We Don't Even Know

We catch up with Christian who auditioned to become a hand model & Shonali who returned from her honeymoon in Peru. Their new segment GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST is now open to audience members.  Please share your rants with us on stage at the next show. We will rap right along with you. Highlights of Ep. 43 include Christian's first time receiving a mani-pedi and Shonali's new fluency in Spanish. WDEK's first guest is journalist, NY Times reporter and author of the Taliban Shuffle, Kim Barker.  Kim shares her need to write a dark comedy about war after being the bureau chief for the Chicago Tribune in South Asia.  The movie version of her book, became Whiskey Tango Foxtrot starring Tina Fey.  Kim grew up wanting to be a superhero but settled for being a journalist.  Find out about bruised peaches, her 18 points twitter rant and her love of writing New York stories, "a wonderful big awesome corrupt place." WDEK's long time sound engineer Stephen Kurpis is leaving but not without giving us his famous secret mari

Mr. Goatee (Christian) and Ms. Zenni (Shonali) have a new segment called Get It Off Your Chest.  Christian can not beat box.  We talk cheese shops, fire drills and self-hate. Our first guest is Antonia Santangelo, a multi-talented PhD Anthropology candidate, an archeology teacher, a Zumba instructor, a student of Krav Maga and a percussionist for Tigers & Monkeys. Whew!  Antonia is tough.  She comes from a long line of short & strong women.  She does way too much and loves it. Check out her new YouTube freestyle dancing videos she makes just for fun.  Christian shares some observations about Irish dinner at Shonali's apartment.  Our second guest is comedian/writer/actress Jacqueline Novak. She just published her new book How to Weep in Public on Penguin Random House.  We discuss depression, cheese steaks, college, belly dancing classes and crying.  Also find out how she found love and sealed the deal in one day!  Our final guests are Daniel and Danny Chavis, twin brothers of the Veldt out of NYC (orig

It's March and 2016 is full in effect.  Christian and Shonali get some serious things off their chests.  The Man Bun (more like a Man Bud) phenomenon sweeping the country irritates Shonali.  An audience member explains the origin of the man bud hair-do came from. Christian is heckled at his own dinner party. By the way the heckler is back!  Christian talks tupperware.  Our first guest, Starlee Kine, is the creator and host of the #1 iTunes podcast Mystery Show. Starlee in her best vintage NBC wear teaches us so many things.   Starlee explains what "normcore" is for Shonali's mom in Nashville. She also gives great advice for anyone expecting to make a tv appearance.  We want to "ship" two people together. Dennis from Ticketmaster in Texas, please contact us  - we are all looking for you. Our next guest, comedian and actress Janeane Garofolo has a new backpack.  We talk about purchasing presentable pieces of clothing, AARP and Chris Christie's curves.  Flat front vs pleats.  Christian gets his Janeane -  Fight

Christian is back from Brazil with a new goatee.  Shonali talks for a little too long to an alkaline water saleslady at Whole Foods. Christian coins the name of a new segment for WDEK called Shit People Say.  Our first guest, Kendra Cunningham is a comedian originally from Boston.  She is an actress, filmmaker, bartender and former forensics psychologist. Her mom is stylie and loves garage sales.  Kendra doesn't like dating per se and is in a relationship.  Kendra handled being interrupted by a real live heckler very well.  Shonali was actually more annoyed than she sounds especially when Christian brought up the subject of mansplaining.  It's a real word, even though it comes up as a misspelling on spell check. Drew, the heckler strikes again.  If he were funny, you'd think he was a plant in the audience. The heckler has left the premises!  Our second guest is Black Lives Matter activist Patrick Waldo.  Patrick is a white guy. He brings the Black Lives Matter conversation into white spaces including spaces l

Happy New Year everyone!  We dive into 2016 with special guest co-host comedian Katina Corrao along with our special guests:  NY1's Roger Clark, super star actress Patricia Clarkson and comedian/actor Matt Higgins. Our venue for our podcast is HiFi bar in the East Village and it was filled with guests ancy to get out of their homes after being cooped up over the weekend due to Jonas, the second biggest recorded snow storm in NYC.  Shonali touches on the loss of David Bowie, Glenn Frey, Clarence Reid and Lemmy of Motorhead.  Katina doesn't listen to any of those artists. Katina and Shonali did watch Netflix during the snowstorm.  Our first guest is a reporter on Shonali's favorite network, NY1.  Roger Clark was lucky enough to cover the unplowed streets of NYC and talk to all the complainers. Roger, a pizza box and snow = 2,000 views instantaneously on FB.   Shonali is dying to know what goes on behind the scenes of NY1.  Let's start a Roger Show. Dynasty, Falcon Crest, Dallas - which one does Roger NOT watch?

