Special musical guest Frances Quinlan of Hop Along joins improvisers Dan Lippert, Jon Mackey, and Seth Morris for this week’s improv4humans! Hop Along plays songs that inspire scenes about a kid under pressure to whistle well, an open house that attracts jazz fans, and a mom who finds a solution for bullies on the dark web. Later, a family hashes out their issues at Disneyland, sloppy weapons testers cause lab accidents, and a library gets packed with bands researching their songs.

This episode is sponsored by The Jim Jefferies Show podcast.

Chris Kelly and Pat Kelly —from the aptly named podcast creative studio Kelly & Kelly and CBC’s This Is That — join Lex on the Wolf Den. Chris and Pat discuss This Is That’s upcoming tour, and inadvertently tricking listeners into thinking their satiric stories were true. The three also talk about Kelly & Kelly’s new fake true crime “This Sounds Serious,” and the importance of striking the correct tone with satire.

This episode is brought to you by Podchaser.

Rhea talks Franklin Avenue, love and the Twin Cities. Sets from Erin Lennox, Karl Hess, Melanie Maras, Josh Sharp and Chris Thayer.

This episode is brought to you by The Roast Battle Podcast, TomboyX (www.tomboyx.com/HANDSTOGETHER) and BarkBox (www.barkbox.com/PYHT).

Scott, Paul and Lauren discuss doing impressions as a child and comedy in other cultures. Then for their feature segment, the gang performs half-written, half-improvised plays.

This episode is brought to you by Hello Fresh (www.hellofresh.com/THREEDOM60 code: THREEDOM60) and Care/Of (www.takecareof.com code: THREEDOM).

Andy and Matt are giving ol’ August Lindt another shot with Travel Bug recorded live at The Largo in Los Angeles.  August is joined by other famous travel bugs, Werner Herzog, Pope Benedict XIII, and H.R. Giger to discuss their favorite travels.  Then the whole Lindt family pop’s by to update us on what they’ve been up to since we last heard from them four years.  And to close out the evening German super-group, Spyryt performs their hits.

Special Guests: Matt Besser, Paul F. Tompkins, Jeremy Carter, James Bladon, Chris Tallman, Mark McConville, Erinn Hayes, Todd Cooper, and Tony Thaxton

This episode is brought to you by Heineken and Casper Mattresses (www.casper.com/andydaly code: ANDYDALY).

Photos by Liezl Estipona.

Bryan and Erin get into the fall spirit with saucy novelty tees on this week’s Throwing Shade! Bryan takes us through the hectic week in politics before getting into an attempt by the Trump administration to essentially “define out of existence” transgender people. Then, Erin addresses the rampant issue of sexual assault on airlines following a report about an assailant using Trump’s own words as a defense for groping another passenger.

And make sure to check out Deeper Shade of Shade on Stitcher Premium, where Bryan and Erin interview their favorite friends of the show. For a free month of listening, go to stitcherpremium.com/shade and use promo code ‘SHADE’.

This episode is sponsored by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com/SHADE code: SHADE), Chappy, NutriBullet (www.nutribulletbalance.com/SHADE) and Osso Good (www.ossogoodbones.com/SHADE code: SHADE).

Skydiving with Paula Poundstone.

This episode is brought to you by Everlane (www.everlane.com/PARDO), Robinhood (pardo.robinhood.com), and Hello Fresh.

The Pistol Shrimps take on the Slam Drunks at Lake Street Gym. Matt and Mark call the action.

The Shrimps on Twitter: @pistolshrimpsbb
The Shrimps on Instagram: @thepistolshrimps

Pistol Shrimps Radio on Twitter: @shrimpsradio
Pistol Shrimps Radio on Instagram: @pistolshrimpsradio

Actress, comedian, writer Xosha Roquemore (The Mindy Project) joins Andrew and Tawny to discuss a white actor using the n-word in character, racist family members, and much more. As always, leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

This episode is brought to you by BlueChew (www.bluechew.com code: YO).

Today’s Raised By TV guest is comedian & Nerdificent host Ify Nwadiwe! He talks about learning to love anime from “Toonami,” almost getting into acting from a commercial, and the controversy over the “Insatiable” trailer. Plus, a new improvised sitcom with special guest Mary Holland, “My Babysitter’s An Astronaut!”

This episode is brought to you by Fallout 76, I’ll Be There For You by Kelsey Miller, Away (www.awaytravel.com/tv code: TV), and HitchSwitch (www.hitchswitch.com code: TV).

