Bald Talk

Ep 4’s formerly very bald guest, Brad Morris returns to Bald Talk with tales of his yo-yo like experience with being an Alopecian and the miraculous return of his hair thanks to a yet to be named pharmaceutical drug. We would suggest, Al-NO-precia. He and Brian talk about adjusting to change, delve into the challenging issues faced by the bullying community and have their podcast skills challenged by some clunky Zoom issues. Brad also returns to help Brian dovetail nicely back to Bald Talk’s roots because sadly this seems to be the final episode for the podcast. It’s been a great run, but the time has come for Bald Talk to be quiet. On behalf of Brian, Charlie and our producer Rian, we want to thank everyone for listening to us blabber on! Stay bald everyone!

Actor, writer, and master improvisor, Roy Jenkins has lived as a bald man since his 30's, but he knew it was coming with having a very bald father. He and Brian unpack accepting the inneviatble, how being lazy about vainty allows for acceptance, and get into Roy's origen story in finding the Groundlings and his writing stint at Late Night with Conan O'Brien. The baldies discuss the nuts and bolts of survival in show business, trying to be mentally present on set, and the evils and wonders of commercials. Roy's a tall, bald and hilairous drink of water, so... bottoms up?

Actor, writer, producer, podcaster, the brilliant anf funny powerhouse that is Jessica St. Clair joins Brian for a truly bald Bald Talk. Jessica is open and candid about the mental challenges she experienced during her successful (thank god!) battle with breast cancer, which included losing a significant amount of her impressively fertile hair and freezing her eyebrows. She and Brian talk about the illogical shame that comes along with personal suffering and hardship, the importance of taking away those things that eat away at your self esteem, and learning to take a damn compliment, for f*uck's sake! She Bald Talk's first female guest in far too long and she smashes the patriarchy with her hilarious insights.

This week, it's a 90's NC indie rock scene reunion with our guest Chuck Johnson, a supremely talented guitarist, pedal steel guitairst and composer who's music has evolved from his indie rock days in NC with his band, Spatula to his John Fahey like acoustic work to his more recent lush, ambient pieces on such albums as "Basalms" and "The Cinder Grove". He is also on the 40 year balding plan, so these days he keeps his hair short and sweet. He and Brian discuss what goes into making atmospheric music that you pay attention to, how his dog Bubbles' back issues changed his musical direction, why selling out means something very different in your 40's, and Chuck plays an acoustic piece for the first time in A WHILE!

Actor, writer and amply haired producer Anders Holm of Workaholic legend is not bald, but Brian was able to stomach a chat with him anyways. Anders does have a secret about his teeth which he shares, seeks to know the effortless life of Pete Davidson, and recounts his pandemic highpoint which involved sharks and a private jet. Brian lets Anders know he is the guy dressed like Thor at the Patriarchy meetings, and confuses him with the word "teutonic".

Actor, musicin, improvisor and comedian Mark McConville is the baldest member of the genius improv group Superego, because he is the only bald member of Superego. But that is fine by him, because Mark is down with baldness! He discusses his bald outing story that saved him from getting what is now a now Vegas trash haircut, and how a past girlfriend's over dyed hair led him to embrace the bic and shave it off. Brian and he chat about comedy origins, creative survival and prove they are terrible at Trump impersonations. Alopecia and THE SLAP are also parsed by the two shineheads. And poor Charlie misses out on all the weird life connections he and Mark share.

Since 1998, Peter Sagal has been the host and emcee for the popular NPR series, not podcast, "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me", but it is only in the past few years that he has gone with the fully shorn look. He used to cling to his Tin Tin like tuft of hair under the delusion that there was more than met the eye. Peter proves to be a great interviewer peppering Brian with bald queries, sharing a great bald outing story and delving into his own relationship with hair loss. Peter also recounts his transition from actor to playwright to NPR game show host, and does not hold back with his disgust for our Bald Talk "lymmeryks". At least we tried!?

Diedrich Bader is an actor who’s massive resume reflects his enormous talent, despite the size of his forehead he inherited from his German ancestors. Apparently there is a region in Germany known for big foreheads?! He shares openly about his insecurities with hair loss, remembers days of Wally Ball with a young Brad Pitt, examines the hard truths about how actors are affected by their looks, and tears up about the mentor who set him on his current path. Diedrich is a class act and it was a fine Bald Talk! Maybe there is too much covid talk though, but that popular small talk subject will not seem to die.

