Drinking During Business Hours with Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler | Where comedy & fine wine meet!

Sarah Halstead
  • 4.9 (42)
  • Comedy
  • Updated Weekly

Comedians - and husband-and-wife duo - Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler, bring their love of great beverages to every conversation. Each episode features a guest from the worlds of entertainment, wine, food or culture, as Sarah and Rich dive into their stories over a drink (or two). Interesting, funny, and always a little unruly, it's the podcast where comedy meets conversation...and it's always happy hour somewhere.

  1. 3d ago

    Jane's Addiction's Stephen Perkins: 50 Years Behind the Kit and Still Not Growing Up

    Jane's Addiction's Stephen Perkins: 50 Years Behind the Kit and Still Not Growing Up Jane's Addiction founding drummer Stephen Perkins sits down with hosts Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler, and this one is personal. Rich and Stephen have known each other since junior high school in the Valley, carpools and Hebrew school and Grateful Dead shows, and Rich has never had his old friend on the show until now. Over ice cold Sierra Nevada Pale Ales, the most popular ale sold in the Grateful Dead parking lot, Stephen traces the whole ride: the seventh grader who told Rich off, the downtown L.A. underground parties that birthed a scene, becoming the house band at a club called The Scream, seeing Motley Crue era Sunset Strip shut down at midnight while the punk and art kids kept going, and the night Rich, tripping at an underground party, looked up and realized his childhood buddy was the drummer on stage.    Stephen breaks down how Jane's Addiction actually came together: the metal band Disaster with Dave Navarro, the girlfriend who said come see my older brother's band, the audition at 17 that he thought he blew, and Eric Avery writing songs on the bass that refused to move, which is how Mountain Song and Summertime Rolls got their shape. He explains why drums are the oldest language known to man, why syncopation and space matter more than notes, why hips don't lie, how tap dancing and cut time changed the way he teaches, and why playing alone in the drum room can be better than any stage.  Plus the Porno for Pyros pivot to timpani and bongos, the sit in with a band whose names he never got, practicing dropping his sticks on purpose, why one dropped stick can ruin the greatest night of his life, his 40 year dream of playing with Peter Gabriel, the autographed tambourine he still has from meeting Gabriel at the Roxy in 1978, the Security album that taught him how to build a crescendo with no cymbals at all, his picks for the three greatest rock drummers ever, the Charlie Watts rental kit story from SIR, his son who plays guitar and found music on his own, and why he wants to live to a healthy 100 as a centurion who can still touch his toes. They only tipped the iceberg. There is a Hellride conversation still on the table, and Stephen promised to come back. Guest Info Stephen Andrew Perkins is an American musician, songwriter and producer, best known as the founding drummer of Jane's Addiction, the band he joined in 1985 at age 17 after convincing them to bring in guitarist Dave Navarro. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he also played with Porno for Pyros, Infectious Grooves, Banyan, Hellride, The Panic Channel and Think:EXP, and he recorded drums for Nine Inch Nails on The Downward Spiral. His style blends rock, jazz, swing, African, Indian and Latin drumming into something entirely his own, built on syncopation, tom work and space. He has played with members of the Grateful Dead, worked with producer Rick Rubin, and has shared stages with Sheryl Crow, Rage Against the Machine, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jewel and Rob Wasserman. Off the kit he runs drum circles for children and adults with disabilities and helped develop a wearable percussive instrument for people who cannot play a drum. He is currently opening his personal drum archive from decades of touring. Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Perkins   Guest Social Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephenperkinsdrummer/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephenperkinsdrummer/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StephenPerkinsDrummer  Drink of the Podcast Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Sarah went straight to the Grateful Dead parking lot for this one: the guest is a beer guy who loves IPAs and ales, and the hosts have their own Dead history with him, so she poured the most popular ale sold in the parking lots, cold, straight from the bottle. Crisp, hoppy and endlessly drinkable, and per the table, damn good. Chapters 00:00 Intro: Welcome to Drinking During Business Hours 01:03 The Drink: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale 02:08 Meet Stephen Perkins 03:16 The 7th Grader Who Told Rich Off 04:00 Rich, Jeff, and the Junior High Years 04:44 Hebrew School Carpool and the Grateful Dead 05:15 Downtown Underground and Jane's Addiction at The Scream 08:30 The First Time Rich Saw the Band Play Live 09:56 Bill Graham and the Grateful Dead Business Side 11:24 Infectious Grooves and the Metal Funk Detour 12:42 Drumming Is the Oldest Language on Earth 13:23 Tap Dancing, Cut Time, and Hips Don't Lie 14:49 Syncopation: What Turns Rich On as a Player 18:03 Alone With the Drums vs. On Stage 20:25 Jazz Is a Conversation: Coltrane and Elvin Jones 23:25 Neil Peart: Einstein Meets Bruce Lee 24:06 How Jane's Addiction Came Together 28:00 Eric Avery Writes on Bass: Mountain Song and Summertime Rolls 29:07 Porno for Pyros and the Timpani 30:53 Time Disappears on Stage 33:51 Buildings Fall, But Beethoven Still Exists 34:09 Stephen's Son and the Guitar 35:40 What Changed in the Music Business 38:55 The Electricity of an Impromptu Sit In 40:31 Longevity and the Centurion Goal 43:42 Round Tips, Nylon Tips, and the Ride Cymbal 47:01 The Dream: Playing With Peter Gabriel 50:27 Meeting Peter Gabriel at the Roxy in 1978 52:00 The Three Greatest Rock Drummers: Ringo, Bonham, Moon 54:12 Charlie Watts and the Gretsch Kit From SIR 57:19 Where to Find Stephen Perkins Call to Action Enjoyed the episode? Like, subscribe, and share it with a rock fan in your life. Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite platform, every five star review helps us reach more listeners. Follow Stephen Perkins on Instagram at @stephenperkinsdrummer for the same positive, real energy he brought to the show, and tell a Jane's Addiction fan to give this one a listen. He promised to come back, so drop a comment and tell us what you want them to dig into next. Special thanks to Doug Bass and Bass Hole Studios, producer Corey Fry, and Maximilian Riedel and Riedel glassware for always supplying the best glassware.   Host Links FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS! Sarah IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en  FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/ X @sarahjhalstead  https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead  Website   @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com Rich IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/ FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/ X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler  Website  richardchassler.com 📧 drinkingduringbusinesshours@gmail.com 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform — it helps more than you know!   #StephenPerkins #JanesAddiction #PornoForPyros #DrummerInterview #RockPodcast #SarahHalstead #RichChassler #DaveNavarro #EricAvery #Banyan #InfectiousGrooves #Hellride #DrumLegend #PeterGabriel #GratefulDead #SierraNevadaPaleAle #Percussion #RockAndRoll #CelebrityPodcast