Jo’s dad Fred Firestone (Punderdome) & comedian Sam Corbin (Quitters) join Jo & Manolo to play listener-created games with callers, including a special call from Dan Black (The Comedians of Wrestling podcast)! 

Games played: Ring, Ring On The Telephone, It’s ____, Manolo Minute Madness, and Dr. Manoshow/Jonolopinions

Accomplished actor and rapper Carlos Leal joins Matt to discuss his role as Tournament Director in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale. Carlos shares never before told stories about his original role as the croupier, why he believed for 24 hours that he was going to be the villain after his audition, and falling asleep in his chair while filming. Plus, Carlos tells us the story he invented for his Tournament Director including why his mustache was so important.

This episode is brought to you by The Jim Jefferies Show podcast.

Paul Scheer and Amy Nicholson of Unspooled join Howard, Stard and Kev to count down the hottest pop culture charts! Paul and Amy offer up remixes on the classic Jaws formula before they get into Billboard’s Top 100. Plus, A Star Is Born gets put to the fire and Paul goes into which film could have escaped the How Did This Get Made treatment during the Movie Chart, and a special Kiss connection is revealed as the gang counts down their Hot Picks.

This episode is sponsored by FleetWit (www.fleetwit.com/CHARTED code: CHARTED) and Robinhood (charted.robinhood.com).

Gaby Goldstein is co-founder and Political Director of the Sister District Project, a grassroots organization of over 30,000 volunteers that supports Democratic candidates. She joins Jonathan to talk the importance of flipping red states blue, strategies to win legislative races, and more.

Gaby Goldstein is on Twitter @gaby__goldstein. You can learn more about Sister District at https://sisterdistrict.com/. They’re on Twitter and Instagram @Sister_District and on YouTube and Facebook at Sister District.

Find out what today’s guest and former guests are up to by following us on Instagram and Twitter @CuriousWithJVN.

Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com.

Check out Getting Curious merch at PodSwag.com.

Listen to more music from Quiñ by heading over to TheQuinCat.com.

Jonathan is on Instagram and Twitter @JVN and @Jonathan.Vanness on Facebook.

The one and only Ross Bryant returns to the OFF BOOK stage with Zach and Jess for a wild new musical jam-packed with sneaky booby-trapped letters, lasers, fart lockers, and Phoebe Thunderstein. With songs like “Powerful Woman in a Power Suit”, “Straight to the Top / What’s In The Box?!” and “Talkin’ ‘Bout My Best Friend”, you’ll wish you could be trapped in an elevator with these songs playing on repeat. PS: Send us your #DougChallenge!

This episode is brought to you by Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: OFFBOOK) and Hunt A Killer (www.huntakiller.com/offbook).

Jensen and Matty put the word out and play messages from all the Bunheads who say goodbye. Thanks for listening!

What is beauty? Maybe the answer is unknowable. For this week’s caller, searching for the answer to that question has been the source of a lot of emotions: anger, depression, anxiety, jealousy and sometimes happiness.

This episode is brought to you by Ulta Beauty (www.ulta.com).

Friend of the show Wayne Federman stops by to chat with guest host Samm Levine about his new podcast, being a USC professor, and HBO’s “Crashing”.

The Boys and JAMEELA JAMIL from The Good Place fix the TV rankings.

This episode is sponsored by Audible (www.audible.com/THEBOYS or text THEBOYS to 500500) and Robinhood (www.Handbook.robinhood.com).

Actor and director Peter Bonerz shares his views on the state of television comedy, the pros and cons of laugh tracks and the rights and wrongs of improvisational theater and looks back on his decades-long friendships with Bob Newhart and Suzanne Pleshette. Also, Redd Foxx changes his tune, Carroll O’Connor cashes a check, Woody Allen brings down the house and Peter directs Gilbert in an episode of “Wings.” PLUS: Rod Serling! Captain Kangaroo! The wit and wisdom of Buck Henry! Murphy Brown meets Walter Cronkite! And Peter remembers the late, great Bill Daily!

This episode is brought to you by Robinhood (gilbert.robinhood.com).

What do you do when a piece of entertainment lets you down? Maybe you complain about it to your friends. Maybe you nail its flaws with a sly tweet, or share a damning critical review. If you use any of those forms of outrage, it’s probably because failed art can feel like it’s happening TO us, not for us. But what if we told you anybody can take ownership of their viewing experience? What if holding one fun idea in your mind throughout an okay movie can change it into unforgettable entertainment? And most amazing of all: what if that could make ‘Star Wars’ prequels kind of watchable?

