Happy Holidays from Jamie Flam and Gatekeeper!

Postcard From Dynasty Typewriter

Postcard From The Hayworth (A Huge Announcement)

Marianne Ways (Booker, Night Train with Wyatt Cenac) and Jamie discuss about how she got her start, what it takes to set up a great show, and what makes a comedian stand out. Plus: Silly and weird!

#47 Marianne Ways (Booker, Producer)

Roy Wood Jr. (Stand up, The Daily Show) and Jamie discuss how to navigate road rooms and coast clubs, the delicate balance between likability and arrogance, and the fallacy of TV credits. Plus: Pineapples &amp; Chili!

#46 Roy Wood Jr (Stand up, Daily Show)

Paul Mecurio

In this recording from Central Park, Paul Mecurio (The Late Show, The Daily Show, Stand up) and Jamie take a look behind the scenes at Late Night with Stephen Colbert, Paul’s path from Wall Street to stand up, and what it takes to be good at audience warm-up. Plus: Knife fight!

#45 Paul Mecurio (The Late Show, Stand up)

Barry Katz

Barry Katz (Louis CK, Dave Chappelle, Tracy Morgan, Jay Mohr) and Jamie discuss some of his favorite live comedy experiences, the ebbs and flows of comedy club dominance, and what it takes to be an absolute killer on stage. Plus: Flamtasia!

#44 Barry Katz (Manager, Producer)

Jamie is on his way to New York, tune in next week to hear his conversation with Barry Katz!

Postcard From Jamie's Couch

Rachel Reynolds

Rachel Reynolds (Producer, Morning Becomes Eclectic, KCRW) and Jamie discuss the art of asking for what you want, how to keep sane when things get crazy, and all the cool perks of booking and producing a tastemaking radio program. Plus: Griffith Park!

#43 Rachel Reynolds (Morning Becomes Eclectic, KCRW)

Baratunde Thurston

Baratunde Thurston (Futurist comedian, writer, cultural critic) and Jamie discuss embracing your creativity, how to create your own job description, and the exciting direction of art and technology. Plus: The Danger Zone!

#42 Baratunde Thurston (The Daily Show)

You don't need to listen to this episode. Season 2 starts next week.

Postcard From Jamie's Comedy Sabbatical

A weekly journey into the world of bookers, producers, decision-makers, and talent about the art of saying yes and no. Plus: other stuff! Hosted by Jamie Flam, Artistic Director of The Hollywood Improv.

Very nice podcast for comedians and everybody else.

Funny

Knowledge is power

Gatekeeper with Jamie Flam

Dana Eagle

Dana Eagle (Stand up, “How To Be Depressed: A Guide”, Last Comic Standing) and Jamie discuss how depression effects creatives, how to leave things unfinished, and the surprising power of cake icing. Plus: A big announcement!

#41 Dana Eagle (Stand up)

Carol Leifer

Carol Leifer (Seinfeld, Saturday Night Live, The Larry Sanders Show) and Jamie discuss how to approach gatekeepers, breaking into the comedy industry, and being the ambassador of your own career. Plus: Trump!

#40 Carol Leifer (Seinfeld, Letterman)

We've got a bunch of great new episodes coming soon!

Postcard From The Depths Of Jamie’s Inner Hell

Ptolemy Slocum

Ptolemy Slocum (Westworld, Nerdist School) and Jamie discuss the advantage of stepping into chaos, the pitfalls of defining yourself by your work, and the benefits of meditation (even if you don’t do it daily). Plus: Smoothie/Juice!

#39 Ptolemy Slocum (Westworld, Nerdist School)

Jim Florentine

Jim Florentine (Stand Up, Louie, Crank Yankers, That Metal Show) and Jamie discuss the seemingly arbitrary intersection between luck and talent, the challenges of performing stand up at a heavy metal concert, and how crank calls can create a comedy career (and how jealousy can destroy it). Plus: Nog!

#37 Jim Florentine (Stand Up, Louie)

Chris Trew

Chris Trew (The New Movement, Air Sex Championships, Hell Yes Fest) and Jamie discuss local independant comedy, the role festivals play in bringing comedy to smaller cities, and how to stay produce. Plus: A special drop in from Lee Keeler (Writer, Producer)!

#36 Chris Trew (The New Movement, Air Sex Championships)

Andrew Steven

Troy Conrad

Beth Appel

Beth Appel (UCB LA), Troy Conrad (Set List), Andrew Steven (The Seeso Seeshow, Gatekeeper), and Jamie discuss the ins and outs of booking a venue, working hard and fighting entitlement, and differences and similarities of clubs, rooms, and theaters. Plus: Seeso!

#35 Beth Appel, Andrew Steven, and Troy Conrad

Margaret Cho

Margaret Cho (Stand up) and Jamie discuss the necessity of taking risks, the changing role of stand up on late night TV, and how to straddle different comedy rooms. Plus: Bing!

#34 Margaret Cho (Stand up)

Alice Wetterlund

Alice Wetterlund (Stand up, People of Earth, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates) and Jamie discuss the road to a late night TV set, comedy as art, and how to use the stage to communicate. Plus: Kid A!

#33 Alice Wetterlund (Stand up, People of Earth)

Rob Bell

Rob Bell (Author, Speaker) and Jamie discuss how to become your own gatekeeper, developing creative habits and disciplines, and how to stay inspired. Plus: Weird British Accents!

#31 Rob Bell (Author, Speaker)

Brittany Everett

Brittany Everett (Earwolf, Hollywood Today Live, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson) and Jamie discuss the craft of talent booking, how to survive in a career with little job security, and the need to always keep doing. Plus: Jamie's SNL Debut!

#30 Brittany Everett (Earwolf)

Brooks Wheelan

Brooks Wheelan (SNL, Stand up) and Jamie discuss his journey to Saturday Night Live, escapism, and how to overcome feeling unfunny. Plus: Dabblers!

#28 Brooks Wheelan (SNL, Stand up)

Eric Blake

Eric Blake (Comic View, Comedy Central Presents) and Jamie discuss Eric’s path from street life to the stage, when you know you’ve found your voice as an artist, and how to weather even the toughest storms in life. Plus: Dog Shoes!

#27 Eric Blake (Comic View, Comedy Central Presents)

Brian Moses

Brian Moses (Roast Battle) and Jamie discuss how to turn a comedy community into a live show, then how to turn that live show into a phenomenon, then how to turn that phenomenon into a TV show. Plus: The Godfather of Soul!

#26 Brian Moses (Roast Battle)

RANDI SIEGEL

Randi Siegel (Jimmy Fallon, Comic Relief, National Lampoon, MoveOn.org) and Jamie discuss knowing when to take opportunities, the value of showing up early, and the business side of comedy. Plus: Horns!

Randi Siegel (Jimmy Fallon, Comic Relief, National Lampoon, <a href="http://MoveOn.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MoveOn.org</a>) and Jamie discuss knowing when to take opportunities, the value of showing up early, and the business side of comedy. Plus: Horns!

#25 Randi Siegel (Manager, Producer)

Josh Sandoval

Josh Sandoval (Producer/Booker) and Jamie discuss their experiences as TV stand-up set vetters at Just For Laughs in Montreal, how to pitch and sell television shows, and why persistence is vital to survival in entertainment.  Plus: Caffeine!

#23 Josh Sandoval (TV Producer)

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Best Episodes on Practical Philosophy & How To Live

The best podcast episodes of anyone with an interesting story. With famous guests like Obama, LeBron James, Drake, Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Michelle Obama, Serena Williams, to anyone who has a unique and interesting story to tell. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!