I consider this my best interview yet. Find out what it feels like to be a Belgian muslim at this moment and what exactly is going on in Belgium right now. Arbi el Ayachi is a Belgian, Moroccan, Muslim and a great comedian. Do I need to say more?

Find out what it's like when people who fit your exact description have just committed one of the worst atrocities in human history and you have to go on stage and be funny under a maximum terror threat.

He is my friend, he has heart and he is a force for good in a world of hurt and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Arbi el Ayachi!

Get to know the young comedy thunderbolt that is Pink Foxx. She joins me in the Rhodes library to talk comedy, life & show biz.

Pink Foxx offers her unique perspective on the comedy scene, sharing personal anecdotes from her journey as a successful R&B musician to a comedian. And she imparts valuable wisdom on self-discovery, drawing from her experience as a transwoman.

Hooray for humanity & hooray for Pink Foxx!

Hooray for humanity!

We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.

Connect!

Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp

More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes

More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan

Watch the video!

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha  

** Video version **

If you'd like to watch the video version of the episode on YouTube.com/kingofhaha, please do us a favor by subscribing to the audio podcast on Spotify / Apple, etc. first! The podcast is a labor of love, and your audio subscription and downloads, or direct support on Patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp, provide us with the incentive to pull together and record on a weekly basis beyond our busy schedules. Thanks for being part of the Rhodesies Team!

** About Smart Camp podcast**

Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures.

We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!

Tom

I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.

Ashna

Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

My Vinyl record collection has been in storage for 10 years and now I am unleashing savory slices for you of the strangest and most wonderful obscure selections for your sonic gravy consumption. The servings in their running order include:

Laughter and gunshots
The Hindenburg Disaster
Etta James Tell Mama
Billie Holiday One for my baby and one more for the road
Will Rogers Bad Will Tour
BBC End Of World War II
Louis Armstrong I've got the world on a string
Groucho Marx WC Fields
Tom Lehr Smut
Anthony Quinn In my own way... I love you
Telly Savannas Something
Nat King Cole L O V E
Flip Wilson The devil made me do it
The big sounds of the drags
Geraldine and Ricky Reading the bible
Van Morrison Town called paradise In the garden

This episode was recorded in Los Angeles.

(Update PT 1:27 PM: Obscure Vinyl_final 1:38:25 replaced with Obscure Vinyl_2_final.mp3 1:35:29)

In the past 5 years since I worked with Romesh Ranganathan at the Comedy Store in London it has been a joy watching his star rise to where he is now crushing it at the highest levels of the British comedy scene. He was kind enough to take a break from his current TV duties to sit down and record this conversation with me. In this soul and brain enriching episode we talk about his show Judge Romesh where he hands out verdicts of domestic disputes where the punishment is ridicule.  Bringing his mother back to Sri Lanka where her humor is archived forever thanks to the BBC and the show that was made from it. Any man who loves his mom and makes time for a comedy brother is a top quality human in my book.

What's the most annoying sound to wake up to?

For the past 3 years in a row my wife and I have rented an apartment in Rome.

Marc Maron and I have been friends since 1992 when we were both living in San Francisco in that city's golden era of comedy. In this conversation we talk about our history and the many ups and downs we have both experienced in the course of our friendship. Marc is the person who popularized the medium of podcasting and it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Marc Maron! 

This episode was recorded in London.

Very often in interviews I have said that getting in with London was the key to me getting in with all of these world wide comedy circuits, specifically me getting in with the Comedy Store. My guest today is Don Ward, the owner of the Comedy Store.

Since its opening in 1979 it has single handedly changed the British comedy scene from tired old pub comedians doing Mother in law jokes to the champions league of powerful original comedy that it is today. It is now an established institution of British comedy because every British comedy legend of the past 30 years has performed there. Don Ward is the visionary who made this work and who has witnessed the development and rise of these now household names, French & Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous), Eddie Izzard, Ben Elton, Jimmy Carr, Harry Hill and on and on.

The first time I ever did a set at the Comedy Store was in 1994. Then again in 1998 which led to me playing there regularly in 1999. In 2000 the Comedy Store started managing me for Europe while I lived in Amsterdam. You could say I had life by the balls back then and I was most certainly spoiled by being under the loving umbrella of the Comedy Store. Don Ward always treated me like a king and I always enjoyed speaking with him about comedy. I love and respect the man dearly. I love him like a relative in fact. Then I fucked up....

I've been working on writing a book the past few years and I will go into more details there because in the story of my life Don Ward and the Comedy Store is an important chapter. The truth of the matter was that I was partying too much in London after shows and I frightened myself enough to decided to take a break on the place for a while when I moved back to the US in 2004. 

I should have communicated with Don better about what was going on in my life. I owed him that. I owed him the respect her deserves so I wish I had been more honest with him. Needless to say feelings got hurt and it took me many years to mop up the mess that I had made. 

I missed London and all my friends there so I just started going back a few years ago. One of my main reasons to go back was to set things right with Don Ward and apologize to him for me being such a schmuck. Last year when I was in London I went into Don's office and had the heart to heart talk with him. I told him since my Dad and my sister died I now see that the most important thing in life is the relationships you have with people. I told him how important he is to me, how I appreciated him treating me like a king and that I was ashamed and sorry over how I had disappeared on him. He could have rightfully told me to fuck off. Thankfully he welcomed me back to the Comedy Store and told me how that is all water under the bridge now. 

This episode is very important to me because it was recorded between shows on Saturday February 22, 2014, the first weekend I have performed there in ten years. This episode is the end of a circle that took me ten years to get around to the other side of because of my mistake.

Never turn your back on the people who give you love and respect. 

Don Ward is a living legend in the world of comedy because he has seen it all and presented the greatest comedians the world has every known. One day the British government will put a historical marker in front of the Comedy Store but until then we have the wealth of knowledge living in the museum of Don's mind. 

This episode is very important to me because it is with someone I love and respect and that was crucial to my development as a world wide performer. It is my pleasure to present to you now, the one and only Don Ward.

I love Tamer Kattan because not only is he funny, with deep profound thoughts packed into his comedy, but also because he helped me convert my marijuana farm into a hummingbird garden. In this conversation we talk about his time working in advertising, going to university in Sweden and living in Venice Beach where the homeless people charge you to hear the punchlines to their jokes. Of great importance we talk about how human nature never changes, how people use brands to find their tribes, political advertising and people are drunk on power and how humans never learn from the lessons of history. Individual lust for for power has driven all of human history and driven empires off of cliffs. Tamer lives with love in his heart because we are not supposed to live with hatred and fear.

"No one ever got PTSD from hugging too hard." Getting death threats in Oklahoma City didn't stop him from bringing  his brand of love soaked laughter. Religion is just as drunk on power as our politicians and it is their duty to call out the nazi dictator doctrine but they remain silent on the most important things that are sending our country in the wrong direction. Kindness is making a comeback and it's not coming from the wall of hatred, bigotry and cruelty being generated by the red hat crowd and Putin's urine pawn. Don't drown in the sea of ignorance and stupidity flourishing on the planet now be a change agent to stand for something of meaning in truth and dignity. The strongest human desire is the desire to belong, people are confused now, fear lives in their heads, will Democracy survive if one side rejects truth, science and law? History will not be kind to Trump and the Republican party. Where are the good Cristians and the good Republicans to stand up and blow the whistle on their own team? Bernie Sanders is the most punk rock disrupter to ever enter modern politics. Tamer and I break down all of America's problems and we both pay our taxes so that we can run our mouths. Nazis are unhappy people and living a happy life while embracing knowledge, diversity and culture is the greatest revenge against them. Just like me his mission in his stand up comedy work is to unite humanity and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Tamer Kattan!

Tom Rhodes Radio Smart Camp is here! Pick a book with Danny Lobell. This episode is all about meeting your heroes and getting to hang out with them. Danny shares stories of him hanging out with Jackie Mason, George Carlin, Mel Brooks and more. Be inspired and start your own journey!

