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This week Charlie is joined by half of his sisters Betsy, Maggie, Mary Kate and Bridget, for a special episode of the Cripescast. They start the episode by opening a bottle of wine with a screw and hammer and share stories about growing up with 12 siblings. Highlights include Maggie?s story about Charlie getting picked up by the cops at 17, voting games that pin sibling against sibling, and Charlie getting advice on his upcoming commencement speech.
Find us on all social platforms @cripescast @charlieberens and on Patreon patreon.com/charlieberens
The music behind the advertisements (aside from Maggie's beautiful rendition of "Jingle Bells") is "Double Polka" by Kevin McLeod.
Stand up comedian Paul Virzi joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. You may recognize him from his podcasts ?The Virzi Effect? or ?Anything Better? that he co-hosts with Bill Burr, or from his most recent comedy special ?Paul Virzi: Nocturnal Admissions? on Netflix.
Paul shares the story of how he got into stand up and how having a family has changed his outlook on life and comedy. He and Charlie get into the specifics about shooting a comedy special and the importance of setting long and short term goals. They also talk about their first jobs, Paul as a pizza delivery man and Charlie a pretzel roller.
Find Paul on all socials @paulvirzi and find more tour dates at paulvirzi.com
Find us on all social platforms @cripescast @charlieberens and find us on Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens
The music behind the advertisement is "Double Polka" by Kevin McLeod.
Comedian Ian Bagg joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. They compare the Midwest to Canada and pond hockey to river hockey. From working for a traveling carnival in Australia to mining gold in Canada, Ian walks us through his journey to comedy and his love of crowd work. Ian and Charlie trade some regional sayings, winter advice, and Ian shares about the time he accidentally got someone fired.
Get free tickets to see Ian at the Milwaukee Improv Dec. 8-10 by using code CRIPES at https://improv.com/milwaukee/comic/ian+bagg/
Find more of Ians dates at ianbagg.com and find him on social media @ianbagg
Find the Cripescast and Charlie on all platforms @charlieberens and @cripescast. Check out our site cripescast.com for all podcast information, tour updates and merch. For exclusive content, subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens.
The music behind the advertisements is "Double Polka" by Kevin McLeod.
Stand-up comedian Pete Lee joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week and the two get lost on tangents about hotel and public restroom etiquette. He talks about growing up in Wisconsin, coming up in the Twin Cities? comedy scene, and the time he almost opened for Bobcat Goldthwait. Pete?s dog Diesel makes an appearance as he opens up about his cursed streak of TV shows being cancelled right after he?s made a guest appearance including ?The Days of our Lives,? along with many other funny stories.
Find Pete at Petelee.net (http://Petelee.net) and on social @peteleepeteleepetelee
Find the Cripescast and Charlie on all platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens
Find us on Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens
The music behind the advertisement is "Double Polka" by Kevin McLeod.
Comedian Lara Beitz joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week to discuss her stand up career and growing up in the Midwest. Lara talks about coming up in the Milwaukee stand up scene, touring with Joe Rogan and Marc Maron, and, of course, bird watching. Lara indulges Charlie?s obsession with birds by sharing a few stories of her own fowl entanglements. Let?s just say they follow a goose down the rabbit hole.
Follow Lara @larabeitz and her podcast Slobs @slobspod
Follow the Cripescast @cripescast and Charlie @charlieberens
Find us on Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens
The music behind the advertisements is "Double Polka" and "Manic Polka" by Kevin McLeod.
On a special Veterans Day episode of the Cripescast, Charlie is joined by Ed Garza, CEO and President for the Center for Veterans Issues (CVI), Dr. Berdie Cowser, Director of Development and Housing for CVI, and Jason Johns, V.P. of Corporate and Community Relations for CVI. The Center for Veterans Issues is a nonprofit based in Milwaukee that helps veterans across Wisconsin.
