No Suggestion: An Improv Comedy Talk Show

This week on @NoSuggestionPod we have a rare treat, a one-on-one hang with my friend, classically trained actor, professor, member of the legendary Astronomy Club (@astronomyclubcomedy), Bay area native, and comedian, Shawtane Bowen (@champagnetaneinc). Shawtane and I have a beautiful hang for an hour and chat about everything from Phil Jackson, to Sauce Walka, to lone wolves, to The Last Dragon. We check in with one another, and do what we do best, which is dial in on some real talk.

We also do a lot of ridiculous improv scenes, including scene about a...

@NoSuggestionPod presents a new improv comedy series: The World Series! There’s a wide world outside of comedy, a world full of people with interesting careers, experiences, and philosophies, that have nothing to do with the world of comedy. Listen to the No Suggestion family ruthlessly mine those worlds for comedy!

This week we get to hang with my long-time pal, poet, writer, publisher, entrepreneur, Long Islander, and karaoke enthusiast, Sarah Osit (@funny_boness). Co-host Aston Hollins (@astonhollins), and guest co-host Tom Achillies (@tomachilles), and myself really learn a lot getting to know Sarah. We c...

Another @NoSuggestionPod episode with me extemporizing to myself, and to you, doing solo improv scenes based on my monologuing. I talk about the Knicks in the finals, whether or not I should leave New York, dating and being hard on myself, and more.

I am starting to get into the groove of these solo episodes. I'm starting to really dig deep and bare my soul. And these solo improv scenes are actually pretty funny and revealing, particularly a scene where we peek in on a lone hiker who's stumbled across a bear in the...

We're privileged to be joined on @NoSuggestionPod this week by brilliant actor, voice actor, playwright, professor, cartoonist, Story Pirate, character/sketch/improv comedian, Alessandro King (@alessandromking)!

Co-host Aston Hollins (@astonhollins) and Alessandro were classmates at Sarah Lawrence College who haven't seen each other in a while, so there's a lot to catch up on. We get to chat with Alessandro about the difference between New Zealand and Australia, legendary Sarah Lawrence comedy group, The Lampoon, the beloved Story Pirates podcast (@storypirates) Alessandro is often featured on, how Alessandro's writing changes when he is doing...

"... It's not the same as having your own business, cuz your own business is like putting your entire heart and soul into it."

@nosuggestionpod presents a new improv comedy series: The World Series!

There’s a wide world outside of comedy, a world full of people with interesting careers, experiences, and philosophies, that have nothing to do with the world of comedy. 

Listen to the No Suggestion family ruthlessly mine those worlds for comedy!

This subject of this World Series episode is my long-time friend, Bro...

After almost four years of doing @NoSuggestionPod, we've reached an important milestone: I finally got to have actor, writer, podcaster, teacher, stand-up comic, and my favorite improvisor of all-time, Kurt Braunohler (⁠@kurtbraunohler⁠), on the show!

Co-host Aston Hollins (⁠@astonhollins⁠), and guest co-host Xavier Pearson, and I were honored to hang with Kurt for an hour. We got to chat with Kurt about what it's like to be back in NYC after 13 years in LA, about hosting the show Hot Tub with his friend Kristen Schaal for 20 straight years, his comedy philosophy, improv notes from Jason Ma...

Welcome to our second installment of @NoSuggestionPod Presents: The World Series! There’s a wide world outside of comedy, a world full of people with interesting careers, experiences, and philosophies, that have nothing to do with the world of comedy. Listen to the No Suggestion family ruthlessly mine those worlds for comedy!

This week our guest is hip-hop podcaster, brand ambassador for cannabis company Viola (@viola), and community builder, Trap Bradshaw (@trap_bradshaw_gtkprs). Trap and I actually are meeting in person for the firs time on this episode after I've spent nearly four ye...

So thrilled and giddy to have my old comrade, actor, musician, entrepreneur, show producer, music producer, podcast producer, engineer, and improv comedian, and North Coast-er, Doug Widick (@douglaswidick) on @NoSuggestionPod this week.

Co-host Aston Hollins (@astonhollins), and guest co-host Boris Khaykin (@theborisk), and I, have such a fun time gabbing with Dougie about all kinds of stuff, from loofah etiquette, Adam Sandler, to Doug's early improv influences I Eat Panda's and Baby Wants Candy, to the formation of North Coast hip-hop improv team (@northcoastnyc), to entrepreneurship, and much much more.