In this episode we talk how Ashna received a hate filled Facebook from an old white coward telling her to move back to the Netherlands. My reaction was to start searching flights to Houston so that I could go punch this old fooling the face but Ashna reminds me that it is always best to remain stylish like Seneca. We talk about our wedding anniversary date that included popping into an open mic night in our neighborhood where an untalented comedian started verbally attacking the crowd, me included because his poorly written jokes weren't being appreciated. Seneca style counseling is recommended to me again for how to conduct yourself in the face of hate filled white men. From there we popped into the Kibitz room where we delighted in our neighborhood watering hole where hate was nowhere to be found.

Let me tell you all about Oregon & why you should be listening to Bootsy Collins & Curtis Mayfield right now. Praise be to the plum wine man!

I was playing the Rick James song 'Busting Out' when I crossed the border from California into Oregon. My girlfriend lives in Portland and for the past month we have been going on driving adventures all over Oregon. I had planned on exploring France this year but that got canceled so instead I am enjoying all of the best that there is to see in Oregon. This episode starts in Whale Cove, then on to Ona Beach then back to Portland. I have circled Oregon and I have some stories to share with you. From Crater Lake and Cannon Beach to the Last Blockbuster in Bend and seeing 'The Outsiders' at a drive in movie theater in Newberg I have been squeezing joy out of this last bit of summer. I went to Plush, Oregon just because I loved the name and slept in a grocery store parking lot in Lake View. On the news Portland looks like a lawless hellhole right now but those skirmishes all happen downtown and I have found the best places in this city  to relax with minimal pandemic stress. Let me tell you all about Oregon and why you should be listening to Bootsy Collins and Curtis Mayfield right now. Praise be to the man who makes plum wine and gin!

Hooray for humanity! Joy be upon you! Shalom Amigos!

Hooray for humanity!

We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.

Connect!

Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp

More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes

More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan

More Orion https://www.instagram.com/orion.levine

Watch the video!

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha  

** Video version **

If you'd like to watch the video version of the episode on YouTube.com/kingofhaha, please do us a favor by subscribing to the audio podcast on Spotify / Apple, etc. first! The podcast is a labor of love, and your audio subscription and downloads, or direct support on Patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp, provide us with the incentive to pull together and record on a weekly basis beyond our busy schedules. Thanks for being part of the Rhodesies Team!

** About Smart Camp podcast**

Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures.

We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!

Tom

I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.

Ashna

Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

Lucie Pohl

★★★★★  Tom Rhodes Radio Review for Lucie Pohl in ‘Hi, Hitler!’

Tom Rhodes Radio give the show 'Hi, Hitler' by Lucie Pohl a 5 star review! This show is so fast paced, character driven and funny that I saw it twice.

The eye catching title of this show comes from the adorable tale of how Lucie Pohl as a child thought the Nazis were saying hi to Hitler and not heal Hitler.

Is it possible to make Hitler adorable? Lucie Pohl can! She even drew Hitler innumerable times as a kid and wanted to go as Hitler for carnival but that kind of action is illegal in Germany where she was born. Her show is the story of her life and it is greatly influenced by the New York style of one person shows that I hold sacred like Eric Bogosian's Sex Drugs & Rock & Roll and John Leguizamo's Freak. Expertly performed Lucie Pohl keeps you captivated as her story pops from one scene of her life to another. 

As a child loving David Hasselhoff in her native Germany, her successful father moving her family to New York City, having artistic parents with dramatic lives living in Greenwich Village, her moving back to Germany to pursue her dream of acting, getting her knees skinned up from a bad romantic choice to finding love on a beach in Greece on the island of Rhodes. With magnanimous charm she plays all of the characters in her life and the journey she has experienced up to this point. 

Her show is so enjoyable you can't help but think why isn't this woman a superstar actor by now but we should be grateful because superstar actors never give us brilliant one person performances like this rooted in the very fabric that makes theater great and greatly inspiring.

Lucie Pohl's show is also on at the Gilded Ballon like mine and I met her very early in the run hanging out in the performer's Loft Bar. She is a delight on every level and an artist I hope never forgets that making solid one hour performances is the glue that holds all of show business together. It is my pleasure to present to you now, the one and only Lucie Pohl! 

The legendary punk rock poet John Cooper Clarke returns to TRR Smart Camp!

Truth seeking Freedom fighter comedy legend Barry Crimmins explains all you need to know about making the world a better place on TRRSC!

Pete Dominick is a comedian and political talk show host on Sirius XM satellite radio.

"The person who you disagree with politically might be the person who saves your life or changes it forever."

This episode was recorded in New York City!

In this Smart Bestie episode, it's just me and my smart best friend Ashna Rodjan. Seriously, what a week—there was an attempted assassination on Donald Trump and we lost the comedy legend, Bob Newhart. I grew up listening to Bob Newhart's records. His long-form storytelling was pure genius. I still laugh thinking about his bit as the night watchman at the Empire State Building during King Kong's climb.

We dive into the Trump situation too. It's wild to think about how this might shake up American politics and the upcoming election. Ashna, with her background in cognitive psychology, brings up some fascinating points about how appearance plays such a big role in politics. It's funny how Americans and Europeans have such different approaches when it comes to picking leaders.

I share a pretty intense story from my recent road trip where I picked up a homeless woman off the side of the road. Not something I'd normally do, but she looked like she needed help. Ashna talks about her own adventure, or misadventure, as a new driver navigating the streets of LA.

We wrap things up by reflecting on how important it is to be kind and understanding, especially in these divided times. We talk about how even small acts of democracy in our daily lives can make a big difference.

Hooray for humanity!

We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.

Connect!

Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp

More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes

More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan

About Smart Camp podcast

Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures.

Join us for 

• Smart Ramble (Tom talks)
• Smart Talk (Tom has a guest)
• Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan)
• Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies) 

Join us for an engaging conversation with Mario Adrion a model turned YouTube comedy sensation. Discover the modeling industry's dark side, pay differences, and Mario's transition to YouTube comedy star to stand-up comedian with a unique perspective to share, and the dangers of eating too many carrots.

Hooray for humanity!

We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.

Connect!

Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp

More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes

More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan

More Mario https://www.instagram.com/marioadrion

Watch the video!

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha  

** Video version **

If you'd like to watch the video version of the episode on YouTube.com/kingofhaha, please do us a favor by subscribing to the audio podcast on Spotify / Apple, etc. first! The podcast is a labor of love, and your audio subscription and downloads, or direct support on Patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp, provide us with the incentive to pull together and record on a weekly basis beyond our busy schedules. Thanks for being part of the Rhodesies Team!

** About Smart Camp podcast**

Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures.

We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!

Tom

I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.

Ashna

Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

Hey, Smart Campers!

Sammy Davis Jr. was a multifaceted entertainer known for his singing, dancing, acting, and impersonations. As a member of the Rat Pack, with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, he broke racial barriers in the entertainment industry during the mid-20th century. His career spanned Broadway, television, and film, making him a significant figure in American entertainment history. Davis's talents and activism left a lasting impact on the industry, highlighting themes of racial equality and inclusion.

Episode nuggets:

• Sammy Davis Jr. Biography
• Stray Dog (1949 film by Akira Kurosawa)
• Lady Snowblood (1973 Japanese film)
• Dune (2021 film directed by Denis Villeneuve)
• Willy Wonka (2023 film with Timothy Chalamet)
• The Undoing (HBO series with Hugh Grant and Nicole Kidman)
• Wages of Fear (1953 French film by Henri-Georges Clouzot)

Hooray for humanity!

We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish!

Connect!

Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp

More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes

More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan

** About the Podcast **

Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures.

We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!

Tom

I have been a comedian for more than 40 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.

Ashna

Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

Find out how Dirty Dozen/Clean Fifteen changed our lives. Ashna and I talk about our latest obsession watching interracial movies on Netflix and the Black Mirror episodes by Charlie Brooker. Tom reads the greatest opening paragraph of any book ever written (Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts) and he closes with a quite disturbing story for Ashna about one of her favorite musicians Chuck Berry. 

