WDEK Podcast Ep. 99: Subhah Agarwal & Michael Cyril Creighton - 1/25/22

Happy New Year!  Justin, Christian and Shonali are together again virtually for their 99th episode. 99 months together and they start the year out with a bang. Insert - Shonali's video of a downpour in her apartment.  Christian coins the term twinergy.  Our first guest is stand-up comedian, writer, actress Subhah Agarwal (Late Night with Lilly Singh, Westworld, The Jim Jeffries Show.)  She's bicoastal which we find out is not as not as glamourous as you might think.  She started doing stand-up when she was 17 years old bc as she says, she was a "bizzarre" child! Subhah is getting married this year and is having an Indian wedding.  To her fiancé's delight, there will be no "big robes" used during the ceremony.  Follow Subhah on her socials and catch her live on a stage near you!

For the first time ever Christian  shares his singing talents in singing his recent collaboration with Adele! It's an emotional performance. One you might want to watch for yourself on YouTube or FB Live. 

Our last guest of the evening is actor, writer extraordinaire Michael Cyril Creighton (Only Murders In The Building, Dexter, Spotlight, High Maintenance.)  We find out what "character bleeding" means. Do you remember how self-centered we all were before the pandemic began? We discuss Michael's dream job working on Only Murders In The Building and what he's looking forward to in 2022.  Be on the lookout for Michael in the upcoming final season of Dexter. 

Please join us next month for our 100th Episode of We Don't Even Know! It will be SPECIAL! 

WDEK Podcast Ep. 97: Joaquín Torres & Jordan Carlos - 10/26/21

It's October and the creepy crawly mood is upon us.  Shonali has her jack-o-lanterns lit. Christian says there's a chance that he'll be an N95 mask for Halloween.  Justin and his family will be "Tre Allegri Ragazzi Morti" (3 Happy Dead Guys!)  Our special guests are former actor turned public servant,  Assessor-Recorder of San Francisco Joaquín Torres and comedian, actor, writer Jordan Carlos. 

Christian Felix, Shonali Bhowmik, Jordan Carlos

You ever consider what it would be like to leave your current occupation to embark on a journey as a public servant? Our first guest has done that. Joaquín Torres explains how attending the Obama inauguration in 2008 inspired him.  He quickly transitioned from a professional actor who received an MFA from NYU to working for a San Francisco mayoral campaign within no time.  Now he is occupying his first job title for which he will need to win an election as Assessor-Recorder of San Francisco. He explains that the acting bug never leaves you but the education that comes from acting always stays with you. Learn more about Joaquín at JoaquinTorresSF.com!

Shonali's Game Changer this month emerged from the trauma of wearing a jumpsuit.  Christian endorses the fanny pack!  Writer / journalist Mickey Rapkin sends in a #GameChanger via text!

Comedian, writer, actor Jordan Carlos joins us after putting the kids to bed and walking the dog.  Jordan loves history as it is a predictor for the future. We discuss grappling with what our roles are in the conversation surrounding race today.  For this conversation, Jordan puts on his glasses and shares his personal evolution as someone who was seeking white approval to someone who currently is only working on projects helmed by Black peers.  Check out Jordan's work on Tha God's Honest Truth with Charlamagne Tha God on Comedy Central on Fridays; his podcast #Adulting with Michelle Buteau which is coming back and Phoebe Robinson's upcoming 1/2 hour comedy Everything's Trash.   Jordan and his family have their Halloween costumes DOWN. Listen to Ep. 97 for the details.

WDEK Podcast Ep. 93: Cisco Bradley & LaKendra Tookes - 6/29/21

Happy Pride Everyone!  We celebrate our friends and our fashion icon former guest Jack Dwyer!  June was the first month in a year and a half that we were social in a seemingly "normal" way.  Shonali's exhausted already.

Our first guest is Cisco Bradley!  He's an Author, Professor of Cultural & Social History, Free Jazz & and Experimental Music Aficionado!  Just what is "cultural production?"   Cisco has just published a book about the genius free jazz bassist William Parker, titled Universal Tonality. We dig deep into the philosophy and inspiring music & words of this influential artist whose career has spanned over 5 decades.  We tie together Mr. Parker's philosophy of life and art to the current state of the world.  Cisco says "...the history of the United States is the history of racism and the struggles against it..." We discuss underappreciated artists in America & Shonali brings up Shannon Wright, our former Ep. 61 guest! Turns out Cisco is also her fan! Cisco knows what's up! 

Father-to-be Justin The Intern gets his own Get It Off Your Chest segment and he surprises us all with what is annoying him today. We are all injured.  Christian insists everyone must get Zoom First Aid Kit. 

