
I'm a Rescue
By Tom Clark & Steph Clark

I'm a Rescue Aug 03, 2021

Episode 58: Mollie Heckerling-stand up, singer, actress, puppeteer
Steph talks with guest Mollie Heckerling. Mollie is a stand-up, singer, writer, actress, and puppeteer. She also is the daughter of Amy Heckerling, writer and director of “Clueless” and the “Look Who’s Talking” franchise. Mollie is an open book and talks about growing up with a famous mom and finding out as a teenager that her biological dad is a famous comedian and director, cause you know Hollywood is going to Hollywood. Mollie is extremely charismatic and being a comedy genius is literally in her DNA.

Episode 57: Travis Clark talks his journey from hot dog slinger to comedian/actor to producing podcasts at Spotify
Travis Clark is hard to pin down. He's done a lot of different things over the course of his professional career. He's been a podcaster, an actor, a director, a producer, a writer, a musician, a comedian and... jeez, just pick a thing already! But sticking with one thing has never been Travis' strong suit. That's probably how he's gone from slinging hot dogs at the Wiener Factory to producing podcasts for Spotify. And that career path has been just as treacherous as you'd imagine. Travis can currently be heard co-hosting several of the music related podcasts on the UnPops Network and he keeps threatening to do stand up again too but don't hold your breath. (P.S. Travis wrote this and has been talking in the third person the whole time like a total jackass).
Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrackRivals
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackrivals/
Heart Shaped Pod (Nirvana podcast): https://unpops.com/heart-shaped-pod
Three Dollar Pod Y'all (Limp Bizkit podcast): https://unpops.com/three-dollar-pod-yall-limp-bizkit-podcast
Pod The Life (Korn podcast): https://unpops.com/podcast/pod-the-life

Episode 56: Tom Clark talks to Pro Bowling Commissioner Tom Clark
Continuing the Tom Clark interviews Tom Clark series, we have commissioner of the Pro Bowlers Association (PBA) Tom Clark. He has been the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour Commissioner since 2011, and with the PBA since 2008. He was the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Vice President of Marketing from 2005-2008. Before working in bowling, he was a sportswriter and assignment editor at USA TODAY.
Tom is from Syracuse, NY, has resided in Virginia and North Carolina, and lives near Milwaukee with his wife Kelli and two kids. Daughter Quinn is about to start grad school at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism and son Rory is set to attend and bowl for University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Rory carries a 228 average with a 300 game.
The PBA, established in 1958, is the highest level of professional bowling in the world, with the best players and events in the sport, awarding millions of dollars in prize money each year and seen regularly on FOX Sports and CBS Sports Network. This June 15-20, the PBA will be live on FS1 with the "King of the Lanes" series. Visit PBA.com for more information.
Follow Tom Clark (the one from bowling) on Twitter @ClarkPBA.

Episode 55: Tom Clark Meets the other Tom Clark
I have decided to interview several of the Tom Clarks I've met along the way in my comedy career and we start with tech savvy Tom Clark. This Tom Clark grew up in the Northeast and migrated to Silicon Valley for a career in tech. He embarked on a side project as a brewery owner which lasted for five years and currently resides in San Jose. Tom and I talk how we met, the art of being Tom Clark and who is the worst Tom Clark in history.

Episode 54: Brooks Elms talks screenwriting & filmmaking
Joining me on the podcast is Brooks Elms. Brooks is a WGA screenwriter, independent filmmaker, and world-class writing coach. He's written 25+ screenplays, a dozen of them on assignment, and sold several scripts, including one this year that Brad Peyton is Executive Producing. Brooks was recently hired to rewrite a screenplay started by an Oscar-winning writer. In his early career, he wrote, directed, produced and self-released 2 indie features. And part of the reason Brooks is on the planet is to coach screenwriters that are fully devoted to reaching their own true greatness.
https://twitter.com/BrooksElms

Episode 53: LJ Walker talks MLMs & the Facebook Group "The MLM Who Must Not Be Named"

Episode 52: Abby Bural, nutritional scientist discusses Herbalife's unethical business practices

Episode 51: Julie Kidd - comedian & author of The Funniest Housewives
START OF SEASON 3!!! Julie Kidd, comedian, mom, and creator of Funniest Housewives chats with Steph about her new book, “The Funniest Housewives – When Laughter and Inspiration Collide." They discuss Julie's start in comedy in the early 90's and the continued drive she has to help female stand-ups in a heavily male dominated industry.

Episode 50: Judith Beay talks growing up in foster care & working with Tom's mom
Judith Beay talks to Tom about growing up in the foster care system in Milwaukee. Eventually she met Tom's mom, Eileen, who matched her with a family. Judith talks how this stability gave her confidence moving forward as she pursued her degree and her career.

