Chasing Comedy - Episode 61: Joe Matarese on Why Comedy Keeps Changing, Nostalgia, AI Therapy, and More!

From performing for 15,000 screaming fans with Nate Bargatze to bombing in a bar where nobody will turn off the TV, the glamorous life of stand-up comedy never disappoints! On Episode 69 of Chasing Comedy, Dustin Chafin and Brian Scott McFadden dive into the hilarious highs and humiliating lows of being professional comedians. Brian shares wild stories from the Dubai Comedy Festival, while Dustin reveals the secrets of winning over massive crowds. Plus, the guys debate Hollywood's endless James Bond and Batman replacements, revisit Brian's days as the Honey Nut Cheerios Bee, relive their worst comedy gigs, and tackle the art of writing the perfect opening joke. Add in masked comedians, awkward podcast eye contact, and the return of the Wheel of Premises, and you've got another hilariously unpredictable episode of Chasing Comedy!

Is Shane Gillis officially uncancellable? Are today's biggest comedians forgetting how to write actual jokes? And was Eddie Murphy really one of the greatest stand-ups of all time?On Episode 68 of Chasing Comedy, comedians Brian Scott McFadden and Dustin Chafin dive into the latest Shane Gillis controversy, the absurdity of cancel culture, and whether podcast fame is replacing actual comedic talent. The guys debate Eddie Murphy vs. Richard Pryor, why Steve Martin walked away from stand-up, and whether celebrity impressions are the laziest form of comedy.Plus, Led Zeppelin's outrageous rock star scandals, Lenny Bruce and the evolution of censorship, the awkwardness of grown men saying "I'm proud of you," and Dustin's hilarious realization that he's surrounded by so many comedians he's actually sick of comedy!Unfiltered opinions, ridiculous arguments, and two veteran comics trying to figure out whether comedy is evolving or going completely off the rails!

Is Sebastian Maniscalco killing comedy radio? Can you manifest your way to success, or is that just another excuse to avoid doing actual work? On Episode 67 of Chasing Comedy, comedians Brian Scott McFadden and Dustin Chafin tackle the SiriusXM comedy shakeup that's leaving working comedians furious and potentially out of a paycheck! The guys debate whether social media is ruining stand-up, why talented comedians struggle to survive, and who's really to blame for the industry's changing landscape. Plus, Dustin discovers the power of manifestation, Brian reveals how fake kidnapping letters launched his voiceover career, and the two dive into daddy issues, dysfunctional childhoods, and why comedians desperately need strangers to laugh at them. It's corporate greed, positive thinking, career anxiety, and decades of unresolved childhood trauma—all wrapped up in one hilariously unfiltered episode!

Brian Scott McFadden and Dustin Chafin are back for another hilariously chaotic episode of Chasing Comedy! This week, the guys debate Alien, Terminator and Rocky Horror, revisit the rise and fall of Andrew Dice Clay, and discover why Brian’s middle name might make him sound like a presidential assassin. Then they workshop new material about fake addictions, doomscrolling and our obsession with phones before stumbling onto a new legal defense every comedian needs: “comedy entrapment.” If you give a comic the perfect setup, you can’t complain about the punchline.

Robot pets for the elderly, bad comedy advice, ICE for chipmunks, and a prostitute with a time machine—Episode 65 of Chasing Comedy goes everywhere. Brian Scott McFadden and Dustin Chafin debate whether animatronic pets for seniors are comforting or horrifying, break down the changing rules of stand-up, and work through new material in real time. Then things completely derail when they develop a plan to save humanity by sending an escort back through history to fix the childhoods of future terrible people.

Brian Scott McFadden and Dustin Chafin dive into the crowd work takeover and ask whether social media has changed what audiences expect from stand-up comedy. Plus, Dustin shares a bizarre story involving a comedian who was dead…then wasn’t…then apparently was, the guys debate whether comedians actually laugh at roasts, battle social media algorithms, and tackle “chaotic optimism,” manifestation, and the insanity of trying to make a living telling jokes. It’s another unpredictable episode of Chasing Comedy!

Brian Scott McFadden and Dustin Chafin take a hilarious deep dive into the movies that shaped Generation X, the generational divide between Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z, tattoo culture, and the behind-the-scenes process of writing stand-up comedy. From comfort movies and dad issues to bad tattoo decisions and building the perfect joke, Episode 63 is packed with sharp observations, nostalgic laughs, and comedy shop talk.

Brian Scott McFadden and Dustin Chafin discuss why horror movies are thriving while comedy films struggle, the impact of technology on our attention spans, the future of stand-up, AI, social media, classic books, and the ever-changing entertainment industry. Plus, they brainstorm new comedy bits, tackle pop culture, and spin the Comedy Wheel for another hilarious episode of Chasing Comedy.

Joe Matarese joins Dustin Chafin and Brian Scott McFadden for a hilarious deep dive into stand-up comedy, aging, AI therapy, growing up in the golden age of arcade games and roller-skating rinks, and more. From comedy war stories and changing audiences to nostalgic memories and the challenges of life on the road, Joe brings his signature honesty and sharp wit to one of the funniest episodes of Chasing Comedy yet.

On Episode 60 of Chasing Comedy, Dustin Chafin and Brian Scott McFadden are joined by comedian and podcast star Jared Freid for a hilarious deep dive into roast culture, crowd work, hecklers, comedy fame, podcasting, and the changing world of stand-up. From Netflix roast controversy to nightmare Uber drivers and comedy club chaos, this episode is packed with sharp takes, behind-the-scenes comedy stories, and nonstop laughs.