The Cripescast Podcast

Episode 144 - David Koechner

David Koechner’s journey from a small town to Hollywood is one that many dream of. Starting his comedy career at The Second City in Chicago, he went on to land notable roles including Todd Packer in The Office and Champ Kind in the Anchorman movies. While he attributes his sense of humor to his Midwest upbringing, he also shares how he was inspired by SNL at a young age and fell in love with improv and sketch comedy. David being 1 of 6 kids and Charlie being 1 of 12, the two share stories from growing up in a big family and they discuss the life cycle of reusable diapers. Stick around to the second half of the episode where Charlie and Myles the YouBetcha guy preview a portion of their podcast BelliedUp and talk about Myles’ wedding happening this week.

 

Follow David on all platforms @davidkoechner and find tickets at davidkoechner.com 

Follow the Cripescast and Charlie on all platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens

Find the Bellied Up podcast wherever you get your podcasts and on all social media platforms @bellieduppod. Check out YouBetcha too at @ohhyoubetcha. 

Make sure to check us out on Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens. 

Episode 143 - Berens Sisters (Part 2)

In tandem with the Berens Sisters Part 1 episode of the Cripescast, Charlie’s four remaining sisters, Addie, Emily, Nora and Ellie, come on the show this week. Surprising Charlie by showing up dressed as him, complete with wigs and duck jackets, the girls come ready to play. They air out family grievances, take part in some games, and share stories of growing up with 12 siblings. The interview gets intercepted by a FaceTime call from Betsy, the eldest of the Berens Sisters, and her newborn baby. Charlie forgets important names, Nora tells cockroach stories, and Ellie teaches Charlie how to have good communication with their parents.

 

Follow the Cripescast @cripescast and find us on Patreon patreon.com/charlieberens.

Episode 142 - Joey’s Song

Joey’s Song is an annual benefit concert that raises money and awareness for epilepsy research and program services for children with special needs. Mike Gomoll started Joey’s Song in 2010 following the death of his four-year-old son Joey who suffered from Dravet Syndrome. Each year Mike brings musicians to Madison, Wisconsin to rock out and raise money for a great cause. On this special episode of the Cripescast, Charlie interviews a handful of artists who performed at this year’s concert including John Gourley, Eric Hook, and Kyle O’Quinn from Portugal. The Man, Dave Pirner from Soul Asylum, Chris Collingwood from Fountains of Wayne and Look Park, and Miles Nielsen from Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts.

 

For more information about Joey’s Song head to joeyssong.org to see the outstanding work they’re doing and how you can attend the benefit next January! 

Episode 141 - Brittany Schmitt

Nothing is off limits for comedian Brittany Schmitt, who uses her dark sense of humor to tell jokes about her sobriety, past relationships, and family. Unlike other comics, she didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a stand up comedian. Rather, she broke into the scene after her coworker told her “you’re funny, and if you can’t afford therapy, you should try comedy”. Labeling her jokes as “painfully true” her blunt style of comedy has helped her gain attention from fans, get featured on notable platforms like Comedy Central and Don’t Tell Comedy, and is a guiding theme in her self-produced half hour special “From Ho to Housewife”. She and Charlie share stories from their worst bombs on stage, their unhealthy relationships with social media, and Brittany shares her dream to be a screenwriter.

 

Follow Brittany @brittanyschmitt, follow the Cripescast @cripescast and find us on Patreon patreon.com/charlieberens. 

Episode 140 - Butch Vig

Butch Vig, best known for producing Nirvana’s diamond record “Nevermind” or as the drummer for Garbage, is one of the biggest names in the music industry to come from Wisconsin. Having worked with popular bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, Killdozer and many more, Butch explains how “happy accidents” during recording sessions have led to some iconic moments in music history. Starting at 15 years old playing in roadside taverns in Viroqua to creating his first record label in Madison, Butch explains how “I can travel around the world but you can’t take me out of Wisconsin”. Butch pulls out his guitar mid-interview and plays the first song he ever wrote called “You’ve Got it Bad” which prompts Charlie to share lyrics from the first song he wrote about his first heartbreak.

