Mom Coms Stand-up & Stories, The

Holly Rizzuto Palker
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Comedy Interviews
  • Updated Biweekly

Each episode of The Mom Coms: Stand-up and Stories features a humorous parenting essay, a book excerpt reading, or a stand-up comedy routine, followed by a laugh out loud interview with the artist at cross-section of parenting and humor. Holly Rizzuto Palker, Stephanie Silberstein, and other members of The Mom Coms standup comedy troupe will grill the interviewee, Mom Com style. We’ll unearth relatable parenting moments that connect us as mothers and make us laugh, from maternity through menopause and beyond. We are The Mom Coms Standup and Stories, the premier mom comedy ensemble and parenting humor community in New Jersey, New York, and the tristate area including NYC, south NJ and PA. With a live stand-up mom comedy show, collaborative comedy events, The Mom Coms Standup and Stories Podcast, and a Substack newsletter, our Mom Com comedians either identify with or as mothers, grandmothers or people (even dads) who have major respect for motherhood, obviously. The Mom Coms Standup and Stories Podcast, hosted by Holly Rizzuto Palker (founder & producer of The Mom Coms) and Stephanie Silberstein is a 2026 Signal Award finalist. The world is rough these days, so laugh until you cry with The Mom Coms! SUBSCRIBE to join the community hollyrizzutopalker.substack.com

  1. Oct 14

    TEASER Linda Perillo is a Real Mother

    On next Wednesday’s episode of The Mom Com Stand-Up and Stories, hosts Stephanie Silberstein and Holly Rizzuto Palker interview Linda Perillo—daughter of Mario Perillo, founder/CEO of Perillo Tours, and author of the memoir Your Payment Method Has Been Declined: And Other Shocking Things About Me—after being intrigued (and tricked into thinking a bill was left unpaid) by her book’s attention-grabbing title. Perillo reads a humorous excerpt about childbirth and recounts growing up in a traditional Italian Catholic family. She describes becoming a single mother of eight amid health issues, financial hardship, and divorce. Perillo talks menopause, hormone therapy, mental health awareness, and her goal of “liberating” moms to be honest and accept each child for who they are. Website Substack Instagram Facebook TikTok Join our Newsletter More about Stephanie Silberstein and Holly Rizzuto Palker here This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hollyrizzutopalker.substack.com

    TEASER Linda Perillo is a Real Mother

  2. Oct 7

    Rabbi Bob Alper on Life Lessons and Laughing in Peace

    On this weeks episode of The Mom Coms Standup and Stories, Stephanie Silberstein, and Holly Rizzuto Palker chat with veteran standup comedian and ordained rabbi, Bob Alper. A delightful discussion, featuring all the feels, ensues as Alper shares career highlights, life lessons, and family dynamics. Alper recounts stories from his “Laugh in Peace Tour” with Muslim and Christian comedy partners, Ahmed Ahmed, Azhar Usman, Mo Amer, and pastor Susan Sparks. He explains how the tour helped Jewish and Muslim student groups connect. Alper’s shines as he describes the joy he derives from bringing people together through humor. Alper reads “The Glance,” a poignant parenting essay from his book, Life Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This, and shares his uber-quirky driver’s license photo with the audience. Did winning the 2015 “Joke with the Pope”contest earn Bob Alper a spot on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon? Listen to find out. Tickets are available on Eventbrite for The Mom Com’s November 14th show at The College of Staten Island Center for he Arts. Follow The Mom Coms for more content and to learn about upcoming shows:Website Substack Instagram Facebook TikTok Join our Newsletter More about Stephanie Silberstein here, Liz Alterman, and Holly Rizzuto Palker here More about topics discussed in this episode: Tickets for Nov 14th show on Eventbrite Chautauqua Institution Bob Alper Laugh in Peace Tour Alper on Instagram Mo Amer This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hollyrizzutopalker.substack.com

