Family Gems

We can't believe it's been a year already! We're so grateful for everyone who has listened, followed and reviewed our pod! We've had such a blast unpacking everyone's family baggage that we're taking a break to create some more of our own. That's right, we're taking a small summer break to recharge. On this episode we share a few untold family stories, go over some pop culture family drama and more before saying a temporary goodbye! Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

You read that right; our guest this week worked for Obama! Naturally, we feel way more legit. Josh Burstein is a comedian, journalist, and political strategist who directed videos for the Obama Administration and Biden campaigns and currently hosts a weekly series online called "U Need To Know This!" for Mashable. We were thrilled to chat with him about growing up at Monticello, eating broccoli to appease Bill Clinton, and his parents' absolutely WILD multi-country courtship that shaped his views on romance and partnership. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

He's eating weird, hyped up sh*t so you don't have to! It's actor, comedian Brad Stoll who does a comedic food review series on Social Media called Resent Reviews. He talks growing up on the east coast, murders, and his holocaust surviving grandpa's wild memoir! Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

We're so stoked to have Tori Piskin on the pod this week! Tori was named a Comic to Watch as part of the 2019 NY Comedy Festival, and her podcast that she co-hosts with her mom, "Got It From My Mama", is in the top 50 comedy iTunes charts. Settle in while we chat reality tv chaos, ballerina rules, pilates instructors, and more! Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Get ready sugar addicts because we've got a sweet a** episode featuring Reem Edan! Reem is an Iraqi-American content creator, award-winning writer, actress, and internationally touring stand-up comedian who can be seen performing on ShahidVIP’s "Stand Up Sketch Show,” on IG pages like “Family Guy,” and more! She shares tips on surviving rude aunties, smuggling gold, and weight watchers!

Get ready ya little gems, it's Zahra Ali week! You've seen her on NBC, Revolt TV, and she's one of the producers of the nationally touring standup show "Facial Recognition Comedy." Listen now for thoughts on surviving the apocalypse, how trauma makes family more chill, and why strict households almost always backfire. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, follow us on all the things!

Get ready for an absolute blast with Jaclyn Marfuggi! She's the fierce female emcee of Magic Mike Live Las Vegas. When she's not rocking the minds of horny bachelorette parties and Vegas crowds, she's bringing the heat at comedy clubs with her stand-up skills. You can catch her as the co-host of "The Yo Show with Michael Yo" podcast and dive into mouthwatering food adventures on her own podcast, "Where Should We Eat?" Hold onto your panties because we've got stories of family vacation nightmares, near death experiences and more! Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Liz Stone is with us this week showing the world that lawyers can be funny! When she's not reading contracts you can catch Liz being hilarious all around Las Vegas and yucking it up on Amazon's Laugh After Dark. Brace yourselves for a NSFW episode discussing how to spell certain bodily fluids, phallic cakes, and family pranks that went a little *too* far. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Get ready for a hot one! Roast master Alex Hooper is on this week’s pod. Alex is an LA based, comedian and actor who’s been featured on America’s Got Talent, Comedy Central, and more. Join us as we discuss being a dickhead kid, impulsive moms with a heart of gold, and finding a love for life! Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Michelle Murphy is with us this week y'all! Michelle is an LA-based comedian, storyteller, and actor who has been featured in the New York Times Bestselling book, How To Tell A Story, and you can also hear all about how she got scammed on The Moth's PRX Podcast. Join us as we discuss Hugh Hefner's college tour, juggling, running away from home, and more! Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

This week we're giving the gift of the hilarious Shanna Christmas! You've seen her on "Coming to the Stage" on Pluto TV. She has an awesome comic book out called "You Ain't Nothin' But A Bitch With A Wig On," and she'll be filming a special in Seattle this August. Listen in while we talk growing up in Vegas, prankster fathers, and more but no spoilers! Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Get ready for a gut busting episode, because it's Caitlin Peluffo week! One of the rowdiest comedians out there, you've seen her tear up The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Late Late Show with James Corden. Listen in while we explain dry shampoo, determine when to toot in front of a partner, and more but no spoilers! Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

This week on the pod we have the incredible, actor, pro wrestler, and stand up comedian Jay Washington! He took a break from slamming people into tables to regale us with stories of brotherly mischief and club fights, and we couldn't be more grateful!

