Nostalgium Arcanum

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

November 25th, 2024  |  1 hr 55 mins

1980s, 80s, comedies, comedy, film, films, holiday, homeless, homelessness, john candy, john hughes, movie, movies, road trip, steve martin, thanksgiving

John Hughes' classic Thanksgiving story about Neal Page (Steve Martin) and Del Griffith (John Candy) questing home against geography and Murphy's Law combines stellar comedic performances and a heartbreaking (and ultimately heartwarming) twist to deliver an all-time holiday classic. Guest Dan Oster (MadTV, A Podcast, But Evil) tags along with us to make a meal of a film with far more substance than its Odd Couple trappings would suggest.

Also, please stick around to the end of the episode for special guest Michael Shepherd, who joins us for a discussion on what you can do to help those struggling with homelessness this holiday season.

Mitch Hedberg

January 22nd, 2024  |  1 hr 12 mins

andy kaufman, beatnik, comedy, hedberg, improv, jazz, mitch hedberg, open mic, stand up, stand up comedy, stand-up, stand-up comedy, steve martin

If stand-up comedy was an equation then Mitch Hedberg was its Isaac Newton, a pioneer who turned the format on its head and make jokes into jazz and vice versa. Comedian Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) joins us to revisit Hedberg's tragically brief career, and the stand-up revolution he quietly raged.