com

Get to know the first comedian ever to have abdominal muscles! Preacher Lawson sky rocketed to national prominence in 2017 when he crushed it on the television show America's Got Talent. I met him last month in Austin, Texas at the Moon Tower comedy festival. I think he is pure comedy gold and he is a super star waiting to happen. I'm proud to say that he is from Orlando, Florida and that I fully endorse him as someone who give me strong belly laughs and I know that he will do the same for you now. Glorious human that he is makes it my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Preacher Lawson! TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Have a one time private skype session with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net

I have been friends with Carrot Top since 1986 when he first starting coming around to open mic nights in Orlando, Florida. One of my happiest memories with my Dad was watching Carrot Top's show at the MGM with him and I'll never forget how hard my Dad laughed at him. Carrot Top's Dad worked at Nasa and grew up in Cocoa Beach which might be where he got his inventive mind for comedy and the gadgets he has created. I have always loved and respected Scott (Carrot Top) because he is a joke writing machine and in the immortal words of Jim Gaffigan "When I hear people make fun of Carrot Top I feel like they have insulted a family member, because he is a comedian and he is a part of my family." In this episode we talk about our Central Florida roots, his private jet ride with Jay Leno, his friendships with Vinnie Paul and Axel Rose, meeting presidents, what is was like to kiss Elton John and the endearing words he received from Bill Hicks as well as the joy of getting to know George Carlin. He also describes in detail what it was like in Las Vegas on the night of the deadliest mass shooting in American history. That shooting happened right next door to the Luxor where he performs his show nightly. During this recording you can hear in the back ground at times, Las Vegas show girls running back stage for a costume change and the thumping music that they perform to. It is classic Las Vegas American show business in action. He is one of my oldest friends in comedy and someone I have infinite love and respect for and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Carrot Top!   TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Have a one time private skype session with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net * More episodes on www.tomrhodesradio.com

On October 2, 1866 Mark Twain invented stand up comedy, or as he called it "platform speaking." He did not enjoy "mounting the platform" but by 1895 the famous author of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn was in debt from bas investments and publicly disgraced due to his bankruptcy. So to pay off his mountain of debts and restore his good name he embarked on a world wide lecture tour. I just finished reading this wonderful book by Richard Zacks called "Chasing The Last Laugh." It is all about Mark Twain's World Tour and the circumstances that created it. In this episode I read you the highlights and talk about the remarkable moments he experienced as a performer and world traveler.   Mark Twain had a nasty temper, his mood swings were hard on those around him and he had the worst sense of business instincts but he also is one of the most quotable humans who ever lived, had a moral sense of injustice and created some of the most loved characters in the history of literature.   I enjoyed this book so much I couldn't wait to tell you about it. In this episode I will tell you about the hardships, heartbreaks and the redemptive healing power of laughter that he experienced at the last period of his life. This tribute is also peppered with some of Mark Twain's best lines like "If Christ were here now, there is one thing he would not be - A Christian."   Fill your brain with this powerful knowledge now, enjoy!   TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Have a one time private skype session with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net * More episodes on www.tomrhodesradio.com

Craig Campbell is a beautiful lunatic and a comedy legend. He is from Calgary, Canada but has been living in London for the past 20 years and crushing it. I first met and worked with Craig 20 years ago when I first started going to London and have since performed with him all over the world. Last month we toured in Asia together and this episode was recorded in Manila. In Manila we rode Harley Davidson's and after the show went to a bar that had midget boxing. I told the owner of the club that in the rest of the world we are now calling them "little people" but he said that it was too expensive to change his neon sign. Fresh back from doing our show and watching "little people" boxing Craig and I sat down to record this episode. I have infinite respect for Craig as a comedian and as a human. He is a bad ass manly man but he is not a bully, he is kind and has an innate sense of justice which always shines through in his comedy. I love this man very much and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Craig Campbell!   TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Have a one time private skype session with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net * More episodes on www.tomrhodesradio.com

Ashna and I are fresh back from spending a week in Hong Kong. In this episode we give the history of the opium wars and the origins of the dragon boat festival. We also talk about the highlights of our visit and the best travel tips of for visiting the city. I also give the history of Adidas vs. Puma because I had a front row of Germans who worked for Adidas at my show Saturday night and it is an amazing story everyone should know. As we search for the right amount of dragon balls you make Jasmine tea with, we take you to the highest heights of Hong Kong and rejoice in its glorious history. Mgoy Sai! That means thank you!   Sponsored by SimpleContacts.com/TRR > get $30 off!! TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Have a one time private skype session with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net * More episodes on www.tomrhodesradio.com

This episode was recorded in Singapore. The first time I came to Singapore I hated it because it is so clean and orderly. Now I love it because it is so clean and orderly and that there are no homeless people or street children begging you for money.  In this episode I enumerate the many strange and interesting laws that Singapore is famous for. I talk about the midget boxing match I saw in Manila and how I implored the owner to change the sign to little people boxing. For travel tips to Singapore I suggest you not waste your time or money on having a Singapore Sling at Raffles. Do stay at The Sultan hotel near the Sultan mosque and if you truly love yourself you will make your belly happy by eating mutton murtabak. One of the best culinary delights I have discovered in this life and what I would fly to Singapore just to eat is black pepper crab, I salivate just typing the words thinking of it. Two of my favorite Tom Waits are related to Singapore and are played and discussed in this glorious tribute to Lion City. To cap off this excellent time I had in Singapore I was offered free tickets to see Lauryn Hill headline the Sing Jazz festival. I understand that I am getting older but there were some things that were off about Lauryn Hill's performance. I know it is a rarity to see her perform and I was lucky enough to be right in the front to observe every moment of her 90 minute set. There are ways that you can ruin Christmas and there are ways that you can ruin someone's Rolling Stones concert but keeping positive vibrations in your water filled body can help you avoid that. I learned that at the gong bath I went to. "How you gonna win if you ain't right within?" Put on your crab bib and get yourself right with the black pepper love that is all the glorious delights of Singapore! Enjoy! TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Have a one time private skype session with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net * More episodes on www.tomrhodesradio.com

I have been dreaming of going on a motorcycle adventure into North Vietnam since the last time I was in Hanoi and heard of the concept. This was only my fourth time ever driving a motorcycle and I think it will be hard to beat this experience of going the 90 miles round trip journey from Hanoi to the top of Tam Dao Mountain. Yes it was terrifying and yes I felt like a true bad ass with Steve McQueen courage especially after I crashed going up the thin and dusty mountain road. Just as the key to happiness is in lowering your expectations it is equally important to remember that your dreams just might end up killing you if you are not careful. It is a miracle that I was not seriously injured when my motorcycle went sliding out from under me and I was high with joy for hours afterward that I was alive and that I had only lost a swatch of skin off of my elbow.   In this episode I recount my journey to the top of the mountain and the dangers one encounters while operating a motorcycle in the countryside of Vietnam and in the city of Hanoi. I'm thrilled to say that I checked this dream off of my lifelong wish list and that so much beauty was captured with my eyeballs and will live on in my memory forever. My life has been unbelievably blessed with magnificent experiences and I'm happy to tell you now in this episode all about my Vietnam motorcycle adventure and my mountain road crash that could have been a lot worse. Viva Vietnam!   TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Have a one time private skype session with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net * More episodes on www.tomrhodesradio.com

I unfortunately missed the March in Las Vegas so I decided to interview two people instead. TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Have a one time private skype session with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net * More episodes on www.tomrhodesradio.com  

Uncle Bob is dead. Getting the news of his death has left me feeling ashamed because I was mean and cruel to him. I had not spoken to Bob in 7 years because I was angry at him for being mean and cruel to my dad. Hate and anger is poison in your life because the person you are holding a grudge against just might drop dead and then your issue with that person will never be resolved.   The truth of the matter is that my Uncle Bob was a very important person to me. Had he not done stand up comedy in Washington D.C. in 1978 then my dad would have not taken me to see him and I might not have turned out to be a stand up comedian. After he died I was flooded with good memories of him and I will be forever haunted by the fact that neither one of us reached out to each other to fix the ill feelings that kept us using silence against each other.   My Uncle Bob's life was a victory because he found a woman who loved him, he had a successful career and he retired to a lovely farm in Vermont.   This episode is a repeat. It was recorded in July 2009 in his back yard just after the sun went down. It was the 2nd podcast I ever posted. We were a little drunk when we recorded this and I only had one microphone that we passed back and forth. It is a happy memory and his advice to me at the end about getting your soul damaged is invaluable.   Of the many happy memories I have of him one of them happened while I was visiting him when I was in my 30s. The James Taylor song 'Shower The People' came on the radio and he sang it to me as he hugged me tight. I would give anything to have that moment back now.   I wish that he were still alive so that I could tell him "I'm sorry Bob. I love you."

Praise be to the written word! In my living room I have the walls lined with book shelves holding over 2,000 books. This is my life time collecting books and Ashna's lifetime of collecting books joined together. Since living in Los Angeles we have invented a game we like to call "Book Roulette." This game consists of us randomly pulling a book from the shelf, cracking it open and reading a few paragraphs or highlights from that book to each other. It is our nerdy way of plucking riches of the written word for the delight of our brains. It is our way of entertaining ourselves on cold rainy nights like tonight when we recorded this episode. Living among thousands of books means nothing if you are not gaining anything from them. That is why we invented this game and share it only with good friends who come to our place and like to get cozy with inspiration. So brace yourself and get ready for explosions of powerful words from the shelves of Tom and Ashna. You will most certainly be enriched with pearls of words and thoughts that will tingle you to the core of your soul. "I am happy even before I have a reason!"   TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Have a one time private skype session with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net * More episodes on www.tomrhodesradio.com

This is a warm blast of love deep in the heart of winter! In this episode Ashna and I talk about the coldest winter we ever experienced. The nasty flu I caught from an albino alligator in Orlando, how the dirty money of big pharmaceutical companies keeps health care costs high for all of us and how human turd Martin Shkreli just got his 2 million dollar Wu Tang album taken away. You will learn why Tampa's Busch Gardens has the most terrifying roller coaster on the planet and why the tide of human goodness is turning now and gives us all a reason to yell "Hooray for humanity!” This is a special time in human history and there are many reasons to remain cheerful that we enumerate here for you now.   We also talk about the Oscars for best picture, best actor and best actress. Among the many great things you will learn in this episode is that if you are ever invited to an Oscar party in the Hollywood Hills being hosted by important people you have never met before you should bring a big fat chocolate raspberry cake because everyone is always happy to see someone bringing a big fat chocolate raspberry cake. Get happy now and feel the warm embrace of the shape of love!   Smoothie & Smoochie style! * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) tomrhodes.net * More episodes on tomrhodesradio.com  

I first met Lucie Pohl at the Edinburgh Arts Festival where we were both performing at the same venue. I may not have won the top prize at Edinburgh that year but my friendship with Lucie has been more valuable to me than any little statuette. She wrote and performs the brilliant one person show that is called 'Hi Hitler', a tour de force of human emotions about her life story as a German immigrant to New York City. I love this show so much that I believe that it would be a crime against humanity if this were not made into a Netflix special. In her new one hour show 'Apohlcalypse Now' she candidly bares a season of bad choices that shadowed her while she was making a film in Turkey. In recent year's Lucie played a wise cracking scientist in the British cult classic Red Dwarf and Rolling Stone magazine recently called her one of The Beatles of voice over work for the character she plays in Overwatch. In Overwatch, Lucie plays Mercy, a Swiss doctor who has the power to bring back players from the dead. "Heroes Never Die!" No truer words have ever been spoken.   * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) tomrhodes.net * More episodes on tomrhodesradio.com

This is part 3 of my French Revolution episodes celebrating the Stanley Loomis book Paris In The Terror. Have you ever wondered how people with differing political opinions would hate each other enough to have each other's heads chopped off by the guillotine? The answer to that can be found in this episode about the end of the road for that shifty dirty bastard Robespierre. Robespierre was a mediocre provincial lawyer who came to Paris and became one of the darkest forces in the drama that was the French Revolution. The enlightenment period was when field workers started to wake up and ask themselves "Why do those rich assholes get to live in the castle and wear fine clothes while we do all of the hard work?" This led to the French Revolution where king Louis XVI and his family all got their heads chopped off, then the citizens found out they loved chopping heads off so much they started cutting everyone's head off who may have disagreed with them. Robespierre out maneuvered Danton to become dictator for one year but there was a man named Fouche lurking in the shadows out maneuvering Robespierre. In this episode you will learn about The Festival Of Reason that turned into a drunken orgy in the most famous churches in Paris. Then with astounding magnitude you will marvel at the blunder that turned out to be the end for Robespierre. Get your smelly French cheeses ready, slice your baguette at an angle and pour yourself a glass of Pierre for this amazing ride that is the blood bath of heads falling into baskets otherwise known as the French Revolution. Just remember that it was all done for the good of the people, as is this podcast. Ashna and I now present to you, your brain food for the day. Bon Appetite!    * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) tomrhodes.net * More episodes on tomrhodesradio.com

Get yourself a bowl of popcorn and pour some red wine for this epic episode of the French Revolution and the life of Danton and his eventual beheading by the guillotine. Danton said "Public opinion is a whore and posterity is nonsense!"    Little did he know then that I would do my longest podcast ever on him and the events from his life. Continuing my homage to the Stanley Loomis book 'Paris In The Terror' here is part two of the three part series I am doing on this formidable period in human history when people showed themselves and who they truly were once they threw off the chains that had bound them and were allowed to do whatever they wanted to do.   Learn all about The Festival Of Reason that will never allow you to look at the Notre Dame the same ever again. And the tiresome words of Virtue and Vicious that came to define the measuring scale if people were friends of the revolution or against it. I highlighted many great passages from this book and I read them to you and discuss in detail with Ashna this amazing human drama that is known as the French Revolution. Here for you now, it is my pleasure to present to you the life and execution of George-Jacques Danton. * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) tomrhodes.net * More episodes on tomrhodesradio.com

In this episode you will learn about the unsung hero of the French Revolution and all time bad ass woman Charlotte Corday. I just finished the brilliantly written book 'Paris In The Terror' by Stanley Loomis. The book was published in 1964 and UC Berkeley named it one of the best books of the century.  It is a riveting book about the main players of the French Revolution who all get their heads chopped off by the guillotine. In this book I learned about the incredible tale of Charlotte Corday from Caen, France who had never been to Paris before she traveled there at the age of 24 to assassinate Marat, the foul shit stirrer who incited the mob of Paris to violence. This head strong witty young woman from Caen left behind her obscure life to become in one act of vengeance one of the most infamous people of the French Revolution. Her story should be made into a major motion picture but until then let me regal you with this epic tale that you may have never heard before. In this year of women rising up and demanding equality it is a perfect time to be captivated by this woman from provincial France who decided to take matters in her own hands in order to save the glory of her nation. If the sound of dropping guillotine blades and mobs carrying pitchforks excite you then this episode will be a treat. It is my pleasure to present to you now the story of Charlotte Corday and the assassination of Marat!  * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) tomrhodes.net * More episodes on tomrhodesradio.com * More fun on tomrhodes.net

I am fresh back from Paris! In this episode Ashna and I talk about my quick trip to Paris, the amazing experience I had while performing at Theatre L'Oeuvre and how when I return there on October 15 I want to film it as my next one hour special. We also talk about my personal history with Paris and how I needed to see someone and tell them how important they are to me while I was there. It was an interesting time to be in Paris because the river Seine is overflowing and 50 baboons had escaped from the Paris zoo and were loose running free in the city. Moliere, Voltaire, Camille Cottin and how to transport Parisian baguettes back to Los Angeles are also topics we discuss in this joyous recap of how I rocked the balls off the joint in my favorite city in the world and the best applause break I have ever received in my life. So spray on some Chanel 19, flip your scarf stylishly around your neck and let us take you on a journey to city of love through the eyes of someone who has been maced there and stood on the sacred performing space of Theatre L'Oeuvre. Hooray for humanity and hooray for Paris, France!   * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) tomrhodes.net * More episodes on tomrhodesradio.com  

Hooray for Hollywood! Forget that the world is falling apart and that our democracy has been sold to the highest bidder. In this episode Ashna and I discuss the year's best films and guide you to what is worth seeing just ahead of awards season. In this episode we talk about: #moviepass The Post Lady Bird Get Out Three Billboards Darkest Hour I, Tonya Call Me By Your Name Mudbound The Big Sick  The Shape Of Water The Bad Manners Of Aziz Ansari Jumanji If cinema is humankind's highest achievement, then we rejoice in the finest fruits of this year's harvest. Get the popcorn ready and spark your brain with joy inducing electrons. Smoothie movie talk has arrived to delight all of humanity. Shalom Amigos y Amigas!   * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) tomrhodes.net * More episodes on tomrhodesradio.com

"In the creation of comedy, it is paradoxical that tragedy stimulates the spirit of ridicule; because ridicule, I suppose, is an attitude of defiance: we must laugh in the face of our helplessness against the forces of nature - or go insane. I read a book about the Donner party who, on the way to California, missed the route and were snowbound in the mountains of Sierra Nevada. Out of one hundred and sixty pioneers only eighteen survived, most of them dying of hunger and cold. Some resorted to cannibalism, eating their dead, others roasted their moccasins to relieve their hunger. Out of this harrowing tragedy I conceived one of our funniest scenes. In dire hunger I boil my shoe and eat it, picking the nails as though they were bones of a delicious capon, and eating the shoe-laces as though they were spaghetti. In this delirium of hunger, my partner is convinced I am a chicken and wants to eat me." - Charlie Chaplin * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) tomrhodes.net * More episodes on tomrhodesradio.com

I had the best day in my life at the Charlie Chaplin's museum just two days ago. But now I am stuck in Switzerland because of weather conditions. I got all the time to record this episode so I give you all my Switzerland knowledge nuggets and tell you about Charlie Chaplin's life. Because hey I got nowhere to go at the moment. Enjoy! * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) tomrhodes.net * More episodes on tomrhodesradio.com

Bonjour Y'all! It’s winter here so I am freezing but I'm thrilled to be back sauntering along the boulevards and I have lots of fun facts to share with you about Paris from the books that I have been reading and the life that I have been living. Hear about the bad ass story behind the painting The Death of Marat. The history of banquets, the invention of the sorbet and why the French are so pessimistic. So pull out some smelly cheese and nibble on a baguette while I delight your brain with words worth knowing as my history with the city of love grows ever deeper. Au revoir mes amis! * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) [email protected] End Song: Bob Dylan Tangled Up In Blue  

I am proud to say now that my eyes do know the glory that is Mongolia. This past weekend I performed in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar and I now rank it among my favorite places. Like all great experiences you have in life it comes down to the people that you spent time with. From the moment I arrived I was greatly by the comedians of Ulaanbaatar and they spent my few days there showing me everything that was magnificent about their country. To prepare for this trip I read the biography of Genghis Khan and I had in my mind all of their glorious history and the many ways that Mongolia shook the world and shaped human history. In this episode I talk about my own experiences performing in Mongolia and the generous loving humans that make up the comedy scene there. I also read the many highlights I made in the book by Jack Weatherford called 'Genghis Khan and the making of the modern world.' Did you know that Genghis Khan had a policy of religious tolerance of all the lands that he conquered? Did you know that ancient Mongolia gave the world ice cream? Did you know that the English word "Hooray" comes from ancient Mongolia? Well, put on your learning hat because you are about to learn many things that will enrich your life as I tell you the tale about my visit to Mongolia and read to you the highlights of this incredibly informative book that I just read. Hooray for Mongolia and hooray for humanity! Tom   Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp    Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) [email protected]  

I am reporting to you from Tokyo, Japan. Enjoy my observations on this trend setting capital and learn amazing facts about Japan and knowledge nuggets about the secret code of the Samurai. Enrich your life with wisdom and laughter as I send you a respectful Samurai head bow from the land of the rising sun. Enjoy! Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   

Yes, #metoo. We both. Hear our stories and how it affected and changed us forever. Massage requests, butt squeezes, shame, blame, enablers & abusers. We go right into the Weinstein affaire and Tom's own #metoo story. How it affected him and changed his life perspective forever. Ashna explains how her experiences changed her career path. Our book this week is "Goodness Had Nothing To Do With It by Mae West.  We recorded this episode deep in the AM, right after we landed from Las Vegas and right before Tom had to go to the airport for his Tokyo flight. Thank you for supporting us!  Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   

I'm back in Las Vegas right after the worst mass shooting in US history. I sit down with Brad Garrett, the man who taught me to love Vegas and we talk about how this city responded, bounced back and showed the best that humanity has to offer. We also talk about our bully megalomaniac president Trump and how his supporters are too think skinned to tolerate jokes about him. Northern California wildfires, Harvey Weinstein and everything that is happening in the world now. I have infinite respect for Brad as a performer and as a human being, he has treated me like a king since I first started working for him and he has made me love Las Vegas, a city I once had no desire to work in. These are tough times for America, Las Vegas and the world but Brad easily reminds me that making jokes and helping people forget their problems is the magic power all jokeslingers possess. That is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Brad Garrett! #VegasStrong

This episode was recorded in room #4 at the Mill Valley Inn. All important information about America's past and future are answered under the canopy of the ancient redwood trees. Ashna and I talk about the Kurt Anderson book 'Fantasyland" about how America went haywire. We also talk about the Ken Burns documentary "The Vietnam War. Our yearly trip to Northern California is in full swing now and we talk about what is great and irritating about Arcata, California. What trimmigrants are and the old theaters were where Charlie Chaplin and Robin Williams performed. We talk bookstores and classy women's fashions only won indoors by veterans. Pop a wheelie and ride it half way down Elm street! Hooray for humanity!

This episode is a roller coaster of emotions for me because I just received bad news an hour before recording that I am still processing. Not every podcast episode can be happy and cheerful but thankfully, Ashna pulls me back from the brink and helps me to see the bright side of life. It all comes down to status anxiety and that is what we discuss at length in this episode from every angle. We also talk about Allan du Botton, the entertainment juggernaut that is Netflix, the poet Pablo Neruda, my favorite Italian movies and the Ken Burns documentary about the Vietnam war. The number one enemy of happiness is envy. Curb your desires now and enjoy the brains and hearts of the Tom and Ashna show! Shalom amigos y amigas!

Steve Hughes is a comedy legend. He has sliced and diced up some of the best stages that the world comedy circuit has to offer. I've worked with Steve many times, I was even working with him on the night that I met Ashna. Several years ago he had a meltdown that led to him moving back home to Australia. Finally after much worry I got to come back to Sydney and see him. He is as feisty as ever even if he has turned to the right on some issues. Steve is one of my all time favorite comedians and someone I always enjoy shooting the shit with. After not seeing him for four years I am happy to have this conversation with him to catch up, find out how his meltdown happened and how he has recovered from it to be back up and telling it like it is on the comedy stage. There is no one else like him and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Steve Hughes!

Mickey D is the only comedian I know of who has climbed Mount Everest. I met Mickey while doing the Edinburgh festival several years ago and he personifies everything that I love about Australians. He is brash, ballsy, and good humored about even life's toughest circumstances. I sat down with him while I was in Sydney to delight the world with his perspective on life and capture his unconquerable Australian spirit. He is a comedian and a human being that I love and did I mention that he climbed Mount Everest? He is a unique comedy powerhouse and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Mickey D!

Hello from the other side of the planet! This episode of Smart Camp comes to you from Sydney where I talk with charming Australian comedy superstar Wil Anderson. I first met Wil at the Melbourne Comedy Festival in 2000. Since then we have worked with each other in London, New York, Montreal and Los Angeles. His effervescent charm and comedic intelligence always delights me when we get to spend time together and this episode is packed with important knowledge that should be living in your brain. Wil and I discuss the championship boxing match of the century, when Jack Johnson became the first black heavy weight champion of the world in Sydney in 1908. You will learn where the term "Great White Hope" comes from and the aftermath of Jim Jeffries getting his ass beat in Reno. (Not the comedian Jim Jeffries). You will learn why there is no pride in genocide and the proper way to arrange statues in Sydney. Why are all Australians made of money and what did the Aboriginal people say when the first white English people to arrive asked them what they called kangaroos. Why should Australia Day be called Invasion Day? Learn why the Melbourne Demons should embrace full evil. Learn a brief history of Ben Cousins and why Ned Kelly's last words are tattooed to his stomach. Wil teaches me how he uses advertising and marketing as a sense to look at the world on his show "Gruen" that has been running for ten years on Australian television. Learn how by using your data companies know more about you than you do. Let us help you see that advertising is emotional pollution and how to remain happy in the modern world. What memorable clash did Wil have with Heath Ledger and what are Mick Jagger's best one liners? Embrace how charitable acts always come back to you and how owning your choices in life is the path to contentment. I know so many beautiful lunatics in the comedy world and it is a joy to be back in Australia and get to gab it up with the one and only Wil Anderson!  