This is Christian and Shonali's last WDEK of 2015. They had a great 2015 BUT the Happy Holidays weren't so happy for one of their audience members who thinks Shonali and Christian are too positive. Ep. 38 first guest is comedian, actor, writer and director David Cross.  David has maintained his success for a long time.  Shonali believes David's success has something to do with promptly answering emails. Which do you think is David's favorite thing to do:  stand up, acting, editing, writing, or directing?  David's holiday party was intense.  Check out Jon Benjamin and David's Icelandic Blue on YouTube.  The third and last season of David's show Todd Margaret comes out this week.  In the Christmas spirit, David leaves us with words about Jesus. The second guest on WDEK is Shonali's latest girl crush; actress and writer Dolly Wells of HBO's Doll & Em.  Dolly and Shonali take shoe pics together.  Dolly moved to Brooklyn recently from England and explains (Americans) our differences. She loves Jordan.  Dolly c

On this special Thanksgiving WDEK episode 37, Christian and Shonali talk to comedian/actress Marina Franklin about working in a writers' room (HBO's Divorce), is it actually better for women in comedy today and dating in New York City.  Have you heard of the dating app Bumble? Marina likes Chicago house music and has her own podcast called Friends Like Us which features women of color discussing various hot topics of the day.  Look for Marina in the film Trainwreck!  Special guest Howard Altmann a former banker, is a writer, playwright and a poet.  Howard describes himself as sensitive and an introvert but is he? Howard tells us the most annoying question he gets as a poet. Shonali believes Howard is funny although he has never written a funny poem.  Howard shares some lines from his Academy of American Poets published poem called Paris Winter.  Christian presents a wonderful Thanksgiving cooking aid to our winning guest Ramona Clifton.   Musical guest Schaffer the Darklord is a former heavy metal and punk ro

What a show!  Christian is back and elevates his singing performance thanks to our guest co-host Katina Corrao's vocal chops last month.  Shonali gives a candid account of her first ever bachelorette party and shares visuals with our guests.  Our first guest is comedian Katie Compa who tells a chilling tale about a wedding speech, her first time on stage as a stand-up, and uses the word "yammer."  One of her comedy shows is called Dudes Being Dudes Being Dudes!  Musician Har Mar Superstar (Sean Tillmann) is our second special guest.  He doesn't have to have a day job and is currently working on a new release.  He loves Minneapolis  and Sade.  Check out that shirt.  He sings two special songs for us, Everywhere I'm Local and Lady You Shot Me.  Here's Har Mar's fantastic video Christian was talking about co-starring Juliette Lewis called Prisoner.  Our last special guest is comedian Joyelle Nicole Johnson.  She was searching in her purse for the longest time for her carryout Maker's and Ginger.  She's cool.  Sh

Special guest co-host and former Ep. 6 WDEK guest, Katina Corrao is filling in for Christian Felix this episode.  He gave his blessings and boy were we blessed.  Katina  and Shonali talk weight loss and men who are disgusting to women during the summer months.  Our first guest, Elna "Not Another Story" Baker (This American Life, The Moth) candidly shares her story about being naked in front of a bunch of "yoga L.A." strangers.  Elna was a Mormon.  Do you know about her relationship with coffee?  Our surprise guest comedian Bobby Tisdale is a legend for many reasons.  We never see him anymore because he moved upstate to the Catskills.  We talk fart sounds, baby girls, living upstate and BlackPeopleLoveUs.com.  Our third guest segment includes two guests who are not only comedians and writers but also and an engaged IRC (interacial couple), Andy Beckerman and Naomi Ekperigin. We talk courtship, milkshakes, handholding and making a relationship work when there are two creatives involved.  Shonali takes notes. Ou

Happy Heatwave everyone!  New York City is so adorable in the summer time.  Our first guest in comedian Eugene Mirman.  Old friends, Shonali and Eugene, share their road stories from their rock n' roll comedy tour a decade ago.  Eugene explains how a polka dotted scarf and moustache can cause trouble.  Check out Eugene's new Netflix Special.  Our second guest is artist Karmimadeebora "Mima" McMillan.  Mima is a Taurus like Shonali.  She recently moved to NYC from NC via Boston.  Mima's personality is just like her art, colorful, exuberant and bright!  We talk Punky Brewster and the Black Panther coloring book. Mima is currently street artist Swoon's business manager.  You can check out Mima's art which is currently on display at Fringe Salon.  Our final guest is comedian Mike Denny.  Mike just got off of Tinder because it didn't feel right.  Christian asks about Mike's tattoo.  Mike spent his high school years exclusively on a skateboard.  Christian knows a little skateboard lingo and that's about it. Do you

