The Comedy Castle Podcast

2025 has a tons of great shows at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle – including this week with The Sklar Brothers – and Joel has your complete guide to what’s coming this week and beyond. Drew Lynch! Ian Bagg! Pete Holmes and more! It should be a great year from here on out and it starts… Continue reading Podcast #218: 2025 Preview and Sklar Bros Redux →

J. Chris Newberg is a producer, writer and stand-up comic with the chops to work with some of the best in Hollywood. He’s also an old friend of Joel’s and a multi-time headliner at The Comedy Castle – this makes for a great show! Chris talks writing for The Hollywood Squares, how the celebrities “know”… Continue reading Podcast #217: J. Chris Newberg Has The Jokes →

Jackie Kashian returns! Jackie is a first rate comedian and podcaster who returns to this show to talk about making a new comedy special in a social media world, media recs for dorks, and the insanity of keeping up friendships on the road. She also tells Joel about why The Comedy Castle is the best… Continue reading Podcast #216: Jackie Kashian Returns →

Nick Grffin adds his dry, mischievous wit to this Valentine’s week at The Comedy Castle and on this podcast. Nick tells Joel about performing on The Tonight Show, the routine he gets in to develop new material, why he never fit in as a college comic, and why NYC’s The Comedy Cellar is such a… Continue reading Podcast #215: Nick Griffin Returns →

Drew Thomas is a favorite everywhere he goes and he headlines The Comedy Castle for the first time this week. Drew tells Joel about coming up on the Atlanta comedy scene, the pros and cons of being a regular comedian on cruise ships, why you should stay over with white people and so much more.… Continue reading Podcast #214: Drew Thomas →

Tim Finkel finally headlines The Comedy Castle for just one night this week, but what a night it will be. Tim has gone from high school teacher to top-tier comic over the last decade or so, but it’s bittersweet as Tim’s son Ryder faces the fight of his life. Hear Tim’s origin story, how Tim… Continue reading Podcast #213: Tim Finkel Is More Than a Headliner →

Comedian and podcaster Geoff Tate is a Star Wars-loving, sometime drug-taking, hilarious guy and a great guest on this show. Geoff tells Joel of being mistaken for that Queensryche singer, his prolific stand-up comedy album releases, his start in the Cincinnati comedy scene, and why you don’t want to flip through a comedian’s notebook. Geoff… Continue reading Podcast #212: Geoff Tate →

The hilarious Zach Martina is a favorite around these parts, so having him ring in 2025 at The Comedy Castle will be a real treat. Zach tells Joel about New Year’s Eves of yesteryear, recommends a place for the best wings in Detroit, revels in the glory of a Michigan euchre game, and much more.… Continue reading Podcast #211: Zach Martina Rings It In →

Brad Wenzel is back! At the Comedy Castle this weekend, and on this show. On this episode, Joel and Brad discuss the philosophy of making it in comedy today, fun comedian merchandising ideas, and Brad’s thought process on changing his “look.” They also talk about Kill Tony, Bob Seger vs Bruce Springsteen, and Seger’s history… Continue reading Podcast #210: Brad Wenzel Returns →

Cam Rowe is back on the show to talk about his first year as a full-time headliner and his return to The Comedy Castle. Cam shares what he learned from departed comedy legend Norm Stulz, discusses the Lions chances of winning it all and shares his memories of The Malice at the Palace – where… Continue reading Podcast #209: Cam Rowe Returns →

Mike Stanley has made a name for himself all over the the country, but he started in Detroit and returns to The Comedy Castle this weekend. Mike chats about his early days in comedy, adapting his show for an older audience, the challenge in following comedy legends on-stage in NYC, and much more. Joel and… Continue reading Podcast #208: Mike Stanley →

Bryan McCree is a Michigan legend, and one of the good guys in comedy. Bryan and Joel reminisce about doing shows together, including the place Joel hated the most – of course, he bombed here while Bryan killed. Plus, Bryan’s Flint upbringing in a famous family, his beginnings in the improv scene, and the unknown… Continue reading Podcast #207: Bryan McCree Returns →

Ben Bailey returns to The Comedy Castle this weekend and this show right now! Ben tells Joel of his unlikely start at The Comedy Castle, the Hollywood eccentric who gave him his break, and how he ended up driving the Cash Cab. Plus, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Fifth Third bank insanity, behind the scenes on… Continue reading Podcast #206: Ben Bailey Returns →

