Taking The Mic!
Ever wondered what it takes to be a stand-up comedian? Same...so last year, I said f*ck it. I love comedy and I'm not going to be an "it's too late" guy (age 36). I started writing and went up for my first 5-minute set at the close of 2019. I was hooked. Then we had ourselves a bit of a pandemic...deprived of open mics, I needed a way to work on my material and grow an audience. Enter the "Taking the Mic!" podcast. Each episode will be a blend of long-form, unpolished bits I am working on, along with commentary on the shortcomings of human beings (there are many). No topic is off the table. And as my beloved Chicago opens back up, I will return to the stage and let you in on every bit of elation and misery an upstart comedian gets to experience. You'll hear it all. The good, the bad and the awful...uncensored.
Episodes
We are back with the Taking The Mic podcast and guess what??? It happened, I am a real f*cking comedian! That's right, I officially had my first paid gig since I started this nonsense 18 months ago. Nino and Jimmy Quaid joined me to discuss.
If you can bear through the first half of this episode and Nino's seemingly never-ending story, we talk a lot about my comedy journey to this point in the 2nd segment.
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In the latest installment of Taking The Mic, I review my comedy showcase set and share my thoughts on Ricky Gervais' latest stand-up special.
I also discuss the latest gun tragedy and the comedian's role in shaping society's ideals and morals.
Instagram - @DanStrzempkaComedy
Twitter - @Dan_Strzempka
The boys are back in town!
Nino, Quaid and I got a chance to catch up on the first group episode in a WHILE.
Join us as we chat about maps, yo-yo's, and fidget spinners.
Oh yea, I also spent some time fielding questions about the stand-up comedy process and what my experience has been. Hope you enjoy!
Instagram - @danstrzempkacomedy
Twitter - @dan_strzempka
And....he's back, following a 4 month hiatus.
In the comeback episode of TTM! I discuss my whereabouts, the Will Smith nonsense, and the Jerry Cantrell concert I attended this past weekend that still has me smiling.
Stick around at the end of the episode for a snippet of an instrumental version of Alice In Chains' Nutshell that I recorded. Glad to be back!
Instagram: @danstrzempkacomedy
Twi...
Where have I been?
Doing comedy, that's where...and it's been awesome! In this episode, I review my first comedy showcase (video of the set to come) and talk about how cool the entire experience was for me.
Also, what would a Taking The Mic! show be without some cancel culture talk? And what the hell is a "Don't Weigh Me" card? Find out on this episode!
Instagram: @danstrzempkaco...
Douchebag double check Aaron Rodgers is back in the news again; this time as a crazy, rambling crackpot antivaxer. I discuss this in detail and also have another go at trying to frame cancel culture in the correct light.
Also included: comedy updates and what I'm watching/listening to.
PS: Thank you for 1000 downloads! Let's keep this going, tell your friends!
Instagram: @danstrzempkacomedy
Netflix took an important and refreshing stance this past week, siding with Dave Chappelle amidst much backlash on his latest stand-up special, "The Closer."
My full thoughts are in this episode. PSA: My words were chosen very carefully, a full listen is required before I will allow your judgement.
I also dove into my fear surrounding stand-up comedy and the future ideal state of this podcast.
...
Nino, Jim and Ryan join me on the latest episode. We talk about eating on airplanes, "offensive" jokes and why Nino loves getting bad news about his friends.
Enjoy and head to DanStrzempkaComedy.com to subscribe.
@dan_strzempka on Twitter
@danstrzempkacomedy on Instagram
^^^ David Letterman's words, not mine.
The world became just a bit less funny today with the passing of Norm Macdonald. In the first episode of Taking The Mic after a lengthy break, I talk about the comedy hero of mine. No one has ever made me laugh harder or more consistently than he did, and I don't think anyone ever will.
I also spend a bit of time catching you guys up on my existence and tease a few...
We got flooded in Chicago over the weekend, and there was no shortage of morons thinking their cars were boats.
