Strip Mall Think Tank
308 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★★ - 318 ratingsComedians Jake Johannsen and Jeff Cesario try to solve stupid, small problems with the help of their weekly guest.
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Episodes
#6 - Jackie Kashian
April 20, 2024 17:11 - 39 minutesJackie Kashian’s cucumber problem is quickly solved but serves as a bridge that somehow takes us to her shirtless on a hot summer night in Wisconsin Dells. I’m not even sure how. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#5 - Brian Regan
February 28, 2024 08:00 - 54 minutesBrian’s Dry Cleaner Dossier gets a thorough going over, and he and I give Jake a clear path to sever ties with “Dr. Nick.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#4 - Jake, Jeff and Gary
January 31, 2024 08:00 - 54 minutesWe tackle Jake’s Wooden Shoe Dilemma (the Dutch take it on the chin) and then solve Gary’s Evil Hair Dryer issue. I’m exhausted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#3 - Brad Williams
January 10, 2024 08:00 - 54 minutesThe hilarious Brad Williams joins Jake and Jeff to figure out why bank tellers can get Nate Bargatze and Matt Rife confused and think it’s okay, why Jake may carry tennis balls when he crosses the street, and why there are three correct answers to Jeff’s pet peeve sports reporter question, “What’s next for you?" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#2 - Alonzo Bodden
November 29, 2023 08:00 - 55 minutesSome entitled jerk letting his dog off the leash is ruining Alonzo’s day, and we decide an Army of Karens is the best solution. Plus a fun tangent into Jake's password hell! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#1 - Greg Fitzsimmons
November 03, 2023 07:00 - 48 minutesThe first-ever STRIP MALL THINK TANK - hosted by Jake Johannsen and Jeff Cesario w/guest Greg Fitzsimmons. Nothing better than amateurs solving problems. This ep: Jake’s vacation goes sideways and Greg can’t take 20-year-old ‘philosophers.’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Vent Day!
October 19, 2023 21:00 - 33 minutesSpecial Writers’ Room. Jeff vents on Wisconsin football, Gary vents on the Chargers. It had to be done or someone was gonna get hurt. This is actually what goes on in a lot of writers’ rooms when you’re waiting for notes 🤣 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
two-for-one: Josh AND Ben Mankiewicz Pt. 2!
September 27, 2023 07:00 - 31 minutesFrom “Dateline” it’s Josh Mankiewicz and from TCM it’s Ben Mankiewicz, both talking weak Yom Kippur knowledge, Sam Donaldson, being yourself, and as a bonus, a couple of Josh’s Chet Waterhouse sponsors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
two-for-one: Josh AND Ben Mankiewicz Pt. 1!
September 20, 2023 07:00 - 36 minutesFrom “Dateline” it’s Josh Mankiewicz and from TCM it’s Ben Mankiewicz, both talking writing approach, family dynamics, scary early gigs, and so much more. Killer stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
THE GREAT GREG PROOPS PT.2
September 13, 2023 07:00 - 40 minutesComedian Greg Proops (“Who’s Line Is It Anyway?”) has a new album out called “French Drug Deal,” and in Pt. 2 he describes his fortuitous road to “Whose Line Is It Anyway,” the importance of the back brain, and the best worst gig tag EVER. And I mean ever. Great episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
THE GREAT GREG PROOPS PT.1
September 06, 2023 07:00 - 31 minutesComedian Greg Proops (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?”) has a new album out called “French Drug Deal,” and he talks gettin’ high in high school, Bay Area music, the closeness between jazz and standup and of course how he writes his standup. Ridiculous fun! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
MST3K’S Frank Conniff Pt. 2
August 30, 2023 07:00 - 30 minutesDroll and hilarious Frank Conniff talks about moving from MST3K to major network sitcoms and on to a string of awesome and eclectic projects that let him grow his own demographic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
MST3K’S Frank Conniff Pt.1
August 24, 2023 17:34 - 39 minutesThe great Frank Conniff (MST3K, Sabrina, Drew Carey) discusses the tough but serendipitous route that led him to Minneapolis and ultimately, the gig on Mystery Science Theatre 3000. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From intern to show runner: Mat Harawitz Pt.2
August 16, 2023 07:00 - 43 minutesMat Harawitz takes us on the wild journey through what seems like a dozen sitcom gigs, at times literally swinging vine to vine to the next gig. Must listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From intern to show runner: Mat Harawitz Pt.1
August 09, 2023 07:00 - 37 minutesMat Harawitz dives headfirst into his early days, long before his success as a television producer/writer, when he was a student driving from Ithaca College back into NYC to write for and watch standups like Jeff Ross and Dave Chappelle. Fantastic stuff! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Inside the new cockpit: Camille Corbett Pt. 2
August 02, 2023 07:00 - 29 minutesActor/comic/writer/director Camille Corbett shares her experiences in the New Hollywood and how she strives to have all her creative instincts feed off each other. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Inside the new cockpit: Camille Corbett Pt. 1
July 26, 2023 07:00 - 29 minutesActor/comic/writer/director Camille Corbett shares her experiences surviving and thriving in the business model of the New Hollywood. Strap in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bill Scheft Pt. 2