Episode 49: Kevin Reyes talks how to avoid Multi Level Marketing Schemes
Steph interviews an ex-MLMer, Kevin Reyes. Kevin was recruited by the multi-level marketing company, People Helping People (PHP) at a mall in 2019. Kevin tells us who they're told to target, insight into manipulation tactics by the people at the top of the pyramid, and how they're using the pandemic to sell their MLM to those most vulnerable.

Episode 48: Iggy Samaniego talks his immigration story from Mexico to the U.S.
Iggy Samaniego is an up and coming comedian based out of El Paso, Texas. I met Iggy in Tucson a few years ago and we bonded over life in Juarez. Iggy talks about his mom escaping a "messed up" situation in Juarez for a better life in El Paso. Iggy struggled with the gang life in his early teens but eventually found his way out and built a life for himself in El Paso. He talks about how he got into the gang life and how his mom motivated him to get out of it.

Episode 47: Chris & Alison Edwards talk racism in America

Episode 46: Tim Clark, my brother, talks about getting kidnapped in Brazil
One of the most influential people in my comedy career and life is my brother Tim Clark. He actually first took a comedy class and as I've always done I followed in his footsteps. I guess the only difference is I kept going and he became a successful business man. My brother has traveled the world for his job and in 1998 in Sao Paolo, Brazil he was carjacked at gun point, thrown into the trunk of his car, and forced to withdraw money from various ATMs around the city. On this episode he tells the whole story of the almost 10 hour ordeal and how he made it out alive.

Episode 45: Author/Comedian Sam Tallent

Episode 44: Ivan Leon - Creative Art Director, Photographer, Dancer, and a whole lot more
Ivan Leon is a creative-art director, dancer, photographer, writer, actor, and entrepreneur. Leon's strong work ethic and charisma is the reason his new company, iiEntertainment is already a hot commodity in the industry. iiEntertainment specializes in visuals, live performance and photography with musicians and fashion brands. Leon talks about how growing up in Harlem influenced his all inclusive art and business. You will fall in love with Leon's free spirit charm!

Episode 43: John Garrett - Author and Corporate Speaker
John Garrett is a very funny stand up comedian who has made it big as a corporate speaker working all across the country. We talk our beginnings in Milwaukee, life in comedy and his move to performing for companies. We also discuss his new book: "What's Your "And"? In the book John talks about finding and pursuing your passions beyond just what you do for a living. The book will be coming out on September 15th. For more information on John and to purchase his book go HERE.

Episode 42: Brian Donovan, Director/Creator of Kelly's Hollywood documentary

Episode 41: Dominique Baños talks starting a law firm, Black Lives Matter, and the justice system

Episode 40: Justine Smith talks life and comedy in Hawaii.

Episode 39: Ainsley Harrison talks her experiences with Monat & MLMs

Episode 38 : Marc Yaffee talks comedy & meeting his birth parents at age 25

Episode 37: Tami Leckie talks rescuing & fostering dogs
Click for info on So Cal Bulldog Rescue
Follow Ruby on Instagram HERE

Episode 36: Erik Escobar talks virtual comedy

Episode 35: Martha Truslow Smith - Creator of Grombre - a platform for women speaking their truth and decision to go gray
Steph chats with Martha Trusome Smith, creator of Grombre. With nearly 200,000 followers on Instagram, Grombre is a platform for women speaking their truth on their decision to go gray. What started as an idea has transformed into a movement. Steph and Martha chat about how gray haired women are perceived in society and how Grombre is challenging the status quo and redefining beauty. GROMBRE

Episode 34: Rob Snow - creator of Stand Up for Downs - improv program for adults with Down Syndrome

Episode 33: Tom & Steph talk improv and it's future in the comedy world.
Tom and Steph talk about watching Thomas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz, a hilarious improvisational duo, who have a 3 episode series on Netflix that is all made up on the spot. Tom talks about his own background in improv with both ComedySportz in Milwaukee and the Dead Alewives. We also talk about ComedySportz founder Dick Chudnow and how his vision helped create an improv scene in Milwaukee and around the country. Steph talks of her experiences doing improv at UCB and the recent fall of UCB and its theaters in NYC closing down. Steph feels improv could be the next big thing in comedy and the shows that we've done around Los Angeles. We discuss if improv as an industry could take off and if opportunities for improvisors will increase with this new Netflix show.

Episode 32 Tom and Steph talk coping with a pandemic
After nearly month off Tom and Steph talk about what they've been up to since the pandemic hit. Steph has given up drinking and talks about how she's coping. Tom talks about how he's been working on the audio for a new stand up album to be released in the next couple of weeks. They talk how they're dealing with each other and surviving the monotony of life during the pandemic.