Patty Farmer is an entertainment historian who has authored the new book 'Playboy Laughs' chronicling the history involving Playboy magazine and stand up comedy. The recently deceased Dick Gregory got his big break performing at the Playboy club in Chicago and used to have to take the bus to get there because he was so broke when he started. For all the criticism that has fallen on Hugh Hefner for being sexist he doesn't get enough credit for breaking the color barrier in terms of hiring performers at his clubs and models for his magazine at a time when the United States was racially segregated. In this episode we talk about my own personal history with Playboy magazine and how the Playboy interviews were a very important part of my entertainment apprenticeship. We discuss the rise of George Carlin and Lenny Bruce who performed at the Playboy clubs and which entertainer who couldn't keep his hands to himself. This important period in American entertainment history and the history of American censorship is but a distant memory for those who remember and this is a conversation I was happy to capture for the Smart Camp audience. So put on your bunny ears and you fluffy slippers and find out why the  Playboy empire was a crucial component in the history of American comedy. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Patty Farmer!  

Ashna and I are fresh back from Europe (Paris, The Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Norway) and we are full of stories to share! This episode is all about war & peace. We talk about our visit to the Nobel Prize center in Oslo. Who decides who gets awarded? What is the link between dynamite and the prize? And learn why Alfred Nobel was a very peculiar man and the extraordinary mistake that changed his life and created the Nobel Prize. Why should you definitely NOT go to the Edvard Munch museum in Oslo to see The Scream. Why should the USA reconsider their fear of paying taxes? What the consequences are of my Instagram obsession. What brilliant strategy did Ashna use to bring peace in her family and what Tom could learn from that to bring peace to his.    What stories in Ireland from Irish folklore should never include the truth? Where did the term "Lynch mob" come from? Where did the expression "Wouldn't give you the time of day" come from? Why should you never let the truth get in the way of a really good story? All of these questions and many others will be answered as well as travel tips from my 5 week tour of Europe and general knowledge nuggets that will enrich your life with wisdom and laughter. Dig in and get happy now! Shalom amigos y amigas!  

I kick off this visit to Amsterdam by celebrating my obsession with the artist Rembrandt! In this episode I talk with noted Rembrandt author Nina Siegal about all things Rembrandt. Why did Rembrandt paint so many self portraits? Why did he own so many turtle shells? What were the poor choices he made that led to his downfall? Why did he fall out of favor with the religious society of Amsterdam? Why was Rembrandts body dug up and where is he buried now? You will learn many details about the fascinating life of one of art history's greatest masters. Nina Siegal wrote the best selling book 'The Anatomy Lesson' about the Rembrandt painting 'The Anatomy Lesson Of Dr. Nicholaes Tulp' and aside from being very knowledgable about the life of Rembrandt she is also an expert on the Jewish history of Amsterdam. As a bonus you will learn why true Amsterdammers when they say goodbye, they say "Mazzel" and why the soccer team of Amsterdam "Ajax" get anti-Semitic slurs when they play around Europe. This episode is full of Smart Camp Knowledge Nuggets and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Nina Siegal!

Bonjour mon amis! In this episode Ashna and I come to Paris for me to do a show and we stretch it out into a week long visit with summer in full swing. We start the episode with the update on the crazy downstairs neighbors we have who got in Ashna's face and challenged me to a fight right before we left for Europe. If you arrive in Paris we are jet lagged and walking the streets until sunrise. Learn why the apartment we are staying in Ashna describes as the Horror Toilet. We have books on philosophy and jazz records but one theme keeps repeating itself over and over of our Parisian home for the week. In this episode you will learn the best travel tips we have discovered like Rue Montorgueil otherwise known as Tasty Street. Learn how we made an art out of collecting items and perfected the joy of picnicking in Paris. Where are the best places to picnic in Paris? We reveal the feature of our neighborhood in Paris that reminds me of every Henry Miller book I have ever read. My show in Paris was in a sweltering hot room and I performed while soaking with sweat. We discuss how the meaning of jokes can change and the best response to this persistent problem. How do you create timeless comedy? How do you choose the best cheeses and pastries in Paris? Where is the best place to watch the Super Bowl in Paris? When is the worst time to try to visit the catacombs in Paris? How best to visit the Pere Llachaise cemetery? After answering these questions I read to Ashna the best quotes by the most famous authors who are buried in Pere Llachaise cemetery. If you can't afford to travel this summer or are planning a trip to Paris you can take a trip with Ashna and I now to the city of love while in the full bloom of summer. I have a long history with Paris and in this episode I try to give all the knowledge nuggets on Paris that will enrich your life, like the secret hidden latin phrase on Jim Morrison's grave. As an insult my brother once said to me "You know Tom, you just want to hang out in cafes in Paris and read books that no one else understands." He was correct and now I'm back and sharing my thoughts on this magic city with you. Bonne Journee!

For the comedy nerd in all of us I am proud to present to you this lengthy chat I had with Kliph Nesteroff about the history of stand up comedy. Last year Kliph published the excellent book 'The Comedians.' I loved this book tremendously and highly recommend it to anyone who loves comedy and is interested in all of its exciting and sordid history. From the earliest comedians in vaudeville to the mafia's grip on the development of stand up comedy as an art form there is fascinating facts to delight everyone's brain who will listen to this conversation. As comedy is my favorite topic in the world and the fact that I enjoyed his book so much there were endless questions I had for Kliph as we gabbed it up for the microphone. He has also been asked to host a show on the Vice network about comedy that premieres on July 10. Kliph's own history with doing comedy, experimenting with acid and giving up drinking also adds to the mix boundless enjoyment of tales of adventure. If you love comedy as much as I do I know this episode with produce a brain bath of natural amphetamines inside your skull and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Kliph Nesteroff!

How should you act when a neighbor is harassing and trying to intimidate you? Learn the outcome of the ongoing saga we have had with our downstairs neighbors who keep making noise complaints against us. Listeners sent us legal advice, we were acting like civilized adults when everything came to a head when they came to our door accusing Ashna of stomping. I flew home the next day in a fury of anger and had to go talk to these people. This week's movie talk is about Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot's breathtaking portrayal and rebranding of the old red booted Wonder Woman, into the new compassionate feminist icon and ass kicking heroism of this year's cinematic Wonder Woman. The subtle messages in the dialogue were just as powerful as the jumping side kicks and skull crunching punches.  June 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the start of the Summer Of Love. Is this the Summer of Love or hate? We conclude this episode with a recap of life enriching quotes by Voltaire, Oscar Wilde, Alan de Botton, Willie Nelson and George Orwell. Everything we can give you that can improve your life at this particular moment. Happy summer time! Shalom amigos y amigas! Long may you run!

What are the limits of freedom of speech? Who went to far with freedom of speech Kathy or Bill Maher? Take a ride out of the doldrums and depression by letting us show you how to look on the bright side. In this episode Ashna and I talk about out trip to New York where we hung out with Dave Attell and Michael Che. Learn how I dealt with following Amy Schumer and her story about paying someone to masturbate her father. Learn how to deal with your buzz kill neighbors the Seneca way and what Netflix really thinks of white guys. Learn who Tony Woods thinks is the second most angry black man that he knows. We also discuss the shooting of Republicans on a baseball field in Virginia and the verdict in the Philander Castille killing. On a happier note we talk about the book Paris, a biography of a city and the excellent Ken Burns documentary The Roosevelts and the lesson to be learned from Teddy Roosevelt's life that can be valuable to all. The Einstein series called Genius gets a favorable mention as does the Jimi Hendrix baby gift we sent to fans of our podcast we met in Texas. There are 7.5 billion people on the planet and a lot of them are in a bad mood right now.  We packed this episode with lots of knowledge nuggets and ways we have found to not be set back by irritating bad news that might threaten your joy. Ashna and I injected vitamin love in this episode and bring you up to speed on our lives, the journey that was undertaken to bring you my new live album and the most important exercise you should be doing this summer. Improve your heart, fill your brain and cheer up!  

Emmy winner T. Sean Shannon has written for Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show & In Living Color. He is one of my oldest & best friends in comedy since the day I met him at Yankee stadium when we smoked a joint together in the upper deck. He is the pride of Houston, Texas and will enrich your life with wisdom & laughter! Become a member and support us on Patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp Use our Amazon link (banner on tomrhodes.net) when you shop! Please fill in the shortest survey ever so we get to know you! http://survey.libsyn.com/trr    

Our lives are are collection of stories and memories. I tell the story of smoking pot with Jack Nicholson at a Rolling Stones concert and how people watching in Las Vegas says more about you than the people you are watching. This episode is all about my own personal history with Las Vegas. The city I used to hate and avoid like the plague is now a place I come to several times a year full of entertainment friends, culinary delights and audiences of people from all around the globe. Shalom Amigos!

In this episode we talk about how I surprised the squirrel on my balcony. Trump firing Comey, late night shows and if American satire works. How the 1937 book 'Invertebrate Spain' applies to what is happening in America today. How CNN is responsible for the puppy we just lost. How the Paul Newman movie 'Nobody's Fool' will teach you to make brave choices in your life. And I read you my thoughts on the Spanish conquest of Peru while standing in the main square of Cuzco. Big fresh slices of my life are yours with Ashna's two scoops of ice cream goodness on the side. And finally Ashna and I decide on a kid's name that we both like.

My mom is visiting me this week and I took her to Yosemite National Park to recreate one of the best mother and son memories we have together. In this episode my mom Sara Rhodes sits in with us and tells the story of watching Bugs Bunny cartoons right before I was born. The best advice she has ever given me and how we were once chased by a bear. We review the Netflix original Cable Girls and for book time I talk about one of my all time favorites: Hagakure - The book of the Samurai and how this book can improve your life. Tupac was grateful ti his mother even though she was a crack fiend. In this episode I am grateful to my mom for teaching me how to smack the shit out of the big ones!

How should you react when hate is shot in your direction? In this episode we talk how Ashna received a hate filled Facebook from an old white coward telling her to move back to the Netherlands. My reaction was to start searching flights to Houston so that I could go punch this old fooling the face but Ashna reminds me that it is always best to remain stylish like Seneca. We talk about our wedding anniversary date that included popping into an open mic night in our neighborhood where an untalented comedian started verbally attacking the crowd, me included because his poorly written jokes weren't being appreciated. Seneca style counseling is recommended to me again for how to conduct yourself in the face of hate filled white men. From there we popped into the Kibitz room where we delighted in our neighborhood watering hole where hate was nowhere to be found. For brain candy morsels we talk about the book 'A Flame Of Pure Fire' Jack Dempsey And The Roaring Twenties' The movie 'Moon' and the new Ray Davies album 'Americana'. Also human behavioral moments I witnessed this week of a passenger having a meltdown on a plane, police harassing a man and the emotional slot machine that threatens all of our personal happiness.

What kind of music does Tom like? On this episode a selection of his vinyl > My amazing wife Ashna has booked an acting job portraying the historic powerhouse and badass woman Sojourner Truth. She is in the next room running her lines and I am left alone with my vinyl record collection to play some of my favorite cosmic slices. Ashna is kind enough to share her speech in front of the microphone at one point for the scene she will film tomorrow. For anyone keeping track of what I played on this episode, the running order of the artists appearing here are: AC/DC Velvet Underground The Animals Rodney Dangerfield David Bowie George Carlin Warren Zevon Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Bill Hicks Prince James Brown Ashna Rodjan Terrence Trent D'Arby Aretha Franklin Ray Charles Lightning' Hopkins Gil Scott-Heron

What's the most annoying sound to wake up to?

Will hate and violence be the new marketing trend? 

What drug can make you genuinely happy? Why does Tom have an unhealthy relation with AA?  How does Ashna overcome her biggest fears? This episode is all about addiction. Learn how Tom gets a big insight not yet revealed to him. We end with a happy plane story with an interesting family from Australia. Exclusive photos and videos on Patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp. 

Find out how Dirty Dozen/Clean Fifteen changed our lives. Ashna and I talk about our latest obsession watching interracial movies on Netflix and the Black Mirror episodes by Charlie Brooker. Tom reads the greatest opening paragraph of any book ever written (Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts) and he closes with a quite disturbing story for Ashna about one of her favorite musicians Chuck Berry.   

Hear about the one time Tom swam naked where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood in Greece, Tom being called a racist in Calgary, Rotterdam riots, Kurt Vonnegut's speech that is still relevant today, childhood innocence in the movie Mustang and Tom trying to save the world with every punchline.

Learn about the funny situations we get in being an interracial couple and we experience deep levels of fear after watching the movie Get Out.

Should artist be defined by their personal mistakes? We talk Oscar blunders, Russia manipulating the masses, Tom continues talking about his book "The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists" & documentaries! 

Ashna and I talk about me turning 50, Putin's chess match with the world, the gullibility of the masses, best movies, the upcoming Academy Awards and the happy news out of London.

Ramy Youssef is one of the bright young stars burning it up in the comedy world right now. I worked with him last year and he is one of my favorite young comedians right now. If you are looking for a lovable young Muslim to build a television show around you need look no further than today's guest and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Ramy Youssef!

Jimmy Tingle is a political comedy beast! One of the finest examples of the quality comedy that has come out of Boston and he is also a recent Harvard University graduate. I remember seeing Jimmy busting heads on comedy shows when I was a youngster studying all things comedy and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Jimmy Tingle!

James Thiep was a former child soldier in Sudan, Africa. Now he is a standup comedian in the United States. Learn about his epic journey.

Not since Gutenberg's printing press has one human being's inventions improved the quality of life for people as much as Apple co-founder and principle creator Steve Wozniak.    I met Steve last month when he came to my show in Lake Tahoe. Fortunately for me the Woz loves jokes, humor and comedy in general so after sending him several heart felt e-mails requesting to chat with him he agreed, so last week while I was performing in San Francisco I drove down to Cupertino to record this conversation while him. This conversation was recorded at the Mandarin Oriental restaurant where Steve asked me to meet him. There is pleasant violin based classic music playing in the background because the owner politely delinked my request to turn off the music.    Steve Wozniak is not only a creative genius who has improved human life more than any other human being in the last 300 years, he also loves and cherishes humor and the story tellers who create the jokes.    He is exciting to talk to because he thinks so fast and can convey complicated information in a very simple way to be understood universally. His genius is not exclusively bound to his inventions that will lead the world to higher plains of consciousness and communications but it is the basic fact that he is a good person who genuinely cares about helping dreamer people like me wherever he can. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Steve Wozniak!   Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Movie clip from YouTube: Her TRAILER 1 (2013) - Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson Movie HD Movie clip from YouTube: Klaatu's warning Song from YouTube: Everybody's Free (inspirational speech of Baz Luhrmann) Recorded in Cupertino, CA. January 2014.    [Original broadcast date: Jan 28 2015]

Kim Dotcom is a German-Finnish Internet entrepreneur, currently residing in New Zealand. He is the founder of Megaupload and its associated websites, as well as Megaupload's successor site, Mega.  What makes Kim controversial is the fact that the American government is actively trying to extradite him from New Zealand to the US.  American comedian Tom Rhodes wanted to meet this enigmatic maverick of modern technology and show the human side of this public figure who is so often demonized in the mass media.  Recorded on the last day that Tom was in the country for the New Zealand International Comedy Festival. Kim & Tom are instantly united by their humor and a very honest open conversation about everything of relevance pertaining to Kim Dotcom is raised and discussed openly. Sources of news clips can be found on YouTube. Steve Wozniak, co founder of Apple, gives an interview where he defends Kim's actions and ways of doing business. Source of the interview clip with Tom Rhodes is from the program Nine to Noon hosted by Kathryn Ryan aired on Radio New Zealand . For full interview go to: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2555002/tom-rhodes Podcast theme song: 'New Generation' by The Universals End song: ' The Harder They Come'  by Jimmy Cliff (ORIGINAL BROADCAST DATE: 5/31/2013)

Truth seeking Freedom fighter comedy legend Barry Crimmins explains all you need to know about making the world a better place on TRRSC!

Joey Diaz & I bring head crunching thunder to this week's Tom Rhodes Radio Smart Camp!

Me and Ralphie May talk about the currents events of the day.

In this episode Ashna and I talk about the fan letters we have received from around the world recently, the improv class we have been taking at the Groundlings, the benefit that I put on for the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting victims which included my friends Bill Burr, Hannibal Buress and Anthony Jeselnik. The benefit also took place because Dave Chappelle encouraged me to do it. We also talk about the murders of five police officers in Dallas this week and the state of crisis currently griping the United States at the moment. To end this episode I have included the recording I made last year as I drove along with my cousin Officer Ron Ryan as he patrolled the streets of Boynton Beach, Florida. If there was ever a good cop to remind you that not all cops are bad and that most of them are committed to doing good for the community it is my cousin Ron. United We Stand Indeed People!

"I've spent the past 20 years of my life trying to make old white men uncomfortable." - Geoff Tate   

Greg Fitzsimmons and I solve all of the worlds problems. Let your healing begin here and now. My apologies for any slight audio issues that occur in this episode.

Feraz Ozel is a superstar waiting to happen. He is the all American boy you would want quarterbacking your team, the pilot flying your plane or the star lead of your favorite movie or TV show. Get to know him now here first before the rest of the world finds out about him. That is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Feraz Ozel.

Marc Maron and I have been friends since 1992 when we were both living in San Francisco in that city's golden era of comedy. In this conversation we talk about our history and the many ups and downs we have both experienced in the course of our friendship. Marc is the person who popularized the medium of podcasting and it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Marc Maron!  "Spite has fueled my entire career." - Marc Maron

Bobby Lee is one of the most honest and true to the bone human beings you will ever meet in show business. Just a taste of the valuable advice he has to give is this:  "When you go to audition in front of the network show them how to make love to a woman for the first time. Show them everything that you can do." The only thing that is real is now and the present moment and that is why it is my pleasure to bring to you now the one and only Bobby Lee!

Mike Tyson does not appear in this episode. Special guest commentary by the one and only Ryan Hicks. 

John Fugelsang combines intelligence and compassion in everything he does.  His comedy is sharp with a world view awareness and as a human being he did me the greatest favor when anger was consuming my thoughts several years ago.  It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only John Fugelsang!

Pete Dominick is a comedian and political talk show host on Sirius XM satellite radio. "The person who you disagree with politically might be the person who saves your life or changes it forever." This episode was recorded in New York City!  

I worked with Ronny Chieng in Sydney five years ago. Today he is a correspondent of The Daily Show. I sat down with him for a chat. Recorded in New York.

On April 21st Prince died which felt like losing a family member because he has been  such a profound influence in my life. I was lucky enough to have seen him in concert 4 times. The most special time I saw him was in 1995 when I was invited to a private party at Paisley Park. On April 22nd Ashna and I celebrated 5 years of being married. In this episode Ashna and I talk about our anniversary, the death of Prince, our recent trip to Montana and my Reno tweets. This episode is dedicated to His Purple Majesty, Prince Rogers Nelson, Peace Be Upon Him!

Barry Katz has dedicated his life to stand up comedy and like anyone who has done so he has experienced many highs and lows. His life's journey has been an epic tale and throughout it all he has remained one of the most positive good humored people I have ever known in this business. He once managed Louie CK, Dave Chappelle and Tracy Morgan. He produced Last Comic Standing for the first 7 years of that shows run and now he hosts his own podcast called The Industry Standard.  On his podcast he talks with agents, producers and television executives about the nuts and bolts of the entertainment industry. In this episode he gives invaluable advice on being a comedian, succeeding in television, succeeding in life and most importantly to me, picking yourself up after you have experienced the devastating tragedy of losing a loved one. This is a must listen to anyone who dreams of being a better comedian and a better human being. For me personally, I was also very happy to finally return to him his bathroom key that I walked away with accidentally when I was a guest on his podcast. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Barry Katz!

Gene Sullivan has a life story so incredible it should be made into a movie. His father was the renowned San Francisco Examiner sports writer Prescott Sullivan which got him dedicated to a life in sports. in 1969 he left a promising boxing career to be Evel Knievel's bodyguard before Evel was a household name. After money and fame went to Evel Knievel's head Gene broke out on his own as a daredevil who dedicated his life to Jesus and started his own daredevil ministry Jump For Jesus. jumpforjesus.net To hear Gene tell the story of leaving Knievel he says that "The bible tells us to turn away from evil." His jumps has a deep meaning and his life has a purpose. I met Gene Sullivan the last time I was in Montana 5 years ago on a search for the remnants of my boyhood hero Evel Knievel. Gene turned out to be the kind hearted guy I guess I had hoped Evel would have been had I ever met him. He and Evel Knievel made peace at the end of Evel's life and Gene gave the eulogy at his funeral. He is sought out for any movie or special made about the life of Evel Knievel because he was there for most of it. He can be seen in the new Johnny Knoxville produced documentary called 'Being Evel" He is someone I am proud to call a friend and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Gene Sullivan!   This conversation was recorded in Billings, Montana End Song: Chris Whitley  Big Sky Country Photo: Daniel Sullivan

Samba Schutte reminds me of myself because he left his home country to follow his heart. I met him when we did shows together many years ago in Holland. He won the biggest comedy prize anyone can win in the Netherlands and for good reason. He is a lovable, inventive comedian who I am proud to call my friend. Funny how the world spins some time. Please open your hearts and get to know the one and only Samba Schutte!

Our man Arbi El Ayachi reports from Belgium on the tragic events that happened in Brussels this past week and what it is like to do comedy there now with everyone tense and upset and not knowing what will happen next. This is a special edition of Tom Rhodes Radio on how to keep your sense of humor and how to remain positive in a modern war zone.

In this episode Ashna and I talk about my first trip to Africa, giant tortoises of Seychelles, the worst sunburn of my life, Alan de Botton's book The News, why humans have the need to constantly check on the news, more salacious facts about Donald Trump and the Mr. Ghetto video that is a pure expression of booty power!

Tom Rhodes Radio Smart Camp is here! Pick a book with Danny Lobell. This episode is all about meeting your heroes and getting to hang out with them. Danny shares stories of him hanging out with Jackie Mason, George Carlin, Mel Brooks and more. Be inspired and start your own journey!

Voltaire lived from 1694-1778 and he is considered the father of the enlightenment. Learn more about the man who said "God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh."

Post Oscars Chat with Ashna

Alex Hooper comes from a renowned theater family in Baltimore but today he is burning up the comedy scene in Los Angeles. He has the best prescriptions for treating humans with respect and getting the most out of life through creative expression. He also just got back from an epic trip to Argentina! He has a pure heart and a beautiful outlook on life and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Alex Hooper! This episode was recorded in Los Angeles.  

Gina and I talk before doing the Kuala Lumpur gala show in Malaysia. We talk about the differences between the comedy scene in Asia, London, New York and Los Angeles. About racism in today's society and how to stay true to your art despite the many obstacles in life. Gina is one of the best comedians I know and she kicks ass all over the world. Truly unique and inspiring to the soul. Always a pleasure the one and only Gina Yashere!

I sit down with my old friend and comedian Josh Sneed. We talk about his Last Comic Standing performance just minutes after his dad passed away and him touring with Mitch Hedberg. Life, comedy and all that jazz. 

Book Talk! I found this gem of a book at Eureka Books in Eureka, California.A Criminal History Of Mankind by Colin Wilson is a broad overview of human history and all of the horrendous criminal acts that humans have perpetrated against one another. I burned through all 670 pages of it in a few weeks and in this episode I talk about it and the events that I thought might enrich or deliciously foul up your brain.It is my pleasure to present to you now A Criminal History Of Mankind!

Winter Stories with Tom & Ashna. Cozy up and hear our winter travel stories. Send your winter photo to @_TomRhodes. See the dirty road photo @AshnaRodjan  

Rick Bronson is first and foremost a stand up comedian. Beyond that he is a TV presenter, comedy club owner and super mensch. He has been on of my greatest supporters in the business and someone I enjoy speaking with immensely because he knows that to love comedy above all else is the best way to navigate your life. That is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Rick Bronson! This episode was recorded in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada When you decide to sign up for Squarespace, make sure to use the offer code “tomrhodesradio" to get 10% off your first purchase  

  Fresh back from the movie theater, Ian Edwards and I sit down to talk about The Revenant right after it had played infant of our eyeballs. Hear what we liked and disliked about and how we would have ended the movie differently. Revenge movies are best when blood and snow are intertwined! Pop some popcorn and welcome back to the program the one and only Ian Edwards!   Recorded in Los Angeles

  Steve Byrne is one of the best human beings I've met in show business and his very presence combats some of the evil turds that permeate this business. That is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Steve Byrne!   This episode was recorded in Los Angeles  

Greetings for the New Year! I just spent the holidays getting loved up by my Mom and now I am in San Antonio, Texas performing for the weekend. As 2016 starts I reflect on the year that was 2015 and the current state of humanity. In this episode I talk about how 2015 was a giant leap backwards for humankind but a giant leap forward for me personally by finally finding a home for me and my vagabond bohemian wife Ashna in Los Angeles. Today, January 2 is an important day for me that I celebrate because it was 2 years ago on this date that I busted my head open in Philadelphia and decided never to drink again. Rejoice in the glory that is this new day with me and be born again for this new year. With the sun always rising somewhere I wish you all a Happy Sweet 16!   This episode was recorded in San Antonio End Song:    Left Frizzell   Shine, Shave, Shower, Its Saturday

Judah Friedlander is the world champion! He is also an old friend of mine and he has a brand new book called If The Raindrops United. He is also an intelligent conversationalist and the stuff we pack into this chat will bust your brains out. That is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Judah Friedlander!  This conversation was recorded in Los Angeles End Song: Eye Of The Tiger

Tom travels to the remote outlaw hideaway of Bisbee, Arizona for a late night-booze fueled talk with his old friend Doug Stanhope in the premiere episode of Tom Rhodes Radio.