Comedian, actor, writer, producer and proud New Jerseyite, Chris Gethard is known for his self-examining vulnerability in comedy, and he brings that same unflinching truth to his talk with Brian about his long standing widow's peak and his "weird body... even by New Jersey standards." The pair discuss career victories and failures and how hard it is to be objective about accomplishments when your survival is tied to your creative life. Chris shares about how feeling he had to keep up with folks he felt were far funnier than he, which led to him finding his voice. There is some inevitable UCB NY reminisce between the pair who were on 3 different improv groups together. And Brian gives a heartfelt apology for a relentless gaslighting bit against Chris, that while cruel and potentially soul crushing, was actually pretty funny.

As the co-host/sidekick to Conan O'Brien in all of his talk show iterations, Andy Richter has been a staple of the television landscape for almost 30 years. Andy is also a brilliantly gifted comedic actor who has appeared in numerous tv shows and films, and a podcaster with his show, The Three Questions w Andy Richter. The full pated guest chats with Brian about his brush with anxiety related hair loss during his divorce and opens up about his comparable bald spot, his insecurity about his weight. There is maybe too much covid chit chat, some admissions that their teenage daughters are teaching them how to be better humans, and some analysis of the much needed change away from the male point of view in comedy. It's a baldo and hairo having a good, old fashioned bald talk. You're welcome!

Jeff Hiller is a talented improvisor and actor who plays Joel on Brian's current favorite show, the sweet and funny HBOMax series, "Somebody Somewhere." On the show, Jeff has a combover, which was originally Jeff's character choice but then became an on-camera necessity after Joel came down with morphea, which can cause hair loss. Jeff chats with Brian about the work and self esteem challenges of dealing with the immune disorder, his transition from social work to the stage, the years leading up to finally getting on TV series, and of course, there's a fair amount of actor talk. (Actors, right?!) Jeff also shares about one role that went to someone shorter, but no less deserving.

Ed Brubaker is an award winning comic book writer who has worked for Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse, just to name a few and has created brilliant noir crime series as "Criminal", "Fatale" and his most recent series "Reckless". This guy came up with the Winter Soldier, people!! And he owes is all to being bald! Not really, but Ed talks about coming from an all bald family and knowing the fate of his pate growing up. He also shares about his wayward youth that insipred his first series Low Life, getting kicked out of his punk band in a very unpunk way and the process of writing a comic book or graphic novel. Charlie takes off 1/2 way through the interview for a big time meeting leaving Brian to test Ed's bald comic book knowledge in the Hairless Heroes and Bald Baddies segment.

It seems like only 52 episodes ago that the hilarious actor/YouTube maestro, Nathan Barnatt was sitting down to chat with Brian and Charlie about being bald. And now he returns, sporting a new head of hair! Nathan goes into his change of heart and head, and explains his reasoning for the unusual hair pattern he had restored. He also spills some behind the scene secrets about recent performances on America's Got Talent and how his new hair might have screwed him over! Also, Charlie learns what it takes to fax his way into being a real Hollywood producer, and the financial exploitation of NBA cheerleaders get some round table discussion by 2 Baldies and a Former Bald.

Genius improvisor and actor/writer Mitch Silpa (Two Broke Girls, All Rise) is wonderfully bald. With Charlie away with a writing deadline, Mitch joins one Bald Talker, Brian, for some speculation on the lives they could have had if they had hair, the roles they get because they are bald, and just to stay current, Mitch gives the low down on his bout with the oh so trendy Covid. Mitch is also quizzed on his knowledge of fellow bald Groundlings' performers, and challenged to name one bald lead male actor in a sitcom.

Brilliantly funny actor/writer (Big Mouth, Brooklyn 99) Gil Ozeri recently played a young Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm, and ironically wore a wig to do so. And though in real life, he might not be bald, but he joins Charlie and Brian for possibly the most Bald Talk yet, because things get real deep, real fast. The three open up about their anxieties, some past traumas that inform their present day actions and how they are suriving this never ending pandemic. There is barely any mention of being bald, but so much self examination, awareness and acceptance that it's what a Bald Talk should be. Enjoy this very candid talk between friends!

The hilrious stand up, writer, producer, and actor Guy Branum (Talk Show the Game Show, X-Play) could easily have a side hustle as a therapist as he proves in this excellent Bald Talk. Guy delves into comedic power of baldness, the social complexities of writers rooms, coming out in the midwest in surprsingly gay friendly St. Paul. For some reason lots of bald funny people come from Minnesota and Charlie is provided another guest with which to midwestern-bond.

