Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Starting Standup in Maine with David Walton
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #52 Special Announcement | 16 Oct 2025 | 00:18:29 | |
David reflects on the first year anniversary of Starting Standup. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #51 Lesbians, Open Mics, and the Youth Sports Industrial Complex | 09 Oct 2025 | 00:18:43 | |
Sometimes getting back on stage leads to unexpected connections. Sometimes those connections lead to inappropriate questions we can't ask. This episode covers both. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #50 The Fair, The Rabbits, and My Descent into Madness | 02 Oct 2025 | 00:24:51 | |
A dad's trip to three agricultural fairs spirals into chaos when his family impulse-buys three male rabbits with surprisingly prominent anatomy. Join comedian David Walton as he navigates ragweed season, questionable parenting decisions, and his new fears about coaching sixth-grade basketball. Plus, unexpected insights into draft horse aesthetics and the lost era of Quaaludes. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #49 Accountability | 25 Sep 2025 | 00:03:11 | |
| #48 Sexual Positions at Work, and Why Your Journals Might Traumatize Your Kids | 18 Sep 2025 | 00:23:35 | |
I try a CIA-style trick to make people spill without asking a single question (and immediately botch it on my kid). I answer five actually-good questions so you can decide if you like me or have had enough. We get honest about journals as future family landmines, mushrooms/Zen and not caring what you think, the first laugh that ruined me at age six, and whether everyone’s quietly miserable (ask their spouse). Also: cocktail party questions that’ll get you uninvited, the gym’s… ambitious leggings trend, and a calorie-torching position I’m absolutely not doing. If something makes you snort, tell me—that’s what stays. If it doesn’t, it dies. Press play and let’s find the 1% worth keeping. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #47 Bradley Cooper Humbled Me + TRT Side Effects (Yes, Titties) | 11 Sep 2025 | 00:34:43 | |
I rewatched A Star Is Born and had to eat my words: for years I thought “I could’ve played those roles,” then Cooper drops a triple-threat and I’m like—nope. We get into why acting drunk is hard, Vince Vaughn worship, and my delusional Hangover-era confidence. Love, Chat GPT -5 https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #46 From Hero to Zero | 04 Sep 2025 | 00:15:12 | |
In this episode, David returns stone-cold sober and shares stories about parenting his wonderfully unfiltered son. From YouTube 'facts' and Jersey Mike's obsessions to the challenges of raising kids in the digital age, David explores the delicate balance of maintaining honest relationships with children while trying not to completely lose your mind. Plus, a masterclass in why Jersey Mike's employees probably have incredible right arms. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #45 Tegan Webster | 28 Aug 2025 | 00:23:22 | |
Childhood friend Tegan Webster comes on the pod. The next Robin Quivers? https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #44 - Puberty | 21 Aug 2025 | 00:05:41 | |
| #43- The Coldplay Scandal | 14 Aug 2025 | 00:08:10 | |
| #42 Tickles ,Tennis, and TRT | 07 Aug 2025 | 00:19:10 | |
| #41 I Share My 2017 To-Do List | 31 Jul 2025 | 00:31:47 | |
I just discovered one of my to-do lists from 8 years ago. Fascinating what gets done, and what doesn't. Does this ever happen to you? Let's explore why we do things, and why we don't together in this week's episode. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #40 DMB and Eating Farm Animals | 24 Jul 2025 | 00:22:17 | |
| #39 Guided Meditation for High Net Worth Individuals | 17 Jul 2025 | 00:18:32 | |
David continues to record nonsense. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #38 Love Island Analysis | 10 Jul 2025 | 00:28:18 | |
| #37 The Shakespearean Parent Spiral | 03 Jul 2025 | 00:23:00 | |
| #36 Latest Open Mic with Post Mortem | 26 Jun 2025 | 00:26:04 | |
David gets back on the open mic horse and does a post mortem. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #35 Listen to me put together my next standup set | 19 Jun 2025 | 00:15:20 | |
After receiving brutally honest feedback from a high school friend about my last episode being "boring and no laughs," I've rekindled my creative fire and am preparing for my first stage performance in weeks. This episode walks through my process of mining previous conversations for comedic material, sharing the awkward, honest moments of parenthood that make perfect stand-up fodder. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #34 Drug Use for Grownups | 12 Jun 2025 | 00:15:15 | |
David tracks the messy evolution of his act, from joking about kratom and morphine drips to nearly launching a debate show on illicit substances. Along the way he revisits a live “Armchair Expert” set that almost tempted Dax Shepard off the wagon, questions why certain highs are illegal, and brainstorms a future lineup that jumps from psychedelics to tennis and gambling. Book mentioned: Drug Use for Grownups by Dr. Carl L. Hart https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #33 Fingering and Fashion: The Middle School Edition | 05 Jun 2025 | 00:18:56 | |
Ever wonder what your teenage fashion choices revealed about your desperate need to fit in? David Walton takes us on a hilarious journey through the social currency of Z Cavariccis—those ridiculously baggy pants with multiple belt loops that somehow signaled coolness in the 90s—and draws parallels to watching his own children navigate the treacherous waters of adolescence today. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #32 Louis CK Inspiration | 29 May 2025 | 00:16:10 | |