John Heffron has appeared at The Comedy Castle for over thirty-five years now, and this weekend he’s back at it again. But does he run out of stuff to talk about? Never, as Joel finds out, John is spending a lot of time in his car doing gigs, perfecting his method of of “totem pole-ing”… Continue reading Podcast #205: John Heffron for the Holidays →

T.Barb is a Detroit original who has run her comedy career on her own terms – and to great success. Joel chats with her about her beginnings in comedy, promoting her own tours, her hilarious “Only in Detroit” series and much more. She headlines next Thursday November 7th for one night only – don’t miss… Continue reading Podcast #204: T.Barb →

Greg Warren is a seasoned comedian who has built up a huge following in recent years. He’s here with Joel before his headline shows this weekend at the Comedy Castle. Greg talks about finding success later in his career, the fun of writing and performing new stuff, his history as a very successful amateur wrestler,… Continue reading Podcast #203: Greg Warren →

Keith Alberstadt returns to talk his beginnings in comedy, why he is always a great act for a fundraiser, why he’s not doing long road trips anymore and why requesting bits at a comedy show isn’t always a great idea. Keith is one of the best in the business! See him this weekend! Tix link… Continue reading Podcast #201: Keith Alberstadt Returns and Goodbye to Norm Stulz →

The 200th Comedy Castle Podcast has two big interviews – one with weekend headliner Tom Cotter, and Sunday’s special event performer Brad Upton. Even though he “lost”, Tom is probably the most impressive stand-up comedian in the history of America’s Got Talent. Hear how his fearless strategy paid off, why the winning dog-act wasn’t all… Continue reading Podcast #200: Tom Cotter & Brad Upton →

Cam Bertrand arrives as this week’s Comedy Castle headliner with millions of internet views and some stories about how he got there. Cam used to work in a comedy club, got millions of views in a Dry Bar special, and refuses to rent a nice, big car when on the road. The Dry Bar show… Continue reading Podcast #199: Cam Bertrand →

Trae Crowder has made a name for himself as “The Liberal Redneck” and he’s talking to us before his headlining weekend at the club. Trae tells of his rural upbringing, how a video store gave him Hollywood dreams, and why you can’t put up a stop light in a small town. Plus, hear of Joel’s… Continue reading Podcast #198: Trae Crowder →

Kevin Lepine returns for his 17th annual performance of Hypnosis Unleashed at The Comedy Castle this month and he returns, also, to this podcast. Kevin tell us of the state of live entertainment in Las Vegas, the problem with “old-time” stage hypnotists, and how to successfully use music as part of your act. Plus, Kevin… Continue reading Podcast #197: Kevin Lepine is Unleashed →

TJ Wharry has made a name for himself in towns all over the US, but finally he headlines The Comedy Castle and he’s here to talk. TJ tells Joel about growing up in Oakland County but not doing comedy until he left, how Dave Landau brought TJ and Joel (awkwardly) together, and his 500+ pair… Continue reading Podcast #196: TJ Wharry →

Donte Lillard is a rising talent in the Michigan Comedy Scene and he’ll be opening the shows this weekend with Dave Landau headlining. Donte and Joel talk about moving from the west side of the state to the Detroit area, Donte’s memorable – and illegal – performance at The Comedy Rumble, the folly of comics… Continue reading Podcast #195: Donte Lillard →

Alonzo Bodden has been at The Comedy Castle and on this show, but he and Joel haven’t reconnected in over 20 years since they last saw each other on the road. Alonzo talks Olympics, cars, the election, and why comedy clubs will never go away no matter how bad cancel culture gets. Alonzo is a… Continue reading Podcast #194: Alonzo Bodden Cannot Be Canceled →

A member of the Detroit comedy scene that is doing great things is this week’s guest and emcee at the club, Genevive Clinton. Now an Austin, TX resident and regular at The Comedy Mothership, Gen tells Joel of her journey to Austin, her many appearances on Kill Tony, and how her relationship with a fellow… Continue reading Podcast #193: Genivive Clinton →

It’s a double-feature this week! Wednesday headliner Josiah Jones sits in-studio to talk with his opening act, Joel, about his rise to headlining The Comedy Castle, doing Showtime at the Apollo, playing the Comedy Store in LA, and how his experience in the ministry has helped his comedy. Josiah was a student of Joel’s Advanced… Continue reading Podcast #192: Josiah Jones & Sam Tallent →

Will Green has been a staple of the Michigan Comedy Scene for years, but on this podcast Joel learns of Will’s beginnings in Maine, his worst show ever in a pole barn and much much more. Turns out Joel and Will met years before all of that, but Joel can’t remember! Ouch! Hear how Will… Continue reading Podcast #191: Will Green →