We sit down with St. Louis comic Sean O’Brien who has opened for legends like Bill Burr, Norm Macdonald, and Nikki Glaser.

Sean got his start bartending at the St. Louis Funny Bone, where he met Mike Lukas — and, in true full-circle fashion, Mike’s show ended up becoming Sean’s very first paid gig.

In this episode, Sean breaks down his writing process, including his daily habit of “moving the pen” for 30 minutes and then teasing out the small interactions and weird moments that become great material. It’s a masterclass in finding the funny in the ordinary — and trusting the muscle. You can find his recent 15-minute show case on Youtube under Nateland Presents.

This pod’s guest is Michael Halcomb — a professor, pastor, comedian, and podcaster from North Carolina, proving once and for all that the best way to handle hecklers is with a sermon, a syllabus, and a punchline.

Chris asks Michael and Mike about their jointly-authored article “10 Ways to Upgrade Your Crowd Work” — covering how to turn audience chaos into comedy, why professors secretly make great MCs, and when it’s okay to recycle a drunk guy named Tony from last weekend’s show. They also give adaptable advice like "repeat whatever they say" and "embrace the silence."

See more of Michael’s work at MichaelHalcomb.Live and on Substack.

In this episode of The Funny Muscle Podcast, we welcome Pete Schwaba — veteran comedian, screenwriter, actor, and radio host — to prove that comedy isn’t just about punchlines; it’s about endurance, caffeine, and creative chaos. Pete shares war stories from the road, how writing a two-hour daily radio show feels like prepping a stand-up set that never ends, and why curveballs and misdirection are his favorite tools for building jokes. He even drops a heckler-handling trick that uses just two words — and no, it’s not the two you’re thinking of. Tune in to find them out.