Tamer Kattan is the answer to world peace. His mother is Jewish and his father is a Muslim Egyptian. We talk about everything what is happening in the world right now. 

I am in Florida moving my stuff I kept in my mom's attic. I found my first notebook full of jokes when I was 17 years old. After packing 20  packages for the post office I am having dinner with my mom, Richard, David, my nephew Jake and Ashna while sharing some of my first jokes. Hey, it's open mic night!  Sponsored by Audible.com! Get the 30 day trial membership on audible.com/tomrhodesradio David Edward Perry - TheBearShow.org Richard Goldstein Jake Goldstein - iiiband.com | https://www.facebook.com/IiiBand

I consider this my best interview yet. Find out what it feels like to be a Belgian muslim at this moment and what exactly is going on in Belgium right now. Arbi el Ayachi is a Belgian, Moroccan, Muslim and a great comedian. Do I need to say more? Find out what it's like when people who fit your exact description have just committed one of the worst atrocities in human history and you have to go on stage and be funny under a maximum terror threat. He is my friend, he has heart and he is a force for good in a world of hurt and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Arbi el Ayachi!

"Every religion needs to control their chumps. It's a war on happiness'. In this episode I talk everything Paris. Paris is in my heart. Je suis Paris. Opening: excerpt from La Marseillaise' by The National Anthem of the French Republic End song: Jacques Brel - Quand on n'a que l'amour

Henry Phillips is a one man comedy hit making factory. He established himself many years ago as a purveyor of original hilarious songs and tours regularly crushing skulls with his laugh inducing music. Aside from his music he has harnessed his abilities lately with the making of his underground classic comedy clips on youtube.   Henry's Kitchen is his humorous take on the many cooking videos that abound on the internet today, but none with the stinging hilarity that Henry infuses as his main ingredient. You & You're Fu*king Coffee is the other series of excellently written video short series clips that has become so popular that Mike Judge starred in one because he was such a fan of them. I highly recommend Henry's Big Foot episode of You & You're Fu*king Coffee with Rick Overton as the park ranger.   He is a man of many talents and someone who I am always happy to see because he is always striving for more in his creativity and he is the least pretentious person ever to work in show business and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Henry Phillips!   This episode was recorded in Los Angeles.

  While doing the Kuala Lumpur International Comedy Festival Matt Davis and I sat down to talk about doing comedy all over the world. Matt was inspired by my years of living the nomadic life of a comedian with no home and now he has thrown caution to the wind and he is on his own epic adventure. It is Matt's plan to tour all over the world for a year if he can set the gigs up to cover the time span and end his journey at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It is a brave ambitious plan and I was happy to meet up with him on his Asian segment of this journey. From here he will go to India and Africa. He needs help to plug in the holes in his calendar and I am just the guy to offer him help and advice. The man from Birmingham, Alabama is expanding his horizons and that is why it is my pleasure to welcome back to my show the one and only Matt Davis!   This episode was recorded in Kuala Lumpur End Song:  Lynyrd Skynyrd  Sweet Home Alabama   Official Website:  http://www.tomrhodes.net Albums on iTunes: http://apple.co/1HnYPOi Podcast Tom Rhodes Radio www.TomRhodesRadio.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/_TomRhodes @_TomRhodes Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/TomRhodesComedy  

My Vinyl record collection has been in storage for 10 years and now I am unleashing savory slices for you of the strangest and most wonderful obscure selections for your sonic gravy consumption. The servings in their running order include: Laughter and gunshotsThe Hindenburg DisasterEtta James Tell MamaBillie Holiday One for my baby and one more for the roadWill Rogers Bad Will TourBBC End Of World War II Louis Armstrong I've got the world on a stringGroucho Marx WC FieldsTom Lehr SmutAnthony Quinn In my own way... I love youTelly Savannas SomethingNat King Cole L O V EFlip Wilson The devil made me do itThe big sounds of the dragsGeraldine and Ricky Reading the bibleVan Morrison Town called paradise In the garden This episode was recorded in Los Angeles. (Update PT 1:27 PM: Obscure Vinyl_final 1:38:25 replaced with Obscure Vinyl_2_final.mp3 1:35:29)

In this episode I reflect on my many years coming to Chicago and how much this city has meant to me personally. From my years of partying in late night blues joints to the healthy living of briskly walking along Lake Michigan every morning of today. I talk about Chicago Fun facts, John Fox, Bernie Mac, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Howlin' Wolf, Zanies and my magnificent love story with Ashna that began with our first trip together to Chicago. In this episode I talk about why Bill Murray is my Buddha and the most perfect moment I have ever experienced in Chicago. Muddy Waters - I Am Ready   Willie Dixon - Back Door Man Muddy Waters - Long Distance Call  Bernie Mac on Def Comedy Jam Scene from Groundhog Day Bill Murray on Charlie Rose Robert Johnson - Sweet Home Chicago   This episode was recorded in Chicago  

After doing a weekend at the Omaha Funnybone I slipped down to Lincoln to do a gig at the historic Zoo bar. A few hours before my last show in Nebraska I sat down and recorded this rant of interesting knowledge nuggets about Nebraska, what I've experienced here and how I feel about a lot of the big issues of the day at this moment in time. After having having traveled the world Nebraska is a very exotic place to me. People in lumberjack shirts and Cornhusker hats seem like movie extras to me. Please enjoy the one and only me!   This episode was recorded in Lincoln, Nebraska   Tom Rhodes Black Power Netflix Suggestions: Winter on Rising Black Power Mix Tape  Nina Simone  No No Fela Muscle Shoals   End Song : Atlantic City by Bruce Springsteen  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-LIEr43_wk

I first met Jeffrey Gurian at the HBO Aspen comedy festival in 1995. Back then I was chasing the devil's flame in New York with Mitch Helberg 1998-1999, Jeffrey was there many times hanging out with us after shows and keeping notes on the exotic wild life he was observing.   His history in comedy is remarkable considering that he started out as a dentist who wrote jokes for Milton Berle, Joan Rivers, Rodney Dangerfield and Dice Clay. He has been around the business for so long many comedians say if you don't know Jeffrey Gurian you are not a real comedian.   Not only do I know him, he was kind enough to let me stay with him in his penthouse apartment on the Upper East side last year when I visited New York. He is a regular contributor to The Bennington program on Sirius XM and he also covers all the latest happenings in the comedy world at comedymatterstv.com and his red carpet coverage of major comedy events can be seen at youtube.com/GurianNewsNetwork In life there are not many true friends that will let you stay at their homes and keep you filled up with love and thoughtfulness but that is exactly the kind of friend he is to me and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Jeffrey Gurian!   This episode was recorded in New York City   End Song:   Hey, Brother Man        Mickey & The Soul Generation

Bas Rutten is a living legend in the fight world. He is in the UFC Hall Of Fame and is the perennial host of Inside MMA. He is one of the most intensely exciting pugilists ever to step into any ring and his charm as well as his skill led to the rising popularity of the sport when it was in its infancy. He is funny, intelligent and most importantly he is from Holland and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Bas Rutten!     This episode was recorded in Los Angeles End song: Classified feat. David Myles - Inner Ninja  

Friendship is one of the masterpieces of nature and I have never had two truer friends than Lou Angelwolf and Kevin Rogers. We all met as young comedians in Clearwater, Florida in 1986 at Ron Bennington's comedy scene and we were so earnest about influencing the world in a positive way through our comedy that we can ourselves The Sheperds. They have been there for me through thick and thin. We have cried together and laughed together and never not been friends and that is why it is my pleasure to introduce to you now the one and only Lou Angelwolf and Kevin Rogers! End song: My Morning Song by The Black Crowes This episode was recorded in St. Petersburg, Florida

Ian Edwards is one of my favorite comedians because of the supreme intelligence he brings to his well thought out ideas. He inspires  me every time I see him perform and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Ian Edwards!   End Song: Bob Marley Acoustic Medley This episode was recorded in Los Angeles  

I first met Mishka Shubaly at Doug Stanhope's desert party ten years ago. Since then he has gone on to become one of the best selling authors on Amazon and kindle for the heart felt outpouring of honest words that he has produced about his love life, ship wrecked survival, drinking and giving up drinking. He and I recently did a show together in Los Angeles and before the show we sat down to record this conversation which brims with the same honesty and lovingkindness that made me like him many years ago when we first met. His stories are epic and his heart is true and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Mishka Shubaly!   End Song: Tom Waits Old Shoes (& Picture Postcards) This episode was recorded in Los Angeles

One of the bright new young stars of the comedy world is the nephew of Bill Hicks. I could not have enjoyed more watching him perform and talking extensively as a friend and that is why it is a pleasure to present you now the one and only Ryan Hicks! NY State Of Mind by NAS    

Stefan Pop is one of the bright new stars of the Dutch comedy scene. He also books the international acts for Toomler, the best comedy club in the Netherlands. In this conversation we talk about the Malaysian airliner full of Dutch people that was shot down over the Ukraine and how soon is too soon to make jokes after a tragedy. Recorded in the back garden of an Amsterdam South home on a perfectly gorgeous summer day. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Stefan Pop! End Song: REM Orange Crush This episode was recorded in Amsterdam

Hooray for humanity! From the legendary Kids In The Halls comedy sketch group it is my pleasure to present to you the one and only comedic genius of Kevin McDonald!   End Song:  The Cure  Love Cats Recorded in Winnipeg, Canada

Pulitzer prize winning author Gilbert King is a library of congress of civil rights knowledge and in this episode he brings an avalanche of powerful knowledge nuggets. I have been friends with him since I did my first open mic night on February 4, 1984 and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Gilbert King!   End Song: Big Black Cadillac Blues - Lightnin' Hopkins       This episode was recorded in Howey In The Hills, Florida

Ron White is one of my favorite comedians and it is for very personal reasons that I am his fan. I started out on the Southern circuits of the United States just as Ron White did and I knew about him years before the rest of the world did because we were doing the same gigs.    I think what I like the most about Ron is I know how hard he worked to get where he is today and it gives me hope that it is possible for older hard working comedians to bust the lid off of show business and "make it."   When I watch him perform it is like watching your favorite team play who wins every time because he always delivers the goods. I love hearing him talk about his private jet and when I hear him do so I think to myself "Damn right brother, you deserve your own private jet."    Through the small world of comedy and the mutual friends we have I got to record this conversation with Ron last month in Las Vegas. I got to watch him from the back stage area of The Mirage casino destroy a sold out house, then I waited patiently as Olivia Newton John stopped by his dressing room to tell him she was a fan before I got to come into his dressing room to have this chat.   My favorite quote from this conversation is when he said "For change to happen, old people with their stupid ideas need to die." It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Ron White!         Standup Clips: Just For Laughs - Ron White A Little Unprofessional - Ron White (direct download > http://ronwhitespecial.com)   Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) - Oceanliners End Song: Jet Airliner - Paul Pena     This episode was recorded in Las Vegas

In celebration of America's birthday I have talked to people I consider to be great Americans talking about the rapid changes happening in the United States today. It is my pleasure to present to you now comedian Scott Capurro, Pulitzer price winner Gilbert King and my big brother John Rhodes!     YouTube clip 1: Watch Obama's phone call to same-sex marriage plaintiff   YouTube clip 2 & 3: President Obama delivers Eulogy – FULL VIDEO (C-SPAN)     End Song: Super Bad - James Brown   This episode was recorded in the USA  

Sam Coleman is currently the editor of Esquire magazine for Malaysia. I met him when I lived in Amsterdam where he was at that time the editor of ExPatriots magazine and he did a cover story on me when I had the late night talk show there. He is filled with valuable knowledge, he is a man of style, he has a kind golden heart and he is one of the truest friends I have ever had in this life. We have so much shared history together, I love him like a brother and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Sam Coleman!   This episode was recorded in Kuala Lumpur Endsong: Zina - Babylone    

This episode was recorded in Beijing. Tony Chou is a Beijing based comedian who does comedy in both Mandarin Chinese and English. If that alone was not enough to qualify him as a Beijing badass he is also an on air financial advisor/commentator for thew state run China news channel CCTV. He has become a good friend I respect that strong developments he has made as a comedian and a performer. In this conversation we talk about the rapid change that has taken place in Chinese society and how money is the religion of China. "I would rather cry in a BMW than laugh on a bike." It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Tony Chou!   End song:   Don Gibson    Sea Of Heartbreak 

This episode was recorded on the road   Driving from Los Angeles to San Francisco with the one and only legendary Dr. John Cooper Clarke.   Audio cameo: Some Cunt Used The N Word - John Cooper Clarke   Song: Cocksucker Blues - Rolling Stones   Song: The Spaniard Who Blighted My Life - Al Jolson and Bing Crosby Endsong: Pirate Love - Johnny Thunders    

This episode was recorded On The Road Driving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles I continue my chat with legendary punk rock poet Dr. John Cooper Clarke!   Audio Cameo: Alan Ginsberg Reading Howl Audio Cameo: Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver   End Song:  Little Richard   "The Girl Can't Help It"                                                                                                  

  On the road with John Cooper Clarke from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. End song: The Girl On Death Row - Duane Eddy/ Lee Hazlewood  

Rhodesies Smartcamp Book Review: Dillinger's Wild Ride by Elliott J. Gorn (book review) Endsong: Billy Grammer - The Ballad Of John Dillinger 1968 

As a member of the Screen Actors Guild I get viewing copies of each film that is nominated for Academy Awards every Oscar season. It is one of the perks I most enjoy about being a member of SAG. However, because of my busy touring schedule I was unable to watch the movies before the actual Academy Awards happened. Recently when I was home visiting my Mother I caught up on all of the movies I had missed with my Mom and my wife Ashna. I thought it would be funny to get my Mom's opinion on all of these movies since my Mom is a conservative Christian Republican with a much different world view than my own. We watched 3 movies at home and then sat down after each one and reviewed them. The 4th movie we watched was nominated for best foreign film and was playing at the Enzian theater in Maitland, Florida. The Enzian is the premiere independent art house theater of Orlando where I have watched movies throughout the years with my family and is one of my favorite places in my hometown of the Orlando area. The 4 movies that we watched and talk about in this episode are: Cake Boyhood Birdman Wild Tales   End Song:  Tupac Shakur   Dear Mama This episode was recorded in Oviedo, Florida

John Rhodes is my big brother and although we disagree on everything politically I love him very much and he is one of the greatest heroes I have ever had in my life and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only John Rhodes!   This episode was recorded in Claremont, Florida. End song: One Fine Morning by Callahan  

Howard Mabie was my Varsity baseball coach at Oviedo high school and he was one of the most influential people I had during my young life. Coach Mabie had a way of inspiring people and bringing out the best that they had to offer. He is a top quality human being who had a major impact on many lives in his coaching career and he was an integral part of what made Oviedo, Florida such a golden place of memories back in the time period when it was still a charming citrus village. He was not only funny, good natured and made young minds feel valuable but he was also a damn good Science teacher. In today's world with so much perversion, larceny and corruption in our school systems a man like Howard Mabie is hard to come by and that is why I am celebrating him here. Throughout my life whenever there has been a situation where I got to play baseball or softball I am still to this day a deadly hitter and that is because of the skills that he taught me. The wisdom and philosophy in baseball that he taught me I have quoted and applied to my life ever since.  "You should never be trying to hit a homer, a homer should be the accident of a line drive." He is retired from teaching and coaching now but the lives that he touched still continue to do great things out in the world and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Coach Howard Mabie!   End Song:   John Fogerty  Centerfield This episode was recorded in Oviedo, Florida.

I first met Nick Doody in Meribel, France when we were both performing at the Altitude festival together. Since then I have worked with him many times in London and Edinburgh. He is a striver and an achiever because he is not lazy and is always trying to bust out new material which I always find inspiring. I like his style and his intelligence that he brings to the stage and most importantly in the course of our friendship we never chit chat about insignificant things but always dig deep into each others brains where the best thoughts live. I have always said that London was the key to getting into the world wide circuits for me but what keeps pulling me back there other than some of the best audiences this planet has to offer is the countless genius comedian friends I have there of which I include Nick without hesitation. I often like to see comedians as gun fighters because of the fearlessness with which they have to stare down threatening beasts. I've seen him tame wild beasts and make them purr by rubbing their bellies with intelligent thoughts and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Nick Doody!   End Song: Bob Dylan    Caribbean Wind Recorded in London England

Karl Spain is one of the most naturally funny human beings I have met in all my years as a stand up comedian. If you are unfamiliar with his presence on this earth than his wit and charm of this conversation will make you a fan of his for life. He never fails to make me laugh hard gut tightening laughter and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Karl Spain!   This episode was recorded in Galway, Ireland.

I have been a fan of Eleanor Tiernan since I first worked with her in Dublin many years ago. Since then I have worked with her in London, Chicago and Edinburgh and my strong feelings about her brilliant comedy only gets reconfirmed every time I see her perform.    This past October 2014 I worked with her again in Galway at the Galway International comedy festival. She was doing a shot called the 'National Therapy Project' in which she gives the entire country of Ireland and the entire race of Irish people a therapy session so that they can forgive themselves for past guilt and real or imagined transgressions that have been inflicted upon them.    I loved this show but as I stated earlier I am biased because I love her and think this concept for a show was as joyous of a ride ride as you will ever experience in a comedy or theater festival performance. Even as I type these words her star power is increasing to its brightest wattage and if you are a fan of great comedy and don't know who Eleanor is then you will be pleased to get to know her further here now and see why I am such a believer in her and her comedy.   In honor of St. Patrick's Day it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Eleanor Tiernan!     This episode was recorded in Galway, Ireland. October 2014.

Jesse Joyce is a supreme bad ass when it comes to writing, creating and producing head crunching comedy thunder. I first met Jesse when we both performed on Dave Attell's Comedy Underground show for Comedy Central. Jesse not only performed on that show but he was also the main writer for Dave who helped him shape his monologues for that show. I next saw and worked with Jesse when I did @midnight for Comedy Central. Jesse is one of the main writers for @midnight and his comedy writing talents are in great demand. In this conversation we talk about the joys and benefits of not drinking and the many great comedians who have perished or risen above dying by the sword of booze. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Jesse Joyce!   End song: The Rolling Stones - Winter Recorded in Venice Beach, Ca. September 2014.

When I think of Andy Andrist I am reminded of a Bob Dylan quote "Never give anyone a hard time because you don't know what they have been through or what burden they may be carrying."   I met Andy at one of Doug Stanhope's desert parties and admittedly Andy was whacked out of his skull on psychedelic mushrooms at the time.    We recount this story in this conversation because I was greatly annoyed by Andy at the time. Now looking back it is very comical as to why he was annoying me but that is the thing with drugs, while you are on them you have no idea of the amount of people that you are irritating.    Since then I have gotten to know Andy much better and the incredible life journey he has been on and what it took for him to heal from the heinous experiences of his childhood.    Andy is one of the best friends of Doug Stanhope and it was Doug who was instrumental in helping Andy confront the man who had committed the heinous acts against him that rob him of his childhood innocence. I have come to know Andy very well in the years since we first met and he is the kind of comedian that I love to be around because his is not always "on" and when he does say something funny, it from out of nowhere and is always sharply a direct hit.    Last year in Las Vegas, he and I were on Doug Stanhope's podcast when someone mentioned that hippies don't go to Las Vegas. Andy said "That is because you can't gamble with vibes." That line still cracks me up.    This episode was recorded last summer when I had a week off between shows in San Francisco and Portland.  Ashna and I took a leisurely drive up the California coast into Oregon to enjoy the great Northwest. We stopped off in Eugene. Oregon where Andy lives and he stopped by our hotel to say hello and record this conversation. Eugene, Oregon is a lovable enclave of intellectual learning and is one of the most livable places in America. As for the guest of this episode, you will rarely find a person with more strength of mind, strength of character and who can cut your heart out with a precisely placed funny line and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Andy Andrist!   Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners   Stand-up clip: Andy Andrist's HBO 'Down and Dirty' set, May '08 End song: Bright Eyes – Lua   Recorded in Eugene, Oregon. July 2014.  

Ophira Eisenberg is one of the most lovable human beings and powerful performers I have ever met in all my years in entertainment.   She is the darling of NPR, being heavily involved in their successful story telling series The Moth and she also hosts the weekly NPR game show Ask Me Anything.   Because of these sterling credits I had expected her to be more of a story based performer, but even though her personal stories do pop up in her live performances I was blown away by her stand up comedy skills and how hard she throws down her comedy thunderbolts.    I first met Ophira briefly last summer in Amsterdam when I finished my week at Toomler and she was just arriving to do hers. Even slightly jet lagged her ebullient personality shined brightly and I liked her instantly. This past weekend we were both doing the Aspen Laff Festival in Aspen, Colorado. There were brilliant comedians galore and the camaraderie was tight with all of us watching each other's sets and enjoying our time together performing at the Wheeler Opera House. I was happy to get to know Ophira and to laugh at her battle tested tales of a life fully lived.    She is originally from Calgary, Alberta, Canada but now makes her home in New York City. She is someone I would love to do anything with, be it touring together, working together on a project or just hanging out playing Scrabble. She has a quick wit that is always ready to stab you with a punchline and an easy infectious laugh that is as pleasing as it is calming.   If you are unaware of her presence on this earth, after listening to this conversation you will like her as much as I do and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Ophira Eisenberg!   Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Stand-up clip 1 & 2: Bangs – Ophira Eisenberg Stand-up clip 3: As is – Ophira Eisenberg End song: Leaving on a Jetplane – Peter, Paul and Mary   Recorded in Aspen, Colorado. February 2015.  

Richard Leiby is one of the most respected journalists in the United States. He was one of the first reporters to write about Scientology in the 1980s and he has covered the Iraq & Afghanistan wars. For several years he was the bureau chief in Pakistan for the Washington Post. He is now senior writer and editor Style Section of the Washington Post where he has worked for nearly 25 years.    I have been friends with him for exactly 20 years now, we met at the first HBO Aspen comedy festival in February 1995 and he also wrote about me and my Dad in April 1995 when I made Viva Vietnam! for Comedy Central and that special premiered in Washington D.C. He is one of the wise Buddhas in my life who I can go to to decipher the chaos of world events or if I need a source of higher world knowledge.   We have gotten together every year when I come to D.C. with the exception of those few years he was based in Pakistan. With all of the heart wrenching world events happening lately it was a perfect time to sit down with him and talk about events and the workings of modern journalism.    This conversation was recorded at the Washington Post on a brutally cold February afternoon but it contains the warm glow of two decades of friendship. He is his own library of Congress possessing oceans of valuable information and he is one of my oldest dearest friends whose opinion on important matters I greatly cherish and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Richard Leiby!     Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners   Ask Me Tell Me Anything: Roger from Norway   End song:  Bustin’Loose – Chuck Brown & The Soul Searches (1978)   Recorded in Washington, DC. February 2015.

Paul Provenza is a true Renaissance man of comedy. Having gain worldwide critical success for his film the Aristocrats, the history of the world's dirtiest joke, he went on to create and star as the host of the comedy cult classic series the Green Room. Then if that wasn't enough to solidify a career he thereafter co-produced the show Set List, where comedians go onstage with nothing prepared and are given their set list on the spot to see what they can invent.   Paul is a philosophical good hearted dreamer who has lived in Venice Beach, CA for 30 years. This past year when I have come to LA I have been staying in Venice Beach. We recorded this on a Saturday afternoon in February in Paul's living room, as much as I always enjoy talking with him this recording has the added bonus that I could see the waves of the Pacific ocean crashing over Paul's shoulder.   He is currently directing Kelly Carlin in her one woman show about her life and being George Carlin's daughter. I had seen the show 2 nights earlier and asked Paul if we could record this conversation. We talk about how doing comedy and seeing comedy is a defiant act now since world news attacks on humor, we talk about how people are seeking authenticity now because they are fed up with the bullshit they have been spoon fed for so long. We talk about the slaughter at Charlie Hebdo and the geopolitical corporate powers won't let us hear alternative Muslim voices because they need to convey a clear enemy in their propaganda.   I love Paul because whenever I talk to him it's never not lofty and seeking world turmoil solutions. He is a comedy legend, a brilliant human being and I am proud to present to you now the one and only Paul Provenza!   Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners   End song:  Wanted: Lover (No Experience Necessary) – James Govan     Recorded in Venice Beach, CA. February 2015

Brent Weinbach is one of the most inventive and absurdly hilarious young comedians I can recommend to people at the moment.    I first met Brent many years ago when he was starting out in San Francisco. He is always exciting to watch because you never know where his premises for jokes will come from.    He was also at the Edinburgh Fringe festival in 2014 and I got to see him destroy the intelligent European audiences. He is soft spoken and never arrogant and looks like he may never have smiled one day in his life. I love him as a human being and a comedian.   His jokes are outlandish and inventive in their absurdity and he never fails to impress me with his joke writing skills. We sat down a few months ago at the Hollywood Improv to record this conversation and it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Brent Weinbach!   Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners   Stand-up clip from YouTube: Brent Weinbach at Lopez Tonight   End song:  Finley Quaye – Sunday Shining    Recorded in Los Angeles, 2014

Not since Gutenberg's printing press has one human being's inventions improved the quality of life for people as much as Apple co-founder and principle creator Steve Wozniak.    I met Steve last month when he came to my show in Lake Tahoe. Fortunately for me the Woz loves jokes, humor and comedy in general so after sending him several heart felt e-mails requesting to chat with him he agreed, so last week while I was performing in San Francisco I drove down to Cupertino to record this conversation while him. This conversation was recorded at the Mandarin Oriental restaurant where Steve asked me to meet him. There is pleasant violin based classic music playing in the background because the owner politely delinked my request to turn off the music.    Steve Wozniak is not only a creative genius who has improved human life more than any other human being in the last 300 years, he also loves and cherishes humor and the story tellers who create the jokes.    He is exciting to talk to because he thinks so fast and can convey complicated information in a very simple way to be understood universally. His genius is not exclusively bound to his inventions that will lead the world to higher plains of consciousness and communications but it is the basic fact that he is a good person who genuinely cares about helping dreamer people like me wherever he can. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Steve Wozniak!   Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Movie clip from YouTube: Her TRAILER 1 (2013) - Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson Movie HD Movie clip from YouTube: Klaatu's warning Song from YouTube: Everybody's Free (inspirational speech of Baz Luhrmann)   Recorded in Cupertino, CA. January 2014. 

