Dam Yankee

Dam Yankee
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An NL Times podcast featuring English speaking entertainers about their experiences performing in the Netherlands.

  1. Randy Feltface is still funnier than terminally-ill Teletubbies

    1 APR

    Randy Feltface is still funnier than terminally-ill Teletubbies

    He’s the world’s most famous purple philosopher, but even global icons get tired of living out of a suitcase. In this milestone 50th episode of the Dam Yankee podcast, host Zack Newmark sits down with the one and only Randy Feltface for a raw, hilarious, and unexpectedly vulnerable look at the fabricated man behind the comedy. The show is out now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more services. Fresh off a string of sold-out Dutch shows and a high-profile appearance on Arjen Lubach's show, Randy is gearing up for his new YouTube special, "First Banana" (dropping April 1). But beneath the manic stage energy lies a performer who is fundamentally burned out. "I got a lot of, you know, rejection in the early days," he recalled, dropping his manic energy for a moment of grim reflection. Promoters would dismiss him outright with incredibly specific insults. "A lot of 'we'll call you when we need someone who looks like Tinky Winky from the Teletubbies with a life threatening autoimmune disease. We'll get on the phone when we need that, Randy.'" From the grueling physical toll of his "Buster Keaton" performance style to his 20 years of nonstop touring, Randy pulls no punches about the reality of the circuit. "I'm sick of it," he confessed. "I want to do some laundry. I want a washing machine. That's too much to ask. I want a goddamn washing machine and a bookshelf. Oh, and a cup. I want a mug." Feltface admits there is a unique energy he finds when performing for audiences in the Netherlands. The connection with Dutch crowds is part of what keeps him going even when he feels he’s "evolving the wrong way". The thrill of the live environment as something that can’t be replicated, noting, "I love touring, I'm... perpetually grateful for the world that I have created and that I get to exist in". This full episode of Dam Yankee can be seen on YouTube, or listen to the Dam Yankee on all major podcast platforms. Randy Feltface is currently on tour with comedian Brodi Snook in the United States, which continues through the end of May. The duo then head back out on the road for more North American tour dates in September. Follow Feltface on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for updates.

    44 min
  2. Nira Tal went from unnoticed immigrant with burnout to rising comedy star

    26 MAR

    Nira Tal went from unnoticed immigrant with burnout to rising comedy star

    How does a 20-year "identity erasure" lead to a career in dark comedy? In this episode of Dam Yankee, host Zack Neumark sits down with Israeli comedian Nira Tal to uncover the raw reality behind her midlife pivot. After moving to the Netherlands for love, Tal admits that for two decades, "There was no Nira." Following a severe corporate burnout at age 38, Tal turned to the stage to reclaim her voice. Today, she is a staple at Comedy Club Haug, specializing in what she calls "feel-very-bad comedy." For Tal, humor isn't about making people happy, it’s about survival. "If I find the funny in it, then I’m okay," she explains on the podcast, now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and many more services.  The interview reaches a chilling peak when Tal discusses her pseudodwarfism. She reveals a staggering twist of fate regarding her father, an elite athlete whose "physical failure" to qualify for the 1972 Munich Olympics ended up saving his life during the Munich massacre. [Hear the full revelation at 07:12]. Tal also pulls back the curtain on the "unexpected journey" of raising a daughter with autism and why she refuses to feel small in the world’s tallest country. From reclaiming her identity to joking about the Holocaust, nothing is off-limits in her quest to turn anger into art. Tal shares one story after another, and dives deep into her personal life, on this full episode of Dam Yankee. Watch the show on YouTube, or listen to Dam Yankee on all major podcast platforms. Nira Tal shares updates on her performance schedule online, including her frequent sets at Comedy Club Haug. She frequently posts updates to Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