Our second guest is comedian, former SNL writer, actress LaKendra Tookes!  LaKendra does not discount out all catcallers! She shares what is acceptable.  LaKendra gives us an honest account of her times down time during this pandemic.  She has decided "she only wants to do work that uplifts & celebrates black people and black joy." She is resilient and radiates hope! LaKendra shares her guilty pleasure - reality tv! Did you know LaKendra and her dog Savannah are not scared of rabid squirrels?! 

And we leave you with the fresh summer dance hit by comedian Greg Barris! Check it out here on YouTube- Galimmimus! Enjoy and stay safe, mask up everyone.  The variant is surging across America! 

WDEK Podcast Ep. 92: Brandon Collins & Sara Schaefer - 5/25/21

The warm weather has arrived, masks are slowly coming off and Christian comes out HOT.  Shonali is in Nashville, Tennessee doing yard work and Justin The Intern is prepping for his role as a new father.  George Floyd's murder was a year ago to the day.  We discuss the importance of the moment surrounding the pandemic and social justice.  Will we be forever changed or suffer from amnesia? 

Christian Felix, Justin “The Intern,” Shonali Bhowmik

Comedian and film critic Brandon Collins comes to us on the high of interviewing Lin Manuel Miranda just the day before.  Brandon is from Ann Arbor, Michigan but has been in NYC for over a decade. He's doing cool things such as being a member of the African American Film Critics Association, hosting the Medium Popcorn podcast, a one man show called It's Not Going to Work Out.  We talk movies including White Christmas, A Quiet Place 2, and Sonic The Hedgehog.  Brandon is hosting his live comedy series, Drunk Black History on Juneteenth at The Bell House which will also be livestreamed! Don't miss it.  

Shonali and Christian catch up! Find out why Christian takes a 30 mile bike ride and why does he wear athletic shorts called Chubbies?

Christian Felix, Shonali Bhowmik, Brandon Collins

Comedian, writer, miniaturist Sara Schaefer joins us from her closet in Los Angeles!  Sara's Conspiracy Theory bit from her 2019 Comedy Central Special resonates even more today than it did in 2019.  We talk "reality", "both sides", the Q documentary and "what the hell does it all even mean?"  Sara has always been a hobbyist and is currently making a miniature comedy club called the Haha Hole which is blowing our minds.  Sara shares her creative journey in the past two years in which she has "gotten quieter" due to harassment on Twitter.  Focusing on creative work with her hands has made Sara think even more deeply about her creative work and her place in comedy.  We are fans of Sara's voice and the teaser for her new podcast truly has raising the roof!  Don't miss Sara's new podcast The Schaefer Shakedown. 

For the first time within the WDEK Virtual age, Shonali performs her pandemic healing anthem, I'll Be Your Therapy.  You can get the recorded version with all kinds of strange drum loops on Bandcamp.

Special thanks to Shonali's longtime friend Wes Adams, who donated his lighting, home and wine spritzers in a Mason Jar to Shonali & WDEK for taping the show in Nashville, TN.  Enjoy the sun and stay safe.  

WDEK Podcast Ep. 91: Stefani Kuo & Meghan Linsey - 4/27/21

We warn Christian not to watch last week's viral rabid bobcat video in which this brave husband in North Carolina rescued his wife. Shonali loved it.  Christian as you all know is terrified of urban wildlife. 

Our first guest is an award winning playwright, poet & actress Stefani Kuo!  Stefani makes powerful and compelling art which often features stories from the Asian American community.  She describes her recent work The Conservation of Parity about a brilliant female Chinese physicist, Chien-Shiung Wu who immigrated to America and worked on the atomic bomb.  Stefani shares her thoughts on the state of American theater, the general lack of awareness Americans have regarding the Asian American community, Andrew Yang's candidacy for NYC Mayor, and great hiking spots in the NYC vicinity!  

Christian comes out of the Croc closet!  We discuss his new love of this controversial footwear and how far he is willing to take this new ugly journey. 

Our musical guest is singer-songwriter Meghan Linsey! You may know her from either her time as half of a duo Steel Magnolia which hit  #3 on the country music charts or her runner up win on The Voice Season 8. Shonali met her at honky tonk night in Nashville years ago, not knowing any of the above and just thought she was a lovely person she wanted to stay in touch with.  As we all have had rough years, Meghan is no exception. Her studio was hit by the Nashville tornados, her wedding had to be cancelled due to the pandemic, and there has been illness within her family - yet she manages the stress with a "go with the flow" attitude.  We discuss Nashville, feeling like an outsider, kneeling during the National Anthem at a NFL game, standing up for social justice, Alaska, and having a green thumb!  