This is another @NoSuggestionPod episode of one-person improv scenes inspired by a deranged monologue to myself. This episode I talk about my great great grandmother who died at 109, the kind of women I can date, the ethics of power, braving winter, how to make improv of use, The Bourne Identity, and more.

I get into a bunch of solo improv scenes, including a scene where we find a college youth's grieving the passing of a girlfriend.

Tried this experiment for the first time a month ago, and this time...

A pleasure to be joined on @NoSuggestionPod this week by one of my oldest and dearest friends, actor, filmmaker, activist, teacher at Brooklyn Comedy Collective (@comedybrooklyn), and New York's quintessential clown, Jeff Seal (@jeffoseal).

Co-host Aston Hollins (@old2beginopenmic), and I, have such a good time catching up with our good friend Jeff as we chat about how the fateful day Jeff and I met, the history of clown prince Bill Irwin, whether or not Jeff should have done the UCB, stand-up being the hardest of all comedy, the harrowing process of editing the...

So blessed on this unruly, unhinged, and beautiful episode of @NoSuggestionPod to hang with actor, rapper, songwriter, producer, Brooklyn native, and improv comedian, Steve Jeanty (@yojeanty), as well his beatboxing collaborator, the great Exacto (@exactobbx).

Guest co-host David Rey Martinez (@davidreymartinez), and I, go on a breathless romp of a conversation with these two, covering everything from everyone in New York thinking they are special, dialects in improv, Steve being raised in Long Island, his college going bankrupt, the one thing that makes his dad laugh, and we hear beautiful love stories from both...

@NoSuggestionPod @nosuggestionpod presents a new improv comedy series: The World Series! There’s a wide world outside of comedy, a world full of people with interesting careers, experiences, and philosophies, that have nothing to do with the world of comedy. Listen to the No Suggestion family ruthlessly mine those lives for comedy!

This week co-host Aston Hollins (@astonhollins), and guest co-hosts Ben Jones (@bennyjones52), and Hannah Marias (@hannah_marias), join us as we learn about the fascinating life of scientist, researcher, Pacific Northwesterner, and free-spirit, Galatea Swart.

We talk to G...

An incredible treat for @NoSuggestionPod this week to welcome actor, screenwriter, filmmaker, producer, and improv comedian, Sebastian Martinez (@smartinez.mov)! Guest co-hosts Kristen Gonzalez (@krisaygon), and our old friend, Murph Baker (@murphbaker), join us to get to know the fiery furnace of ambition and joy that Sebastian is. We chat about Theater: An Improvised Play (@improvised.theatre), the show Sebastian created at UCB (@ucbtny), film school, the last play Sebastian and Murph cried at, day jobs, the cool work place his parents met at, Sebastian's connection to the movie and TV show Fame, being a lowkey child celebrity, Donald...

What a lovely hang getting to know actor, comedy writer, husband, father, Queens native, and improv comedian, Miguel Fernandez (@miguelfromqueens) on @NoSuggestionPod this week! Aston Hollins (@astonhollins) and I have such a great time chatting with Miguel this week about the adventures of his friend Baby G, attending St. John's University with J. Cole, Unsolved Mysteries, his sketch group Los Esketchis (@losesketchis), and hearing the epic story of how Miguel met his wife!

We also get into a bunch of improv scenes, including a scene about food vendors trying to learn to get along...

Join us on @NoSuggestionPod this week for this delightful time getting to know actor, writer, cartoonist, children's entertainer, former camp counselor, maker-of-carols, and improv comedian, Katie Brookoff (@katiebcartoons). Co-host Aston Hollins (@astonhollins) and I really enjoyed getting to know Katie and chatting about everything from being a children's entertainer, to how Katie ended up studying screenwriting at AFI, to Gary Larsen's Far Side, to Elvis, to arts and crafts, and much more more.

We also find beautifully goofy and silly improv scenes in this hour including scene about school bus driver trying to rally...

This is a solo episode of @NoSuggestionPod. It's never happened before. I talk about Donald Glover, and @BrandedSilk, and hip-hop vs Rock & Roll, and Phillipe Gaulier and acting. There is improv.

I'm glad I did this, but it also hurt to do. I gave it my all. Please support me.

You can learn more about Ralf, his comedy, his music (as Precious Gorgeous), his acting, his teaching, this podcast, find full episodes of this podcast, and more at preciousgorgeous.com!