  2. 3d ago ·  Bonus

    Introducing: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing LUCY HALE: “I Was Sabotaging My Life.” from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Jay sits down with actress Lucy Hale, who at 37 says she feels more comfortable with herself than ever before. Lucy opens up about letting go of society’s timelines, navigating media scrutiny and body insecurity while growing up in the early days of social media, and her relationship with alcohol and path to sobriety. Lucy also shares her decision to freeze her eggs on her own terms, and how solitude, self-forgiveness, and personal growth have changed the way she approaches love, relationships, and herself. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty Mazda crafts cars for people who do more than simply move. Visit Mazdausa.com to learn more. Consumer reports does not endorse products or services. Your future is waiting, and Walden is here to help you achieve it. https://WaldenU.edu JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here: https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast What We Discuss: 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Reaching Her Grounded Era at 37 04:00 Releasing Societal Timelines & Comparison 06:40 Letting Go of The Pressure to Be Who Others Expected 13:56 Facing Oneself & Reframing Envy 16:28 The Need for Solitude From a Young Age 17:50 Reconnecting With Feminine Energy 20:40 Early Fame, Media Scrutiny & Perfectionism 24:20 Insecurities On Pretty Little Liars 27:35 Unpacking Past Coping Mechanisms & Learning to Forgive Yourself 32:14 The Ongoing Journey Of Sobriety 35:00 The Moment She Decided to go to Rehab 43:48 Advice For Anyone Seeking Sobriety 45:45 Dating Differently After Doing the Work 53:00 Waymo Cars & Delivery Robots 54:12 Rapid-Fire Game 56:44 Will There be a Pretty Little Liars Reunion? 58:46 Perspectives On Motherhood & Freezing Her Eggs 01:05:40 A Blind Date and The First Healthy Relationship 01:11:32 Looking for Signs in Everyday Life 01:16:58 Lucy On Final Five Episode Resources: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/lucyhale YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTMIfFn9BoAHSCaKkcZm-VA Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/LucyHale X | https://x.com/lucyhale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    Introducing: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