We're just going to come out and say it: Our guest Emily Winter is so dang cool. You know her writing from "That Girl Lay Lay" on Nickelodeon, her delightful trivia book "One Day Smarter", and a heap of humor pieces published in places like The New Yorker and The NYT. Get to know her even better while we chat about moving from NYC to LA, being your parent's first draft, parasailing in Mexico, and more! Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

This is one is for all the New Englanders out there! We have the man behind the hilarious Instagram meme page, Square One Mall Goth. We talk grandmas, evil children, and gravitrons with Boston royalty, Girard Gover. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

It's Carly Montag week on the pod! Turns out growing up in a passive family environment does not protect you from bananas behavior. Hit play for all things fashion faux pas, judgy jewish grandmas, + caviar controversies. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Fresh off his TV debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden, It's the hilarious comedian Akeem Woods! Akeem drops by the podcast to discuss finding arguably the world's best mom, fun scams, and foster care. Akeem is regularly at the Comedy Cellar and out touring with Godfrey so we're lucky he had the time to share these stories with us!

IT'S A PINBALL PARTY!! That's right, we managed to track down the mysterious Editor in Chief of the incredible Nudge Magazine, Ian Jacoby! Get ready for some real nerd shit... and a lot of bodily fluids. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

We don't like to pick favorites, but if we did, JB Ball is on the list! This episode is so dang good, we're not giving you any spoilers. Truly one of the funniest comics working right now, JB has been a writer for a number of Kevin Hart shows, Comedy Central, MTV, Peacock, + more. Keep an eye out for his upcoming special "It's My Privilege"! Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

We love an LA native, especially when it's Tema Sall! Tema is a comedian + actor who currently has one of the best gigs out there; She works on Abbott Elementary! Get ready for tales of theater kid mayhem and throwing ragers at your parent's house with, well, consequences. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Disclaimer** We had a few audio hiccups on this one, but trust us, the occasional fuzz is worth it!

This week we’re joined by comedian Emily Walsh who you might know from her hit podcast "Alone at Lunch!" Emily joins to  talk awesome WWII Grandpas, & New Hampshire. Listen now to find out why she was flagged by the secret service. And, as always, be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Actor, producer, + fellow Masshole Lianne O'Shea is here and we are thrilled! Imagine having a Dad who’s music gets compared to rock legends Led Zeppelin?! We die. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

This week we are joined by motivation guru and self-described garbage kid, Julie Merica!! She runs her own very successful podcast called "Make Your Damn Bed" and she joins us on this pod to talk self-help, snakes, and grandma's high grilled cheeses. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

This week on the pod we have one of Ukraine's finest exports Sofiya Alexandra! Sofiya truly has some of the WILDEST family stories, one of which you can enjoy on Comedy Central's "This Is Not Happening." Buckle up for some Eastern European tough love and be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

This week Isaac Katzanek joins the pod! Isaac is a Los Angeles based production manager and producer who has worked on countless theatrical productions across the country. Plus, he was raised by a "kooky art mom," so you know there's at least one weed story for you. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Get ready to write this down, because Chicago comedian Bill Cruz is ready to give you the absolute worst food suggestions we've ever heard in our entire lives. From Casa Bonita to vending machine soup, Bill talks growing up in Denver and child acting. This episode is super fun and not to be missed!

