It's All True!

Daniel Kibblesmith (The Onion) joins It's All True! to discuss the origins of the ClickHole website, the secret to The Onion's sense of humor and the writing process for his book "How To Win At Everything." Lastly, Daniel tells a hilarious true story about the time he fought an autobot. Like, for real kinda. Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Comedian Nore Davis (HBO, Comedy Central) joins It's All True! to discuss his problems with the college system, his comedic inspirations and the difficulty of creating funny jokes that challenge audiences -- particularly in the black community. Also, his headlining story "Was I On Last Comic Standing?" Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Writer/Comedian Josh Gondelman joins "It's All True!" to talk the origins of the Modern Seinfeld (@SeinfeldToday) twitter handle, the Boston/New York comedy scenes AND his headlining story "Precocious Toddler Escapes Classroom Repeatedly." Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Actress Fawzia Mirza (Kam Kardashian web series) discusses gender, comedy and the pressure of deciding to make a career out of performing on It’s All True. Plus, her headline story "Doctors Discover Medical First In Woman's Mouth." Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Comedian Liza Treyger (Chelsea Lately, Comedy Central) talks with host Tim Barnes about her influences, both comedic and alcoholic. Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Improviser Kevin Mullaney (UCB, iO) discusses his journey in the world of comedy and the differences between various improv institutions from coast to coast. Host, Tim Barnes brings up the seeming separation between stand-ups and improvisers in Chicago and it all ends with a hilarious true story. Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Read Before You Click "Send." New York Times and and NPR Bestselling author Denise Kiernan stops in on the It's All True! podcast to tell us how to be like Indiana Jones, writing for Who Wants To Be a Millionaire and about her bestselling book, The Girls of Atomic City. Plus, she tells us her funny, true story about someone hitting "send" on an email when she really shouldn't have. Wow. We've all been there. Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Adam Burke (Just For Laughs, The First Annual 26th Annual Comedy Festival) discusses the world of Chicago comedy and his strange travels as an Irishman in Russia with host Tim Barnes. Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Chicago radio icon Richard Steele joins It’s All True! host Tim Barnes for a conversation about the evolution of race relations in Chicago, and how Richard became a disc jockey in the first place. The path makes its way through the tumult and segregation of the 1950s & '60s in a highly segregated Chicago that was unwelcoming of the integration of African-Americans. Steele talks about coming up in that environment, about his doo-wop group The Bishops and about his entry into radio. It's a story that began with a young Richard Steele playing "radio DJ" into a tape recorder.Plus, Richard tells the funny, true story of his prom night... and how it almost never happened. Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Comedian James Adomian joins host Tim Barnes to discuss being an impressionist and the time he bombed opening for comedy legend Joan Rivers.James was a top-10 finalist on Last Comic Standing (NBC) and is a frequent guest on Comedy Bang Bang, and The Todd Glass Show. He performs standup and characters live at Upright Citizens Brigade and at festivals, theaters, and dive bars. His debut album "Low Hangin' Fruit" was released in 2012. (Photo by Mindy Tucker) Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Writer/storyteller Samantha Irby joins It's All True host Tim Barnes in a conversation about the origins of her blog, Chicago's booming storytelling scene and what it's like having a day job while pursuing your art. She also tells an incredibly funny true story.Samantha Irby is writer/performer with work that has appeared on The Rumpus and Jezebel. She created the popular blog, b*****s gotta eat and has published a collection of essays in a book titled MEATY. She opened for Baratunde Thurston during his "How to Be Black" tour and has been profiled in the Chicago Sun-Times and Time Out Chicago. Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Comedian Eddie Izzard joins host Tim Barnes in a conversation about comedy, performing his act in multiple languages (including French, German, Russian and Spanish), some of his comedy heroes and his aversion to telling true stories. Izzard is currently touring America with his new act, Force Majeure. Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Comedian and writer, Hari Kondabolu (Totally Biased with W. Kamu Bell) joins host Tim Barnes in a conversation about comedy, race and Hari’s new album ‘Waiting For 2042’ Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Tim Barnes welcomes comic Sean White to the ‘It’s All True!’ podcast. They dicuss his transition to personal comedy, his dream of stealing Jon Stewart's job at The Daily Show, and his strange high school adventures.Originally from Alabama, Sean is now located in Chicago and can be seen in showcases and clubs throughout the Midwest and South. Called a "Gem" by RE:Com Chicago Comedy magazine, Sean White has been seen in clubs across 3 countries. His odd yet relatable style of quick thought provoking material landed him in the finals of the Hong Kong International Comedy competition with entrants from over 11 countries.Follow Don on Twitter at: @SeanWhiteComedyTheme Song: Freddie NunezSound Engineer: Faraz HussainCover Art: James Webb Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