  3. Sep 16

    Renee Percy Gets 30 Million Views a Month and STILL Isn't Famous

    Renee Percy Gets 30 Million Views a Month and STILL Isn't Famous Comedian and actress Renee Percy returns to Drinking During Business Hours for her second sit-down with hosts Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler, and the timing could not be better  she is in the middle of a full-blown viral explosion, pulling over 30 million views a month on social media after 25 years of grinding in comedy. Renee gets real about what going viral actually means: why a Tonight Show spot doesn't move the needle like it used to, whether a follower count in Phoenix ever sells a ticket in Phoenix, and how she accidentally committed herself to touring Bangkok, Taipei, and São Paulo because that's where her fans actually live. She opens up about the slow build  the "overnight success" that took two decades, the body of work that justifies the break, and why comics are never satisfied. Sarah and Rich share the story of Renee's legendary last-minute wedding roast, she reveals the burger videos that made her hungry for fame (literally), the gang breaks down their red-hot weekly show Test Kitchen Comedy at the historic Starlight Cabaret in Studio City  complete with the building's Oil Can Harry's cop-alert boot-window history  and Renee previews her fourth year touring for the troops through Greece, Turkey, Portugal, and Norway, plus headlining dates in Arizona and Boise. All over bottles of Love Block Sauvignon Blanc, the wine from the woman who created Kim Crawford. Pour one and dive in. Guest Info Renee Percy is an award-winning actor, writer, and comedian who caught the acting bug at age 12 with a series-regular role, launching a career in Canadian television before making the move to the U.S. She has been seen on NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, Nickelodeon, Disney, FX, and Comedy Central, and her special The Komic Sutra is available now on Amazon and Apple. Her viral videos on Instagram pull over 30 million views a month, she performs at every major comedy club, and she is heading into her fourth year touring overseas for the troops. Website: https://www.reneepercy.com/ Guest Social Links •      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reneepercycomedian/ •      TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thereneepercy •      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReneePercyComedian/ •      YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6kL_EkNsl3ZYl_86_OT9Nw •      Website: https://www.reneepercy.com/ Drink of the Podcast Love Block Sauvignon Blanc a crisp, vibrant white from Marlborough, New Zealand, made by Erica Crawford, the winemaker behind Kim Crawford before the brand was sold to a wine conglomerate. Named for the block of land the Crawfords fell in love with, it is a Sauvignon Blanc for people who loved the original and one of Sarah's all-time favorite wines from one of her favorite winemakers. Chapters 00:00   Intro: Welcome to Drinking During Business Hours 02:07   The Drink: Love Block Sauvignon Blanc 04:10   Welcome Back, Renee Percy 05:19   Still Not Famous: The Second Visit 06:45   There Is No Such Thing as a Big Break 10:15   Going Viral vs. The Tonight Show 14:54   Do Followers Really Sell Tickets? 21:24   A Play in New York (and Girls' Night) 22:27   Touring for the Troops: Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Norway 23:24   Headlining Dates: Arizona and Boise 25:12   Test Kitchen Comedy: All-New Material Every Week 28:47   The Wedding Roast Story 31:55   Roast Rules and Sarah Tiana's Tom Brady Playbook 33:55   Coming Up Together at Flappers Comedy Club 35:31   The Burger Videos and Beating the Algorithm 36:57   The Starlight Cabaret and Its Oil Can Harry's History 39:41   The Magic Number Seven (and a Little Cheating) 41:21   Where to Find Renee 42:18   Thank Yous and Outro Call to Action Enjoyed the episode? Like, subscribe, and share it with a comedy lover in your life. Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite platform every five-star review helps us reach more listeners. And don't forget to catch Renee Percy live on tour dates at reneepercy.com and stream her special The Komic Sutra on Amazon and Apple. If you're in L.A., come see Test Kitchen Comedy at the Starlight Cabaret in Studio City all-new material, 90 tight minutes, only 5 bucks. Special thanks to Doug Bass https://www.instagram.com/dougbasshole/ And Bass Hole Studios https://www.bassholepodcaststudio.com/  Producer Cori Fry podchicmedia@gmail.com Maximilian Riedel and Riedel glassware, and Erica Crawford of Loveblock Wines. Host Links FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS! Sarah IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en  FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/ X @sarahjhalstead  https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead  Website   @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com Rich IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/ FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/ X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler  Website  richardchassler.com 📧 drinkingduringbusinesshours@gmail.com 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform, it helps more than you know!   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drinking-during-business-hours-with-sarah-halstead/id1273935631 | Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3EdszkVArwM4JvBBeLUL7T #DrinkingDuringBusinessHours #ReneePercy #TheKomicSutra #ComedyPodcast #SarahHalstead #RichChassler #ViralComedy #StandUpComedy #TestKitchenComedy #StarlightCabaret #LoveBlockWine #ComedianInterview #TouringTheTroops #WomensComedy #CelebrityPodcast

