The Art of Joke Creation episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 24, 2026 · 32 MIN

The Art of Joke Creation

from Messed-Up To Set-Ups - A MichaelHalcomb.Live Podcast · host Michael Halcomb

Hello, Friends! It’s episode #97 of the Messed-Up to Set-Ups podcast. Ever wonder how comedians turn mundane news moments into hilarious bits? In today’s episode, Part 2 of my chat with comedian Andy Beningo, we dive right into that process. We talk about how the freshest material often comes from real life, and how a simple idea, like an over-the-hill James Bond or a cat with a vendetta, can generate great jokes. We also do some on-the-spot comedy by riffing on headlines. Along with that, we discuss the importance of stage time, developing your best material, and tips for running jokes multiple times. Join us as we dissect the process, share real examples, and have a blast turning the absurdities of our world on their heads. Tune in!JOKE WRITING COURSE: By the way, if you have any interest at all in learning about your persona, how to write some jokes, or doing stand-up comedy, check out my online joke writing course, “The Joke Writer’s Lab,” HERE.JOKE MEMORY COURSE: My companion course to “The Joke Writer’s Lab” is now live: “The Comedian’s Memory Lab.” Learn how to conceptualize, organize, and memorize your entire comedy set. This method works for 10 jokes or 100, a set that’s 3 minutes of 1 hour. You can get it HERE.MichaelHalcomb.Live is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

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The Art of Joke Creation

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This episode is 32 minutes long.

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This episode was published on February 24, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Hello, Friends! It’s episode #97 of the Messed-Up to Set-Ups podcast. Ever wonder how comedians turn mundane news moments into hilarious bits? In today’s episode, Part 2 of my chat with comedian Andy Beningo, we dive right into that process. We talk...

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