Check out Meghan Linsey and Tyler Cain's duet Nowhere With You.  It's so beautiful!

Congrats to #JustinTheIntern Justin Hall for winning the Platinum Remi Award for short film drama at the Houston International Film Festival as director for Prologue, also written by our friend Piper Werle! 

Lastly thank you for being with us! Follow us on @wdekpodcast on all socials! Also Christian Felix is high maintenance! Love you! 

WDEK Podcast Ep. 90: Roxanne Khamsi & Rae Sanni - 3/30/2021

We are officially now a year into the pandemic! We are thankful for vaccines, our health, friends, family and this show.  Catching up on the heavy: Anti-Asian Hate, Chauvin trial, voter suppression & the good stuff: seafood enchiladas, the beach and puppy time!  Check out StopAAPIHate.org for ways to support the Asian American community now. 

Our first guest is our longtime friend & acclaimed science writer Roxanne Khamsi and notably she has focused her writing on viruses for years.  Roxanne moved to Montreal, Canada just over a year ago from NYC. We discuss where we are at with regard to conversations surrounding the coronavirus, washing vegetables, empathy, soaking cilantro and Canadian living.  Christian gives guidance on some of his favorite Montreal spots. 

Our second guest is currently Los Angeles based comedian and writer Rae Sanni who misses her hometown of NYC very much. Rae was a former staff writer for shows like The President's Show, The Good Place, A Black Lady Sketch Show.  We talk hoarding, comedy gigs during the pandemic, the virtual writer's room, & Rae's journey to making comedy a career choice.  Rae is OBSESSED with Reality TV.  She breaks down for us just why she loves certain reality tv shows over others.  Rae even makes Christian & Shonali want to become new audience members of the RHWOSLC (yes, there is now a Real Housewives of Salt Lake City!) When we get back to live performances, make sure you see Rae on stage! 

In honor of Women's History Month, we suggest you watch the new Tina Turner Documentary.  As Christian says, Tina Turner is a shero. Her remarkable strength, grace, will and her perseverance through her life's struggles is inspiration to us all.   To all stay diligent, enjoy the sunshine & thanks for supporting us all these years!  Follow us on our socials.  

WDEK Podcast Ep. 90: Roxanne Khamsi & Rae Sanni - 3/30/2021

WDEK Podcast Ep. 87: Shams DaBaron a.k.a. Da Homeless Hero & Ramsey Jones - 12/26/20

We end this grueling 2020 year with two awe-inspiring guests & Covid-19 survivors: Activist for the Homeless & Writer Shams DaBaron a.k.a. Da Homeless Hero and drummer extraordinaire & style guru Ramsey "Satellite" Jones with a special introduction by Jason "the Elf!"  He discusses his flex spending account issues.  Justin The Intern is here but is having wi-fi issues!

It's tit for tat at WDEK headquarters! Shonali & Christian discuss pandemic peer pressure, dogs in first class & Trump fatigue (note this is taped pre-insurrection!) 

We are so honored to have lifelong New Yorker, activist/writer Shams DaBaron a.k.a. Da Homeless Hero be our guest.  We discuss his path towards activism on behalf of the homeless while experiencing homelessness himself; his brush with death while suffering from the Coronavirus; the biggest misconceptions surrounding those who are experiencing homelessness; how as a  foster child he later found his identity through hip hop; and his vow to not waste another minute of his life.  Follow Shams on all social media platforms at @DaHomelessHero !

 Our second guest is another lifelong New Yorker, drummer extraordinaire, record collector and style guru Ramsey "Satellite" Jones!  Ramsey was raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn which you may already know is were Murder, Inc. started. Ramsey's love of music started as a kid when he discovered Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles. We discuss what it's like to be considered "the weirdo" in the family (his younger brother is Russell Jones a.k.a. Ol' Dirty Bastard"/ODB, his cousins are RZA & GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan.) Ramsey also suffered from Covid19 and was at home for 4 months straight.  We discuss his love of all music, being a performer during the pandemic, various obscure records and bands such as the Electric Prunes & Aphrodite's Child, Ramsey's always in 10 projects including his hard core band Rebelmatic.  Check out his Rebelmatic video Blood & Gold & their new album Ghost In The Shadows.   Follow Ramsey on all social media platforms @SatelliteJones65 !

Jason The Elf learns a lesson today from Da Homeless Hero!  And lastly we have the perfect ending to a our pandemic Christmas show, a great new catchy song/video by the Blockton Brothers (Jesse and Adam) - Covid Christmas! ENJOY!!!  Happy New Year! 