  4. Sep 11

    Sarah Tiana on Bourbon, the Boys Club of Comedy, and the Joke She Won't Tell Yet

    Sarah Tiana on Bourbon, the Boys Club of Comedy, and the Joke She Won't Tell Yet   Actress, stand up comedian, host, broadcaster, and self described baseball fanatic Sarah Tiana joins Drinking During Business Hours over Blackland Bourbon. Hosts Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler get her take on the one drink she has before every set to loosen up, why she happily takes the opening spot at the Comedy Store, and how marriage and motherhood completely reshuffled her material.    Sarah opens up about growing up between a cow pasture and a sheep farm in Calhoun, Georgia after a Northern California start, the famous college radio station that turned a journalism major into a joke teller, DJing weddings and bar mitzvahs before comedy called, and the Pepperidge Farm dad who turned down the big job to coach her softball team.    Rich shares what it was really like coming up with Mitch Hedberg, Sarah talks about starting comedy in a class with Tom Segura, Anthony Jeselnik, and Christina Pazsitzky, and the three of them get into how Daniel Tosh, Jeselnik, and Bobby Lee quietly protected women in comedy, Chelsea Handler's advice to go be funny and leave, Mitzi Shore's blonde waitress rule, the six year grind to finally get passed at the Comedy Store, and the perfect storm of podcasts, Uber, and Dave Chappelle that made the Store the center of the comedy world again.   Guest Info   Sarah Tiana is a comedian, writer, actress, and sports commentator. A Roast Battle runner up at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal on Comedy Central, she was a writer for Netflix's The Roast of Tom Brady, a regular on Chelsea Lately and @midnight, a writer for The Josh Wolf Show on CMT, and a correspondent on The Soup Investigates. She played Carmen on Reno 911, wrote for the ESPY Awards and the Rob Riggle NFL segments on FOX, and has done over a dozen comedy tours for the troops. Her stand up special 44, taped live at the World Famous Comedy Store, is on YouTube, and you can now catch her on ESPN's women's sports coverage every Thursday. Raised in Calhoun, Georgia, she has been a working comedian in Los Angeles since 2003.   Guest Social Links   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahtiana/ X / Twitter: https://x.com/sarahtiana Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahtianafanclub/ Special 44 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ArqsXiBzOU Drink of the Podcast   Blackland Bourbon, made in Fort Worth, Texas. A quintessential American bourbon whiskey, poured over ice with soda, and the first bourbon ever requested by a guest on the show. Blackland was recently featured on the new Yellowstone spinoff Dutton Ranch. Chapters   00:00 Intro: Welcome to Drinking During Business Hours   00:37 The Drink: Blackland Bourbon from Fort Worth, Texas   01:07 Wine With Grandma: A Trip to Michigan   02:02 Meet Sarah Tiana: Comedian, Writer, Sports Commentator   02:39 The First Guest Ever to Request Bourbon   03:12 One Drink Just to Loosen Up   05:19 Headliner Problems: The Dreaded Check Drop   05:56 Why She Loves Going First at the Comedy Store   07:58 Marriage, Motherhood, and Lost Material   09:43 The Proposal That Closed a Chapter   13:57 Engaged in December, Married on a Monday   14:06 A Comedy Store and Improv Love Story   16:03 Comedy Is Math and the Joke That Is Not Ready Yet   17:55 From Calhoun, Georgia to Album 88 College Radio   20:19 Six Flags, the Sorbonne, and Moving to LA   24:09 Dad Turns Down the Big Job: The Pepperidge Farm Story   30:53 DJing Weddings and Bar Mitzvahs Before Comedy   31:21 Mitch Hedberg: Best Friend, Opening Act, Comedy Legend   34:10 Coming Up with Segura, Jeselnik, and Christina P   37:12 Tosh, Jeselnik, and Bobby Lee Protecting Women in Comedy   43:11 Chelsea Handler's Advice: Go Be Funny and Leave   45:41 Mitzi Shore's Blonde Waitress Rule   50:58 Six Years to Get Passed at the Comedy Store   52:28 The Perfect Storm: Podcasts, Uber, and Chappelle   55:44 ESPN Women's Sports and a Trip to Japan   56:57 Outro and Thank Yous Call to Action   Enjoyed the episode? Like, subscribe, and share it with a comedy fan, sports nut, or Comedy Store lover in your life. Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite platform. Every five star review helps us reach more listeners. And do not forget to watch Sarah Tiana's special 44, streaming now on YouTube!   Special thanks to Doug Bass  ( https://www.instagram.com/dougbasshole/ )and Bass Hole Studios ... https://www.bassholepodcaststudio.com/  Producer Cori Fry podchicmedia@gmail.com Maximilian Riedel and Riedel Glassware for always supplying the best glasses, and Blackland Bourbon... https://www.riedel.com/en-us    #SarahTiana #ComedyStore #RoastBattle #MitchHedberg #DanielTosh #AnthonyJeselnik #ChelseaHandler #SarahHalstead #RichChassler #BlacklandBourbon #ComedyPodcast #StandUpComedy #WomensSports #ESPN #FemaleComedian