Tom and Ashna discuss their love for the Olympics, drawing parallels between the dedication of athletes and artists. They reflect on recent Olympic highlights. Tom shares a personal story about a date that didn't go as planned, and the challenges of dating in Los Angeles. The episode also delves into books they are reading, including a history of pockets and Kara Swisher's critique of Silicon Valley. They touch on the influence of technology on society and the importance of finding purpose. The episode closes encouraging Patreon supporters to contribute audio messages for future episodes.

Hooray for humanity!

We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.

Connect!

Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp

More Tom https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes

More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan

About Smart Camp podcast

Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures.

Join us for 

• Smart Ramble (Tom talks)
• Smart Talk (Tom has a guest)
• Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan)
• Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies) 

Brad Williams is on a rocket ship that just blasted off to superstardom.

His favorite book is 'The Prince' by Niccolo Machiavelli and he tells me how he has navigated his life using this map. In this episode we talk about sad pathetic lonely fuckers who complain about comedy specials, how Andy Dick portrayed little people as caged animals and the future cage that Brad has waiting for him one day. The Richard Nixon list of enemies is something he's not against keeping so I tell him that the opening scene of 'Wild Tales' is the best revenge film ever conceived.

Human beings are not evolving, most human beings don't want freedom and democracy. Most humans in history desire power, tyranny and oppression and this surveillance state gangster third world path is full steam ahead. All we can do is make money and put a wall and gate around your house while creating an army of children that you program the thoughts in their heads. In this chat it is revealed that Brad and I both are Capricorns, grew up with Disney magic and how our fathers both shaped us into the funny men that we are. Now that Brad is approaching fatherhood he explains to me how it is important never to yuck someone's yum. What Brad's father did to a big plate full of mashed potatoes is one of the best laughs he's ever had and making your kid laugh might be the secret to raising children into becoming the best humans. He is one of the most naturally funny comedians crushing heads in America today and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you the one and only Brad Williams!

Patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

This episode was recorded On The Road

In this long-lost pilot episode of Tom Rhodes Radio, Tom is joined by his good friends Lou Angelwolf and Dana Gibson in Los Angeles. Together they are "The Unoffendables."

After discussing the best free entertainment in LA, they interview the brilliant comedian/prophet John Fugelsang, in which they discuss real Christianity and eating the Beatles. 

Then they sit down with TV & comedy stars Jimmy Shubert & Billy Gardell to talk about Philly and Baltimore pride. 

Tom Rhodes Radio is in Chicago! Let me introduce you to the most interesting couple I know! Rory Zacher & Kelly La Banco two fresh faced kids that moved to Los Angeles to get involved in the porn industry. This episode brings you juicy & surprising behind the scene stories and all that jazz of the business of porn. Get it here!

I am fresh back from Paris! In this episode Ashna and I talk about my quick trip to Paris, the amazing experience I had while performing at Theatre L'Oeuvre and how

* Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

* Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) tomrhodes.net

* More episodes on tomrhodesradio.com

Tom travels to Wilmington, North Carolina to talk to Tom Rhodes, the musician. 

Hey, Ashna here! Tom—fresh off the plane—is raving about Chiang Mai like it’s the best thing since sliced bread. He’s all about the peaceful culture, delicious food, and stunning beauty. He also shares a wild mix of Muay Thai boxing, snake charmer music, and the calmness of the Thai people, which he says is a world away from the aggression in Los Angeles. We also talk about the symbolism of turtles in myths and how they connect to life’s mysteries. And, of course, we finish with a reality check on social media and how it affects real joy. Grab your headphones and join us for an hour of laughs, insights, and Thai-inspired chaos!

Hooray for humanity!

We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.

Connect!

Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp

More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes

More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan

About Smart Camp podcast

Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures.

Join us for 

• Smart Ramble (Tom talks)
• Smart Talk (Tom has a guest)
• Smart Bestie (Tom and Ashna Rodjan)
• Smart Books and Movies (Review on Books and Movies) 

Charles Ezell is a guy I've known since my early San Francisco days. He used to do an impression of Ulysses S. Grant if he had done stand up comedy and the bit always killed me. "I haven't killed like this since Appomattox."

Paul Provenza is a true Renaissance man of comedy.

Having gain worldwide critical success for his film the Aristocrats, the history of the world's dirtiest joke, he went on to create and star as the host of the comedy cult classic series the Green Room. Then if that wasn't enough to solidify a career he thereafter co-produced the show Set List, where comedians go onstage with nothing prepared and are given their set list on the spot to see what they can invent.

Paul is a philosophical good hearted dreamer who has lived in Venice Beach, CA for 30 years. This past year when I have come to LA I have been staying in Venice Beach. We recorded this on a Saturday afternoon in February in Paul's living room, as much as I always enjoy talking with him this recording has the added bonus that I could see the waves of the Pacific ocean crashing over Paul's shoulder.

He is currently directing Kelly Carlin in her one woman show about her life and being George Carlin's daughter. I had seen the show 2 nights earlier and asked Paul if we could record this conversation. We talk about how doing comedy and seeing comedy is a defiant act now since world news attacks on humor, we talk about how people are seeking authenticity now because they are fed up with the bullshit they have been spoon fed for so long. We talk about the slaughter at Charlie Hebdo and the geopolitical corporate powers won't let us hear alternative Muslim voices because they need to convey a clear enemy in their propaganda.

I love Paul because whenever I talk to him it's never not lofty and seeking world turmoil solutions. He is a comedy legend, a brilliant human being and I am proud to present to you now the one and only Paul Provenza!

Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners

End song:  Wanted: Lover (No Experience Necessary) – James Govan

Recorded in Venice Beach, CA. February 2015

Tom's brother tells the world to stop being such a pussy. 

This episode was recorded in Los Angeles.

Dive into the latest Tom Rhodes Smart Camp episode featuring the incredibly resilient and hilariously insightful Natasha Pearl Hansen. Natasha, a comedian and the CEO of My Break-Up Registry, shares her journey from the heart of Wisconsin to the comedy stages of Los Angeles, discussing her personal and professional growth.

Natasha transformed her canceled wedding into a groundbreaking comedy special. On what was supposed to be her wedding day, she recorded and self-produced her first comedy special, "I Was Supposed To Get Married Today...," at the venue she had booked for the event in Madison, Wisconsin, close to where she was raised. Performing a single take of the special in front of a live audience comprised of her family, friends, and would-be wedding guests, she sold out the room and turned the night into a comprehensive "wedding" experience for everyone present.

As the founder of My Break-Up Registry, which she softly launched in 2021 following her canceled wedding comedy special, Natasha shares the highs and lows of starting businesses, pursuing comedy, and the significance of setting and achieving goals. With laughter and honest narratives, she demonstrates how she converts obstacles into opportunities, highlighting the therapeutic nature of comedy and the critical role of resilience.

More Natasha:

https://www.instagram.com/nphcomedy/

https://linktr.ee/NPHcomedy

Hooray for humanity!

We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.

Connect!

Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp

More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes

More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan

Listen to the audio version!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Qyybimu7PbTNWy9Hh4Xjk

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tom-rhodes-smart-camp/id426881872

Watch the video!

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha  

** About Smart Camp podcast**

Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures.

We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!

Tom

I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.

Ashna

Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

Robert Hawkins is not only one of the funniest human beings alive he is also one of my dearest best friends. Robert is of those rarest creatures in that he is almost as funny off stage as he is onstage. I first meet Robert in the early 1990s when we were both playing at the River Center comedy club together in San Antonio, Texas. Robert was the MC, I was the middle act and Nick DiPalo was the headliner, what a show! 

Robert is originally from Hollywood, Florida. I always love to say to him "You are so Hollywood... Florida." Because we both grew up in Florida we can always laugh about the unique and disturbing ridiculousness of our home state.

He didn't start doing stand until he got out of the army in Texas so Texas is also a major factor in his life as is San Francisco as he and I both lived there at the same time. 

Career highlights aside from Conan appearances include being a writer for Christopher Titus' sitcom and for many years now he has been the opening act for Ron White. For me Robert will always be significant because he never fails to make me laugh and he has been a friend to me through thick and thin never once leaving me hanging if I were having troubles. 