WDEK Podcast Ep. 87: Shams DaBaron a.k.a. Da Homeless Hero & Ramsey Jones - 12/26/20

WDEK Podcast Ep. 85: John Feal and Keisha Zollar - 10/27/20

Out the gate, our show gets down to the real. Shonali & Christian break it down regarding snuggle buddies during covid, cult leaders and unique social distancing philosophies. The description "Hobbit Ball" was invented in this discussion.

Our first guest is John Feal, inspirational activist and founder of The Feal Good Foundation.  He was a 9/11 responder and is responsible for enacting 13 pieces of legislation which provides & protect the healthcare of 9/11 and first responders injured and/or currently sick caused by their heroic work.  He has partnered with Jon Stewart for years doing this work and they are currently working to pass legislation to provide healthcare for veterans sickened by their work near burn pits. The best description of why John is so successful is that he calls bullshit when he sees it.  You must follow him on Twitter @JohnFeal1 (The Real John Feal) to witness this. He was suspended on Twitter for a few days because he is so real. There's so much important here to listen to but takeaways are "America needs a break," "Help a stranger," "Everyone can get involved." 

Special announcement! We are hosting our own WDEK Election Day Special livestream on Nov. 3rd with special guests from across the country including David Cross, Tash Neal, Jon Glaser, Negin Farsad, John Early and many more.  

Our final guest is writer, comedian, actress Keisha Zollar. She is the founder of the first UCB all black sketch comedy group, The Astronomy Club which also got its own Netflix series.  She has spent the better part of the pandemic in her time working in her studio apartment which she shares with her husband and her dogs, Johnny Cash (just passed away), Loretta Lynn and Hank Williams Sr.  Listen to find out what gives Keisha hope these days and how she fulfills the notion of being authentic.  Check out her work currently on the reboot of the British satirical television puppet show, Spitting Image and she's working with Lilly Singh on her upcoming special! 

Stay strong all and catch us on our Election Day Marathon Special on Nov. 3rd on YouTube Live or Facebook Live here. 

WDEK Podcast Ep. 85: John Feal and Keisha Zollar - 10/27/20

WDEK Podcast Ep. 60: Ahna Tessler, Jon Glaser and Rebecca Vigil - June 26, 2018 →

We celebrate our 60th episode of We Don't Even Know with special guests comedian and family documentary photographer Ahna Tessler; comedian, writer, actor and director Jon Glaser; and improv musician and comedian Rebecca Vigil.  Shonali & Christian applaud the  awesome audience in attendance at WDEK Live for getting out of the fetal position and making it to the show while the news cycle continues to kick all of our asses.  Our first guest of the night is comedian, actress and photographer Ahna Tessler.  She is also a mother and we all agree doesn't get enough attention these days.  We told her she could swear as much as she wanted during the taping.  Ahna's longtime comedy partner Lauren Engle was in attendance at the show.  They are legends. Ahna has made so many fantastic videos which she calls 'dumb' but we call hysterical.  There was a little controversy surrounding Ahna's breastfeeding video.  Check out Ahna's beautiful family photography. She is humble and doesn't brag about it bc she is a woman. 

Photo by Daria Huxley

Our next guest, Jon Glaser is a comedian, actor, writer and star of Jon Glaser Loves Gear and also the Adult Swim show Neon Joe, Werewolf Hunter. Jon is a powerhouse in the comedy world.  As you expected, Jon has lots of gear.  We get the low low low low down on how Jon came up with the idea for the show Neon Joe, Werewolf Hunter.  It's so dumb.  We love it.  Shonali and Jon used to jam together and after you hear Jon's new summertime hit tune you will understand why they are ready to take the show on the road.

During #GetItOffYourChest with audience member Michael McMenamin, we learn that you must make sure the washing machine is fully drained before putting in your clothes.  Christian uses the words 'fecal air.' Gross. Shonali's rants about unnecessarily expensive fashion choices. 

Our final guest of the evening is improv musician and actress Rebecca Vigil .  Rebecca went to 13 different schools and still sings about love.  She's remarkable for many reasons, but we are super impressed with her big winnings while on a game show. Two of our lucky audience members, Sergio Douglas and Maggy Adeleye were interviewed by Rebecca on stage and then ....well listen to see what happened, will you?

Direct download: WDEK_Ep._60_.mp3
Category:general, comedy, good+times -- posted at: 3:14pm EDT

WDEK Podcast Ep. 59: Emily Flake, H Jon Benjamin & Rob Townsend - May 29, 2018 →

Welcome to our 59th Episode of WDEK Podcast. Justin the intern starts the live show on a Tuesday night at the Red Room in NYC! Christian just returned from father's retirement party in Chicago. Shonali just returned from Nashville where she kept up with the news about a racist crazy tv star and her tweets. What's it like to have your creative work rejected in person to your face over and over? 