On this week’s episode of The Cracked Podcast, Alex Schmidt is joined by comedian writer & memoir-master Guy Branum for a celebration of fan theories, headcanons, and other ways to read a movie better. They’ll re-discover everything from Julia Roberts’ heyday to Disney’s darkest hour. They’ll turn football movies into the Shakespearean tragedies they’ve always been. And if they can find the strength to do it, they’ll make ‘Entourage’ into something miraculously watchable.

Footnotes: http://www.cracked.com/podcast/theories-headcanons-that-make-movies-1000x-better

Things aren’t looking too good for the teachers. Mr. Levi’s questions his relationship with El Chapo, Mr. Weatherman’s “Big Nightmare” is only getting bigger, Mr. Cravy had a mishap with a performance enhancing drug, and Mr. Padre’s got a gun. They’re joined by the richest person in town, Lana Suds, to discuss how to stay grounded when you’ve got everything you could ever want.

The guys have had a very rough week — some of Sam’s students have a complete mental breakdown and end up in “The Danger Zone”, Howard leans on a risky partnership to achieve his goals for the paper, Mr. Cravy falls back on familiar habits after his golden boy trackstar, Cheetahman, is exposed, and Todd finds himself head over heels for a mute masseuse named Steve. The teachers are joined by middle-aged student, Barbara Tasty to discuss what it’s like being decades older than your classmates and her unique prom experience.

It’s time for Chunt’s annual blood drive for lazy vampires, Chunt for Red October. This year he has two mummies along to help.

Arnie: Arnie Niekamp

Chunt: Adal Rifai

Usidore: Matt Young

Doris the Mummy: Lisa Burton

Eugenia the Mummy: Mary Beth Smith

Mysterious Man: Tim Sniffen

Tricia: Kate James

Craig: Ryan DiGiorgi

Producers: Arnie Niekamp, Ryan DiGiorgi, Evan Jacover

Editor: Chris Rathjen

Theme Music: Andy Poland

Magic Tavern Logo: Allard Laban

Audio Assistance: Jason Knox

Production Assistance: Garrett Schultz

Get your copy of the next Book Club read, Pride and Prejudice here!

Mr. Padre’s Poke restaurant’s bathroom has its grand opening, Mr. Weatherman’s picked up the nickname “The Big Nightmare”, Mr. Cravy’s star “human” runner, Cheetahman, is in hot water for licking himself during the national anthem, and a new side of Mr Levi’s appears during a confrontation with school band teacher Marty Mountain over Mr. Mountain’s controversial teaching methods.

Mr. Cravy works out on a full stomach, Mr Levi’s plans a radio tour to promote the school newspaper, Mr. Padre gets into competitive tickling, and Mr. Weatherman’s motivational speaking causes some third degree burns. The teachers are joined by their colleague Ms. Smuckers, who’s recently had an unfortunate “accident”. 

The guys are rehired after making some lofty and potentially impossible promises. Mr. Levi’s takes over as head of the school paper, Mr Weatherman invests in the students’ mental health, Mr. Padre makes strides toward finally understanding the opposite sex, and Mr. Cravy works to bring the track team from “last to fast.” The teachers are also joined by candidate for school board, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, to discuss the proper temperature for school lunches and the art of disguise. 

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes ringtone rippers and everyone else back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is fantastic performer/drag superstar Trixie Mattel! Trixie chats about the last time he was in a stream, nature related likes/dislikes growing up in the “ country country,” and the effects of cryotherapy. Then, they are joined by improvisers Colleen Smith, Annie Savage, and Oscar Montoya, to improvise a story set in a Pool In Palm Springs. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

This episode is brought to you by Leesa (www.leesa.com/pft code: PFT), Linkedin (www.linkedin.com/PFT), and Stitch Fix (www.stitchfix.com/pft).

Comedian, writer, friend of the show and so much more David Wain joins Scott to make a magical announcement on this week’s Comedy Bang! Bang! David teams up with Thomas Middleditch to share sound effect records, recap David’s lawsuits, and to help Scott with his movie idea. Then, self-proclaimed fan favorite Rudi North drops in to talk about his new job, and California native Brody Broderson stops by to seek help for a skin condition.

This episode is sponsored by Rockstar Games – Red Dead Redemption 2 (www.rockstargames.com/RedDeadRedemption2), Leesa (www.leesa.com/BANGBANG code: BANGBANG), Thursday Boot Company (www.thursdayboots.com), and Marine Layer (www.marinelayer.com code: BANGBANG).