The invention of the podcast has changed the way people experience radio. A plethora of free comedy podcasts have been created by stand up comedians, giving you plenty of options when it comes to enjoying comedy radio. This helpful guide highlights the funniest podcasts the Internet has to offer.
The 1980s saw a huge increase in the number of stand up comedians and comedy clubs. The comedy club boom appeared to have peaked in the early 90s but the 2010s have brought about another boom for stand up comedians, the comedy podcast. Digital recording equipment and the proliferation of the smart phone has allowed comedians to create, record and distribute their personal comedy radio show online. High quality podcasts can be cranked out because of the ease of use and the low production costs. Low production costs results in comedy podcasts often times being free with little commercial interruption.
Bill Burr's Monday Morning podcast is a comedy podcast that often ranks very high on the iTunes chart and would be a good place to start out when exploring comedy radio online. Bill Burr's take on the format of a comedy podcast is as unique as his stand up comedy. While some podcasts rely on a lot of production and banter back in forth, Bill's podcast is almost entirely a monologue from the comedian himself. Bill Burr's Monday Morning Podcast is released each Monday morning and features Bill's funny stories from the road and satire on the current news of the day. The topics covered on the Monday Morning podcast, can range from sports gambling, to the mortgage crisis to Bill's experiences growing up. Bill Burr's Monday Morning Podcast is a completely open format and is a great example of a monologue of comedy radio.
Doug Loves Movies is not only a declarative statement, but also the name of a free comedy podcast hosted by stand up comedian Doug Benson. Doug Benson is a die hard movie fan, and welcomes on his fellow stand up comedians to talk about their favorite films. The improvised movie themed conversation is always quick witted and Doug's comedy podcast ends with a movie trivia game called the 'Leonard Maltin Game'. Doug plays the role of quizmaster, as the comedians attempt to guess which movie Doug is talking about using Leonard Maltin's review as their clue. Doug Loves Movies is different from many comedy podcasts in that it is recorded in front of a live audience. Doug Loves Movies is a comedy podcast for fans of stand up comedians and movie buffs alike.
If you're looking for a comedy radio experience similar to that of the traditional morning show you won't want to miss the comedy podcast from Adam Carolla. In 2009 Los Angeles radio KLSX switched formats from talk radio to pop radio and the Adam Carolla morning show was canceled. Undeterred Adam Carolla immediately started the Adam Carolla podcast, which is one of the highest downloaded comedy radio shows in Internet history. If you like Adam Carolla you will love the Adam Carolla Podcast which features celebrity comedians, people of note and of course the classic Carolla rants. Adam Carolla's website is not only home to his free comedy podcast, but also an entire network of podcasts that make up the Ace Broadcasting network. The Ace Broadcasting network has other free comedy podcasts to fill out its comedy radio roster including 'The Big 3' (stars from 'Windy City Heat), 'Daves of Thunder'(Dave Damashek and Dave Feeny) and 'Spider and the Henchman' (Kevin Hench and John 'Spider' Salley).
Marc Maron's WTF podcast is a great example of the interview style podcast that is becoming popular with stand up comedians. Marc Maron's comedy podcast involves him asking probing questions of fellow comedians like Robin Williams, Ben Stiller and Louis CK to name a few. Marc Maron's free comedy podcast was recently described by the New York Times as, "a cult hit and a must-listen in show business and comedy circles."
Whether in depth interview show, traditional morning show, game show or compelling monologue there is a comedy podcast out there for any kind of taste. Even if your favorite stand up comedian doesn't have a comedy podcast now, there is a good chance they will in the near future.