Fake the Nation

523. Competency Kinks (w/Alex Berg and Courtney Kocak)

This week, comedian and host Negin Farsad is joined by journalist Alex Berg and comedian and podcaster Courney Kocak. Together, they discuss the Taylor wedding and what it all really means. In politics, they dissect the boatloads of money Trump has made since he’s been in office and the latest news rollicking Graham Platner’s campaign for Maine Senate. And finally, they ask, should there be new rules for polite conversation?? Follow everyone! Alex Berg - @itsalexberg on all socials + itsalexberg.com [http://itsalexberg.com] Courtney Kocak - @courtneykocak on all socials/Substack  + www.courtneykocak.com/ [https://www.courtneykocak.com/] + New Book: Girl Gone Wild Negin Farsad - @NeginFarsad + See her at The Laughing Tap [https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1059719/negin-farsad-2026-milwaukee-the-laughing-tap-comedy-club] in Milwaukee July 11  If you want to read the article in our third topic about polite convo, you can do that here [https://progressive.org/magazine/politesse-for-modern-politics-farsad-20260506/]. Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review! * Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter [https://twitter.com/NeginFarsad?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] * Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com [fakethenation@headgum.com] Host - Negin Farsad [https://neginfarsad.com/] Producer - Rob Heath [https://www.robheathstudios.com/] Theme Music - Gaby Alter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

522. Negin Gets Abbed (w/Greg Proops & Benari Lee and Mindy Raf & Joseph S. Moore)

This week comedian and host Negin Farsad has delicately preserved two never-before-heard conversations from the vault for your holiday weekend consumption! First up, Greg Proops and Benari Lee talk about optimization and how maybe... it sucks?? And, comedian Mindy Raf and historian Joseph S. Moore deliberate the merits of the Bucket List and whether you should even have one. In other news, Happy July 4th! May your burgers be grilled to perfection.  Follow Everyone! Negin Farsad - See Negin in Milwaukee on July 11 at The Laughing Tapp [https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/41599485/the-muslims-are-comingat-the-laughing-tap-milwaukee-the-laughing-tap-comedy-club]doing The Muslims Are Coming with Equally Threatening Friends!  Joseph S. Moore - on his Substack [https://www.josephmoorebooks.com/] - buy his book How to get Rich in American History [https://bookshop.org/p/books/how-to-get-rich-in-american-history-300-years-of-financial-advice-that-worked-didn-t-joseph-s-moore-phd/e814da023f211e04?ean=9780063464582&next=t&next=t&affiliate=397&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=dsa_nonbrand&utm_content=%7Badgroupname%7D&utm_term=aud-1721779758375:dsa-19959388920&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12440232635&gclid=CjwKCAjwzevPBhBaEiwAplAxvoJtcwPery-ObBd2Ezl_FeBxJ95G1_iAXiM2liNywlGBfASyU9xxIRoCKgsQAvD_BwE] Mindy Raf - IG: @mmmindela [https://www.instagram.com/mmmindela/] TikTok: @mindyraf [https://www.tiktok.com/@mindyraf] - buy her book The Symptoms of My Insanity [https://www.strandbooks.com/the-symptoms-of-my-insanity-9780142422649.html] Benari Lee - @Benarilee [https://www.instagram.com/benarilee/] Watch him live on tour! Greg Proops - @gregproops.bsky.social - @ProopDog on IG - new album Kidding. But Still. [https://www.gregproops.com/blog/] Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review! * Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter [https://twitter.com/NeginFarsad?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] * Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com [fakethenation@headgum.com] Host - Negin Farsad [https://neginfarsad.com/] Producer - Rob Heath [https://www.robheathstudios.com/] Theme Music - Gaby Alter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