John Cooper Clarke is quite possibly the coolest human being walking the earth and performing on it's stages today. He is the English language's premier punk rock poet who started out in his verbal vocation in the late 1970s performing in clubs with the Sex Pistols, The Buzzcocks, Elvis Costello and Joy Division. For a brief period he lived with Nico from Velvet Underground. He invented the street where street credibility is earned and received.    I first met John in Edinburgh during the Fringe festival in 1999. I went to see his show with Greg Proops and Greg's wife Jennifer. They knew John Cooper Clarke and we all got to hang out together drinking and laughing all night. I have been quoting for years some of the whip crack smart lines I heard John perform that night.    Cut to October 2014 and I am doing the Galway International comedy festival with John Cooper Clarke and we got to rekindle our friendship and get back to our main business of laughing and joking all night.    Born in 1949 he is getting up there in age which makes it even more powerful that he is playing to sold out rooms full of young people hanging on his every word and screaming their heads off with laughter.    He is the personification of cool and his poems always pack a punch that make you howl with laughter.    He is the man that I want to be when I am older, he's got style, a love of life and and an impeccable style of dress.    In November 2014 he came to Los Angeles to film a music video for MacArthur Park and I got to hang out with him for a few days while he was in town staying at the London hotel for his first paid work visit to Hollywood.   I'm proud to call him a friend and you will be happy to know him too if you are unaware of his existence. He is historically important to performance art, comedy and spoken word performance and it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only John Cooper Clarke.     Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners 1 Clip from YouTube: The First Televised Oscars Opening in 1953 2 Movie clip from YouTube: James Cagney in White Heat - Top of the World - COLORIZED 3 Song from YouTube: Shombalor - Sheriff and the Ravels - HQ 4 Poem from documentary’ BBC - Evidently... John Cooper Clarke’:  Kung Fu International – John Cooper Clark 5 Poem from documentary’ BBC - Evidently... John Cooper Clarke’:  The Pest – John Cooper Clarke 6 Song from YouTube: The Velvet Underground - Sister Ray (MONO, Best Sound) 7 Poem from documentary’ BBC - Evidently... John Cooper Clarke’:  Things Are Gonna Get Worse – John Cooper Clark 8 Poem: Beasley Street - John Cooper Clarke 9 Song from YouTube: RIO BRAVO My Rifle, My Pony, and Me/Cindy - Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and Walter Brennan (legendado) 10 Movie clip from YouTube: Evidently Chickentown - The Best Sopranos Ending Ever 11 End Song: I Wanna Be Yours - Arctic Monkeys 12 Clip from YouTube: Bob Hope Christmas Special (1967) Recorded in West Hollywood, CA. December 2014.     

This episode was recorded in Venice Beach, CA   I met Louis Katz in December 2013 when we were both filming Dave Attell's Comedy Underground for Comedy Central in New York City.  I was impressed with his punching power and how offbeat his topics were.  Like a freight train out of nowhere this peaceful looking guy was coming out with dark twisted melodramatic heroic tales in his joke premises and I found it as refreshing as some people do with watching sunsets with cold Pacific winds. Louis was raised in Los Angeles, started doing comedy in San Francisco and now lives in New York. I have bumped into him several times in the past year and fate kept pushing us together to sit down and record this conversation.  I think it is perfect to release this now during the harshest point of dark winter because this was one of my most sunny happy moments of last summer. I was staying at a friend of mine's beach house just one block away from the ocean. It was a brilliantly sunny day sitting on lawn chairs underneath a large umbrella canopy. I had been there all week amazed at the silence and how you could hear the roar of the Pacific ocean's waves crashing in the distance.  Of course while we recorded this chat LA police helicopter circled overhead several times and at one point a neighbor dog starts barking mad. It is an audio taste of real life Los Angeles in the background of a conversation loaded with life's greatest wisdom... Where to get the best pastrami on rye sandwich in LA, Langers. How San Francisco is the Jerusalem of stand up comedy and how your act should be a dialogue and not a monologue. And how the answer to it all is big brown bulbous ass!  He is one of the most refreshingly dark and twisted comedians I have met in many years and if I am anywhere near when this man is introduced I while be in the back of the room hotly anticipating what will come out of his mouth next. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Louis Katz!   Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners YouTube clip 1: All in the family England is a fag country! Stand-up clip from YouTube 2: Louis Katz stand up on HBO's "Down n' Dirty with Jim Norton" End song: Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand –Primitive Radio GodsRecorded in Venice Beach, California. March 2014

If comedy were boxing I would rank Paul Ogata in the top ten of the all around, pound for pound, heavy hitters.    I first bonded Paul when we did Beerfest in Singapore together years ago. Beerfest is one of the funnest experiences you can plan for yourself on a visit to Singapore, with it's outdoor music and beer tents but as a comedian with loud music blasting through canvas it is one of the toughest gigs that only real pros could muster. Paul and I bonded over the toughness of those circumstances in Singapore, respected each other for not capitulating and have been close friends ever since.   I first met Paul many years ago when we performed together in Honolulu. Paul grew up in Honolulu and has a Hawaiian laid back chill that makes you think he is mild mannered until he gets on stage and rips the heads off of people with his superior jokes.    Paul is huge in Hong Kong, Sydney and some places in the US but he is one guy I believe in and know it is a matter of time before the rest of the world finds out about him.    His humor is accessible on so many levels from his punchlines always pack a kick. He is one of my favorite human beings and he has been around paying his dues getting banged up and proving himself in battle that when his star does one day soon pop you can know for a fact that this man earned his place in the world.    This conversation was recorded at the Safari Inn in Burbank, CA were they filmed scenes for the film 'True Romance'. He is a true Samurai master of stand up comedy and it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Paul Ogata.   Audio Cameo: Matt Corsey   Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Tell Me Anything, Ask Me Anything: Billy from St. Louis Stand-up clip from YouTube 1: Paul Ogata Stand-up  Movie clip from YouTube: True Romance – Best Scene Stand-up clip from YouTube 2: Paul Ogata - The Problem With Po' Folks Food End song: Everywhere – Fleetwood Mac Movie clip from YouTube: True Romance final scene   Recorded in Burbank, CA at the Safari Inn. February 2014  

Robert Hawkins is not only one of the funniest human beings alive he is also one of my dearest best friends. Robert is of those rarest creatures in that he is almost as funny off stage as he is onstage. I first meet Robert in the early 1990s when we were both playing at the River Center comedy club together in San Antonio, Texas. Robert was the MC, I was the middle act and Nick DiPalo was the headliner, what a show!    Robert is originally from Hollywood, Florida. I always love to say to him "You are so Hollywood... Florida." Because we both grew up in Florida we can always laugh about the unique and disturbing ridiculousness of our home state.   He didn't start doing stand until he got out of the army in Texas so Texas is also a major factor in his life as is San Francisco as he and I both lived there at the same time.    Career highlights aside from Conan appearances include being a writer for Christopher Titus' sitcom and for many years now he has been the opening act for Ron White. For me Robert will always be significant because he never fails to make me laugh and he has been a friend to me through thick and thin never once leaving me hanging if I were having troubles.    Robert and Dan Gabriel were the ones who introduced me to Bikram Yoga in 2004 and we compare notes on that practice and talk about it at great length in this episode. "The best thing about Bikram Yoga is quieting your mind." In this conversation Robert and I talk about the Ice Cream Truck business we thought of starting, why should should pick your favorite team in the playoffs, the gold fish project of Amsterdam, family discounts in Thailand, why you should never have sex with a comedy club waitress on the first night of the week, why you should write and try out two jokes a day minimum and the most brilliant invention of all 'The Smoothie Phone.'   He is one of my favorite living human beings walking the earth today and it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Robert Hawkins!   Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners   Stand-up clip 1: Compilation of ‘Quitting Smoking’, ‘In The Army’ and YouTube clip ‘Gay Pride Parades - Robert Hawkins’.   Stand-up clip from YouTube 2: Ron White's Comedy Salute to the Troops Robert Hawkins   Audio Cameo: Standing Bow Posture (Bikram Yoga)   Stand-up clip 3: ‘Write Home’   End song:  Wanted: Lover (No Experience Necessary) – James Govan     Recorded in Dallas, Texas. March 2014

The day we recorded this, it was brutally cold rain with heavy winds outside.   Todd Barry is a perennial force of continuous head busting comedy for many decades now. The fact that Todd grew up in Florida and that he is one of the most respected comedians to have ever have started out there makes him feel like he is a part of my extended family. As long as I have been around, Todd has been around. From the earliest Comedy Central and MTV comedy shows to all of the best comedy festivals world wide.    He has appeared multiple times on Letterman and Conan, as well as delivering highly acclaimed comedy specials. He is one of the most respected comedians in the business and Louis CK is one of his most ardent supporters, having highlighted Todd as himself as a reoccurring character on the smash hit FX show 'Louie'.     Louis Ck even produced Todd's most recent live audio recording called 'Crowd Work'. Todd's unique brand of comedy as well as his signature delivery has made him a staple on several animated series voicing characters on Dr. Katz and Squidbillies. Todd started doing stand up comedy in South Florida and moved to New York City where he still lives today. This conversation was recorded at the Salt Hill Hotel in Galway, Ireland. Todd and I were both doing the Galway Comedy Festival together and this was the tail end of a European and Scandinavian tour he was on.   It is a special honor to know the quiet thunder of his personality and to have seen him kick so much comedy ass through all of these years and it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Todd Barry!   Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Tell Me Anything, Ask Me Anything: Liam from Cambridge & at the moment rocking with his band ‘Tape Runs Out’. Send him a message if you like his music! http://www.soundcloud.com/tape-runs-out Stand-up clip from YouTube 1: Todd Barry Stand-Up 03/24/14 Stand-up clip from YouTube 2: Todd Barry Stand-Up 09/04/12 - CONAN on TBS End song 1: MacDougal Blues – Kevin Kinney    End song 2: Friends – Tape Runs Out      Recorded at the Salthill Hotel in Galway, Ireland on a horrible cold and windy day. October 2014   Become a member of Tom Rhodes Radio and get access to my latest stand up and my weekly diary travel clips!          

  You are about to experience the creative power of Sananda Maitreya!   The man has been a hero of mine since he first burst onto the scene because I had read that he grew up in Florida and then went on to become an internationally renowned artist living in Europe and still tantalizing the world with his creations.   With his last release of 'Return To Zooathalon' and his brand new release of 'The Rise Of The Zugebrian Time Lords' he is in my mind the JR Tolkien of Rock & Roll. Zooathalon is the paradise where we once trusted ourselves to be the masters of who we are. The Zugebrian Time Lords are trying to control your life and tell you who you are. As epic as this multilayered concept is, with it's metaphor of how in our modern consciousness and vanity you can be punished by being cast in a state of scrambled pixilation, I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression that these current recordings are not also packed with his ultimate strength of exquisitely articulated and soulfully expressed love songs.   I have been a fan of Sananda Maitreya since he first hit the airwaves many years back recording under a different name. In the last few years as Ashna and I have dedicated our off time from touring to exploring Italy I found out that Sananda currently lives in Milan with his amazing wife, two young children and continues to record noteworthy epics. Last year I got to have him as a guest on Tom Rhodes Radio when he released 'Return To Zooathalon.'   We recorded the conversation over Skype and I found him to be just as witty and charming as his writings that can be found at Sananda.org so it was my mission this year to meet him face to face and record another episode.   We recorded this in his state of the art recording studio where he records all of his music and plays every instrument on those recordings.   It felt like going to Willie Wonka's chocolate factory and getting a personal audience with Willie Wonka himself. His kind eyes and easy humor instantly evaporated my hero worship and made me feel as if I had been friends with the man for years. It is impressive when you meet people who are solid examples of how to conduct business professionally. Not only was everything set up for us to record when I got there but a photographer was there to capture our togetherness but also a film crew recorded a multi camera shoot of it as well that can be viewed at youtube.com/SanandaMaitreya .    This conversation was just the tip of the iceberg on the glorious day Ashna and I had with Sananda Maitreya and his glorious family. After this recorded he invited us over to his house for lunch where his wife cooked us a wonderful meal and we got to meet his two sons Elvis and Mingus. If seeing those two perfect joyful children doesn't make Ashna's ovaries start to knock then nothing will. Sananda invited me into his library complete with grand piano where we continued to talk endlessly about everything.   Seeing the titles of his books indicates what a lofty intelligent thinker this man is. Goethe, Balzac, Celine and other philosophers of heights I have yet to comprehend. By the time our evening together ended I felt like I was his blood brother and that I was saying goodbye to a relative. They say that you should never meet your heroes but in this case Sananda is the exception to that rule.   It was worth every Euro cent that it cost to get there and have this personal experience with a man that I have admired and appreciated for many years. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Sananda Maitreya!   Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Song 1: It's Yours Song 2: If I Fell End song: Siamo Qui  Recorded in Milan, Italy – October 31, 2014 Official website www.Sananda.org    There will be a video interview be available at www.youtube.com/SanandaMaitreya  + the release of THE RISE OF THE ZUGEBRIAN TIME LORDS chapter 5 at www.Sananda.org/newmusic

Kevin Meaney is one of my favorites because I will never forget watching him on television with my Dad and he made us both laugh out loud together. From then on my Dad would quote one of Kevin's jokes to me when he thought I might be on drugs "What are you hopped up on goofballs?"   To see Kevin Meaney perform today is to see him funnier than he has ever been.   If Depression, jail time and being stung by hornets can make you funnier in the retelling of those hard luck occurrences than Kevin is at the height of his powers and this episode is going to leave your sides hurting with laughter.   This year has been a tough year on Kevin Meaney especially with the shittiest moment being sent to jail for a misunderstanding at JFK airport when he was on his way to Israel to do shows. As much as I love him and feel terrible for what happened to him I can't help but howl with laughter and that is the gift of a great comedian.   "You can't cry in jail, you have to be tough. You can't show fear in county jail."   He thought using the toilet in the open shared jail cell was his lowest moment until a school class trip came through to scare the kids by showing them how they shouldn't end up in life.    This episode was recorded at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. I flew in a day early before I was to do a week performing at Brad Garrett's in Las Vegas. Kevin Meaney was closing out his week and I went to see his show that night.   Geechy Guy and Shayma Tash watched the show with me and after Kevin's show we all went back to my room to record this conversation.    He is a man that I love very much as a human being. I wish that he would make a musical out of his jail experience. We talk about how depression is a serious medical condition and how the death of Robin Williams made him be more determined to be who he is. At all times through the toughest retelling of his pain he is lovable and hilarious and it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Kevin Meaney!    Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Stand-up clip from YouTube 1: Kevin Meaney: Gay stuff; Mall shitters Stand-up clip from YouTube 2: Kevin Meaney - "Why do you do this to your father and I?" End song: Everybody – Tommy Roe   Recorded in Las Vegas, September 2014  

Pete Johansson is someone I always love to run into because when I see him it always results in intelligent lofty conversation. He has never been one to waste his time on small talk chit chat as his brain has more value to offer and he has never been one to bullshit anyone.    Since I first met Pete we have had epic wine drinking evenings where we dissected the world's problems and laughed ourselves silly until the sunrise. He is a part of the Canadian comedy collective of what I consider to be Canada's finest comedians who make their home currently in London.   The philosophical nature of his comedy is why I am a fan of his work but it is his dedication to squeezing every drop of fun out of life is what attracts me to him as a friend.    He was in Edinburgh for this year's Fringe festival where I got to spend many great nights talking and hanging out with him but we did not get to sit down and record this conversation until I was in London performing at the SOHO theater. As The Kings Of Leon sing about London "Those rainy days ain't so bad when you're the king."    One of the reasons I love to go to London other than the fact that it is one of the comedy capitols of the world is because of the brain nourishment I get from talking with genius friends of mine like Pete Johansson. He always tours worldwide as I do and aside from that he and I share a curiosity about life and attaining higher plains of love and consciousness.    It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Pete Johansson!        Cameo: Tom Rhodes, You Are a Globetrotting Comedy Guru – Papa Razzi and The Photologs   Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners   Tell Me Anything, Ask Me Anything: Ray from Sweden, Freddy, Joel from Fort Worth, Roger and James   Stand-up clip from YouTube 1: Pete Johansson – USA, Marijuana and the Chinese Olympics – Youtube   Stand-up clip from YouTube 2: Pete Johansson – Big Girls – YouTube   End song: Fans – Kings of Leon   Recorded in London, September 2014

Rich Hall is to comedy what Johnny Cash is to country music.   The man is a living legend, having won Emmys for his writing for David Lettermen, was on SNL and Not Necessarily The News, he invented his own language with Snigglets and he won the grand prize at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2000.    For me personally, Rich Hall has been a great friend and someone I look up to who inspires me, especially with the amount of comedy ass he still kicks. Internationally respected and adored everywhere microphones are plugged in.    When I filmed Viva Vietnam for Comedy Central years ago I could bring one writer with me and I chose Rich. We bonded in 'Nam baby! I've been to visit him in Montana 3 times and I would not know the unbridled glory that is Montana had it not been for Rich. After Rich moved to London he encouraged me to come over because  he thought I would do well there. Not only did he coach me on the right chess moves to getting in with London but for 5 years he let me keep a key to his phenomenal flat on Fitzroy Square.    From London I got to springboard to the world so it is safe to say that all of the amazing life I have got to lead might not have happened had it not been for my friendship with Rich. Not only have I been inspired to watch him work and see where his career path choices have taken him but he has also been kind of a wise Buddha to me. Or better yet he is Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Hank Williams and Lee Marvin to me. He is one of the heroes of my life and I am eternally grateful that in a world filled with so many full of shit people I made friends with Rich Hall and that our worldwide golden experiences together continue to multiply.    We recorded this conversation while we were both doing the Galway Comedy Carnival festival last month on a blustery cold grey day inside the Salt Hill hotel. He is an American comedy gunslinger badass who ain't the one who would ever leave town before the shooting started and it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Rich Hall!     Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners   Stand-up clip from YouTube: Rich Hall: Why I hate the Tea Party - Live at the Apollo - Series 7 - BBC Comedy Greats Stand-up clip from YouTube: Rich Hall - Dirty South - Biopic Clip.wmv   End song: She Left Me For Jesus – Hayes Carll   Recorded at The Salthill Hotel in Galway, Ireland, October 2014

This episode was recorded in Amsterdam. Sander Borst is the quintessential Dutch bad ass. He is one of my oldest friends in Amsterdam. I met him when I first came to Holland to perform at Toomler comedy club where he was a bartender. He was performing in a punk rock band called the Skidmarks when we met and we hit it off easily by talking about music together. After I moved to Amsterdam I had many great music experiences with Sander and The Skidmarks. He has been one of my best friends in the city and he has always been there for me through life's ups and downs. No one knows my personal history of Amsterdam better than him and I also know all that he has been through in his life and the different turns his music career has taken that led him to where he is today. As a man I respect him and the way he has always conducted himself as a human being. He is the strong smart handsome Dutch man hero of my book.  After the Skidmarks came his hard rocking alternative country band called Check 1-2. Sander has given me each of his releases through the years just as I have also give him all my releases as they happen too. I'm a fan!  I love his dedication to his music and the fun intensity he puts into each songs execution. I am a fan of every project he has committed himself to and the bands he has played in all have an end of the world, end of your life, going the have a good time if we have to wreck the place energy.  After Check 1-2 He played in a swinging alternative country band called The Pedro Delgados. Because I want you to know his music, Sander has allowed me to take you on a musical journey through the course of this conversation.  Now he has infused whiskey thumping honky tonk into his musical equation and his current band is called The Leadbeaters.  In this conversation we talk about his music, our friendship, peculiarities of Dutch culture and why telling a Dutch person I love you produces suck awkward reactions. This episode is about me introducing you to my friend's music that has happily been playing in my eardrums but is also about celebrating friendship.  He is one of the truest friends I've ever had and it is my pleasure to present to you the one and only Sander Borst.  Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Song 1: The Skidmarks – Read My Rights  Song 2: Check 1-2 – Bring It All Down   Song 3:  Check 1-2 – One Way Track Song 4:   The Pedro Delgados – Sing High Sing Low Song 5:   Leadbeaters – Bootleggers Blues End song: Leadbeaters – Casey Jones Recorded in Amsterdam, October 2014

This episode was recorded in Galway, Ireland I met Reginald D. Hunter many years ago in Manchester while hanging out with a group of comedians. It was before he became the comedy superstar that he is today. I liked him when we met so I have been cheering him on through the ensuing years when I saw him on countless British panel chat shows. Because he is from Georgia I felt Southern comedic pride watching him rise and it made me think that I knew him better than I actually did.  Last month we were both in Galway, Ireland to do the Galway Comedy Carnival and it was the first time we got to sit down and talk one on one.  He left his home in Georgia and headed to England many years ago to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic acting. After graduating he started his comedy career in England and as a result he is a much bigger star in the far reaching signals of the BBC than he is on American television.  Reg is an American original subversive thinker and he is a true master of stand up comedy.  In his own words "I want to represent the people who want to have intelligent discourse." Or "I decided a long time ago that I wasn't going to coon on television." I was happy that I got to see Reginald perform several times in Galway.  It was harsh cold wind and rain while while we were in Ireland and it was a perfect comedy festival to stay inside and talk with your friends. His spiritual wisdom and Southern charm will light up any grey day and his advice to comedians is among the best yet given on this program. "Seriousness is like arthritis for a comedian." Or "You are there to be laughed at. So check your ego at the door (via Tony Woods)." Also "Words are powerful. Enjoy saying them. Lean into them." He is a man that I'm honored to get to know better in this conversation and it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Reginald D. Hunter! Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Tell Me Anything Ask Me Anything: Mike from Tulsa, Ben from Chicago & Sariel from Sydney Stand-up clip from YouTube: Reginald D Hunter live at Róisín Dubh End song:  Me'Shell Ndegeocello – The Way Recorded at The Salthill Hotel in Galway, Ireland, October 2014

This episode was recorded in Las Vegas. I want to pay tribute to the Amazing Johnathan before he drops dead. We all avoid the thought of death and superstitiously try to avoid the topic but that dirty whore will strike each of us. The Amazing Johnathan has a heart ailment and his doctors have told him that if his medicine doesn't work he only has one year to live. Imagine what you would do if you were told you only had one year to live. After years of touring relentlessly he wants to stay at home, maybe buy a new big screen TV, maybe do heroin, maybe a demolition derby in his back yard? I drove into his swank neighborhood, gated community with plush lawns and green trees in Las Vegas. Rich people can make it green anywhere. His house is a large sparkling palace with classic cars parked all over the front yard and back.  The 17 year old boy in me can't help but smile to see sitting in his drive way a 1967 midnight blue convertible GTO. His tasteful home has been modified to his specifications and every painting in his house has a trick or joke function hidden that can spring forth at his command. His opulent home is exactly the way you would dream Amazing Johnathan's house would be or a mad scientist with a wicked sense of humor. I'm impressed to see the life that he made for himself and I'm proud of him for being one of the few comedians who was smart with his money. He earned it! Going from comedy club headliner to doing countless television appearances he opened up The Amazing Johnathan Theater in Las Vegas and his ominous presence could be felt advertised everywhere in the city during his decades run. I would credit Amazing Johnathan with being right at that turning point in Las Vegas history where it went from being a sad joke to the cool upgraded spot it is today. George Carlin was a fan of his and once left him a long complimentary message on his answering machine. He listens to it when he gets depressed he tells me. He attributes everything he has to drugs. He tells me the best and worst times he had on drugs. He is open with me and honest about his lunatic partying days. He tells me that dying is a lazy way to get compliments. I met the Amazing Johnathan doing comedy festival and television tapings and we have been friends from sharing those experiences. Our mad men party periods never met and I only knew him in a professional way that I respected. His comedy for lack of a better description I would call rock & roll comedy magician but whatever you would call it the man always hit the stage like a hurricane with jokes coming at you from everywhere. For me personally the reason I love the Amazing Johnathan is because when I was a young comedian watching every stand up comedy show on television while dreaming of getting there myself that is when I saw him for the first time. Destroying the audience on television and me at home. He was unlike all the other stiff, cookie cutter style comedians, he had his own style and his magic tricks involved fake blood and his eye popping out. Crazy shit! I loved him for his wildness and I respected him before I ever even met him.  In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Hamlet holds the skull of a comedian and he laments the fact that such a magic human who had made him laugh so hard is no longer of this earth. I ain't Hamlet and I ain't waiting until the man is dead to say how much I appreciate him. This tribute episode is not meant to be sad, it is meant to be alive and celebratory. For this reason I end the episode with a song I love instead of some sad sappy shit. The man left his mark on American entertainment and world wide comedy. I'm grateful that I know him and that he invited me over to his house to have this conversation with him. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Amazing Johnathan! Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners End song: The Shouting Matches – Gallup, NM Recorded at Johnathan’s house in Las Vegas, September 2014

