Tom Rhodes Radio Smart Camp

This episode was recorded in Kuala Lumpur. Jonathan Atherton built the comedy scene in Singapore and now he just opened the first full time comedy club in Kuala Lumpur called The Crack House. When he first appeared on my podcast one year ago I got a tremendous response from people saying that thought he was the most interesting man in the world. His stories about selling shoes to prostitutes in Kenya and smuggling gas into Uganda captivated me and anyone else who heard them. Now he has lived in Malaysia for one year and has just launched the Crack House comedy club. If this podcast had a bigger budget I would have dropped confetti on his head.  In this episode we talk about the disappearance of the Malaysian airlines plane, how he is not afraid to go off and party with angry Nigerians all night, the sad and untimely death of Vernon Lewis "Life is too short to die with bitterness in your heart." How Malaysian police are the best police money can buy, the crude humor that Australians are born with and how

MinhHa Pham is a comedy superstar waiting to happen. She just needs a few more years of experience and developing material. Her love of comedy is pure and she is from the most unlikely breeding ground for comedians of Hanoi, Vietnam. I met her last year while I was performing in Hong Kong and she told me all about the new young comedy scene that is happening in Hanoi and it peeked my desire to return there.  My Father flew helicopters in Vietnam, was shot down, survived, saved another soldier's life and was rightfully decorated as a war hero. I love my Dad and the topic of Vietnam was very dear to our family.  In 1994 I was one of the first Americans to go to Vietnam after the travel ban was lifted and I filmed an hour special for Comedy Central there called 'Viva Vietnam!" Since filming there I have always wanted to return and since it had been 20 years since I had been there I set up a show there on my next tour of Asia. Filming 'Viva Vietnam!" we went all over the country and Hanoi was my favorite place

This episode was recorded in Los Angeles. I first met Jason John Whitehead about ten years ago at The Comedy Store in Sydney. Then I worked with him in Jakarta and Bali. He is from Nova Scotia, Canada, started being a comedian in Edinburgh and cut his teeth Manchester and London. He has done nine one hour Edinburgh shows. He is also a veteran of the world wide comedy circuits and now he is living in Los Angeles. He is one of the most pleasant people in comedy. Last month when I was at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles a young comedian got punched in the nose right in front of us. He go over the details of that epic knock out between comedians, he advises me on doing the Edinburgh Fringe festival and he explains what he likes most about living in North America instead of England. It is my pleasure to present to you the one and only Jason John Whitehead.

This episode was recorded in Burbank, California. Ritch Shydner is a comedian I always looked up to an admired while I was growing up, having watched him on Johnny Carson, David Lettermen and his HBO special. I had known him for years before I ever knew that he was there at El Brookman's in Washington D.C. the night my father took me there to see comedy when I was 12 years old. That night changed my life forever and Ritch remembers some of the details more clearly than I do. The fact that he remembers the night there was a kid (me) in the audience that night makes my love and respect for him hit hyperspace.  He wrote a book called "I Killed" which was a compilation of the greatest comedian road stories of all time. That book remains text book learning for young comedians looking to gain insight on the business of comedy. He writes for Bill Maher and in recent years has been helping turn Bill Maher's book "True Stories" into a screen play. Everytime I run into this man at the clubs he always puts a smile o

This episode was recorded in Los Angeles. I have only been friends with Duncan Trussell for a few years but he has already skyrocketed to the top of my list of people that I love hanging out with. We never talk about mundane topics like sports or weather, we always go to higher planes of love and consciousness as we do in today's episode that was recorded on a pleasant late Spring evening while we sat outside on Duncan's front porch. In this conversation we talk about spirituality, the transformation of evil souls into good ones, neurological science and most bend bending of all is his theory that we are all unknowingly building a time machine for the future. He has his own podcast that I have appeared on twice called the Duncan Trussell Family Hour. I like how when we get together it is mental ping pong hitting ideas back and forth. When we get together it is wise to roll recording equipment and if the universe was balanced correctly he and I would already have a TV show together. Aside from having a bri