John Flynn and Mark Rennie host the hilarious podcast Two Old Queens, which is on a quest to determine the Gayest Film Ever. The duo discuss their relationship to their hair, various bald actors' sex appeal, and Charlie's effortless appeal to Bears. There is also an enormous amount of discussion about sweat and sweating; so much so that BT might do a side podcast, Sweat Shares. TOQ are challenged in the Welcome to Podlywood Quiz where their bald Hollywood knowledge is tested, and they come away with a brand new Corvette! (That they must share on alternate weekends.)

Pam Murphy is a hilarious actress, voice actor (Weird City, Krapopolis) and UCB improvisor who lived as a baldie during her successful defeat of cancer. Pam tells the Bald Talkers about wearing wigs while working at a hair salon, the empowerment of shaving her head, and how cancer is not an excuse for low numbers to some bosses. Pam also struts her stuff as the most self guiding guest to date allowing Brian and Charlie to sit back and let he handle the transitions. And Brian owes an public apology to all the weirdos out there, so on his behalf- sorry!

Not only is Aaron Shure an Emmy winning writer (The Office, Everyone Loves Raymond), former clown, and Disney "streetmosphere" performer, he is also gloriously bald! Aaron drops by with some insightful grooming tips and insights, tells tales of circus chimp and clown dynamics, dishes on working for the Mouse, and best of all, gets into some war stories from the numerous writers' rooms in which he has worked. The man is a delight and this was a great Bald Talk for all!

Brian and Charlie have had a talent crush for on H. Jon Benjamin for years, and the celebrated voice actor (Bob's Burgers, Archer), actor and conceptual comedian joins them for a fantastic Bald Talk that wanders from fears of flying to the insanity of commercial auditioning to an imaginary film called Weenies. Jon discusses the downtown comedy scene in NY, his incredible work with Jon Glaser, and the power of stupid comedy, something he is still commited to with his compete jazz album he recorded despite not knowing how to play the piano. Jon's Bird Nerd status is challenged in a Bald Eagle Challenge. And of course, Jon's bald head is celebrated because Bald is Beautiful, baby!

Chef and TV Host Andrew Zimmern (Bizarre Foods, Family Dinner) has traveled the world with no hair to slow him down. He is famous for his brave sampling of unusual foods but in his chat with the Bald Talkers, listeners will discover that he is a spiritually guided man with passionate political and social beliefs. Andrew finds refuge with Brian and Charlie's lefty, liberal podcast space and the three have deep and wandering convos about world hunger, how emipires fall, good 'ole Donny T, and the great but nihilistic film, The Dirty Dozen.

Brian and Charlie interview Santa Claus himself (Billy Merritt) and Mrs. Claus (Julie Brister) about the disturbing truth about Elves, their recreational drug use, their heartwarming meet cute and of course, Santa’s baldness. It’s a Christmas miracle! Enjoy!

Jay Martel, Executive producer and co-showrunner of Key & Peele and Teachers, author of Channel Blue, Speed Bump, and much more, does a deep bald dive with Brian and Charlie. They discuss a lot, including switching paths in the biz, the weirdness of selling TV shows, how annoying Charlie was in the K&P writers room, and the enjoyment of the solitude of being an author. Also, Jay has some notes for he and Brian's kids writing aspirations.

Bald Talk dares to get all perspectives on baldness, and this week's hilarious guests staunchly declare that they will most likely never date a baldie. Mark Sam Rosenthal - Comedy Central, The Gaytriot, Laughter Through Tears is Our Favorite Emotion, and Katie Morrissey DC Improv, Sarah Cooper: Everything is Fine, not only give their personal reasons as to why, but they are quizzed Yea or Nay to sex with our list of bald hotties and help us answer calls to our Bald Talk Advice Line on the challenges of bald dating. So many ingights are gained in this roundtable discussion; Katie might be a serial killer of baldies with a penchant for decapitation. Mark Sam makes consistently shallow choices but is trying a little more kindness. Brian is not a fan of extreme female grooming. And Charlie is revealed to be an adult milk drinker?! Gross.

On this week’s episode of Bald Talk Brian and Charlie interview the amazing actor Cleo Berry. Among many other roles, Cleo played one of Charlie’s all time favorite characters on Weird City, the call center operative Dirg. They do a deep dive into the inconveniences, adventures, and joys of being an actor. They also discuss how not being able to find the right barber can drive you to being bald, Cleo’s pre-acting football days, and they coin the new Hollywood term “Tone Wrangler” ™.