Episode 33 of WDEK was taped on a hot and muggy day at HiFi in the East Village. Shonali has just returned to NYC from the even hotter and muggier city of Nashville, TN.  She was irritable earlier in the day and now Christian is late to the show.  Shonali makes friends in bathrooms and has tips for those who snore while awake.  Comedian/rock star Dave Hill is our first special guest.  Dave Hill explains what shredding is.  He knows how to do it well.  Shonali and Dave talk about John Mayer for entirely too long.  Dave, here's the video Shonali was referring to with Marty Balin spooning his guitar in jail.  Shonali and Dave talk bidets, the new wave that is sweeping America.  Dave has a new comedy album out now called Let Me Turn You On. Buy it now on iTunes or Amazon.  Just in time for the second guest, co-host Christian Felix joins the show.  Special guest comedian, writer and TV host of Hack My Life, Brooke Van Poppelen joins us on stage in gorgeous colors that pop.  She introduces us to the concept of Wiki

             Shonali returns from New Orleans where she overate and went to a lingerie store for the first time. Christian just started seeing a nutritionist.  Now they both understand the importance of taking proper measurements. This episode's first guest is musician, former Blue Man Group creative director and Pianos owner, Todd Perlmutter.  His first gig as a voice over artist was for a horse byproduct.   Todd has been successful for a long time but there was a time when he hit rock bottom. Chicken was involved.  He played drums for MC Shan before Yo MTV Raps was a thing.  Todd is a brilliant drummer and producer who currently plays in a surf band and a tuba duo.  Be on the lookout for his new theatrical production company producing a Western philharmonic project. Any can can dancers out there? Our second guest Lisa Delarios is a stand up comedian from Texas.  She moves back and forth from Texas to NYC often.  Although she has lots of big time comedy credits, Shonali wants to talk about Texas comedy credi

It's Spring time in New York City! Yes, it's is still chilly, overcast and we are all tired of the winter. In honor of the Spring that has not happened, Shonali brings in the March episode of WDEK in a purple dress, a sun hat, sunglasses, bright green bucks as in shoes and shaking her pom poms.  Christian had nightmares the night before the show. The entire audience monitors Christian and Shonali's use of "like", "um", "wow" and "no."   Our first guest is the talented singer Saundra Williams. She is a member of new Daptone recording artists, Saun and Starr, and also a back-up singer for Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.  She's from the South Bronx and has been singing since she was a young girl.  She talks about her journey as a performer, including church choir, her father, a wedding band, her special relationship with Starr Duncan Lowe and Sharon Jones, appearances at Live at the Apollo in Harlem and so much more.  Saun and Starr just debuted a new video featured a soul funk hit called Big Wheel.   Our second

Christian returns from performing in the Off Broadway run of the hit play Great Lakes! Shonali and Christian survived Hurricane Sanday, Blizzard Juno but not the 2015 Oscars. They go on and on and on about it.  WDEK is 30 episodes into its existence and but the temp is way below 30 degrees in NYC!  Christian relates the temperature to crazy behavior on the subway. Special guest comedian Danny Cohen is a stencilist and recently discovered marijuana.  He rides the Q train and has a torn meniscus. He feels like he is a failed comic but Shonali knows otherwise.  He owns his own home!  Our next guest is comedian and artist Sharon Spell who has been sober as of a year ago and is feeling good about it.  We are too.  She is from Hattiesburg, Mississippi has nice snow boots and also has a torn meniscus like Danny. She is more southern than Shonali and calls her father, "Daddy."   Our musical guest is Early Riser (Heidi Vanderlee and Kiri Oliver) who so graciously played an extra song for us which was the debut of a ne

Happy New Year! WDEK enters 2015 on the day after the NYC blizzard bust called Juno. Ain't no stopping us. Darell J. Hunt joins Shonali as our special guest co-host as Christian is acting in a hit off-Broadway play called Great Lakes.  Shonali has been stalking Darell on the internet since she saw his video Soul Train Babies! Owww! on YouTube this past summer.  You should stalk him too.  We were joined by four incredibly talented people in this episode. Comedian Greg Barris talks starting comedy at age 9, young roommates, and Mind Warriors.  Work life balance coach Tevis Trower teaches people how to chill out.  Comedian Seaton Smith has been smoking too much weed, sworks it and discusses the ups and downs of show business. Musician Dawn Landes a former Kentuckianan has been working on a musical called Row and is playing at Lincoln Center on Valentine's Day. Go see her in her new cape! Here Dawn sings two of her original beautiful songs, Bluebird and Money In the Bank. Thanks to DJ Duane Harriot for bringing h