    1hr 4min
  3. Amsterdam comic Rogier Bak vs. the Manosphere

    19 MAR

    Amsterdam comic Rogier Bak vs. the Manosphere

    In an era of "alpha male" influencers and aggressive internet posturing, Rogier Bak is offering a different kind of rescue. Speaking on the latest episode of the Dam Yankee podcast with host Zack Newmark, the Amsterdam-based comedian dissected the friction between modern masculinity and his own upbringing. Bak, known for his viral takes on cultural identity, noted that his skepticism of the "manosphere" isn't just a bit; it’s a tribute to the woman who raised him, he said in the episode, now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and many more services. "We don't do romance in the Netherlands. We do paperwork," Bak joked early in the session, but the conversation quickly pivoted from cultural quirks to deep personal history. Bak revealed that his father passed away when he was just 12, leaving him to be raised by a mother who was then, and remains an incredibly important person to the comedian. On the other hand, he says his father "essentially was pretty good at blaming everybody else for his own issues, rather than taking any accountability for his own failures, shortcomings, and just realizing [missteps are] human. So me having grown up with a mom who was the breadwinner, who was the stable element in my house and who was the most reliable person in my life, I've never grown up with the influence of men telling me that women should be a certain way. or that women should be submissive to a man or that women should play a household role." [Hear Bak explain the ‘Alpha’ trap at 53:41] The path to his current success was anything but linear. After spending a decade in the United States, first at a high school in central Illinois, then to pursue basketball in Michigan, and design in New York, Bak was forced to return to the Netherlands when his work visa was not renewed. Leaving his American dream behind was a professional and personal gut-punch. "I was visiting my mom and I got off the train here in Amsterdam," Bak recalls. "It sounds weird, but I remember watching a group of Dutch people get out of the train. I was like, 'I have nothing in common with you guys. Nothing. I don't identify with this group. And I don't know why." [Watch him describe the train ride that changed everything at 19:54] If an identity crisis wasn't enough, Bak shared the story of the ultimate "rock bottom" moment. In 2020, as his comedy career finally began to gain traction, his personal life imploded. He and his wife decided to separate on the "day of the first announcement of the first lockdown in the Netherlands". Believing the restrictions would only last a couple of weeks, like "everyone" was being told at the time. the couple decided to "weather that storm" together. What followed was a months-long living situation that Bak describes as "absolutely the most tumultuous time," trapped in an apartment with an ex while the world outside, his career, and his livelihood, all remained shut down. [See how Bak survived a lockdown with his ex-wife at 25:30] To hear the full story of how Rogier Bak turned a visa rejection, a grieving household, and a claustrophobic divorce into a global comedy brand, watch this full episode of Dam Yankee and YouTube, or listen to Dam Yankee on all major podcast platforms. Rogier Bak is performing all over the place, including in Amsterdam on Thursday night, then in Ghent and Brussels over the weekend, before returning to Rotterdam and a special Amsterdam set with Nadine Froughi. He then has tour dates in Prague, Bratislava, Berlin, London, Lisbon, Athens, and all over the Netherlands. Follow him on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook for updates.

    1hr 26min
  4. Daniel Yazbek

    12 MAR

    Daniel Yazbek

    Zack Newmark sits down with Amsterdam-based comedian Daniel Yazbek. Originally from Johannesburg, Daniel traded a master's degree in computer science for a microphone and hasn't looked back since. Daniel opens up about growing up with two heroin addict parents, the complicated relationship with his mother, and how a childhood shaped by chaos became the foundation for his comedy. He also talks about building the Amsterdam English comedy scene alongside his podcast co-host and friend of the pod Sjoerd Scott, and why he's now taking his stand-up special "I'll Call You Back" on a European tour. In this episode we talk about turning trauma into comedy, the psychology of addiction and how it shaped his relationships, and what it takes to build a comedy career from scratch in a country that's not your own. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction & Welcome 00:48 - From South Africa to Amsterdam: The Comedy Origin Story 02:16 - Why He Got a Master's in Computer Science as a Backup Plan 05:51 - Building a Reputation in the Amsterdam Comedy Scene 08:56 - Writing Process & Morning Routines 11:06 - Is the Comedy Career Going as Planned? 14:37 - ADHD, Flow State & Why Comedians Chase the Stage 18:00 - Growing Up with Two Heroin Addict Parents 28:01 - His Relationship with His Father & the Netflix Movie 32:50 - His Complicated Relationship with His Mother 40:20 - Comedic Influences Growing Up 43:41 - Pattern Recognition: The Mathematical Approach to Comedy 51:47 - The "In the Background" Podcast with Sjoerd Scott 54:46 - Taking "I'll Call You Back" on a European Tour 57:42 - Adapting the Show for Different Countries & Audiences 01:00:32 - Finding Community Through Third World Humor Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w7Ro2uWOXU Follow Dam Yankee: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrTNLZq07abBOD19MLzRTSg?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damyankeepodcast Website: https://damyankeepodcast.nltimes.nl/ Connect with Daniel Yazbek:  https://www.instagram.com/daniel.yazbek/ Tickets to Daniel's Show: https://linktr.ee/danielyazbek?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=8296fe28-2466-4d85-b15b-38f063f14b4c Connect with me:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharynewmark This episode is sponsored by NoticemeStore.com, your go-to store for Korean and Japanese skincare brands like Beauty of Joseon, SKIN1004, and Anua, with a Lowest Price Guarantee. Find it cheaper elsewhere and they'll match it instantly (Conditions apply). Use code NLTimes10 for 10% off → www.noticemestore.com