We ask our first guest that question. She is cartoonist, illustrator, writer and performer Emily Flake.  She has "cobbled" together a living as a cartoonist for a long time now. She's come a long way from being an ad sales person for alt weekly New York Blade to becoming a successful cartoonist who has had hundreds of her works featured in the New Yorker.  She's written a book about parenting called Mama Tried. She's a parent who refreshingly doesn't think being a parent is the MOST awesome thing in the world. How cool is that? Look out for her upcoming YA (Young Adult) book she's working on now, a fictional fanzine from 1992.

Our second guest is H. Jon Benjamin, a comedian, actor and writer probably most famous for his work as the voice of Bob in Bob's Burgers and the voice of Archer in Archer.  Benjamin as Shonali calls him (they are old friends) used to host a comedy show in the East Village called Midnight Pajama Jam. It was the best. JB's written a book that just came out called Failure is An Option: An Attempted Memoir.  Shonali's been listening to the audiobook and loves it.  She is intrigued by Jon Benjamin's love for disco, roller skating and disco balls.  Jon explains what the main take away from his book is in two words.

We Get It Off Our Chest with illustrator musician Marcellus Hall who refuses to rap with us.

Our final guest is musician, singer, songwriter Rob Townsend.  Rob is originally from Spartanburg, SC.  He's also a part time sailing instructor and may be the only gay sailing captain on the Hudson. We like the idea of a gay sailboat. We discuss the difficulty of selling music during an era where everyone gets their music free.  Rob moved to NYC from Austin, TX where he was in a folk band.  His music has changed drastically.  He is humble and self deprecating but we think he's awesome. He sings an original song called Clatskanie and a Randy Newman tune called Short People! Welcome to our new sound engineer Ezana Million! ENJOY!!! Photo by Daria Huxley.

Direct download: WDEK_Chapters_Ep._59.mp3
Category:general, comedy, good+times -- posted at: 12:14pm EDT

Ep. 47: Jeffrey Joseph, Amanda Duarte, Tyson Meade & Nimesh Patel - Oct. 25, 2016

Comedian Nimesh Patel fills and special guest co-host for our spooky October 2016 edition of We Don’t Even Know. How Indian do you believe Shonali and Nimesh are? They wonder if anyone really cares.

Their first guest is comedian, actor, writer and teacher Jeffrey Joseph. What does he not do? We find out why he left a successful career in comedy to destress himself for ten years and what made him come back. Besides performing standup regularly, he teaches playwriting to youth and knows qi gong, a Chinese energy cultivation exercise. He also went to India before Nimesh ever did. What does that say about Nimesh?  Shonali and Jeffrey are chicken pox nose scar twins. Shonali has some frightening news for you.  Sorry to bum you out.

Our second guest is Amanda Duarte, a writer, performer, comedian and is responsible (along with her new friend - NYTimes writer, Jessica Bennet who created the art) for starting the viral sensation #PussyGrabsBack.  Sales proceeds of her PGB shirts on spreadshirt.com go to the Rape and Incest Network.  Amanda is not scared of ghosts, but she does share what she is scared of.  Go see her monthly show Dead Darlings at Judson Memorial Church. Today’s #GetItOffYourChest guest is former WDEK episode 13 guest and Shonali’s former personal trainer, Reno Villacis.

Here from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, our special musical guest is a musician, painter and writer named Tyson Meade.  Tyson and Shonali have infectious laughs that could get on Nimesh’ nerves.  Tyson has a similar story to Jeffrey Joseph’s, in that he quit music for 10 years and has recently rediscovered himself as a musician.  In his early years as a musician, he influenced artists like Kurt Cobain, Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips and Billy Corgan.  In between those years and now, Meade ran a boarding school in China and taught electricians to learn English in Saudi Arabia. He rediscovered music while helping a prodigal violin player student in China.   The end result is a new solo album to be released by him in February, and one released last year titled “Tomorrow In Progress.”  Enjoy him hear singing "Tiniest of Guys" and “She’s Gone Mad.”  Enjoy and next month Christian will return for our November episode. 

Check out the Latest Episode of We Don’t Even Know!

Ep. 46: Tessa Hersh, Adam Wade, Yazan Fahmawi and Jordan Clifford - Sept. 27, 2016

While Christian is away, Jordan Clifford, comedian, producer, actor is our special guest co-host on Episode 46 of We Don’t Even Know.  Jordan Shonali and Jordan are in need of new outgoing voice mail messages. Jordan has the look - he has a beard.

