Psst! Did You Hear That!?

Episode 34 - Say Yes To Unhinged Improv Wrestling with MADELAINE & ALEX FIRST COAST COMEDY

Episode 34 - Say Yes To Unhinged Improv Wrestling with MADELAINE & ALEX FIRST COAST COMEDY🎤🤼‍♂️Get ready to tap in! In this episode of Psst! Did You Hear That?, hosts Flo Funny and Imre Mehesz (Emory) sit down with the power couple behind First Coast Comedy, Madelaine and Alex Grindeland. From professional wrestling rings to the improv stage, this conversation is as unhinged and hilarious as you’d expect from Jacksonville's premier improvisers.From AEW Dark to the Comedy Stage 💥Before they were running a comedy empire, Madelaine was making waves in the pro wrestling world. She even wrestled Julia Hart for AEW Dark. She shared a brutal (and visually painful) story about being thrown into metal stairs—and how the adrenaline of the crowd makes you forget the pain until the next morning.Alex had his own "hard knocks" lesson in wrestling, specifically regarding the importance of exhaling during a double powerbomb. He quickly realized that while wrestling is fun, comedy is a lot less dangerous for the ribcage.The Big Win: Madelaine won her first championship in Orlando just a week before finding out she was pregnant with her daughter.The Meeting: Appropriately, the two met at an audition for a wrestling-themed improv show called Glimmer.The Road to First Coast Comedy 🎭The paths that led Madelaine and Alex to comedy are anything but ordinary:Alex’s Origin Story: Alex’s journey started in kindergarten when a learning disability (dyslexia) led him to a specialized fine arts school. Instead of gym class, he had dance class, and by high school, he was competing in improv leagues like a varsity sport.Madelaine’s Life on the Road: Madelaine spent her childhood touring the US in a van with her musician mother, growing up on stages and in coffee shops. She finally turned to improv in 2018 to bring more laughter into her life after a rough breakup.Making the Audience Feel Smart: Full Disclosure 🧠✨One of the highlights of the episode is the discussion of their favorite show format: Full Disclosure.In this show, a comedian tells real-life stories, and the improvisers pull "premises" to bring those stories to life in unexpected ways. Alex explains that the goal isn't just to mimic the story, but to find a hilarious connection—like turning a family dynamic into a scene about gorillas at a zoo—that makes the audience feel smart for catching the link.Socialshttps://firstcoastcomedy.com/https://www.instagram.com/flo.funny/https://IMstandup.com

Episode 33 - Pros and Cons of Crowd Work and Non Whities with SEAN STEELE [EXPLICIT]

Episode 33 - Pros and Cons of Crowd Work and Non Whities with SEAN STEELE [EXPLICIT] This episode Flo Funny and Imre sat down with Jacksonville comedian and producer Sean Steel to discuss the "bombs" and "bonds" of the comedy world. 🎤 The Comedy Journey Sean Steel, who describes himself as the "class comedian" rather than the class clown, started his stand-up journey at an older age after quitting drinking.- The Bucket List: He originally went up just to say he did it but quickly got hooked on the adrenaline.- The Big Bomb: Sean and the hosts agree that "bombing" (failing on stage) is a necessary rite of passage. - Producing Power: Sean is recognized as one of the most prolific producers in Jacksonville, running multiple rooms with a collaborative team including Bill Hubner and Scotty Chi. 🗣️ The Crowd Work Debate The group dives into the controversial "rule" that openers shouldn't do crowd work to save it for the headliner.- Different Philosophies: Flo (voted the best crowd worker in Jax) and Sean agree that if it gets laughs, it’s comedy—regardless of the "OG" rules. 🎭- Reading the Room: They discuss the dangers of "burning the room" with offensive or repetitive questions, noting that headliners often look foolish when they ask a guest the same question an opener already did.T-he Vegas Example: Flo mentions a veteran comic in Vegas, Vinnie Favorito, who does an entire residency based on ruthless, "politically incorrect" crowd work that targets every demographic. ⚖️ Race, Generations, and "Non-Whities" The conversation takes an interesting turn regarding how different demographics receive certain jokes. Listen to the episode to find out more :)Pop Culture Expiration: Sean laments that younger audiences often don't recognize 80s icons like Michael J. Fox or Glenn Close, making certain bits feel like "time travel" humor. 🕰️💰 The Business of FunnyPaying Comics: Sean and Flo discuss the ethics of pay. While Sean used to give 80% of the door to comics, he’s become tighter to ensure he can cover marketing and break even.Scene Comparison: They highlight that while Orlando is "mean" and often pays zero, the Jacksonville scene is becoming more supportive and generally ensures comics at least get gas money. 📈 Socials: * https://www.instagram.com/seansteele99/ * https://www.instagram.com/flo.funny/ * https://IMstandup.com https://psst-pod.com

Episode 32 - We Are All Just Stars In The Sky with KALLIOPE.