David runs a creative restraint exercise after stumbling on a Louis CK quote and finds a lot of potential standup material he's now excited about. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #31 Benny from Boxcar Children | 22 May 2025 | 00:15:06 | |
David speaks with the 7 year old that lives in his head and tells him an inappropriate joke. David is unhinged throughout. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #30 I Perform the Anthony Jeselnik Special | 15 May 2025 | 00:31:50 | |
Looking for inspiration David does a word perfect performance of Anthony Jeselnik's Bones and All 2024 Netflix standup special. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #29 My New Joke and a Comic Perspective Exercise | 08 May 2025 | 00:12:17 | |
David tries out a new joke about everyone being a liar and then does some comic perspective exercises that reveal he probably has a drug problem. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #28 Kevin Christy Interview | 01 May 2025 | 01:46:07 | |
Kevin Christy is not only a world class stand up comedian but he is also more interesting than the Dos Equis man. Imagine if the Dos Equis man loved snow globes, stickers, and Disneyland and hated beer. Then listen to this interview. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #27 Casey Watson Interview | 24 Apr 2025 | 01:13:16 | |
Casey Watson is one of the fastest rising comedians in Maine. In 4 short years he has gone from open mic newbie to featuring for many big comics including Ari Shaffir and Big Jay Oakerson. He performs regularly at the Empire Comedy Club in Portland Maine. Great dude. Great chat. Find him here: IG: @caseywats https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| RE-RELEASE: Ep 9 - Majandra Delfino aka My Wife-The Interview | 17 Apr 2025 | 00:44:52 | |
On vacation with wife and kid so appropriate to rerelease the episode where I ask my wife to point out my flaws. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #26 Why I Didn't Do Jack Squat This Week | 10 Apr 2025 | 00:15:35 | |
Sometimes doing nothing tells you where you need to go. A frank episode about putting comedy on pause while pursuing acting opportunities, featuring audition stories, a serendipitous mentor discovery, and why Maine's comedy scene deserves more attention. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #25 - All Same Day, Dad | 03 Apr 2025 | 00:13:28 | |
David begins the day filled with confidence and hope as he preps for his 20th open mic. By nightfall these positive emotions have transformed into face melting shame, but the warrior in him transmutes humiliation into strength and resilience. A hero's journey, all same day. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #24 Caleb Sherman Interview - An Open Mic Master Class | 27 Mar 2025 | 01:05:05 | |
Caleb Sherman is a comedian and has worked for almost a decade at the Empire Comedy Club in Portland, Maine, where he's become something of an accidental anthropologist of the open mic scene. In this conversation, we explore the strange and beautiful world of amateur comedy, what it actually means to "find your voice," and why the grind of showing up night after night might not be such a grind after all. From philosophy degrees to ass play, Caleb shares his journey and what he's learned from watching thousands of comedians try to make strangers laugh. IG: @calebthesherman https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #23 Army Vets, Hecklers, and Trumpet Farts: My Week in Stand-Up | 20 Mar 2025 | 00:16:13 | |
A fun week of development and performance. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #22- Boarding School | 13 Mar 2025 | 00:19:42 | |
David explores his high school experience for potential material. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #21- My Dad | 06 Mar 2025 | 00:24:58 | |
David mines his relationship with his dad for material. He also shares a few tips from Gary Gulman's 366 Comedy Tips. https://www.vulture.com/article/gary-gulman-comedy-tips.html https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #20 - Dr. Rick Goes on a Silent Retreat | 27 Feb 2025 | 00:26:35 | |
David discovers his old movie character, Dr. Rick, might be the perfect vehicle for exploring the ego-driven absurdity of modern spirituality. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #19 - Clip Show- My Favorite Bits | 20 Feb 2025 | 00:17:54 | |
David shares his favorite bits from the following comics: Sam Morrill, Pete Holmes, Geoffrey Asmus, JT Parr, Beth Stelling, Taylor Tomlinson, Jordan Jensen, Dave Attell, Ian Edwards, Aries Spears, Norm Macdonald https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #18- Joke Writing Session - Soup to Nuts | 13 Feb 2025 | 00:24:32 | |
The episode provides a fascinating glimpse into the creative process, showing how raw life experiences transform into structured comedy bits through careful crafting and refinement. David's vulnerability and willingness to expose his inner conflicts offer both entertainment and insight into the therapeutic potential of stand-up comedy. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #17- Big News After Open Mic #16 | 06 Feb 2025 | 00:18:02 | |
David gets encouraging news. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #16- Walksauce42_ aka Walker Ward Interview | 30 Jan 2025 | 01:13:14 | |
