Punch Up - Making Good Jokes Hit Harder

Punch Up - Making Good Jokes Hit Harder

by Ren Q. Dawe
Comedy InterviewsStand-Up
Season 3
Christina Vasili: Breaching Grief + Listening to Your Gut
This week, I’m joined by Denver comedian and producer Christina Vasili (@heystinahey), host of Death Comedy Jam at The Brutal Poodle. We talk about starting stand-up later than planned, navigating rooms full of dude comedians, and the quiet labor of recalibrating a space while hosting. Christina opens up about grief, losing her dad, gym community, and the struggle and reward of continuing to show up. Also: gut health, poop shaped like letters, and the long art of punching a joke up until it refuses to stop getting laughs.
S3 · E3
Mar 22, 2026
59:48
Kelly Zemnickis: Balloons, Back-Wit, + Bad Ideas
This week, we’re joined by comedian Kelly Zemnickis, fresh off the release of her new Comedy Dynamics album Lady Comic and her documentary short Making Connections, about telling jokes during a pandemic. Kelly is a sharp storyteller with a deceptively polite delivery, the kind where the joke sneaks up on you and then ruins balloons forever. We talk about punch-ups as a supportive art form, finding your comedic voice without forcing authenticity, and what it’s like navigating comedy scenes between Toronto, Montreal, and New York. Plus: why balloons are a logistical nightmare, an emotional liability, and possibly damned to hell. Kelly also shares her favorite advice for doing scary new things, and why writing things down might save your life (or at least your set). Bio:a Kelly Zemnickis is a Toronto-based comedian and podcaster who has tattoos and likes to bake banana bread. She has been featured on CBC Radio's LOL and has graced stages from Kamloops to New York City. She made her Stratford Festival debut in 2024 as part of their Funny Forum Friday series, and has opened for such headliners as Brian Kiley and Michael Harrison. Kelly is also an acclaimed documentary filmmaker and her sophomore comedy album Lady Comic (Comedy Dynamics) is available now wherever you get your quality comedy! Find Kelly on YouTube and follow her on Instagram and Threads @TheLatvianFoodie.
S3 · E2
Mar 15, 2026
47:22
Rey Tang: Transforming Satire + Gaying Up Grief
For our Season 3 Premier, I got to interview rising star and Chicago icon Rey Tang! We talked about touring the South as a trans comic, how satire is evolving in our current political climate, and punched up a really fun joke about lesbian love. Rey Tang is a Chicago-based writer, stand up, and performer. She believes that, through an intersectional understanding of media, she can one day achieve her dream of writing for television. https://www.instagram.com/reytangerine/?hl=en
S3 · E1
Mar 1, 2026
45:44
Season 2
Rosalie: Highlights, Low Brow, and Reclaiming Rhetoric
This week I got to sit down with one of my all time favorite trans comedians: Rosalie! We discussed structural and performance punch up techniques, and may have even found a way to make a joke about slurs CHRISTMASY? Tune in! Rosalie, the tall doll of stand-up, offers her unflinchingly honest and unfiltered perspective on the world through the lens of a trans woman. She's headlined all over CO and had the chance to work with some of the best in the industry. She may not be the representation you envisioned, but she is the icon you'll come to embrace. https://www.instagram.com/omghirosalie/?hl=en
S2 · E15
Oct 8, 2025
1:12:09
Bailey Pope: Punk Rock Comedy + Coming Out Twice
This week, I got to sit down with one of my favorite people and comedians: Bailey Pope! We talked about the current political climate for trans comedians, teasing vs. bullying an audience, and about punk rock philosophy in comedy. Bailey Pope (She/Her/Etc) is a New York based Comedian, writer, and pigeon-holed actor, providing the overly-tattooed, failed rock star transgender woman comedy that everyone has been searching centuries for. Bailey has shared stages with Roy Wood Jr, Sam Jay, Mark Normand and Ashley Gavin. As an actor, she often appears as “Angry bartender” or “Aloof tattoo artist” in shows such as AppleTV+ “City On Fire”. Her writing has been published by Hard Times and Refinery29. She also has a special upcoming on Amazon Prime, dropping October 2025! Check out more about Bailey @TheActualBaileyPope https://www.instagram.com/theactualbaileypope/?hl=en
S2 · E14
Sep 19, 2025
1:01:55
Dezzy: Punching Sideways + Just Say Go Birds
This week I got to sit down with comedian Dezzy! Dezzy is a Philly comic who is just blowing up this last year, seen on the Here to pee tour, at Helium, Punchline, and a bunch of cool venues on the east coast. You can catch them opening for Chanel Ali in NY this Fall, You can follow Dezzy here! https://www.instagram.com/dezzirablecomedy/?hl=en
S2 · E13
Sep 27, 2025
36:55
Mack Magee: Character Work + Cherry-Popping Chronicles
Mack is nonbinary comic & Portland native. Their gender identity is a mix between Mac Demarco & Shadow the Hedgehog: trashy, edgy, and a little furry in some places. Mack's comedy aims to eliminate feelings of shame through exploration of kink, mental health and queerness. They are the co-host & co-producer of Queer AF, Hear You Loud & Queer, & Heart Throb, the comedy dating show. They love standup because they need attention, and getting it on stage is a lot healthier than other ways they've acquired it in the past. @bong_jon_bovi (me) @queerafcomedy @hearyouloudandqueer @heart_throb_the_show
S2 · E12
Aug 22, 2025
1:11:08
Gabe Sklan: Self-Oiling Machines + Organizing Systems
I got to sit down with Gabe Sklan this week and it was great! “Gabby” Gabe Sklan is a Chicago based comedian and clown known for their direct and sincere approach to performance. They are the creator/director of Character Creator Show and a host of the Bad Boyhavior podcast.
S2 · E11
Sep 21, 2025
39:00
Ne Izima: First Impressions and Parenthood Punch Ups
I had the joy of sitting down with Ne Izima this week, and we had a really stellar conversation about the hurdles of being a minority in comedy, the woes of being a parent to a teenager, and insights into when your first impression actually starts when you're performing. Ne’(Nay) a Nigerian American comedian and actor originally from the midwest though! They’ve performed on stages like Jimmy Kimmel’s in Vegas, Comedy store in LA and many other popular comedy venues. Failing at Beast games is also on her resume’. Her favorite food is Sushi and hands down one of her favorite shows to be booked on at the Comedy Store @prettyfunnywomen, catch her 7/19 performing with pretty funny women at the Comedy Chateau in LA. https://www.instagram.com/comedian_ne_izima/
S2 · E10
Aug 15, 2025
38:21
Katie Bowman: Clowning + Book Recommends
Katie Bowman is an artist and comedian based out of Denver. She just released her debut comedy album, Neurodivergent Nightmare, with Burn This Records, it hit #1 on ITunes and Amazon the week it came out. Bowman has been featured on comedy festivals like Limestone, Highplains, Altercation and more! She was comic of the week on the Jackie and Laurie show. You can follow her on social media at @KatieBowmanComedy and check out her shows, merch and more at www.KatieBowman.Rocks
S2 · E9
Aug 8, 2025
56:46
1 of 3