Hosted by nationally touring comedian John Poveromo, Dystopia Tonight dares to ask the question: Is this too much? Are we hurtling through a dystopian nightmare, trapped in an endless, self-perpetuating whirlpool of clickbaity headlines, viral memes, and doomscroll-fueled chaos? A carnival of absurdity where every click feels like another nail in society’s coffin? Or is this the moment before we wake up, pull the plug, and rewrite the story — hoping someone remembered to hit record? Either way, welcome to Dystopia Tonight.
Episodes
Apr 21, 2022
Apr 21, 2022
1hr 35 min
Wil Wheaton is one of the most genuine human beings I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with. Incredibly thoughtful, funny, introspective and kind we take a deep dive into his life as a childhood actor, what lead him to his new book, “Still Just A Geek” two decades after his first book and how he’s evolved as a person in between, reliving past traumas, the craft of acting, friendships he’s made along the way, embracing nerd culture and reveling in its current state of “coolness”, The Big Bang Theory, His Trek Family, a touching moment he shared with his Stand By Me co-star Jerry O’Connell, board games, video games, Robin Williams, and not being afraid to get emotional as men. Enjoy!
You can find and purchase Wil’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Just-Geek-Annotated-Memoir/dp/0063080478/ref=nodl_
Website: https://wilwheaton.net
Apr 20, 2022
Apr 20, 2022
1hr 32 min
Ken McGraw is not only a good friend but an actor, comedian, sketch comic, writer, and improviser, who had an incredible run with the off Broadway show “Toxic Masculinity the Musical.” Ken spent years studying Improv, sketch and characters at the Upright Citizens Brigade and could have been seen on Maude Night and Characters Welcome.
Ken has appeared on shows for such networks as Disney+, TruTV and The Food Network. He has done various commercials and internet spots for CNN, Delta, Target and Annie’s Organic. @KenMcGraw - Twitter
We talk growing up in NJ, pursuing his passion for performing, studying at UCB, auditioning both before and during Covid, his commercial work, what lead him into show business, and more, his idols, and what keeps him going. Enjoy!
Apr 18, 2022
Apr 18, 2022
1hr 19 min
Nine times out of ten if there’s someone you love who is funny, Bruce Vilanch made them funnier.
Bruce is a two time Emmy winning comedy writer, songwriter, and actor with a four-year stint on Hollywood Squares, as a celebrity participant and head writer. Vilanch wrote for the Academy Awards from 1989 to 2014 becoming the head writer in 2000.
We talk about what got him into show business, his first writing gig, the current state of the Oscars, Same Elliot, The Power Of The Dog, Comedy, Comedians, Robin Williams, Hollywood Squares, and more!
We also have a special drop in from good friend of the show Shelly Goldstein! Enjoy!
Apr 16, 2022
Apr 16, 2022
1hr 5 min
Stewart Copeland is a talk show/podcast host’s dream. Especially when that host is newly recovering from Omicron.
A natural story teller with a boundless engaging and joyful energy left me only wanting more time to talk to the legendary drummer and now 5 time Grammy winner after taking home Best New Age Album for Divine Tides, his collaborative effort with Indian composer Ricky Kej at the 64th annual Grammy Awards!
We talk about his humble beginnings starting out idolizing his brother which lead him to play in his first band, traveling the world, his secret desire to be a guitarist, his knowledge of touring and running a band which helped him when he was in The Police, building a community and space for his buddies to jam in, being the “Hendrix” for up and comers, his idols growing up, navigating social media, giving advice to his kids, composing music for Spyro The Dragon, his relationship with Sting, the passing of Taylor Hawkins and what he describes as being “Open Season” on drummers and so much more. It was a true honor getting to speak with him. Enjoy!
Apr 14, 2022
Apr 14, 2022
1 min
Lead singer of T’Pau Carol Decker joins us to talk about her trajectory into her career as a singer songwriter and musician which lead to international success, the eventual breakup of her band, her passion for music, influences, how she handled her creativity during the pandemic, going back on tour, and putting out her new single, “Guess who’s sorry now” in 2021. Enjoy!
Apr 11, 2022
Apr 11, 2022
1hr 44 min
I could honesty talk about comedy with Paul Provenza forever. He’s not just a student of it he’s an architect of the craft itself, and the appreciation of it as well as having an eye for it in the comedians he surrounds himself with and the ones that are drawn to him. There’s so much thought and nuance and love that goes into a project he’s involved with which is why comics trust that they’re in good hands when they’re working with Paul.
We talk about his early beginnings as a comic, why he doesn’t perform live as much as he used to, the trajectory of his career, The Green Room with Paul Provenza, Sataristas, The Aristocrats, his upcoming documentary, how comedy has changed and where it’s headed, Richard Mulligan, producing, directing, editing, and the current level of Dystopia we’re all trying to thrive in. Enjoy!
Apr 5, 2022
Apr 5, 2022
1hr 7 min
Jonn Penney was a blast to talk to about everything from his creative process over the years, how it’s evolved during the pandemic, Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, his new band SPAIRS, wanting to be an actor before a musician, raising his kids, homeschooling during Covid, performing in the US vs the UK, song interpretation, movie sound tracks and more. Enjoy!
Apr 3, 2022
Apr 3, 2022
1hr 24 min
Getting the opportunity to speak with an Astronaut is mind blowing in an of itself, but when that Astronaut is Col. Chris Hadfield, retired engineer, fighter pilot, and author who was the first Canadian to perform extravehicular activity in space, has flown two Space Shuttle missions and served as commander of the International Space Station? It’s an indescribable honor.
We talk about his childhood, his path to becoming an astronaut, his time as a fighter pilot, the first person he called when he got the news he was going to space, the overview effect, humanity, being outside the ship, helping to build to space stations, future space generations, mars, aliens, the best space movie, NASA’s lack of secrets, becoming an author with 4 best selling books and a mini series on the way, his hopes for the future and messing with Houston. Enjoy!
All Merch can be found here: https://chrishadfield.ca
Mar 31, 2022
Mar 31, 2022
1hr 30 min
Incredible chat with Noel Hogan, record producer, lead guitarist and co-songwriter of the Cranberries. We talk about the semi “Jestons” level future we’re living in, the trappings of social media and sell phone culture, remembering the people who were good to you, the the ebb and flow in 90s music nostalgia over the years, his brief brake dancing career, how the band met and stuck together through thick and thin, comedy, art, touring and working on new music! Enjoy!
Mar 25, 2022
Mar 25, 2022
1hr 24 min
Mike Binder is literally decades of funny and comedy history packed into one person. He’s written, directed, and acted in hits like Reign Over Me with Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle and the Upside of Anger with Kevin Costner and Joan Allen, not to mention The Contender, Black Or White, as well as producing and directing stand-up specials for Bill Burr (Paper Tiger) and his new upcoming special!
We talk the comedy store documentary on Showtime he worked on both before and during the pandemic, his new love for the Comedy Store and this brand new wave of comedians coming through, his early days as a stand-up, the comedians he hung out with, his trajectory into filmmaking, and the death of his best friend, comedy legend Bob Saget, and the memorial he held at the Comedy Store, and his new website www.Standupworld.com - Enjoy!