Episode 31 with comedian/actor Steven Briggs
Steven Briggs is one of the best young comedians out there with a wide range of abilities from acting to writing to stand up to directing, he can really do it all! We talk a lot about Steven's childhood where he was quite the troublemaker. At an early age he learned to make counterfeit money and often got into fights, which ultimately forced his parents to send him to military school--where he got into more fights. Steven has some amazing stories about his family and his mother even joins us on the podcast. She talks about fighting off the Clairemont Killer in the early 1990s and saving Steven and his brother. This episode is a great example of overcoming the odds to achieve success and Steven really paints a great picture with these outrageous, but true stories.

Episode 30 with director/writer Scott Boxenbaum
The new season of Fully Formed Adults should be released in mid March and you can see me in the season finale doing a "touching" eulogy. You can check out past episodes here: www.fullyformedseries.com

Episode 29 with comedian & Olive Garden Expert Charles Greaves

Episode 28 with director/writer/actor Jason Palmer

Episode 27: The Start of Season 2! Al Ducharme - comedian & Anthony from "F is For Family"

Episode 26: Linda and Andy Hendrickson talk international romance, comedy & skin care
On Episode 26 and our final episode of 2019, comedian Andy Hendrickson along with his wife Linda join Tom and Steph on our first couple's podcast! Linda tells her story of how she went from Algeria to Paris to Connecticut and finally arriving in Los Angeles in 2014. Interestingly enough Andy also made a whirlwind journey to LA, starting his stand up career in Atlanta moving to Virginia then New York and finally arriving in LA in 2014...just like Linda. You see where I'm going with this...it's like "Harry Met Sally," but different and French. Linda tells the story of meeting Andy for the first time. Andy talks behind the scene stuff on Letterman and dealing with anxiety and lyme disease. Tom and Andy also talk about their first meeting performing on a plywood stage over a stairwell in Rockford, IL. Linda also has a great podcast available on Anchor called "Excuse My Frenchy" and a line of skin care products she'll soon be launching. Check out Andy's website at: www.andyhendrickson.com Our first couple interview and we had a blast!

Episode 25: Ari Stidham (star of CBS's Scorpion) talks his early success in acting & how he got there
You may know Ari Stidham from his role on CBS's Scorpion, but it all started when he was a kid growing up in the Westlake area (just outside of LA.) After struggling in school early on, he went the independent study route, finishing school at 16. He worked with the improv group, ComedySportz and through that landed his first role on ABC Family's "Huge." This is a great listen as Ari goes through his audition for the role on CBS's Scorpion to the sudden fame that went with it and the disappointment after it's cancellation. He also talks his current projects and he has a cool poster of Danny Devito in his house.

Episode 24: Mark Valley (Boston Legal, Human Target) talks acting & his army career
You may know Mark Valley from the soap opera Days of Our Lives, Boston Legal and Human Target, but he's also a U.S. Army Veteran. He talks about his career in the army. His first acting gig opposite Sir Anthony Hopkins and teaching him to throw a football (true story.) He also talks about his latest project Zburg. A web-series shot entirely in his hometown of Ogdensburg, NY with a cast made up of local actors. We also get into his role in Zero Dark Thirty and that sinking feeling when you know you're going to be cut out of a movie. There's no BS with Mark and he's a completely open book on this podcast.

Episode 23: Nicole Blaine talks booking shows, shooting films & her comedy career
Steph sits down with Nicole Blaine to talk about how she has helped connect comedians with industry thru the various programs she runs at Westside Comedy Theater in Santa Monica. She also talks shooting her own independent film with her husband and her own comedy career.

Episode 21: Chris Flail talks starting out in comedy & building a scene in Bakersfield
Chris Flail tells his tale of traveling from Pennsylvania to Oklahoma to California and how he eventually discovered his love of comedy. One of Chris's first gigs was working with Tom at a casino in Delano, CA and Chris's story of that is a definite must listen. They also discuss how Chris has built one of the most successful rooms in Central California and how he's helping comedians there build their stage time.

Episode 20: Camilla Cleese on her famous Dad & her own comedy career
Growing up the son or daughter of a celebrity isn't easy especially when that celebrity is comedy royalty. Such is the case with Camilla Cleese and her dad, John Cleese, of Monty Python fame. Camilla opens up on this one talking about sitting in on her Dad's writing sessions during "A Fish Called Wanda", being a talented equestrian, her struggle with substance abuse, and how she's blazing her own trail in comedy.

Episode 19: Dennis Blair talks his career & opening for Rodney Dangerfield & George Carlin
Imagine being only two years into comedy and Rodney Dangerfield asking you to come up with a movie idea for him. That's what happened for Dennis Blair and how he ended up helping to write the movie "Easy Money." Dennis and I worked together in Reno and we talk about his long illustrious career in comedy. From opening for Rodney to opening for George Carlin, Dennis has worked with some of the best and he shares all of these experiences. Great insight from someone who's not just an opening act, but a really talented comedian/writer/musician. Click his name to go to his website: DENNIS BLAIR

Episode 18: Vito Gesualdi talks how he built his YouTube following
Vito Gesualdi is a comedian, actor, and writer who has built a YouTube following of over 160,000 thru his funny and sometimes controversial videos. His most famous/controversial being handing out Pepsi at an ANTIFA/Alt Right rally in Berkeley. You can watch it HERE! We talk about his growing up in Amherst, Massachusetts, how he comes up with his ideas, and how he built up his YouTube following.