Robert and Dan Gabriel were the ones who introduced me to Bikram Yoga in 2004 and we compare notes on that practice and talk about it at great length in this episode. "The best thing about Bikram Yoga is quieting your mind." In this conversation Robert and I talk about the Ice Cream Truck business we thought of starting, why should should pick your favorite team in the playoffs, the gold fish project of Amsterdam, family discounts in Thailand, why you should never have sex with a comedy club waitress on the first night of the week, why you should write and try out two jokes a day minimum and the most brilliant invention of all 'The Smoothie Phone.'

He is one of my favorite living human beings walking the earth today and it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Robert Hawkins!

Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners

Stand-up clip 1: Compilation of ‘Quitting Smoking’, ‘In The Army’ and YouTube clip ‘Gay Pride Parades - Robert Hawkins’.

Stand-up clip from YouTube 2: Ron White's Comedy Salute to the Troops Robert Hawkins

Audio Cameo: Standing Bow Posture (Bikram Yoga)

Stand-up clip 3: ‘Write Home’

End song:  Wanted: Lover (No Experience Necessary) – James Govan

Recorded in Dallas, Texas. March 2014

This episode was recorded in Brooklyn, New York.

Having co-created the Daily Show and co-founded Air America it is a solid fact that Lizz Winstead has left a permanent mark on American entertainment and the American consciousness. Like most innovators and socially forward thinkers the roots of her tree began in stand up comedy. 

I worked with Lizz several times in the early years of my career as her opening act. I was a very young and inexperienced comedian and I loved and respected her from our initial meeting. She was a strong female headliner in a profession that was mostly male dominated. She shared her comedy wisdom with me back then and I have always appreciated the intelligence she brought to any project she put her name on. 

In the early years of Comedy Central I appeared on the first version of the Daily Show that Lizz was one of the producers of. I felt like a proud relative seeing Lizz kicking ass in the television world just as hard as she had as a headliner in the stand up comedy world. It had been many years since I had seen her and both of our lives and careers have taken many twists and turns since then. 

Today, Lizz can be seen on countless political talk shows commenting on American politics. 

I believe it is no easy task for a comedian to move into political activism and stay funny as well as socially relevant but Lizz has done this supremely. Her current passion is defending the reproductive rights of women from law makers who wish to infringe upon this right. 

In this episode she refers to herself as a vagina warrior, which makes me smile even as I type the words.

I was excited to see my old friend who I respect greatly. I arrived in Brooklyn on the subway and stepped out into a cold down pour of December rain. At her home I was delighted to find she had just had delivered my favorite pizza, prosciutto and fresh arugula. This woman is magic. Right before we started recording she let me smoke at her window which broke and remained half open with the cold air streaming in. I was thrilled to take a ride through her opinions and thoughts on a wide range of topics and I was secretly pleased she was not angered that I had broken her window. She is someone I have always respected and been cheering for from afar. 

She is the one and only comedy crusader that is Lizz Winstead.

I sit down with Julie Seabaugh, a renowned writer, documentarian, and comedy journalist. We explore entertainment's evolution, with Julie's insightful perspectives on the comedy landscape. Discussions meander from Hollywood tales, including an anecdote about Judd Apatow, to the significance of personal collections and the changing dynamics in comedy. Highlighting the resurgence of memoirs and their impact on comedy, the conversation also teases Julie's upcoming collaborations with comedy legends like Byron Bowers.

This episode stands out as a seamless blend of nostalgia, cultural introspection, and a deep appreciation for the art of storytelling, all shared between two seasoned connoisseurs of the comedic world. 

Hooray for humanity!

We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.

Connect!

Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp

More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes

More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan

More Julie https://www.instagram.com/julieseabaugh

Watch the video!

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha  

** Video version **

If you'd like to watch the video version of the episode on YouTube.com/kingofhaha, please do us a favor by subscribing to the audio podcast on Spotify / Apple, etc. first! The podcast is a labor of love, and your audio subscription and downloads, or direct support on Patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp, provide us with the incentive to pull together and record on a weekly basis beyond our busy schedules. Thanks for being part of the Rhodesies Team!

** About Smart Camp podcast**

Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures.

We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!

Tom

I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.

Ashna

Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

The last of my 3 part series on the life of Lord Byron concludes here with his exile in Switzerland and Italy and his death in Greece.

In the USA we had a war on drugs, we had a war on terrorism, and now I think we need to declare war on anger.

Each one of us should fight to keep that poison out of our lives. Listening to Curtis Mayfield helps. Another sure way to perfect joy is by  listening to this warm and lovely conversation I had with Zainab Johnson.

Our lives are are collection of stories and memories. I tell the story of smoking pot with Jack Nicholson at a Rolling Stones concert and how people watching in Las Vegas says more about you than the people you are watching. This episode is all about my own personal history with Las Vegas. The city I used to hate and avoid like the plague is now a place I come to several times a year full of entertainment friends, culinary delights and audiences of people from all around the globe. Shalom Amigos!

In this episode you will learn how the first game of football was originally played by the ancient Mayans and how the Captain of the losing team would be executed.

In Europe the first games of football were evolved from bored soldiers kicking around the severed heads of their dead opponents.

There are so many fascinating elements to the beautiful game but none more important than how the game of football cured racism in Brazil. 

Happy World Cup 2018! Enjoy!

TRR Smart Camp goodies:

* Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

* Chat with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

* Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net 

Ramy Youssef is one of the bright young stars burning it up in the comedy world right now. I worked with him last year and he is one of my favorite young comedians right now. If you are looking for a lovable young Muslim to build a television show around you need look no further than today's guest and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Ramy Youssef!

This episode was recorded in Paris.

I first met Sand Van Roy after my show in Paris in June 2012. Speaking with her I was tickled to find out that she was a huge comedy fan and that he all time favorite comedian is Mitch Hedberg. She was thrilled to hear that I was Mitch Hedberg's friend. She was trying a joke that she had written out on me and I told her that I liked it. 

In this conversation recorded earlier this month in Paris I discover that it was that moment that inspired Sand to begin being a comedian one week after I met her. Because of Mitch Hedberg's influence on her she has a style of comedy that is exclusively one liners. What I consider to be the hardest form of comedy that requires a sharp mind and expert precision. 

Sand is from Holland and now lives in Paris earning her living as a model. She is the first ever super model comedian that I am aware of. To focus on her good looks instead of her comedy is to sell her short in appreciating her outer shell instead of her brain power to invent sharply funny thoughts and observations. In this episode she tells me about the current comedy scene in Paris that happens in English and French. 

This episode was recorded on February 4, 2014, my 30th anniversary of being a comedian. We recorded this just a few hours before my anniversary show which Sand opened up for me on. Aside from talking about comedy she gives me all the insight and juicy trash that goes on in the modeling world. I think she is smart, funny and destined for greatness in the world of comedy. 

It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Sand Van Roy.

"If you tried to govern people by the rules of the bible it would be a bloody mess and women would be treated like property."

TRR # 320 Under the circus tent of knowledge with Dan Cummins! 

Listen here > https://bit.ly/37hmW4C

Dan Cummins is a comedian that I love, respect and admire. He is the rare human that I can blaze any trail with mentality on any topic and we both dazzle each other with valuable knowledge nuggets.

Dan left Los Angeles and moved back home to Idaho, "Playboy of all brands brought our family back home." Since then Dan has created a handsome podcast empire with his "Time Suck" podcast. 

Dan tells me about the sexually liberated intellectuals he had the best conversations with during his time working for Playboy television. We talk here about the brothers Grim fairy tales, Disney films, Ted X talks, how going dark gets you more followers than going light, Josephine Baker, John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, the Jumbo appendages possessed by Lyndon Johnson and Rasputin, Vlad the Impaler and how the Salem witch trials was essentially a land grab. 

This episode was recorded in Las Vegas where people come to show the worst side of themselves, Dan and I have gathered here under the circus tent of knowledge to rejoice in all that we know and to celebrate the joy of friendship with intelligent observations like "The way young people now sit around inventing new apps, in the old days people used to sit around inventing new torture equipment." 

It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Dan Cummins!

Heavy Metal Comedian Steve Hughes crushes political thoughts and conspiracy theories with Tom in Sydney, Australia.

