
A show where comics talk about their first time on stage.
| Publishes | Daily | Episodes | 34 | Founded | 3 months ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ComedyComedy Interviews | |||

Ty Moore's first open mic ended with a headliner running on stage and taking the mic out of his hands three minutes in — and honestly? He was relieved. Twelve years later, he hosts Bobo's, the Monday-night comedy open mic at Cafe Bourbon Street, one ... more
A fight broke out at Zach Harley's first open mic — and the bartender brought out a wooden bat. The Columbus comic tells the whole story on First Mic.
Zach spent over a decade behind microphones before he ever tried a joke on stage: high school play... more
Evergreen query targeted: "what to expect at your first open mic" — answered directly in paragraph two.
Nickey Winkelman has done stand-up for 20 years and never left Columbus, Ohio — on purpose. Her first open mic? Eight minutes at a UCSB variety s... more
Murph Henderson flew to New York to do his first stand-up set — and to see a girl. She said no, he never got on stage, and Columbus comedy won.
Back home, his actual first open mic happened at Shrunken Head, right before the legendary Columbus venue... more
Henry Allen brought his mom to his first open mic — because at 17, he wasn't old enough to get into the club. It did not go smoothly.
Sixteen years later, Henry sits down with Ira Cross at Rehab Tavern to tell the whole story: the Bo Burnham special... more
Barak Lesner moved to Columbus with three outfits in a garbage bag. Today he co-runs The Attic Comedy Club, has five kids and a mortgage, and a blunt message for anyone starting out: you suck — and that's exactly the point.
In this episode of First ... more
Caitlin Menosky's first Columbus open mic went about as badly as it can go — only woman on the lineup, put up last, and heckled through her whole set by a room full of comedians she'd never met. One comic's apology afterward is the reason she didn't ... more
Dan Sebree has been obsessed with stand-up since he was five years old — but it took watching the finals of a Dayton comedy contest, thinking "I could do this," to actually get on stage. On this episode of First Mic, Dan tells Ira about his very firs... more
I love hearing about how comedians got into the scene. I also like hearing about their process of trying out new material, tweaking their jokes based on audience reactions and dealing with hecklers. Ira is a great interviewer and the conversations flow very naturally.
I enjoy this podcast because it provides a fresh take on the art of Comedy. Being able to see grass roots for the beginning of these acts is awesome. The setting is also perfect. Ira has done a great job with this I’m
Excited to see this grow.
It’s great to see Columbus building their comedy community and connecting with local comics on their success. I enjoy candid moments and authenticity with comics and just with people. It’s great to hear them talk about the beginning of their journey and know that failure is part of the story. It allows someone that is interested in getting into this work the understanding that there will be bomb moments but each show comes with learning and growth.
I really like how this show brings down the wall of how scary stand-up comedy could be. Hearing professional comedians talk about how bad or how awkward The first run at stand-up was is very refreshing and encouraging to give it a shot!
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #74 |







Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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This show centers on comedians sharing their first experiences on stage, from nerves and hecklers to the learning process and eventual rhythm of performing. Across episodes, listeners hear candid origin stories, practical tips for trying open mics, and behind-the-scenes looks at local comedy scenes, with a strong emphasis on community, persistence, and the craft of developing material. Notable threads include early influences, the realities of booking and producing shows, handling hecklers, and the importance of practice, feedback, and supportive networks in shaping a comic's path.
What makes this program stand out is its intimate, no-nonsense approach to early-stage stand-up, its Midwest/local-scene roots, and guests who routinely combine... more
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First Mic launched 3 months ago and published 34 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on First Mic include:
1. Nickey Winkelman
2. Murph Henderson
3. Henry Allen
4. Barak Lesner
5. Caitlin Menosky
6. Dan Sebree
7. Jessi Sisson
8. Josh Stovall
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