July 19, 2023 07:00 - 30 minutesThe hilarious Bill Scheft regales Jeff with some killer moments from his two-decade stint as Letterman’s trusted consigliere, and how he was able to take writers’ room energy and put it on some book-writin’. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Great Bill Scheft Pt. 1
July 12, 2023 07:00 - 28 minutesComic, author and longtime Letterman Whisperer Bill Scheft live from the WGA picket line in NY/NJ! We talk all things strike, including the changing landscape for writers moving forward. And yet, laughs! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Suli McCullough Part 2
June 28, 2023 07:00 - 26 minutesThe great and funny Suli McCullough gives us details from inside the thrilling/hilarious/shocking roller coaster that was the “Will Smith Slap” Oscars. this half-hour FLIES by! Must listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Suli McCullough Part 1
June 21, 2023 07:00 - 36 minutesVersatile and hilarious, standup/writer/producer Suli McCullough shares funny stories and killer insights on his path to writing for TV and his relationships with both Garry Shandling and Jamie Foxx. AWESOME ep, and he did his own tease for Pt 2 - backstage in the thick of it at the “Will Smith Slap” Oscars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Best Guest Guy, Adam Spiegelman Pt 2
June 14, 2023 07:00 - 23 minutesOn the Writers’ Room this week - One of the absolute best guest segment producers in the business, Adam Spiegelman describes how to wring laughs out of even the most unengaging talk show guests and shares some wild moments from late night and daytime gigs. Pt 2, great listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Best Guest Guy, Adam Spiegelman Pt 1
June 07, 2023 19:00 - 24 minutesOn the Writers’ Room this week - One of the absolute best guest segment producers in the business, Adam Spiegelman describes how to wring laughs out of even the most unengaging talk show guests and shares some wild moments from late night and daytime gigs. Pt 1, so much fun! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
“Last Man Standing”s Ed Yeager, Pt 2
May 31, 2023 07:00 - 30 minutesPart 2 with the great Ed Yeager (Roseanne, Gary Unmarried, Last Man Standing) sharing anecdotes from deep inside the bowels of some great sitcoms. Funny and informative, listen up! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
“Last Man Standing”s Ed Yeager, Pt 1
May 24, 2023 07:00 - 36 minutesPart 1 with the great Ed Yeager (Roseanne, Gary Unmarried, Last Man Standing) as he shares funny stories of how he transitioned from standup comedy to writing to show runner. And there’s a good drinking story in there too😉 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
“Family Guy’s” Alec Sulkin Pt.2
May 17, 2023 07:00 - 40 minutesThe hilarious Alec Sulkin (Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, the Ted 1 & 2) dives headfirst into his Family Guy experience and his special connection with Seth McFarlane. Big laughs, good tips! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
“Family Guy’s” Alec Sulkin Pt.1
May 10, 2023 07:00 - 29 minutesThe hilarious Alec Sulkin (Family Guy, The Cleveland Shoe, Ted and Ted2) shares how he got into writing, his first digs in LA, and the amazing wonderful weirdness of his first gig in LA, the great Late Late Show w/Craig Kilborn. (Next wk - all things Family Guy!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
“The Goldbergs” Lew Schneider Pt.2
May 03, 2023 07:00 - 30 minutesLaughs and insights from showrunner/writer/director Lew Schneider (“Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Men of A Certain Age,” “The Goldbergs.”) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
“The Goldbergs” Lew Schneider Pt.1
April 26, 2023 07:00 - 28 minutesSpend time with the hilarious Lew Schneider (Everybody Loves Raymond, Men Of A Certain Age, The Goldbergs) as he shares laughs and insights in a wildly diverse batch of writers’ rooms! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mike Rowe Pt.2
April 19, 2023 07:00 - 30 minutesThe hilarious Mike Rowe (Family Guy, Futurama, Comedy Central Roasts) shares great stories from the animation rooms and from his own past. Absolutely great stuff for any young writers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Family Guy’s Michael Rowe Pt.1
April 12, 2023 07:00 - 27 minutesMichael’s written on everything from sitcoms (Becker) to Roasts (w/Jeff Ross) to animation (Futurama and Family Guy) and shares funny anecdotes and valuable insights for any writer at any level! Check out his great new book, “It’s A Funny Thing.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"Rolling Stone’s" David Wild Pt.2
April 05, 2023 07:00 - 28 minutesPart 2 from the amazing and very funny David Wild (Rolling Stone, The Grammys) which includes great stories featuring Steven Tyler and Paul & Linda McCartney and a bittersweet memory from when LL Cool J hosted the Grammys the very day Whitney Houston died. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Rolling Stone’s David Wild, Pt.#1
March 29, 2023 07:00 - 29 minutesDavid Wild has written everything from award-winning cover stories for Rolling Stone to unbearable presenter patter at awards shows. He shares his unlikely path from print into TV, the way to survive a roomful of comedy writers, the serendipity that landed him the job writing liner notes for Sinatra and the trait that actually ties these diverse gigs together. In our own way, a tribute to the late, great Bill Zehme. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Joe Furey Pt. 2
