On a special Veterans Day episode of the Cripescast, Charlie is joined by Ed Garza, CEO and President for the Center for Veterans Issues (CVI), Dr. Berdie Cowser, Director of Development and Housing for CVI, and Jason Johns, V.P. of Corporate and Community Relations for CVI. The Center for Veterans Issues is a nonprofit based in Milwaukee that helps veterans across Wisconsin. Along with two returning guests, Ed and Jason, Dr. Berdie makes her debut on the Cripescast and talks about her career wi...
Nov 11, 2022•1 hr 19 min
Investigative journalist and state government reporter for Wisconsin Watch, Jacob Resneck, joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. Jacob outlines how to register to vote in the state of Wisconsin, he highlights some important seats that are up for election this year, and he debunks some common misconceptions that circulate during election season. Be sure to head over to myvote.wi.gov to register online, locate your polling place, and find any other information for this election season. Find J...
Nov 02, 2022•36 min
From giving his first hair cut at 10 years old in the projects of South Side Chicago to becoming the official barber of the Green Bay Packers, Hansel Canady has seen and cut it all. In fact, during this week’s interview you’ll be able to hear him give Charlie a fresh new haircut at Hancan Barbershop in Green Bay. He and Charlie talk about how he became the Packers’ barber, his transition from Chicago to Green Bay, and the racism he faced during that time. “What happens in the barber shop, stays ...
Oct 26, 2022•1 hr 36 min
Alannah Vellacott, a coral restoration specialist, marine ecologist, and ocean advocate, joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week.From playing in a mangrove ecosystem while growing up in the Bahamas to having a career in coral reef rehabilitation today, Alannah’s life has been closely intertwined with the ocean. Alannah also recounts her experience working on Samuel L. Jackson’s documentary series “Enslaved” as a diver helping map shipwrecks from the Atlantic Slave Trade. She discusses the impo...
Oct 19, 2022•1 hr 37 min
This week stand up comedian Shapel Lacey joins Charlie on the Cripescast. Even though his comedy career started on a dare, he eventually wound up at the Just For Laughs New Faces showcases in 2019. He explains how being adopted into a white family at the age of 15 affected his life, his comedy, and ignited his passion for competitive cheering. Use promo code CRIPES at milwuaukeeimprov.com for free tickets to Shapel's shows on October 21 and 22 and be sure to find more dates to see Shapel at shap...
Oct 12, 2022•1 hr 16 min
Live from Washington DC, Charlie sits down with a variety of guests from the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health. Guests include: Suzy Delong, Chef, Executive Director and Founder of LaSoupe in Cincinnati; Carrie Mess, a Wisconsin Farmer and agricultural influencer; Sherri Tussler, Executive Director at the Hunger Task Force in Milwaukee; Dr. Dave Nayak, a Chicago-based doctor turned farmer; Avani Rai, 4-H member and 17-year-old student; Tara Roberts Turner, a Waupaca farmer a...
Oct 05, 2022•2 hr 11 min
Stand up comedian and host of the “Chrissy Chaos” and “Hey Babe!” podcasts Chris Distefano joins Charlie this week. Chris talks about his first job as a court attendant at the U.S. Open and how he smuggled in Gatorade for star tennis players like Roger Federer and the Williams sisters. He also shares how he quit being a physical therapist to pursue a career in comedy and the weird things that he’s encountered while doing stand up in the Midwest. Chris and Charlie discuss how they were both bad a...
Sep 28, 2022•1 hr
This week comedian Michael Yo joins Charlie on the Cripescast where the two talk about Michael’s career, stand up and his new special “I Never Thought” on YouTube. Michael shares stories of being on “Chelsea Lately” and how his kids have changed his comedy. The two compare their time as red carpet hosts and Michael gives his best advice for anyone wanting to break into the entertainment industry. Find Michael’s special “I Never Thought” on YouTube and find him on all social platforms @michaelyo....
Sep 21, 2022•1 hr 15 min
This week Charlie is joined by content creator TJ Therrien. TJ talks about growing up in Minnesota, his goals to break into different areas of comedy and how birth order and his kids inspire his content. The two discuss how TJ started making online videos, how he made it onto Sports Center’s top 10 plays as a ball boy for the Minnesota Twins and whether Wisconsin or Minnesota has more lakes. Follow TJ on all platforms @TJ_Therrien Find us on all platforms @cripescast @charlieberens Find us on Pa...