  5. Sep 1

    Stand Up Comedy and Why Deadheads Went After Sarah

    Stand Up Comedy and Why Deadheads Went After Sarah Sarah Halstead and Richard Chassler kick off this episode of Drinking During Business Hours with a summer-ready Austrian wine and a wide-ranging conversation about live comedy, producing their new weekly show Test Kitchen Comedy in Los Angeles, booking a first trip to Japan, and why movie theaters still matter. They also get into the vulnerability of stand-up versus acting, the changing business of comedy specials and social media clips, the backlash Sarah received from Deadheads online, what they're currently reading, and where fans can catch them next.   Drink of the Podcast Grüner Veltliner from Austria by Kracher Crisp, bone-dry, and described as having notes of honey, lemon, melon, and grapefruit — a quintessential summer wine.   Chapters 00:00 Welcome back to Drinking During Business Hours   01:12 What Sarah and Richard are drinking: Austrian Grüner Veltliner by Kracher   04:34 Summer updates, local shows, and performing in LA   05:45 Launching their new weekly comedy show: Test Kitchen Comedy   08:32 Why audiences should see comedians work out new material live   08:39 Booking a much-needed trip to Tokyo and Japan travel talk   10:05 Conveyor belt sushi, travel costs, and why Japan sounds like a bargain   11:22 Summer movies, packed theaters, and the return of the cinema experience   15:25 Acting careers, movie stars, TV, and how the industry keeps changing   16:20 Tom Hanks' advice on taking every acting job   17:35 Stand-up comedy vs acting: vulnerability, pressure, and performance   20:00 Comedy specials, social media clips, and the new stand-up business model   23:58 Sarah's viral Deadhead backlash and the Grateful Dead subculture   27:51 What Sarah is reading right now   29:14 What Richard is reading and a possible film adaptation dream   30:36 Where to find Sarah and Richard online   31:01 Thank-yous, reviews, YouTube, and signing off   Call to Action If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Drinking During Business Hours, leave a 5-star review, write a quick review if you can, and find the show on YouTube for more episodes, clips, and updates. If you're in Los Angeles, check out Sarah and Richard live and catch Test Kitchen Comedy on Tuesday nights. FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS! Sarah IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en  FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/ X @sarahjhalstead  https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead  Website   @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com Rich IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/ FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/ X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler  Website  richardchassler.com 📧 drinkingduringbusinesshours@gmail.com 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform — it helps more than you know!   #DrinkingDuringBusinessHours #SarahHalstead #RichardChassler #ComedyPodcast #StandUpComedy #PodcastClips #YouTubePodcast #MovieTheaterComeback #GrunerVeltliner #JapanTravel #DeadheadDrama #LAComedy