 

Follow Butch on Instagram @butchvigmusic and on Twitter @butchvig. Find us on all platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens. Make sure to check us out on Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens. 

Episode 139 - Dallas Goldtooth

Dallas Goldtooth is successfully blending comedy and activism into his work, most notably through his role as Spirit on Hulu’s hit TV show Reservation Dogs. He explains how his Native American heritage has helped shape him into the writer, actor, and activist that he is today, and how it inspired him to form his sketch comedy group The 1491s. Dallas and Charlie break down the science of stand up comedy and brainstorm potential video ideas to collaborate on in the future. Stick around ‘til the end of the episode to find out which famous athlete Dallas went to school with back in the day.

Follow Dallas on social media @dallasgoldtooth and watch Reservation Dogs on Hulu! 

 

Find us on all platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens and check us out on Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens. 

Episode 138 - LeRoy Butler Returns

Hall of Famer and former Green Bay Packer LeRoy Butler returns to the Cripescast this week. LeRoy shares what it felt like being inducted into the Football Hall of Fame last year and letting Charlie try on his gold jacket at the after party. He tells stories from his time as a Packer including when he hit the jackpot at Oneida Casino with his teammates Robert Brooks and Edgar Bennett. The two make plans to go ice fishing, debate whether sheepshead or spades is the better card game, and LeRoy offers to give Charlie cooking lessons. 

 

Stick around until the end of the episode to find out how you can win a Hall of Fame beer mug and cribbage board signed by Charlie and LeRoy. Proceeds will go to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Milwaukee.

 

Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast and find us on Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens. 

 

Music behind the advertisements is "Double Polka" by Kevin McLeod. 

Episode 137 - Dan Egan

This week on the Cripescast Charlie is joined by Dan Egan, author of the New York Times best-selling book “The Death and Life of the Great Lakes”. Charlie and Dan discuss many environmental issues including the history of the St. Lawrence Seaway, the positive and negative effects of phosphorus, agriculture and more. Be sure to pick up a copy of his latest book “Devil’s Element: Phosphorus and a World Out of Balance” which is available now.

 

Find Dan's book at your local bookstore or on Amazon and follow Dan on Twitter @danpatrickegan

 

Find us on all platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens, find us on Patreon too patreon.com/charlieberens 

 

The music behind the advertisements is "Double Polka" by Kevin McLeod. 

Episode 136 - Laura Ramsey

Joining Charlie on the Cripescast this week is actress and fellow Wisconsinite Laura Ramsey. Laura shares stories from when she moved to LA at 19 years old including landing her first acting gig, the culture shock she experienced upon arrival, and what she missed most about Wisconsin. The two brainstorm some Midwest-inspired flavors for her new botanical lolly company Nias Arc, including Old Fashioned and Brat-flavored popsicles.

 

Find Laura on Instagram @lauraramseyofficial and @nias_arc. Order your lolly's at niasarc.com. 

 

Find us on all platforms at @cripescast @charlieberens. Find us on Patreon, too for exclusive content and extended cuts patreon.com/charlieberens. 

 

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors, JollyGood and Duluth Trading Company. 

 

The music behind our ads is "Double Polka" by Kevin McLeod. 

Episode 135 - Katherine Blanford

Comedian and co-host of the comedy podcast “Cheaties” Katherine Blanford joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. She shares stories from her career including when she got called to be on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Katherine talks about growing up as a horse girl, being a cleaning lady at the London Olympics, and how she balanced being a full-time nanny and stand-up comedian for eight years. The two bond over attending private Catholic schools growing up which leads to Katherine remembering her best confessions from second grade. 

 

Check out Katherine's website katherineblanford.com and follow her on YouTube and Instagram @itskatherineblanford, on Twitter @thebizznizz and find her on Facebook at Katherine Blanford Comedy. 

 

Follow us on all platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens and check us out on Patreon at patreon.com/charlieberens. 

 

The music behind the ads is "Double Polka" by Kevin McLeod.