Sep 14, 2022•1 hr 35 min
This week, comedian and content creator Nick Colletti joins Charlie on the Cripescast. Nick talks about starting out on Vine and his ambitions on the big screen and on stage. The two discuss social media’s role in their comedy and whether Pittsburgh is in the Midwest or not. Follow Nick @nick_colletti and for more info in his shows head to nickcolletti.com. Use code CRIPES at milwaukeeimprov.com to get $5 tickets to his show TONIGHT! Follow the Cripescast and Charlie on all platforms @Charlieber...
Sep 07, 2022•1 hr 2 min
This week Charlie is answering all your fan submitted questions. Find us on Patreon, patreon.com/charlieberens Find us on all socials @cripescast and @charlieberens Advertisement music is "Double Polka" by Kevin McLeod
Aug 31, 2022•53 min
Emmy-nominated screenwriter and comedian Tracey Ashley joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. Tracey is the head writer on "A Black Lady Sketch Show" and has written on TV shows including “The Neighborhood” and “The Last O.G". Not to mention her time on tour with Dave Chappelle, Tracy Morgan and many more comics. Needless to say, she is funny. She talks about her career path, her time in a variety of writers rooms and her comedic influences. Tracey also shares about her experience being in a...
Aug 24, 2022•1 hr 17 min
This week Charlie is joined by musician and comedian Bill Doucette. The two talk about Bill’s time on the East Coast, performing at the State Fair as well as his ties to Wisconsin. Bill explains how he and Charlie met and the work they’ve done together in recent years. Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast Join our Patreon - patreon.com/charlieberens
Aug 17, 2022•56 min
This week Charlie is joined by comedian Tumua Tuinei. The two talk about their similar career paths and how they use comedy to honor where they're from. Tumua explains the comedy scene in Hawaii, his start in stand-up and how he’s used social media to help his career take off. They exchange common phrases in Hawaii and the Midwest and Tumua teaches Charlie how to properly do the shaka. Follow Tumua on social Tumua Tuinei or @tumua_, check out what he’s doing at tumuacomedy.com. Follow the Cripes...
Aug 10, 2022•1 hr 8 min
Academy Award winning producer and Charlie’s close friend, Jim Burke, joins the Cripescast this week. He and Charlie talk about how they met, growing up in the Midwest, and how Charlie lost Jim’s car keys in the ocean in Hawaii. Jim offers advice for those trying to break into the entertainment business and he tells the story of how he and his family competed on the hit game show “Family Feud”. Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast and find all the info about the show, Merch, tour d...
Aug 03, 2022•1 hr 43 min
Head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers Men’s Basketball team, Greg Gard, joins the Cripescast this week. He talks about starting his coaching career with an eight grade basketball team, how growing up in a small farming town in Wisconsin propelled his work ethic, and his non-profit Garding Against Cancer. He even shares some photos from his deer cam. Find out more about his non-profit at gardingagainstcancer.org Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast and find all the info about the show...
Jul 27, 2022•1 hr 5 min
Comedian Ton Johnson joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. You may recognize him from his shows across the Midwest or collaborating with Charlie in various videos including “Midwest Nice”, “Midwest Olympics” and “Real Husbands of Deer Camp.” Ton and Charlie trade stories from the road, discuss the art of bombing and highlight Milwaukee’s growing comedy scene. Follow Ton on all socials @itstonjohn Follow Charlie on all platforms @charlieberens Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripesca...
Jul 20, 2022•59 min
This week Charlie is joined by his long-time friend and fellow Midwest content creator, Myles Montplaisir, aka the You Betcha guy. They talk golf, Midwest red flags and their new podcast Bellied Up. Follow Bellied Up on all platforms @bellieduppod Follow You Betcha on all platforms @ohhyoubetcha Follow Charlie on all platforms @charlieberens Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast
Jul 13, 2022•42 min
Rachel Harrison, advocacy coordinator for the Milwaukee human trafficking non-profit Fight to End Exploitation (FEE) joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. The two discuss the baseline definition of human trafficking and its impact in Southeastern Wisconsin. Rachel shares some signs to look for and the role that social media and online porn sites have on sex trafficking. Rachel also explains the difference between sex trafficking and prostitution, what people can do to help victims of sex tr...