    Stand Up Comedy and Why Deadheads Went After Sarah

  6. Aug 25

    From Small-Town DJ to Emmy Winner: Jim O'Heir's Wild Ride

    From Small-Town DJ to Emmy Winner: Jim O'Heir's Wild Ride Parks and Recreation legend Jim O'Heir joins Drinking During Business Hours for a hilarious, heartfelt conversation over ice-cold bottles of Pilsner Urquell. Hosts Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler get the Emmy-winning actor to open up about the wildest night of his career winning a Daytime Emmy for The Bold and the Beautiful when he was absolutely certain he'd lose, complete with Nick Offerman's infamous "these are not winner's seats" warning and an unplanned, from-the-heart speech. Jim takes us back to his Chicago roots at Second City, his days as a small-town DJ in Rensselaer, Indiana, the very first laugh that hooked him for life, getting fired from Santa Barbara, and the magic of truly connecting with James Spader on Boston Legal. He also shares the story behind his beloved memoir "Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation" from the all-publishers-bid book auction to the exhausting, joyful three-week book tour  and what it was like playing Jerry Gergich for seven years on one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time. Guest Info Jim O'Heir is an Emmy Award–winning actor and comedian, best known for playing Jerry (Garry/Larry/Terry/Barry) Gergich on NBC's Parks and Recreation for all seven seasons. A Chicago native and Second City alum, his endless credits span Friends, The Drew Carey Show, Star Trek, Better Call Saul, Parenthood, Third Rock from the Sun, Boston Legal, and The Bold and the Beautiful  which earned him a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Performer. He is also the author of the memoir Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation. Guest Social Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealjimoheir/ X / Twitter: https://x.com/JimOHeir Welcome to Pawnee (HarperCollins): https://www.harpercollins.com/products/welcome-to-pawnee-jim-oheir Drink of the Podcast (NOT SPONSORED) Pilsner Urquell, the original golden pilsner from the Czech Republic, cracked open ice-cold straight from the bottle on a 100-degree Los Angeles day. A crisp, high-minerality change of pace from the show's usual wine, chosen because Jim is a self-proclaimed "Pilsner guy."   Chapters 00:00 Intro: Welcome to Drinking During Business Hours 00:35 The Drink: Pilsner Urquell Straight From the Bottle 02:00 Meet Jim O'Heir: Jerry From Parks and Rec 03:40 The Emmy Mix-Up: It Was The Bold and the Beautiful 04:05 Emmy Night: "These Are Not Winner's Seats" 11:15 Soap Opera School: 40 Pages a Day 16:00 From Small-Town DJ to Second City 19:30 The First Laugh That Changed Everything 26:30 Connecting on Set: The James Spader Story 35:30 Getting Fired From Santa Barbara 38:00 Parks and Rec Fun Runs 40:00 Writing Welcome to Pawnee: The Book Auction 44:30 The Book Tour and the Norovirus Story 50:30 Gratitude and the Luck of Parks and Rec 54:00 Where to Find Jim: Premarital, Middleman, and More 57:00 Outro and Thanks Call to Action Enjoyed the episode? Like, subscribe, and share it with a Parks and Rec fan or comedy lover in your life. Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite platform every five-star review helps us reach more listeners. And don't forget to grab a copy of Jim's book, Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation, wherever books are sold! Special thanks to Doug Bass and Bass Hole Studios, producer CorI Fry, and Maximilian Riedel for always supplying the best glassware. Host Links FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS! Sarah IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en  FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/ X @sarahjhalstead  https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead  Website   @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com Rich IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/ FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/ X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler  Website  richardchassler.com 📧 drinkingduringbusinesshours@gmail.com 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform — it helps more than you know!  Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drinking-during-business-hours-with-sarah-halstead/id1273935631   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3EdszkVArwM4JvBBeLUL7T   #JimOHeir #ParksAndRecreation #JerryGergich #WelcomeToPawnee #ComedyPodcast #SarahHalstead #RichChassler #EmmyWinner #SecondCity #PilsnerUrquell #ActorInterview #ParksAndRec #BehindTheScenes #BookTour #CelebrityPodcast