Friendship is one of the masterpieces of nature and I have never had two truer friends than Lou Angelwolf and Kevin Rogers. We all met as young comedians in Clearwater, Florida in 1986 at Ron Bennington's comedy scene and we were so earnest about influencing the world in a positive way through our comedy that we can ourselves The Sheperds.

They have been there for me through thick and thin. We have cried together and laughed together and never not been friends and that is why it is my pleasure to introduce to you now the one and only Lou Angelwolf and Kevin Rogers!

"It's not what is under the Christmas tree that is important but the people who are sitting around it."  Rinsing out the raisin hole with Jimmy Shubert! Listen here > https://bit.ly/346mWDu

Jimmy Shubert is a man dedicated to bringing joy to the human race.

Fresh back from a trip to India, Jimmy tells me about the unique way people in India clean their raisin holes. How has his life changed since going to India?

In this conversation we talk about how traveling with Russell Peters in India was like traveling with Elvis and how the Hindu Gods were like the first comic book characters. We talk about Shantaram and other books that will change your life. We talk about the gift shops of Jerusalem and how they sell Jesus' crown of thorns for five dollars in case you want to walk around all day with a bloody forehead. Believe it or not Jerusalem is not a big Christmas city but in the Christian quarter they celebrate Santa Claus. 

We both have had incredible lives from getting to travel the world doing stand up comedy. Here now we talk about our best experiences traveling and other activities that feed our souls. 

Showbiz might not be looking for any older white guys right now but there have been few honkies in entertainment history who are as dedicated to uniting humanity as we are. 

"It's not what under the Christmas tree that is important but the people who are sitting around it." To start this holiday season Jimmy and I exchange our favorite street jokes. 

Our elected officials have firmly wrapped their lips around the cock of corporate greed and the media has successfully divided most of our nation. 

Replace your news consumption with music that delights your soul Jimmy and I may disagree politically on some topics but that would never negate our love and respect for each other and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Jimmy Shubert!

Patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Make yourself a better human being by enjoying this fun chin wag I had with Judd Apatow about comedy and the George Carlin documentary he just made that premieres on HBO May 20th. Come get some laughter all over your face!

She's smart, she's funny, meet my friend Madison Sinclair!

Tom Rhodes Radio is in LA! Brilliant comedy writer Laurie Kilmartin explains how she turns her personal turmoil into comedy gold in this new episode. Enjoy!

"Get that money, get that money, get that money."

Comedians are not fixing the world, we are making fun of it.

I am reporting to you from Tokyo, Japan. Enjoy my observations on this trend setting capital and learn amazing facts about Japan and knowledge nuggets about the secret code of the Samurai. Enrich your life with wisdom and laughter as I send you a respectful Samurai head bow from the land of the rising sun. Enjoy!

Become our patron and receive podcast goodies!

www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp 

Tom chats with one of America's greatest actors, Stephen Tobolowsky, who gives Tom some interesting insights on their time shooting Mr. Rhodes.  

Jesse Joyce is a supreme bad ass when it comes to writing, creating and producing head crunching comedy thunder. I first met Jesse when we both performed on Dave Attell's Comedy Underground show for Comedy Central. Jesse not only performed on that show but he was also the main writer for Dave who helped him shape his monologues for that show. I next saw and worked with Jesse when I did @midnight for Comedy Central. Jesse is one of the main writers for @midnight and his comedy writing talents are in great demand. In this conversation we talk about the joys and benefits of not drinking and the many great comedians who have perished or risen above dying by the sword of booze. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Jesse Joyce!

End song: The Rolling Stones - Winter

Recorded in Venice Beach, Ca. September 2014.

Rich Hall is to comedy what Johnny Cash is to country music.

The man is a living legend, having won Emmys for his writing for David Lettermen, was on SNL and Not Necessarily The News, he invented his own language with Snigglets and he won the grand prize at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2000. 

For me personally, Rich Hall has been a great friend and someone I look up to who inspires me, especially with the amount of comedy ass he still kicks. Internationally respected and adored everywhere microphones are plugged in. 

When I filmed Viva Vietnam for Comedy Central years ago I could bring one writer with me and I chose Rich. We bonded in 'Nam baby! I've been to visit him in Montana 3 times and I would not know the unbridled glory that is Montana had it not been for Rich. After Rich moved to London he encouraged me to come over because  he thought I would do well there. Not only did he coach me on the right chess moves to getting in with London but for 5 years he let me keep a key to his phenomenal flat on Fitzroy Square. 

From London I got to springboard to the world so it is safe to say that all of the amazing life I have got to lead might not have happened had it not been for my friendship with Rich. Not only have I been inspired to watch him work and see where his career path choices have taken him but he has also been kind of a wise Buddha to me. Or better yet he is Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Hank Williams and Lee Marvin to me. He is one of the heroes of my life and I am eternally grateful that in a world filled with so many full of shit people I made friends with Rich Hall and that our worldwide golden experiences together continue to multiply. 

We recorded this conversation while we were both doing the Galway Comedy Carnival festival last month on a blustery cold grey day inside the Salt Hill hotel. He is an American comedy gunslinger badass who ain't the one who would ever leave town before the shooting started and it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Rich Hall!

Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners

Stand-up clip from YouTube: Rich Hall: Why I hate the Tea Party - Live at the Apollo - Series 7 - BBC Comedy Greats

Stand-up clip from YouTube: Rich Hall - Dirty South - Biopic Clip.wmv

End song: She Left Me For Jesus – Hayes Carll

Recorded at The Salthill Hotel in Galway, Ireland, October 2014

Stay cheerful because there are enough bitter turds on this earth try to see the beauty that exists among all the ugliness.

Ian Edwards is one of my favorite comedians because of the supreme intelligence he brings to his well thought out ideas. He inspires  me every time I see him perform and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Ian Edwards!

Rhodesies Smartcamp Book Review: Dillinger's Wild Ride by Elliott J. Gorn (book review)

Endsong: Billy Grammer - The Ballad Of John Dillinger 1968 

This episode was recorded in London.

Tom sits down with Noel Faulkner, the Irish owner of London's legendary Comedy Cafe. He's a truly fascinating human being. 

I woke up April 5 at 4:44am to a 4.0 earthquake.

Happy love day February 14! Today I want to introduce you to the bright ball of sunshine, intelligence & hilarity that is my good friend Monique Marvez.

Ron White is one of my favorite comedians and it is for very personal reasons that I am his fan. I started out on the Southern circuits of the United States just as Ron White did and I knew about him years before the rest of the world did because we were doing the same gigs. 

I think what I like the most about Ron is I know how hard he worked to get where he is today and it gives me hope that it is possible for older hard working comedians to bust the lid off of show business and "make it."

When I watch him perform it is like watching your favorite team play who wins every time because he always delivers the goods. I love hearing him talk about his private jet and when I hear him do so I think to myself "Damn right brother, you deserve your own private jet." 

Through the small world of comedy and the mutual friends we have I got to record this conversation with Ron last month in Las Vegas. I got to watch him from the back stage area of The Mirage casino destroy a sold out house, then I waited patiently as Olivia Newton John stopped by his dressing room to tell him she was a fan before I got to come into his dressing room to have this chat.

My favorite quote from this conversation is when he said "For change to happen, old people with their stupid ideas need to die." It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Ron White!

Standup Clips:

Just For Laughs - Ron White

A Little Unprofessional - Ron White (direct download > http://ronwhitespecial.com)

Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) - Oceanliners

End Song: Jet Airliner - Paul Pena

This episode was recorded in Las Vegas

Enjoy this conversation I recorded with my wonderful & amazing mother in Mount Dora, Florida. Joy be upon you!

* Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

* Sign up for a conversation with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

This episode was recorded in London.

Let it be known to the the universe that Tom Rhodes Radio gives Mark Farrelly's one man show 'Quentin Crisp' a 5 star review.

This show invites libation imbibement and encourages you to be yourself whatever you wish that self to be. Being exactly what you are even if that is a bore.