Our Thanksgiving episode includes a star studded lineup with the one and only comedian Todd Barry, the talented illustrator and musician Marcellus Hall, and game show expert - the charming comedian Jo Firestone.  Thanksgiving begins with going home for the holidays and most of the members of our studio audience did not.  Shame on you.  Christian and Shonali discuss what is annoying about the holidays.  Special guest comedian Todd Barry joins us for the first time.   Just who was Todd in high school and college?  Did he get "after it?"  You already know that Todd is a very famous comedian, but did you know that he just released a comedy tour film called Crowd Work Tour via LouisCK.net? Purchase it now because it's GREAT. Christian learns the meaning of a new word which truly isn't user friendly.  Marcellus Hall tells us about his recent illustration gig, going on a road trip with an international group of chefs in the Yucatan and illustrating the party.   Some guys have all the luck. Marcellus plays two brand

Tis the season to go to a Haunted House and discuss all things scary. Shonali has a tough time with one-liners that aren't funny. Christian has a hard time with compliments.  Yeah, we don't even know. Our special guests are comedian Phoebe Robinson, dancer Joe Celej, musician Sarah Dooley and a special surprise guest - Sefa, the Podcast Crasher.  Phoebe discusses paying dues, soap making, Blaria, freelance writing and exactly why African American women pat their hair.   Dancer Joe Celej, started tap dancing as a 3 year old and has danced with his most recent dance company for 9 years.  He has met the squirrel whisperer, introduces us to Leomy the street dancing sensation, and explains the "Death Drop."  During our Halloween Trivia segment, a gentleman stood up and started giving feedback on WDEK.  His name is Sefa, the Podcast Crasher.  Shonali was kind enough to invite him to the stage.  Christian was semi entertained. We found out he is a comic, who spends lots of time at UCB.  His favorite diner is Neptune

Christian and Shonali host another edition of WDEK in front of a live audience at HiFi.  Special guests include actress Amy Ryan, comedian Jena Friedman, NY1 reporter Roger Clark and musician Matt Whyte.  Christian has a brand new industrial blender and cooking injury. If you had to get plastic surgery, what kind would you get?  Even Justin shares his thoughts?  What is it like to become a professional actress just after high school?  Academy Award nominated actress Amy Ryan answers that question and more.  Catch her in Birdman with Michael Keaton, Louder Than Bombs with Gabriel Byrne, and Steven Spielberg's newest with Tom Hanks.  Unbelievable right?  Comedian Jena Friedman shares her insight into the ebola epidemic, Letterman, The Daily Show and American Girl mania.  Follow her on Twitter ya'll.  One of our favorite tv personalities, NY1's morning features reporter, Roger Clark is a bowler, a rock n' roller, and sometimes gets star struck. Have you seen him doing parkour, air guitaring to Rush, or break dan

Our programming changes up a little with this episode. Continuing on the heels of our first We Don't Even Know live show at HiFi last month, while Christian is out of town -  Shonali curates a new monthly show at HiFi in the East Village.  This one is called Shonali's Show And Tell.  Shonali along with her special guests:  Starlee Kine (This American Life), Duane Harriott (WFMU, Negroclash), Katina Corrao (stand up extraordinaire, actress) and Jason Trachtenburg (musician, Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players).  Listen now to find out what types of stories come from a birthday card received in junior high, a Chinese newspaper, a sealed Russell Crowe CD, a peeled grape in a plastic bag and a pair of nice binoculars.  Enjoy!  Christian is back next month for another edition of We Don't Even Know.  Starlee is missing from this picture.  Photo by Molly Larrison

For only the second time ever, We Don't Even Know was taped in front of a live audience (1st time being on the eve of Hurricane Sandy), but for the first time ever, this was in a bar with a proper sound system and a full bar in close proximity to the audience.  The lineup for our special live edition of WDEK was a dream come true for us.  And the show was a blast.  First, we must disclose that we had some technical difficulties at the top of the show.  Let's just say, it was the first time Justin, did live sound in such a setting and Christian had train issues - along with 50 people staring at them while we were trying to get everything working right.  It may have been for the best, because Christian and Shonali's rendition of You Don't Have To Be A Star is probably something that doesn't need to preserved for eternity. Let's just say this was a special gift for the audience who joined us in the new backroom of Hi Fi, formerly the legendary rock n' roll venue Brownies, located in the East Village.  We will pr