This episode was recorded in Minneapolis. In the future if we are lucky every comedian will be more like Ted Alexandro. Not only funny but passionate about knowledge and politically active. I am a fan of Ted Alexandro because whenever I see him perform he is talking about things that matter and putting his unique opinion on world events. He is the kind of comedian I like the most in that he is the kind of comedian you learn things from, one that makes you see a topic from a different way you hadn't seen. He studied music and taught music before becoming a comedian and teaching seems to infuse most every act that he commits artistically. He will forever be enshrined in the comedy history books for starting the movement that led to the New York City comedy clubs to raise the pay for comedians from the paltry 20 dollars a set they had paid for years.  Ted was heavily involved in the Occupy Wall Street movement from the beginning and it is not only a driving force in his life it reflects creatively in his co

Jackie Kashian is a powerhouse comedian by any way you measure it. She has a strong sense of humor and slices up topics of mundane living and her own personal rage with ease. Her autobiographical humor has been seen on Comedy Central and countless late night talk shows. She has a popular podcast called 'Dork Forrest' where people talk about their strange obsessions. When I did it we talked about my obsession of going to graves of people I admire. She is perhaps the most requested guest I have had from my listeners asking me to get her on my show. I love her honesty, her work ethic and no matter what form of entertainment she is presenting she always makes me laugh. It is my pleasure to present to you a true American original, Jackie Kashian.

This episode was recorded in Los Angeles. You may know Maz Jobrani as one of the founding members of The Axis Of Evil Comedy Tour. He has been referred to as the Persian Elvis. He has appeared in countless film and television roles but my favorite incarnation of him is as a stand up comedian. I am a fan of his comedy because it contains the original energy of joy. His brand of comedy is not the slumped shoulders, down on your luck kind. His is a man in love with life and clearly enjoying himself onstage and that is what it is all about. In comedy, just like in real life it's all about having fun and enjoying yourself. I also admire Maz's work ethic. When I am in Los Angeles I always run into him around town doing sets and working on new material. This conversation was recorded in his home where I met his beautiful wife and amazing children. In every form of media these days the negative gets high lighted and too much time is spent glorifying bitter turds. The fact that he is the complete opposite of an unh

This episode was recorded in London. I first met Joseph Wilson when I performed at the Comedy Cafe in London in 2013. We hit if off instantly and unbeknownst to me he became a avid listener of my podcast. I found out he was listening to my podcast 6 months later when he was on vacation in Peru and sent me a video he filmed at the top of Machu Pichu where he recreated and slightly mocked the opening of my podcast where I list all the fabulous places in the world I am going to take the listener. I thought the video was funny and I was very flattered he filmed it in my honor.  This year when I got to London I got to hang out with Joseph a lot and get to know him better and today consider him a good friend. He is well dressed, has a theatrical personality, is an animated story teller and he is fun to be around. He currently holds the distinction of being the only comedian to appear on my podcast whose act I have not seen.  Even though I have stopped drinking I had a great time going out in London with him and

This episode was recorded in London. Very often in interviews I have said that getting in with London was the key to me getting in with all of these world wide comedy circuits, specifically me getting in with the Comedy Store. My guest today is Don Ward, the owner of the Comedy Store. Since its opening in 1979 it has single handedly changed the British comedy scene from tired old pub comedians doing Mother in law jokes to the champions league of powerful original comedy that it is today. It is now an established institution of British comedy because every British comedy legend of the past 30 years has performed there. Don Ward is the visionary who made this work and who has witnessed the development and rise of these now household names, French & Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous), Eddie Izzard, Ben Elton, Jimmy Carr, Harry Hill and on and on. The first time I ever did a set at the Comedy Store was in 1994. Then again in 1998 which led to me playing there regularly in 1999. In 2000 the Comedy Store started

