PODCAST · comedy
School Of Laughs
by Rik Roberts
From the aspiring comedian to the part time pro this is the podcast you've been looking for! This podcast is full of honest insight and useful information on the journey from the open mic to the sweet paying corporate gig. Shows range in format from "comedy campfires" where we swap out the fire for a mic and get to the key questions from aspiring comics to in-depth interviews with professional comedians, booking agents, managers and club owners. Led by 23 yr comedy veteran Rik Roberts (www.RikRoberts.com) as part of his School of Laughs (www.SchoolofLaughs.com) workshop series.
Episodes
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THE END OF AN ERA [EP. 255]
Today we wrap up the long-running (6 1/2 years) School of Laughs podcast! It started in July of 2014 and has run the course of over 255 episodes. If you have a question about stand-up comedy we have covered it on this podcast. So as we wrap, where do you go from here? Today we talk about clearing...
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GOALS TRACKER WORKSHEET EPISODE [EP. 254]
Today we focus on the year ahead. What are you trying to accomplish moving forward? Yes, it's the annual goals tracker worksheet episode! You can download the Goals Tracker Worksheet .pdf by clicking HERE. Thanks to the Patreon sponsor for this episode John Smith. We'll cover how to set…
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MARKETING TIPS FOR COMICS WITH TRACY DeGRAFF [EP. 253]
Sharing marketing tips for comics is the one and wonderful Tracy DeGraff. After penning her first book, "Laugh Anyway Mom", Tracy took classes at The Second City in Chicago hoping to take her stories to the comedy stage. Today, she joins us to share insights on what has worked (along with a few...
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17 SHOWS IN 27 DAYS - LESSONS LEARNED [EP. 252]
I just wrapped up 17 shows in 27 days. I am still learning how to be a comedian, speaker, facilitator, and actor. On top of that, I have to book travel and get myself to and from the gigs. Today I am going to share with you a lesson learned from each of the events. During the run, my shows...
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COMEDY WIN-WIN OPPORTUNITIES WITH CHESTER GOAD [EP. 251]
Today I am discussing comedy win-win opportunities with Chester Goad. I met Chester a few years ago at the BIG PODCAST conference with David Hooper. We've been in the loop ever since. During the past 18 months, we've spent many hours on coaching calls. Sometimes it is spent developing material…
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CREATING A COMEDY CD with BRIAN KOHATSU [EP. 250]
Have you thought about CREATING A COMEDY CD? Brian Kohatsu joins us today to talk about a project that had been on his list for roughly 5 years. Coivd gave him time to finally knock it out and he knocked it out of the park! I'll play a few clips from his project "Secret Asian Man" and dig into…
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FREQUENTLY ASKED COMEDY QUESTIONS [EP. 249]
Do you struggle with memorizing your jokes? Have you ever had problems with your voice during a show? What are the pros and cons of using props or musical instruments on stage? In this "after-school special" recorded with students from the writing class in Nashville, we discuss several techniques...
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GETTING STARTED with CHRIS RUPPE [EP. 248]
Chris Ruppe is our guest on this episode, and he is also our Patreon sponsor. I first met Chris at a Christian Comedy Association conference. Since then he has developed material and started to think about going full time into comedy. Along those lines, Chris had some specific questions about...
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LONG LIVE JEANNE ROBERTSON [EP. 247]
[This encore presentation of my interview with Jeanne Robertson is in honor of the late Speaker & Huomrists passing. Prayers and condolences for all those who were close to her. ] An interview with a rock star - Jeanne Robertson! In July of 2017, I had a great time talking with Jeanne. We discuss…
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BOUNCING BACK, BO BURNHAM & BITS [EP 246]
In today's episode, Jonnie W. & Brian Bates join me. We discuss how the comedy scene is bouncing back, the latest Bo Burnham special, and how changing one line in a joke can take it to newer and sometimes better places. This episode is sponsored by Patreon supporter Jeremy Lee. If you would like…
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12 COMEDY TIPS YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO IGNORE [EP. 245]
Join me for an encore presentation of Episode #2 of the School of Laughs podcast. This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Josh Liston. Find out how you can help us stay on the air at www.SchoolOfLaughs.com/Patreon. Producer Gavin Miller gathered questions from a club full of aspiring...
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CHURCH PEOPLE - THOR RAMSEY [EP 244]
oday we are joined by Thor Ramsey. Thor is the force behind the movie Church People. The film takes us inside a megachurch whose pastor is caught up in gimmicks more than the gospel. Thor's character, Guy Sides, is a rising youth pastor who is trying to get things back to being focused on the...