Along with two returning guests, Ed and Jason, Dr. Berdie makes her debut on the Cripescast and talks about her career with CVI, the challenges female veterans face, and what it means to be named Milwaukee County?s 2023 Veteran of the Year. They share updates on current projects happening at CVI, ways to give back, what Veterans Day means to them, and provide advice on how to thank a veteran for their service.
Interested in learning more about CVI or want to donate? Head to cvivet.org to read about what they?re doing, how you can help, and more.
Follow the Cripescast and Charlie on all platforms @cripescast @charlieberens. Find us on Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens. The music behind the ads are "Double Polka" and "Manic Polka" by Kevin McLeod.
Investigative journalist and state government reporter for Wisconsin Watch, Jacob Resneck, joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. Jacob outlines how to register to vote in the state of Wisconsin, he highlights some important seats that are up for election this year, and he debunks some common misconceptions that circulate during election season.
Be sure to head over to myvote.wi.gov to register online, locate your polling place, and find any other information for this election season.
Find Jacob on Twitter @jacobresneck or find more of his work at wisconsinwatch.org or jacobresneck.com.
Find the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast and be sure to check out our Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens for exclusive content you can't find anywhere else!
The music found in this episode is:
"Double Polka" by Kevin McLeod
"Old Wisconsin Jubilee" by Berens & Greuel
From giving his first hair cut at 10 years old in the projects of South Side Chicago to becoming the official barber of the Green Bay Packers, Hansel Canady has seen and cut it all. In fact, during this week?s interview you?ll be able to hear him give Charlie a fresh new haircut at Hancan Barbershop in Green Bay. He and Charlie talk about how he became the Packers? barber, his transition from Chicago to Green Bay, and the racism he faced during that time. ?What happens in the barber shop, stays in the barber shop? is the motto Hansel lives by. It?s even on the wall as soon as you walk in. As an advocate for counseling and therapy, Hansel loves offering his chair as a safe space for his clients to open up. From AJ Dillon to Matt LaFleur to Charlie Berens, he enjoys making his clients to look and feel great.
Make sure to book your appointment with Hansel or his team at Hancan Barbershop in Green Bay at hancanbarber.com and make sure to follow Hansel on social @hancanbarbershop.
Follow the Cripescast at @cripescast and Charlie @charlieberens and make sure to find us on Patreon patreon.com/charlieberens for exclusive content and behind the scenes footage.
The music behind the advertisements is "Manic Polka" by Kevin McLeod.
Alannah Vellacott, a coral restoration specialist, marine ecologist, and ocean advocate, joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week.From playing in a mangrove ecosystem while growing up in the Bahamas to having a career in coral reef rehabilitation today, Alannah?s life has been closely intertwined with the ocean. Alannah also recounts her experience working on Samuel L. Jackson?s documentary series ?Enslaved? as a diver helping map shipwrecks from the Atlantic Slave Trade. She discusses the importance of representation of Black women in her industry and how her social media aims to bring lessons from the ocean to all.
Find Alannah on all platforms @alannahvellacott and her website alannahvellacott.com
Find the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast and cripescast.com and patreon.com/charlieberens
The music behind the ads is "Double Polka" by Kevin McLeod.
This week stand up comedian Shapel Lacey joins Charlie on the Cripescast. Even though his comedy career started on a dare, he eventually wound up at the Just For Laughs New Faces showcases in 2019. He explains how being adopted into a white family at the age of 15 affected his life, his comedy, and ignited his passion for competitive cheering.
Use promo code CRIPES at milwuaukeeimprov.com for free tickets to Shapel's shows on October 21 and 22 and be sure to find more dates to see Shapel at shapellacey.com. Find him on Instagram @shapellacey.
Find the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast and find us on Patreon for exclusive content, extended cuts, behind the scenes and more at patreon.com/charlieberens.
The music behind the advertisements are "Double Polka" and "Manic Polka" by Kevin McLeod
Live from Washington DC, Charlie sits down with a variety of guests from the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.