No Suggestion: An Improv...

So excited and honored to have someone as accomplished as storyteller, singer-songwriter, improvisor, psychotherapist, entrepreneur, teacher, and improv comedian, Jude Treder-Wolff (@lifestage_inc) on @NoSuggestionPod this week! Guest co-host Aaron Linker (@alinklink), and I, spend a breathless hour with Jude in RFB studios racing through her incredible journey, including how she got to New York from the midwest, what music therapy is, how Jude got involved with storytelling and improv, being one of eight kids, what applied improv is, the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, and much more!

Honestly an hour wasn't enough, Jude...

We've been trying for a long time to snag this guest, and @NoSuggestionPod is so thrilled to have actor, teacher, solo performance artist, and improv comedian, Jenny Bareilles (@jenniferbareilles) on the show this week! Co-host Aston Hollins (@astonhollins) and I have a blast learning about that Jenny has a famous sister, how she's built her living in NYC over the years, why New York is F'd up, we learn about her upbringing in Eureka California, her new found fascination with archery, and much more.

It was also such a pleasure to get to do...

What a cheeky and scampish hang we had with our super fun guest, actor, military brat, high school debate team-member, and stand-up and improv comedian, Marcie Maier (@marcietalkshappy), on @nosuggestionpod this week. Guest co-host Kristen Gonzalez (@krisaygon), and I, had so much fun getting to know Marcie. We chatted with her about J Cole, John Mayer, moving to NYC from North Carolina, starting stand-up in Chapel Hill, hiding belts, her college mission to overcome her fear of public speaking, we do dating exposure therapy, and much more!

This episode also is fully of some...

Thrilled to do another edition a series we started in the summer, 6S: Some Suggestions Sometimes Summer School Series, even though it's now the dead of winter and we're all snowed-in. Each week this past summer, on @NoSuggestionPod, we'd have on a performer, usually a comedian, with very little long-form improv experience. Me, and a few of past No Suggestion guests, all seasoned improv comedians, will give that guest a private improv class live on the show.

Revisiting this series we brought on NYC stand-up comedian, actor, the lovely Kendall Davis (@hahakendalldavis). Me, co-host...

Was so fun getting to hang with actor, musician, tenor, southern boy, newlywed, and improv comedian, Levi Penley (@levi.p.smiley⁠) on @nosuggestionpod. Co-host Aston Hollins (@astonhollins), and I, whip through this hour with a breathless conversation with Levi where we talk about dating banter, Love Island, growing up in Arizona vs Georgia, theater people vs church people, and much more.

We have some exceptionally lively and hilarious improv scenes this week, including a wonderful scene where we discover two UK chaps enjoying their local pub and pondering their mortality. Levi was such a jo...

This was a special episode of @nosuggestionpod we got to hear stirring story of a wide-eyed young man coming of age, the story of our guest, teacher, history buff, actor, and improv comedian, Greg Wilker (@gregwilker5). Co-host Christopher Morucci (@christophermorucci), and I, really enjoyed getting to know Greg, who was spoke with candor, generosity, and wit, as he's reflected on his journey so far. Greg shares his story of coming to New York after graduating college to pursue love, the fascinating University where he studied , how he found his way to comedy, the early days of the Magnet theater...

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome to our first episode of @nosuggestionpod for 2026! There's no better way to start the year than to hang for an hour with veteran actor, teacher, and improv comedian, Jamie Rivera (@mr_jamriv)! We're so lucky to be joined again by guest co-host Shawn Wickens, who was on a legendary Magnet Theater (@magnettheater) improv team called Junior Varsity with Jamie for 10+ years. This episode is such a treat as we learn all the lore of Jamie's deep improv roots, from Chicago, to New Jersey, to New York, the mystery of Matawan and Aberdeen, the truth of...

Thank you for joining us for our last episode of @nosuggestionpod for the year! And it was such a treat to invite up to Radio Free Brooklyn studios our new friend, actor, writer, jazz musician, midwesterner, and comedian, Estar Cohen (@estarcohen)! Guest co-host Shawn Wickens (@timetravelingstoned) and I take a journey this week through the fantastical corridors of Estar's mind to glimpse into their insights on things like the midwest, cooking, math, and the Detroit comedy scene.

The real treat this week, however, is the insane number of hilarious improv scenes we've packed into...