    Rabbi Bob Alper on Life Lessons and Laughing in Peace

  3. Sep 30

    TEASER Rabbi Bob Alper on Life Lessons

    On next Wednesday’s episode of The Mom Com Stand-Up and Stories, hosts Stephanie Silberstein and Holly Rizzuto Palker interview Bob Alper, an ordained rabbi and comedian who served congregations for 14 years and built a comedy career with major festival and TV appearances. Alper talks about being named honorary comedic advisor to Pope Francis. Alper describes performing interfaith shows on the “Laugh in Peace Tour” with Muslim and Christian comedy partners and recounts how the tour helped Jewish and Muslim student leaders connect at Georgia Tech. Alper’s rabbinate is making people laugh as he shares family material about his long marriage and adult children. He reads “The Glance” from his essay collection Life Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This. Throughout the interview, Alper cracks jokes that warm the heart and soul. Is he the DMV’s best or worst nightmare? You decide! Website Substack Instagram Facebook TikTok Join our Newsletter More about Stephanie Silberstein and Holly Rizzuto Palker here Be a guest on the podcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hollyrizzutopalker.substack.com

    TEASER Rabbi Bob Alper on Life Lessons

  4. Sep 23

    Carole Montgomery on Having Balls Like Her Father, Independence, and Advice

    On this weeks episode of The Mom Coms Standup and Stories, Liz Alterman, Stephanie Silberstein, and Holly Rizzuto Palker chat with veteran comedian CAROLE MONTGOMERY. They talk about her TV appearances, Las Vegas headlining career, and how she produced three Showtime specials, Funny Women of a Certain Age. Carol reads her essay “Independence,” recalling a sheltered Brooklyn childhood, her father’s side job as a bookie, and a first taste of freedom riding a red Schwinn to Kings Plaza in Brooklyn. Carol discusses how she IS her father, talks about moving to Vegas for a long contract, and how her son always came first. Carole explains how Funny Women grew from a live show to a Showtime deal, notes industry changes, and offers advice: don’t take slights personally, stay in your lane and build confidence. Don’t miss as she describes her most thrilling new projects…walking her dog before lunch…and of course, headlining with The Mom Coms on November 14th at The College of Staten Island Center for he Arts. Follow The Mom Coms for more content and to learn about upcoming shows:Website Substack Instagram Facebook TikTok Join our Newsletter More about Stephanie Silberstein here, Liz Alterman, and Holly Rizzuto Palker here More about topics discussed in this episode: Tickets for September 30th show and Nov 14th show on Eventbrite Funny Women of a Certain Age Carole Montgomery Joe Rogan Steve Schirrippa Depend Undergarments Hacks Be a guest on the podcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hollyrizzutopalker.substack.com

    Carole Montgomery on Having Balls Like Her Father, Independence, and Advice

  5. Sep 16

    TEASER Carole Montgomery on Having Balls Like Her Father, Independence, and Advice

    On next Wednesday’s episode of The Mom Coms Stadup and Stories, Liz Alterman, Stephanie Silberstein, and Holly Rizzuto Palker chat with veteran comedian CAROLE MONTGOMERY. They talk about her TV appearances, Las Vegas headlining career, and how she produced three Showtime specials, Funny Women of a Certain Age. Carol reads her essay “Independence,” recalling a sheltered Brooklyn childhood, her father’s side job as a bookie, and a first taste of freedom riding a red Schwinn to Kings Plaza in Brooklyn. Carol discusses how she IS her father, talks about moving to Vegas for a long contract, and how her son always came first. Carole explains how Funny Women grew from a live show to a Showtime deal, notes industry changes, and offers advice: don’t take slights personally, stay in your lane, avoid judging crowds, and build confidence. Don’t miss as she describes her most thrilling new projects…walking her dog before lunch…and of course, headlining with The Mom Coms on November 14th at The College of Staten Island Center for he Arts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hollyrizzutopalker.substack.com

    TEASER Carole Montgomery on Having Balls Like Her Father, Independence, and Advice

  6. Sep 9

    Laughter and Lasagna for Yom Kippur with Linda Rizzuto and Holly Rizzuto Palker

    On this week’s episode of The Mom Coms Stadup and Stories, Liz Alterman and Stephanie Silberstein turn the mic on The Mom Coms founder and producer Holly Rizzuto Palker, joined by her mom, Linda, to talk about the joy and community of comedy. Holly reads her essay “Our Family’s Interfaith Break Fast Includes Bagels and Lasagna,” originally published on Kveller. This emotional, yet humorous take on how Holly navigates Yom Kippur with her Italian Catholic mother in tow is relatable and funny to anyone in a parent/child relationship. They discuss Linda’s favorite comedians and admiration for Joan Rivers, how women’s experiences like menopause were often dismissed, Linda’s entrepreneurial past teaching aerobics and running businesses while prioritizing parenting, family dynamics and jokes. Don’t miss the wrap up, a friendly debate over whose lasagna is better, Linda’s or Holly’s which culminates in a Lasagna-off and plans for Linda to bring lasagna to the upcoming Mom Coms shows in Millburn and Staten Island. Follow The Mom Coms for more content and to learn about upcoming shows:Website Substack Instagram Facebook TikTok Join our Newsletter More about Stephanie Silberstein here, Liz Alterman, and Holly Rizzuto Palker here More about topics discussed in this episode: “Our Family’s Interfaith Break-Fast Features Bagels and Lasagna” - Kveller Mrs. Butterworth's History of Aerobics Tickets for Sept 30th show - Millburn Be a guest on the podcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hollyrizzutopalker.substack.com