This episode was recorded in Los Angeles. Eddie Pepitone is the darling of the underground comedy scene of Los Angeles. For an older man without a full head of hair to kick so much ass in the city where youth and beauty reigns eternal he must be respected for what he has accomplished. His comedy style is the man yelling to the people who are in the house that is one fire but they cannot see that the house is on fire. He is the angry heckler in the crowd in the crowd who makes perfect sense. He comes from an emotional place as a comedian, he attacks the stage with how he feels. What fuels him now is what is happening in the United States with corporations destroying people.  Anyone who thinks American comedians never talk about anything substantial have never seen Eddie perform. In this conversation Eddie and I talk about how you stay aware of what is happening in the world while remaining sane. Like George Carlin, Eddie Pepitone is an example of how an older man can do his best work in comedy and continue as he ages because he has experienced more in life.  The documentary 'Bitter Buddha' that was about Eddie's life was a huge success. Acting roles continue to role in because he is such a unique funny character who brings his soul and experience to every project he takes part in. A veteran of two Edinburgh Fringe festivals, who I caught up with in Los Angeles just a few weeks after this year's festival. The show he performed this year was entitled 'Rest In Peace America' in which he celebrates the downfall of America and gives him a vent to steam about life in America today.  He loves the modern comfort's of today's technology but thinks it is an exercise in futility with us amusing ourselves to death. He believes entertainers live for fame and affirmation but says if you are not centered at your core the entertainment business will crush you like a bug.  We talk about Hollywood conspiracies, Obama's ineffectual presidency, the lack of gun control in the United States, best New York City film achievements, the collapse of the world economy and the best sources of information. He tells me his best ideas come to him when his brain calms down and he has personal break throughs.  In this chat we talk about digesting information and ideas in order to spit out everlasting gobstobbers of thoughts. He is a man that I adore, respect and he makes me laugh out loud very hard.  It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Eddie Pepitone! Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Stand-up clip from YouTube: Dealing With Hard Times - Eddie Pepitone Stand-up clip from YouTube: Eddie Pepitone "Let's Order In" Audio cameo: Eddie's dog Charlotte End song: Randy Newman – Let’s Drop The Big One Now Recorded at Eddie’s apartment in Los Angeles, September 2014

This episode was recorded in London. Let it be known to the the universe that Tom Rhodes Radio gives Mark Farrelly's one man show 'Quentin Crisp' a 5 star review. This show invites libation imbibement and encourages you to be yourself whatever you wish that self to be. Being exactly what you are even if that is a bore. Mark was doing his Quentin Crisp solo show at the Gilded Balloon for the Edinburgh Fringe festival and I met him about half way through the festival's run at the Loft bar, the private bar for the entertainers and artists doing shows there. I had so many deep conversations with him over the last 2 weeks of the festival and I liked his show much I thought it an imperative that he be a guest on my show.  After our Edinburgh run we both went to London, me to do my show at the Soho theater and Mark to do his at the St. James theater. My wife Ashna and I went to see his show again in London and then we invited Mark over to have a few bottles of wine and record this conversation in our rented flat. His show at the St. James theater was brilliant with the verve and excitement of live performance that Mark brought to his character and since it was in the evening with alcoholic beverages flowing each of the excellently written lines of dialogue hit their targets making the room explode with laughter. Mark told me he loved the message of Quentin Crisp because it wasn't about being gay it was about being yourself. In this conversation we talk about the harshness of criticism, the meaning of life and the most interesting people who ever lived. "Writing 87,000 reviews would never feel as good as giving one performance." In today's narcissistic society no one knows who they are and what to believe in. Quentin Crisp's life told by Mark Farrelly is one to gain inspiration from and peppered with Quentin's sharp quotes on life we are reminded of why Quentin Crisp is worth remembering. "We live in a pretty dreary world were most people don't even have the decency to be themselves." In this episode you will learn why it is our excessive freedom is what makes us miserable and why having personal style will cure you of your excessive freedom. He is one of the people who I enjoyed speaking with the most on my most recent visit to the Queen's British Isles. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Mark Farrelly! Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners End song: Sting – Englishman In New York  Recorded in London, September 2014

This episode was recorded in Edinburgh, Scotland. Rhys Nicholson is a star waiting to happen. He is visually captivating with his flaming orange read hair, thick black glasses, high cheek bones, chiseled jawline with powdered make up and his smart style of dress.  His comedy is frank, up front, straight forward, unabashed and unapologetic even when he talks about the details of his sex life. In his own words he told his Grandmother "Being gay is not all anal sex and dancing." He can be unsettlingly graphic on stage at times for normal puritan audience members but he always makes me laugh and it is his sincerity on stage that is my favorite thing about his style of comedy. I first met Rhys 5 years ago when we were performing together at the Comedy Store in Sydney, Australia. Back then you could see that he was destined to do great things as a comedian and it is enjoyable to me, someone who is cheering him on, to see the development he has had and where he is as a performer today. This being his 4th Edinburgh Fringe festival he has more experience than me in some areas. I love him as a friend, a comedian and as someone I always easily have great conversations with. In this conversation we talk about the power of the pink dollar, how in Edinburgh people value stories above all else, the unnerving feeling of performing when children are in the audience, his hand made bow ties, his fondness for Argentinians and lamas.  He is the Priscilla Queen of the desert of stand up comedy. He was born to be in show business and his side comments to himself are gems of performers inside jokes that anyone would laugh at feeling a part of the club. His Australian accent, personal style and self referencing humor subliminally encourages everyone to embrace their uniqueness and fabulousness just by sheer example of his being. He has many brilliant years ahead of him as a performer and I am one of his fans and friend that will be cheering him on all the way.  It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Rhys Nicholson! Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Stand-up clip from YouTube: Rhys Nicholson - ABC2 Comedy Up Late 2014 (E7) End song: Jim White– Hey! You Going My Way??? Recorded at our big wooden kitchen table of our lovely Edinburgh Festival apartment – Edinburgh, Scotland August 2014 Check out this video HumorTV filmed on Tom’s Edinburgh experience with Rhys: (Part 1) http://humortv.vara.nl/p.346081.the-edinburgh-fringe-a-trip-to-comedy-lane-i.html & (Part 2) http://humortv.vara.nl/nieuws.7141.the-edinburgh-fringe-a-trip-to-comedy-lane.html

This episode was recorded in Edinburgh, Scotland   In my opinion Jo Caulfield has the sexiest speaking voice in all of the English speaking comedy world. Her tone, elocution and educated accent is one that makes me tingle like a comfort food and if I owned my own television network she would be the voice of my channel.    I first met Jo when I first started coming to London in the late 1990s. I have worked with her many times through the years and I respect her not only because she has always been kind to me but because she is funny and has a certain authoritative way of carrying herself onstage.   I've always said that when a comedian steps onstage everyone else in the room should lose rank and title and that comedian should become the sheriff of the room while they have the microphone in their hand. That is one thing about Jo's style that has always impressed me, while she is onstage she is the sheriff of the room.   In recent years more women and ethnically diverse personalities have taken to comedy stages but going way back to when I first met here up until the present Jo has been someone, a female someone who has been slugging it out in a male dominated profession and busting heads in the comedy world. This business is an unforgiving one where only the strong survive and just the fact that she has remained at the top of the UK comedy performing world for so long is testament enough of her quality and a badge of honor not many people can claim to have achieved.    She is a respected veteran with many television appearances and Edinburgh Fringe festivals under her belt.    In this conversation we cover many topics from her personal history to the British Empire's opium wars with China but perhaps the most valuable thing you will learn from her in this episode is the proper way to make English tea. She is someone whose voice, presence and thoughtful comedy always puts a smile on my face and it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Jo Caulfield!     Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Stand-up clip from YouTube: WorldStandsUp.flv End song: Barbara Lynn – I’m a Good WomanRecorded at our big wooden kitchen table of our lovely Edinburgh Festival apartment – Edinburgh, Scotland August 2014

This episode was recorded in Edinburgh. Lynn Ruth Miller is an inspiring risk taker who is attacking life as if she were someone 20 years old. Humbling to learn that she is 80 years old and just moved to Brighton, England last year to pursue her career as a stand up comedian. Born in 1933 she remembers the war years in a way that will surprise you and her opinion of America is ice cold honest from someone who survived much person disaster and incredible odds to be where she is today. Her charm and joy for life is infectious as it is captivating. She has many strong opinions former from a life fully lived. She doesn't believe in fear or evil and she believes that every dream is worth pursuing. I met Lynn Ruth 10 years ago when she started out as a comedian in San Francisco. She had come to see me headline at the Purple Onion then shortly after this she booked me to do a show with her at Stanford University which turned out to be a very special experience for all involved. Through the years I have seen her in San Francisco and other world wide spots where she pops up doing comedy in foreign countries like me.  "The woods would be very silent if the only birds who sang were the ones who sang best." Lynn Ruth is a veteran of nine Edinburgh Fringe Festivals and I was happy to see her and her show in Edinburgh this year while I was there. She is like a relative to me, or rather someone I wish was related to me. She stays in touch with me regularly and she is always popping up around the world cheering me on as I am with her. She is someone I always love talking to because she is filled with wisdom and insight aging from life lessons learned. She is not afraid to chase her dream of being a comedian and I am inspired by her ruthless determination and the original energy of joy that goes into each performance. She is quit simply a gem of a human being and it is my pleasure to present to you now, the one and only Lynn Ruth Miller! Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners End song: Peggy Lee – Is this all there is Recorded at our big wooden kitchen table of our lovely Edinburgh Festival apartment – Edinburgh, Scotland August 2014

This episode was recorded in San Francisco. I first met Margaret Cho when I moved to San Francisco in the early 1990s and because we both developed and came up together she is a friend that I am always cheering for and who I will always be loyal too. I could go for years without seeing Margaret but when we do it is like we never lost a minute together. I have been communicating with her for the past few years about trying to record an episode of this podcast with her but our schedules have not allowed us to make that happen. A few weeks ago when I was in Los Angeles I asked Margaret if she would be in town and she said that she was going to go San Francisco for Comedy Day in Golden Gate park because this year it was dedicated to Robin Williams. Because of Margaret I bought a last minute plane ticket to fly up for it. Comedy Day is a yearly free comedy concert in the park every year that the city of San Francisco puts on. I had not been to one since the late 1990s and neither had Margaret. It was so much fun to see so many old friends from the San Francisco comedy scene of the 1990s. Deservedly so Margaret is an adored icon and watching her being appreciated makes my heart happy. She is the perfect San Francisco comedian, raised in the city by book store owning parents, an intelligent, funny Asian woman who represents and defends the gay and lesbian community. Margaret has been busting heads in the comedy world for many years and not many comedians ever attain the universal love and appeal that she has. This conversation was recorded the day after Comedy Day in Margaret's Union Square hotel room. We had enjoyed comedy Day immensely laughing our heads off together, my favorite moment was having Margaret sit right up front under the stage and scream her head off laughing at me. I also learned that she was very close to Joan Rivers and that she is still very tore up over her recent death.  Margaret and I also were both given our our sitcoms around the same time and they both only lasted for one season. My reaction to my sitcom ending was to plunge myself into drugs and alcohol but Margaret wrote a brilliant one person show called 'I'm the one that I want'. Seeing that show in New York City gave me great inspiration at that time when I needed it. Margaret's career has been so successful because she continuously works her ass off. In this conversation we talk about our sitcom experiences and the mountain of pressure you have on you when you are the star of your own network television show. Margaret Cho has championed countless civil rights causes and has supreme knowledge on many different topics, especially stand up comedy. In this conversation Margaret tells me about Joan Rivers' funeral and the best laugh she had with Joan. We also talk about Korea and the Korean pop culture domination of the planet. I've been to Korea twice in the past 2 years and I'm excited for Margaret to go there just because it will produce another brilliant special for her. We talk about our immigrant mother's and Margaret tells me about her quest to learn the Korean language. She teaches me about the highlights of Korean cinema. The trilogy of movies 'Old Boy', 'Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance'. She we had this talk I watched 'Old Boy' and I highly recommend this mind-blowing movie. Since the day I met her, Margaret has turned me on to cool things. She tells me about the Rue De Temple, the best place to shop in Paris. She gives me the best world wide travel tips she has learned and I tell her the importance of a successful comedian having nice luggage.  This episode happened because Margaret suggested that I come up to San Francisco at the last minute. After the joy of having this conversation we went to the panhandle and got stoned before she took me to a guitar store on Haight street. After the guitar store we ate fat gorgeous San Francisco burritos and then Margaret called me an Uber that took me to the airport. It was a perfect 24 hours in San Francisco and this episode is the result of this.  She is the Joan of Arc Samurai warrior of comedy and it is my pleasure to present to you now, the one and only Margaret Cho! Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners End song: Teenage Fanclub & Jad Fair - Crush on You San Francisco, September 2014

This episode was recorded in Los Angeles. Aisha Tyler is an iconic woman who has conquered the stages of stand up comedy, the world of network television and the New York Times bestsellers list of book authors. I met Aisha Tyler in the 1990s in the golden age San Francisco comedy. I remember Aisha when she was starting out as a comedian there and I remember that she always had a pure heart in her pursuit of becoming a master stand up comedian. I remember her hustling around the Bay area comedy scene trying to get as much stage time as she could and always trying to get better as a comedian. I felt like she was Luke Skywalker and I was Obi-wan Kenobi when she would seek out my Jedi warrior wisdom.  She has always shown me respect and been grateful for my influence on her development. In this conversation we talk about how she felt like an outsider growing up in San Francisco, Finding your voice as a comedian, taking giants leaps in developing your material, the influence of the abundant about of humor her dad that affected the person she is today. The story she tells me in this chat about how before she would leave the house her dad would tell her to go grab the world by the balls hit me in my hilarity button.  On her podcast Girl On Guy she has a segment called Self Inflicted Wounds. When I did her podcast I showed up with an entire bag of self inflicted wound stories.  Everyone has stories about how they were self destructive and if you rose again or not is the only answer to that story. Pain is intrinsic in the human experience and self inflicted wounds is such a great idea Aisha wrote a book on that topic called Self Inflicted Wounds which had a strong run on the New York Times best seller list and is currently in the talks to become a television show. In this talk we talk about the best laughs our fathers gave us and their most funny expressions. In this episode you will learn why you should eat the spotted owl, never leave anyone stranded on the side of the road and never leave anyone in jail.  Aisha went to Dartmouth University to study Environmentalism policy. Clean coal is a lie! Then she studied the economies of developing nations and lived in Kenya for a while. She is more than qualified to speak against rich white people. Aisha has so much to tell the world and her intelligence makes it easy break down major issues to find the rational thoughts on our capitalistic society. There is blood on all of our hands! We talk about the tangle mess America is in now and how corporations own our every move and how our system tramples people. Aisha is real and honest no matter if we talk politics or our personal lives. She believes in the transformative power of personal freedom and she is not afraid to squash modern topics by pushing it further.  She is one of the stars of the daily network show The Talk speaking to millions of American homes everyday. As you will see in the conversation she is real and truthful about everything. She is so monumentally intelligent and magnificently charming and funny I wish she would love even more every entertainment outlet from TV, film, books, internet, etc. She is a deep thinker with a sharp perspective and the truest laugh. I’m proud of her for all of her success because she always had a good heart but also she inspires me because she is real in everything she does. She possesses the pearl of great knowledge and wisdom and it was a joy to record this rambling talk about everything. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Aisha Tyler! Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – OceanlinersEnd song: Jennifer Lopez - I'm Real (Remix) ft. Ja RuleRecorded at Aisha's – Los Angeles, May 2014

This episode was recorded in Edinburgh, Scotland. Karen Koren is the queen mother of the Edinburgh Fringe festival. She has produced countless shows for the festival for over 30 years and it the operator of the Gilded Balloon, one of the cornerstone venues of the entire Fringe.  It was important for me to do my Edinburgh debut with Karen at the Gilded Balloon because of a disaster I had experienced at the old Gilded Balloon (which has since burned to the ground) at the perennial late night show Late n’ Live many years ago when I was visiting the festival in August 2000. That disaster and the notorious viciousness of Late n’ Live hecklers are discussed in the episode. Not only did I shatter that memory for myself I created the best possible new one from getting to perform my hour show every night at 9:15pm at the Gilded Balloon and be under the loving umbrella of Karen Koren.  At the Loft bar of the Gilded Balloon where this conversation was recorded is the private bar for the performers of this venue who I bonded with, saw the shows of and hung out with until the wee hours of the morning.  Karen has created such a welcoming atmosphere at this excellently run venue. Not Only does she bring in the best quality performers but the people who ran her venue I had met at Comedy festival in Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, Canada and France. Even her staff are of the highest quality in live festival comedy entertainment.  I enjoyed talking with Karen Koren every night, not just because she has the most dreamy hypnotic accent but also because of her gorgeous laugh. She helped to launch the careers of Alan Cumming, Eddie Izzard, Russell Brand, Tim Mincheon and Tom Rhodes. I can’t say enough good things about this woman, she’s classy, she’s funny and she is wealth of comedy knowledge and history concerning British comedy and the Edinburgh Fringe festival. She doesn’t bullshit anyone, she doesn’t beat around the bush and she has a strong opinion about the lack of substance from most American stand up she has seen.  Looking back on my memory of doing the festival this year I think of Karen and the lively and funny conversations we had together most every night. At times it felt like I had a mother figure looking out for me and I grew in her warm loving embrace. The people who book other world wide festivals when they spoke with Karen she insisted they should book me or be missing out on one of the best comedians in the world. She was constantly telling people to go see my show and raving about how funny I am. It would plaster the hugest smile across my face her every endorsement. Because of the incredible experience I just had in Edinburgh August 2014 and all of the friends I made there I am inspired to write my ass off to come up with a new hour of material.  I won’t go back too early with some watery shit, only hard hitting head cruncher jokes and stories because I would never want to disappoint Karen Koren by being any less than funnier than anyone else. I’m proud the hear in this conversation that her favorite part of my show was the real life stories where I wore my heart on my sleeve. She is the kind of person that if she likes you, you think “Well if Karen Koren thinks I’m great I must be pretty damn good. At this moment when I post this episode it one of the most important weeks in the history of Scotland because they get to vote whether or not they want to be an independent country or to stay joint with England. Either way, in England they like to yell “Long live the Queen! God save the Queen!” I just want it to be known that wherever I go in the world I will yell “Long live Karen Koren! God save Karen Koren!” It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Karen Koren! Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners End song: Curtis Mayfield – Move on Up Recorded at The Loft Bar in The Gilded Balloon – Edinburgh August 2014

In comedy there are certain wise men you meet on your journey that are priceless to talk with because they possess the glow of knowledge you hope to gain when you one day pass from warrior to wise man. Tommy Sheppard owns The Stand comedy club in Edinburgh which is the heart and soul of Scottish comedy. It is as perfect of a comedy club to start in as the Cavern club in Liverpool was for the Beatles to start in.  Since opening the Stand in Edinburgh he has branched out and opened satellite rooms of The Stand in Glasgow and Newcastle. He is reputed to be an honest fair man in a business where sticking it to a comedian by undercutting his cash is often one of the occupational hazards. Comedians speak of him with respect and his employees show their loyalty by working for him for years. I was happy to meet Tommy and make friends with him this past month while I was doing the Fringe Festival. Before going into the comedy world by opening his room in the 1990s he was a full time organizer with the British Labor party. After the Labor party decided to go in another direction ideologically he left politics and with his redundancy payment he put a down payment on The Stand comedy club. This moment in human history is very exciting because next week Scotland has the vote to decide if they want to be an independent country away from the United Kingdom. After thousands of years of bloodshed and dying for this very concept, Scotland has the chance to do it now in a peaceful manner, without ever even firing one bullet.  Tommy Sheppard is an ardent and vocal supporter of Scottish independence and the person I sought out to explain it all to me and why breaking away from England would be the best option for his fellow countrymen. In tis conversation I quiz him on comedy, the Fringe festival and all things Scotland but the most valuable insight of all is his knowledge on this turning point in Scottish history where the dreams of ancestors long dead and forgotten will finally be realized next week on election day. It is my pleasure to present to you now, the one and only Tommy Sheppard. Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Audio Cameo: Graham Brophy from Glasgow, Scotland End song: Bob Dylan – Highlands (live version Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz, CA, 16 Mar 2000) Recorded at The Stand Comedy Club – Edinburgh August 2014

★★★★★  Tom Rhodes Radio Review for Zoe Lyons in ‘Mustard Cutter’ Zoe Lyons is one of the best performers that I saw at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I love her style, her energy, her pacing and her material. Often when you are seeing multiple shows in a day at the Fringe festival you will look at your watch during a performance and I'm happy to report I did not look at my watch once while Zoe was performing her show Mustard Cutter. I simply got lost in my enjoyment of her show.  Her and I have in common that she also has a Dutch wife and her insights on being married to a Dutch person made me howl with laughter. Her facial expressions as well as her way of expressing how she feels about the life that she is living is of the essence of what comedy is about.  I will now bestow the greatest compliment I could give any performer by saying that Zoe Lyons contains the original energy of joy.  Like all comedians, I'm sure she has experienced a bumpy road but her attitude towards life and performing comedy is what attracted me to her soul as I sat among the audience watching her perform and why I wanted to highlight her on my podcast.  She lives in the artistic hub of Brighton and is a respected veteran of the UK comedy scene, she is one of the people I enjoyed hanging out with the most at the festival after parties and it must be said that I think she has the most glorious gap between her two front teeth. As a gap toothed person myself, I find that an irresistible trait in a fellow human.  It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Zoe Lyons! Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Stand-up clip from YouTube 1: Comedienne Zoe Lyons Stand-up clip from YouTube 2: Joan Rivers: Stand-Up Pioneer Dead at 81 - Fifty Years of Funny | The New York Times End song: Waiting In Vain – Annie Lennox  Recorded at our big wooden kitchen table of our lovely Edinburgh Festival apartment – Edinburgh August 2014

Glenn Wool is one of the finest comedy exports Canada has ever produced. His comedy is philosophical, heartfelt and endearing. He is also one of the nicest human beings I have ever come across in all my years traveling the globe. I met Glenn many years ago at the Comedy Store in London and have since worked with him at comedy festivals all over the world. He is one of the few comedians like myself that has relentlessly toured the world wide circuits proving that his comedy is accessible to laughing brains anywhere comedy microphones are plugged in. He has recently secured a home in Vancouver but that will undoubtedly not stop him from continuing to tour the world circuits. His take and opinion on subjects is always fresh and uniquely his own which makes him one of my favorite comedians to watch. He is also the kind of friend that if we are anywhere within a few hundred miles from each other we always make the extra effort to get together.  Impressively he is a veteran of 16 Edinburgh Fringe festivals and one of the hottest tickets in town when he is there. This conversation was recorded at my kitchen table of the flat in Edinburgh that I rented for Edinburgh Fringe 2014. We sat down over hot tea to talk about life, comedy, travel, festivals and every other pertinent topic that came to our brains until it was time for both of us to run off to our shows that night. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Glenn Wool! Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Stand-up clip from YouTube 1: Glenn Wool @ Cracker Night 2011 Stand-up clip from YouTube 2: Sobriety - Glenn Wool | RAW COMEDY End song: Long May You Run - Neil Young Recorded at our big wooden kitchen table of our lovely Edinburgh Festival apartment – Edinburgh August 2014