    1hr 3min
  5. Rashi Agarwal

    5 MAR

    Rashi Agarwal

    Why Rashi Agarwal says your "lazy" racism is the least interesting thing about her How does a privileged woman from India become a "Person of Color" overnight? In this episode of Dam Yankee, host Zack Newmark sits down with stand-up comedian, storyteller, and activist Rashi Agarwal to discuss her viral rise in the Amsterdam comedy scene and her refusal to "play it safe" for Western audiences. The episode is out now on YouTube, with audio-only versions available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and on many more services. Rashi breaks down the "lazy form of racism" she faces from internet trolls—and why she finds their insults about "shit on the streets" more boring than offensive. She also issues a provocative warning to fellow immigrants about the trap of being "white by proxy," explaining why defending the status quo won't grant you the belonging you're looking for. The most shocking moment of the episode? Rashi recounts the high-stakes night she performed for the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and pointedly told a VIP table of white ambassadors to "date your colonizer." The room hit a wall of "uncomfortable feeling"—but the reaction she received once the microphones were turned off changed her perspective on the power of comedy. From finally grabbing a Dutch passport - which she says is like striking gold - to the ironies of a culture where complaining is the national pastime, Rashi explores the layers of societal dynamics she never saw coming. In this episode, we discuss: [02:20] The surreal transition of becoming a "Person of Color" only after leaving India. [07:13] The "Date Your Colonizer" moment: What happened when Rashi called out the Ministry's VIPs. [17:24] Passport Privilege: Why a blue booklet feels like holding gold. [21:31] The "White by Proxy" trap: Why Rashi challenges fellow immigrants who over-assimilate. [24:45] How to dismantle "lazy racism" with a joke about Amsterdam's canal water. Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify to hear the resolution to Rashi’s most daring stories.   Amsterdam, Rashi Agarwal, India, comedy, Stand-up Comedy, Coimbatore, sexism, misogyny, storytelling, Mezrab, Mezrab's House of Creation, theater, Dam Yankee, Zack Newmark, podcast, immigration, integration, marketing, fashion, Noord-Holland, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Kerala, equality, diversity, inclusion

    1hr 10min
  6. Charlene Coco

    26 FEB

    Charlene Coco

    Zack Newmark sits down with Amsterdam-based drag queen performer Charlene Coco, to talk about identity, fear, freedom, and what it really means to show up as yourself. Charlene Coco was voted Best New Drag in Town after her debut appearance in Amsterdam in 2019. Charlene is the drag persona born from the mind of Charlie Robertson, a British performer based in Amsterdam who also uses drag to help offices become more tolerant and inclusive. From performing political punk-rock drag numbers to moderating panels at Amsterdam Dance Event, Charlene shares her journey from Oxford private school to the stages of Amsterdam’s queer nightlife. We talk about: • Why drag still triggers fear • The moral panic around drag & trans visibility • Corporate diversity workshops in full drag • Safety, backlash & being visible • God Save The Queer – building community through performance • Pride, politics & protecting nightlife spaces • What allies can actually do Chapters:  00:00 – Taxi in Full Drag & Public Reactions 02:00 – Drag in Corporate Boardrooms 07:00 – Discovering Drag & Early Performances 12:00 – Political Performances & Punk Energy 19:00 – Winning Best New Drag Queen (2020) 21:00 – Building “God Save The Queer” 26:00 – Is Drag More Accepted Today? 30:00 – Fear, Backlash & Moral Panic 33:00 – Supporting the Trans Community 35:00 – Amsterdam Dance Event & Queer Nightlife 39:00 – Why Does Drag Trigger People? 44:00 – Cis Privilege & Taking Drag Off 47:00 – Coming Out (Twice) 52:00 – Drag in the Corporate World Connect with Charlene Coco:  https://www.instagram.com/thecharlenecoco/ Connect with me:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharynewmark   Instagram (The Dam Yankee Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/damyankeepodcast   Website: https://damyankeepodcast.nltimes.nl/