Our first guest is performer, teacher, writer, singer, actress, comedian Tessa Hersh, who along with all of her creative endeavors is currently happily teaching teachers.  Our intern Justin Hall shares a highlight from his father’s experience as a teacher. Tessa explains sometimes a teacher must tell a child "you can’t masturbate here.“  Tessa performs regularly at the UCB Theater and has her own web series on Refinery 29’s Riot YouTube channel. Check out her Truth Fairy series where she drops truth bombs on Riot which we love - the Baby Shower Rebellion Musical resonates particularly with Shonali.   Jordan is never ready for a fist bump.

Our second guest is Adam Wade, the world champion (that’s what we call it - he’s a 20 time winner) of the Moth Storytelling Radio show and also from New Hampshire. He too is a writer, comedian, actor, teacher AND he co-starred in Sardines Out of a Can with Shonali. Adam was on Girls and Lena Dunham instructed him to be meaner.   Adam’s mom tracks his geographical location with her phone.  Our studio audience practices Adam's Tony Robbins influenced motivational advice. Turns out #DestinationSlice is not an effective dating technique.  Our audience member Walter Patrishan joins us on stage for #GetItOffYourChest.  Find out why the salad assembly line stresses Jordan out, impolite germaphobes bother Shonali and wrapping things unnecessarily in plastic gets to Walter.

Our last guest of the night is musician Yazan Fahmawi, a singer, guitarist, and songwriter from New York, who plays a blend of rural country blues, folk, and psychedelia.  He went to the UN School and describes it as utopian.  His secret to finding his unique sound and voice (literally) was sitting with a recorder and getting freaky.  Yazan is a lifer, when it comes to being an artist.  He shares his astute and insightful take on art, life and happiness and believes "Everybody’s a weirdo!” We agree and are so appreciative of his brand of weirdness.  Yazan performs three of his song gems on our show - Tell Me Baby, I Wanted More of You, and Hahaha!  Enjoy!  And also so nice to meet Fontikady Sivion from Brukina Faso.  

Check out the Latest Episode of We Don’t Even Know!

Ep. 44: Amber Tozer, Cole Escola, and Brad Lauretti of This Frontier Needs Heroes

Christian & Shonali quickly admit to things they never have before in their newest segment called Admissions.

The show is packed and hot, literally due to the fact that it is late June but also the lineup is yet again hawt with first guest comedian, performer, actor, writer Cole Escola in his summer wear: white denim cutoffs. Cole talks with us about growing up in rural Clatskanie, Oregon surrounded by a prison of trees,  following a boyfriend to NYC, getting a tv series at a very young age, and his favorite catcalling moments. Check out his video Mom Commercial and die.

We invite our WDEK friend Isabel Restrepo to Get It Off Her Chest and boy did she ever.  WDEK’s second guest of the night is comedian, writer and storyteller Amber Tozer who just published her memoir Sober Stick Figure, a book chronicling her life as an alcoholic and her eventual recovery all told with the help of childlike stick figures.  For the most part her family has been supportive of her TMI book, but then there's Aunt Pam.  Amber admits drinking is so fun but then it took a turn for her.  Amber says she can become irritable and grouchy but Shonali can not imagine it.  Shonali has to Get It Off Her Chest with a story about a recent bullying incident at a birthday party.

Our last guest is Brad Lauretti, frontman of This Frontier Needs Heroes. Brad a former Brooklynite now lives in Jacksonville, Florida where he was inspired to start the Stetson Kennedy Songwriter Residency in Beluthahatchee Park, a place where both Woody Guthrie and Stetson Kennedy would spend time writing.  Brad calls himself an artistic refugee with regard to his move from NYC to Jacksonville.  He did not experience much culture shock moving to the south and claims that the south has changed dramatically since he was kid visiting his relatives in South Carolina.  He noted he met an Italian person working in an Italian restaurant.  Brad’s music is beautiful and haunting.  His newest album coming out soon is called Real Job.  He sang three new tunes for our wonderful audience, Freemarket Music, I Love Immigration, and Don’t Let the Dreamers Die.  Listen and be amazed.  

Check out the Latest Episode of We Don’t Even Know!

We Don't Even Know - Ep. 37 - Marina Franklin, Howard Altmann & Schaffer the Darklord - Nov. 24, 2015 →

On this special Thanksgiving WDEK episode 37, Christian and Shonali talk to comedian/actress Marina Franklin about working in a writers' room (HBO's Divorce), is it actually better for women in comedy today and dating in New York City. Have you heard of the dating app Bumble? Marina likes Chicago house music and has her own podcast called Friends Like Us which features women of color discussing various hot topics of the day. Look for Marina in the film Trainwreck!

