Damian Buchman has defied one in a million odds not once but twice in his life. Diagnosed with a rare bone cancer at 13 years old and having endured 28 knee surgeries since, he embodies what it means to have grit and tenacity. Knowing what it feels like to have to sit out because of a disability, Damian’s life work has been dedicated to creating spaces that are accessible to all. He and Charlie talk about his work with the Ability Center in Milwaukee, including the plans for a multi-million doll...
Jun 07, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Having dated not just one, but two Bucky Badgers during her time at UW-Madison, Hannah Berner begrudgingly identifies herself as a furry chaser on this episode of the Cripescast. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, she talks about the culture shock she experienced when coming to Wisconsin, including being introduced to cheese curds and duck hunting. She shares stories from her time as a D1 athlete, how she used to sneak into the KK through the kitchen, and the time she was hit by a car on the...
May 31, 2023•1 hr 19 min
Former offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns, Joe Thomas, leaves his mark on the Cripescast this week by being the first guest to sign the studio wall. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, Joe shares stories from his career and explains how Browns and Packers fans are pretty similar. From finding out he was being drafted while fishing with his dad to hearing the news that he was inducted into the Hall of Fame from his son, Joe says his football career wouldn’t be possible without ...
May 24, 2023•59 min
Ready your pens and grab your notebooks folks, class is now in session. Comedian Nate Bargatze offers a crash course on stand up comedy in this episode of the Cripescast. With his Netflix specials “The Tennessee Kid,” “Greatest Average American,” “The Stand-Ups,” and his latest special “Hello World!” on Amazon Prime, Nate knows a thing or two about producing a stand up special. He and Charlie deep dive into all things comedy including joke writing, their comedic role models, open mic stories, an...
May 17, 2023•1 hr 11 min
Former Green Bay Packers’ nose tackle, Gilbert Brown, toys with the idea of trying stand-up comedy on this episode of the Cripescast. Nicknamed after his infamous tackle celebration “The Gravedigger,” Gilbert shares the dance’s origin, how he got into football, and his favorite Packer memory with Reggie White. As a self-proclaimed “devout momma’s boy,” Gilbert explains how rewarding it was to fulfill the promise he made to his mom by making it into the NFL and buying her a house. He and Charlie ...
May 10, 2023•1 hr 24 min
After hearing Charlie talk about lead head jigs on the Bellied Up podcast, folks from Get the Lead Out messaged Charlie about the impact of using lead fishing tackle on the Loon population. Get the Lead Out (GTLO) is a program within the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency that works to reduce the use of lead fishing tackle and minimize its toxic impact on wildlife, including their state bird the Common Loon. Two members from the GTLO team, Kelly Amoth and Stephen Yang, came onto the Cripescast t...
May 03, 2023•54 min
Live from a car ride to Ho Chunk Casino, Charlie chats with his Grandma Sue, his Aunt Mary, and Grandma Sue’s friend Lois Bentley. As a returning guest of the Cripescast, Grandma Sue shows the girls how it’s done as they trade funny stories including the time Mary got her bra caught on a ceiling fan at the local bar. Growing up together, Lois and Sue share stories about their late husbands Bob Bentley and Bob Berens, finding their children’s stashes of weed, and Grandpa Bob’s impression of Elvis...
Apr 26, 2023•1 hr 39 min
Just when Laura Clery thought she was doing it all as a comedian, writer, and content creator, she discovered her potential as an inspirational speaker on this episode of the Cripescast. Moving from Illinois to Los Angeles at 18 years old to now having nearly 30 million followers across the internet, Laura is living the life that many dream of. Nicknamed “Cuffs” as a teen, she talks about being a troublemaker growing up and shares stories from her days as a shoplifter. Now reformed and sober 11 ...
Apr 19, 2023•1 hr 4 min
For having never taken a Chemistry class, comedian Will Burkart flexes his immense knowledge about the periodic table of elements on this week’s episode of the Cripescast. He and Charlie also discuss the rise of pickleball, Will’s burlesque expertise, and they trash talk Microsoft Office’s assistant Clippy. With videos of his stand up and crowd work taking off on social media, Will is now doing his first headlining tour across the country. Be sure to catch Will at the Milwaukee Improv Thursday, ...
Apr 12, 2023•1 hr 9 min
Comedians Langston Kerman and David Gborie met in the most hopeless place: the LA open mic scene. As hosts of the “My Momma Told Me” podcast, a show under Will Ferrell’s and iHeartMedia’s Big Money Players Network, they dive deep into the most exciting, groundbreaking, and sometimes controversial Black conspiracy theories. In this episode they share their individual paths to comedy, break down their favorite conspiracy theories, and follow Charlie down a rabbit hole about ChatGPT. Check out thei...
Apr 05, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Live from Comedy on State in Madison, Wisconsin, professor Mike Wagner explains what you need to know for the upcoming Supreme Court election on April 4. Charlie and Mike outline why it’s important to vote and the key issues that will potentially be impacted by this election. Audience members chimed in with their questions on gerrymandering, reproductive healthcare, marijuana legalization, environmental concerns, the effectiveness of political ads and more. For more information on registering to...