★★★★★  Tom Rhodes Radio Review for Hannah Gadsby in ‘The Exhibitionist’ Hannah Gadsby is one of the brightest shining lights on the world wide comedy circuit. An innately gifted story teller whose tales of awkward humiliation and personal triumph will have anyone from any walk of life or age group howling with laughter. I first met Hannah 4 years ago in Perth, Australia when we were both doing a comedy festival there together. In July of this year we worked together again at Toomler comedy club in Amsterdam the week before we both went off to do the Edinburgh Fringe festival. Sharing an apartment together in Amsterdam I was privileged to see Hannah tightening up and putting the finishing touches on what would be her Edinburgh show this year, which made the experience of seeing her finished product at the festival even more enjoyable for me. In this year’s show called ‘The Exhibitionist’ she used a slide show of great works of art interspersed with photos of her growing up through life. It was part art history lecture and part personal journey through her life. Hannah got her university degree in art history and art is one of her personal obsessions and greatest passions in life. In this episode we talk about art, art history, her Edinburgh show ‘The Exhibitionist’ and the fact that Tom Rhodes Radio gives her show a 5 star review. It is an extra treat to know that Hannah does not do many podcast chats and that she made the exception to be on mine. I adore this woman as a human being, as a comedian and as a fellow art lover. Her Edinburgh show of 2014 was one of my favorite shows that I saw this year and her stand up comedy is consistently solid powerful laughs every time I see her perform. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Hannah Gadsby! Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – OceanlinersAudio Cameo: Jasper Rijkeboer from Delft, The NetherlandsStand-up clip from YouTube 1: Melbourne Comedy Festival All Stars supershow 2014 Hannah gadsbyStand-up clip from YouTube 2: Hannah Gadsby – Melbourne Comedy Festival 2012End song: Slip of The Tongue – Mary Gautier Recorded at Hannah’s Edinburgh Festival apartment , Edinburgh August 2014

Lucie Pohl ★★★★★  Tom Rhodes Radio Review for Lucie Pohl in ‘Hi, Hitler!’ Tom Rhodes Radio give the show 'Hi, Hitler' by Lucie Pohl a 5 star review! This show is so fast paced, character driven and funny that I saw it twice. The eye catching title of this show comes from the adorable tale of how Lucie Pohl as a child thought the Nazis were saying hi to Hitler and not heal Hitler. Is it possible to make Hitler adorable? Lucie Pohl can! She even drew Hitler innumerable times as a kid and wanted to go as Hitler for carnival but that kind of action is illegal in Germany where she was born. Her show is the story of her life and it is greatly influenced by the New York style of one person shows that I hold sacred like Eric Bogosian's Sex Drugs & Rock & Roll and John Leguizamo's Freak. Expertly performed Lucie Pohl keeps you captivated as her story pops from one scene of her life to another.  As a child loving David Hasselhoff in her native Germany, her successful father moving her family to New York City, having artistic parents with dramatic lives living in Greenwich Village, her moving back to Germany to pursue her dream of acting, getting her knees skinned up from a bad romantic choice to finding love on a beach in Greece on the island of Rhodes. With magnanimous charm she plays all of the characters in her life and the journey she has experienced up to this point.  Her show is so enjoyable you can't help but think why isn't this woman a superstar actor by now but we should be grateful because superstar actors never give us brilliant one person performances like this rooted in the very fabric that makes theater great and greatly inspiring. Lucie Pohl's show is also on at the Gilded Ballon like mine and I met her very early in the run hanging out in the performer's Loft Bar. She is a delight on every level and an artist I hope never forgets that making solid one hour performances is the glue that holds all of show business together. It is my pleasure to present to you now, the one and only Lucie Pohl!  Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – OceanlinersEnd song: Tom Waits - Walk AwayRecorded at Lucie’s kitchen table of her Edinburgh Festival apartment, Edinburgh - August 2014

This episode was recorded in Edinburgh, Scotland. When I moved to San Francisco in 1991 openly gay comedians did not play at the regular clubs in the city, they performed at Josie's cabaret and juice joint in the Castro. It was at Josie's that I first saw Scott Capurro perform. He stood out among all the other comedians that night because he made my sides hurt with laughter.  It was only a few years later Scott would be the first openly gay comedian to bust through the barriers of the regular club scene there. He was like the gay Jackie Robinson busting down the door for all the other gay comedians who would eventually be able to work the regular rooms.  Scott's comedy has always been dark, twisted and controversial just the way I like it. I once had an interviewer ask me of those years in the 1990s when I lived in San Francisco "Did you know you were a part of history when it was happening?" The answer is "No." I just was enjoying my friends killing audiences and getting inspired by them to lift my game higher by always bringing my best.  For many years Scott has lived in London and is a veteran taking part in his 17th Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He has stirred up controversy and created many firestorms from crafting his thoughts into jokes at this festival.  We talk about his years of doing Edinburgh Fringe, his life in London and the tragic passing this week of Robin Williams, who Scott costarred with in the movie Mrs. Doubtfire.  Just recently has Scott reappeared in my life and I have to say that I have missed him. He is never lazy in creating his material for the stage and never one to back down from bringing out thoughts that upset more conservative tastes in the audience.  To me he is more than just a gay comedy icon, he is a friend who I respect greatly and a performer I love to watch crushing the bugs of prudishness. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Scott Capurro! Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Audio Cameo: Graham Brophy End song: I Loves You Porgy - Diana Ross Recorded at our big wooden kitchen table of our lovely Edinburgh Festival apartment , Edinburgh August 2014

This episode was recorded in Edinburgh, Scotland Andrew Maxwell is the kind of guy who you would want on your side in a debating hall, on the football pitch or in a barroom fistfight. Andrew is one of the few human beings that tickles the living shit out of me just to hang out with him. He is a street fighting man originally from Dublin, Ireland who has lived in London for the past 20 years.  I first met him 15 years ago at the Comedy Store in London and he has since gone on to be one of the greatest friends I have ever known. He is one of my favorite people to stay up all night with laughing and talking about everything that comes to mind. His brain is packed with vital information concerning life, history and the general Ninja secret of high level comedy performance.  Regarding the Edinburgh Fringe festival, he has been one of my main sources for advice and guidance that I have sought out over the years leading up to me finally participating in it this year.  He is an exciting performer to watch because he never backs down from the challenging remarks he offers on any topic and his television specials are made with great intelligence equally his great humor.  He is not only one of my favorite people to hang out with but a performer who inspires me every time I see him. Never lazy, never without great thought put into each performance. We recorded this at my kitchen table in my rented Edinburgh apartment just a few hours after I saw him perform this year's hour show at the Assembly Rooms on George street.  In the conversation we talk about the upcoming referendum on Scottish independence, his great moments at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, near death experiences and as he puts it "The proper way to rinse a cunt." It is my pleasure to present to you now, the one and only Andrew Maxwell! Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Audience: Ashna & Suraya End song: Lightning’ Hopkins - Mojo Hand Recorded at our big wooden kitchen table of our lovely Edinburgh Festival apartment, August 2014

 ★★★★★  Tom Rhodes Radio Review for Yisrael Campbell in ‘Circumcise me’ Greetings from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival!  At a later date I will talk about my personal history with this festival but for now I want to tell you about the magnificence of the biggest and greatest arts festival in the world. There are literally thousands of shows happening here on all manner of topics but the one thing that all of them share is that they each belong to the family of storytellers. I have been racing around the city as much as possible taking in as many different shows as I can and one of the shows I have loved most and that knocked me out is 'Circumcise me' written and performed by Yisrael Campbell. It is the story of his life and how he went from growing up Catholic in suburban Philadelphia to being an orthodox Jew living in Jerusalem. As is pure in every hero's story it was a bumpy ride to reaching the top of his spiritual journey. Yisrael is a reformed alcoholic, philosophical sage and stand up comedian with clear eyes discerning the continual crisis Israel faces and how best to deal with tragedy when it strikes your life.  I first encountered the bright light of his personality after my first show of the festival run that he attended. I enjoyed his show 'Circumcise me' so much that I went to it twice. I laughed, I cried and stood on my feet clapping wildly when it finished. His story is epic how he became the person that he is today and I would much rather watch a film about his life instead of another dull super hero sequel. Until then we have his show and this conversation about his life's journey.  At the Edinburgh Fringe Festival review's are very important so let it be known that Tom Rhodes Radio gives 'Circumcise Me' 5 stars! 5 Bravos! and 5 Hallelujahs!  (5 stars are the best you can get on an Edinburgh review) If you are in or anywhere near Edinburgh during his run I highly recommend you put this show on the top of your list of must see shows. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Yisrael Campbell! Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners Audio Cameo: Ashna making lasagna in the background End song: The Weight - The Band Recorded at our big wooden kitchen table of our lovely Edinburgh Festival apartment

A few weeks ago I performed at Helium in Portland and Lucas Molandes was my feature act. Lucas is from Austin, Texas. Austin is a spiritual center of edgy original comedy and Lucas decided to take the trip West with two other Austin comedians, Ramin Nazer and Sara Reihani. The set up showcase sets in California and other gigs around the North West. They called it 'The Good Grief' tour and I got to do shows with them in Salem, Oregon and Arcata, California on my drive back to San Francisco after my week in Portland. While I was in Portland I wanted to watch the World Cup final somewhere cool and Ashna found The Kennedy School. The Kennedy School is a former elementary school that has been turned into a hotel, cinema, bar, restaurants. This conversation was recorded in the back courtyard of the Kennedy School on a lovely July evening the day after the World Cup final and our week together at Helium. I respect any young comedian who invests in themselves and takes a chance to expand his horizons by trying to do comedy in far away places, to take a chance on yourself to show people what you can do so they book you in the future. That is why I respect Lucas, Ramin and Sara for taking this journey West. The best souvenir of any trip is the memories you create and these 3 great friends are in the middle of a trip they will talk about as long as they live. Ramin Nazer has a new comedy album out now called 'You were funny too'. It is well worth your money to buy it and 2 of my favorite tracks are played in this recording. Remember to support all your favorite comedians on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc. because numbers are important and the bean counters of this business look at things like that. Prepare to get fuzzy tingles in your heart as I present to you now Lucas Molandes, Ramin Nazer and Sara Reihani. Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) - OceanlinersAudio Cameo: Chris Durant from Savage Henry MagazineStand-up clip from the album: 'You Were Funny Too' by Ramin NazerStand-up clip from YouTube: Lucas Molandes Live at Coldtowne 2-1-2013End song: Witness - The FreysRecorded at the Kennedy School in Portland, OR - July 2014

This episode was recorded in Seoul, Korea Nevada Rhodes not only has the best last name ever he is a one man volcano bursting with fabulosity. He is tall, blonde and muscular living in Seoul, Korea where he not only speaks fluent Korean he is also one of the stars of the long running hit Korean TV show 'Strange TV Surprise!' He also does stand up comedy and that is how I met him.  I love traveling and presenting to you the many beautiful lunatics I know all over the globe but Nevada is not a lunatic, he is one of the sweetest, most sincere, loving human beings I have ever met. We recorded this on his rooftop garden in Seoul where two ducks and one chicken live among the bountiful array of plant life. He is like the heroine of a Disney animated cartoon the way he cares of all of the life sprouting on his roof and he also teaches Korean children about musicals. He tells me that living in Korea he feels more free than he ever did in the United States. Of growing up in America he said "Being my fabulous faggotty self I learned from a very early age if you make people laugh they won't beat you up." When I am in Seoul I always have to stop by and see my friend Nevada because he allows himself to be fabulous which in turn allows others around him to be fabulous. It is my pleasure to present to you now, the one and only Nevada Rhodes! Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) - Oceanliners Audio Cameo: PJ Crowell from San Francisco End song: 19 días y 500 noches - Joaquín Sabina Recorded in Seoul, Korea May 2014

This episode was recorded in Kuala Lumpur. Jonathan Atherton built the comedy scene in Singapore and now he just opened the first full time comedy club in Kuala Lumpur called The Crack House. When he first appeared on my podcast one year ago I got a tremendous response from people saying that thought he was the most interesting man in the world. His stories about selling shoes to prostitutes in Kenya and smuggling gas into Uganda captivated me and anyone else who heard them. Now he has lived in Malaysia for one year and has just launched the Crack House comedy club. If this podcast had a bigger budget I would have dropped confetti on his head.  In this episode we talk about the disappearance of the Malaysian airlines plane, how he is not afraid to go off and party with angry Nigerians all night, the sad and untimely death of Vernon Lewis "Life is too short to die with bitterness in your heart." How Malaysian police are the best police money can buy, the crude humor that Australians are born with and how we could all learn from an ancient Hindu ritual and suffer more to psychologically elevate yourself of guilt. He is a man that I respect and admire because he forges much darkness with the light of laughter. Get yourself another big portion of the one and only Jonathan Atherton.

MinhHa Pham is a comedy superstar waiting to happen. She just needs a few more years of experience and developing material. Her love of comedy is pure and she is from the most unlikely breeding ground for comedians of Hanoi, Vietnam. I met her last year while I was performing in Hong Kong and she told me all about the new young comedy scene that is happening in Hanoi and it peeked my desire to return there.  My Father flew helicopters in Vietnam, was shot down, survived, saved another soldier's life and was rightfully decorated as a war hero. I love my Dad and the topic of Vietnam was very dear to our family.  In 1994 I was one of the first Americans to go to Vietnam after the travel ban was lifted and I filmed an hour special for Comedy Central there called 'Viva Vietnam!" Since filming there I have always wanted to return and since it had been 20 years since I had been there I set up a show there on my next tour of Asia. Filming 'Viva Vietnam!" we went all over the country and Hanoi was my favorite place so for this visit I spent a whole relaxed week there.  Dan Dockery who owns the House Of Son Tinh is a beautiful lunatic from England who drove me all over the city at night on his motorcycle in the rain. Of all the great things I did that week nothing was more fun than the show I did at the House Of Son Tinh and MinhHa Pham opened the show for me.  She is young, attractive and likable so I knew she would do well on the stage but I was honesty blown away at how smart and funny her jokes were. She graduated from the university of Minnesota and started doing stand up comedy at Gotham comedy club in New York City 2 years ago. Now she is back living in her hometown of Hanoi forging this new art form and expanding her horizons while more stage time in cities around Asia. If she is this funny after only doing it for 2 years then I easily predict that she will be as massive as she would chose to be. It is a mighty claim but nonetheless you will be pleased to know such a person as MinhHa Pham exists. I am grateful to her for giving me the reason to return to a place that I loved and was deeply meaningful to me. This conversation was recorded at the Hanoi Social Club just a few hours before our show that night. As much as I love my new expensive killer microphone I think it may have been too good because of all the chaos of noise happening outside of our open air window. The streets sounds of Hanoi, car horns, scooter horns, communist propaganda loud speaker announcements, there were moments while we were recording that the city burst out with a plethora of crazy noises. That is the charm of Hanoi and you can hear it in full effect on this recording. It was blazing hot, the windows had no glass and Coca Cola on ice never tasted better. It is my pleasure to take you all the way to Hanoi in this episode and introduce you to the one and only MinhHa Pham!

This episode was recorded in Los Angeles. I first met Jason John Whitehead about ten years ago at The Comedy Store in Sydney. Then I worked with him in Jakarta and Bali. He is from Nova Scotia, Canada, started being a comedian in Edinburgh and cut his teeth Manchester and London. He has done nine one hour Edinburgh shows. He is also a veteran of the world wide comedy circuits and now he is living in Los Angeles. He is one of the most pleasant people in comedy. Last month when I was at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles a young comedian got punched in the nose right in front of us. He go over the details of that epic knock out between comedians, he advises me on doing the Edinburgh Fringe festival and he explains what he likes most about living in North America instead of England. It is my pleasure to present to you the one and only Jason John Whitehead.

This episode was recorded in Burbank, California. Ritch Shydner is a comedian I always looked up to an admired while I was growing up, having watched him on Johnny Carson, David Lettermen and his HBO special. I had known him for years before I ever knew that he was there at El Brookman's in Washington D.C. the night my father took me there to see comedy when I was 12 years old. That night changed my life forever and Ritch remembers some of the details more clearly than I do. The fact that he remembers the night there was a kid (me) in the audience that night makes my love and respect for him hit hyperspace.  He wrote a book called "I Killed" which was a compilation of the greatest comedian road stories of all time. That book remains text book learning for young comedians looking to gain insight on the business of comedy. He writes for Bill Maher and in recent years has been helping turn Bill Maher's book "True Stories" into a screen play. Everytime I run into this man at the clubs he always puts a smile on my face. He is a warrior who grew into a wise man. He is a wise Buddha of comedy wisdom and knowledge. It is my pleasure to present to you the one and only Ritch Shydner.

This episode was recorded in Los Angeles. I have only been friends with Duncan Trussell for a few years but he has already skyrocketed to the top of my list of people that I love hanging out with. We never talk about mundane topics like sports or weather, we always go to higher planes of love and consciousness as we do in today's episode that was recorded on a pleasant late Spring evening while we sat outside on Duncan's front porch. In this conversation we talk about spirituality, the transformation of evil souls into good ones, neurological science and most bend bending of all is his theory that we are all unknowingly building a time machine for the future. He has his own podcast that I have appeared on twice called the Duncan Trussell Family Hour. I like how when we get together it is mental ping pong hitting ideas back and forth. When we get together it is wise to roll recording equipment and if the universe was balanced correctly he and I would already have a TV show together. Aside from having a brilliant mind he also very easily always cracks me up. It is my pleasure to present to you now, the one and only Duncan Trussell.

This episode was recorded in Minneapolis. In the future if we are lucky every comedian will be more like Ted Alexandro. Not only funny but passionate about knowledge and politically active. I am a fan of Ted Alexandro because whenever I see him perform he is talking about things that matter and putting his unique opinion on world events. He is the kind of comedian I like the most in that he is the kind of comedian you learn things from, one that makes you see a topic from a different way you hadn't seen. He studied music and taught music before becoming a comedian and teaching seems to infuse most every act that he commits artistically. He will forever be enshrined in the comedy history books for starting the movement that led to the New York City comedy clubs to raise the pay for comedians from the paltry 20 dollars a set they had paid for years.  Ted was heavily involved in the Occupy Wall Street movement from the beginning and it is not only a driving force in his life it reflects creatively in his comedy.  He has a web series called Teacher's Lounge that stars many greats of American comedy. Ted is universally loved and respected. He is an exciting performer because anything could happen to him, be it film, television or the mind welding of our video future. I think he and his family should be studied scientifically so that more people can turn out just like him.  It is my pleasure to present to you the one & only Ted Alexandro.

Jackie Kashian is a powerhouse comedian by any way you measure it. She has a strong sense of humor and slices up topics of mundane living and her own personal rage with ease. Her autobiographical humor has been seen on Comedy Central and countless late night talk shows. She has a popular podcast called 'Dork Forrest' where people talk about their strange obsessions. When I did it we talked about my obsession of going to graves of people I admire. She is perhaps the most requested guest I have had from my listeners asking me to get her on my show. I love her honesty, her work ethic and no matter what form of entertainment she is presenting she always makes me laugh. It is my pleasure to present to you a true American original, Jackie Kashian.

This episode was recorded in Los Angeles. You may know Maz Jobrani as one of the founding members of The Axis Of Evil Comedy Tour. He has been referred to as the Persian Elvis. He has appeared in countless film and television roles but my favorite incarnation of him is as a stand up comedian. I am a fan of his comedy because it contains the original energy of joy. His brand of comedy is not the slumped shoulders, down on your luck kind. His is a man in love with life and clearly enjoying himself onstage and that is what it is all about. In comedy, just like in real life it's all about having fun and enjoying yourself. I also admire Maz's work ethic. When I am in Los Angeles I always run into him around town doing sets and working on new material. This conversation was recorded in his home where I met his beautiful wife and amazing children. In every form of media these days the negative gets high lighted and too much time is spent glorifying bitter turds. The fact that he is the complete opposite of an unhappy human is why I love him so much. It is my pleasure to present to you now the bright ball of sunshine that is Maz Jobrani! 

This episode was recorded in London. I first met Joseph Wilson when I performed at the Comedy Cafe in London in 2013. We hit if off instantly and unbeknownst to me he became a avid listener of my podcast. I found out he was listening to my podcast 6 months later when he was on vacation in Peru and sent me a video he filmed at the top of Machu Pichu where he recreated and slightly mocked the opening of my podcast where I list all the fabulous places in the world I am going to take the listener. I thought the video was funny and I was very flattered he filmed it in my honor.  This year when I got to London I got to hang out with Joseph a lot and get to know him better and today consider him a good friend. He is well dressed, has a theatrical personality, is an animated story teller and he is fun to be around. He currently holds the distinction of being the only comedian to appear on my podcast whose act I have not seen.  Even though I have stopped drinking I had a great time going out in London with him and discovering new watering holes in the Soho district that he took me to. For me personally any British person who wears top quality embroidered cowboy shirts with sincerity is a diamond geezer in my book.  There are many reasons to love Joseph Wilson, first and foremost is the ease and comfort he can blast out hard core funny in a laid back conversation. It is my pleasure to present to you now, the one and only Joseph Wilson.

This episode was recorded in London. Very often in interviews I have said that getting in with London was the key to me getting in with all of these world wide comedy circuits, specifically me getting in with the Comedy Store. My guest today is Don Ward, the owner of the Comedy Store. Since its opening in 1979 it has single handedly changed the British comedy scene from tired old pub comedians doing Mother in law jokes to the champions league of powerful original comedy that it is today. It is now an established institution of British comedy because every British comedy legend of the past 30 years has performed there. Don Ward is the visionary who made this work and who has witnessed the development and rise of these now household names, French & Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous), Eddie Izzard, Ben Elton, Jimmy Carr, Harry Hill and on and on. The first time I ever did a set at the Comedy Store was in 1994. Then again in 1998 which led to me playing there regularly in 1999. In 2000 the Comedy Store started managing me for Europe while I lived in Amsterdam. You could say I had life by the balls back then and I was most certainly spoiled by being under the loving umbrella of the Comedy Store. Don Ward always treated me like a king and I always enjoyed speaking with him about comedy. I love and respect the man dearly. I love him like a relative in fact. Then I fucked up.... I've been working on writing a book the past few years and I will go into more details there because in the story of my life Don Ward and the Comedy Store is an important chapter. The truth of the matter was that I was partying too much in London after shows and I frightened myself enough to decided to take a break on the place for a while when I moved back to the US in 2004.  I should have communicated with Don better about what was going on in my life. I owed him that. I owed him the respect her deserves so I wish I had been more honest with him. Needless to say feelings got hurt and it took me many years to mop up the mess that I had made.  I missed London and all my friends there so I just started going back a few years ago. One of my main reasons to go back was to set things right with Don Ward and apologize to him for me being such a schmuck. Last year when I was in London I went into Don's office and had the heart to heart talk with him. I told him since my Dad and my sister died I now see that the most important thing in life is the relationships you have with people. I told him how important he is to me, how I appreciated him treating me like a king and that I was ashamed and sorry over how I had disappeared on him. He could have rightfully told me to fuck off. Thankfully he welcomed me back to the Comedy Store and told me how that is all water under the bridge now.  This episode is very important to me because it was recorded between shows on Saturday February 22, 2014, the first weekend I have performed there in ten years. This episode is the end of a circle that took me ten years to get around to the other side of because of my mistake. Never turn your back on the people who give you love and respect.  Don Ward is a living legend in the world of comedy because he has seen it all and presented the greatest comedians the world has every known. One day the British government will put a historical marker in front of the Comedy Store but until then we have the wealth of knowledge living in the museum of Don's mind.  This episode is very important to me because it is with someone I love and respect and that was crucial to my development as a world wide performer. It is my pleasure to present to you now, the one and only Don Ward.

This episode was recorded in London. Within the first 5 minutes I met Natalia Tena she was cracking me up and I was teaching her the basic steps of the tango. I think she is a feminist icon badass woman. She is an amazing actress whose first role was in the Hugh Grant film 'About A Boy'. Since then she has had a sterling career staring in the Harry Potter films and in Game Of Thrones. Most human beings would die content with those credits but not Natalia Tena! She is also the lead singer and creative driving force of the band Molotov Jukebox which just released their new album 'Carnival Flower'. Her parents are from Spain so rhythm is naturally in her DNA, she told me that her aim is for people to go home and make love after her concerts. Molotov Jukebox has performed all over the world inciting raucous ass wiggling good fun in it's path. Natalia Tena is a fearless shaman who leads the spiritual ritual of music, dancing and laughter at her shows and your life would be enriched to experience them. In the meantime you should purchase 'Carnival Flower' and make it a part of the fabric of your entertainment life. Her acting career continues to excite and she stars in the new independent film '10,000 KM' that is currently winning awards at film festivals all over the world.  Her accomplishments are a part of the pinnacles of modern entertainment but she is one of the most down to earth people you could meet.  As a strong powerful woman she indisputably kicks truck loads of ass but most important to me is that she is wildly hilarious and hanging out with her is like hanging out with a comedian. You will be pleased to have her in your eardrums and to know that she is out there making the world a better place. It is my pleasure to present to you know the one and only Natalia Tena.