Stand up, actor and podcast host of "Justifying My Movie Collection" and "We Watch Wrestling", Matt McCarthy describes his distinctive redheaded receeding hairline as bald curious. Matt gets into the self reliant power of stand up verses improv, his past love affair with mushrooms (the psychedelic kind), and he and Charlie bond over Matt's current love of pro wrestling while Brian checks a leaking toilet upstairs. The trio sing the praises of seeing movies on the big screen and casting comedians in dramas, free ad time is inadvertantly given to Carmax for which they should truly pay the Bald Talkers. And Matt wins numerous Corvettes and Camry's after a blistering session of Bald/Not Bald: Historical Figures.

Hilarious actor and improvisor, Dave Theune, could easliy take over hosting Bald Talk as he proved by turning the tables on Brian and Charlie throughout this episode. It must be his midwestern charm, and the trio discuss the mysterious power of midwestern politeness compared to southern gentility. Charlie is educated about the staggering low points of divorce as Brian and Dave share about their respective divorce journeys. Comedy Sports verses long form improv, the profound disgustingness of 20 something males and so much more is discussed but the biggest lesson learned from ep 60... never buy a used mattress. Never.

Stand up comedian, actor and podcaster Daniel Van Kirk looked into having FUE done and discusses why he ultimatley didn't get the procedure, and gives a shout out to what sounds like a very cool doctor. Daniel reflects on his approach to comedy, whether wearing a wig denotes confidence or insanity, and the three baldies discuss some groundbreaking Japanese technology that allows you to grow hair without surgery- downside is the hair is CLEAR!

Truly hilarious stand up and actor, Todd Barry, joins the ranks of guests who have tried Rogaine and decided it's a pain in the ass, for life. So now, Todd has accepted his baldness and even urges Brian to accept his lopsided balding pattern. The three baldies also discuss the NY comedy scene of the 00's and today, Todd various TV roles playing some version of himself, the travel packages that Turkey's hair restoration industry is offering, and Todd is quizzed on Bald Cures from History. Which, btw are all disgusting.

Actor, improvisor, and writer Carl Tart is one of the few guest on BT to have folicular unit extraction and he "fills in" the Bald Talkers in on what hair restoration is really like. (Pun. Nailed it.) Carl also shares his bizarre family secret about his very satisfying to say name, Carl Tart, his early days of comedy when he was sneaking out to perfrom, the pros and cons of obeseity are dissected and everyone dishes on their respective sleep rituals and pillow dependencies.

Podcaster, radio host and "America's Sweetheart," Jesse Thorn is a bald man who reveals his serious facial hair helps cover some cheek zone bald spots. Jesse and the Bald Talkers dive into some serious manscaping discussions, the fact that Jesse's garden is filled with his Wahl shaved hairs, and the term "Schikcing it" might replace our beloved "Bic-ing it". Jesse also discusses about the SF comedy scene, his wonky USC Santa Cruz education about the biz, and his bit turned cultural concept, "the new sincerity."

Eric Bachmann is a genius indie rock music legend/producer fronting such groups as Archers of Loaf, Crooked Fingers and currently performs his own solo material. And he does all of this, "baldly". The Bald Talkers and Eric unpack the rough road for bald rockers, the rough road that is just being a musician these days, disect the process of writing lyrics vs comedy writing, and Charlie is in the hot seat for "That's Not a Real Band Name, Is it?" AND, a Bald Talk first, Eric perfroms his powerful song, "Mercy," besides that time Brian vamped on his guitar while Charlie's internet crapped out.

Bald Talk editor and theme song creator Todd Mecaughey and touring guitarist Rory Geoghegan, both of the band Secret American, join Brian and Charlie for a deep dive Bald Talk. Topics range from favorite musicians of all time to what it's like being an artist, and of course baldness. Plus they talk about how they all met and where it all went. Stuff gets very bald, enjoy! 

Actor, writer, producer, podcaster and Bob Ducca himself, the hilarious Seth Morris (Big Mouth, Veep, Bajillion Dollar Properties) is rolling with his bald patch, but admits that aging sucks, The three discuss how 50's rockers don't age well, shitty job are truly shitty, and Charlie reveals himself to be a guy who's really into analogies. Also, microfiche is explained for the "less old listeners. 

On this very special episode of Bald Talk, friends/cohosts Brian and Charlie boldy and baldly interview one another about being bald, and sooo much more. The conversation ranges from the importance of comedy in their lives, spirituality vs religion, their creative pasts and present, and their personal experiences with family alcoholism and anxiety. Things get deep, with some bald truths. And in classic Bald Talk fashion, Charlie's internet drops out and Brian vamps solo until he returns to the conversation. 

