If This Is True with Chris Hall

Let me introduce you to Brandon.He grew up in a small SE Ohio town called Caldwell and graduated from Kent State University in Dec. 2012 with Applied Engineering and Tech Management.Brandon started at Imposters Theater April 2023 where he took sketch writing, and then started improv in July 2023. He just finished Level 4Brandon likes to write sketches, screenplays, journals and other projects. He “won” NaNoWriMo in 2013 by completing it. Brandon has a podcast called Wigglin’ and Gander which is about the TV show Dave.Brandon likes to do crafts and woodworking. He loves music, TV, movies and podcasts.You can check out his work on IG at @abrandoncraft, @buffoonbrandon, and @microtheatercle. Also check out his sketchwork on YouTube at Post Industrial Cactus Farts.

From Saturday Night Live and Pretty Woman, Rhonda Hansome’s comedy has opened for stars including Anita Baker, Diana Ross, James Brown and Aretha Franklin; in venues from LA’s Greek Theater to NY’s Radio City. She was Artist Coordinator and Host of Laughing Liberally (NY’s top political comics) Off-Broadway production of Indictment Excitement. Every Monday on Sirius XM, Rhonda is John Fugelsang’s guest. She’s an award winning director and offers an online Solo Show Development Workshop. When not regaling Storytelling audiences, Rhonda writes and anchors Real Newz on Politipod. In her free time she writes Politoonitics cartoons on Facebook and rollerblades. Check out this tremendous talent! 

On this episode, Friend of the Show, Tommy Hough and I talk about the craziness that was the Republican National Convention, the assassination attempt on former President Trump and the failure of the media to call out lies and misinformation. We also discussed Citizens United and the power that the donor class has. Check it out! It was a great hang and it will be a good listen!

Have you met Jayant? Jayant is an improviser and facilitator with over 5 years of experience in the field. He has showcased his improvisational skills in various performances with his troupe, NIC (Nautankibaaz Improv Collective), for esteemed multinational corporations such as Adobe, Google, and KPMG, among others.He has honed his skills through comprehensive training under the guidance of influential mentors such as John Hildreth, Artistic Director at The Second City, Chicago, and Ankur Sardana, the Founder of Nautankibaaz Improv Collective, Gurugram. Additionally, he performs as a valued team member of Queen City Comedy's esteemed global team - Horrible Friends of Mine. We talked about the value of being focused, yet unprepared in improvisation and in life. He is a down-to-earth sort of fellow. Give this a listen!

BJ Lange currently resides in Los Angeles, where he is actively involved in the improv community as both performer in various groups, including his two-man comedy duo, Tacklebox Improv, and instructor, at The Improv Trick, 3-2-1 Acting Studios, and The Second City Hollywood, where he leads the Improv for Veterans Program. BJ also teaches at the prestigious Orange County School of the Arts Acting Conservatory and coaches the high school’s Improv Club.BJ completed several improv programs, including iO West (formerly improvOlympic West) and Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre LA. He is a graduate of The Second City Hollywood Conservatory additionally completing the long form improv and musical improv programs. He has also studied at The Groundlings School. Naturally, this background in theatre performance, voiceover, and improv has been invaluable as BJ has moved into hosting duties for both live and televised events, including Maxim’s Spring Break in Panama City Beach, GameRiot for MTV2, X-Games BMX Jams, LG National Texting Championship, Mobile World Cup, and the Simon D Tour Live! presented by ABC Family. Two-time testicular cancer survivor BJ’s passions outside of “Yes, and”-ing, include beatboxing, riding motorcycles, aviation, barbecuing, and extensive volunteer work. A retired USAF Reserve medic and pilot, BJ proudly volunteers as a Public Affairs Officer for the Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary. Finding a way to combine his passion for performing with his devotion to service, BJ is an athlete, mentor, and ambassador in the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program, serving also as a comedy coach teaching improv as part of the resiliency programs. He is a member of the Veterans of Comedy, Veterans in Media & Entertainment, and the American Legion, and a cast member of DIAVOLO Dance Theatre’s Veterans Project, which recently performed at the Kennedy Center.You don't want to miss this one! Check it out!

Dr. Doug Shaw is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Northern Iowa. He’s taught in at least five departments or programs there, won awards at three universities, is a Renaissance scholar, and is a heckuva nice guy to work with.His research is in tertiary math education, combinatorics, and graph theory. He is or has been an author, systems engineer, street-busker, variety show performer, comedy troupe director, emcee, and elected member of the Cedar Falls School Board. He’s facilitated workshops about teaching, mathematics, improv, creativity, innovation, and all sorts of things since 1995 in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Montreal. He’s an Applied Improvisation Certified Practitioner. He’s waiting to be invited to present in Hawaii, Scotland, or any other place his family wants to visit. Oh – and your town. That’s #1 on his list.You'll learn a lot from this one. Give it a listen.

Paul Myers is a music and comedy encyclopedia with stories galore! He's toured with the Barenaked Ladies. He's worked with the Kids In The Hall. He's stayed at Todd Rundgren's Kauai residence (OK, he was interviewing the maestro for a book). You get the idea! Paul waxed poetic on his time in the Gravelberrys (Check out "Wonder Where You Are Tonight." It is a vibe!) and as a radio personality and writer. He has tremendous stories that can be found within this podcast! Give it a listen! Also, check out the Record Store Day Podcast biweekly wherever you get your podcasts!

Juliette has been a Playboy Bunny, a soap opera writer for ABC Television, a theater writer/performer, and an ATP airplane pilot and Master Flight Instructor. She won two Writers Guild Awards and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy. She is also an animal rights advocate who worked for Best Friends Animal Society for almost a decade. Juliette also added TedX Fargo Speaker to her extensive resume.  Her current mission is twofold: to help people who are struggling with the debilitating and potentially lethal symptoms of Compassion Fatigue; the emotional and physical burden created by caring for others in distress or neglecting your own life-stress, and guiding people to create the future of their dreams. Definitely give this one a listen!