Tom Rhodes Radio Smart Camp

Rafinha Bastos is the Lenny Bruce of Brazil and he has the court orders to prove it. He has been sued and had his life threatened over jokes he has made in Brazil. His hard hitting, head cracking jokes earned him the titled of most influential person on twitter in 2011, Barrack Obama was number two. He is a film and television star in Brazil but he loves stand up comedy above all else, which is why he now living in Los Angeles and bringing his comedy thunderbolts to American stages. I am happy to now call this man my friend even though he thinks all Americans have the same color lips as is the color of their skin. This is a mystifying to me as is the fact that Americans spell Brazil with a z and Brasilians spell Brasil with an s. Some things in life will remain a great mystery but great comedy rises to the top and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Rafinha Bastos!   * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Buy my newest dou

Let the soothing words of Malcolm X fuel your summer party. Going on a road trip? Sitting by the fire in the Mongolian country side or just strolling the hot streets of London, let my summer mix put a bounce in your step. Using my vinyl records, CDs and cassette tapes I put together for you this joyful array of head cracking numbers for your peak summer pleasure. Happy summer and joy be upon you!   * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Sign up for a conversation with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter www.tomrhodes.net

Greg Behrendt shot to notoriety when he co-wrote the book 'He's Just Not That Into You' and now he is about to release a book he co-wrote with his wife called 'How To Keep Your Marriage From Sucking.' He is an old friend of mine from back in my San Francisco days and he has advice for you on how not to let poison into your relationships. We could all use a refresher course in how to make love lives best. Snuggle up with a pillow and get cozy with the words of improving your life.     * Become our patron and receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Sign up for a conversation with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp   * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter www.tomrhodes.net

"All of us can take fright, but it requires greatness of soul to laugh at the moment when not merely life, but humanity itself is endangered."   In my ongoing celebration of all things France I am reading a book called 'The Banquet Years' by Roger Shattuck. It is about the origins of the avant-garde in France from 1885 - World War I. From this book I regal you with the story of Henri Rousseau and the ridicule he faced while keeping his childlike innocence intact. Then our July fireworks reach their crescendo with the spectacular story of Alfred Jarry and his groundbreaking play Ubu Roi that created a scandalous riot when it premiered at Theatre L'Oeuvre in Paris in 1896. Alfred Jarry was the precursor to the Dada art movement, surrealism and the Theater Of The Absurd. Learn all about this man who rode his bicycle around Paris with a rifle over his shoulder, two pistols in his belt and tried to make his life a living hallucination.   I talk about the triumph of France at the World Cup and how they did what Nap

Hannah Gadsby has set the comedy the comedy world on fire. If you have not seen her new Netflix special Nannette you need to do so immediately. It is one of the most powerful comedy specials ever made and I think it will be a game changer in that it will inspire comedians to be more truthful and revealing about themselves. This episode is actually a repeat and it is well worth reposting. Hannah and I recorded this conversation in 2014 when we were doing the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2014. I loved the show she did that year because it was all about art and art history, which is what makes her special Nannette so brilliant, the way she weaves in her art history knowledge. Hannah is a comedy artist who has achieved a magnificent triumph in being able to be honest about the pain she has experienced and chop the head off of our common notions of what comedy is. Aside from being a powerful storyteller she is a lovable, warm and funny human being. Enjoy this conversation we had and watch Nannette on Netflix repea

Happy Birthday America! In this episode I talk about my obsession with the World Cup in Russia and all of the human drama and heroic stories that you should be aware of in the world's greatest sports spectacle. I also tell you about the many great experiences I discovered in Philadelphia and how that city is very much like Paris in terms of attitude. This past weekend I got to perform in Philadelphia and it was my first time there since I busted my head open there 4 years ago and became sober. Philadelphia changed the world! The racism of the a Starbucks manager in Philadelphia is what made Starbucks change their corporate policy to that no one has to buy anything when we go to Starbucks. Because of a racist incident that happened at a Philadelphia Starbucks we are all free to loiter there or hold meetings without spending a dime. And you don't want to see what will happen if you don't give me that bathroom key. I love Philadelphia because they hate everyone and everyone is equal because of that. Shalom Amigo

In this episode you will learn how the first game of football was originally played by the ancient Mayans and how the Captain of the losing team would be executed. In Europe the first games of football were evolved from bored soldiers kicking around the severed heads of their dead opponents. There are so many fascinating elements to the beautiful game but none more important than how the game of football cured racism in Brazil.  Happy World Cup 2018! Enjoy!   TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Chat with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net 