Episode 32 - We Are All Just Stars In The Sky with KALLIOPE.Is your brain a linear highway or a galaxy of exploding stars? According to our latest guest, if you aren't laughing, you’re missing out on some serious mental pyrotechnics.In this episode of Psst! Did You Hear That!?, your hosts Flo Funny and Imre Mehesz sit down with the fascinating Kalliope Barlis (affectionately known as "Kiopy"). Kalliope isn't your average open-micer; she’s a professional golfer, a published author, and a master of brain science who decided to bring her "laser focus" to the comedy stage just six months ago.From the Green to the Green Room ⛳️Kalliope shares the wild story of how a literal "calling" led her from the streets of Queens to the professional golf circuit. But here’s the kicker: she didn't get better by swinging a club for ten thousand hours. She got better by changing the way she thinks. Now, she’s applying that same mental gymnastics to stand-up, proving that whether you're hitting a hole-in-one or landing a punchline, it’s all about the target.This is Your Brain on Comedy 🧠Ever wonder why laughter feels like a drug? Kalliope breaks down the "neuroscience of the giggle." She explains how laughter forces the brain to break out of linear pathways and light up like "stars and galaxies in the sky".Highlights from the episode:Curing the Incurable: The story of Norman Cousins, who laughed his way back to health.The New York Hustle: How Kalliope hit 110 open mics in just three months and managed to "cure" a room full of grumpy male comics of their inability to laugh.The Secret to Success: Why Imre and Flo are convinced Kalliope’s golf coach was basically teaching The Secret before it was cool.Writing with Intent: Kalliope’s "chunking down" method for turning grocery store observations into comedic gold.Why We’re All Just StarsKalliope looks at an audience and doesn't see a "tough crowd"—she sees "little stars just waiting to be lit up". It’s a deep, beautiful, and slightly "trippy" perspective that left Flo and Imre feeling like they just got a free therapy session and a masterclass in manifestation all at once.Thanks for listening https://psst-pod.comSocials:https://www.instagram.com/kalliope.nychttps://www.instagram.com/flo.funnyhttps://IMstandup.com

Episode 31 - Serial Killer Murder Whales In Action with KAYLA MAI [EXPLICIT]

Episode 31 - Serial Killer Murder Whales In Action with KAYLA MAI [EXPLICIT] On this week's Psst! Did You Hear That!?, we welcome comedian Kayla Mai for a hilarious deep dive into dark humor and childhood fame. Episode Highlights: The Comedy "Affair": Kayla reveals she secretly wrote jokes for six months before performing, sneaking away to record voice notes so often that her husband thought she was having an affair. Riding a Killer Whale: In a wild twist, Kayla shares her past as a child model where she actually sat on Shamu for a SeaWorld TV special. Her review of the whale? He felt like "rubber". Accidental Confessions: Imre clears the air about a Facebook post where she jokingly claimed there was a "serial killer in Jacksonville" to manifest a Netflix special—but instead just terrified her friends. Catch Them Live:The "Tea Party" Show: Join Flo and Kayla at the Hampton Inn in Jacksonville Beach on Monday the 24th.Salt Cave Comedy: Flo Funny is hosting a unique show on December 11th inside a salt cave—just don't lick the walls.You can catch Imre hosting the Rock Bottom open mic at the Comedy Zone in Jacksonville, FL Socials: https://www.instagram.com/kaylamaicomedy/ https://www.instagram.com/flo.funny/ https://imstandup.com/

Episode 30 - Nightmare Inducing Dog Mics Slap with JIMMY O'CONNOR

Episode 30 - Nightmare Inducing Dog Mics Slap with JIMMY O'CONNORGet ready for an episode packed with comedy confessions and industry insight! On the latest edition of Psst! Did You Hear That!?, hosts Flo Funny and Imre Mehesz sit down with the young, fast-rising comedian, Jimmy O'Connor.🔥 The Journey from Nightmares to HostingJimmy, who started stand-up at 24 and is now 26, discusses his quick rise in the Jacksonville comedy scene.- Rock Bottom Anxiety: Jimmy shares why the all-comic open mic at Rain Dogs, known as Rock Bottom, used to give him genuine anxiety and nightmares. He recalls Imre's key advice: "Comics aren't people".- The Hosting Hustle: Jimmy explains how hosting the Jack Beach Cava open mic for over a year and a half helped him grow and gave him a necessary "currency" for building relationships in comedy.- Hosting is Hardest: Jimmy reveals why he’s prioritizing hosting now, agreeing with other professionals that it's the "hardest job" in a show, as the host establishes the energy and must warm up the crowd.📝 Writing, Reworking, and Upcoming ShowsJimmy details his writing process, moving from one-liners to longer bits. He emphasizes the analytical approach of checking the word count between punchlines and the importance of reworking jokes that don't quite land.Don't forget to follow us!!Jimmy O'Connor - https://www.instagram.com/gettingjimmywithit [https://www.instagram.com/gettingjimmywithit]Flo Funny - https://www.instagram.com/flo.funny [https://www.instagram.com/flo.funny]Imre Mehesz - https://www.instagram.com/imehesz [https://www.instagram.com/imehesz]🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!https://psst-pod.com [https://psst-pod.com]