Episodes
-
After 21 years, a TikTok and encouragement from my 13-year-old kid later, I unearthed a failed documentary project, Conversations with Madea, a series profiling women convicted of killing their children. During the development of this documentary, I corresponded with several women who were serving time for infanticide as well as their families (in some cases their surviving children), attorneys and friends.
The first mother in this series is Khoua Her, a Hmong refugee living in the Twin Cities who took the lives of her six children.
In this pilot episode I discuss Khoua’s life story, the events leading up to the deaths of her children by her own hands and our first conversation.
-
The second in a two-part interview series, “The Owners: The Business of Show Business,” profiles Barbara Holliday, co-owner of Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank, California. We talk about what it takes to make it and stay in the business and how they survived the pandemic lockdowns.
-
Missing episodes?
-
The first in a two-part interview series, “The Owners: The Business of Show Business,” profiles comedy club owners; Al Martin of Broadway Comedy and Greenwich Comedy Clubs and Barbara Holliday, co-owner of Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank, California. Both these comedy veterans join Vox Celeste, offering invaluable advice to aspiring comedians: what it takes to make it and stay in the business and how they survived the pandemic lockdowns.
-
John Fugelsang has been a politically and socially relevant figure for decades; from his time at VH-1 to his current gig on Sirius XM, host of “Tell Me Everything.” The very outspoken, Fugelsang joins Vox Celeste telling us everything about his thoughts on modern-day Christianity to “cancel culture.”
-
Maryssa's successful Fashionably Funny comedy show ran for years at New York City’s Broadway Comedy club, in the before times. Smith joins Vox Celeste discussing the trauma of growing up as a NYPD detective’s daughter, navigating Catholic high school bitches and comedy after Covid.
-
Colorful and unpolitically correct, Andrew Kelly looks and sounds as if he could be a bookie at a dive bar in Hell’s Kitchen not portraying historical figures in movies and television. Kelly joins Vox Celeste to discuss how he turned his “failed” comedy career into acting-gold; sobriety and fighting cancer. (And the time he called the cops to report a murder, his).
-
Del is best described as everyone’s favorite fun-loving, funky, spiritual godmother. This delightfully, talented comedian, actress and singer is a fan favorite in, internet sensations, Bigg Jah and Minks productions playing various characters from cougar to holy roller. She joins Vox Celeste discussing how the pandemic renewed her faith.
-
If hard work indeed paid off in comedy, then no doubt, returning guest, Todd Montesi would be the king of comedy. Montesi is, hands down, one of the most prolific content creators in the New York City comedy scene. His critically acclaimed, web series, “PN and Friends” has featured the likes of Anthony Scaramucci, Rachael Doziel and Roger Stone.
-
This week on Vox Celeste we are joined by comedian and master impressionist, JL Cauvin. Half-Hatian, half-Irish, but one hundred-percent Catholic, JL opens up about his faith and the burdens that come along with being passé blanc.
-
The first time actor and comedian, Nicky Sunshine (FYI Network) joined Vox Celeste she was a stepmother of two and uncertain if she wanted to become a mother herself. Two-and-a-half-years and a pandemic later, Nicky is now a mother of a newborn boy. We discuss her devastating medical postpartum experience and her hopes, dreams and fears of raising her Black son in a hostile America.
-
Filmmaker, comedian, actor, Perry Strong (180 Seconds and 2 Comics on a Bench, Power) attended 22 schools throughout his childhood, shuttling from one home to another. After years of engaging in self-destructive behavior, Strong found sobriety and just as his life was turning around, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Perry joins Vox Celeste discussing the value of resetting your life.
-
Born to a drug addicted mother, Tanya spent her childhood in foster care suffering unspeakable horrors. Cooper, however, made the proverbial lemonade from her experiences and has dedicated her life to bettering the lives of foster kids, through her organization Foster Kids Unite. Everything life has thrown at her she’s thrown right back and even harder.
-
Liberian by birth, American raised, Peter Jallah has been met with much success in and out of the world of comedy. One of the driving forces behind Blacktag Media, a Black owned, Black content driven, social media platform, Jallah shares his sobering take on racism in social media venture capitalism, “If the Clubhouse was presented by Black people, it would have never been funded. Now you think it’s (Clubhouse) only for Black people”
Host: Celeste Joseph Jennings
Sound Engineer: Adam Hiniker
Music: Matt Da Godfatha “Burn it Down”
-
Kunal “KC” Aurora (The Unmovers) is a self-described Guidian (part guido, part Indian). Growing up in Queens, according to Aurora everyone becomes a little Italian. He joins Vox Celeste to discuss his comedy and why growing up in New York City ages you more than booze and cigarettes.
Host: Celeste Joseph Jennings
Sound Engineer: Adam Hiniker
Music: Mat Da Godfatha "Burn it Down" -
For Zygy Susser (Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) being average and unambitious is a source of pride, except when it comes to comedy. Susser joins Vox Celeste to discuss his failings as a NYC teacher and shares his tips on potty training birds.
Sound Engineer: Adam Hiniker
Recorded: Cedar Closet Studios
Music: “Burn it Down” Mat Da God Fatha
-
Natalie K. Levant is a pint-sized force of nature that no one can nor should attempt to reckon with. Rocking her signature sequin green cowboy boots, Rod Stewart tank tops and Manic Panic purple hair- Levant ain't like the other grandmas- thank God!. Starting her comedy career seven years ago, at the age of 81, Levant has made a name for herself both in her hometown of Philadelphia and abroad. She joins Vox Celeste discussing the impact of the pandemic on her comedy career and when age isn't just a number when it puts you in a high-risk group. Music: " Burn it Down" Mat Da Godfatha Engineer: Adam Hiniker Recorded at Cedar Closet Studios
-
While some folks mark time in calendar years, Christiana Jackson marks time in dicks. Christiana joins Vox Celeste to discuss life growing up with a Black mother and a bi-polar white step-father, in a hic New Jersey town and why every straight woman needs a Latino lover.
Cedar Closet Productions Music: “Burn it Down” Mat Da Godfatha -
Glo Butler has made a name for herself in the New York City, LGBQT comedy scene as both a comedian and a producer of the very popular Glo in the City stand-up comedy show. Glo in the City is one of the few stand-up comedy shows that serve both LGBQT comedians and audiences of color. If the pandemic is the proverbial monkey- it hasn’t stopped her show. Glo in the City is still serving laughs to Brooklynites in these uncertain times.
-
You may not like what Zenobia has to say, but I can assure you- she really doesn’t give a shit. I mean she really doesn’t, as you will hear on her recent comedy album, “Reckless With the Truth.” Del Mar joins Vox Celeste opening up about managing her mental health and the wonders of CBD.
-
For many aspiring comedians, getting passed at The Comedy Cellar or “The Cellar," is akin to getting the keys to comedy heaven. There aren’t many clubs in New York City where one could be bumped for a drop-in by Dave Chappelle. And it is because of these big name drop-ins is why the lines for his clubs, in the pre-Covid era, snaked around the block. Noam joins Vox Celeste to discuss the future of live stand-up comedy, why New York City will never die and the writings of Fredrick Douglass.
- Show more