Mark was doing his Quentin Crisp solo show at the Gilded Balloon for the Edinburgh Fringe festival and I met him about half way through the festival's run at the Loft bar, the private bar for the entertainers and artists doing shows there. I had so many deep conversations with him over the last 2 weeks of the festival and I liked his show much I thought it an imperative that he be a guest on my show.  After our Edinburgh run we both went to London, me to do my show at the Soho theater and Mark to do his at the St. James theater.

My wife Ashna and I went to see his show again in London and then we invited Mark over to have a few bottles of wine and record this conversation in our rented flat.

His show at the St. James theater was brilliant with the verve and excitement of live performance that Mark brought to his character and since it was in the evening with alcoholic beverages flowing each of the excellently written lines of dialogue hit their targets making the room explode with laughter. Mark told me he loved the message of Quentin Crisp because it wasn't about being gay it was about being yourself.

In this conversation we talk about the harshness of criticism, the meaning of life and the most interesting people who ever lived. "Writing 87,000 reviews would never feel as good as giving one performance." In today's narcissistic society no one knows who they are and what to believe in. Quentin Crisp's life told by Mark Farrelly is one to gain inspiration from and peppered with Quentin's sharp quotes on life we are reminded of why Quentin Crisp is worth remembering.

"We live in a pretty dreary world were most people don't even have the decency to be themselves." In this episode you will learn why it is our excessive freedom is what makes us miserable and why having personal style will cure you of your excessive freedom. He is one of the people who I enjoyed speaking with the most on my most recent visit to the Queen's British Isles. It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Mark Farrelly!

Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners

End song: Sting – Englishman In New York 

Recorded in London, September 2014

Mike Tyson does not appear in this episode. Special guest commentary by the one and only Ryan Hicks. 

Tom chats with one of his favorite young comics, Ryan Stout. He turns 30 this month and already has a ton of hosting credits, a killer album, and plays the best American clubs. Please enjoy this fantastic man. 

The day we recorded this, it was brutally cold rain with heavy winds outside.

Todd Barry is a perennial force of continuous head busting comedy for many decades now. The fact that Todd grew up in Florida and that he is one of the most respected comedians to have ever have started out there makes him feel like he is a part of my extended family. As long as I have been around, Todd has been around. From the earliest Comedy Central and MTV comedy shows to all of the best comedy festivals world wide. 

He has appeared multiple times on Letterman and Conan, as well as delivering highly acclaimed comedy specials. He is one of the most respected comedians in the business and Louis CK is one of his most ardent supporters, having highlighted Todd as himself as a reoccurring character on the smash hit FX show 'Louie'.  

Louis Ck even produced Todd's most recent live audio recording called 'Crowd Work'. Todd's unique brand of comedy as well as his signature delivery has made him a staple on several animated series voicing characters on Dr. Katz and Squidbillies. Todd started doing stand up comedy in South Florida and moved to New York City where he still lives today. This conversation was recorded at the Salt Hill Hotel in Galway, Ireland. Todd and I were both doing the Galway Comedy Festival together and this was the tail end of a European and Scandinavian tour he was on.

It is a special honor to know the quiet thunder of his personality and to have seen him kick so much comedy ass through all of these years and it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Todd Barry!

Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners

Tell Me Anything, Ask Me Anything: Liam from Cambridge & at the moment rocking with his band ‘Tape Runs Out’. Send him a message if you like his music! http://www.soundcloud.com/tape-runs-out

Stand-up clip from YouTube 1: Todd Barry Stand-Up 03/24/14

Stand-up clip from YouTube 2: Todd Barry Stand-Up 09/04/12 - CONAN on TBS

End song 1: MacDougal Blues – Kevin Kinney   

End song 2: Friends – Tape Runs Out     

Recorded at the Salthill Hotel in Galway, Ireland on a horrible cold and windy day. October 2014

Become a member of Tom Rhodes Radio and get access to my latest stand up and my weekly diary travel clips!

This episode was recorded in room #4 at the Mill Valley Inn. All important information about America's past and future are answered under the canopy of the ancient redwood trees. Ashna and I talk about the Kurt Anderson book 'Fantasyland" about how America went haywire. We also talk about the Ken Burns documentary "The Vietnam War. Our yearly trip to Northern California is in full swing now and we talk about what is great and irritating about Arcata, California. What trimmigrants are and the old theaters were where Charlie Chaplin and Robin Williams performed. We talk bookstores and classy women's fashions only won indoors by veterans. Pop a wheelie and ride it half way down Elm street! Hooray for humanity!

Bobby Lee is one of the most honest and true to the bone human beings you will ever meet in show business. Just a taste of the valuable advice he has to give is this: 

Emmy winner T. Sean Shannon has written for Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show & In Living Color. He is one of my oldest & best friends in comedy since the day I met him at Yankee stadium when we smoked a joint together in the upper deck. He is the pride of Houston, Texas and will enrich your life with wisdom & laughter!

Become a member and support us on Patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Use our Amazon link (banner on tomrhodes.net) when you shop!

Please fill in the shortest survey ever so we get to know you!

http://survey.libsyn.com/trr

Jon Stringer is a lovable human and a top quality comedian!

When I was young many older comedians I admired helped me up along the way and I'll never forget them for that because their endorsements opened doors for me that allowed me to thrive in a very competitive business.

In the pay it forward tradition I want the comedy world and the regular human world to know about Jon Stringer. I met Jon in his hometown of Austin, Texas several years ago and have worked with him many times since and he always leaves me feeling uplifted and proud to be a member of the human race because of his joyous bitter free spirit. His attitude towards stand up comedy is one that embraces the gift of being able to do this and that we have the privilege to hone our skill of trying to get better at it each and every day that we are alive. He is the exact opposite of the bitter turd comedian who is miserable and takes cheap shots at other humans. Jon's approach to comedy is the same that he approaches in life and that is that we are here to uplift humanity and that is why I enjoy being his friend so much and why I love to see him perform. 

With his lovely wife Joanna they are burning up the American highways living an adventure that few people ever get to experience. It reminds me of the days Ashna and I had no home and traveled every inch of America in search of jokes, art, photography and laughter. 

He is someone I am proud to call a friend, someone comedy lovers should follow, someone festivals and comedy clubs should have on their rosters, someone who is valuable in the art of making life a happy experience for all and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Jon Stringer!

In this episode @ashnarodjan & I talk about this excellent new book I just finished reading called 'The Mysterion' by Kabir Helminski which is about Rumi and the secrets of becoming fully human.

This book teaches you how to block out all of the negativity in the world & plug into the outlet of cosmic love. I fall short of this way of being all the time but this is a damn good book for reminding you how to live and view the world with the loving heart of the Sufi mystic poet Rumi.

We also talk about the release of my third clean album of clean comedy "King of HA HA'.
In this conversation you will learn about the best things I learned from Mitch Hedberg & Bill Hicks, plus the big plans I have cooking with Tom Segura.

Hooray for humanity!

We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.

Connect!

Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp

More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes

More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan

Watch the video!

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha  

** Video version **

If you'd like to watch the video version of the episode on YouTube.com/kingofhaha, please do us a favor by subscribing to the audio podcast on Spotify / Apple, etc. first! The podcast is a labor of love, and your audio subscription and downloads, or direct support on Patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp, provide us with the incentive to pull together and record on a weekly basis beyond our busy schedules. Thanks for being part of the Rhodesies Team!

** About Smart Camp Podcast **

Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures.

We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!

Tom

I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.

Ashna

Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

This episode was recorded in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Rhys Nicholson is a star waiting to happen. He is visually captivating with his flaming orange read hair, thick black glasses, high cheek bones, chiseled jawline with powdered make up and his smart style of dress. 

His comedy is frank, up front, straight forward, unabashed and unapologetic even when he talks about the details of his sex life. In his own words he told his Grandmother "Being gay is not all anal sex and dancing." He can be unsettlingly graphic on stage at times for normal puritan audience members but he always makes me laugh and it is his sincerity on stage that is my favorite thing about his style of comedy.

I first met Rhys 5 years ago when we were performing together at the Comedy Store in Sydney, Australia. Back then you could see that he was destined to do great things as a comedian and it is enjoyable to me, someone who is cheering him on, to see the development he has had and where he is as a performer today.