521. Yes, New York IS Really Fun Right Now (w/Christian Finnegan and Mohanad Elshieky)

On this week's episode comedian and host Negin Farsad is joined by comedian Mohanad Elshieky and FTN super alum, comedian Christian Finnegan. Trad wives are back in the news because dudes are looking for them in matchmaking services. Canada is fighting back on the poor behavior of the United States government through a robust travel boycott and finally, the youtubers who had an abortion that broke the internet. These three talk about ALL OF IT! Follow Everyone! Negin Farsad @NeginFarsad + Get your tix for Milwaukee on July 11 - The Muslims Are Coming! w/ Equally Threatening Friends! [https://neginfarsad.com/event/the-muslims-are-coming-with-equally-threatening-friends-a-night-of-standup-comedy-2/] Christian Finnegan @ChristFinnegan + the newsletter New Music For Olds [https://newmusicforolds.substack.com/] Mohanad Elshieky @Mohanad.Elshieky + see him on tour www.mohanadelshieky.com/ [http://www.mohanadelshieky.com/] Follow our home studio - P&T Knitwear [https://www.ptknitwear.com/] - because they're also a bookstore!  Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review! * Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter [https://twitter.com/NeginFarsad?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] * Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com [fakethenation@headgum.com] Host - Negin Farsad [https://neginfarsad.com/] Producer - Rob Heath [https://www.robheathstudios.com/] Theme Music - Gaby Alter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

520. New Ways to Feel Less Congested (w/Edy Modica and John T O'Donnel)

On this week's episode, comedian and host Negin Farsad is joined by comedian John F. O'Donnel and comedian Edy Modica. Together, they discuss new data suggesting that iPhones have caused a decline in FERTILITY! Plus, together they groan at Elon Musk's trillionaire status, the UFC fight on the White House Lawn, and the pseudo "deal" to "end" the Iran war. And finally, they talk about the effect of AI on the vaunted college essay. Follow Everyone! Negin Farsad - @NeginFarsad + See her Chattanooga [https://www.thecomedycatch.com/shows/372572] on June 24 or Milwaukee [https://neginfarsad.com/event/the-muslims-are-coming-with-equally-threatening-friends-a-night-of-standup-comedy-2/] on July 11 in The Muslims Are Coming! w/ Equally Threatening Friends!  Edy Modica - @Doodiehole [https://www.instagram.com/doodiehole/?hl=en] + See her special on Veeps.com on June 26! John F. O'Donnell - @JFODLovesYou + See his special [https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=LILH_K-UNy8]  Follow our home studio - P&T Knitwear [https://www.ptknitwear.com/] - because they're also a bookstore! Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review! * Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter [https://twitter.com/NeginFarsad?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] * Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com [fakethenation@headgum.com] Host - Negin Farsad [https://neginfarsad.com/] Producer - Rob Heath [https://www.robheathstudios.com/] Theme Music - Gaby Alter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

519. Stop Engaging with the Zombies (w/Greg Proops and Benari Lee Poulton)

On this week's Fake The Nation, comedian and host Negin Farsad is joined by comedian and Who's Line Is it Anyway all-star, Greg Proops, and comedian/writer, Benari Lee. Together, they discuss coffee sellers getting all up in your protein count. Plus, why is Trump walking out of interviews, what do this week's primaries tell us, and they ask if we're still at war with Iran. Finally, they theorize on 2028 - would Jon Ossoff make a good candidate? Can we handle a female nominee again? So many questions! Follow Everyone! Benari Lee - @Benarilee [https://www.instagram.com/benarilee/] Greg Proops - @gregproops.bsky.social - @ProopDog on IG  Negin Farsad - @NeginFarsad [https://www.instagram.com/neginfarsad/] See Negin in Chattanooga [https://www.thecomedycatch.com/shows/372572] on June 24 Thanks to our sponsor MOSH! Moshlife.com/FakeTheNation [http://moshlife.com/FakeTheNation] Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review! * Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter [https://twitter.com/NeginFarsad?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] * Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com [fakethenation@headgum.com] Host - Negin Farsad [https://neginfarsad.com/] Producer - Rob Heath [https://www.robheathstudios.com/] Theme Music - Gaby Alter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].