ALL GUESTS

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.

Episode 104 - Ryan Busse

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 including universal background checks, red flag laws, mental health, the NRA, conspiracy theories, and where we can go from here.

Episode 103 - Jon Reep

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 changed the comedy scene and his approach to it all. Jon shares about his creative process for stand up, his worst experience on stage, and Charlie offers him some travel advice for when he visits Milwaukee.

Episode 102 - Dan Cummins

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 early 2000s. He and Charlie talk about creative burnout, where to find inspiration, performing for Midwest crowds. Charlie also addresses America’s latest mass shootings.

Episode 101 - Vince Herman

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.

Episode 100 - Molly & Dick Berens

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.

Episode 99 – No Mow May with Israel Del Toro Ph.D. & Relena Ribbons Ph.D.

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.

Episode 98 – Joe Dombrowski

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.

Episode 97 – Taylor Calmus (aka Dude Dad) Returns

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.

Episode 96 – Chastity Washington

Comedian and teacher Chastity Washington joins Charlie on the Cripescast to talk about the Milwaukee comedy scene, incorporating her job into stand up and the wisdom of the kids she teaches.

Episode 95 – Sasheer Zamata

Comedian Sasheer Zamata joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week to talk about her experience on SNL, her role on ABC's “Home Economics”, and her and Charlie's shared love of bird watching.

Follow Sasheer on Instagram and Twitter @thesheertruth