This episode was recorded in London. Virginia Gilbert is an award winning author and filmmaker.  She is currently premiering her new film 'A long way from home' which she wrote and directed at film festivals all over the world. This conversation was recorded immediately following her showing of this new film at the Dublin film festival. I met Virginia many years ago when I worked with her husband, Keith Farnan at the Laughter Lounge in Dublin. Since then they have become close friends. I had been friends with Virginia for several years before I found out that her father was acclaimed filmmaker Brian Gilbert who made what I consider the greatest film about Oscar Wilde ever made with Stephen Fry in the lead role. Virginia was a young adult helping her father on the set in Dublin and this experience inspired her to go to Trinity University in Dublin the same as Oscar. In this conversation we talk about the joys and sorrows of the film making process, her secret for inspiration when she is writing and how to embrace the spirit of Oscar Wilde. This episode is the embodiment of girl power because Virginia Gilbert kicks so much ass in her world and inspires me how she takes her creations of books and turns them into films. She is one of my favorite people to mentally joust with and to talk with about everything under the sun. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Virginia Gilbert.

This episode was recorded in London. There have only been a few of my comedy super star friends who when I asked them to appear on my podcast declined and then there is the opposite example of Stephen K Amos who when I asked him said "Of course, how soon can we record?" I met Stephen about 15 years ago when he was in his early years of being a comedian at the Comedy Store in London. I love everything about this man! Aside from being one of the kindest souls I've ever met in the business, I love his style of dress, his flow of material as a comedian and the charming sucker punches of his punch lines. He deserves every drop of success he has gotten and I'm genuinely happy for him and his current elevation that he is flying at. He has done 11 Edinburgh one hour shows and has just come out with a book called 'Finding The Funny'. Currently hosts a show on BBC Radio called 'The Idiots Guide To Life' which I recorded a segment for at Stephen's request. In this conversation he walks me through the steps he took to become the massive world wide comedy super star that he is today as well the triumphs and tribulations he has experienced in the years since I saw him last. He is one of those people who if I don't see him for years that when I do it's like we never lost a minute in between. He never fails to make me laugh when we are together and as a comedian he has truck loads of wisdom to share from all of his life experiences. It is my pleasure to present to you the human masterpiece that is Stephen K Amos!

This episode was recorded in Paris, France.   I first met Eve Jackson in June 2012 when I appeared as a guest on her TV program called 'The Culture Show' which airs on France 24, the English language channel of France. She was a fun and easy interviewer and I liked that she could roll with my answers injecting her wit into the conversation effortlessly.  She is the editor and primary journalist for art and culture happenings in Paris. I thought she would be an interesting guest because she knows everything that is happening for art and entertainment in Paris and also because she is usually the one answering the questions. I have stayed in touch with her in the past year and a half and I have enjoyed seeing the clips she has posted of her interviews with artists, musicians and movie stars that have graced her studio. Her journalistic path that led to her current reign at France 24 is an interesting tale and once a year she gets to hit the red carpet to interview all of the film industry people in attendance at the Cannes film festival.   I owe a great deal of respect and gratitude to Eve because of a huge blunder on my part that happened during this recording. She told me about how last year at Cannes she interviewed Woody Allen about his latest film 'Blue Jasmine' and when they got back to the editing studio they realized that her sound man had forgot to hit the record button. I thought to myself "What a boob! Who could screw something up that was that important." Then after an hour of conversation my computer went black because it had run out of energy and the entire recording was lost. My computer said it had 18% left but it went black nonetheless and I was rightfully embarrassed and deflated.      The ever gracious Eve told me not to worry and come back later that night at 8pm to record it again. This is recording number 2 that we did later that night. It cost me 40 Euros each way from my hotel to her home 4 times, 160 Euros total. This is probably the most expensive episode I have ever created but it was worth every Euro cent because I think Eve is that interesting, fun and knowledgable.  It is my secret desire to make some type of entertainment talk show with her to be broadcast from Paris to the rest of the English speaking world. Aside from being a magnanimous charismatic human being, she is the kind of generous soul who would give a boob like me a second chance to record with her after screwing up monumentally. She is has an effervescent soul and knows everything there is to know about art, culture and entertainment in Paris today. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Eve Jackson.

This episode was recorded in Paris. I met Sebastian Marx the last time I played in Paris. He has the young hot new scene  putting on stand up comedy nights in English and in French.  When I met him I came to see him perform a one hour show in French. He has lived in France for years and speaks French fluently. I didn't understand a word of the show but I was impressed to see an American speaking French and getting laughs. He is originally from New York with Argentinian parents. There are many reasons for me to love Sebastian Marx because he and I have so many things in common. Being American with a parental Argentinian connection, love of comedy, love of French culture, not afraid to live in Europe, etc. The upstairs room at the So Gymnase theatre is where I did my shows with Sebastian. It's an intimate cozy room with old couches and a low ceiling which is perfect for comedy. He regularly puts on his New York Comedy Nights show there. The audiences I experienced where multiethnic, multinational and of higher intellect. Also there were lots of French comedians hanging out and making the scene. Comedy is a brotherhood in many ways because not many people know what it is like to face the fire, to get shit on your face if need be, with the quit respect of fighter pilots. Hanging out with comedians is one of my favorite things in life. I like what Sebastian Marx is doing in Paris. There is a young hot eager scene there and if you are traveling to Paris and want to do some shows he is the man to know. It's a small room, not a big money maker but worth it in measure of fun and getting your performance orgasm. Sebastian is not only super lovable on stage he is the same sweet guy off the stage too. I had fun running around Paris with him in the communal electric cars of Paris. All over the city there are batches of small electric cars that can be picked up and dropped off using an iPhone app to set it all up. It's cheaper and easier than taking a taxi and being a French citizen he uses that electric car like a master. Enjoying Paris is always best when you experience it with a resident who knows how to get around. Sebastian set up my Paris shows, promoted them and hosted them. On my show February 4, 2014 which happened to be my 30th anniversary he baked me a cake and has 30 candles on it that he brought out to me at the end of my show. The entire audience sang to me and it was a golden memory of an evening. I think he is funny, smart and lovable and it is my pleasure to present to you the one and only Sebastian Marx.

This episode was recorded in Paris.   I first met Sand Van Roy after my show in Paris in June 2012. Speaking with her I was tickled to find out that she was a huge comedy fan and that he all time favorite comedian is Mitch Hedberg. She was thrilled to hear that I was Mitch Hedberg's friend. She was trying a joke that she had written out on me and I told her that I liked it.    In this conversation recorded earlier this month in Paris I discover that it was that moment that inspired Sand to begin being a comedian one week after I met her. Because of Mitch Hedberg's influence on her she has a style of comedy that is exclusively one liners. What I consider to be the hardest form of comedy that requires a sharp mind and expert precision.    Sand is from Holland and now lives in Paris earning her living as a model. She is the first ever super model comedian that I am aware of. To focus on her good looks instead of her comedy is to sell her short in appreciating her outer shell instead of her brain power to invent sharply funny thoughts and observations. In this episode she tells me about the current comedy scene in Paris that happens in English and French.    This episode was recorded on February 4, 2014, my 30th anniversary of being a comedian. We recorded this just a few hours before my anniversary show which Sand opened up for me on. Aside from talking about comedy she gives me all the insight and juicy trash that goes on in the modeling world. I think she is smart, funny and destined for greatness in the world of comedy.     It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Sand Van Roy.

This episode was recorded in Amsterdam.   I first met Peter Klashorst ten years ago when he appeared as a guest on my Amsterdam late night talk show. At the time I was told that he was famous for painting naked black women. Having a deep appreciation for dark skinned women I liked the man instantly. His journey as an artist has been epic with a world wide reach.  He lived in Senegal where he was arrested for running a brothel. He said he was only hiring women as models but the authorities wanted to hassle him. From there he moved to Kenya and his feelings about Africa and African people are dear to his heart and he still maintains an art studio there as well as in Amsterdam.  I got to hang out with Peter several times in Amsterdam and he is one of the few humans alive who earns his living solely from painting works of art. Every fiber of his being exudes the thoughts and actions of an artist and it was a joy to see him painting in his studio when I did. As a younger man I always loved Rembrandt and Van Gogh but this is a true living great artist and it is possible that Peter Klashorst is currently the greatest living Dutch artist.  He is now living in Cambodia working on one of the most heart felt acts of his career. For several years he has been painting the portraits of the victims of Pol Pot's genocide against his own people from the photos that were taken of them just before they were executed. Like most great artists Peter doesn't commit himself to anything unless his heart is fully in it and it seems that Cambodia has captured his heart and he will continue to do great work there. He is very open about fucking prostitutes and trouble he has received from living his life passionately as an artist.  This conversation was recorded 4 years ago late at night when Peter and I were drinking multiple beers. This is actually one of the first interviews I did for Tom Rhodes Radio. We talked and recorded for 4 hours and this episode was taken from the first 2 hours before the beverages really kicked in. I respect Peter Klashorst as a man, as an artist, as a true friend and it would be hard to find anyone who is living their dream of being a true artist with a real powerful vision than him. As he says in this conversation "I want to show how beautiful God created this earth and all of it's inhabitants." I believe that the life and art of his will live on forever because it is timeless. It was made from his pure vision of love and beauty. Aside from his superior art and world encompassing philosophy I think he is very funny.    It is my pleasure to present to you now, the one and only Mr. Peter Klashorst.

This episode was recorded in Rotterdam.   It always tickles me to meet intelligent people who attend my shows and are fans of mine. Last month after my show in Rotterdam I met Zihni Özdil and I was so struck by his intelligence, life's work and personable being that I instantly wanted to record an episode of my podcast with him to squeeze out his knowledge for the enjoyment of my listeners.    He is a social historian at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, one of the highest rattiest intellectual universities in all of Europe. He is an expert on the racial history of the Netherlands and the continuing problems that non-Dutch people face here. For those of you who have never been to Holland you will be interested in learning the word "Allochtoon" which means "Dirty foreigner" and is used to describe all non-Dutch people living in this country, even if these people have been born here.    Throughout the world the Netherlands is known as a country of tolerance but put under the microscope it is anything but tolerant to some of its darker skinned residents.    My favorite part of this conversation is when Zihni tells me he wants to be the first Allochtoon prime minister of the Netherlands. It makes me want to gain the right to vote here just so I can cast my vote for him when that day comes. I'm pleased he sat down with me to share his knowledge of the current state of race relations in Holland and what he proposes as the harmonious solution. His answer will surely surprise you.      It is my pleasure to present to you now, the future prime minister of the Netherlands Mr. Zihni Özdil!

This episode was recorded at the American hotel in Amsterdam. Greg Shapiro is one of the nicest people you will ever meet in show business. He is originally from Chicago where he got his earliest improv training and he moved to Amsterdam in 1994 where he became one of the founding members of Boom Chicago, the Mecca of improv comedy in Amsterdam that has launched former members to Saturday Night Live and beyond. Greg just published a book called 'How to be orange' which is all about the ins and outs of Dutch culture from its most lovable traits to the most odd and hilarious. He knows so much about Dutch culture he is actually referred to as the American Nederlander. He should be an expert on Dutch culture because he has lived in Amsterdam for 20 years, married a supremely wonderful and beautiful Dutch woman who he is raising two children with. Greg produced my recent theater tour of Holland and this was recorded on the last day of that tour. In this conversation we both share knowledge gained from our lives in Amsterdam. From how Amsterdam has changed since the Pulp Fiction view of it in 1994 to the new life of today and how foreigners might have to pretend to be Dutch to buy weed soon. He was a joy to tour Holland with and I honestly believe that if his car would have broken down that he would have given me a piggy back ride to make sure that I got to the show. It's my pleasure to present to you the one and only, Mr. Greg Shapiro.

This episode was recorded in Amsterdam. It is ass biting cold outside and miserable rain is expected. I am currently on a theater tour performing around Holland and I'm happy to see good friends who live here that I haven't seen in a while. One of which is Bob Maclaren. Bob has been living in Amsterdam for 20 years and speaks fluent Dutch. He is from New Zealand and like me he does all the great world wide comedy gigs.  I met Bob when I first moved to Holland. He and I were both considered as the host of a travel program for the Discovery channel and Bob got it which mildly irked me. In today's conversation I find out that Bob was up for the host of the Amsterdam Late Night talk show that I got and he was mildly irked that I got it. It's like when you are young, the people you have issues or competition with usually are the ones who become your closest friends.  I have an infinite amount of respect for Bob because he not only is a naturally funny story teller and comedian, he is also one of the top comedy television writers for Dutch television. He now also is producing television shows that he creates the concepts of. He is currently about to finish filming a series for Dutch television that he created where he takes Dutch comedians of ethnic immigrant backgrounds back to their mother countries to see how that influences them as comedians. I think it is a brilliant concept and it should go world wide if the television Gods keep the universal balance right. Bob is full of fascinating stories and the world knowledge of traveling the world as a comedian. It's my pleasure to present to you the one and only Mr. Bob Maclaren. 

This episode was recorded in San Francisco. Jack Boulware has been one of my best friends in life since I lived in San Francisco in the early 1990s. He has been there for me through thick and thin and through the many ups and downs I have had in my life. Aside from being a true solid friend to me he has also been my intellectual guru who I talk with about comedy, books, movies and life. He is a deep well of knowledge that never fails to fill me up when I need guidance or just a volleying partner to dissect American and world culture with. He is a writer by trade and as such he has had a storied career that by any measurement scale equates him to be a true American bad ass. He was the main features writer for the SF Weekly for 8 years, he has written countless travel pieces for the world's most respected magazines, he has written several books and most notably, he is the cofounder of Litquake, San Francisco's most prestigious literary festival. I'm thankful that such a cyclone of knowledge and Steve McQueen cool is one of my best friends in life and it is my pleasure to present to you now, the one and only Mr. Jack Boulware. 

This episode was recorded in San Francisco. Greg Behrendt in my mind is the quintessential San Franciscan. I met Greg when I first moved to San Francisco in 1991 and he is one of the nicest people I have ever met in the entertainment industry.  Like most people in the business he has seen his ups and downs but that fact that his comedy contains the original spirit of joy and that he is not bitter makes him a champion. He was a writing consultant for 'Sex in The City' and went on to co write the book 'He's Just Not That Into You' which not only went on to be made into a movie but landed him on the Oprah Winfrey show and resulted in 'The Greg Behrendt Show'. It had been many years since I had seen him and we got to sit down to chat this past week while we were both performing in San Francisco. He is a perfect example of how to navigate a career following your heart instead of setting your clock by what show business thinks you should be doing with yourself. It's my pleasure to present to you the one and only Mr. Greg Behrendt. 

I have known and respected Drew Hastings for over 20 years. His jokes have always possessed an intelligent cynicism that hit me right in the heart of what I find funny. This conversation was recorded two years ago. While performing in Cincinnati I heard that Drew was now the mayor of Hillsboro, Ohio and when I finished my shows I stopped off to see him on my way to Chicago. He still performs stand up comedy, in fact his career took off once he left Los Angeles and moved back to his native Ohio. He is the kind of friend I cherish the most, the kind with differing opinions who can make you see things another way without it exploding into an argument. He is also what I would consider the most dangerous kind of politician, the kind who is sincere and genuinely cares about the people he represents. His story is fascinating and one that will probably one day be made into a movie. He is a prime example of the great and powerful things that can happen if you follow your heart and do what you believe in.  It is my pleasure to present to you the one and only Mr. Drew Hastings.

This episode was recorded in Brooklyn, New York. Having co-created the Daily Show and co-founded Air America it is a solid fact that Lizz Winstead has left a permanent mark on American entertainment and the American consciousness. Like most innovators and socially forward thinkers the roots of her tree began in stand up comedy.  I worked with Lizz several times in the early years of my career as her opening act. I was a very young and inexperienced comedian and I loved and respected her from our initial meeting. She was a strong female headliner in a profession that was mostly male dominated. She shared her comedy wisdom with me back then and I have always appreciated the intelligence she brought to any project she put her name on.  In the early years of Comedy Central I appeared on the first version of the Daily Show that Lizz was one of the producers of. I felt like a proud relative seeing Lizz kicking ass in the television world just as hard as she had as a headliner in the stand up comedy world. It had been many years since I had seen her and both of our lives and careers have taken many twists and turns since then.  Today, Lizz can be seen on countless political talk shows commenting on American politics.  I believe it is no easy task for a comedian to move into political activism and stay funny as well as socially relevant but Lizz has done this supremely. Her current passion is defending the reproductive rights of women from law makers who wish to infringe upon this right.  In this episode she refers to herself as a vagina warrior, which makes me smile even as I type the words. I was excited to see my old friend who I respect greatly. I arrived in Brooklyn on the subway and stepped out into a cold down pour of December rain. At her home I was delighted to find she had just had delivered my favorite pizza, prosciutto and fresh arugula. This woman is magic. Right before we started recording she let me smoke at her window which broke and remained half open with the cold air streaming in. I was thrilled to take a ride through her opinions and thoughts on a wide range of topics and I was secretly pleased she was not angered that I had broken her window. She is someone I have always respected and been cheering for from afar.  She is the one and only comedy crusader that is Lizz Winstead.

This episode was recorded in New York City. I was in New York last week to film the new Dave Attell series for Comedy Central. At the moment it is called 'Adults Only'. It's an uncensored stand up show that will air sometime next year. I was there the entire week and got to watch every taping. I was on the last episode and thoroughly loved rocking it and can't wait for people to see it. It had been several years since I had been in New York and it was great to do sets around town honing my set for the filming. It was also great to see a few friends that I had not seen in many years. One of my favorite things in the world is to get together with comedians I love and admire and talk about comedy experiences and the nuts and bolts of the business. One of those people is Jim Gaffigan. I believe the last time Jim and I worked together was in London filming a TV show called 'The World Stands Up'. It had been at least ten years since we had seen each other but it was like we hadn't lost a minute between us when we got together. Since the last time I saw Jim he has become pretty massive in the comedy world and I think he deserves every drop of his success. He's such a pleasant funny human being and in general a big, bright, ball of sunshine I enjoyed all the many directions this conversation went into. There is a slight echo in this episode because it was recorded in Jim's office that has a very high vaulted ceiling but the brain candy and knowledge nuggets that come out in this make it worth it. He's a man that I wish I got to laugh it up with more often, he's the one and only Mr. Jim Gaffigan.

This episode was recorded several years ago in Atlanta, Georgia. It happens periodically that I will work with a young comedian that I love as a person and performer. When Jerry Rocha featured for me at the Atlanta Punchline I was pleased at how hard he rocked the room, warming the audience up rather than fouling up the bath water for the rest of the bathers. On and off stage Jerry is extremely likable. I like his style on stage and that he is not too cool to embrace his silliness. I think that after a few more years of seasoning he'll be a beast on the circuit and on viewing screens that must be dealt with. I love the material he does now and I look forward to seeing what mind bending humorous thoughts he comes up with in the future. He is an undiscovered comedy gem and that is why I am presenting him here with my full endorsement of his skills. 

This episode was recorded in Seattle, Washington. I have known Cathy Sorbo for over 20 years. She is not only a brilliant stand up comedian but she also keeps inventing these supremely hilarious songs. She decided to stay based in Seattle to be with her family and I think she is better off for it. Her real life experiences are the gems of her material that makes me laugh the hardest but it is her inventiveness in her style and in her songs that make her a comedy legend. She has been a true friend to me and it would be impossible for me to come to Seattle and not see her. Cathy is one of those rare creatures who personally busts me up with laughter. Her innate silliness perfectly compliments her astute intelligence. She is one of my favorite human beings walking the earth today, she is the one and only Cathy Sorbo.

Recorded in Chicago at Zanies on a Saturday night last September between breaks in 3 shows. Drew Michael was my feature act for the week and I loved what he was doing on stage. He's young, good looking, mildly angst ridden and I believe he will be a dangerously good comedian one day. He is from Chicago but about to move to New York. It was such a busy week for both of us the only time we had to record was during our breaks on a 3 show Saturday. The result is some good examination of the shows and the crowds. Smart comedy has always come out of Chicago and Drew is a prime example of this. I believe in his future so much I wanted to introduce him to you on my show now. Enjoy getting to know Drew Michael!

This episode was recorded in Beijing, China. I first met Des Bishop many years ago in London when we both performed on a show together. He has had a very unique life story and an amazing career trajectory.  Des is originally from New York but has deep family roots in Ireland. He started his stand up comedy career in Dublin and has gone on to have a brilliant television career in Ireland. For the past year he has been living in Beijing because he wants to learn Mandarin Chinese and perform stand up comedy in Chinese. On the night I arrived after I dropped my luggage at the hotel I took a taxi to the local Chinese comedian open mic night that Des puts on. I couldn't believe it when I saw it but here was my friend standing there performing to a room full of Chinese people getting laughs in Chinese! I was absolutely blown away by this feat.  In this episode we talk about Des' television highlights in Ireland and how he came to fall in love with China to make a life here. He also explains everything you need to know about modern life in China, the current stand up comedy scene here and the three taboo topics a performer can never mention while performing in China.  It should be noted that Des heard I was booked to do shows in Hong Kong and Shanghai and he put up his own money to bring me to Beijing to headline shows he would host. The sold out shows this past week were at a cool book store with a full service bar in the center called 'The Bookworm.' The shows were billed as 'Tom Rhodes in the humor section.'  I would like to give a special thanks to Papa Razzi who created the song 'Tom Rhodes is a globe trotting comedian' that plays at the end of this episode.

Sometimes with my podcast I like to imagine it as if I were teaching a university course on stand up comedy. That is why it was an absolute joy for me to sit down with Bill Burr and pick his brain about comedy and his thoughts on the importance of turning over a new hour show every year or two. Personally, for me Bill is one of the most exciting comedians working today. Onstage he is a tempest. He is like watching a major storm develop and then crash down with a fury each new idea he presents. Presently, he is one of the hottest comedians in the world. Touring theaters, giving birth to new hour specials, he even had a recurring role on the critically acclaimed series 'Breaking Bad'. He is a true comedy bad ass. His 'Monday morning podcast' is one of the most downloaded podcasts in the world right now and I'm very proud that my podcast is a part of the All Things Comedy network that Bill started with Al Madrigal. It is my pleasure to present to you now, the rock solid thrower of comedy thunderbolts that is Bill Burr.

The more I get to know Ari Shaffir the more I like him. He is one of the most pleasant human beings walking this earth. Every time I see him he puts a smile on my face. I have never seen him with a dark cloud of emotions hanging over him.  Several years ago he started doing story telling shows and now that concept of his is being produced by Comedy Central digital in a series called 'This can't be happening'.  A few weeks ago I caught up with Ari in San Francisco while he was co-headlining at Cobb's with Joey CoCo Diaz. I watched Ari's fans shower him with gifts of joints and marijuana nuggets after his show and the next afternoon we sat down to have this conversation.  We talk about many great things but most importantly we both agree that "Comedy is a dark room where adults go to hear the truth about uncomfortable subjects." 

I was a fan of Carl LaBove before I ever even met him. When I was 17 I went to see Sam Kinison in Orlando and Carl LaBove was the opening act. Carl blew me away that night with his ferocious comedy cyclone, Kinison was wasted and I left the Bob Carr auditorium thinking Carl LaBove was a name to remember. Years later I met Carl when we did the Toronto comedy festival together. On the gala television taping for that festival Carl accidentally ended up being on mushrooms for that performance. I never get tired of hearing Carl tell the story of that night. Through the years I have become good friends with Carl and I see him as a master Samurai warrior of comedy. He is the perfect example to shatter the notion that comedy is a young man's game. Carl continues to be one of my favorite live performing comedians and night after night he harnesses the same enthusiastic high energy story telling power that first blew me away when I saw him at 17. I'm privileged to have seen him perform countless times through the years and he inspires me because his performances get sharper and his stories and perception never cease to bust me up. He is one of the few comedians who always makes me laugh out loud. This conversation was recorded last month in Chicago as autumn was just taking hold of the trees. We were shooting the shit at the kitchen table of the apartment where Zanies puts their headliners. One of the best human beings in the comedy industry, open your heart for Mr. Carl LaBove.

I first saw Rick Shapiro perform when I lived in New York City 1998 - 1999. He wasn't playing in comedy clubs then he had a regular Wednesday night stint at a bar in Lower Manhattan. A musician friend of mine took me to see him and the musician friend told me "This guy does more than comedy. He does raw naked truth". I was ready to not like it but what happened over the next two hours as I sat watching him in this dark bar was uniquely powerful. It took him about 20 minutes to warm up but once he did there were slabs of brilliance. He spoke so freely and candidly about being a heroin addict and male prostitute I was transfixed. The sheer raw power of his honestly as he portrayed different stories of his personal history made me a fan of his work and the comedy thunderbolts he was throwing down.  I didn't meet Rick until about 7 or 8 years ago at a party of comedians in Los Angeles. I must have ignored everyone for most of the night because my main memory of that party is of talking with Rick all night about comedy in the back yard. Sometimes you need to be patient with Rick, just like that first time I saw him in New York, because once he gets warms up it is truly masterful. This conversation was recorded at Rick's Hollywood bungalow. In this chat a beautiful point is made in that comedy wasn't invented for the young and beautiful. It was invented for the damaged people, the ones with great stories to tell. Few people have lived the life that Rick Shapiro has and I admire him because he weaves his stories throughout his brilliant observations on modern living. He's not afraid to get angry and yell at the injustice's of the world. I like his vulnerability and his sincerity on and off the stage. I think that sincerity is the bravest choice a comedian could make and Rick is a perfect example of this style. I respect this man and believe him to be an American comedy legend who will be remembered and studied. Precisely for the very reason how he was first described to me, for his raw naked truth. I'm proud to present to you here and now the raw naked truth of Rick Shapiro.