Prepare to have your brains busted out by the powerful words of Charles Bukowski! Bukowski invented a poetic language free of literary pretense by writing about the hard scramble life he grappled with daily. His life and poetry was about the low life bars of Los Angeles, whores, drunks, bums and betting on horses at the race track. Mingled with the hard truths of his existence were also some of the most tender and thoughtful insights on human struggle and our desire for love and acceptance. His bitterness had humor and his drudgery produced thoughtful meditations on the beauty of hard working people, broken down bums and pathetic alcoholics and street fighters. He was a man of a different age and his works remain timeless. In this episode I pull down his books from my private collection and read to you excerpts from the following books that lit my brain and made me his fan for life: War All The Time, Love Is A Dog From Hell, It Catches My Heart In Its Hands, The Last Night Of The Earth Poems, Burning In Water

Fun with books is back! In this episode I randomly select choice passages from the biographies that line my shelves. The gritty, grappling lives of heroic characters are served up to you now in chunks of read passages from some of my favorite biographies. Including on the list of books I read from for you now are: Steve Jones - Lonely Boy My Lunches With Orson  Furious Cool - Richard Pryor James Brown- The Godfather Of Soul Brando - Marlon Brando Errol Flynn - My Wicked Wicked Ways The Shameful Life Of Salvador Dali Steve McQueen - Portrait Of An American Rebel Lou Reed - Transformer Led Zeppelin - When Giants Walked The Earth Fill your brain with gladness now!   TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Have a one time private skype session with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net   SimpleContacts To save $30 on your lenses, just go to or enter the code TRR at checkout

In this episode I talk about my Mom visiting me, getting my first colonoscopy, the Genghis Khan exhibit at the Reagan library, The controversy of Roseanne Barr and Samantha Bee's lack oh humor and the new Star Wars film Solo. I don't think Samantha Bee should lose her job because she used the C word, I think she should lose her job for using the word feckless. Shalom Amigos y Amigas.   * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Have a one time private skype session with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net * More episodes on www.tomrhodesradio.com

Get to know the first comedian ever to have abdominal muscles! Preacher Lawson sky rocketed to national prominence in 2017 when he crushed it on the television show America's Got Talent. I met him last month in Austin, Texas at the Moon Tower comedy festival. I think he is pure comedy gold and he is a super star waiting to happen. I'm proud to say that he is from Orlando, Florida and that I fully endorse him as someone who give me strong belly laughs and I know that he will do the same for you now. Glorious human that he is makes it my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Preacher Lawson! TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Have a one time private skype session with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net

I have been friends with Carrot Top since 1986 when he first starting coming around to open mic nights in Orlando, Florida. One of my happiest memories with my Dad was watching Carrot Top's show at the MGM with him and I'll never forget how hard my Dad laughed at him. Carrot Top's Dad worked at Nasa and grew up in Cocoa Beach which might be where he got his inventive mind for comedy and the gadgets he has created. I have always loved and respected Scott (Carrot Top) because he is a joke writing machine and in the immortal words of Jim Gaffigan "When I hear people make fun of Carrot Top I feel like they have insulted a family member, because he is a comedian and he is a part of my family." In this episode we talk about our Central Florida roots, his private jet ride with Jay Leno, his friendships with Vinnie Paul and Axel Rose, meeting presidents, what is was like to kiss Elton John and the endearing words he received from Bill Hicks as well as the joy of getting to know George Carlin. He also describes in det

On October 2, 1866 Mark Twain invented stand up comedy, or as he called it "platform speaking." He did not enjoy "mounting the platform" but by 1895 the famous author of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn was in debt from bas investments and publicly disgraced due to his bankruptcy. So to pay off his mountain of debts and restore his good name he embarked on a world wide lecture tour. I just finished reading this wonderful book by Richard Zacks called "Chasing The Last Laugh." It is all about Mark Twain's World Tour and the circumstances that created it. In this episode I read you the highlights and talk about the remarkable moments he experienced as a performer and world traveler.   Mark Twain had a nasty temper, his mood swings were hard on those around him and he had the worst sense of business instincts but he also is one of the most quotable humans who ever lived, had a moral sense of injustice and created some of the most loved characters in the history of literature.   I enjoyed this book so much I couldn't wait

Craig Campbell is a beautiful lunatic and a comedy legend. He is from Calgary, Canada but has been living in London for the past 20 years and crushing it. I first met and worked with Craig 20 years ago when I first started going to London and have since performed with him all over the world. Last month we toured in Asia together and this episode was recorded in Manila. In Manila we rode Harley Davidson's and after the show went to a bar that had midget boxing. I told the owner of the club that in the rest of the world we are now calling them "little people" but he said that it was too expensive to change his neon sign. Fresh back from doing our show and watching "little people" boxing Craig and I sat down to record this episode. I have infinite respect for Craig as a comedian and as a human. He is a bad ass manly man but he is not a bully, he is kind and has an innate sense of justice which always shines through in his comedy. I love this man very much and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now t