Christmas has arrived early at @nosuggestionpod, this week because we.ve been given the gift of welcoming actor, professor, sketch writer, Bay area native, Harvard alumni, star of Netflix's Astronomy Club, and improv comedian, Shawtane Bowen (@champagnetaneinc). Co-host Aston Hollins (@astonhollins), and I, were delighted to spend some time catching up with our old pal, Shawtane, and chat with him about Gen X, Grace Jones, growing pains at the old UCB, the storied rise of Astronomy Club (@astronomyclubcomedy), Ethan Hawke, and much more!

We also get the privilege to do some improv with Shawtane...

A chill hang this week on @NoSuggestionPod with actor, advertising guy, Delawarian, and improv comedian, Brad Engle (@brad.engle). Co-host Christopher Morucci (@christophermorucci), and I, were so taken by Brad's thoughtful, earnest enthusiasm as we chatted about everything from trust in improv, to reenacting 911 calls, to Disney parks, to spirituality, to growing up in Delaware.

We also get some bananas improv scenes in this week, including a hilarious scene on a commuter train from Philly to New York. We laughed a lot, and really dug deep in this convo. We had a great time...

I can't tell you what a treat it was to have our guest, actor, writer, Brooklyn native, first born child, rap and improv comedian, Kristen Gonzales (@krisaygon), on @NoSuggestionPod with us this week. I was so stunned to learn how much Kristen and I had in common as co-host, Aston Hollins (@astonhollins) and I got to chat with her about Neville Goddard numbers, hypebeasts, mythical animals, the late-night PIT (@thepitnyc) improv jams back in the day, loving Chris Farley and John Leguizamo, how the Drama Book Shop (@dramabookshop) used to be above a strip club, and much more!

So giddy to bring this episode of @nosuggestionpod to you all featuring my old teammate, actor, rapper, educator, improv and sketch comedian, RJ Williams (@rjron.williams). RJ and I were on North Coast together a few years, and RJ remains one of my favorite improvisors, and favorite people in NYC. Co-host Christopher Morucci (@christophermorucci) and I had such a blast hanging with him this week and chatting about everything from bedtimes, to Edinburgh Fringe, to Baby Wants Candy (@babywantscandy), to popular video game streamers, to much much more!

This episode also has the most...

A rollicking good time hanging, doing improv with, and getting to know educator, visual artist, musician, Minnesotan, actor, and improv comedian, Carl Thompson (@carlltombstone) this week on @nosuggestionpod! Co-host Aston Hollins (@astonhollins) and I have a little party in the studio chatting with Carl about, preschool teaching, the mandolin, the MET, neurodivergence, moving to NY from Seattle in the pandemic, and more! Feels like we barely scratched the surface of all the things we could chat about.

We also did a bunch of super funny improv scenes, including a scene about muggers who get...

I don't know how to describe this episode of @nosuggestionpod. Steph Marc (@stephmarcshow) is a Haitian American comedy entity from Queens, NY who is something of a myth. I don't know how we were able to book him. But me, co-host Christopher Morucci (@christophermorucci), and guest co-host Aaron Linker (@alinklink), have an experience with him for one hour in Radio Free Brooklyn Studios that I cannot begin to describe. It was not something to understand, only to experience. All I can say is we are forever changed.

Just listen to it. The whole thing.<...

Sweet time hanging with actor, writer, producer, host, filmmaker, community college loiterer, stand-up and improv comedian, Paul Pallotta (@simplyapauling) on @NoSuggestionPod this week! Co-host Aston Hollins (@astonhollins) and I loved getting to know Paul this week, chatting about everything from California Raisins, to being kind to one's self, to Paul's parents being high school sweethearts, to living in the future, to wrestlers as artists, and more!

We also got some fun improv scenes in, including a scene where drop in on a motley gang of bank robbers. Paul is fun, playful, ambitious, and easy-going...

What a journey we took on @nosuggestionpod this week with the erudite, and soulful, comedian, actor, musician, linguaphile, Texan, and comedian, Robert Price (@robert0price). Beloved guest co-host, Jake Joseph (@f00lish_b0y), and I went through such a reverie through Robert's cavernous mind for things to talk about, and in there we found treasures like Fibber McGee and Molly radio plays, ravines, Lutheran church hymns, vanishing points, Gandolf, and more.

We also did a did a heap of incredibly silly, and detail rich improv scenes, including a parlay between two dark ages...