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CRISP AND CLEAN COMEDY COMPETITION RESULTS [EP. 243]
CRISP AND CLEAN COMEDY COMPETITION Welcome to the competition results episode. This showcase of clean comedy was open to all comedians. The clips ranged from stand-up, musical comedy to comedy without an audience delivered straight to the microphone. All clips submitted, as long as they were…
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Crisp and Clean Comedy Submissions [EP. 242]
Welcome to the competition episode. This showcase of clean comedy was open to all comedians. Whether you are brand new, full-time, or fooling yourself. The clips range from stand-up, musical comedy to comedy without an audience delivered straight to the microphone. All clips submitted, as long as...
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IS STAND-UP COMEDY BACK? [EP. 241]
In this episode, I will discuss the re-emergence of stand-up comedy. Battling shuttered clubs, empty showrooms, dry-docked cruise ships, and other venues it has been a tough year for comedians. I discuss a variety of things, including: Vaccination rates in the USA and how that affects audiences…
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COUNTERING CANCEL CULTURE [EP. 240]
"Cancel Culture" is a term that has become more prevalent. In the world of comedy, it's one step further down the path of political correctness. Today we talk about what it is, how it affects comedy, and what comedians can do to neutralize its invasion of our art form. Webster defines cancel...
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CRISP AND CLEAN COMEDY COMPETITION [EP. 239]
Crisp and Clean Comedy Competition Guidelines This showcase of clean comedy is open to all comedians. Whether you are brand new, full-time, or fooling yourself. Here's how it will work. The clip can be stand-up, sketch, musical comedy - as long as it is clean and clearly understandable. Send your...
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3 TIME COMEDY FILM DIRECTOR RICK ALTIZER [EP. 238]
Have you ever wondered what it takes to produce a movie, write a jingle, or land Bob Dylan's manager? Well, today you are in luck! I have a pod-swap interview with Rick Altizer. Not only is Rick an incredibly good friend, but we also share an office! Over the years I've learned a lot about his...
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The Art of Bombing with Dan Bublitz [EP. 237]
Have you ever wondered what goes through a comedian's mind when they tell a joke that doesn't work? Whether you're an aspiring comedian or a hardcore comedy nerd, The Art of Bombing Podcast has something for everyone. From useful comedy insight to entertaining stories of bombing and failure told…
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PREPARING FOR A TV SET - PART 2 [236]
This is the follow-up podcast to episode 235 where I shared my process of preparing for my last recording. You can listen to that podcast HERE. In this episode, I review the live recording. Offering up insights into my thinking for choosing certain jokes, we talk about what went well and what…
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PREPARING FOR A LIVE COMEDY RECORDING
Preparing for a live comedy recording involves choosing your jokes, timing out the set, editing, making segues, practicing it live, and more. Today I share the process I went through for my last recording. Things were a little different this time due to COVID-19. But the overall approach is still...
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LISTENER QUESTIONS [EP. 234]
Over the past few weeks, I've received a handful of questions from listeners. I thought I would share the answers with everyone. The questions are ... Do you think comedy will return to the way it was before the virus? What books do you recommend to comedians? What are some crowd work tips? When…
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DAN RUPPLE - MEDIA MASTER [EP. 233]
Today I am happy to introduce you to my friend Dan Rupple. As a respected comedy writer, producer, and speaker, Dan has been featured on NBC Nightly News, CNN, FOX News, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Dallas Morning News, Radio America, and more....
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Facebook Pixels and YouTube Shorts [Ep. 232]
Facebook Pixels and YouTube Shorts Today I learn about Facebook pixels and Youtube Shorts with Zack Lyman. Zack is a funny comic out of Phoenix. When not on stage, he consults on marketing projects for companies and individuals. We tap into that expertise today to find out how we should be using...
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2021 GOALS TRACKER WORKSHEET PODCAST [EP. 231]
Today we review the year that was, the year ahead, and what we are trying to accomplish moving forward. Yes, it's the annual goals tracker episode! If you aren't a member of the Insider Tip Sheet Newsletter, you'll want to shoot an email to [email protected] and request to be added. This...
