Femoir the Podcast – Season 3, Episode 103: Give Yourself A Break

There are times when you can’t do everything you want to. And there are lots of times you can find reasons to beat yourself up for not doing (or being) “enough.”

But as long as you do the best you can with what you have in the moment, you are doing enough. And just by being, you’re being enough.

That’s the basics of what are explored in this episode of Femoir the Podcast. That, and…

I talk about Brian Koppelman’s Podcast: The Moment.

I mention my beloved David Goggins.

I talk again about Resistance.

I mention a specific interview on the moment with my (other beloved) Steven Pressfield.

I discuss doing what you need to do to recharge.

And why you can learn from everything, even your so-called mistakes.

All that and more on iTunes.

Subscribing and rating help the show big-time but you do you, babyboo.

Steve Hofstetter is Hilarious

MetaPhysicalComedyHofstetter copyI was lucky enough to interview Steve Hofstetter for my podcast Metaphysical Comedy which I co-host and co-produce with Jose Sarduy.

Steve has a new comedy show on Fox called Laughs.

And he has an interesting perspective on what lies beyond. Check it out in his podcast and show notes.

If you get a chance, be sure to listen and subscribe to the podcast.

Episode 61: Patience – Show Notes

patienceThe latest episode of Femoir: The Podcast is a longer one, friends, but since we’re talking about patience, I hope you take the time to listen to it and enjoy!

I talk about the three major improv and comedy theaters in Chicago:

1. The Second City

2. iO (Improv Olympic)

3. The Annoyance

I mention the stage version of my solo show, Femoir.

I also mention my wonderful pending web series, The Other Client List, again. I am very excited about it. It’s gonna be gooooooood.

And I also mention my crazy peg leg pirate upstairs neighbor (again) and the fact that SHE BANGS!

As always, you can subscribe to these for free on iTunes!

Blazing earphones…

It just doesn’t have the same ring to it as “Blazing Saddles” does it?

Yeah. You’re right. I guess Mel Brooks knows what he’s doing.

I bet Mel Brooks would love listening to the latest episode of Femoir: The Podcast themed HOT! Don’t you think?

How about this, you listen to it by clicking here and then you tell me if you think Mel Brooks would like it or not.

And while you’re there, consider subscribing. Maybe Mel would like last episode? Maybe he’d be really excited about the next episode themed BIRTHDAY! Who knows?

I guess Mel knows. But until I get that email directly from him, we can only hypothesize.

So hypothesize with me friends.

Workout Trainer App

I downloaded it a few weeks ago, but I finally decided to give my “Workouts” app a try. It uploads new free workouts every week and they look pretty decent, so I figured why not.

I chose the ab workout routine. It was 12 minutes. The way it’s supposed to work, is there is a trainer’s voice you choose that coaches you through the workout, and you can refer to the given pictures as a guide as you move through it. It focuses on HIIT training, mostly, with different muscle groups getting blasted for different goals.

Some of the workouts are free and some of them you can upgrade the app and get. There is only one “free” trainer available and her name is Kim. As a stingy person, I wanted to try this product before I spent the extra few dollars to upgrade. So “Kim” and I got to work.

The thing is… “Kim” is a robot. She’s not even as believable sounding as Siri. She sounds like a Sit and Spell from 1996. So when “Kim” is saying “let’s go” and “good work” and “you can do it” and “a positive attitude will help you get through this” as dry as an amateur computer voice program from the early 90s, I can’t help but laugh.

I tried to get through the workout. I really did. I tried to use my excellent imagination to pretend that “Kim” was an actual person, but every time I heard her speak in her completely non-emotional computer way, I keeled over and started cracking up.

I doubt I’ll upgrade the software. It’s a great idea, but I have interval apps available that would do the same trick if I know the routines and moves. It’s a little more work on my part, but at least I know I can get through it without laughing to myself in the corner like an idiot.

And if you go to my gym and saw me in the multipurpose room losing my breath from laughter…that’s what I was listening to. Now you know.

And now you know, too.

Do it for the nuggets

Can I make a confession to you guys? I don’t produce the podcast because I think it’s the funniest thing that’s ever been produced. I don’t do it because I need it to be #1 in the iTunes store. I don’t do it hoping to get thousands of subscribers so I can start attracting sponsors so I can make a little extra cash from it.

I do it because in every single podcast there are lots of nuggets of ideas. Every time there is a character monologue, that’s the start of an idea that can be elaborated on, honed in, explored, edited, and eventually brought to life on stage or onscreen.

The same goes for every sketch I write. It could be a great idea that with the right partner, perspective, and energy to put into editing it- could be really great to make into a visual reality in some way.

The same is true for every little one or two-liner joke I write. They’re not perfect, but they’re the start of a concept I find funny. Maybe there’s something there to explore further when I’m looking over my stand up set and want to have more jokes.

Every story I include is the start of a story I could craft for a new solo show or for a five minute storytelling show like one of my personal faves Funny Cuz It’s True.

Even the headline jokes I write because I love the practice of setup and punchline jokes about current events. It’s a great way to practice for possible writing jobs on late-night talk shows. It’s also just a fun lens through which to view current events.

You get the pattern here. When I sit down to create these Femoir podcasts, I’ve been ruminating a bit on the theme for the past couple weeks, trying to figure out little perspectives or creative ideas I want to further explore. But I’ll be honest, I don’t sit down weeks in advance to plan out the perfect podcast. I don’t re-write or edit or constantly hone in every last detail to make sure it’s perfect. I have an outline, some ideas, and make the time to be creative.

I don’t assume that every time I sit down to spin comedy gold that it comes out even canary yellow. But sometimes there are some strands of gold in my metaphorical string. And if I do a ton of spinning, eventually I can take all the gold strands out, put them together and create a full string of comedy gold.

I’m a firm believer in the philosophy “Leap, and the net will appear.” I can’t get better as a comedic writer or voice-over artist if I don’t practice. There are no stakes or motivation in practicing without a possible audience. So I create the stakes and motivation by putting my work out to the world and letting it sit there, imperfections and all.

The last time I created a new version of the Femoir stage show, I walked into my first rehearsal (with the beautiful and talented Amanda Blake Davis) with an arsenal of ideas in hand. All from this podcast. All from elements I’d documented and already spent some time being creative about in my own head. I was ready. And we created a super fun show in no time at all.

I do this podcast because I love creating. It’s neccessary to my very existence.

But I also do it for the little nuggets that can serve me immensely in the future.

Not to mention, I consider every person who reads these blogs or listens to the podcasts or sees the live show little nuggets, too.

So here’s to you, nuggets. Thanks for the inspiration.