She's here to do two things: kick a** and make organized lists. It's LA comedian Leslie Liao! Leslie joins us to talk about growing up living a double life, high school chaos, and more! Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

It's Feraz Ozel week everyone! You may've watched many of the TV shows he's written for or seen Feraz on Conan, or 2 Broke Girls... he also may've been watching you because he did work for the CIA. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Hilarious comedian and host of the  Toasted and Roasted comedy debate show, John Botelho is on the pod! John talks family recipes, making ends meet in huge families, and weird traditions like kick the can. Yes he actually played that. No he doesn't have tetanus. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

It's Andrew Orolfo week everyone! While you may know him from Comedy Central + The Late Late Show with James Corden, Andrew is just another bay area kid... who almost joined the military out of fomo. Come for us roasting his apartment, stay for his (twice) edging of Scientology. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

In this episode, we have a production designer for Universal Studios (for all us peasants, that means she designs rides!!). Yes, the talented Arianna Knox graces the podcast and talks growing up in North Carolina, accidentally bringing home a nightmare man to her family on the holidays, swingers and much, much more! Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

TV writer + comedian Julia Prescott joins us this week to staunchly defend Van Nuys, CA. As a SoCal native it’s no surprise that her Dad was a comedian, her Mom was an actor, + legend has it that Julia was a Gerber Baby! Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Pour one out for all the Iguanas we lost along the way. LA comedian Kelly McInerney joins us this week to chat about pet fails, criminal relatives, bringing Jersey to Paris + more! Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

This one's for the theater kids! LA comedian Kari Assad joins us this week on the pod to chat about horny quinceaneras, mother grudges, adopting other people's grandparents + more! Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

In this episode, hilarious comedian Lucas Connolly talks about growing up with sperm donors and four moms... We know, WHOA. Subscribe, like, review and as always follow us on all the things!

This week listen as half man, half ball of espresso, Percy Rustomji dishes on what it was like growing up Indian + queer after 9/11 in Orange County. There's so much to unpack in this podcast, that we just got a bill from Better Help. Percy is an insanely talented and charismatic comedian and actor and we're lucky to have him! Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

This week, listen as we turn the tables on podcast host extraordinaire Adam Tod Brown! Adam is the owner of the Unpops Podcast Network and one of the funniest writers you'll meet, so get ready for some truly wild tales. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

In this episode, amazing actor Keylor Leigh talks about Hollywood, working on Netflix's new series "Dahmer," growing up in Lancaster PA, and the complications of being adopted. Subscribe, like, review and as always follow us on all the things!

In this episode, hilarious comedian Katrina Davis talks about natural disasters, the natural disaster that is her athletic career & her family's bowling legacy. Subscribe, like, review and as always follow us on all the things!

Ever wonder what it's like to grow up in Los Angeles with a family entrenched in the film industry? Well, settle in because this week comedian Samantha Hale regales us with stories about Bea Arthur, Woody Allen, Bela Lugosi, and wait for it... BRAD PITT.

Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

This is not one to be missed! Sean White tells insane stories of car bombs, and truth bombs dropped at funerals. Oh and there's his uncle, the telenovela star. Just listen. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Imagine, if you will, that your Dad is into Limp Bizkit... The HORROR. Prateek Srivastava got through it, and even managed to avoid the mosh pit when they saw them live. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

It's impossible to not immediately fall in love with queen geek Toni Sanchez. Toni is both Native American and Mexican, and the daughter of migrant farm workers. Settle in for a really fascinating look into two incredible cultures... and a wild tale of infidelity. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Hilarious comedian JoAnn Schinderle talks moving around, always being the new kid, and getting away with all types of shit in this latest episode! As always please like, subscribe, review and follow us on all the things!

Comedian Jasmine Ellis discusses the real Mardi Gras, unique funeral traditions (don't forget to bring your vase), and more! Please rate, review, and subscribe and be sure to follow us on all the things!

Comedian John Poveromo shares what it's like growing up with a con artist father and much much more! Please rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Your parent going to rehab isn't your fault but also it isn't NOT your fault?? Comedian Anna Valenzuela talks about a chaotic family life and the joy of raising two... parents. Please rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Non-stop gems from the incredibly funny comedian Ahmed Al-kadri. We discuss lying to your siblings, and Ahmed's suave af dad. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Wait, you have chill hippie parents?! Listen to find out on the latest episode of Family Gems featuring crazy funny comedian (and excellent sound editor of this very pod), Latif Tayour. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!

Sometimes child labor is hilarious, but also dangerous... Buuuuut also hilarious. This episode is truly wild as is Lisa's upbringing on a, wait for it, marina. Be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and follow us on all the things!