Smart Funny Tortured

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Sarah Kendzior on authoritarianism, corruption and life's simple pleasures Apr 19, 2022

Show notes

Paul sits down with best-selling author and scholar, Sarah Kendzior to talk about staying vigilant while trying to enjoy life’s simple pleasures as authoritarianism and corruption continues to accelerate.

Sarah Kendzior darkly refers to herself on Twitter as a non-fiction horror writer. That description, while hilarious, is spot on. She is also a journalist, holds a PhD in anthropology and a Masters in Central Eurasian Studies focusing on the authoritarian states of the former Soviet Union.

Her two books, The View From Flyover Country and Hiding In Plain Sight are celebrated bestsellers and must reads for anyone wanting to understand the decline and abandonment of the Heartland and then the machinations behind the ascension of American Autocracy in the form of the Trump Family. Her upcoming book, They Knew explores the United States’ “culture of conspiracy,”. She is also co-host of Gaslit Nation, a weekly podcast which covers corruption in all things Trump and the rise of authoritarianism around the world. It is one of the most riveting sources of information about Putin and the invasion of Ukraine. She was named by Foreign Policy as one of the “100 people you should be following on Twitter to make sense of global events.”

Her reporting has been featured in many publications, including NBC News, The Guardian, The Atlantic, Fast Company, The Chicago Tribune, Al Jazeera, The Globe and Mail, and The New York Times.

Sarah was on the original guest wishlist for this podcast. Because despite all the bylines and numerous television appearances handing out undeniable truths about authoritarian tactics, racism and xenophobia, the state of media and voting rights - she’s also a thoughtful artist, a rabid Guns N Roses fan, and a Mom who enjoys life’s simple pleasures in her beloved adopted hometown of St.Louis, MO.

"Both prescient and honest...seeing the roots of the arguments that now dominate cable news is both fascinating and a little bit haunting in retrospect." ―NPR

“Kendzior is no psychic. She’s just whip-smart and an expert on authoritarian governments. She’s also that rare writer with an analyst’s brain and an empath’s heart.” ―STEFENE RUSSELL, ST. LOUIS MAGAZINE

Follow Sarah Kendzior on Twitter: @SarahKendzior
Visit SarahKendzior.com

Host: Paul Chamberlain
Guest: Sarah Kendzior
Produced by: Cerebral Itch Labs

Clips featured in this episode:

Cult of Personality (7" Version) - Living Colour
Writers: Corey Glover, William Calhoun, Muzz Skillings, Vernon Reid

The Stand—Original Series Soundtrack
music by: Nathaniel Walcott and Mike Mogis

For more episodes of Smart Funny Tortured visit SmartFunnyTortured.com

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Rylee Rabbit & Sex Work/Entrepreneurship Mar 30, 2022

Show notes

Paul sits down with Rylee Rabbit to talk about sex work, entrepreneurial hustle and finding things that are beautiful in people.

Through sheer resourcefulness, fearlessness and grit she has grown her Rylee Rabbit brand into a budding enterprise with over a million followers across multiple platforms while employing several creatives and becoming an advocate for her industry and the health and welfare of those who work in it.

Follow Rylee Rabbit on Instagram: @downtherabbithole.tv
Follow Rylee Rabbit on Twitter: @MsRyleeRabbit
VisitRyleeRabbit.com
Host: Paul Chamberlain
Guest: Rylee Rabbit
Produced by: Cerebral Itch Labs
Special Thanks to Jake Gallen
For more episodes of Smart Funny Tortured visit SmartFunnyTortured.com
Copyright © 2022 • Cerebral Itch Labs, LLC / Smart Funny Tortured • All Rights Reserved

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Tal Ben-Shahar & Happiness Mar 10, 2022

Show notes

Paul sits down with best-selling author and lecturer, Tal Ben-Shahar to discuss the science of happiness, how to become happier and how the pursuit of happiness is all wrong.

Tal Ben-Shahar taught two of the largest classes in Harvard University’s history, "Positive Psychology" and "The Psychology of Leadership." His books have been translated into more than thirty languages, and have appeared on best-seller lists around the world. His latest books are “Happiness Studies” and “Happier, No Matter What.”

Tal consults and lectures to executives in multinational corporations, the general public, and at-risk populations. The topics he lectures on include leadership, education, ethics, politics, happiness, self-esteem, resilience, goal setting, and mindfulness. He is the co-founder and chief learning officer of The Happiness Studies Academy and Potentialife.

An avid sportsman, Tal won the U.S. Intercollegiate and Israeli National squash championships. He obtained his PhD in Organizational Behavior and BA in Philosophy and Psychology from Harvard.

Follow Tal Ben-Shahar on Instagram: @happiness.studies.academy

Follow Tal Ben-Shahar on Facebook: Happiness Studies Academy

Visit The Happiness Studies Academy

For more episodes of Smart Funny Tortured visit SmartFunnyTortured.com

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Zachary Zane & Bisexuality Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

Despite more and more people identifying as bisexual, stigmas remain, leaving many not feeling fully accepted by their communities. This includes your host. During my interview, Zachary Zane held a special space where I felt safe to finally come out and present my authentic self to the world. I never thought that when I did do it, I would be recording and distributing it on the Internet; but here we are...Smart, Funny and a little less Tortured.

16:30 - Paul comes out
19:40 - When Zachary came to terms with being bisexual
37:00 - Zachary goes to the White House
39:15 - The challenges and needs specific to bisexuality

Zachary Zane is a Brooklyn-based columnist, sex expert, and activist whose work focuses on sexuality, lifestyle, culture, and the LGBTQ community. He currently has a sex advice column at Men's Health titled "Sexplain It" and a relationship column at Queer Majority titled "Zach and the City." His work has been published in the New York Times Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, GQ, Playboy, Slate, Cosmo, Bustle, VICE, NBC, Dazed, The Daily Beast, and many others. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of BOYSLUT Zine, which publishes real, first-person sex stories from kinksters across the globe.
He was formerly a digital associate editor at OUT Magazine and a contributing editor at Pride.com, Plus Magazine, and The Advocate Magazine.
As a leading bisexual activist, Zane has spoken across the country at universities and panels alike, discussing issues pertaining to the bisexual community, sex-positivity, and ethical non-monogamy. He previously had a biweekly column at Bisexual.org that ran for 18 months.
He attended the "Bisexual White House Briefing" at the White House (under Obama), and has been featured as an expert on a number of podcasts including Dan Savage's "The Savage Lovecast."

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James Bond & George Hahn Oct 14, 2021

Show notes

James Bond is smart, funny, tortured: Paul and George Hahn explain why and also list their favorite and not-so-favorite franchise elements

In honor of the long overdue release of No Time To Die--the 25th installment of the James Bond franchise--Paul sits down with fellow 007 megafan, George Hahn, to discuss why the ever-evolving, functional alcoholic crack-shot misogynist remains a titan of pop culture. Hahn, a celebrated satirist, sartorialist and urban raconteur, joins Paul to indulge their shared appreciation by ranking the best and worst elements of Bond, from favorite films, best opening themes and worst lines from sixty years of James Bond adventures.

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Jonathan Capehart Sep 03, 2021

Show notes

Paul sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Jonathan Capehart to talk about being black, gay, finding the gray, and the day when America was as close as it ever was to realizing its national ideals.

Jonathan Capehart is anchor of “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart” on MSNBC. He is also an opinion writer and editorial board member of The Washington Post, where he hosts the “Cape Up” podcast and anchors Washington Post Live’s “First Look,” and a commentator on “The PBS Newshour.”

Follow Jonathan Capehart on Instagram: @CapehartJ
Follow Jonathan Capehart on Twitter: @CapehartJ
Visit The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart
Visit The PBS News Hour - Brooks and Capehart
Listen to Cape Up with Jonathan Capehart

Host: Paul Chamberlain
Guest: Jonathan Capehart
Produced by: Cerebral Itch Labs
Engineered & Edited by: April Winchell

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Paul Williams Jul 14, 2021

Show notes

Paul sits down with Paul Williams to talk about never not being starstruck, three decades of sobriety and why his heart is the fullest it has ever been.

Paul Williams is one of the most beloved and respected music creators in the world today. A lyricist and composer who has won an Oscar Award, three Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and earned induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, his songs, from “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays” and “You and Me Against the World” to “An Old Fashioned Love Song,” “Let Me Be the One” and “The Rainbow Connection,” have touched millions of people for generations.