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QUESTIONS ABOUT COMEDY WITH JOSH LISTON [230]
Today I answer questions about comedy as I am interviewed by Josh Liston, host of Tips of the Slung and Punching Sideways podcasts. Josh is an avid listener of the School of Laughs podcast and noticed I left a few topics uncovered. He noted that occasionally I will say, "one day I should do a…
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DRIVE-INS, PARKING LOTS AND VIRTUAL GIGS [EP. 229]
Virtual gigs, drive-ins, outdoor parking lots ... is this what it has come down to? I discuss the options for comedians with former students Brain Bates and Jonnie W. If 2020 has taught us anything it is this: "adapt or die." There just aren't as many inside gigs as usual. If you want to earn…
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THANKFUL DURING A PANDEMIC? [EP. 228]
This episode is all about YOU! That's right. It's time to pause and recalibrate. The podcast is going on its 7th year in 2021 and I want to make sure it still serves a purpose for you. It started out as a weekly comedy class-style show. Then evolved into an interview format. Where do we go from...
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HOT DOG - IT'S JUNE COLSON [EP. 227]
In this episode, I get to catch up with a former student, June Colson. I met June in 2017 at the Christian Comedy Association annual conference. She was eager to learn comedy but still wasn't sure if she was in the right place. After meeting some fellow comedians with similar interests she…
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THE ONION UNPEELED WITH SCOTT DIKKERS [226]
In this episode, I get to discuss the history of The Onion with founding member Scott Dikkers. Dikkers helped found the original Onion newspaper. He's served as The Onion's owner and editor-in-chief, on and off, for much of the last quarter-century. In 1996 Scott founded the website, TheOnion.com…
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CREATIVE COMEDY WITH JOSH HARRIS [225]
Learn how to generate creative comedy with Josh Harris. Josh is a talented, creative stand-up comedian. He expresses his vision through music, video, and sketch comedy. Josh provides a great example of how stand-up can evolve off-stage. His high energy performances are more like a one-man show in...
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SWORD SWALLOWER DAN MEYER [224]
Sword Swallower Dan Meyer grew up as a scared, shy, skinny, wimpy kid who was teased and beat up by the bullies. He convinced himself that someday he would perform superhuman feats, DO the IMPOSSIBLE, and change the world. And he did! Today Dan mixes danger, laughter, and swords to defy death…
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OVERCOMING STAGE FRIGHT [223]
OVERCOMING STAGE FRIGHT Today we make a call all the way to Scotland to talk about overcoming stage fright. Elissa Di Napoli is the best-selling author of "Dare to Be Seen" from Stage Fright to Stage Presence. She helps performing artists command the stage and magnify their presence. By doing so,...
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CREATING A TV SHOW with JIM HOPE [222]
CREATING A TV SHOW with JIM HOPE Today we are talking about creating a TV show with my friend Jim Hope. He's a whiz who writes, performs, and produces comedy. I first met Jim when I performed on the Henry Cho Show on Great American Country (GAC Cable TV). He was a co-writer and producer and I…
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STORYTELLING TIPS WITH DAVE BRICKER [221]
I am extremely excited to share with you some storytelling tips for speakers with Dave Bricker. Dave is an experienced speaker, trainer, and coach. Even more cool is he is a sailor! In fact, he combines his love of sailing with storytelling and is able to help people tell remarkable…
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COLLEGE COMEDY WITH ERIC O'SHEA [EP 220]
On this episode we are talking college comedy with Eric O'Shea. Colleges have entertainment budgets and seek out comedians, bands and other performers to fill their schedule. Could you fill your schedule with college work? Eric breaks down what you need in terms of material, personality,...
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CHRIS WINELAND - THE GREAT HECKLE [219]
Today I talk with Chris Wineland, the author of "The Great Heckle." Chris popped on my radar when her performed on the Huckabee show in Nashville. He's a busy guy. He has written for Emmy Nominated "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." Pursuing his love of late night comedy, Chris co-created the...
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MESSING WITH MOODY MOLAVI [EP.218]
MOODY MOLAVI joins us today to talk comedy. Specifically we talk about: MOODY MOLAVI SHOW NOTES Getting started in Chattanooga Crashing cars and motorcycles Learning about trigger words in a joke Using his background for stage material His desire to perform for the military Doing his DryBar…
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CHANGE YOUR STORY with DAN LeFAVE [EP. 217]
On today's podcast I talk with Dan LeFave. Dan is a business success coach for experienced and motivated entrepreneurs at the "Shortcut To Success". Dan's specialty is empowering six and seven figure business owners to shift from being overwhelmed & disorganized to in control & systematized. He...
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HOW COVID-19 AFFECTS COMEDY AROUND THE WORLD [216]
Since the COVID-19 virus popped on the scene live entertainment has taken a major blow. Who can crowd surf with ten people spread six feet apart anyway? Comedy has taken the punch and has had difficulty delivering the punchline back. Entertainers in every country are affected. But are they all...
