Rephonic
Artwork for Messed-Up To Set-Ups

Messed-Up To Set-Ups - A MichaelHalcomb.Live Podcast

Discussing The Messed-Up Things That Make Life Funny
Stand-Up Comedy
Comedy
Joke Writing
Stand-Up
Nashville
Crowd Work
Clean Comedy
Improv
The Joke Writer's Lab
Los Angeles, United States
Farmersburg, Indiana
Comedy Writing
Joke Writer's Lab
Kailua, United States
Pokemon
Cory Booker
Providence, United States
Boston, United States
New York City, United States
New York

Reflections on Comedy, Stand-Up or Otherwise, from Michael Halcomb. Discussing The Messed-Up Things That Make Life Funny. www.michaelhalcomb.live

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes137Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Stand-UpComedy

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Messed-Up To Set-Ups

Latest Episodes

Hello, Friend! In this episode of Messed-Up To Set-Ups, comedian Demoine Kinney is back in the lab. This episode feels like something of a masterclass in blending stand-up comedy with real-life grit. We workshop some jokes about Demoine running for o... more

Hello, Friend! In this episode of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I sit down with the one and only Demoine Kinney for a hilarious, honest, and surprisingly inspiring conversation about comedy, creativity, and the wild road that led him from a small town in Sou... more

Hello, Friend! In this episode of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I’m back in the lab with Queen Aaliyah. In this one, we spend most of our time doing what comedians do best: Turning absurd real-life problems into something hilarious and relatable. Aaliyah bri... more

Hello, Friend! It’s episode 131 of the Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I sit down with the absolutely brilliant and hilarious Queen Aaliyah Ford. Our conversation is jam-packed with comedy wisdom, clean humor, real-life stories, and shared laughs as we talk ab... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Pivot
PivotNew York Magazine

Recent Guests

Demoine Kinney
Saxophonist, comedian, actor, and motivational speaker
Based in Atlanta; performer on the stand-up and jazz circuit
Episode: Navigating Comedy's Hidden Battles
Aaliyah Fort Adams
Queen Aaliyah, comedian and storyteller
Episode: We Turned a Disaster Into a Killer Joke
Queen Aaliyah
Comedian, performer, and producer with roots in Chicago, based in Raleigh
Episode: Comedy Habits That Actually Matter
Phillip Anthony
Comedian based out of Springfield, Massachusetts
Comedian
Episode: Most Comedians Skip This Step
Joel Brill
Comedian based near Los Angeles; guest on the show
Independent/Comedy
Episode: On The Mic After 14 Years
Bonnie Works Gardner
Comedian who writes and performs song parodies; specializes in private/corporate gigs
Episode: Finding Your Comedy Lane
Terry Lindvall
Professor of religious studies and communication
Virginia Wesleyan University (also Batten University during transitions)
Episode: Can You Roast Without Being A Jerk?
Chris Stiffler
Professor, Author, Humorous
Economic humor writer and researcher
Episode: The Power of Specificity
Christopher Stiffler
Professor, author, humor writer; economist
Economics and Humor/Colorado context
Episode: Insights From A Humor Columnist

Host

Michael Halcomb
Host of Messed-Up To Set-Ups, facilitator of workshop-style conversations and interview host

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#202
United States/Comedy/Stand-Up
Apple Podcasts
#200
United Kingdom/Comedy/Stand-Up
Apple Podcasts
#246
Canada/Comedy/Stand-Up
Apple Podcasts
#237
Germany/Comedy/Stand-Up
Apple Podcasts
#58
Netherlands/Comedy/Stand-Up
Apple Podcasts
#69
Norway/Comedy/Stand-Up
Apple Podcasts
#155
Spain/Comedy/Stand-Up

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Most Comedians Skip This Step
Q: What is your joke-writing process like and how do you balance crowd work with material?
He emphasizes a flexible but prepared process: keep notes and bullet points, but rely on live experience and observation; crowd work should enhance the set but not replace polished material, and master crowd interaction so it becomes a productive part of the performance rather than chaotic improvisation.
Most Comedians Skip This Step
Q: What's one, two, or three pieces of advice you'd give to someone starting stand-up?
Perfect your five minutes by avoiding vulgar, low-hanging jokes; open with a strong hook, have a solid middle, and close decisively to be memorable; and if a strong joke lands at four minutes, cut the last part to leave the audience wanting more.
On The Mic After 14 Years
Q: What are your top pieces of advice for aspiring comedians just starting out?
Travel the road of performing and writing extensively, avoid moving to a major market too soon, and instead build confidence locally before seeking opportunities in bigger scenes like LA.
Insights From A Humor Columnist
Q: How did you get into combining economics with humor, and what peeled back for you as you started writing humor about economics?
He started with a lifelong love of humor from Dave Barry and David Sedaris, then adapted his economics teaching into entertaining examples and later moved into writing essays and columns that blend quirky specifics with economic concepts.
A.I. and Joke Writing
Q: What advice would you give to someone just starting stand-up?
Start telling jokes publicly, test originals with real audiences, and use quick test formats to build confidence before pursuing paid gigs.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Messed-Up To Set-Ups

What is Messed-Up To Set-Ups about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on practical, workshop-style conversations about comedy, joke writing, and performing. Episodes frequently feature live brainstorming, premise development, crowd-work techniques, and branding considerations for comedians, often with guests ranging from up-and-coming comics to seasoned industry veterans. Across episodes, listeners get a transparent look at the joke-writing process, collaboration dynamics, and strategies for building a performing career, including marketing, touring, and diversification beyond live shows. A standout aspect is the frequent integration of real-time writing exercises, coaching, and collaborative riffs, which can be especially valuable for aspiring comics or teams that support comedians in conten... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Messed-Up To Set-Ups?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Messed-Up To Set-Ups. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Messed-Up To Set-Ups and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Messed-Up To Set-Ups get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Messed-Up To Set-Ups, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Messed-Up To Set-Ups?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Messed-Up To Set-Ups, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Messed-Up To Set-Ups have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Messed-Up To Set-Ups has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Messed-Up To Set-Ups?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Messed-Up To Set-Ups:

1. Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out
2. Pivot

How many episodes of Messed-Up To Set-Ups are there?

Messed-Up To Set-Ups launched 2 years ago and published 137 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Messed-Up To Set-Ups?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Messed-Up To Set-Ups?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Messed-Up To Set-Ups from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Messed-Up To Set-Ups?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Messed-Up To Set-Ups. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Messed-Up To Set-Ups?

Recent guests on Messed-Up To Set-Ups include:

1. Demoine Kinney
2. Aaliyah Fort Adams
3. Queen Aaliyah
4. Phillip Anthony
5. Joel Brill
6. Bonnie Works Gardner
7. Terry Lindvall
8. Chris Stiffler

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days