This being his 4th Edinburgh Fringe festival he has more experience than me in some areas. I love him as a friend, a comedian and as someone I always easily have great conversations with. In this conversation we talk about the power of the pink dollar, how in Edinburgh people value stories above all else, the unnerving feeling of performing when children are in the audience, his hand made bow ties, his fondness for Argentinians and lamas. 

He is the Priscilla Queen of the desert of stand up comedy. He was born to be in show business and his side comments to himself are gems of performers inside jokes that anyone would laugh at feeling a part of the club. His Australian accent, personal style and self referencing humor subliminally encourages everyone to embrace their uniqueness and fabulousness just by sheer example of his being. He has many brilliant years ahead of him as a performer and I am one of his fans and friend that will be cheering him on all the way. 

It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Rhys Nicholson!

Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners

Stand-up clip from YouTube: Rhys Nicholson - ABC2 Comedy Up Late 2014 (E7)

End song: Jim White– Hey! You Going My Way???

Recorded at our big wooden kitchen table of our lovely Edinburgh Festival apartment – Edinburgh, Scotland August 2014

Check out this video HumorTV filmed on Tom’s Edinburgh experience with Rhys: (Part 1) http://humortv.vara.nl/p.346081.the-edinburgh-fringe-a-trip-to-comedy-lane-i.html & (Part 2) http://humortv.vara.nl/nieuws.7141.the-edinburgh-fringe-a-trip-to-comedy-lane.html

Tony Woods is not only one of the most influential comedians ever to grip a microphone he is also one of the most naturally funny human beings you will ever meet in you in your life. This episode needs to other introduction other than in my opinion statues should be erected all over the world to Tony Woods for the amount of laughter he has brought to this suffering globe. No one makes me laugh harder than Tony Woods and he rings my bell multiple times in this conversation.

Tom sits down with his best friend - host and comedian Lou Angelwolf. They reminisce on starting out in Florida with comics like Brian Regan and Ron Bennington, and reflect on decades of love and laughter.  

Tom continues his conversation with musician Tom Rhodes. 

Judah Friedlander is the world champion! He is also an old friend of mine and he has a brand new book called If The Raindrops United. He is also an intelligent conversationalist and the stuff we pack into this chat will bust your brains out. That is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Judah Friedlander!

From childhood memories to societal gender norms, Tom & Ashna explore the influence of the 60s TV show, "I Dream of Jeannie," and how iconic toys like Barbie dolls and G.I. Joe figures have evolved to better reflect society's diversity.

We also reminisce about their own experiences with toys and creative outlets, emphasizing the value of gratitude and cherishing happy moments. Inspired by one friend's brilliant idea, they introduce the concept of a "jar of special moments" to foster gratitude and happiness.

Throughout the episode, we'll offer genuine insights and reflections, from heartfelt anecdotes to philosophical musings. Always ways for you to cheer up!!!

Hooray for humanity!

We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.

Connect!

Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp

More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes

More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan

Watch the video!

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha  

** Video version **

If you'd like to watch the video version of the episode on YouTube.com/kingofhaha, please do us a favor by subscribing to the audio podcast on Spotify / Apple, etc. first! The podcast is a labor of love, and your audio subscription and downloads, or direct support on Patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp, provide us with the incentive to pull together and record on a weekly basis beyond our busy schedules. Thanks for being part of the Rhodesies Team!

** About Smart Camp Podcast **

Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures.

We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!

Tom

I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.

Ashna

Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

Tony Hinchcliffe grew up in an all black neighborhood in Youngstown, Ohio and it gave him an unshakable confidence that they don't teach you in private schools.

Growing up near real life super hero Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini gave him the world view of an unbreakable bad ass and he is determined to walk the razor's edge of speaking truth in comedy.

We talk about the poor ratty whites who will regret eight years of Trump if the still end up being losers during the white nationalist roar that the Trump presidency is. We talk about the trick of American society being that we chatter about race when we should be paying more attention to class and inequality. Now that our country has been sold out to the Russians we might be seeing those round pointy things that you see on the Kremlin on our white house to accommodate the real master of that domain.

Doing dark and twisted humor is now a crusade because everyone is so touchy about everything. Tony is committed to the big dick rock & roll approach to comedy and he reminds me that the "cancel generation" doesn't buy tickets to comedy shows.

As the earth spins out of control with hate, stupidity and cruelty it has never been a better time to be Tony Hinchcliffe, with his 'Kill Tony' podcast crushing the charts and him selling enough tickets to keep calling the shots. His comedy is fearless and he always slices out the heart with a hard edge and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now Tony Hinchcliffe!

patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

Welcome to another episode of the "Tom Rhodes Smart Camp" podcast! Join us for an episode packed with laughter, wisdom, and historical intrigue as Tom Rhodes and Jesse Joyce take you on a deep dive into the realms of comedy, the challenges faced by writers, Jesse's new book, and the rich tapestry of 19th-century history. 

Jesse Joyce is an American stand-up comedian, Emmy Nominated and WGA Award winning writer.

In this episode:

• Dive into the recent controversy surrounding comedian Hasan Minhaj, exploring the intricacies of comedy and its relationship with truth.
• Discover the heartwarming and insightful friendship between Jesse Joyce and the late comedian Greg Giraldo, offering a unique glimpse into the world of comedy.
• Join Tom on a personal journey as he reflects on his decision to embark on a nine-and-a-half-year journey of sobriety, sharing heartfelt stories and wisdom along the way.
• Listen as Jesse Joyce opens up about his personal struggle with sobriety, recounting the pivotal moment that led to his life-altering decision to get sober.
• Gain a firsthand perspective on the impact of the ongoing writer's strike from Jesse's vantage point as the sole provider for his family, shedding light on the challenges faced by creative professionals.
• Explore the fascinating world of historical comedy as Jesse discusses his book, "Killing the Guys Who Killed the Guy Who Killed Lincoln (A Nutty Story about Edwin Booth and Boston Corbet)," offering a glimpse into the meticulous research and humor that brings the 19th century to life.
• Embark on a journey through time as Tom and Jesse delve into their shared passion for the 19th century, discussing the quirks, oddities, and historical events that defined this captivating era.
• Uncover the fascinating story of John Wilkes Booth and his less famous yet heroic brother, Edwin Booth, whose actions once saved Abraham Lincoln's son.

Hooray for humanity!

We're dropping new episodes every Thursday-ish.

Connect!

Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp

More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes

More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan

Watch the video!

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kingofhaha  

** Video version **

If you'd like to watch the video version of the episode on YouTube.com/kingofhaha, please do us a favor by subscribing to the audio podcast on Spotify / Apple, etc. first! The podcast is a labor of love, and your audio subscription and downloads, or direct support on Patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp, provide us with the incentive to pull together and record on a weekly basis beyond our busy schedules. Thanks for being part of the Rhodesies Team!

** About the Podcast **

Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures.

We share a joke premise weekly, along with stories or what's on our radar, the book of the week, the movie/doc of the week, song of the week, and Good News. Or we have a guest!

Tom

I have been a comedian for more than 39 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. I've had my share of experiences, from almost drowning in Thailand to getting maced in Paris, and I had my own sitcom on Comedy Central and a Late Night Talkshow in the Netherlands. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.

Ashna

Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife, isn't just my best friend; she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and all things art, Ashna enriches our conversations, all while bringing a unique European perspective.

Steve Hughes is a comedy legend. He has sliced and diced up some of the best stages that the world comedy circuit has to offer. I've worked with Steve many times, I was even working with him on the night that I met Ashna.

Tom sits down with one of the South's most talented and promising rising stars of comedy, Matt Davis. They discuss the joys and horrors of southern audiences and succeeding in the often brutal circuit. 

http://www.daviscomedy.com/

In this episode of Tom Rhodes Smart Camp, Tom welcomes a special guest—his mother Sara, who is visiting him in LA. It's the once-a-month Smart Books & Movies episode, and they're diving into the lives and legacies of Aretha Franklin and Arnold Schwarzenegger through the lens of literature and documentary.