Guests include: Suzy Delong, Chef, Executive Director and Founder of LaSoupe in Cincinnati; Carrie Mess, a Wisconsin Farmer and agricultural influencer; Sherri Tussler, Executive Director at the Hunger Task Force in Milwaukee; Dr. Dave Nayak, a Chicago-based doctor turned farmer; Avani Rai, 4-H member and 17-year-old student; Tara Roberts Turner, a Waupaca farmer and General Manager of the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative.
Stand up comedian and host of the ?Chrissy Chaos? and ?Hey Babe!? podcasts Chris Distefano joins Charlie this week. Chris talks about his first job as a court attendant at the U.S. Open and how he smuggled in Gatorade for star tennis players like Roger Federer and the Williams sisters. He also shares how he quit being a physical therapist to pursue a career in comedy and the weird things that he?s encountered while doing stand up in the Midwest. Chris and Charlie discuss how they were both bad altar boys back in the day, their trip to London and how Chris is going to stay in Charlie?s cheese room in Milwaukee.
This week comedian Michael Yo joins Charlie on the Cripescast where the two talk about Michael?s career, stand up and his new special ?I Never Thought? on YouTube. Michael shares stories of being on ?Chelsea Lately? and how his kids have changed his comedy. The two compare their time as red carpet hosts and Michael gives his best advice for anyone wanting to break into the entertainment industry.
Find Michael?s special ?I Never Thought? on YouTube and find him on all social platforms @michaelyo.
Milwaukee listeners, make sure to use promo code CRIPES to get tickets to see Michael at the Milwaukee Improv September 22-24 improv.com/milwaukee
Find us on Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens and on all social platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens.
The music for the Cripescast is ?Double Polka? by Kevin McLeod and ?Old Wisconsin Jubilee? by Berens and Greuel.
This week Charlie is joined by content creator TJ Therrien. TJ talks about growing up in Minnesota, his goals to break into different areas of comedy and how birth order and his kids inspire his content. The two discuss how TJ started making online videos, how he made it onto Sports Center?s top 10 plays as a ball boy for the Minnesota Twins and whether Wisconsin or Minnesota has more lakes.
Follow TJ on all platforms @TJ_Therrien
Find us on all platforms @cripescast @charlieberens
Find us on Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens
The music behind the advertisements is "Double Polka" by Kevin McLeod
This week, comedian and content creator Nick Colletti joins Charlie on the Cripescast. Nick talks about starting out on Vine and his ambitions on the big screen and on stage. The two discuss social media?s role in their comedy and whether Pittsburgh is in the Midwest or not.
Follow Nick @nick_colletti and for more info in his shows head to nickcolletti.com. Use code CRIPES at milwaukeeimprov.com to get $5 tickets to his show TONIGHT!
Follow the Cripescast and Charlie on all platforms @Charlieberens @cripescast and all podcast content can be found at cripescast.com.
The music behind the advertisements is "Double Polka" by Kevin McLeod.
This week Charlie is answering all your fan submitted questions.
Find us on Patreon, patreon.com/charlieberens
Find us on all socials @cripescast and @charlieberens
Advertisement music is "Double Polka" by Kevin McLeod
Emmy-nominated screenwriter and comedian Tracey Ashley joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. Tracey is the head writer on "A Black Lady Sketch Show" and has written on TV shows including ?The Neighborhood? and ?The Last O.G". Not to mention her time on tour with Dave Chappelle, Tracy Morgan and many more comics. Needless to say, she is funny. She talks about her career path, her time in a variety of writers rooms and her comedic influences. Tracey also shares about her experience being in an interracial marriage and how society?s reactions has changed over time.
Follow Tracey Ashley on all platforms @itstraceyashley
Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast
Follow Charlie Berens on all platforms @charlieberens
Advertisement Music: "Double Polka" By Kevin McLeod
This week Charlie is joined by musician and comedian Bill Doucette. The two talk about Bill?s time on the East Coast, performing at the State Fair as well as his ties to Wisconsin. Bill explains how he and Charlie met and the work they?ve done together in recent years.
Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast
Join our Patreon - patreon.com/charlieberens
This week Charlie is joined by comedian Tumua Tuinei. The two talk about their similar career paths and how they use comedy to honor where they're from. Tumua explains the comedy scene in Hawaii, his start in stand-up and how he?s used social media to help his career take off. They exchange common phrases in Hawaii and the Midwest and Tumua teaches Charlie how to properly do the shaka.
Follow Tumua on social Tumua Tuinei or @tumua_, check out what he?s doing at tumuacomedy.com.
Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast and find all the info about the show, Merch, tour dates, and more at cripescast.com.
Find Charlie on Patreon to buy a membership for exclusive content for just $5 a month at patreon.com/charlieberens.
Special thanks to our sponsors JollyGood Soda and Duluth Trading Company, find out more about them at jollygoodsoda.com and duluthtrading.com.
Advertisement Music: "Double Polka" By Kevin McLeod
Academy Award winning producer and Charlie?s close friend, Jim Burke, joins the Cripescast this week. He and Charlie talk about how they met, growing up in the Midwest, and how Charlie lost Jim?s car keys in the ocean in Hawaii. Jim offers advice for those trying to break into the entertainment business and he tells the story of how he and his family competed on the hit game show ?Family Feud?.
Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast and find all the info about the show, Merch, tour dates, and more at cripescast.com.
Find Charlie on Patreon to buy a membership for exclusive content for just $5 a month at patreon.com/charlieberens.
Special thanks to our sponsors JollyGood Soda and Duluth Trading Company, find out more about them at jollygoodsoda.com and duluthtrading.com.
Advertisement Music: "Double Polka" By Kevin McLeod
Head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers Men?s Basketball team, Greg Gard, joins the Cripescast this week. He talks about starting his coaching career with an eight grade basketball team, how growing up in a small farming town in Wisconsin propelled his work ethic, and his non-profit Garding Against Cancer. He even shares some photos from his deer cam.
Find out more about his non-profit at gardingagainstcancer.org
Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast and find all the info about the show, Merch, tour dates, and more at cripescast.com.
Find Charlie on Patreon to buy a membership for exclusive content for just $5 a month at patreon.com/charlieberens.
Special thanks to our sponsors JollyGood Soda and Duluth Trading Company, find out more about them at jollygoodsoda.com and duluthtrading.com.
Advertisement Music: "Double Polka" By Kevin McLeod
Comedian Ton Johnson joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. You may recognize him from his shows across the Midwest or collaborating with Charlie in various videos including ?Midwest Nice?, ?Midwest Olympics? and ?Real Husbands of Deer Camp.? Ton and Charlie trade stories from the road, discuss the art of bombing and highlight Milwaukee?s growing comedy scene.
Follow Ton on all socials @itstonjohn
Follow Charlie on all platforms @charlieberens
Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast and find all the info about the show, Merch, tour dates, and more at cripescast.com.
Find Charlie on Patreon to buy a membership for exclusive content for just $5 a month at patreon.com/charlieberens.
Special thanks to our sponsors JollyGood Soda and Duluth Trading Company, find out more about them at jollygoodsoda.com and duluthtrading.com.
Advertisement Music: "Double Polka" By Kevin McLeod
This week Charlie is joined by his long-time friend and fellow Midwest content creator, Myles Montplaisir, aka the You Betcha guy. They talk golf, Midwest red flags and their new podcast Bellied Up.
Follow Bellied Up on all platforms @bellieduppod
Follow You Betcha on all platforms @ohhyoubetcha
Follow Charlie on all platforms @charlieberens
Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast
Rachel Harrison, advocacy coordinator for the Milwaukee human trafficking non-profit Fight to End Exploitation (FEE) joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. The two discuss the baseline definition of human trafficking and its impact in Southeastern Wisconsin. Rachel shares some signs to look for and the role that social media and online porn sites have on sex trafficking. Rachel also explains the difference between sex trafficking and prostitution, what people can do to help victims of sex trafficking, and opportunities in Wisconsin legislation to help stop the exploitation of children.