  7. Aug 18

    Irina Voronina Gets Real About Russia, Hollywood, The Playboy Murders & Comedy

    Irina Voronina Gets Real About Russia, Hollywood, The Playboy Murders & Comedy This week on Drinking During Business Hours, Sarah Halstead and Richard Chassler sit down with Irina Voronina for a funny, candid, and surprisingly emotional conversation about her journey from Russia to Milan to Los Angeles, her rise as a Playboy Playmate and working actress, and how stand-up comedy became the next chapter of her life. Along the way, Irina opens up about growing up in Soviet Russia, leaving home at 19, adapting to America, and finding her own authentic voice in comedy instead of becoming a stereotype. The episode also gets into the realities of show business, aging in Hollywood, getting typecast, the transition from modeling to comedy, producing shows at Bar Lubitsch, working at Comedy Chateau, and Irina's appearance in The Playboy Murders. Sarah, Rich, and Irina keep it loose and hilarious throughout with a full non-alcoholic beer tasting featuring Beck's Non-Alcoholic, Heineken 0.0, and O'Doul's, making this one equal parts heartfelt, insightful, and absurdly fun.    🎤 Guest Info Irina Voronina is a Russian-born American comedian, actor, model, and producer best known as Playboy's Miss January 2001. According to her official bio, she built an international modeling career before expanding into film, television, and stand-up comedy, with credits including Reno 911!: Miami, Balls of Fury, Piranha 3DD, iCarly, Tosh.0, 13 Reasons Why, and more. She now performs stand-up regularly in Los Angeles and produces original comedy content for her social platforms.  🔗 Guest Social Links Website: https://www.irinavoronina.net/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irinavoronina/ Comedy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irinavoroninacomedy/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamirinavoronina 🍺 Drink of the Podcast (NOT SPONSORED) Non-Alcoholic Beer Tasting Flight: Beck's Non-Alcoholic Heineken 0.0 O'Doul's This episode's drink theme was a refreshing non-alcoholic beer tasting, chosen for a hot Los Angeles day and inspired by Irina's request for non-alcoholic beer. The group sampled Beck's, Heineken 0.0, and O'Doul's, with Heineken 0.0 emerging as a favorite, while the overall verdict was that all three were surprisingly solid. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Welcome back to Drinking During Business Hours 00:56 The beer lineup: Beck's, Heineken 0.0, and O'Doul's (NOT SPONSORED) 02:09 Introducing Irina Voronina 04:05 How Irina got involved with Comedy Chateau 11:29 From Russia to America: Irina's early life story 15:22 Why Irina no longer feels safe traveling back to Russia 17:29 Family, WhatsApp, surveillance, and life back home 21:28 How Irina accidentally landed in Playboy 25:01 Moving to LA and taking the risk at 23 25:43 Modeling, acting, and building a career in Hollywood 27:51 Turning 40 and when the phone stopped ringing 31:18 Why Irina turned to stand-up comedy 36:30 Comedy Chateau, bar shows, and learning to perform 38:35 Producing Comedy Stew at Bar Lubitsch 43:05 Comedy classes, writing groups, and bad advice for comics 45:37 The Playboy Murders and Irina's connection to the story 48:04 Social media, comedy accounts, and where to follow Irina 49:19 Final drink rankings and shout-outs 50:00 Thanks for watching and sign-off 📣 Call to Action If you enjoyed this episode, like, comment, and subscribe to Drinking During Business Hours for more hilarious and honest conversations with comics, actors, creatives, and unforgettable guests. Drop a comment with your favorite moment from the episode, tell us which non-alcoholic beer you would pick, and share this episode with anyone who loves comedy, pop culture, and wild Hollywood stories.   FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS! Sarah IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en  FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/ X @sarahjhalstead  https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead  Website   @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com Rich IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/ FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/ X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler  Website  richardchassler.com 📧 drinkingduringbusinesshours@gmail.com 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform - it helps more than you know!   #IrinaVoronina #PlayboyMurders #PlayboyPlaymate #StandUpComedy

  8. Aug 11

    Chef Steve Samson on Rosso Blu, Bologna, Gnocchi, and the Real Cost of Running a Restaurant