This episode was recorded in London. Within the first 5 minutes I met Natalia Tena she was cracking me up and I was teaching her the basic steps of the tango. I think she is a feminist icon badass woman. She is an amazing actress whose first role was in the Hugh Grant film 'About A Boy'. Since then she has had a sterling career staring in the Harry Potter films and in Game Of Thrones. Most human beings would die content with those credits but not Natalia Tena! She is also the lead singer and creative driving force of the band Molotov Jukebox which just released their new album 'Carnival Flower'. Her parents are from Spain so rhythm is naturally in her DNA, she told me that her aim is for people to go home and make love after her concerts. Molotov Jukebox has performed all over the world inciting raucous ass wiggling good fun in it's path. Natalia Tena is a fearless shaman who leads the spiritual ritual of music, dancing and laughter at her shows and your life would be enriched to experience them. In the

This episode was recorded in London. Virginia Gilbert is an award winning author and filmmaker.  She is currently premiering her new film 'A long way from home' which she wrote and directed at film festivals all over the world. This conversation was recorded immediately following her showing of this new film at the Dublin film festival. I met Virginia many years ago when I worked with her husband, Keith Farnan at the Laughter Lounge in Dublin. Since then they have become close friends. I had been friends with Virginia for several years before I found out that her father was acclaimed filmmaker Brian Gilbert who made what I consider the greatest film about Oscar Wilde ever made with Stephen Fry in the lead role. Virginia was a young adult helping her father on the set in Dublin and this experience inspired her to go to Trinity University in Dublin the same as Oscar. In this conversation we talk about the joys and sorrows of the film making process, her secret for inspiration when she is writing and how to e

This episode was recorded in London. There have only been a few of my comedy super star friends who when I asked them to appear on my podcast declined and then there is the opposite example of Stephen K Amos who when I asked him said "Of course, how soon can we record?" I met Stephen about 15 years ago when he was in his early years of being a comedian at the Comedy Store in London. I love everything about this man! Aside from being one of the kindest souls I've ever met in the business, I love his style of dress, his flow of material as a comedian and the charming sucker punches of his punch lines. He deserves every drop of success he has gotten and I'm genuinely happy for him and his current elevation that he is flying at. He has done 11 Edinburgh one hour shows and has just come out with a book called 'Finding The Funny'. Currently hosts a show on BBC Radio called 'The Idiots Guide To Life' which I recorded a segment for at Stephen's request. In this conversation he walks me through the steps he took

This episode was recorded in Paris, France.   I first met Eve Jackson in June 2012 when I appeared as a guest on her TV program called 'The Culture Show' which airs on France 24, the English language channel of France. She was a fun and easy interviewer and I liked that she could roll with my answers injecting her wit into the conversation effortlessly.  She is the editor and primary journalist for art and culture happenings in Paris. I thought she would be an interesting guest because she knows everything that is happening for art and entertainment in Paris and also because she is usually the one answering the questions. I have stayed in touch with her in the past year and a half and I have enjoyed seeing the clips she has posted of her interviews with artists, musicians and movie stars that have graced her studio. Her journalistic path that led to her current reign at France 24 is an interesting tale and once a year she gets to hit the red carpet to interview all of the film industry people in attendance at

This episode was recorded in Paris. I met Sebastian Marx the last time I played in Paris. He has the young hot new scene  putting on stand up comedy nights in English and in French.  When I met him I came to see him perform a one hour show in French. He has lived in France for years and speaks French fluently. I didn't understand a word of the show but I was impressed to see an American speaking French and getting laughs. He is originally from New York with Argentinian parents. There are many reasons for me to love Sebastian Marx because he and I have so many things in common. Being American with a parental Argentinian connection, love of comedy, love of French culture, not afraid to live in Europe, etc. The upstairs room at the So Gymnase theatre is where I did my shows with Sebastian. It's an intimate cozy room with old couches and a low ceiling which is perfect for comedy. He regularly puts on his New York Comedy Nights show there. The audiences I experienced where multiethnic, multinational and of high