Mar 29, 2023•1 hr 21 min
Wrapped in a heating pad only a father could own, comedian Dustin Nickerson returns to the Cripescast this week to catch up with Charlie. While the two compare their experiences of self-producing a comedy special, Dustin one-ups Charlie by sharing that his new hour “Runs in the Family” is currently being edited by a man in a van. With no explanation other than “age”, Dustin shares how he threw out his back in an unglamorous way which sent them down a rabbit hole about aging. In true dad fashion,...
Mar 22, 2023•1 hr 15 min
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 g...
Mar 15, 2023•51 min
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....
Mar 08, 2023•1 hr 8 min
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 inclu...
Mar 01, 2023•1 hr 8 min
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 pla...
Feb 22, 2023•1 hr 8 min
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 explai...
Feb 15, 2023•1 hr 22 min
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 en...
Feb 08, 2023•1 hr 36 min
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 off...
Feb 01, 2023•1 hr 6 min
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...
Jan 25, 2023•1 hr 11 min
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 ...
Jan 18, 2023•52 min
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 remem...
Jan 11, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. He shares stories from his time as a Packer including going through his first training camp, how former GM Ron Wolf bought him his first jacket, and what it felt like to win the Super Bowl. Having had a rough childhood in Houston and growing up in poverty, Donald explains that his “hardships have allowed him to be the person he is today.” Find out more about the Donald Driver Foundation at donalddrive...
Jan 05, 2023•39 min
Manitowoc couple and recently accomplished "loopers" Jill and James Iverson join Charlie on the Cripescast this week to talk about their recent sailing trip on America’s Great Loop. Traveling over 6,000 miles, the Iverson’s recount their trip that started in Lake Michigan, went down the Mississippi River, through the Gulf of Mexico, back up the East Coast and through Canada to return home in just over a year. Jill, being a birder and a fisher, allowed Charlie to geek out about both of her hobbie...
Dec 28, 2022•56 min
Actor and comedian Danny Jolles joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. You may recognize him from his role in the new Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie movie “Babylon” or from his recurring role as George on The CW’s “Crazy Ex Girlfriend”. He and Charlie discuss touring, social media’s impact on stand up, and Danny’s new interactive comedy special on YouTube called “You Choose”. They bond over their deep love for the 1991 movie “Hook”, trade airport conspiracy theories and Danny even shares a few ...
Dec 21, 2022•1 hr 9 min
This week Charlie is joined by half of his sisters Betsy, Maggie, Mary Kate and Bridget, for a special episode of the Cripescast. They start the episode by opening a bottle of wine with a screw and hammer and share stories about growing up with 12 siblings. Highlights include Maggie’s story about Charlie getting picked up by the cops at 17, voting games that pin sibling against sibling, and Charlie getting advice on his upcoming commencement speech. Find us on all social platforms @cripescast @c...
Dec 14, 2022•1 hr 31 min
Stand up comedian Paul Virzi joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. You may recognize him from his podcasts “The Virzi Effect” or “Anything Better” that he co-hosts with Bill Burr, or from his most recent comedy special “Paul Virzi: Nocturnal Admissions” on Netflix. Paul shares the story of how he got into stand up and how having a family has changed his outlook on life and comedy. He and Charlie get into the specifics about shooting a comedy special and the importance of setting long and sh...
Dec 07, 2022•47 min
Comedian Ian Bagg joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. They compare the Midwest to Canada and pond hockey to river hockey. From working for a traveling carnival in Australia to mining gold in Canada, Ian walks us through his journey to comedy and his love of crowd work. Ian and Charlie trade some regional sayings, winter advice, and Ian shares about the time he accidentally got someone fired. Get free tickets to see Ian at the Milwaukee Improv Dec. 8-10 by using code CRIPES at https://impr...
Nov 30, 2022•1 hr 23 min
Stand-up comedian Pete Lee joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week and the two get lost on tangents about hotel and public restroom etiquette. He talks about growing up in Wisconsin, coming up in the Twin Cities’ comedy scene, and the time he almost opened for Bobcat Goldthwait. Pete’s dog Diesel makes an appearance as he opens up about his cursed streak of TV shows being cancelled right after he’s made a guest appearance including “The Days of our Lives,” along with many other funny stories. ...
Nov 23, 2022•1 hr 14 min
Comedian Lara Beitz joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week to discuss her stand up career and growing up in the Midwest. Lara talks about coming up in the Milwaukee stand up scene, touring with Joe Rogan and Marc Maron, and, of course, bird watching. Lara indulges Charlie’s obsession with birds by sharing a few stories of her own fowl entanglements. Let’s just say they follow a goose down the rabbit hole. Follow Lara @larabeitz and her podcast Slobs @slobspod Follow the Cripescast @cripescast...
Nov 16, 2022•1 hr 14 min