Ashna and I are fresh back from spending a week in Hong Kong. In this episode we give the history of the opium wars and the origins of the dragon boat festival. We also talk about the highlights of our visit and the best travel tips of for visiting the city. I also give the history of Adidas vs. Puma because I had a front row of Germans who worked for Adidas at my show Saturday night and it is an amazing story everyone should know. As we search for the right amount of dragon balls you make Jasmine tea with, we take you to the highest heights of Hong Kong and rejoice in its glorious history. Mgoy Sai! That means thank you!   Sponsored by SimpleContacts.com/TRR > get $30 off!! TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Have a one time private skype session with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net * More episodes on www.tomrhodesradio.com

This episode was recorded in Singapore. The first time I came to Singapore I hated it because it is so clean and orderly. Now I love it because it is so clean and orderly and that there are no homeless people or street children begging you for money.  In this episode I enumerate the many strange and interesting laws that Singapore is famous for. I talk about the midget boxing match I saw in Manila and how I implored the owner to change the sign to little people boxing. For travel tips to Singapore I suggest you not waste your time or money on having a Singapore Sling at Raffles. Do stay at The Sultan hotel near the Sultan mosque and if you truly love yourself you will make your belly happy by eating mutton murtabak. One of the best culinary delights I have discovered in this life and what I would fly to Singapore just to eat is black pepper crab, I salivate just typing the words thinking of it. Two of my favorite Tom Waits are related to Singapore and are played and discussed in this glorious tribute to Lion

I have been dreaming of going on a motorcycle adventure into North Vietnam since the last time I was in Hanoi and heard of the concept. This was only my fourth time ever driving a motorcycle and I think it will be hard to beat this experience of going the 90 miles round trip journey from Hanoi to the top of Tam Dao Mountain. Yes it was terrifying and yes I felt like a true bad ass with Steve McQueen courage especially after I crashed going up the thin and dusty mountain road. Just as the key to happiness is in lowering your expectations it is equally important to remember that your dreams just might end up killing you if you are not careful. It is a miracle that I was not seriously injured when my motorcycle went sliding out from under me and I was high with joy for hours afterward that I was alive and that I had only lost a swatch of skin off of my elbow.   In this episode I recount my journey to the top of the mountain and the dangers one encounters while operating a motorcycle in the countryside of Vietnam

I unfortunately missed the March in Las Vegas so I decided to interview two people instead. TRR Smart Camp goodies: * Receive podcast goodies! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Have a one time private skype session with Tom! www.patreon.com/tomrhodesradiosmartcamp * Buy my newest double album All Hail Laughter (2017) www.tomrhodes.net * More episodes on www.tomrhodesradio.com  

Uncle Bob is dead. Getting the news of his death has left me feeling ashamed because I was mean and cruel to him. I had not spoken to Bob in 7 years because I was angry at him for being mean and cruel to my dad. Hate and anger is poison in your life because the person you are holding a grudge against just might drop dead and then your issue with that person will never be resolved.   The truth of the matter is that my Uncle Bob was a very important person to me. Had he not done stand up comedy in Washington D.C. in 1978 then my dad would have not taken me to see him and I might not have turned out to be a stand up comedian. After he died I was flooded with good memories of him and I will be forever haunted by the fact that neither one of us reached out to each other to fix the ill feelings that kept us using silence against each other.   My Uncle Bob's life was a victory because he found a woman who loved him, he had a successful career and he retired to a lovely farm in Vermont.   This episode is a repeat. It

Praise be to the written word! In my living room I have the walls lined with book shelves holding over 2,000 books. This is my life time collecting books and Ashna's lifetime of collecting books joined together. Since living in Los Angeles we have invented a game we like to call "Book Roulette." This game consists of us randomly pulling a book from the shelf, cracking it open and reading a few paragraphs or highlights from that book to each other. It is our nerdy way of plucking riches of the written word for the delight of our brains. It is our way of entertaining ourselves on cold rainy nights like tonight when we recorded this episode. Living among thousands of books means nothing if you are not gaining anything from them. That is why we invented this game and share it only with good friends who come to our place and like to get cozy with inspiration. So brace yourself and get ready for explosions of powerful words from the shelves of Tom and Ashna. You will most certainly be enriched with pearls of words