A true "patch in the quilt of American pop culture", David Krumholz (Numb3rs, Slums of Beverly Hills) has been in so much, for so long, and so excellently. David shares about some trues struggles he has with losing his hair, the period of depression that proceeded it, and his feelings about working so long in the insanity that is Hollywood. AND he is our very first guest to talk about seriously thinking of hair replacement, and how his job plays in to that. He also gives Brian and Charlie face readings. It's a very Bald Talk.

Rich Sommer isn't bald, but Brian and Charlie are cool with that since he's such an awesome dude. Rich joins Brian and Charlie to discuss his love of board games, what it was like being an actor on the iconic TV show Madmen, and his and Charlie's disastrous early days in the world of improv comedy. Also, they do deep dive into the world of the biz and take a bald look at the ups and downs of being an actor. 

Mime, contortionist and the actor who has brought your favorite Guillermo Del Toro monsters to life, Doug Jones (Shape of Water, Star Trek: Discovery) joins Charlie and Brian for an incredible Bald Talk. Doug discusses his necessary bald shave for prosthetic make up, his journey from wanting to be the wise cracking sit com neighbor to playing numerous misunderstood monsters, and he reflects on working with Brian as a Gay Robot- his career high no doubt. Things get deep when the three discuss Doug's Christianity and how spiritual belief can be misjudged. Also, Bald Billionaire Bezos and his literal Cock Rocket is Bald News of the Decade. 

Actor and podcast host, Brian Baumgartner is best known as Kevin from The Office. He shares fascinating details about the world famous sitcom, and his experiences during and after the show's run. Brian also discusses how his distinctive head makes fame more difficult, his break up with Rogaine, and how like Steven Tobolowsky, Ben Nye hair gel might be behind his hair loss. Brian also can't wrap his head around a podcast about baldness and kindly attempts to give some producer's notes to our consistently bald eagle heavy segment, Bald News of the day. 

This week on Bald Talk Brian and Charlie are joined by Oscar winner Jim Rash (Community)! The co-writer of The Descendants and Groundings alum joins Brian and Charlie to discuss the moment he realized he was going bald, what it's like to be at The Oscars, his old haired head shots, and much more. Brian and Jim do a deep on dive on both being from Charlotte, North Carolina. Also, Jim tells the greatest Hollywood horror story of all time. 

Actor/TV Host Rob Riggle (SNL, The Daily Show, Holey Moley) had his head shaved as a US Marine, but he still identifies as haired. In an episode barely based in reality, Brian and Charlie reveal to Rob he has been slipped an ointment that will cause baldness, that his business manager is now Del "Magic Fingers" Dupree, and that Bald Talk's biggest audience are those 'tweens who love "chippin." All three remember the days at UCB NY, back when Brian had a wine vault and paid rent on an apartment so he could have a bathroom near the theater. And Rob says something about acting.

Stand up/comedy writer Andy Blitz (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Review) revisits the insane bits he, Brian and Charlie were all part during the early days of Conan, discusses working with comedy geniuses like Conan and Robert Smigel, and finally says thanks to Charlie for clearing a $300 late fee for an over due video rental back in NY. Andy also shares about the appeal of a serious beard to those folks who have a follicle fetish. 

This week on Bald Talk, from the pandemic archives, the hilarious and amazing Nick Prueher, co-host/curator of The Found Footage Festival, co-director the documentary Dirty Country, and Alf-aficionado, joins Brian and Charlie the day after inauguration day, to discuss Biden's hair wisp, Nick's VHS collection, and Kamala Harris's bald secret service agent, and much more! 

Another blast from the Pandemic Past! Actor/producer Matt Wheeler (Key and Peele, Punk'd) is still on his hair losing journey and hilariously shares about his insecurities and mishaps in covering up, including a cringeworthy Giuliani hair drip moment on a first date. Matt also talks about his blind faith dive into acting coming after from rural Kentucky, his insane past as a fundraiser for high schools selling chocolate, insecurities and the drunkest he and Charlie have ever been thanks to a German bartender at a Chinese themed bar. 

From the Pandemic Vault, actor/writer Lamar Woods (New Girl, Single Parents) discovered during the lockdown that he's not as bald as he thought was. Lamar also gets real about experiencing his first panic attack during pandemic and explains the highs and lows of wax museum management. Charlie, Brian and Lamar all share their bald icons with one another, and it seems that Charlie has a thing for evil bald politicians.