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Maryellen Hooper Dignity Under Duress [215]
MARYELLEN HOOPER joins us today on the School of Laughs podcast. A veteran in the world of stand-up, Maryellen Hooper's comedy has taken her from clubs and colleges to theaters and television. She's appeared on many late night talk shows including several appearances on "The Tonight Show" with…
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TIPS ON SPEAKING WITH (CSP) STEVE LOWELL [214]
Learn tips on speaking from Steve Lowell (CSP). Steve is the past National President, Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS). Steve is incredibly gifted at helping identify their "expert insights." These are the things or then thing that makes a speaker different from all the…
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EASYGOING AARON WEBER [EP. 213]
Aaron Weber is a standup comic born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. After graduating from Notre Dame in 2014, he moved to Nashville and started doing standup. Since then, he's become a regular at Zanies Comedy Club and has performed all over the country. In 2018, he competed in the Laughing...
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COVID, COMEDY & CONTRACTS [EP. 212]
Today's episode is in response to the extreme number of cancellations of events due to the COVID-19 Corona Virus Outbreak. We will approach it from three angles. First, let's take a brief moment and acknowledge how lucky we are to be performers in the first place. Second, let's remember the…
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VICTORIA JACKSON HANDSTANDS TO HOLLYWOOD [EP. 211]
Victoria Jackson joins us today on the School of Laugh Podcast. Victoria Jackson may be best known for her 6-yr stint on Saturday Night Live. She was a regular cast member on SNL from 1986-1992. But even before that she was making people laugh. She became a TV star without her family even owning…
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DOC KENNEDY - FREE TO LAUGH [EP. 210]
Doc Kennedy is a stand-up comedian and podcast producer based out of Nashville. Winner of the 2019 Lea Ciastko Spirit of Comedy Award, Doc is also the host of Free to Laugh: Comedy vs Political Correctness. Originally from Montana and spending years near Seattle, Doc's unique take on life brings...
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DAVE CHAPPELLE MARK TWAIN PRIZE [EP. 209]
In this episode Doc Kennedy and I talk about Dave Chappelle receiving the Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center. We break down Dave's speech and what we comedians can take from it. Watch the 8 minute speech here! DAVE CHAPPELLE MARK TWAIN AWARD SHOW NOTES What the venue was like. How stand-up...
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JEREMY NUNES – DON'T FORGET THE MAKE UP [EP. 208]
Jeremy Nunes has appeared in The Break-Up, Last Comic Standing, two PBS mini-series, Comcast on Demand, a National Geographic Special and heard on ESPN Radio. Jeremy's clean and witty comedy show has been in demand for 18 years, mainly because of his clever observations, unique storytelling style...
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COMEDY GOALS TRACKER [EP. 207]
It is time for the 2020 Stand-Up Comedy Goals TRACKER episode. This show is a nerdy, comprehensive deep dive into measurable comedy goals for sand-up comedians. Fame and fortune are payoffs, but not necessarily great goals. And, goals in and of themselves won't make you funnier than anyone else....
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BE A WEALTHY SPEAKER OR COMEDIAN: JANE ATKINSON [EP. 206]
Jane Atkinson is founder of The Wealthy Speaker School, which provides online courses, group coaching and live events for all levels of speakers, helping people look at speaking as a business. Jane has over 30 years experience in the speaking business, has authored four books and is host of The...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
From the aspiring comedian to the part time pro this is the podcast you've been looking for! This podcast is full of honest insight and useful information on the journey from the open mic to the sweet paying corporate gig. Shows range in format from "comedy campfires" where we swap out the fire for a mic and get to the key questions from aspiring comics to in-depth interviews with professional comedians, booking agents, managers and club owners. Led by 23 yr comedy veteran Rik Roberts (www.RikRoberts.com) as part of his School of Laughs (www.SchoolofLaughs.com) workshop series.
HOSTED BY
Rik Roberts
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does School Of Laughs have?
School Of Laughs currently has 255 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is School Of Laughs about?
From the aspiring comedian to the part time pro this is the podcast you've been looking for! This podcast is full of honest insight and useful information on the journey from the open mic to the sweet paying corporate gig. Shows range in format from "comedy campfires" where we swap out the fire for...
How often does School Of Laughs release new episodes?
School Of Laughs publishes regularly with 255 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to School Of Laughs?
You can listen to School Of Laughs on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts School Of Laughs?
School Of Laughs is created and hosted by Rik Roberts.
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