Jul 06, 2022•1 hr
This week Charlie answers some fan questions. Wanna get a question answered? Email us at cripescast@gmail.com.
Jun 29, 2022•25 min
This week, Charlie’s high school English teacher, Jim Kearney, joins the Cripescast. They talk about the book “Hero With a Thousand Faces” by Joseph Campbell that Jim taught Charlie about back in the day. Jim reflects on his career as a teacher, the pivotal trips he took his students on, how to reach kids on a deeper level, and what being a teacher meant to him. Jim and Charlie share a beer and Jim recommends his all time favorite books that everyone should read.
Jun 22, 2022•58 min
This week, Charlie is joined by the hosts of the “And That’s Why We Drink” podcast and authors of the new book “A Haunted Road Atlas: Sinister Stops, Dangerous Destinations, and True Crime Tales” Em Schulz and Christine Schiefer. They discussed their fascination with paranormal and true crime stories. Christine and Em outline their individual careers before ATWWD. Christine worked as a staff writer for Nickelodeon and Em shares some deep dark secrets from their time working on “The Price is Righ...
Jun 15, 2022•1 hr 7 min
Ryan Busse, a former firearms executive for Kimber America and author of “Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America” comes on the Cripescast today to talk about gun control. Having grown up with guns, a love for the outdoors and hunting, and years of experience in the gun industry, Ryan has a unique relationship with guns and offers insight on the gun problem in America and their place in our society. Ryan and Charlie talk about all areas of the gun control conversation i...
Jun 08, 2022•40 min
Stand-up comedian and actor Jon Reep joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. You may know him from "Last Comic Standing", from his own podcast "Country-ish" or from his special "Ginger Beard Man" on Amazon Prime. He and Charlie compare their similar career paths and talk about how they both spent time working in the entertainment industry in LA and made their way back to their hometowns to continue creating content. Jon shares about how he finds humor even in dark times, how social media has ...
Jun 01, 2022•53 min
Stand-up comedian Dan Cummins joins Charlie this week on the Cripescast. You may recognize him from his half-hour special on Comedy Central, his appearances on the Tonight Show or the Late, Late Show, or the host of his own podcasts “Timesuck,” “Scared to Death,” or “Is We Dumb”. Dan dives into his path to comedy and provides some advice to those starting their stand-up careers to be authentic to themselves. He also talks about how social media has changed the comedy game since his start in the ...
May 25, 2022•1 hr 5 min
Bluegrass legend Vince Herman joins the Cripescast this week. He and Charlie talk about his start in music, how bluegrass has evolved over the years, and his bands Leftover Salmon and the High Hawks.
May 18, 2022•1 hr 6 min
For the 100th Episode of the Cripescast, Charlie invited on his folks Molly and Dick Berens. They came ready with embarrassing stories of Charlie and much more.
May 11, 2022•1 hr 6 min
Israel Del Toro Ph.D. and Relena Ribbons Ph.D., faculty for the Lawrence University environmental studies program and leaders for the No Mow May initiative in Appleton, Wisconsin join Charlie this week to talk about how not mowing in May can help the environment and economy. Find out more about No Mow May at byobeez.org Follow the Cripescast on all social media @cripescast Follow Charlie on all social media @charlieberens
May 04, 2022•30 min
Comedian Joe Dombrowski joins the Cripescast this week to talk about growing up in Michigan, his path to comedy and how he blends his teaching career into his stand-up. Follow Joe Dombrowski on all platforms @mrdtimes3 Follow Charlie and the Cripescast on all platforms @CharlieBerens @cripescast
Apr 27, 2022•1 hr 4 min
He’s back! Taylor Calmus a.k.a Dude Dad returns to the Cripescast to talk about his new book “A Dude’s Guide to Baby Size“, improv, the best part about home renovations, and of course, bird watching. Follow Taylor on all platforms @dudedad Follow Charlie on all platforms @charlieberens Follow Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast
Apr 20, 2022•59 min