    Chef Steve Samson on Rosso Blu, Bologna, Gnocchi, and the Real Cost of Running a Restaurant  The Italian Food Secret LA Has Been Hiding This week on Drinking During Business Hours, Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler sit down with Michelin-recognized chef and restaurateur Steve Samson for a rich, hilarious, and deeply personal conversation about Italian food, the restaurant life, and what it really takes to build something lasting in Los Angeles. Steve is the chef and co-owner of Rosso Blu in downtown LA, a Bolognese-inspired restaurant that Rich and Sarah recently visited and could not stop raving about. From the wood-burning oven to the legendary gnocchi to the iconic burro e oro tortelloni, this episode is a love letter to great Italian cooking and the people who dedicate their lives to it. Steve opens up about growing up spending summers in Bologna with his grandparents, how food was always the center of family life, and how those memories eventually led him to leave behind a stack of med school applications and enroll in culinary school in New York City. He talks about his early kitchens in Soho and Maine, his time working with Piero Selvaggio at Valentino in Las Vegas, and how the vision for Rosso Blu was born from a simple idea: cook the food his mother made. The conversation gets real when Steve talks about the economics of running a restaurant in California, the crushing costs post-pandemic, labor laws, tip credits, and why places that used to be neighborhood spots are now special occasion dinners. His wife and partner Dina gets a major shout-out as the operational backbone of everything they have built together. It is funny, warm, food-obsessed, and packed with the kind of honesty you only get when great wine is flowing. Do not miss it. Guest Info Steve Samson is a Los Angeles-based chef, restaurateur, and co-founder of Rosso Blu, a critically acclaimed Bolognese-inspired restaurant located in the Fashion District of downtown Los Angeles. Steve was born in Brooklyn, raised in Los Angeles, and spent formative summers in Bologna, Italy, where his mother's family shaped his deep love for traditional northern Italian cuisine. He trained at Peter Kump's Cooking School in New York City, cooked in celebrated New York kitchens, and worked with legendary restaurateur Piero Selvaggio at Valentino in Las Vegas before returning to LA. He co-founded Sotto on Pico Boulevard, a beloved Southern Italian restaurant, before opening Rosso Blu with his wife and business partner Dina Samson. Rosso Blu has received Michelin recognition and has been written up in virtually every major food publication. Steve is known for presenting dishes with photographs of his family in Italy and the stories behind each recipe, making every meal at Rosso Blu a deeply personal experience.   🔗 Guest Social Links Restaurant Website: https://www.rossoblu.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefstevesamson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.samson.311 Restaurant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rossoblula/ Chef's website: https://www.chefstevesamson.net/   Drink of the Podcast Feudi di San Gregorio Cutizzi, 100% Greco di Tufo, Campania, Italy Rich and Sarah kicked off the episode with this stunning summer white from the Campania region of southern Italy, made entirely from the Greco grape. Feudi di San Gregorio is one of the most respected producers in southern Italy and the Cutizzi is their flagship expression of Greco di Tufo, known for its mineral-driven structure, stone fruit aromatics, and refreshing acidity. Rich described it as one of his favorite summer whites and noted it goes particularly well in a jacuzzi. They also poured Castello di Bolgheri by Antinori cousins, a Super Tuscan at around $150 a bottle, which Steve got to enjoy toward the end of the episode.   Chapters 00:00 Welcome & Drink of the Podcast  - Feudi di San Gregorio Cutizzi, Greco di Tufo 03:15 Introducing Chef Steve Samson -  Michelin-Recognized Chef & Owner of Rosso Blu 09:05 The Story Behind the Menu -  Presenting Dishes with Family Photos from Bologna 13:05 Bologna's Three Nicknames -  La Dotta, La Grassa, La Rossa 18:45 Peter Kump's Cooking School, NYC — Now Called ICE, Institute of Culinary Education 19:45 First Kitchen Job - Little Cranberry Island, Maine & the Lobster Dock Next Door 23:35 In the Weeds - The Term, What It Means in Any Vocation & Getting Through It 26:05 After-Hours NYC - Blue Ribbon, Seafood Towers & the Chefs Who Ran the Night 29:00 Building Your Chops - Garmanger, Pantry Station, Day Rates & Learning to Cook Professionally 31:50 Chefs Don't Trash Talk Each Other - Tom Colicchio, Nancy Silverton & the Respect in the Industry 35:55 No Tip Credit in California - What It Means, What It Costs & Why Sacramento Won't Change It 38:30 Shout Out to Dina Samson - The Glue, the Beast, the Operational Backbone of Rosso Blu 40:30 Post-COVID Costs - How Rising Prices Changed the Dining Landscape for Everyone 43:45 Your Gnocchi Changed My Life - The Secrets, Old Potatoes & Why It Goes So Wrong 48:20 The Test Kitchen Space - What Was There Before Sotto & the Chefs Who Came Through 50:30 Michael Voltaggio, Ink, Ink Sack & Great LA Restaurants We've Lost 55:00 Molecular Gastronomy, Emulsifiers & Why Italian Cooking Needs None of It 59:50 Paris, Amsterdam, Youth Hostels & the Bouillons - Traveling with the Kids on a Budget 61:00 Café d'Argent, Paris - The Numbered Duck & a Wine Cellar with 50,000 Bottles 64:00 Where to Find Steve & Rosso Blu + Thank Yous & Sign Off 📣 Call to Action If you enjoyed this episode, like, comment, and subscribe to Drinking During Business Hours for more conversations with chefs, winemakers, comedians, actors, and creatives who know how to live well. Drop a comment telling us your favorite Italian restaurant experience or what your go-to summer white is right now. Share this episode with anyone who loves great food, great wine, and great stories. And if you are in Los Angeles or visiting, get yourself to Rosso Blu in the Fashion District downtown. You will not regret it. 🥂 Host Links FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS! Sarah IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en  FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/ X @sarahjhalstead  https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead  Website   @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com Rich IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/ FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/ X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler  Website  richardchassler.com 📧 drinkingduringbusinesshours@gmail.com 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform — it helps more than you know!   Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drinking-during-business-hours-with-sarah-halstead/id1273935631 Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahHalsteadComedian Sarah and Rich are the husband-and-wife comedy duo behind Drinking During Business Hours, where comedy, conversation, great wine, and incredible guests collide every episode. #SteveSamson #RossoBlu #ItalianFood #LosAngelesRestaurants #MichelinLA

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Comedians - and husband-and-wife duo - Sarah Halstead and Rich Chassler, bring their love of great beverages to every conversation. Each episode features a guest from the worlds of entertainment, wine, food or culture, as Sarah and Rich dive into their stories over a drink (or two). Interesting, funny, and always a little unruly, it's the podcast where comedy meets conversation...and it's always happy hour somewhere.

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