    Laughter and Lasagna for Yom Kippur with Linda Rizzuto and Holly Rizzuto Palker

  7. Sep 2

    TEASER Laughter and Lasagna for Yom Kippur with Linda Rizzuto & Holly Rizzuto Palker

    On next Wednesday’s episode of The Mom Coms Stadup and Stories, Liz Alterman and Stephanie Silberstein turn the mic on The Mom Coms founder and producer Holly Rizzuto Palker, joined by her mom, Linda, to talk about the joy and community of comedy. They discuss Linda’s favorite comedians, her memorable Bill Cosby encounter and admiration for Joan Rivers. Holly reads her essay “Our Family’s Interfaith Break Fast Includes Bagels and Lasagna,” originally published on Kveller, about navigating Jewish holidays as an Italian Catholic married to a Jewish husband. The conversation also covers how women’s experiences like menopause and postpartum depression were often dismissed, Linda’s entrepreneurial past teaching aerobics and running businesses while prioritizing parenting, family dynamics and jokes, and a friendly debate over whose lasagna is better, Linda’s or Holly’s which culminates in a Lasagna-off and plans for Linda to bring lasagna to the upcoming Mom Coms shows. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hollyrizzutopalker.substack.com

    TEASER Laughter and Lasagna for Yom Kippur with Linda Rizzuto & Holly Rizzuto Palker

  8. Aug 26

    Obese Geriatric with GL Douglas

    This week, on The Mom Coms Standup and Stories Podcast, Holly Rizzuto Palker, Liz Alterman and Stephanie Silberstein interview comedian, actress, host, producer, and elementary school teacher GL Douglas. Creator of the Class Dismissed Teacher Comedy Tour, and performer at the legendary Apollo, Douglas discusses how she reads and “pulls in” audiences, adjusts her sets, and balances nerves with confidence she has built over years in comedy. They chat about relatability, honesty, and women’s labels like “obese geriatric,” pregnancy, and weight struggles. Douglas shares how teaching and parenting fuel her material and offers tips on short setups and the “tight five.” Don’t miss Douglas perform her signature “Peter” pigeon-catching classroom joke while promoting the October 1st show in Millburn, New Jersey. Follow The Mom Coms for more content and to learn about upcoming shows:Website Substack Instagram Facebook TikTok Join our Newsletter More about Stephanie Silberstein here, Liz Alterman, and Holly Rizzuto Palker here More about topics discussed in this episode: GL Douglas Class Dismissed Teacher Comedy Tour Apollo Theater This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hollyrizzutopalker.substack.com

    Obese Geriatric with GL Douglas
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Each episode of The Mom Coms: Stand-up and Stories features a humorous parenting essay, a book excerpt reading, or a stand-up comedy routine, followed by a laugh out loud interview with the artist at cross-section of parenting and humor. Holly Rizzuto Palker, Stephanie Silberstein, and other members of The Mom Coms standup comedy troupe will grill the interviewee, Mom Com style. We’ll unearth relatable parenting moments that connect us as mothers and make us laugh, from maternity through menopause and beyond. We are The Mom Coms Standup and Stories, the premier mom comedy ensemble and parenting humor community in New Jersey, New York, and the tristate area including NYC, south NJ and PA. With a live stand-up mom comedy show, collaborative comedy events, The Mom Coms Standup and Stories Podcast, and a Substack newsletter, our Mom Com comedians either identify with or as mothers, grandmothers or people (even dads) who have major respect for motherhood, obviously. The Mom Coms Standup and Stories Podcast, hosted by Holly Rizzuto Palker (founder & producer of The Mom Coms) and Stephanie Silberstein is a 2026 Signal Award finalist. The world is rough these days, so laugh until you cry with The Mom Coms! SUBSCRIBE to join the community hollyrizzutopalker.substack.com

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