Shows / The Funny Muscle Podcast
The Funny Muscle Podcast
Guided by the belief that anyone can learn to become funnier once they understand what to practice, the Funny Muscle Podcast aims to break down how pro comics get their best laughs. Comedian turned author Mike Lukas and cohost Chris Stiffler, an economics professor and open mic-er, use the game plan and concepts outlined in the Funny Muscle Book series to give listeners a better idea of how original (and funny) jokes are crafted.
Episodes
The Funny Muscle PodcastIn the Writers Room at Key and Peele: Chatting with Rich Talarico
I spill my drink, and my friend says, “Ya done messed up Ay-Ay-Ron!” My friend is quoting the viral Key and Peele sketch: The Substitute Teacher. In this…
The Funny Muscle PodcastHow to Get Booked as a New Comedian
In an effort to show how a comedian's brain instantly "blows up" a situation to notice the funny, Chris and Mike practice some improv drills at the beginning…
The Funny Muscle PodcastAdvice from Two Veteran Comedians: Part 2 with Adam Bloom
In part 2 of the conversation with Adam Bloom (@adambloomcomedy) we get deeper into the pedagogical side of comedy and go deeper into Adam’s book: Finding Your…
The Funny Muscle PodcastFinding Your Comic Genius with Adam Bloom
Mike (@mlukas1111) and Chris (@econ_comic) chat with British comedian, writer, and author of “Finding Your Comic Genius: An in-depth guide to the art of…
The Funny Muscle PodcastHandling Hecklers: "Buff your head for a nickel!"
“Buff your head for a nickel!” might not be a heckle you’re likely to get, but it is for Mike Lukas. And he knows how to handle it masterfully. We hear all…
The Funny Muscle PodcastThings I Learned in the First Year of Comedy I Didn't Know at the Start
Fact checking comedy is often a fool's errand. (Well sir, I checked, and the phrase "a bushy bushy blonde hairdo, surfin' USA" does not in fact appear in the…
The Funny Muscle PodcastWarming Up a Cold Crowd
Forty years ago, the emcee of a comedy show would likely have been the most experienced comedian, who didn’t need any help capturing an audience. Today’s…
The Funny Muscle PodcastMistakes a New Comic Makes
You’ve probably envisioned yourself performing in a crowded room, but what about a completely empty one? We get to hear about one of Mike’s successful…
The Funny Muscle Podcast10 Things a New Standup Comic Needs to Do
Does your outfit support your comedic persona? Wait! Have you even developed your unique persona? Do you have a set list? Do your jokes have misdirection? How…
The Funny Muscle PodcastHeightening Bits with Sound Effects and by Overstating the Obvious
What does a golf club sound like being thrown across the course? We learn how Mike (@mlukas1111) made the frustrated golfer come alive with the humor…
The Funny Muscle PodcastExpanding Your Bits with These Devices: Anthropomorphize, Contrast, Cut Back To
Mike (@mlukas1111) and Chris (@econ_comic) talk about 3 more humor heightening devices in this episode: anthropomorphize, contrast, and cut back to. We listen…
The Funny Muscle PodcastBait and Switch, Cut Forward To, Funny Specifics (Deep Dive into Humor Heightening)
In the previous episode Mike threw a bunch of humor heightening devices at Chris’s Plane PDA bit to show how to transform a 20 second joke into a 2-3 minute…
The Funny Muscle PodcastHow to Heighten Your Bits
Mike sees it all the time at open mics: a new comic does a good bit but leaves it under-developed. That 20 second joke could turn into 3 great minutes of…
The Funny Muscle PodcastThe Humor Blueprint
Misdirection is at the heart of getting laughs. That’s one piece of advice often overlooked by fledgling comics. In this episode, Mike (@mlukas1111) teaches…
The Funny Muscle PodcastThe Comedy Lens
Why is understanding your Comedy Lens a critical first step to learning how to do standup comedy? What’s your unique take? What’s your persona? The comedy lens…