Special guest Howard Altmann a former banker, is a writer, playwright and a poet. Howard describes himself as sensitive and an introvert but is he? Howard tells us the most annoying question he gets as a poet. Shonali believes Howard is funny although he has never written a funny poem. Howard shares some lines from his Academy of American Poets published poem called Paris Winter. Christian presents a wonderful Thanksgiving cooking aid to our winning guest Ramona Clifton.

Photo by Daria Huxley

Musical guest Schaffer the Darklord is a former heavy metal and punk rock drummer and is now out as nerd-core, horror-core hip-hop artist, although he insists he recites nursery rhymes over beats in front of drunk people. Yeah, listen and you'll understand. Schaffer and Shonali are unafraid to talk about liking the Eagles. Hi-five Schaffer! Apparently there is a difference from what nerd-core music is about and what Schaffer sings about but we sure as hell couldn't tell. Schaffer performs two of his greatest hits for the audience, "Do Sex" and "The Giant Iron Snake." Schaffer left WDEK with these words, "Your podcast won't be your Appetite for Destruction!" and we couldn't be happier he did. Thanks to all of our guests, our intern Justin Joseph Hall, photographer Daria Huxley, and sound engineer Stephen Kurpis.

We Don't Even Know - Ep. 35: Elna Baker, Bobby Tisdale, Andy Beckerman, Naomi Ekperigin, and Ben Lerman →

Special guest co-host and former Ep. 6 WDEK guest, Katina Corrao is filling in for Christian Felix this episode. He gave his blessings and boy were we blessed. Katina and Shonali talk weight loss and men who are disgusting to women during the summer months.

Our first guest, Elna "Not Another Story" Baker (This American Life, The Moth) candidly shares her story about being naked in front of a bunch of "yoga L.A." strangers. Elna was a Mormon. Do you know about her relationship with coffee?

Our surprise guest comedian Bobby Tisdale is a legend for many reasons. We never see him anymore because he moved upstate to the Catskills. We talk fart sounds, baby girls, living upstate and BlackPeopleLoveUs.com. Our third guest segment includes two guests who are not only comedians and writers but also and an engaged IRC (interacial couple), Andy Beckerman and Naomi Ekperigin. We talk courtship, milkshakes, handholding and making a relationship work when there are two creatives involved. Shonali takes notes.

Photo by Daria Huxley

Our musical comedy guest is Ben Lerman, who is also engaged and planning a wedding in Mexico. He knows Elna well via her stories on This American Life. We talk wedding invitee etiquette. We meet audience member Sergei from Salt Lake City, Utah who happens to be sitting beside Elna, the former Mormon. Ben sings a song about Wedding Planners Murder and another about Lazy Eyes. This show was recorded in the back room of HiFi in the East Village. Thanks to Stephen Kurpis for sound, Justin Hall our intern, and Daria Huxley our photographer!

We Don't Even Know - Ep. 33: Dave Hill, Brooke Van Poppelen and Ambrosia Parsley - June 23, 2015 →

Episode 33 of WDEK was taped on a hot and muggy day at HiFi in the East Village. Shonali has just returned to NYC from the even hotter and muggier city of Nashville, TN. She was irritable earlier in the day and now Christian is late to the show. Shonali makes friends in bathrooms and has tips for those who snore while awake.

Comedian/rock star Dave Hill is our first special guest. Dave Hill explains what shredding is. He knows how to do it well. Shonali and Dave talk about John Mayer for entirely too long. Dave, here's the video Shonali was referring to with Marty Balin spooning his guitar in jail. Shonali and Dave talk bidets, the new wave that is sweeping America. Dave has a new comedy album out now called Let Me Turn You On. Buy it now on iTunes or Amazon.

Just in time for the second guest, co-host Christian Felix joins the show. Special guest comedian, writer and TV host of Hack My Life, Brooke Van Poppelen joins us on stage in gorgeous colors that pop. She introduces us to the concept of Wikifeet and explains what a #LifeHack is. We talk bitchy band groupies, comedy nerds and women who would bang Craig Ferguson. Guess who? Late Night TV hosts are so "psyched!" We leave it at that.

Photo by Daria Huxley

Our last guest is musician Ambrosia Parsley who wears a #PinkJumpsuit on the night of her birthday. Ambrosia has a new album out called Weeping Cherry. Ambrosia was paid to sing in Russia for one night by The Client along with Kesha and Amy Winehouse. Ambrosia comes to us with a story about 9 dildos and bed bugs. Got your attention right? Ambrosia has an beautiful voice and she shares two songs accompanied by a WDEK former guest, Chris Maxwell. She sings "Make Me Laugh" and "Rubble." Special thanks to soundman Stephen Kurpis, photographer Daria Huxley, and bartender Tracie Matthews.