I also give an update on my comedy and the Austin Harvest fundraiser.
And I'm a year older or something, who cares.
Enjoy, don't forget to subscribe!
Instagram - @danstrzempkacomedy
Twitter - @dan_strzempka
Chicago is fully open, and I'm already annoyed with people again. It's time to go back inside!
I was also attacked multiple times by an a$$hole bird on the golf course.
But most importantly, another fundraiser has been started. Let's help the under-resourced neighborhoods of Chicago! Full details are discussed in this episode and the link to donate is at danstrzempkacomedy.com.
As always,...
I'm vaccinated.....and I'm going to Mexico.
On this episode, I talk about my upcoming vacation, my Uncle Rico trip back to my hometown this past weekend; and then I accidentally get myself all worked up about religion for a few minutes before I course-corrected myself.
Cannot wait for this trip to Mexico, but also cannot wait to come back and hit the comedy hard again. See you in a couple weeks!
This week, Ryan Baldi joined Nino and me for an inspiring discussion surrounding our existence in the universe and the purpose of life.
We also attempted to discover who took advantage of my generous cookie donation. And now I'm a racist.
Enjoy, don't forget to subscribe. And tell your friends!
Dan's Instagram - @danstrzempkacomedy
Dan's Twitter - @dan_strzempka
Ryan's In...
We're back after a brief layoff, allowing me to recover from a few bombs up on stage.
Hideki Matsuyama won the Masters! Nothing, NOTHING makes me more warm and fuzzy than the thought of old white guys everywhere being furious that an Asian golfer won their precious golf tournament.
I also discussed the passing of DMX by taking a trip down memory lane back to highschool.
Enjoy the episode and stay t...
Opening Stand-Up Set: My First Open Mic In A Calendar Year
Live comedy has returned, and I'm on the vaccine schedule this week! Throw in some Saint Patty's drunks back on the streets of Chicago, things are starting to feel normal(ish) again.
I also chatted about a woman who falls in love with inanimate objects and the Grammy's.
Enjoy, subscribe, tell your friends!
Jimmy Quaid joins Nino and me on another Taking The Mic! episode.
We get into some Mr. Potato Head and Dr. Seuss cancel culture talk. Wow, what a sentence.
We also go over our "Shawshank" movie list...movies that you simply cannot bypass on the cable guide when they're on, but NEVER choose to start them from scratch.
I'll be at two open mics this week, so I should have some recording...
Opening Stand-Up Set: Human Car Horns
A lot going on the news this week. I talk at length about Tiger Woods' devastating car wreck and why I was so rattled when I got the news.
I also discuss how fascinated I am by the Mars rover, Perseverance, and why no one seems to care about it. I go a step further and predict some not so pleasant things for humanity over the next couple hundred years.
And ther...
Opening Stand-Up Set: Is It Just Me?
I blabbed about a number of things in my first solo show in a while, including my new mattress, which I am incredibly excited about.
Also on this episode: A couple of podcast recommendations, my weird drunk Star Wars loving neighbor, and a baby shower gone terribly awry.
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER! PLEASE! @dan_strzempka
Opening Stand-Up Set: Girlfriend Shopping on a Budget
My friend Becca joined Nino and me for a chat amidst a blizzard in Chicago.
We discussed cannibalism, her encounter with a contestant from The Bachelor, dating apps, and a few of my idiosyncrasies.
PS: If you could, please visit www.danstrzempka.com for info about my fundraiser for the Shatterproof foundation and to donate. Please give if you can...and...
Opening Stand-Up Set - Therapist Sick Days
Nino and I ushered in 2021 by talking about Cobra Kai, and I learned that disdain for Ralph Macchio isn't the prevailing public sentiment.
We also talked (loudly) about Reddit and the internet winning the Trump debacle this past weekend. Finally, we resolved to get the hell out of our comfort zone this year!
Enjoy, subscribe, tell your friends and also stra...
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