Serious Circus

Serious Circus, Inc

David C. Smalley hosts Serious Circus—a sharp-edged comedy podcast exploring personal stories, current events, religion, politics, and the darker side of comedy—featuring bold conversations, serious laughs, and a Dogma Debate segment, where opposing voices still throw down.

  1. Jun 17

    #840 - Dogma Debate Reflection

    After more than a decade of debates, thousands of hours of conversations, and countless guests, one question keeps coming up:Is Dogma Debate dead?In this episode, David Smalley explains why Dogma Debate slowed down, what changed in the debate landscape, and why stand-up comedy, content creation, and the rise of TikTok debate culture made the original format increasingly difficult to sustain. He shares behind-the-scenes stories about booking guests, producing the show, dealing with debate fatigue, and why so many potential guests stopped accepting invitations.David also discusses possible futures for Dogma Debate, including: Research-focused conversations instead of traditional debatesFact-checking and investigating claims together in real timeReacting to news stories and current eventsRevisiting classic Dogma Debate episodesThe challenge of finding guests willing to engage honestlyMost importantly, he reflects on what made the show successful in the first place: a commitment to evidence, critical thinking, and following the facts wherever they lead.  Topics Covered: Why Dogma Debate slowed downDebate burnout and repetitionTikTok debate cultureBen Shapiro, Bill O’Reilly, and high-profile guestsThe hidden workload behind podcast productionResearch vs debateFuture directions for the showComedy, purpose, and creative fulfillmentIf Dogma Debate returns, it may look very different than before.But the search for truth isn’t going anywhere.

    56 min

  2. May 20

    #837 - Make America Hot Again?

    What happens when David C. Smalley brings his wife Angelica Smalley onto Serious Circus for her first-ever podcast appearance? After watching coverage of the viral “Make America Hot Again” conservative dating movement, David and Angelica unpack the bigger conversation around modern dating, masculinity, toxic masculinity, gender roles, liberal vs conservative relationships, marriage expectations, emotional safety, provider culture, and what actually makes someone attractive in a relationship. Do conservative dating values create stronger relationships? Are liberal relationships too undefined? What does healthy masculinity actually look like in modern marriage? This episode gets into all of it. Follow Angelica: @angelicasmalley Follow David: @davidcsmalley davidcsmalley.com Stay tuned for more conversations on culture, politics, relationships, religion, and comedy.

    36 min
  3. #835 - Barry Katz

    May 14

    #835 - Barry Katz

    In this episode of Serious Circus, host David C. Smalley sits down with legendary comedy manager and industry insider Barry Katz for a deep dive into what it actually takes to succeed in stand-up comedy.   Hear behind the scenes stories about Chris Rock, Katt Williams, Dave Chappelle, Jerry Seinfeld, Dane Cook, and more, along with raw insights on: Why most comedians fail to break throughThe myth of “followers = success”Why elite comedians obsess over being undeniably the best in the roomThe difference between talent, work ethic, and true greatnessHow comedy careers are actually built (and destroyed) From backstage with Jay Z and Beyoncé to lessons learned from decades in Hollywood, this episode breaks down the real rules of entertainment success—no filter, no fluff.   Barry Katz is available at: Instagram: https://instagram.com/barrykatz Website: https://barrykatz.com  David C. Smalley: Instagram: https://instagram.com/davidcsmalley Website: https://davidcsmalley.com  🎙️ Podcast: Serious Circus

    1h 48m
  4. #830 - Crowd Work Comedy

    May 13

    #830 - Crowd Work Comedy

    Four comedians. No filters. David C. Smalley, J. Mandyam, Jeff Horste, and Jason Collings dive into the real debates happening inside stand-up comedy right now: – Is crowd work authentic… or strategically prepped? – Are comics writing full hour specials anymore? – Is everyone just chasing viral 60-second clips? – What happens when a comic breaks down after being heckled? – And what were the worst day jobs before making it in comedy? This is the real behind-the-scenes conversation comedians have after the show. No crowd. No filter. Just comics talking shop. ⸻ Serious Circus Podcast Follow the comics: David C. Smalley https://www.instagram.com/davidcsmalley/ J. Mandyam https://www.instagram.com/godhatesj/ Jeff Horste https://www.instagram.com/jeffhorste Jason Collings https://www.instagram.com/jasoncollings/ If you love stand-up comedy, behind-the-scenes debates, and comedians roasting each other — stay tuned

    1h 12m
  5. #832 - Comedian Sued

    May 13

    #832 - Comedian Sued

    What happens when a comedian gets served a $27 million lawsuit… on stage at The Comedy Store? In this episode, David C. Smalley sits down with Learn More, Shang Forbes, and Vipul Munshi for a wild conversation covering everything from real-life comedy drama to industry shifts happening right now. They break down the viral moment Learn More got served legal papers mid-set, what led up to it, and what could happen next. The group also dives into a heated back-and-forth between Shang and Smalley over a viral wedding clip that sparked debate online. The conversation expands into how platforms like Kill Tony are changing the path to becoming a headliner, skipping the traditional grind—and whether that’s a good thing. Plus: – Handling hecklers in real time – Comedy industry politics – Marriage, relationships, and parenthood – Roasting, jokes, and unfiltered moments throughout This episode is packed with comedy insight, real tension, and nonstop banter. Serious Circus Podcast Follow the comics: David C. Smalley instagram.com/davidcsmalley Learnmore instagram.com/learnmore_jonasi/ Shang Forbes instagram.com/comedianshang/ Vipul Munshi instagram.com/comedianvipulm/

    1h 36m
  6. #831 - Preacher Greg Locke Gets ROASTED

    Apr 29

    #831 - Preacher Greg Locke Gets ROASTED

    In this episode of Serious Circus, David C. Smalley and Jeff Horst revisit a classic Dogma Debate episode featuring Greg Locke—and it escalates quickly. We pull some of the most intense, controversial, and unbelievable soundbites from the original episode and react in real time. What starts as a throwback turns into a full-on breakdown, with sharp commentary, unexpected turns, and plenty of roasting along the way. From bold claims to chaotic moments, nothing is off limits. If you’re into debates, commentary, or watching wild moments get dissected with humor and honesty, this episode is for you. Follow the Comics Jeff Horste Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffhorste TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhorste David C. Smalley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidcsmalley TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidcsmalley

    1h 38m

  7. Jan 5

    #829 - CLASSIC DOGMA DEBATE: Christian Missionary vs. David C. Smalley

    This episode is a replay from the Dogma Debate archive. Originally released as Episode 472, this conversation features a debate with a Christian missionary living in Africa. It’s one of the more discussed episodes from earlier seasons, revisiting core questions about belief, evangelism, and worldview. While new episodes are on the way, we’re highlighting past conversations that listeners continue to revisit and engage with.

    3h 17m

  8. 09/18/2025

    #827 - Cops Behaving Badly

    "Can you get a DUI on a bike? Yes, I've done it!" Jeremiah Watkins & Daniel De Leon join David in studio for some Serious Circus.

    1h 4m
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Hosts & Guests

4.2
out of 5
947 Ratings

About

David C. Smalley hosts Serious Circus—a sharp-edged comedy podcast exploring personal stories, current events, religion, politics, and the darker side of comedy—featuring bold conversations, serious laughs, and a Dogma Debate segment, where opposing voices still throw down.

Information

  • Creator
    Serious Circus, Inc
  • Years Active
    2012 - 2026
  • Episodes
    264
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Serious Circus, Inc
  • Show Website
    Serious Circus

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