From getting fired on Wall Street to becoming social media's favorite country club satirist - Walker Ward (aka Walksauce42_) joins us to break down how he built a massive social media comedy empire by perfectly capturing the chaos of Rivian waitlists, golden retriever mishaps on private jets, and emergency board meetings about white jean violations. A hilarious deep dive into content creation, character work, and why you should never trust a Tommy Bahama client dinner. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #15 Bonnie Rait Joke, Ray Peat Diet, MLC Jokes, Personal Brand Hatred | 23 Jan 2025 | 00:17:59 | |
David somehow puts together another amazing episode of Starting Standup freezing his ass off high on Mexican coke. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #14 Dave Chapelle, Comedy Camp, and Year 1 Begins | 16 Jan 2025 | 00:13:37 | |
In this 14th episode David Walton shares updates from his comedy writing camp in New York City, including watching Dave Chappelle perform at the Comedy Cellar. He announces exciting changes for the podcast, including plans to feature more interviews focusing on comedians' origin stories. David also reflects on his own comedy journey, the craft of storytelling, and teases an upcoming interview with a rising social media star. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #13 - LA Fires and Open Mic #7 - Ode to My Dad, Jay Walton | 09 Jan 2025 | 00:10:49 | |
A comedian's job is to be funny - even when their hometown is on fire. In this raw episode, David copes with the LA fires by sharing a recent stand-up set about his emotionally reserved father, complete with generational observations about hugging, shame, and yes, bathroom mishaps. It's a love letter to both LA and David's dad. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #12 - My New Years Resolution | 02 Jan 2025 | 00:16:20 | |
David talks about being dumb and honest. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #11 - Mindfulness of Cocaine | 26 Dec 2024 | 00:05:17 | |
David leads a short holiday meditation on cocaine. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #10 - My 5th and 6th Open Mics - Progress? | 19 Dec 2024 | 00:22:45 | |
David shares and analyzes the 5th and 6th open mic of his life. Is he improving? You be the judge. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #9 -Majandra Delfino aka My Wife- The Interview | 12 Dec 2024 | 00:47:25 | |
David asks his wife to point out his flaws so he can make fun of himself on stage. She jumps at opportunity. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| #8 - Jeremy Sisto Interview | 05 Dec 2024 | 00:42:15 | |
Jeremy Sisto joins David Walton to talk about their recent comedy adventure in New York City and how embarrassing it was to watch each other do standup. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| Ep 7 - Falling in Love with AI Robot Named Claude - A Thanksgiving Love Story | 28 Nov 2024 | 00:22:44 | |
In this vulnerable Thanksgiving episode, David hits a creative low when he turns to artificial intelligence for emotional support - and starts to develop feelings for a robot. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| Ep 6 - Live from New York! | 21 Nov 2024 | 00:28:34 | |
In this episode, I share my incredible week camping out at the Comedy Cellar in New York City - the absolute mecca of stand-up comedy right now. I got to watch legends like Colin Quinn work on new material and witnessed masterful crowd work from comics like Dave Atell. The biggest lesson? There are no shortcuts in comedy - everyone pays their dues with 3-7 years of nightly performances. I also open up about getting back on the open mic horse myself, fighting through some serious resistance before finally hitting the stage at the Comedy Shop on Bleecker Street. With help from my friend Jeremy Sisto, I work through my fears and perform a 5 minute set about human misery - everything from the struggles of parenting to the weirdness of procrastination (including a two-year standoff with an unreturned Christmas gift). I also continue to rant and while ranting isn't stand-up, it connected to something real inside me. Now comes the hard part: turning that authentic material into tight, funny jokes. I'm working on bits about being both a meditation teacher and a degenerate, the challenge of honest parenting, and the universal truth that we're all way more perverted than we let on. Stay tuned as I keep working this material out in real time. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| Ep 5 - Louis CK and My 2nd Open Mic | 14 Nov 2024 | 00:20:54 | |
In Episode 5, we explore the gap between greatness and growing pains through two contrasting performances. First, David attempts to channel Louis CK by performing one of his most controversial bits word-for-word, examining how master comedians tackle difficult subjects. Then, we dive into David's second-ever open mic performance, complete with brutal self-analysis, important lessons learned, and the painful realization that making up stories isn't as funny as telling the truth. It's a raw, honest look at the early stages of learning standup comedy. https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||
| Ep 4- Joke Structure and Premise Mining | 07 Nov 2024 | 00:21:18 | |
Is it possible to be both a spiritual guru and a bully? A loving parent and an accidental trauma-dealer? On this episode of Starting Stand-Up, David Walton explores his competing personalities while teaching us how real comedy gets made. From his dad's ill-fated suit fitting to the gentrification of recreational drugs, watch as random thoughts become structured bits in this raw, unfiltered peek behind the comedy curtain. Bonus: meet Sid, David's id, who really wants to try being on the receiving end of things." https://www.instagram.com/davidwalton https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup Join Starting Standup email list here: https://www.instagram.com/startingstandup | |||