Starting with Aretha Franklin, Tom recounts his deep appreciation for her music and the impact it has had on him throughout his life. Despite facing challenges, including coming out of a period of depression, Tom finds renewed purpose in his podcast and shares insights into Franklin's struggles and triumphs. He discusses the powerful influence of Franklin's music, touching on her overcoming hardships and drawing strength from her songs.

The conversation shifts to a biography of Franklin, which Tom finds compelling until it delves into her life post-1980s, where his interest wanes. However, the early years of Franklin's career, her groundbreaking albums, and her undeniable talent in transforming the song "Respect" captivate Tom and his mother. They explore Franklin's relationship with her family, her contributions to the civil rights movement, and her encounters with prominent figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Oprah Winfrey.

Tom and his mother also discuss another cultural icon, Arnold Schwarzenegger, through a documentary on Netflix. They admire Schwarzenegger's determination, his journey from Austria to becoming a bodybuilding champion, and his successful transition into acting and politics. The documentary highlights Schwarzenegger's ability to overcome adversity, his impact on environmental policy as the Governor of California, and his personal growth, including acknowledging a child from an extramarital affair.

This episode serves as a rich tapestry of stories about resilience, creativity, and the pursuit of greatness against all odds. Tom and Sara's discussions reflect a deep appreciation for the arts, the complexities of human experiences, and the lessons that can be learned from the lives of those who have left a lasting mark on the world.

Listen to the audio version!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Qyybimu7PbTNWy9Hh4Xjk

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tom-rhodes-smart-camp/id426881872

Connect!

Be part of the Rhodesies team and get goodies: https://patreon.com/tomrhodessmartcamp

More Tom  https://www.instagram.com/_TomRhodes

More Ashna https://www.instagram.com/ashnarodjan

About Smart Camp podcast

Tom Rhodes Smart Camp is a festival of ideas, knowledge, stories, books & adventures.

Join us for Smart Ramble (Tom talks freely), Smart Talk (Tom has a guest), Smart Bestie (Tom & best friend Ashna Rodjan), Smart Books & Movies (Review on Books & Movies).

Tom

I have been a comedian for more than 40 years. I travel the world, performing comedy. Exploring diverse cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life while doing comedy is at the heart of my journey. Whenever I can, I'll share my adventures and a global perspective with you on this podcast.

Ashna

Ashna, Dutch artist, photographer, and my ex-wife,is my best friend and she's an essential part of the Rhodesies production team. We've traveled the world together for 8 years. With her background in cognitive psychology and her passion for philosophy and the arts, Ashna shares her unique European perspective.

This episode was recorded in Venice Beach, CA

I met Louis Katz in December 2013 when we were both filming Dave Attell's Comedy Underground for Comedy Central in New York City. 

I was impressed with his punching power and how offbeat his topics were. 

Like a freight train out of nowhere this peaceful looking guy was coming out with dark twisted melodramatic heroic tales in his joke premises and I found it as refreshing as some people do with watching sunsets with cold Pacific winds.

Louis was raised in Los Angeles, started doing comedy in San Francisco and now lives in New York. I have bumped into him several times in the past year and fate kept pushing us together to sit down and record this conversation. 

I think it is perfect to release this now during the harshest point of dark winter because this was one of my most sunny happy moments of last summer.

I was staying at a friend of mine's beach house just one block away from the ocean. It was a brilliantly sunny day sitting on lawn chairs underneath a large umbrella canopy. I had been there all week amazed at the silence and how you could hear the roar of the Pacific ocean's waves crashing in the distance. 

Of course while we recorded this chat LA police helicopter circled overhead several times and at one point a neighbor dog starts barking mad.

It is an audio taste of real life Los Angeles in the background of a conversation loaded with life's greatest wisdom... Where to get the best pastrami on rye sandwich in LA, Langers. How San Francisco is the Jerusalem of stand up comedy and how your act should be a dialogue and not a monologue.

And how the answer to it all is big brown bulbous ass! 

He is one of the most refreshingly dark and twisted comedians I have met in many years and if I am anywhere near when this man is introduced I while be in the back of the room hotly anticipating what will come out of his mouth next.

It is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Louis Katz!

Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners

YouTube clip 1: All in the family England is a fag country!

Stand-up clip from YouTube 2: Louis Katz stand up on HBO's "Down n' Dirty with Jim Norton"

End song: Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand –Primitive Radio GodsRecorded in Venice Beach, California. March 2014

This episode was recorded in London.

I first met Joseph Wilson when I performed at the Comedy Cafe in London in 2013.

We hit if off instantly and unbeknownst to me he became a avid listener of my podcast. I found out he was listening to my podcast 6 months later when he was on vacation in Peru and sent me a video he filmed at the top of Machu Pichu where he recreated and slightly mocked the opening of my podcast where I list all the fabulous places in the world I am going to take the listener. I thought the video was funny and I was very flattered he filmed it in my honor. 

This year when I got to London I got to hang out with Joseph a lot and get to know him better and today consider him a good friend. He is well dressed, has a theatrical personality, is an animated story teller and he is fun to be around. He currently holds the distinction of being the only comedian to appear on my podcast whose act I have not seen. 

Even though I have stopped drinking I had a great time going out in London with him and discovering new watering holes in the Soho district that he took me to. For me personally any British person who wears top quality embroidered cowboy shirts with sincerity is a diamond geezer in my book. 

There are many reasons to love Joseph Wilson, first and foremost is the ease and comfort he can blast out hard core funny in a laid back conversation. It is my pleasure to present to you now, the one and only Joseph Wilson.

John Fugelsang combines intelligence and compassion in everything he does. 

This episode was recorded in New York City.

What kind of music does Tom like? On this episode a selection of his vinyl > My amazing wife Ashna has booked an acting job portraying the historic powerhouse and badass woman Sojourner Truth. She is in the next room running her lines and I am left alone with my vinyl record collection to play some of my favorite cosmic slices. Ashna is kind enough to share her speech in front of the microphone at one point for the scene she will film tomorrow. For anyone keeping track of what I played on this episode, the running order of the artists appearing here are:

When is enough, enough? How many times can you go to the Great Wall of China or to Wrigley Field in one lifetime? How much dirty filthy shit can a country tolerate from their president? How much time away can the wife of a comedian put up with? These any many other big questions are presented as I ponder the cross roads I am at in my life now. Shall I continue traveling the world at the detriment of what it is doing to my marriage? Shall I give up smoking weed and be 100% sober since the weed I fell in love with no longer exists? I say it often but, every warrior eventually needs to move on to wise man. Certain things I will never stop doing, like performing stand up comedy. Making jokes against bullies and totalitarian psychopath presidents is my biological function in life. Dehumanizing anyone ever by a thought from my brain is never my intention. Snowflakes need to stay flakey together. I am away from home far from the one true love of my life. I need a friend. James Hatfield thinks I'm funny. Everyone is beautiful when they laugh. I've seen more teeth than a dentist. I'm off to Wrigley Field to rejoice in something I will never get tired of and that is watching the Cubs play at home while thinking of John Dillinger and Eddie Vedder.

* Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

* Sign up for a conversation with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp

* Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter www.tomrhodes.net

This episode was recorded in Kuala Lumpur.

Jonathan Atherton built the comedy scene in Singapore and now he just opened the first full time comedy club in Kuala Lumpur called The Crack House.

When he first appeared on my podcast one year ago I got a tremendous response from people saying that thought he was the most interesting man in the world.

His stories about selling shoes to prostitutes in Kenya and smuggling gas into Uganda captivated me and anyone else who heard them. Now he has lived in Malaysia for one year and has just launched the Crack House comedy club.

If this podcast had a bigger budget I would have dropped confetti on his head. 

In this episode we talk about the disappearance of the Malaysian airlines plane,

how he is not afraid to go off and party with angry Nigerians all night,

the sad and untimely death of Vernon Lewis "Life is too short to die with bitterness in your heart." How Malaysian police are the best police money can buy, the crude humor that Australians are born with and how we could all learn from an ancient Hindu ritual and suffer more to psychologically elevate yourself of guilt.

He is a man that I respect and admire because he forges much darkness with the light of laughter. Get yourself another big portion of the one and only Jonathan Atherton.

Uncle Bob is dead.