I believe this episode is among the very best that I have yet been a part of because of the time, love and preparation that went into making it. Sananda Maitreya was once known by a former name that I will not speak because I get the feeling that person no longer exists and that is the way Mr. Maitreya wants it. I love and respect this man so much it is effortless for me to comply with his wishes. Earlier this year I discovered his brand new album entitled 'Return to Zooathalon' and it has been in my heavy rotation in the music that I have been using to pump me up and fuel me up to keep motoring down the highway. For me as a music lover there is no better feeling than when you fall in love with an artist's music to discover that they have an entire body of work that you were unaware of. That is what happened with me after I feel in love with 'Return to Zooathalon', I discovered the period of recordings Mr. Maitreya calls Post Millennium  Rock. There are so many smash hits in these recordings! As I got further into his music I went deeper into exploring his website sanandamaitreya.com & sananda.org where I discovered his archive or writings. His writings reminded me of my own comedy notebooks that I have been keeping for years and made me fall deeper in love with the man behind the music. Mr. Maitreya lives in Milan, Italy with his wife who he loves and inspires him and they have just had their second child. I keep referring to him as Mr. Maitreya because many years ago I was lucky enough to be the opening act for James Brown and Ray Charles. Backstage everyone addressed them as Mr. Brown or Mr. Charles. Even Ray Charles' son Ray Charles Jr. called him Mr. Charles! I believe this is the same respect that Mr. Maitreya commands. In this conversation when Mr. Maitreya refers to an artist that he respects and admires I like that calls them master. I was privileged to have this long conversation with him via Skype and it is filled with wisdom, humor, philosophy and supreme advice from the life of a legendary recording artist.  For the first 5 minutes of our chat I felt like a nervous fan, for the half hour past that I felt like I had been friends with him my whole life, then beyond that I felt like a disciple of a new religion I wished that he would start. There ain't nothing about this man that I don't like! I'm proud to present to you here the one and only divine presence of music and light that is Master Sananda Maitreya! The songs that I have generously been given permission to use in this episode can be found and available for purchase at the following links: 'Kangaroo' from Return To Zooathalon www.Zooathalon.com 'Ornella Or Nothing' from Return To Zooathalon  www.Zooathalon.com 'With A Girl Like You' from Nigor Mortis www.NigorMortis.com 'Hurricane Me & You' from Return to Zooathalon www.Zooathalon.com 

This episode is a heartbreaker. I was shocked and saddened to learn that Dara Faizi died on September 30, 2013 at the tender young age of 25. I became friends with Dara when he was first starting out as a comedian in Holland. He was a young master of comedy even when he just started. He had confidence as a story teller and a command of the stage you don't normally see in a comedian who is just starting out. He told fierce tales about being from Afghanistan and how his father was killed by the Taliban. He was an only child brought to Holland by his Mother when he was only 9 years old. On long van rides to do theater shows all over Holland he would pick my brain with questions about being a comedian and performing. There are times as a comedian when you see a young performer and you know that they are destined for great things. That is how I felt about Dara, I knew he was going to be a star from the moment I met him. This conversation was recorded on November 1, 2010 in Amsterdam. For years before I started doing my podcast I had been filming comedians for the comedy travel TV show idea that I have about highlighting comedians around the world. Dara Faiza was one of the comedians I wanted to highlight from Holland. Originally I was only going to use a few clips from this conversation for the TV show I wanted to make but since that show is still not in the works and Dara has passed on I see no reason to keep this chat to myself. Since we recorded this conversation his career path had been smart, going in the Dutch tradition of cabaret where you craft hour theater performances instead of a night club act. In recent years he was doing lots of Dutch television programs and being highlighted deservedly so in the Dutch media. His story is epic and he lays it all out for me here. My heart aches to think of his Mother and how shattered she must be right now. In truth everyone's heart should ache because the world of comedy and performance lost a great talent. I still can't believe that he is no longer of this earth but I am grateful that I recorded this conversation with him when he was only 22. I am proud that he was my friend and I'm pleased to present to you here the bright light that is Dara Faizi!

I've known Jim Breuer since we were both starting out in Florida back at Ron Bennington's Comedy Scene in Clearwater. He has always been bringing head crunching thunder as a comedian since I first saw him. He went on to massive success with Saturday Night Live and co-staring with Dave Chappelle in the quintessential stoner movie of all time 'Half Baked'. We recorded this conversation in Chicago while we were both performing there. I was looking forward to seeing him and telling him how much I loved his act the last few times I had seen him because he bravely spoke about taking care of Dad and helping him through his illness. It was the most heartbreaking subject matter turned into hilarious comedy. It turned out Jim has just released a film about his father's illness called 'More than me' which is now available on Netflix. In this conversation he opens up about his Dad, the highs and frustrations of being a main player on SNL, the greatest show business advice he ever received from Bill Cosby, hilarious opinions and stories that solidify Jim as one of the most head strong people in comedy. His podcast model entertainment empire development concept is brilliant and I have always enjoyed seeing what projects he comes out with next. One of my favorite things in life is getting together in the afternoon with a comedian friend and shooting the shit. This is me laughing it up with my old friend Jim Breuer. Feast upon it!

For the past 3 years in a row my wife and I have rented an apartment in Rome. This year we did something different, we acted like we lived there. Instead of exhausting days visiting the monuments we look it easy, exploring delicious restaurants, relaxing in cozy wine bars... the one treat we planned was a four hour scooter tour with scooteroma.com  My friend Bert Kreischer turned me on to them.It is one of the coolest things I have ever done in Rome. It's run by Annie Ojile and Giovanni Nerone. Annie is from Minnesota and she is married to Giovanni who is from Rome. They both know so many interesting facts about Roman history, Italian culture, language and music. They we so fun and interesting my wife and I became instant friends with them. A few nights after our tour we got together for dinner then went back to our apartment to drink wine and talk about all things Italy. This episode is packed with information and you will love that Rome in all it's glory coming into your ear holes. Rome has become one of my favorite spots on the earth that I keep coming back to. Annie and Giovanni are the best ones to talk with about it and I highly recommend taking their tour as it is an experience you won't soon. Forget. Enjoy this feast of knowledge, laughter and friendship!

When I started out on the road I worked the southern circuits of the United States. I have performed in every town that ends in ville or boro.   I did a horrendous gig in Mobile, Alabama many years ago and the best thing about it was I made a life long friendship with Faye Woodruff.   Faye is a southern comedy legend known as the Grand Mother From Hell. She started doing the road once her husband Joe had retired and they would travel together. It was inspiring to see an older couple who were still head over heels in love with each other. Sadly, Joe passed away and as she gets older Faye does the road less and less. She has been an important person in my life. My Grand Mother died when I was very young and I have always considered Faye to be a sort of Grand Mother figure to me. She loves dirty jokes and that is why she is called the Grand Mother from Hell because she looks like a sweet little old lady when she takes the stage but then her act that follows is filthy and hilarious. She once robbed a comedy club at gun point in Jacksonville Beach, FL after they refused to pay her. She tells that story here and how she made the most fun out of her time in jail. I also get her to tell me my favorite story of hers which is what she taught a parrot to say in Key West, FL. She loves Nashville, country music and filthy jokes. I go out of my way to swing by Nashville to visit her whenever I have the chance. Things haven't been easy since Joe died but she loves life and believes in laughter and jokes to be the sweetest joys a person could know. Once you hear this conversation, recorded in Nashville last year, you will know why I have loved her since the day I met her and why she is called the Grand Mother from Hell. 

Tom Rhodes Radio is in Malaysia! Kuah Jenhan is the darling of the Malaysian comedy scene. His jokes are clean and clever and he is admired for turning over fresh new material frequently. I worked with him on my first visit to Kuala Lumpur and got to sit down and have this chat with him when I recently returned. He writes a comedy monthly comedy column for Esquire magazine of Malaysia and recently had an ice cream named after him. Enjoy the world wide perspective of one of Asia fastest rising comedy stars!

Hasan Minhaj is politically aware and socially conscious in his comedy and in his life. He doesn't take any shit when it comes to offensive stereotypes, just ask Ashton Kutcher who he smacked down for appearing in brown face. Hasan has appeared on MTV's Disaster Date and can be seen in the upcoming Stand Up Planet. He puts his heart and soul into his comedy and his youtube videos brandishing the powerful sword of truth. This episode was recorded at the Safari Inn in Burbank, California where scenes from the movie True Romance were filmed. Enjoy this future bright star of world wide comedy!

I worked with Stephan Grant earlier this year in Kuala Lumpur.  He has a lightning quick wit and powers out jokes on a wide range of topics. He writes for many television shows and comedy TV stars in the UK. If you see him work it is no surprise he is in such hot demand as a writer. I enjoyed watching him work night after night and he shoots out punchlines like an AK 47 in rapid powerful procession. He lives in Brighton, the artist hipster capitol of England and if you don't know him already you will be glad for the introduction. He made comedy history when he was sued by his ex-wife for making jokes about her. In that regard he has done something for the entire industry by defending the right to joke about whatever you like. The man has my respect and I thank him for the truck loads of laughter he delivers. Enjoy one of England's finest comedians!

This episode was recorded in Madison, Wisconsin. Many times as a comedian I will work with a younger comedian who I believe has true talent and a bright future. I had met Carlos Valencia through Doug Stanhope several years ago but didn't get to see him work until he opened for me last year at Comedy On State in Madison. He has a dark twisted sense of humor and he is following the path of a comedian with a pure heart. He is a golden human being and a comedian you should know about so that it is no surprise when he rises up in the near future. Please enjoy my friend, Carlos Valencia.

In my eyes Jonathan Atherton will always remain a great man because he turned my beliefs around on the city of Singapore. I went there once and never wanted to return because I thought it was soulless. He invited me to perform there again and said if I didn't like it he would pay me double.   When I returned he proceeded to show me a Singapore I never knew existed. Late night clubs, fun parties, beer festivals and the most delicious street food on the planet. Forever he will live on in my heart as the man who turned me on to black pepper crab. A Singapore specialty that is worth buying a plane ticket to go there for.   Jonathan Atherton is one of the most interesting human beings I have ever met in my life. Originally from Brisbane, Australia he went on to smuggle gasoline from Zimbabwe to Uganda then sold prostitutes in Kenya shoes from Great Britain all before becoming the inspiration and guiding light of stand up comedy in Singapore.   From inventing the comedy scene in Singapore he also is one of the strongest comedy presences in South East Asia. This conversation was recorded in Kuala Lumpur where he has just moved. In his fabulous new house in a very cool part of the city we talk about his past insane history.   What he created in Singapore comedy and his new life in Malaysia. He is an encyclopedia of human triumph, personal disaster and the redemption of speaking truth in stand up comedy to make the world a better place.   He is a respected comedy figure in KL & Singapore and I have loved and respected this man myself since I first stepped off the plane and he lived up to his vow to show me why Singapore was such a magnificent place on the earth.   His story is mind blowing. Amazing how he has packed so much life and knowledge into such a brief tender age. He inspires the majority of comedians in South East Asia to live up to their highest ideals of themselves as comedy performers.   I respect this man greatly, no matter how wildly eccentric his actions are. Comedians are the only people who I can forgive for anything and Jonathan owns my heart like a brother on his own course I gladly watch sail. I caught him now as he had just moved from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and I tapped his brain for the greatest knowledge nuggets that would serve someone seeking a life in stand up comedy. Get it here!

It's no secret that I love Ireland and I have worked with some wildly funny comedians there. One of them that I like the most is Eleanor Tiernan. I've watched her develop into an amazing performer over the years and if you don't already know her you will be happy to discover her comedy. I like her so much I requested her to work with me last year in Chicago. It was a joy to see her killing the American audiences night after night. We recorded this conversation at the end of a fun week exploring the city and doing shows together every night. Her inventive intelligent style of humor will instant make you a fan. Enjoy listening to her explain why treason is sexy!

Tom Rhodes Radio is in Malaysia! What are Moslim people making jokes about? What makes Malaysian stand up more progressive than American stand up? Tom gets to sit down with Malaysia's most famous and veteran comedian Harith Iskander. Harith gave birth to stand up comedy in Malaysia Asia two decades ago and should be considered the true ambassador for bringing stand up comedy to Asia. Listen how the stand up scene all started in Asia and learn what makes moslim people laugh. Get it here!

Tom Rhodes Radio is in Chicago! Let me introduce you to the most interesting couple I know! Rory Zacher & Kelly La Banco two fresh faced kids that moved to Los Angeles to get involved in the porn industry. This episode brings you juicy & surprising behind the scene stories and all that jazz of the business of porn. Get it here!

Tom Rhodes Radio is in Los Angeles! Several years ago I worked with Gina Yashere in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. I loved her as a person and was extremely impressed with her as a comedian. He stories are hard hitting hilarity. Her Mother is from Nigeria and Gina grew up in London. Her unique perspective on the world and skill as a performer I never tired of watching night after night. Just hanging out with her tickles me silly. We bonded they way combat veterans bonded on this exotic tour and have stayed friends ever since. I respect her talent and love her as a human being. It surprises me that she is not a bigger star in the United States but I think her day is coming. We recorded this conversation last month while I was in Los Angeles, recounting her getting her purse snatched in Kuala Lumpur, her life growing up in London, how her Mom has become a celebrity thanks to Gina's jokes about her and what it was like when Gina went to Nigeria to get in touch with her family history. She is a powerhouse performer and a natural comic wit on and off stage. If you don't know her prepare to fall in love with the one and only Gina Yashere!

Tom Rhodes Radio is in Los Angeles! Brian Posehn has been my friend for over 20 years. He has gone on to have an amazing career, writing for HBO's Mr. Show, acting in NBC's Just Shoot Me and Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman Show. I don't get to see him very often but when I do it's always a good laugh.  This conversation was recorded at his home in Los Angeles and among the highlights is Brian letting me know that his son Rhoads is not named after me. Enjoy a glimpse into our friendship!

Tom Rhodes is in New Zealand! Tom chats with New Zealand's comedy legend Brendhan Lovegrove.  Brendhan and I met 15 years ago in London while filming a television show together. Working together again in the years that followed in Sydney and Jakarta. Brendhan is one of the main people how got me invited to the New Zealand Comedy festival. This conversation was recorded in my hotel room on a rainy day in Auckland. He delights me with interesting facts about New Zealand and tells me how England is the human debauchery capitol of the world.

Tom Rhodes Radio is in Los Angeles! Jimmy Shubert is a comedian I have loved and respected for years. He has always been a strong performer with hard hitting jokes. I've known him for many years and I enjoy him because not only is he a kind hearted friend, he constantly cracks me up.  As a comedian with a lot of years under my belt there are not too many people who just being in their presence cracks me up but Jimmy is one of those few people who do.  On a recent visit to Los Angeles I stopped by his house where we recorded this episode at his kitchen table with freshly brewed cups of coffee.  As a live performing comedian I find him to be a total head cruncher! The man knows how to destroy a room! He owns my respect. He recently had performed in China and Israel and we had a lot of catching up to do since we had last seen each other.  It's always a good day when I get to hang out with Jimmy Shubert! Enjoy!

Tom Rhodes is in New Zealand!  After doing the New Zealand Comedy Festival in Auckland for 2 weeks I did a best of the fest tour with a small group of comedians that went all over the country. This was an epic adventure in the land of epic adventures. We performed in gorgeous theaters nightly, had daily flights or long van rides. It was a fun group to travel with because nobody on this tour was a douche bag.  Of the comedians on the line up Chris Martin from London killed it every night. He is young, handsome and has the right passion for comedy. I was impressed that he carried the same style of notebook that I did, scribbling ideas in it every day and consulting it before he went on stage. There is an exciting period when you are fresh into comedy and you are looking for jokes in everything. Chris Martin has that enthusiasm and I respect him for it. Everyone on the tour bonded friendships and supported each other. We all laughed truck loads enjoying the hundreds and hundreds of miles we were traveling together.  At the end of the tour Chris Martin and I sat down to have this chat back stage at the Regent theater on Broadway in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Chris Martin is a joy to watch perform and even more fun to shoot the shit with back stage before a show. Comedian Chris Martin - Flamingo - Dave's One Night Stand http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-c4z-qx-Ci4 Comedian Chris Martin - Driving - Dave's One Night Stand http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Qf6rKj_-J-I

Tom Rhodes Radio is in Austin, Texas! Lovable lunatic and comedy juggernaut Brendon Walsh and I got together at the Moon Tower Comedy Festival in Austin , Texas to discuss how being in love affects your comedy, pulling the ultimate pranks and the mutual respect we gained from meeting and working together on a very tough gig in Reno, Nevada.

Tom Rhodes Radio is in New Zealand! After doing the NZ comedy Festival in Auckland I did a 2 week best of the fest tour going all over the country. With a small group of comedians we shared planes, van rides, and stages every night for 2 weeks. Of this great group of guys Jesse Griffin and I became fast friends. He is lovably smooth and his jokes are sharply funny.  I thought him to be one of the best Kiwi comedians that I saw. Aside from being a comedian, writing for television and making movies he has an American cowboy persona that he performs under the name of Wilson Dixon. As Wilson Dixon he has toured comedy festivals around the world achieving great success. Wilson Dixon is a philosophical wise cracking American Country & Western singer songwriter with thunderously good punchlines. Jesse Griffin is a man of many talents and he is good fun to be on tour with. We recorded this at the end of our 2 week tour together in Timaru, New Zealand. Our days were so full of traveling and performing and in a town without much to do we had this chat where we talk about interesting facts about New Zealand, the extraordinary event of meeting his wife, the killer character he created with Wilson Dixon, killing his demons before making babies, the joy of comedy and a wide range of subjects bouncing off of each others ideas. New Zealand is one of the heavenliest places on earth and one of the best gems I found there is Jesse Griffin.  

Tom Rhodes Radio is in Los Angeles! I got to sit down with Andy Kindler who revealed why he took marshal arts lessons to defend himself from people he had made fun of.

Markus Birdman explains how his near death experience made him a better comedian and how he admires his Vicor Father's performing style.

Tom Rhodes Radio is in LA! Brilliant comedy writer Laurie Kilmartin explains how she turns her personal turmoil into comedy gold in this new episode. Enjoy!      

Steve Hughes and Tom Rhodes talk about everything pertinent on a rainy Saturday in Auckland during the New Zealand International comedy festival. May 2013. 

Tom & Moshe discuss comedy, travel, religion, and their respective tastes in pornography. 

Tom Rhodes Radio presents the funny Tom Gleeson! Recorded in Auckland New Zealand 2013.   Sources on this episode:  Clips taken from https://www.youtube.com/nonstoptom Tom Gleeson Storm in a Tea Cup #5 Tom Gleeson | 2012 Melbourne Comedy Festival All Stars   Podcast theme song: New Generation by The Universals

Tom chats with Australian actor & comedian, Greg Fleet. 

Joey Waldon keeps it eternally silly & colorful on the new Tom Rhodes Radio.

Tom chats with veteran actor & comedian Godfrey at the Moontower Comedy Festival in Austin, TX.  

Tom sat down with Ari Shaffir at the Moontower Comedy Festival in Austin, TX. Then Marc Maron showed up and did what he does best - made it all about him. 

Heavy Metal Comedian Steve Hughes crushes political thoughts and conspiracy theories with Tom in Sydney, Australia.

Doug and Tom drink late into the night in this last part of their conversation recorded in Bisbee, AZ March 2013. Videos available @ YouTube.com/kingofhaha

Tom returns to Bisbee, Arizona to chat with Doug Stanhope about guns, tragedy, death, and the joy of controversy.

Tom chats with one of his favorite people in comedy, Brad Garrett, at his glorious Las Vegas comedy club. 

Tom chats with a living museum of stand-up comedy, the still relevant and still hilarious, Rick Overton. 

Tom chats with long-time friend and one of Letterman's favorite comedians, the great Jake Johannsen. 

Greg Proops proves that he is indeed the smartest man in the world. He's also one of Tom's oldest friends in comedy and brought him to London for his first European gigs. Please enjoy this great chat.  

Tom sits down with Noel Faulkner, the Irish owner of London's legendary Comedy Cafe. He's a truly fascinating human being. 

Tom travels to Galway to chat with his friend, legendary Irish comedian, Tommy Tiernan. 

Tom enjoys a chat with Amsterdam based British comic Adam Fields upstairs at the Comedy Theater in de Nes. 

Brilliant English comedian/actor/musician Bill Bailey joins Tom for a chat in Indonesia at the Jakarta Fringe Festival. 

Jamie DeWolf reveals all of Scientology's secrets and tells how being L. Ron Hubbard's great grandson fuels his performance art.

Tom's brother tells the world to stop being such a pussy. 

In honor of Bill Hicks' birthday, December 16, his brother Steve shares extra loving family stories about the comedy legend.

Steve explains why Bill Hicks is to some people what Jesus is to Christians. And what it was like to be the big brother of Comedy Jesus.

Christina Pazsitzky reveals the most viscious Hungarian insults and explains why telling shit jokes makes her feel truly alive.

Tom chats with global comedy star Arj Barker at a Denny's in Orlando, Florida.

The late legendary Comedian John Fox talks about his friendships with Johnny Carson and Rodney Dangerfield. He also shares his happiest moments in his long comedy career and why Wrigley field is paradise on earth.

In one of his final interviews, Ron Shock shares some of his best life stories with Tom just before his passing. 

Tom chats with one of his favorite young comics, Ryan Stout. He turns 30 this month and already has a ton of hosting credits, a killer album, and plays the best American clubs. Please enjoy this fantastic man. 

The irresistibly funny and lovable Brian Scolaro joins Tom for a lovely chat about his life on stage and on screen. 

I got to sit down with my long-time San Francisco pal, W. Kamau Bell, star of the new show "Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell" on FX. He's a lovely human and I hope you enjoy this conversation. 

Lee Camp is one of today's most important political comedians. I caught up with him in Los Angeles after we went to a taping for Russel Brand's new show. We talk about the current state of Occupy and his genius web-series / book, "Moment of Clarity". Please enjoy my conversation with this wonderful human being.  

Tom catches up with international superstar Russell Peters while they perform together in Amsterdam for a Showtime special. They share their experiences of traveling the world to perform stand-up comedy for people of all races and cultures. 

Tom sits down with his long time San Francisco pal Dana Gould at the Moontower Comedy Festival in Austin, TX. They talk about his legendary career in stand-up comedy, dealing with hecklers, 911, UFOs & Area 51, Gearoge Carlin, and his time with the Simpsons. 

Tom chats with legendary comedian Jeff Foxworthy on stage at the world famous Punchline in Atlanta. They talk about the early days of driving to gigs together and growing as comedians in the south. They also discuss Jeff Foxworthy's recent Mitt Romney endorsement. Enjoy! 

Tom sits down with one of the South's most talented and promising rising stars of comedy, Matt Davis. They discuss the joys and horrors of southern audiences and succeeding in the often brutal circuit.  http://www.daviscomedy.com/

Listen to the brilliant Jim Short share stories about his time with Mitch Hedberg and Bill Hicks. 

Tom chats with one of America's greatest actors, Stephen Tobolowsky, who gives Tom some interesting insights on their time shooting Mr. Rhodes.  

This is a very special episode with my darling little sister, Laura Beth Rhodes Goldstien, 1973-2011. She was a joy to all who knew her.

Tom chats with legendary purveor of HaHa, the great Bert Haas of Chicago's greatest comedy club, Zanies. 

Tom chats with Chicago comedy giant, Patti Vasquez. They talk about the Chicago scene, ethnicity, and the joys and trials of family.  Check out her site pattivasquez.com

Tom sits down with his best friend - host and comedian Lou Angelwolf. They reminisce on starting out in Florida with comics like Brian Regan and Ron Bennington, and reflect on decades of love and laughter.  

In this long-lost pilot episode of Tom Rhodes Radio, Tom is joined by his good friends Lou Angelwolf and Dana Gibson in Los Angeles. Together they are "The Unoffendables." After discussing the best free entertainment in LA, they interview the brilliant comedian/prophet John Fugelsang, in which they discuss real Christianity and eating the Beatles.  Then they sit down with TV & comedy stars Jimmy Shubert & Billy Gardell to talk about Philly and Baltimore pride. 

Tom continues his conversation with musician Tom Rhodes. 

Tom travels to Wilmington, North Carolina to talk to Tom Rhodes, the musician. 

Tom travels to London to do shows and talk with his comedian friends Shazia Mirza and Dave Fulton.

Tom travels to London to do shows and talk with his comedian friends Ed Byrne and Adam Bloom.

Tom visits his good friend Brian Regan in Las Vegas.

Tom talks with Australian comedian Brendon Burns from his flat in London about cracking the London scene and the Edinburgh fringe festival.

Tom travels to the green rolling mountains of Vermont to visit his uncle Bob and talk about life, comedy and the family sense of humor.