Unprotected Sets

The honest and poignant Clayton English explores race relations, politics and more.

With a larger than life stage presence, Jared Logan delivers a hysterical set highlighting stories from his repressed childhood in West Virginia.

Meet Rita Brent, crowned the 'Best Undiscovered Comedian in Mississippi' in 2018, and who hasn't stopped killing it since.

Oddball Dave Waite's creates hilarious insights into race, depression, and what never to do on mushrooms.

Kellen Erskine's dry sense of humor and razor sharp wit makes just about anything hilarious.

A rising star in the comedy world, Kabir Singh delivers a killer set about his Indian upbringing that's fast, fearless and funny.

One of the funniest exports from Canada, Steph Tolev brings the laughs with a big energy and absurd personal stories.

Corey Rodrigues lights up the stage with a wide range of stories that are honest, sharp, and most of all, hilarious.

Classic joke-teller Mike Vecchione lands punch after punch in a hilarious, rapid-fire set.

The unrestrained Kira Soltanovich takes you through her family's wild journey form Communist Russia to modern-day California.

Calvin Evans explodes with charisma! A self-described “observational philosopher", his style is equal parts poignant and silly.

Hanna Dickinson does not hold back — she is raw, loud and always hilarious!

This week we have Scout Durwood taped live at the iconic Esther's Follies on 6th Street in Austin, Texas!

As comedy continues to expand its boundaries to include a broader variety of voices, Scout Durwood is shining in the spotlight. Scout knows what it’s like to be the outsider and has created a place for herself onstage with an act unlike any other. She seamlessly blends original songs, absurd dance, and provocative stand up comedy into one hilarious performance.

This week we have Jessa Reed taped live at the American Comedy Company in the Gaslamp District of San Diego, California!

Jessa spent her childhood going back and forth between parents, one of which was a drug addict. She married early, had a child, and started hitting open mics. She left her husband and started doing stand-up full time in 1997. Shortly after that, her life took a turn when she became addicted to crystal meth. Through her recovery from her addiction, she found her way back to comedy. Jessa’s honesty about dealing with drug addiction, poking fun at her not so distant past, and motherhood brings down the house. We also get a revealing look at what her life looked at when she was an addict and what it looks like now.

This week we have Shane Mauss taped live at the Acme Comedy Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota! 

Like any real Midwesterner, Shane is riddled with depression and was never supposed to talk about it... until now. Shane takes a deep, yet comedic look at traditionally taboo subjects like suicide and depression. His act is entirely self-deprecating and personal, and he uses his own struggle with mental health as a vehicle for expression and healing. But much like his personal life, he balances out his act with other topics like CrossFit and science.

This week we have Paris Sashay taped live at the DC Improv in Washington D.C.!

Paris grew up in a large family in the D.C. area. Paris was always the class clown, earning detentions and finally ended up in Special Ed. She got into college and, after two years, realized that wasn’t for her. She returned home only to be encouraged by friends and family to give comedy a shot. After killing at one open mic, she never looked back. Paris’ takes on racism, feminism, and family slay the crowd at her home club. We also get an inside look at how after she was assaulted at a comedy club, she unintentionally became a hero to women in D.C. and on the comedy scene.

This week we have Mohanad Elshieky taped live at Curious Comedy in Portland, Oregon! 

Mohanad is living the American dream. He recently fled his war-torn homeland of Libya and is pursuing a career in comedy. As an immigrant from a no-fly country, his keen observations about American life are razor sharp and unforgettably funny. While many comedians perform for the love of the spotlight, Mohanad is performing for survival, because he knows he can’t go back home.

This week we have Becky Braunstein taped live at Curious Comedy in Portland, Oregon! 

Becky is literally one in a million. As an Alaskan Jew, she has hilarious stories of just how bizarre it is to live in the Last Frontier while still trying to observe the Sabbath. After an unexpected life change, she made the move from Alaska to Portland and tried stand-up comedy. Now a survivor, she’s taking the Portland comedy scene by storm. 

This week we have Rob Christensen taped live at the American Comedy Company in the Gaslamp District of San Diego, California! 

Rob was born and raised in Brooklyn. Looking to fit in, he found himself joining a crew and selling drugs. To escape that lifestyle, he joined the Air Force, went to college, and found stand-up which changed his life. Rob’s no-holds barred comedy slays the room. We also get an intimate look at his past life and how comedy changed his life for the better. 

This week we have Mia Jackson taped live at The Punchline Comedy Club in Atlanta, Georgia! 

Named Atlanta’s best stand-up comedian in 2017, Mia Jackson has caught the eye of comedy superstar, Amy Schumer. She is the country girl next door you want to be best friends with as she delivers hilariously snarky jokes about highly relatable subjects. She’s proving to audiences everywhere that she can handle herself in this“Boys Club” of comedy. 

This week we have Rocky Dale Davis taped live at The Punchline Comedy Club in Atlanta, Georgia! 

There is more than meets the eye with Alabama native Rocky Dale Davis. Raised by a single mom who worked tirelessly to keep food on the table, people are quick to misjudge him as your typical Southern white boy. Rocky’s progressive outlook in his material takes turns you wouldn’t expect. Rocky is sure not to alienate liberals or conservatives as no one in his audience is safe when he takes the stage. 

This week we have Daniel Webb taped live at the iconic Esther's Follies on 6th Street in Austin, Texas! 

Daniel was born in Hurst, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. He knew he was gay at a very young age and tried to be "one of the guys" just to avoid being called gay slurs. As an empowered adult, he embraces who he is and spins those negative experiences into comedy gold. Daniel’s unique take on being a flamboyant gay man in the heart of Texas is as powerful as it is funny. We also get an inside look at his new life in Los Angeles. 

This week we have Raul Sanchez taped live at the iconic Esther's Follies on 6th Street in Austin, Texas! 

Raul was born in Mexico, crossed the border with his family, and was raised in Texas. After serving three tours of duty on the front lines of Afghanistan and Iraq for the US Army, Raul sought the comfort of comedy to help with his PTSD. He truly sees the comedy in tragedy and his act thrills the audience by highlighting the lighter side of everyday life and war. We also get an inside look at his friendships and intimate, first hand stories about his time serving our country and the loss he experienced there. 

This week we have Zainab Johnson taped live at Curious Comedy in Portland, Oregon! 

When you’re 1 of 13 children like Zainab, you’ve got to stand out – or stand up – to get attention. After her dreams of becoming a WNBA player were cut short by a tragic accident, Zainab found her way to the stage. And now she is about to break out from the pack again. Her smart and edgy story-telling, is informed by her experiences growing up in Harlem in an African-American Muslim family.

What makes a comedian tick? Unprotected Sets is provocative series that takes an unfiltered look at stand-up through the eyes of the funniest working comedians from across the country – and now available as a podcast! Unlike any other stand up series or special, the show will present compelling portraits of emerging comedians as they work the comedy circuit. Meet each comedian and hear intimate interviews, chronicling how they turned their personal paths… into hysterical laughs. Their dynamic and hilarious performances – where nothing is off limits – will show us exactly how, in their own inimitable way, each comedian brings their life into the art.