The Whiskey Journal contributor Tim Barnes welcomes musician and storyteller Danny Black to the ‘It’s All True!’ podcast. The dissect the differences between the music and comedy business before Danny tells the long and winding tale of his odd friendship with a famous comic.Danny Black is a member of the musical group, The Blacks (originally called 'The Black Family') an insurgent country band from Chicago. They released two albums through Bloodshot Records. Danny also performs as a storyteller, and hosts The God, Sex & Death Variety Hour at The Hideout every fourth Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.This episode also features an original headline from Whiskey Journal writer Bronwyn Isaac. Theme Song: Freddie NunezSound Engineer: Faraz HussainCover Art: James Webb Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

The Whiskey Journal contributor Tim Barnes welcomes comedian Brian Babylon and journalist Molly Adams to the ‘It’s All True!’ podcast. They discuss how their unlikely friendship through co-hosting a radio program lead to them catching a flight to Los Angeles for a taping of the show Jeapordy.Brian Babylon is a stand up comic and panelest on the NPR game show Wait Wait Don't Tell Me! Molly Adams is a journalist who writes for Chicago Reader and has reported for NPR. They both host the call-in radio talk show, The Morning AMp which airs Monday through Friday in Chi-town & NWI. Listen on 89.5 FM (NWI/CHI), 90.7 FM (CHI) or WLUW 88.7 (CHI). Across the globe at Vocalo.orgTwitter: @brianbabylon / @mollyelenaTheme Song: Freddie NunezSound Engineer: Faraz HussainCover Art: James WebbSubscribe to 'It's All True!' on iTunes. Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Comedian Michael Timlin talks to host Tim Barnes about his brief encounter with the law at a college party.Follow Michael on twitter at: @cowboytimlin Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Tim Barnes welcomes Moth GrandSLAM champion Lily Be to the ‘It’s All True!’ podcast. Lily tells the sweet, lovely and horrifying story of discovering that the man she was engaged to was a bed-wetter.According to Gapers Block, "Be never writes her stories and relies on the oral tradition she grew up with." She produces a storytelling show called Stoop-Style Stories which takes place the last Thursday of each month at Rosa's Lounge in Humboldt Park.Follow Lily Be on twitter at: @queenlilybe Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Tim Barnes welcomes comedian/writer/and closest comedy friend Ian Abramson to the ‘It’s All True!’ podcast. Ian was given the challenge to tell a story that he's never heard throughout there long friendship, and boy does it deliver.Ian has worked with the creators of Comedy Central's 'Dr. Katz' on various web projects including "The Pitch Show!" Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe

Tim welcomes Moth GrandSLAM champion Shannon Cason to the 'It's All True!' podcast. Shannon tells him a funny true story about growing up in the mean streets of Detroit.Shannon is a contributor to NPR's Snap Judgment, a staff writer for WBEZ's Paper Machete, and hosts the 'Homemade Stories' podcast. This episode also features a headline from WJ contributor Ross Kelly.Get more info on Shannon at www.shanoncason.comTheme: Freddie NunezSound Engineer: Faraz Hussain Get full access to Letters from African America at timbarnescomedy.substack.com/subscribe