We Don't Even Know - Episode 25 - Shonali's Show And Tell (Special Live Show) - August 26, 2014 →

Our programming changes up a little with this episode. Continuing on the heels of our first We Don't Even Know live show at HiFi last month, while Christian is out of town - Shonali curates a new monthly show at HiFi in the East Village. This one is called Shonali's Show And Tell.

Shonali along with her special guests: Starlee Kine (This American Life), Duane Harriott (WFMU, Negroclash), Katina Corrao (stand up extraordinaire, actress) and Jason Trachtenburg (musician, Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players). Listen now to find out what types of stories come from a birthday card received in junior high, a Chinese newspaper, a sealed Russell Crowe CD, a peeled grape in a plastic bag and a pair of nice binoculars. Enjoy! Christian is back next month for another edition of We Don't Even Know. Starlee is missing from this picture.

We Don't Even Know - Episode 23 - Adam Wade - April 23, 2014 →

Still cold in NYC! Shonali and Christian are happy to have been able to enjoy some warm weather in other cities. Christian travels with a hungry German Shepherd and a lady who will be jamming up in heaven. Shonali, Justin, and Christian celebrate the success of their short film Sardines Out of A Can, the winner of the Best Romantic Comedy Short Film at the Bare Bones Film Festival in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Shonali's parents share their expert thoughts on the newest Late Night tv hosts and the future of the Late Show. Shonali's mom is way ahead of Shonali when it comes to keeping up with Comedy Central. Adam Wade, the 18 time Moth Story Slam winner and co-star of Sardines Out of A Can is our special guest. Christian's newest hashtags are #DestinationSlice #3StoriesInOneNight #MarieIsListening. Hoboken has happily adopted Adam. Adam hosts his own UCB East show called The Adam Wade from New Hampshire Show. Go see it. He also teaches storytelling classes at The Magnet Theater. Shonali, Christian, and Justin are going to take his class. Come join us. Our Episode 22 song is Luna by the band Fear of Men.

Episode 11 - Marcellus Hall - March 1, 2013 →

Well, well, well, if it hasn't been over a month since our last show. Shonali took off to India with her parents for an entire month. Christian has been working out at the gym. Needless to say, we are happy to be back with our very first WDEK illustrator/musical guest, Marcellus Hall. Shonali shares India traveling tips such as taking your Cipro, drinking bottled water, and making friends with mosquitos. Christian has great disdain for subway aromas and drunk passengers on planes. Is alcohol a truth serum, that is the question? Marcellus knows a crazy friend who uses unusual expletives when he is intoxicated. Christian challenges Shonali's goat meat appreciation. Have you heard of the Harlem Shake? Marcellus Hall, an illustrator for The New Yorker, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, children's books, and his parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary invitation has an awesome website. His music, writings, and artwork are featured there. Shonali has been a fan of his for a very long time. Marcellus was the leader of Railroad Jerk, White Hassle and currently is the leader of Marcellus Hall and the Hostages. He is preparing to do a kickstarter campaign for a new release. WDEK was lucky enough to have Marcellus perform two songs live in the studio, He's No Longer With Us and Soulmate. Hey, did you catch that surprise last tune, a salute to WDEK's Shonali and Christian? Marcellus named the area in Manhattan in which he lives Tribedel. He will be famous for that.

Episode 11: Marcellus Hall - March 1, 2013

Episode 9 - Terri Girvin - December 12, 2012 →

Happy Holidays! We are smack dab in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. We have already attended enough holiday parties and dinners so that we are going to detox before Christmas even arrives. Okay, that's not true, but we wish we had the willpower to do that. In preparation for a special holiday party, Shonali blow dried her hair way too straight for comfort. Christian worked in LA and was given some Man-Up cream. We use the word "girth" a lot in the WDEK studios but this time we've added the words "man boobs" to our repertoire. Our special guest this episode is the multitalented Terri Girvin (comedienne, actress, writer, bartender). Terri and Christian became friends while working at a non-profit organization as performers who created and performed for children in hospitals and care facilities across New York. The work is intense and inspiring. Terri took two years off from her artistic life and enjoyed living a life with more ease. She is now back to performing and created and starred in her own one-woman show called Last Call with over 700 sound cues. Being a good bartender is being a good multi-tasker. Find out how to get good service from a bartender. Waving money in front of a bartender is never a good idea. Learn what word Christian refuses to hear from a bartender even if that bartender offers him a free shot of Jameson. The phrase "will turn from Urkel to Mr. T" were used in this episode. Yeah, guess who said that?

Episode 9: Terri Girvin - December 12, 2012