ALL GUESTS

Episode 129 - Ian Bagg

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.

Episode 128 - Pete Lee

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.

Episode 127 - Lara Beitz

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.

Episode 126 - Center for Veterans Issues

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 with CVI, the challenges female veterans face, and what it means to be named Milwaukee County’s 2023 Veteran of the Year. They share updates on current projects happening at CVI, ways to give back, what Veterans Day means to them, and provide advice on how to thank a veteran for their service.

Interested in learning more about CVI or want to donate? Head to cvivet.org to read about what they’re doing, how you can help, and more.

Episode 125 - Voting in Wisconsin

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.

Episode 124 - Hansel Canady

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 in the barber shop” is the motto Hansel lives by. It’s even on the wall as soon as you walk in. As an advocate for counseling and therapy, Hansel loves offering his chair as a safe space for his clients to open up. From AJ Dillon to Matt LeFleur to Charlie Berens, he enjoys making his clients to look and feel great.

Make sure to book your appointment with Hansel or his team at Hancan Barbershop in Green Bay at hancanbarber.com and make sure to follow Hansel on social @hancanbarbershop.

Follow the Cripescast at @cripescast and Charlie @charlieberens and make sure to find us on Patreon patreon.com/charlieberens for exclusive content and behind the scenes footage.

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

Episode 123 - Alannah Vellacott

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 importance of representation of Black women in her industry and how her social media aims to bring lessons from the ocean to all.

Episode 122 - Shapel Lacey

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 shapellacey.com. Find him on Instagram @shapellacey.

Find the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast and find us on Patreon for exclusive content, extended cuts, behind the scenes and more at patreon.com/charlieberens.

The music behind the advertisements are "Double Polka" and "Manic Polka" by Kevin McLeod

Episode 121 - White House Conference on Hunger and Nutrition

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 and General Manager of the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative.

Episode 120 – Chris Distefano

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 altar boys back in the day, their trip to London and how Chris is going to stay in Charlie’s cheese room in Milwaukee.

Episode 119 - Michael Yo

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.

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

The music for the Cripescast is “Double Polka” by Kevin McLeod and “Old Wisconsin Jubilee” by Berens and Greuel.

Episode 118 - TJ Therrien

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.

Episode 117 - Nick Colletti

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!

Episode 116 - Charlie Fan Q&A

This week Charlie answers fan-submitted questions!

Find us on Patreon patreon.com/charlieberens

Episode 115 - Tracey Ashley

Emmy-nominated screenwriter and comedian Tracey Ashley joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. Tracey is the head writer for “The Neighborhood”, she's written on “The Last O.G.” and “A Black Lady Sketch Show” and she's gone on tour with Dave Chapelle, Tracy Morgan and many more comics. 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 an interracial marriage and how society’s reactions has changed over time.

Episode 114 - Bill Doucette

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.

Episode 113 - Tumua Tuinei

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.

Episode 112 - Jim Burke

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

Join our Patreon - patreon.com/charlieberens

Episode 111 - Greg Gard

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

Episode 110 - Ton Johnson

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.

Episode 109 - Bellied Up Crossover with Charlie and Myles

Episode 109 - Bellied Up Crossover with Myles and Charlie
July 13, 2022
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

Episode 108 – Rachel Harrison

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 trafficking, and opportunities in Wisconsin legislation to help stop the exploitation of children.

For more information about FEE and the work they’re doing, go to fighttoendexploitation.org.

If you see something, say something.

National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888.

Episode 107 - Questions with Charlie

This week Charlie answers some fan questions. Wanna get a question answered? Email us at cripescast@gmail.com.

Episode 106 - Jim Kearney

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.

Episode 105 - Christine Schiefer & Em Schulz

This week, Charlie is joined by the hosts of the “And That’s Why We Drink” podcast and authors of the new book “Haunted Road Atlas” 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 Right”. The three talk about their shared experience staying at the notoriously-haunted 5-star hotel in downtown Milwaukee, The Pfister Hotel, and other interactions with ghosts.