March 22, 2023 07:00 - 32 minutesHilarious writer/performer Joe Furey (Letterman, Newsradio, Demetri Martin) shares stories from the Spike Feresten writers’ room and more great anecdotes from his many gigs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Newsradio’s Joe Furey, Pt.1
March 15, 2023 07:00 - 40 minutesThe hilarious Joe Furey (Letterman, Newsradio, etc) shares great stories about how he got Letterman (his sister called the show about an intern opening!) and the joy he gets from writing and performing idiotic sketches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt Goldman: Comedy to Crime
March 09, 2023 00:17 - 41 minutesClassic ep with the funny and talented Matt Goldman, who pivoted from a career in the sitcom world to a New York Times best-selling crime author! Find out how he did it without pulling a muscle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Gina Grad & Bald Bryan
March 01, 2023 08:00 - 55 minutesAdam Carolla podcast veterans Gina Grad and Bryan Bishop discuss how they made the delicate fit into that hit show and how each switched gears to write very personal books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Writers Room with Jon Macks and Jeff Stilson
February 22, 2023 17:41 - 51 minutesWith the Oscars looming I talk to two guys who’ve spent a large portion of their lives in awards show writers’ rooms - Jon Macks and Jeff Stilson. We cover everything from Faye Dunaway reading the wrong Best Picture winner to the Chris Rock slap to finding new names for publicists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Super Bowl wrap-up with Norman Chad
February 15, 2023 08:00 - 37 minutesSports columnist and the voice of the World Series of Poker Norman Chad joins me to critique my Super Bowl bets, break down the psyche of Philly fans, and share an Andy Reid anecdote. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Super Bowl bets with my own damn money
February 08, 2023 08:00 - 31 minutesI came into some cash already deposited in an online gaming account and I decided with Gary’s help to bet it on this Sunday’s Super Bowl - everything from score prediction to Anthem time! C’mon Chris Stapleton, don’t be messing around with any long runs! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Music & Hoops with Claire de Lune
February 01, 2023 18:11 - 41 minutesSinger/songwriter and NBA columnist Claire de Lune talks the current state of the music biz AND her pick for the NBA Finals. I know, it’s wild! Great listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Writers’ Room w/Josh Weinstein and Joel Madison
January 25, 2023 08:00 - 37 minutesA funny/useful glimpse inside all kinds of writers’ room with guests Josh Weinstein (Later, AFV, etc) and Joel Madison (Roseanne, Malcolm & Eddie, etc) plus my own checkered past. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Vikings/Chargers Vortex of Doom
January 18, 2023 08:00 - 40 minutesFantasy Football maven and Vikings fan Paul Charchian joins my superb producer and Chargers fan Gary Smith as I try to save them both from any more NFL-inflicted pain! Damn funny conclusions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Austin Huff in a huff!
January 11, 2023 08:00 - 29 minutesSports radio host and founder of KorkedBats.com Austin Huff shares some Jim Rome and Steve Gorman stories plus gives us his Super Bowl dark horse! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tales of Taylor Williamson
January 04, 2023 08:00 - 52 minutesHilarious standup Taylor Williamson joins the show and immediately takes us on a tangent and we never get back, and thank God for that! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chet previews all 41 Bowl Games!
December 14, 2022 08:00 - 16 minutesA Play With Pain holiday tradition! - sportscasting legend Chet Waterhouse (voice of International Speedfishing) makes his way through every. Single. Bowl Game. All 41 of them - predictions, anecdotes, sponsors, beefs - and all in 15 minutes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PWP Exclusive: The Santa Interview
December 07, 2022 08:00 - 35 minutesMajor coup: we got the Santa Claus himself to join us for a no-holds-barred discussion of everything from his prior career (musician) to his love life (“There are a lot of Mrs. Clauses”) to his next vacation home (“something on stilts”). You’re not getting this-level content from Trevor Noah! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jeff Problem-solves, kind of
November 30, 2022 08:00 - 30 minutesOur beloved host is done with the World Cup. And cool headphones. Gary keeps him from walking off a ledge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Give Thanks for Bill Scheft!
November 23, 2022 08:00 - 1 hourComic/Author/Letterman writer Bill Scheft and I take an immediate tangent off sports into some truly funny behind-the-scenes showbiz and writers’ room anecdotes and it’s the most fun I’ve had in awhile, so much so we doubled are usual episode time and released the whole thing for some primo Holiday Avoidance listening — “Honey, can’t talk to Grandma, I’m in the middle of this important podcast!” Headphones on, crisis avoided Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jeff & Gary clean house!
November 16, 2022 08:00 - 37 minutesJeff, Chet and producer Gary Smith solve the "World Cup at the holidays” problem for you, reinvent marketing for F1 racing and positively ooze Magic Mind energy booster. Plus, check out Jeff’s snazzy Costco specs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices