Show notes
This week’s Chit Chat Wednesday is a comedy deep dive with the hilarious and well-traveled Turner Sparks! Before becoming a full-time comedian, Turner spent over a decade in China, where he not only performed stand-up but also ran his own Mister Softee ice cream business in Suzhou. (Yes, really—stand-up and soft serve!) He shares how selling ice cream in China prepared him for the comedy hustle and the unexpected lessons he learned from running a business abroad.
Jared, fresh off his own trip to Australia and New Zealand, picks Turner’s brain on what it’s really like to perform for international audiences—how American comedy translates abroad, the wild misconceptions people have, and the surprising moments that come with being a comedian on the road.
They also reminisce about the early days of podcasting (remember downloading episodes in chunks?), the unique connection between podcasters and their listeners, and why certain shows feel like comfort food for the brain. Plus, Turner shares his experience as a regular guest on an Auckland radio show, explaining American culture to Kiwis, and launching his own podcast, Black and White Advice.
It’s a fun, globetrotting conversation filled with laughs, insights, and some unexpected detours—including how an ice cream truck in China led Turner to a career in comedy.
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🙋🏻♂️ Jared Freid
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Hop on the "JTrain" with comedian Jared Freid and his crew of pals, including YOU! Join us for an hour of laughs, gripes, and straight talk on modern love. Send in your questions, dish on the latest trends, and more to jtrainpodcast@gmail.com – we'll tackle it all on air! It's a no-nonsense, fun journey where we escape reality for a bit, delivering quick laughs and razor-sharp insights into the wild world of life and love. Tune in every Monday.
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Jared Freid is a stand up comedian from Boston and who is currently based in New York City. Jared is known to give great dating advice and is all knowing of the Bachelor & Bachelorette nation! You can catch his latest comedy special on Netflix, “37 & Single”, where Jared discusses dating app frustrations to awkward setups to breakup justifications. (For the record, Jared’s mom thinks his body is “just fine.”) Besides regularly headlining and touring around the country, Jared hosts two podcasts called “The JTrain Podcast” and “U Up? Podcast” with Jordana Abraham of Betches, where they discuss their takes on modern dating with issues ranging from apps to hookups to relationships. Check out more of his comedy and a live show today! 👉https://jaredfreid.com/
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