Follow Paul Williams on Instagram: @paulielama2
Follow Paul Williams on Twitter: @IMPaulWilliams
Visit paulwilliamsofficial.com
Read Gratitude and Trust” Six Affirmations That Will Change Your LIfe by Paul Williams and Tracey Jackson

Host: Paul Chamberlain
Guest: Paul Williams
Produced by: Cerebral Itch Labs
Engineered & Edited by: April Winchell

Clips featured in this episode:

© 2021 Recording Academy - Grammy AwardsDaft Punk, Nile Rodgers, Paul Williams, and Pharrell Williams accept the GRAMMY for Album Of The Year at the 56th GRAMMY Awards on Jan. 26, 2014, in Los Angeles.

"We've Only Just Begun" written by Roger Nichols (music) and Paul Williams (lyrics)Performed by Paul Williams

The Apology Song from The Book of Life (2014)Lyric by Paul Williams and Music by Gustavo Santaolalla
Performed by Diego Luna

"Rainbow Connection" - The Muppet Movie, written by Paul Williams (lyrics) and Kenneth Ascher (music). Performed by Lance Allen - www.guitarlancer.com

"I Won't Last a Day Without You" written by Paul Williams (lyrics) and Roger Nichols (music)Performed by Paul Williams

The Muppet Show (1976) - Episode 108
Jim Henson and Paul Williams

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April Winchell Jun 23, 2021

Show notes

April Winchell has experienced about seven different lifetimes, each one funnier - and up until now - more tragic than the last. The one she lives now is her best life, and she has a hilariously biting perspective on how she got there. The daughter of a famous Dad, April found her own success as an award-winning advertising industry star and acclaimed voice actor. She was also a prolific satirist, L.A. radio personality and monumental hot mess. But today, her creativity and happiness come not from just a very different place, but a far healthier one.

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Rob Paulsen on depression and the redemptive power of cancer and cartoons Jun 09, 2021

Show notes

Rob Paulsen is one of Hollywood’s busiest, most talented, and most passionate performers who specializes in the art of voice acting, a career that has earned him a Daytime Emmy, three Annie Awards, and a Peabody. He is the voice of Pinky from “Pinky and the Brain”, Yakko from “Animaniacs”, Raphael from "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", just to name a few. His accolades and “sunny disposition” stand in stark defiance to the battles he has waged and triumphed over. From a crushing bout of depression at 54 years old to the diagnosis of stage 3 metastatic throat cancer, Rob remains one of the nicest human beings to ever stand in front of a microphone. Rob is now cancer-free and back doing what he loves, with a deep appreciation of what he almost lost and tirelessly using his gifts in service to those that need it the most.

Host: Paul Chamberlain

Guest: Rob Paulsen

Produced by: Cerebral Itch Labs

Engineered & Edited by: April Winchell

Learn more about Smart Funny Tortured: Visit smartfunnytortured.com

Follow Rob Paulsen on Instagram: @rob_paulsen

Follow Rob Paulsen on Twitter: @yakkopinky

Read Rob’s book, Voice Lessons: How a Couple of Ninja Turtles, Pinky, and an Animaniac Saved My Life

Rob would like you to learn more about Boo2Bullying and help eradicate bullying, intolerance and discrimination.

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George Hahn on sobriety, tenacity and Cary Grant's suit May 21, 2021

Show notes

Paul sits down with the charming and ascendant George Hahn to talk about sobriety, tenacity and Cary Grant's suit.

George was recently featured in the New York Times and given the designation of “Urban Raconteur.” Spot on considering how the satirist, humorist, sartorialist, minimalist, bicyclist, urbanist, humanist, soloist and coffee elitist is becoming essential viewing on social media with his hilarious and intimate live-streamed morning walks through Central Park with his dogs. But what made this podcast so rich and meaningful was the discussion around George’s 19 years of sobriety. Where he was at the turn of the century (Sex and The City and a famous paramour are only part of the story), when his hard living had to end and how he now finds peace as a creative enjoying his own renaissance in the city he loves dearly.

Follow George Hahn on Instagram: @georgehahn

Follow George Hahn on Twitter: @georgehahn

Follow George Hahn on TikTok: @georgehahnnyc

Visit GeorgeHahn.com

Host: Paul Chamberlain

Guest: George Hahn

Produced by: Cerebral Itch Labs

Engineered & Edited by: April Winchell

Learn more about Smart Funny Tortured: Visit smartfunnytortured.com

Clips featured in this episode:

North By Northwest - Turner Entertainment

Days of Wine and Roses - Warner Bros.

SMART FUNNY TORTURED
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James Bond is smart, funny, tortured: Paul and George Hahn explain why and also list their favorite and not-so-favorite franchise elements

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