We at @NoSuggestionpod have been hoping for so long to snag this guest, and this week we finally got the great and elusive, actor, television writer, Jersey boy, and sketch and improv comedian, Mike Poole (@thisismikepoole) on the show! Co-host Aston Hollins (@astonhollins) and I got to get to learn some of the lore behind Mike on this episode and it was so fun. We chatted about not being a junior, playing lacrosse at a majority black South Jersey high school, loving snarky VH1 shows growing up, improv being the pick up basketball of comedy, writing for The Tonight...

*Note- In the first 60 seconds of the episode we deal with some technical difficulties, please bear with us.*

We had such a good time hanging on @nosuggestionpod this week with the sharp, and thoughtful, actor, director, professor, mixed reality pioneer, and improvisor, Kevin Laibson (@kevinasarobot). Co-host Christopher Morucci (@christophermorucci) and I go deep this episode with Kevin, where he displays his passion and knowledge. We end up talking about theater, comedy, originality, DJ Khaled, being a native New Yorker, VR theater, and more.

Throughout this convo we fall into...

Got a treat this week on @nosuggestionpod hanging with one of co-host Christopher Morucci's (@christophermorucci) childhood friends, actor, musican, filmmaker, native Montanan, and improv comedian, Jacob Godbey (@godbeycreative). We chat with Jacob about his upbringing in Montana among the meth rehab clinics, moving to Fort Collins Colorado to make music with Lo Fi Hum (@lofihohum), how break-ups can affect your output, dating apps, masking anxiety and much more.

We also get some really vivid and cinematic improv scenes in this week, including a scene about two lonely dads trying to become friends. Jacob was...

A blessed time getting to know the charismatic actor, clown, jazz trumpeter, only child, and improvisor, Kento Morita (@kento.nyc) this week on ⁠@nosuggestionpod⁠. Co-host Aston Holins (@astonhollins), and I, had a blast getting squirrelly with Kento, chatting about Happy Days, how Kento got three full time jobs in the pandemic, X-Men, almost failing out of NYU, and ADHD take home tests.

We also do some really wild and funny improv scenes, including a scene where we meet a husband and wife who've developed a philosophical outlook on losing their farm to foreclosure. Kento is s...

What a delight to have Surriya Ahmad (@emergencyimprov) on @NoSuggestionPod this week as we celebrate the return to our classic format! The entire gang has had a blast this summer doing the 6S summer series, teaching improv to comedians with no improv experience, but I've missed our regular shows. This episode is a return to form! Co-host Christopher Morruci (@christophermorucci), and I, have a blast getting to know Surriya! We chat with her about Popeye's vs KFC, her dad being from Pakistan and her mom being from Kentucky where Surriya grew up, coming to New York for medical school...

This week we continue our summer project, 6S: Some Suggestions Sometimes Summer School Series. Each week this summer, on #NoSuggestionPod, we'll have on a performer, usually a comedian, with very little long-form improv experience. Me, and a few of past No Suggestion guests, all seasoned improv comedians, will give that guest a private improv class live on the show.

It's a party this week as a we end our 6S summer series with the fun-loving and sharp-witted actor, stand-up and sketch comedian, choir singer, Detroit-native, and dog-walker, Connor Meade (@connormeadian)! Co-host Christopher Morucci (@christophermorucci...

As we near the closing of summer, I was thrilled to pause our very successful "6S" series for a bit to just have an end-of-summer hang with some of my favorite #NoSuggesstionPod alums. Had a chill, convivial, silly, healing hour hanging with Kristin Kirkley (@captainkirkley), Josh Hurley (@joshhurley), Philip Casale (@phil_casale), and Raquel Palmas (@rockwell826) this week. We chat about everything from the craft beer hustle, to meditation, to Elizabeth Gilbert, to community building.

We also get a lot of really silly, and gorgeous improv in, including a scene about Jesus and his...

This week we continue our summer project, 6S: Some Suggestions Sometimes Summer School Series. Each week this summer, on #NoSuggestionPod, we'll have on a performer, usually a comedian, with very little long-form improv experience. Me, and a few of past No Suggestion guests, all seasoned improv comedians, will give that guest a private improv class live on the show.

So thrilled to have actor, podcaster, show producer, husband, cat-dad, karaoke enthusiast, and one of my favorite comics in town, Casey Jay Salengo (@caseyjsalengo) on the show to take an improv class from us this...