This episode was recorded in Paris.   I first met Sand Van Roy after my show in Paris in June 2012. Speaking with her I was tickled to find out that she was a huge comedy fan and that he all time favorite comedian is Mitch Hedberg. She was thrilled to hear that I was Mitch Hedberg's friend. She was trying a joke that she had written out on me and I told her that I liked it.    In this conversation recorded earlier this month in Paris I discover that it was that moment that inspired Sand to begin being a comedian one week after I met her. Because of Mitch Hedberg's influence on her she has a style of comedy that is exclusively one liners. What I consider to be the hardest form of comedy that requires a sharp mind and expert precision.    Sand is from Holland and now lives in Paris earning her living as a model. She is the first ever super model comedian that I am aware of. To focus on her good looks instead of her comedy is to sell her short in appreciating her outer shell instead of her brain power to invent

This episode was recorded in Amsterdam.   I first met Peter Klashorst ten years ago when he appeared as a guest on my Amsterdam late night talk show. At the time I was told that he was famous for painting naked black women. Having a deep appreciation for dark skinned women I liked the man instantly. His journey as an artist has been epic with a world wide reach.  He lived in Senegal where he was arrested for running a brothel. He said he was only hiring women as models but the authorities wanted to hassle him. From there he moved to Kenya and his feelings about Africa and African people are dear to his heart and he still maintains an art studio there as well as in Amsterdam.  I got to hang out with Peter several times in Amsterdam and he is one of the few humans alive who earns his living solely from painting works of art. Every fiber of his being exudes the thoughts and actions of an artist and it was a joy to see him painting in his studio when I did. As a younger man I always loved Rembrandt and Van Gogh b

This episode was recorded in Rotterdam.   It always tickles me to meet intelligent people who attend my shows and are fans of mine. Last month after my show in Rotterdam I met Zihni Özdil and I was so struck by his intelligence, life's work and personable being that I instantly wanted to record an episode of my podcast with him to squeeze out his knowledge for the enjoyment of my listeners.    He is a social historian at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, one of the highest rattiest intellectual universities in all of Europe. He is an expert on the racial history of the Netherlands and the continuing problems that non-Dutch people face here. For those of you who have never been to Holland you will be interested in learning the word "Allochtoon" which means "Dirty foreigner" and is used to describe all non-Dutch people living in this country, even if these people have been born here.    Throughout the world the Netherlands is known as a country of tolerance but put under the microscope it is anything but toleran

This episode was recorded at the American hotel in Amsterdam. Greg Shapiro is one of the nicest people you will ever meet in show business. He is originally from Chicago where he got his earliest improv training and he moved to Amsterdam in 1994 where he became one of the founding members of Boom Chicago, the Mecca of improv comedy in Amsterdam that has launched former members to Saturday Night Live and beyond. Greg just published a book called 'How to be orange' which is all about the ins and outs of Dutch culture from its most lovable traits to the most odd and hilarious. He knows so much about Dutch culture he is actually referred to as the American Nederlander. He should be an expert on Dutch culture because he has lived in Amsterdam for 20 years, married a supremely wonderful and beautiful Dutch woman who he is raising two children with. Greg produced my recent theater tour of Holland and this was recorded on the last day of that tour. In this conversation we both share knowledge gained from our lives

This episode was recorded in Amsterdam. It is ass biting cold outside and miserable rain is expected. I am currently on a theater tour performing around Holland and I'm happy to see good friends who live here that I haven't seen in a while. One of which is Bob Maclaren. Bob has been living in Amsterdam for 20 years and speaks fluent Dutch. He is from New Zealand and like me he does all the great world wide comedy gigs.  I met Bob when I first moved to Holland. He and I were both considered as the host of a travel program for the Discovery channel and Bob got it which mildly irked me. In today's conversation I find out that Bob was up for the host of the Amsterdam Late Night talk show that I got and he was mildly irked that I got it. It's like when you are young, the people you have issues or competition with usually are the ones who become your closest friends.  I have an infinite amount of respect for Bob because he not only is a naturally funny story teller and comedian, he is also one of the top comedy