Dystopia Tonight With John Poveromo

Day 259 - Shawn Mullins - When The Work Really Starts

On this brand new episode of Dystopia Tonight we have the first-ever podcast appearance of Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins!

Shawn and I talk about everything from his early days as a young musician, his musical family, early inspirations, creativity, the Americana/Folk music genre, his long term friendship with Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls, his Grammy Nom, touring with Glen Phillips of Toad The Wet Sprocket, his collab with Elton John, a surreal and hilarious evening with Mel Gibson, how the music business has changed, John Candy (because who doesn’t wanna talk about John Candy) Comedy, and more. Enjoy!

Day 258 - Mama B - A Mothers Day Special

Mama B (Jacq Becker) creates music the whole family can enjoy by melding contemporary production with timeless song craft. Her debut, Imaginology  pairs lyrics directly inspired by the crazy things kids say with elegant retro-pop.

Day 257 - Jimmy Tingle - The Funny Agenda

Jimmy Tingle and I discuss his upcoming one man show, "Humor and Hope for Humanity" at the SoHo Playhouse in NY, the influence of Jackie Mason, Lily Tomlin, Spalding Gray and John Leguizamo, stand-up, Boston Comics, The Ding Ho, Steven Wright, Paula Poundstone, Denis Leary, When Standup Stood Out, Competing with yourself and more!

In his newest one person show, comedian and political humorist Jimmy Tingle takes audiences on a very funny and soul-searching journey from his Boston roots as an aspiring comic and street performer to network TV [“60 Minutes II”; “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson; HBO; “Veep”] to The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and a decision to run for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. The show will speak to the issues of the day, including the upcoming presidential election with comedy, compassion, and common sense while delivering a humorous yet passionate and purpose driven performance.

If laughter is the best medicine than Jimmy is the Surgeon General of humor. Clean, funny, and hopeful, Jimmy will make you laugh, think, and feel better. Just what the doctor ordered!

 

For more info go to https://www.sohoplayhouse.com/upcoming-events/jimmy-tingle

Day 256 - Katie Boyle - Risk Vs Reward

Irish comedian Katie Boyle, now based in NYC, is a rising star in the comedy scene, known for her sharp wit and captivating storytelling. From her debut album hitting #1 on iTunes Comedy Charts to headlining sold-out shows across the US and Ireland, Boyle's comedic prowess knows no bounds. With appearances at prestigious festivals and features in top showcases, she's making waves on and off the stage. Follow her journey as she tours her latest hour, "Terapy," and keeps audiences laughing with her hilarious take on life, love, and everything in between.

Day 255 - Bob Cowsill - "Bonded By Music"

The Cowsills have a rich history woven into the tapestry of music, captivating audiences in the 1960s and early 1970s with their unique blend of pop melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Their infectious tunes, like "The Rain, the Park & Other Things" and "Hair," became anthems of a generation, capturing the spirit of the era with their catchy hooks and uplifting melodies.

Bob joins me to talk about their journey from humble beginnings to the heights of stardom which inspired the creation of the iconic TV show "The Partridge Family," internal conflicts and the ever-changing landscape of the music industry, the strong family bond that kept them together and helped them deal with anything that was thrown at them, stories about Carl Reiner, Carol Burnett, and Bruce Springsteen, His thoughts on music ranging from Taylor Swift to Alice In Chains, to Dave Grohl, and more. Enjoy!

Day 254 - Robert Smigel - High Quality Means of Escape

Inspiring laughter and thought in equal measure, Robert Smigel is a comedic genius who has left an iconic mark in this history of comedy as an actor, comedian, writer, director, producer and puppeteer, known for his SNL "TV Funhouse" cartoon and as the puppeteer and voice behind Triumph The Insult Comic Dog. 

 

We talk about his new animated film, "Leo," a class pet Iguana voiced by one of his best friends and long time collaborators, Adam Sandler, Bugs Bunny and the art of character driven cartoons, Spongebob, Alvin and The Chipmunks, why he dislikes Animaniacs, wanting to be a cartoonist, Peanuts comic strips, award shows, Miley Cyrus, Tony Danza, Mel Gibson, starting out as a comedian, leaving dental school behind, and more. Enjoy!

Day 253 - Ivan Decker Gives Himself The Jigglies

Ivan Decker's got a new comedy special out titled, "Popcorn" and he's here to talk about that, life on the road, reality tv, family life, coming up in Canada, bad interviews, old timey headliners, the dreaded algorithm, and more. Enjoy! 

Day 252 - Brendan Hunt - Committing to Every Single Moment

Ted Lasso’s Brendan Hunt joins John to talk about his new solo show at the SOHO Playhouse in NY running from Feb 7-10 titled, “The Movement You Need.” The show comically explores his relationship with his departed mother, a fraught kinship that had one area of life-long concord: the music of The Beatles. In this episode we also talk about his time on Ted Lasso as Coach Beard, powerful connections we make with music, meeting your heroes and embarrassing stories that go with it, comedic confidence and more. Enjoy!

Day 251 - Eating Viruses for Breakfast with Dom Irrera

legendary comedian and actor Dom Irrera joins me after his final show at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal. We discuss his retirement from touring due to his parkinsons diagnosis, his early days touring with Cher, how comedy has evolved today, Bill Burr, Joe Rogan, Eddie Murphy, Carson, Seinfeld, the Pandemic, his parents divorce, his teaching days, Hey Arnold, and more. Enjoy!

Day 250 - Unmasking The Ongoing Threat w/ Alan Jenkins and Gan Golan

The much-anticipated second issue of 1/6: The Graphic Novel is now available, offering a deeper and more complex exploration of a world where the January 6th insurrection was successful. Harvard Law School Professor Alan Jenkins and New York Times bestselling author Gan Golan, alongside veteran comic book artist Will Rosado, continue their provocative narrative under the auspices of the Western States Center.

We cover the anniversary of 1/6 insurrection, going over the new details presented to us, how they implemented it into the graphic novel, Trump's shocking admission of losing the Election, the disturbing truth behind the Capitol violence, unveiling hidden agendas, Ted Cruz's cowardice, and more. Enjoy!