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

Discussing The Messed-Up Things That Make Life Funny

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

  1. 1d ago

    Most Comedians Skip This Step

    Hello, Friend! In this episode of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I sit down with comedian Phillip Anthony for a conversation that’s equal parts hilarious, intelligent, and encouraging as we dig into his journey from the Bronx to Massachusetts, the wild moment that accidentally launched his comedy path, and the hard-earned lessons that helped him build real momentum on stage. We talk about finding your voice, turning your messy life experiences into laughter, and why the adage “perfect your five” matters so much. We also get into how crowd work, mentorship, and clean, relatable truth can shape a comedian’s future. If you’re a comedian, a creative, or just someone who loves a good story with practical wisdom and plenty of laughs, this one’s for you. Tune in! And, hey, if you’re looking for a place to grow your skillset, I recently published Comedy Mindhacks: 100 Mental Shifts To Help Comedians & Creatives Succeed for exactly that reason. This entire book is built around helping comedians identify the mental obstacles that quietly slow their growth and steal their momentum. If this article resonated with you, I think you’ll find a lot more of that inside the book. You can check out sample pages HERE. If you’re not yet a subscriber, use code MH10LIVE at checkout HERE for 10% off. Free subscribers automatically receive 15% off, and paid subscribers receive 35% off because I’m a big believer in rewarding people who invest in themselves. 👉 Click HERE to grab the book. And if you’re ready to double down in a BIGGER way, consider joining my Comedy Vault. It’s my private collection of premium resources, trainings, workshops, and tools designed to help comedians continue growing long after the initial excitement fades. The first bet gets you into the game. Doubling down is what changes who you become.👉 Click HERE to unlock the Comedy Vault. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

    26 min
  2. 3d ago

    Where Good Jokes Come From

    Hello, Friend! In this episode of Messed-Up to Set-Ups, I’m joined once again by comedian Joel Brill. This is Part 2 of our conversation, and we do what comedians love most: Take messy real-life frustrations and turn them into laughs with live joke-workshopping and quick riffing. We build some momentum by digging into technology that seems to hate us, autocorrect disasters, Siri and Alexa behaving like jealous housemates, and a pile of playful tangents that somehow keep getting funnier as we go. If you enjoy clean, clever comedy, practical joke-building, and a behind-the-scenes look at how raw thoughts become tighter bits, you’re going to have a great time with this episode. Tune in! And, hey, if you’re looking for a place to grow your skillset, I recently published Comedy Mindhacks: 100 Mental Shifts To Help Comedians & Creatives Succeed for exactly that reason. This entire book is built around helping comedians identify the mental obstacles that quietly slow their growth and steal their momentum. If this article resonated with you, I think you’ll find a lot more of that inside the book. You can check out sample pages HERE. If you’re not yet a subscriber, use code MH10LIVE at checkout HERE for 10% off. Free subscribers automatically receive 15% off, and paid subscribers receive 35% off because I’m a big believer in rewarding people who invest in themselves. 👉 Click HERE to grab the book. And if you’re ready to double down in a BIGGER way, consider joining my Comedy Vault. It’s my private collection of premium resources, trainings, workshops, and tools designed to help comedians continue growing long after the initial excitement fades. The first bet gets you into the game. Doubling down is what changes who you become.👉 Click HERE to unlock the Comedy Vault. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

    30 min
  3. Jun 10

    Finding Your Comedy Lane

    Hello, Friend! Welcome to Episode 125 of the “Messed-Up to Set-Ups” podcast. In this one, I sit down with the incredibly talented and funny Bonnie Works Gardner. We get into her comedy journey, discuss her unique knack for crafting hilarious song parodies, and the personal stories that fuel her humor. Bonnie also shares insights on clean comedy, the open mic scene, and even her first-hand take on diabetes! Whether you’re a comedy fan or comedian, this episode is packed with laughs and insights. Tune in! Hey, before you go, let me say “Thanks!” for reading. And, if you’d like to show some love, please order a copy of my new book. Here’s the link: Comedy Mindhacks: 100 Mental Shifts To Help Comedians & Creatives Succeed. If you click HERE, you can see some sample pages. If you don’t yet subscribe to this site, you can still get a 10% discount at your purchase with the code: MH10LIVE. But, if you become a FREE Subscriber, you can automatically get a 15% discount. If you sign up as a paid subscriber, I’ll send you a 35% discount. Also, when you join that inner circle, you’ll instantly unlock my entire premium comedy vault, including FREE access to one of my classes (see below) and access to “The Green Room” content. But that’s not all, there’s way more: * The Joke Writer’s Lab Video Course: Unrestricted access to my step-by-step joke writing course on Udemy. * The Green Room: Access to all my private posts that look behind the scenes. * The Comedian Spotlight: A feature and promotion to my entire audience in an upcoming newsletter! * The Joke Blueprint Playbook: My 17-page manual for structuring your thoughts and polishing your jokes. * The Premium “Round-Up” Newsletter: My exclusive weekly deep-dive delivered every Sunday. * The Round-Up Repository: Full access to my private database containing every past and future newsletter. 👉 Click HERE to Upgrade Your Subscription & Unlock the Vault. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

    23 min
  4. Jun 7

    Can You Roast Without Being A Jerk?

    Hello, Friend! In this episode of “Messed-Up to Set-Ups,” I continue my chat with the hilarious Dr. Terry Lindvall about everything from holy mocking to the humor of Jesus. We get into the art of satire, the great cussing debate, and even share some laugh-out-loud stories from church history. After checking this out, you may leave with a new perspective on comedy and faith. Tune in! And…before you go, check this out…my new book is ready for preorder: Comedy Mindhacks: 100 Mental Shifts To Help Comedians & Creatives Succeed. Secure your copy HERE. It goes live on 6/8/26. If you click HERE, you can see some sample pages. If you don’t yet subscribe to this site, you can still get a 10% discount at your purchase with the code: MH10LIVE. But, if you become a FREE Subscriber, you can automatically get a 15% discount. If you sign up as a paid subscriber, I’ll send you a 35% discount. Also, when you join that inner circle, you’ll instantly unlock my entire premium comedy vault: * The Joke Writer’s Lab Video Course: Unrestricted access to my step-by-step joke writing course on Udemy. * The Comedian Spotlight: A feature and promotion to my entire audience in an upcoming newsletter! * The Joke Blueprint Playbook: My 17-page manual for structuring your thoughts and polishing your jokes. * The Premium “Round-Up” Newsletter: My exclusive weekly deep-dive delivered every Sunday. * The Round-Up Repository: Full access to my private database containing every past and future newsletter. 👉 Click HERE to Upgrade Your Subscription & Unlock the Vault. Get full access to MichaelHalcomb.Live at www.michaelhalcomb.live/subscribe

    29 min

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