Guests for the Week of May 12

Monday

Chris Bowers

Bowers won the Midwest Ultimate Funny Championships and the Louisville flight of the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival. He has a universal appeal to men and women of all ages. Bower’s ability to break down human behavior into relatable and hilarious truths is the key to his humor. He is a crowd favorite at colleges all across the country. Check out his podcast, the TNT Dynamite Party Hour.

Scott Potasnik

Scott Potasnik’s adventures as a “Sexpert” started early, when, at age 23, he was hired as the fresh-faced young host and senior producer of Playboy TV’s hit series Sexcetera. For the next seven years, Scott traveled the globe reporting on every bizarre aspect of human sexuality known to man. From folks who have sex with balloons (“Looners”), to the underground brothels of Brazil, to the world’s largest outdoor swinger’s campout, “Swingstock,” all the way to Tokyo’s massive fetish party, “Torture Garden,” Scott has seen it all. And today, he is known as the go-to-guy when it comes exploring the comedic side of human sexuality. Scott on Facebook and twitter.

Tuesday

Mike Birbiglia

Mike Birbiglia is not only a popular and successful stand-up comedian, he’s also starred in the one-man off-Broadway shows “Sleepwalk With Me” and “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend,” is the author of the book, “ Sleepwalk With Me And Other Painfully True Stories,” and wrote, starred in and directed the film Sleepwalk with Me (which was based on his one-man-show, which in turn was based on his real life experiences). The film received much critical acclaim and also won the the Best Of NEXT audience award at the Sundance Film Festival. Mike is currently back out on tour. You can follow Mike on twitter and facebook. Visit his website here(Photo Credit: Brian Friedman)

Chris Gethard

Chris Gethard is a comedian, actor, and public access TV host from New York City. He just taped a stand up special for Comedy Central, and recently released his first album. He’s been seen on TV shows like Broad City, The Office, and Louie, and in movies like The Other Guys and The Heat. He’s been heard on This American Life, where he once read the title story from his book A Bad Idea I’m About To Do. Chris is the host of The Chris Gethard Show, a cult hit public access tv show that recently had a Comedy Central pilot produced by Zack Galifianakis and Will Ferrell. Chris tours the country perform stand up, and can be seen at the Comedy Attic in Bloomington, Indiana May 22-24. Follow him on Twitter. Visit his website here.

Rupert Boneham

Often referred to as television’s favorite Survivor, Rupert Boneham is an entrepreneur with a professional focus and a strong passion to support the community and individuals in need.

In 2004, after working in the Mental Health Field for over 20 years, Rupert founded Rupert’s Kids, a non-profit organization that provides mentoring, vocational training and job placement to young ex-offenders.  When he won the million dollar prize for Survivor fan favorite that same year, he donated $177,000 to his community, plus $100,000 to fund Rupert’s Kids.  Taking no government handouts, Rupert’s Kids has shown how Corporate America and private donors can support a charitable program and build a better community for us all.

Rupert ran for governor of Indiana in the 2012 election as a libertarian, making Indiana history by receiving the highest vote total of any third party candidate.   He focused on many issues during his campaign and in the debates, spreading awareness about some of the most costly problems in our detention centers, correctional facilities, and education system.

To this day, Rupert is committed to raising funds and awareness for these issues through nationwide appearances and speaking engagements. 

Throughout his career, Rupert has worked with several charities and hundreds of clients, and has always focused on improving the lives of youth.  As his organization continues to evolve, he plans to become more active in local and national projects that can benefit communities and improve the quality of life for all.

Rupert’s book, Rupert, Just Being Me, was published in 2006.  The memoir continues to inspire readers with his interesting and insightful life stories.  He resides in Indianapolis, IN with his wife and daughter. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Visit his website here.

Wednesday

Marc Maron

Marc Maron, professional standup comedian, actor, and writer is a true storyteller. While on stage, Maron enjoys entertaining audiences with his political commentary, insights into human nature, and good old-fashioned funny stores, but his first priority is making them think. Many of Marc’s titillating tales appear in his first book, The Jerusalem Syndrome, which is based on his popular one-man show. Though Marc has a tough time describing exactly what it is he does on stage, other’s have labeled him as heady, brilliant, angry, a satirist, a cultural critic or an Iggy Pop Woody Allen. Follow Marc on Twitter. You can also listen to his podcast “WTF w/ Marc Maron.” Watch Marc’s show, “Maron”
as season two premieres Thursday, May 8 at 10:00 pm ET/PT on IFC.

Tim Bedore

For longer than we can remember comedian Tim Bedore has been calling in or stopping by to deliver an editorial in which he talks about whatever happens to be on his mind. These musings can range from his relationship with his daughter, to hot topics in the news, and even updates on how the animal kingdom is waging war on mankind. From the Animal Conspiracy to his daughter Claire, Tim takes us inside his mind, and with the help of a few sound effects, puts together one of our favorite features. Follow Tim on Facebook. Visit his website here.

Thursday

Shane Mauss

In 2013 Shane Mauss has had his fifth appearance on Conan, recorded his first one hour special which will be out in early 2014, performed his solo show for a full month in the world’s largest comedy festival The Edinburgh Comedy Festival, and recorded a TV spot in Australia at The Just For Laughs: Stand-Up Series at The Sydney Opera House.