For more information about FEE and the work they?re doing, go to fighttoendexploitation.org.
If you see something, say something.
National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888.
This week Charlie answers some fan questions. Wanna get a question answered? Email us at [email protected].
This week, Charlie?s high school English teacher, Jim Kearney, joins the Cripescast. They talk about the book ?Hero With a Thousand Faces? by Joseph Campbell that Jim taught Charlie about back in the day. Jim reflects on his career as a teacher, the pivotal trips he took his students on, how to reach kids on a deeper level, and what being a teacher meant to him. Jim and Charlie share a beer and Jim recommends his all time favorite books that everyone should read.
This week, Charlie is joined by the hosts of the ?And That?s Why We Drink? podcast and authors of the new book ?A Haunted Road Atlas: Sinister Stops, Dangerous Destinations, and True Crime Tales? Em Schulz and Christine Schiefer. They discussed their fascination with paranormal and true crime stories. Christine and Em outline their individual careers before ATWWD. Christine worked as a staff writer for Nickelodeon and Em shares some deep dark secrets from their time working on ?The Price is Right?. The three talk about their shared experience staying at the notoriously-haunted 5-star hotel in downtown Milwaukee, The Pfister Hotel, and other interactions with ghosts.
Ryan Busse, a former firearms executive for Kimber America and author of ?Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America? comes on the Cripescast today to talk about gun control. Having grown up with guns, a love for the outdoors and hunting, and years of experience in the gun industry, Ryan has a unique relationship with guns and offers insight on the gun problem in America and their place in our society. Ryan and Charlie talk about all areas of the gun control conversation including universal background checks, red flag laws, mental health, the NRA, conspiracy theories, and where we can go from here.
Stand-up comedian and actor Jon Reep joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. You may know him from "Last Comic Standing", from his own podcast "Country-ish" or from his special "Ginger Beard Man" on Amazon Prime. He and Charlie compare their similar career paths and talk about how they both spent time working in the entertainment industry in LA and made their way back to their hometowns to continue creating content. Jon shares about how he finds humor even in dark times, how social media has changed the comedy scene and his approach to it all. Jon shares about his creative process for stand up, his worst experience on stage, and Charlie offers him some travel advice for when he visits Milwaukee.
Stand-up comedian Dan Cummins joins Charlie this week on the Cripescast. You may recognize him from his half-hour special on Comedy Central, his appearances on the Tonight Show or the Late, Late Show, or the host of his own podcasts ?Timesuck,? ?Scared to Death,? or ?Is We Dumb?. Dan dives into his path to comedy and provides some advice to those starting their stand-up careers to be authentic to themselves. He also talks about how social media has changed the comedy game since his start in the early 2000s. He and Charlie talk about creative burnout, where to find inspiration, performing for Midwest crowds. Charlie also addresses America?s latest mass shootings.
Bluegrass legend Vince Herman joins the Cripescast this week. He and Charlie talk about his start in music, how bluegrass has evolved over the years, and his bands Leftover Salmon and the High Hawks.
For the 100th Episode of the Cripescast, Charlie invited on his folks Molly and Dick Berens. They came ready with embarrassing stories of Charlie and much more.
Israel Del Toro Ph.D. and Relena Ribbons Ph.D., faculty for the Lawrence University environmental studies program and leaders for the No Mow May initiative in Appleton, Wisconsin join Charlie this week to talk about how not mowing in May can help the environment and economy.
Find out more about No Mow May at byobeez.org
Follow the Cripescast on all social media @cripescast
Follow Charlie on all social media @charlieberens
Comedian Joe Dombrowski joins the Cripescast this week to talk about growing up in Michigan, his path to comedy and how he blends his teaching career into his stand-up.
Follow Joe Dombrowski on all platforms @mrdtimes3
Follow Charlie and the Cripescast on all platforms @CharlieBerens @cripescast
He?s back! Taylor Calmus a.k.a Dude Dad returns to the Cripescast to talk about his new book ?A Dude?s Guide to Baby Size?, improv, the best part about home renovations, and of course, bird watching.
