All Episodes

September 5, 2023 84 mins

Summary

Matt Garard talks about his career in theater, working in standup and improv comedy, and his current stint with Thunder Bulge in this weeks podcast episode. 

In This Episode

  • When and why Matt started to perform
  • Why Matt turned down a scholarship for theater
  • Matt’s work with Comedy Sports
  • Working in a murder mystery show
  • Winning The World Comedy Championships
  • The difference between standup comedy and improv
  • How to handle hecklers while doing comedy
  • How Matt got into teaching Junior Theater classes
  • Working in long-form improv in Chicago
  • Learning at Second City Conservatory with improv legends
    • Gilda’s Club, a cancer support organization named after Gilda Radner, an American comedian who got her start in Second City and eventually went on to star on SNL, ensures that people impacted by cancer have the knowledge and community that they need. If you’d like to support Gilda’s Club, you can donate here: https://www.gildasclubchicago.org/donate
  • Touring with Mission Improvable and working in edutainment
  • How to get out of not having professional headshots
  • Playing clean vs. going blue
  • Working shows behind-the-scenes to learn that end of the business
  • Working with Thunder Bulge to promote body positivity and comedy
  • Thunder Bulge on the Gong Show
  • Auditioning for America’s Got Talent
  • Getting kicked out of a bridal convention
  • Doing virtual events during the pandemic
  • Shout out to Lance Bass, and getting Thunder Bulge to perform at Rage
  • Starting Rose Entertainment group while doing shows and planning a wedding
  • Matt’s comedic and theatric heroes that propelled his career
  • Matt’s best advice to aspiring actors and comedians
  • Check out Matt’s show: https://thunderbulge.com
Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.