Originally from La Crosse, WI, Shane Mauss moved to Boston in 2004 (at the supple, tender age of 23) to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a standup comedian. In less than three years, Shane caught his big break when he was awarded Best Standup Comic at HBO’s US Comedy Arts Festival in 2007.

Comedy Central Presents: Shane Mauss debuted in 2010 and was accompanied by his first CD Jokes To Make My Parents Proud with Comedy Central Records, which was named in the Top 10 Albums of 2010 by Punchline Magazine.

Shane’s other TV credits now include two appearances on Conan on TBS, three appearances on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, Showtime’s Comics Without Borders, two appearances on BBC’s The World Stands Up, and in what is easily his strangest television appearance to date: Playboy TV’s Night Calls.

Shane has been in several comedy festivals around the world including The Just For Laughs Festival Comedy Festival in Montreal, Sydney & Chicago, The Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, OR, The Comedy Central South Beach Comedy Festival, The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival in Kilkenny, Ireland, The Sydney Comedy Festival, and The Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival.

You may also know him as a regular on The Bob and Tom Show, Sirius Radio, Pandora, Spotify or podcasts such as WTF, You Made It Weird, Doug Loves Movies, Keith and The Girl or as co-host of The Double Date Podcast. Follow him on twitter. Visit his website here.

Friday

Joe DeRosa

Writer, actor, and standup comedian Joe DeRosa has become a favorite on the comedy circuit. His brand of comedy mixing brutal honesty and frustration at the work- ings of the world has won over comedy fans, radio listen- ers, and TV audiences nationwide.

In February 2013 Joe taped his second half hour special for Comedy Central, and in April he will record his third standup comedy album “You Will Die.” His first two standup albums, “The Depression Auction” and “Return of The Son of The Depression Auction,” were released on Comedy Central records in 2010 and 2011 respectively. DeRosa also created, wrote, and starred in Official Comedy’s 2013 web series We Should Break Up and The Warner Sound’s 2012 web series What Are We Waiting For? In 2011 he directed and, along with fellow comedians Bill Burr and Robert Kelly, co-wrote and starred in the short film CHEAT, which pre- miered at The Tribeca Film Festival that year. Simon and Schuster released a book based on the film, which was written by the three, in October 2012.

DeRosa can currently be seen on History Channel’s I Love the 1880′s, and has appeared on HBO’s Bored To Death, FX’s Louie, IFC’s Z-Rock, E’s Chelsea Lately, and DirecTV’s The Artie Lange Show. He is a regular on Sirius XM’s The Opie and Anthony Show and Fox News’ Redeye with Greg Gutfeld. He headlines comedy clubs and colleges across the country and has been featured at South By Southwest, The Montreal Comedy Festival, The Moontower Comedy Festival, The New York Comedy Festival, Bonnaroo, and The Great American Comedy Festival. Follow him on twitter. Visit his website here.

Mark Normand

Mark Normand is a fun-loving, New York comedian. So far in 2013, Mark appeared on TBS’s CONAN, Comedy Central’s INSIDE AMY SCHUMER, MTVx’s INSIDE JOKE, and won Caroline’s March Madness competition, beating out 63 other comedians. This is a shocker for all of us but he was also voted Village Voice’s “Best Comedian of 2013”, I know right? In 2012, Mark appeared on “John Oliver’s New York Standup Show” on Comedy Central, and taped the pilot of “Best Week Ever” for Vh1. He also appeared on the most recent season of “Last Comic Standing” for NBC.

Mark was born and raised in New Orleans, LA surprisingly to two normal parents. As a kid he spent most of his time shooting short films and wetting the bed. Mark started doing comedy right after college and quickly moved to New York. Mark now does comedy clubs and colleges across the country and has been involved in many festivals including Portland, Seattle, DC, Boston, and was featured as a New Face at the Montreal Comedy Festival. In NYC Mark now runs two comedy shows and two podcasts in NYC, one show is called ‘We’re all Friends Here’ is recorded as a podcast on Cavecomedyradio.com; the other show “Hot Soup” runs at Irish Exit every Tuesday at 8. The other podcast is the popular “Tuesdays with Stories!

More annoying accolades: Mark was named one of Comedy Central’s Comics To Watch for the 2011 New York Comedy Festival. Mark was also named to Esquire’s “Best New Comedians 2012”, Splitsider’s “Top 10 Up and Coming Comedians on Each Coast”, and Time Out New York’s “21 New York Comedy Scene Linchpins”. Follow him on twitter. Visit his website here. (Photo credit: Eric Michael Pearson)

Michael Waltrip

Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Winston Cup Champion Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltrip began racing go-karts in the Midwest in the late 1970s and early 80′s. But when Waltrip first broke into NASCAR it wasn’t with a bang. Though his NEXTEL Cup career began in 1985, by the year 2000 he had gone 462 starts without a win and had earned only two pole positions. That’s why it was such a surprise when racing legend Dale Earnhardt chose Waltrip to drive the NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet for his new DEI racing team. That changed everything. After that, Michael went on to win a number of races, including two Daytona 500s. Now in semi-retirement from racing, Michael runs his own racing team, he is also a pre-race analyst for NASCAR on FOX, has organized a comedy tour, and wrote a book “In the Blink of an Eye.” Follow Michael on Twitter and facebook. Visit his website here.