Follow Taylor on all platforms @dudedad
Follow Charlie on all platforms @charlieberens
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Comedian and teacher Chastity Washington joins Charlie on the Cripescast to talk about the Milwaukee comedy scene, incorporating her job into stand up and the wisdom of the kids she teaches.
Comedian Sasheer Zamata joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week to talk about her experience on SNL, her role on ABC's ?Home Economics?, and her and Charlie's shared love of bird watching.
Follow Sasheer on Instagram and Twitter @thesheertruth
Comedian Jeff Foxworthy joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week to talk about comedy, his new Netflix special ?The Good Old Days? and his love for hunting arrowheads.
Follow Jeff on Instagram @realjefffoxworthy, Twitter @foxoutdoors and on Facebook Jeff Foxworthy.
Follow Charlie and the Cripescast on all social media @CharlieBerens @cripescast
This week comedian and actor Kevin Pollak joins Charlie on the Cripescast. You may recognize him from his roles in ?The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,? ?A Few Good Men,? ?The Usual Suspects,? or listened to his podcasts ?Kevin Pollak?s Chat Show? or ?Alchemy This?. Kevin came on to talk about stand-up, podcasting and shared some funny ideas from his notes app.
Follow Kevin on Instagram @kevinpollak123 and on Twitter @kevinpollak
Follow Charlie on all social media @charlieberens
Follow the Cripescast on all social media @cripescast
This week comedy writer Joey Clift joins Charlie on the Cripescast. Joey is an enrolled member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. They discuss Native representation in Hollywood, his journey to screenwriting and the process of pitching a show.
Follow Joey on Twitter @joeytainment and on Instagram @joeycliiiiiift
Follow Charlie on all socials @charlieberens
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Special thanks to JollyGood Soda and Duluth Trading Co. for sponsoring the podcast.
Fishing guide and television host Larry Smith joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week to discuss their recent fishing trips, how the outdoors can bring people together and the role fishing and hunting have on preserving the environment.
Live from New Hampshire, it?s the Cripescast snowed in! This week, Charlie is joined by his opening acts, Andy Roffe and Bill Doucette, and the Cripescast?s executive producer, Colleen Muraca, where the group gives a glimpse into life on the road with Charlie on tour, all while at a bowling alley.
Make sure to follow:
Andy ? @asap_roffe on all social platforms
Bill ? @billydeuce86 on all social platforms
Colleen ? @colleenmurrr on all social platforms
And of course, Charlie and the Cripescast @charlieberens and @cripescast on all social platforms.
Director for Athletic Bands at UW-Madison, Dr. Corey Pompey, joins the Cripescast to discuss his career path, the audition process, upholding important Badger traditions, and his goals for promoting diversity in the band.
Packers legend LeRoy Butler returns to the Cripescast this week to talk about being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, stories from his childhood and diversity in NFL ownership and coaching staff.
USA Olympic Luge team member Brittney Arndt joins Charlie to discuss what it takes to compete in the Winter Olympics, how climate change is affecting winter sports and Charlie?s first time attempting the luge.
Former owner and editor-in-chief of The Onion, Scott Dikkers, joins Charlie on the Cripescast to discuss how The Onion started, the space for satire and humor in news today and how to craft great jokes.
This week comedian Julie Nolke joins Charlie on the Cripescast to talk about her rise to success during the pandemic, Canada vs. the Midwest, and the proper way to get your car out of snow.
Former high school government and law teacher turned viral non-partisan educator Sharon McMahon joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week to discuss the importance of facts versus conspiracy theories and bias versus spreading lies.
Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week to talk about his journey to becoming a Packer, his love for Door County, and crushing watermelons with his quads.
Multi-time National Champion Heavyweight Olympic boxer, diversity consultant and motivational speaker Cam F Awesome joins the Cripescast this week to talk about the importance of discussing race and racism in the Midwest.