Episode 17: Marc Price AKA Skippy from Family Ties
Steph wasn't able to join us on this episode.

Episode 16: Bernadette Pauley talks "Tough Crowd" with Colin Quinn & growing up in Boston

Episode 15: Mary Gallagher talks appearing on “Friends” & her journey to Late Night
Mary Gallagher is a very talented actress, writer, comedian and also from Tom's hometown of Milwaukee. Tom and Steph talk with Mary about growing up in Wisconsin. Moving to LA and the nerve wracking audition for "Friends." We also talk about her stand up comedy and how she went from bombing opening for Pauly Shore in the early 90s to appearing on Stephen Colbert in 2018. Mary will also be appearing on the upcoming Netflix prank show called "Prank Encounters" with "Stranger Things" actor Gaten Matarazzo. This was a really inspiring podcast. Check it out!

Episode 14: Kyle Kinane talks being a bad roommate to Tom and Chicago Comedy
Tom and Steph talk with Kyle about his start in comedy and his rise to fame as a stand up on both Comedy Central and Netflix. We also discuss his arrival to LA in the early 2000s and living with Tom for 2 weeks and apparently, unbeknownst to Tom, being a terrible roommate. We talk about the comedians of Chicago past and future. I may have also mentioned that Dan Harmon once kicked me at a party. A lot of fun catching up with Kyle, one of the best comedians out there! Check him out!

Episode 13: Sharon Houston talks her career as a stand up, working on Punk'd, booking reality shows & creating her own TV show
Sharon Houston has had a very long successful career. We talk about her voiceover work on Daria, the manager she and Tom shared (he said she had "no neck"), working on Punk'd, booking reality shows like America's Got Talent and various court shows, including an episode with Tom on Divorce Court. We also talk about the current court show she created and how she's helping other people work on their creative ideas. Check out her website HERE

Episode 12: Art Clark (Tom's Dad) World War 2 Veteran, talks life in the army & gives life advice
For this episode we actually got questions from you the listener to ask my Dad (Art Clark.) The questions ranged from his experiences in WW2 to what's his favorite cut of meat. My Dad was a great sport throughout all this and I think you'll really enjoy what he has to say. At 93 years old I think he has a great perspective on life and shares a bit of that advice with you.

Episode 11: Jeff Johnson - comedian discusses stand up comedy, leaving the Mormon religion, & recently finding out who his real dad was
Jeff Johnson is a very funny comedian, who I first met at JR's Comedy Club in Valencia, CA. It was actually the back room of a Marie Callendar's and Jeff was the host. Jeff developed his act there and is now traveling across the country doing stand up. He recently finished in the top 5 in The World Series of Comedy. Jeff talks about the struggle to get better as a stand up, starting his own production company, leaving the Mormon religion and finding out who his real dad was. Jeff was very open about everything and the story of his finding his dad and actually going to meet him is a must listen.

Episode 10: Dennis Gubbins - actor/writer/comedian "Talking in Venice with Dennis"
Dennis Gubbins is an actor/writer/comedian. He has appeared in over 100 commercials and we discuss every single one of them...just kidding, but we do discuss how he got the gig "handing a puppy over a bush. " We also discuss the acting and auditioning process in general. Then we get deep and discuss his work on "Enjoy It" with Brody Stevens and the fun and challenges of working with Brody. ENJOY IT!

Episode 9: Steven Slater the Jet Blue Flight Attendant who quit via emergency exit
On this episode of the I'm A Rescue Podcast Steph and I interview Steven Slater. Steven achieved international fame after becoming fed up with one too many rude customers while serving as a flight attendant on Jet Blue Airlines. We learn the real story about what happened and all the trouble that came with that fame. His struggle with drugs and alcohol, the TV offers, losing his mother, and his house. But we also learn how he's battling back. Really great, inspiring episode from a very resilient guy.

Episode 8 - Kimia Behpoornia from NBC's Abby's & Unicorn Store
This week we interview Kimia Behpoornia. Kimia is one of the stars of the ensemble comedy Abby's on NBC and will soon be appearing in Brie Larson's Unicorn Store (Netflix on April 5th). We talk to Kimia about her high school years building robots and doing improv, how she lost her manager because she gave her too much information, and losing one of her first big roles and how she handled it. Kimia is definitely someone you're going to be hearing big things about...so why not learn how it all started.