Ep. 48: John Roberts Jr. & Eleanor Friedberger - Nov. 29, 2016

It’s a rainy night in NYC, only a few weeks after the election and our mood has taken a turn for the “what the hell happened?"  Christian does in fact return to the show after a two month absence.  He brings us stories regarding cologne and Shonali shares her important scientific findings as to why the election turned out the way it did.  Christian and Shonali been longtime fans of both of our Ep. 49 guests!

Our first guest is comedian, John Roberts Jr. who is gay (don’t worry - he’s out) and an Emmy nominated voice actor for the character Linda Belcher on the show "Bob’s Burgers.” But before that, did you see him on YouTube in one of our all time favorite videos The Christmas Tree. We are so happy John is back from the West Coast where he smoked too much pot and now resides only an hour away from NYC with his two cute dogs, Yoko and Iggy. He’s also back to cooking at home with his mom. Love ya for it John! As we head towards our 50th episode in February and our upcoming WDEK All Day Fest on February 18th, we are looking towards sharing more with you about a youth homeless shelter called The Covenant House.

Listen to Alan Weinroth explain in more detail what this organization does for kids in need. Shonali sings the Neil Young song, “Don’t Let It Bring You Down” and she screws up the lyrics a little. Audience member Anthony Cangelosi joins us on stage for #GetItOffYourChest.  We are currently searching for therapy for him.

Our final guest is musician Eleanor Friedberger (solo performer, member of Fiery Furnaces, & Shonali’s fashion icon.) Her hair is the best! She has been on tour for the past year in support of her latest album “New View” - including playing in Tel Aviv on our election day and Rome the day after. Shonali insists it takes a lot of work to be the leader of a touring band.  Fortunately Eleanor now has her own room when she tours. We are excited to hear Eleanor play “Your Word” and “Sweetest Girl” for us.  Til we meet again - next show is January 3rd, 2017 at HiFiNYC. 

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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. 

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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.  

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EP. 43 - Kim Barker, Sasheer Zamata & Holly Miranda - May 31, 2016

We catch up with Christian who auditioned to become a hand model & Shonali who returned from her honeymoon in Peru. Their new segment GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST is now open to audience members.  Please share your rants with us on stage at the next show. We will rap right along with you. Highlights of Ep. 43 include Christian’s first time receiving a mani-pedi and Shonali’s new fluency in Spanish.

WDEK’s first guest is journalist, NY Times reporter and author of the Taliban Shuffle, Kim Barker.  Kim shares her need to write a dark comedy about war after being the bureau chief for the Chicago Tribune in South Asia.  The movie version of her book, became Whiskey Tango Foxtrot starring Tina Fey.  Kim grew up wanting to be a superhero but settled for being a journalist.  Find out about bruised peaches, her 18 points twitter rant and her love of writing New York stories, “a wonderful big awesome corrupt place.” WDEK’s long time sound engineer Stephen Kurpis is leaving but not without giving us his famous secret marinara sauce recipe. One secret - do not use Extra Virgin Olive Oil (see below).  Thank you Stephen.

Comedian, actress and SNL cast member Sasheer Zamata talks duvets with Christian and Shonali. They are hard work.  Our conversation with Sasheer covers SNL, celebrity, Larry Wilmore’s use of the N-word and what it’s like to be confused with other funny black women. Also, watch out for Sasheer’s mom who may very well become one of the newest cast members of SNL.

Our musical guest is Holly Miranda, also a former Tennessean who was given speech therapy to lose her accent when she moved to Detroit.  Holly who has been playing music since she was 16, very poignantly explains she “had a life” when she took five years off between her latest album and her previous one.  We talk Joshua Tree, Ayahuasca, and song writing. Between Christian, Shonali & Holly they have written at least 3 fan letters - find out to whom by listening to this special episode of We Don’t Even Know. What a treat to hear Holly Miranda perform three beautiful songs for us.  We melt.  Please follow us on Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook.  We will meet again on Episode 43!

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We Don't Even Know - Ep. 28 - Todd Barry, Marcellus Hall, Jo Firestone - Nov. 25, 2014 →

Our Thanksgiving episode includes a star studded lineup with the one and only comedian Todd Barry, the talented illustrator and musician Marcellus Hall, and game show expert - the charming comedian Jo Firestone. Thanksgiving begins with going home for the holidays and most of the members of our studio audience did not. Shame on you. Christian and Shonali discuss what is annoying about the holidays.

Special guest comedian Todd Barry joins us for the first time. Just who was Todd in high school and college? Did he get "after it?" You already know that Todd is a very famous comedian, but did you know that he just released a comedy tour film called Crowd Work Tour via LouisCK.net? Purchase it now because it's GREAT. Christian learns the meaning of a new word which truly isn't user friendly.

Marcellus Hall tells us about his recent illustration gig, going on a road trip with an international group of chefs in the Yucatan and illustrating the party. Some guys have all the luck. Marcellus plays two brand new songs for the first time live on We Don't Even Know. Some audiences have all the luck.

Comedian Jo Firestone has a horrible flashback. Have you ever kept a secret? Do you have a 5 year plan! Jo has done both. Jo hosts her own live game show with her dad, Fred Firestone here in NYC. Find out why Jo does not appreciate Gillian Flynn. Listen to Jo's Dr. Gameshow on WFMU on Monday nights. Thanks to everyone who attended the show. We will not be having a show in December. Our next show is in January. We will see you then. In the meanwhile share this link with others and Happy Holidays everyone.

Ep. 28: Todd Barry, Marcellus Hall, Jo Firestone - Nov. 25, 2014