    1hr 1min
  7. Kiriko Mechanicus

    19 FEB

    Kiriko Mechanicus

    Amsterdam documentary director Kiriko Mechanicus on ethnic fetishes, unusual challenges, and her new documentary on the Atlanta Asian spa murders, set to debut at SXSW in Austin When news of the 2021 Atlanta massage parlor shootings reached Amsterdam, filmmaker Kiriko Mechanicus felt a chilling connection. "I realized when I had read about this incident that it somehow also felt as if I was part of his sick desire," the Dutch-Japanese filmmaker explains. For her documentary How to Catch a Butterfly, debuting at SXSW, she wrote letters to the killer, Robert Aaron Long, but not with the intent to "demonize him... but more demonize the whole idea how we as people look at Asian women." Long killed eight people, including six women of Asian descent, and claimed his motive was anger for his own feelings of shame tied to his claimed sex addiction. But Mechanicus sees this incident from the perspective of a culture steeped in ethnic fetishization, wher Asian women are often "reduced to this one thing, which is a butterfly that needs to be caught". For Mechanicus, this film is about reclaiming her identity and finding "personal peace." Mechanicus delves into the uncomfortable intersection of her personal life and the motives behind the shooting. She admits that her approach—connecting a horrific mass murder to her own dating history—might seem "radical" or even "kind of cuckoo" to some. She also looks at how it affected her when she was younger, and tried to adopt an "Asian ideal" when in relationships to be desired. But she realized by age 21, "I'm holding up a standard that is not mine." Her work is driven by a philosophy of "saying yes." "I say yes to everything. And then I have to think about how I'm going to do it," she says. This mindset has led her from studying culinary history to filming undocumented workers for A Tomato Tragedy, and an inadvertent performance of a poem about tomatoes in front of  Italian President Sergio Mattarella. This fearless creativity is rooted in her upbringing. Born to a Japanese mother and Dutch father, she calls her artistic household "the greatest privilege." "I think my parents are a very essential part of that," she says. "My father was a photographer and writer and my mother is a pianist and performance artist."   Big thank you to the partners of this episode: Prepoos https://prepoos.com/en FlexiSpot Netherlands https://www.flexispot.nl/   Connect with Kiriko:   / kiriacademy   Web: https://www.kirikomechanicus.com/   Connect with Zack: LinkedIn:   / zacharynewmark   Instagram (The Dam Yankee Podcast):   / damyankeepodcast   Website: https://damyankeepodcast.nltimes.nl/   Amsterdam, film, Kiriko Mechanicus, Dam Yankee, Zack Newmark, documentary, documentaries, Documentary film, SXSW, Japan, south by southwest, Atlanta, Georgia, Austin, Texas, United States, Noord-Holland, Italy, Sergio Mattarella

    1hr 30min
  8. Irène Schrader

    13 FEB

    Irène Schrader

    From her childhood playing classical piano in China to her emergence as a multilingual pop talent, Irène Schrader has used music to bridge the various cultures she calls her own. Traveling from her current base in Paris back to her familiar former home of Amsterdam, it was the pivotal moments experiencing the Dutch capital's electronic scene, her parents' varied music taste, and their occasional "tough love" that gave her the confidence to pursue her artistic passion full-time. In this episode of Dam Yankee, host Zack Newmark sits down with Schrader to discuss her latest EP, Eclipse, and the trilingual identity that defines her sound. Writing in English, French, and Mandarin is a natural extension of her "Third Culture Kid" upbringing; as Irène explains, "I started realizing that what felt more intuitive for me was to write in multiple languages because that's just how my brain works. I just, cannot stick to one language mentally, so then I figured I as well try that out with music." Growing up enjoying French singer Françoise Hardy, but also Mandarin pop music, she said the time spent living in Shanghai affected her art greatly. "I think it was probably one of the first places where I got to discover some hybrid-ish genres, for example, Shanghai jazz, which is well, it's Shanghai jazz. It's like Chinese music, but with some Western sounds that just came from expats in the 20s and 30s that brought their jazz sound from the U.S." Schrader also gets candid about the "imposter syndrome" that comes with balancing a multifaceted career in modeling and brand management. She recalls a transformative production workshop at the 2023 Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) that gave her the "boost to be like, okay, actually, I am a producer." From the "temporary confusion" that inspired her new music to her definition of home as "the places where I felt the most ranges of emotion," this conversation explores the heart of an artist who refuses to be pinned down by a single border or category. Listen to this entire episode of Dam Yankee on all major podcast platforms, or watch the full videos on YouTube. Irène Schrader shares music on several platforms, including Spotify, and frequently shares updates on TikTok and Instagram. -------- Amsterdam, Paris, France, Shanghai, China, Irène Schrader, Noord-Holland, music, French, Mandarin, Groningen, Amsterdam Dance Event, journalism, modeling, fashion, Germany, music, pop music, Dam Yankee, podcast, Podcast Interview, entertainment, Zack Newmark, social media, multicultural, ethnically diverse, diversity, University of Amsterdam, marketing, communications, Noord-Holland

    57 min
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About

An NL Times podcast featuring English speaking entertainers about their experiences performing in the Netherlands.

Information

  • Creator
    Dam Yankee
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Dam Yankee

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