LeRoy Butler can’t stay away from the Cripescast for too long. Returning for his fourth podcast appearance, the NFL Hall of Famer and former Green Bay Packer joins Charlie in the studio once again. With football season officially here, the two talk all things Packers. They cover everything from Jordan Love to the season opener in Brazil to the importance of the “Mr. Irrelevant” title in the NFL draft. In true LeRoy fashion, he offers up life advice and explains how he keeps his positive attitude regardless of life circumstances. Beyond that, he and Charlie share behind the scenes stories from shooting LeRoy’s soon to be released cooking show and we even learn LeRoy’s biggest pet peeve (hint: it’s leftovers). 

Follow LeRoy on Instagram @leap3636 and X @leap36.

Find us on all social platforms @cripescast and at cripescast.com for all show information.

To continue supporting Doctors Without Borders, follow them at @doctorswithoutborders or donate at doctorswithoutborders.org. 

The Husbands of Target are back. This week, Taylor Calmus, Penn Holderness, and Myles Montplaisir join the show for a reunion episode of the Cripescast. The boys get cozy in Charlie’s hotel room to reflect on their 2020 viral sketch and how it led them to shooting national advertisements with Target this year. No topic goes untouched as they debate things like the pros and cons of sheet cake, if AI will destroy the world, and whether babies are color blind. They also share what makes ‘em go “Cripes!” with answers ranging from Chipotle orders to obscene throw pillows. 

Follow Myles @ohhyoubetcha, Taylor @dudedad, and Penn @theholdernessfamily. 

Follow the Cripescast and Charlie on all platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens. Find tour dates, merch, our Patreon, video clips and more at cripescast.com. 

Donate to Doctors Without Borders at doctorswithoutborders.org.

Charlie goes down the AI rabbit hole again this week but this time he’s joined by an actual AI expert, UW-Madison Provost Charles Isbell. Provost Isbell has been fascinated with computers since he was 8 years old, and in turn has dedicated his life’s work to them by becoming a researcher, computationalist, and educator in the field of computer science. From studying at Georgia Tech, to earning his PhD at MIT, and eventually becoming the Provost at UW-Madison, it’s safe to say he has rightfully earned the title of “expert” in his field. In this week’s episode Charlie finds answers to all of his burning questions about AI, like how it will affect job security, Wisconsin’s role in AI advancement, and how we can learn to use these new technologies for good. Perhaps most importantly, he finds out whether or not the robots will really take over the world. 

For more information on Provost Isbell and his work, check it out here: https://provost.wisc.edu/meet-the-provost/ 

Donate to Doctors Without Borders at doctorswithoutborders.org.

Follow the Cripescast and Charlie on all platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens. Find tour dates, merch, our Patreon, video clips and more at cripescast.com.

Academy Award winning producer and Charlie’s close friend, Jim Burke, joins the Cripescast this week. He and Charlie talk about how they met, growing up in the Midwest, and how Charlie lost Jim’s car keys in the ocean in Hawaii. Jim offers advice for those trying to break into the entertainment business and he tells the story of how he and his family competed on the hit game show “Family Feud”.  Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast and find all the info about the show, Merch, tour dates, and more at cripescast.com.   Find Charlie on Patreon to buy a membership for exclusive content for just $5 a month at patreon.com/charlieberens.    Special thanks to our sponsors JollyGood Soda and Duluth Trading Company, find out more about them at jollygoodsoda.com and duluthtrading.com.    Advertisement Music: "Double Polka" By Kevin McLeod

Head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers Men’s Basketball team, Greg Gard, joins the Cripescast this week. He talks about starting his coaching career with an eight grade basketball team, how growing up in a small farming town in Wisconsin propelled his work ethic, and his non-profit Garding Against Cancer. He even shares some photos from his deer cam.    Find out more about his non-profit at gardingagainstcancer.org    Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast and find all the info about the show, Merch, tour dates, and more at cripescast.com.   Find Charlie on Patreon to buy a membership for exclusive content for just $5 a month at patreon.com/charlieberens.    Special thanks to our sponsors JollyGood Soda and Duluth Trading Company, find out more about them at jollygoodsoda.com and duluthtrading.com.    Advertisement Music: "Double Polka" By Kevin McLeod

Comedian Ton Johnson joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. You may recognize him from his shows across the Midwest or collaborating with Charlie in various videos including “Midwest Nice”, “Midwest Olympics” and “Real Husbands of Deer Camp.” Ton and Charlie trade stories from the road, discuss the art of bombing and highlight Milwaukee’s growing comedy scene.   Follow Ton on all socials @itstonjohn Follow Charlie on all platforms @charlieberens  Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast and find all the info about the show, Merch, tour dates, and more at cripescast.com.   Find Charlie on Patreon to buy a membership for exclusive content for just $5 a month at patreon.com/charlieberens.    Special thanks to our sponsors JollyGood Soda and Duluth Trading Company, find out more about them at jollygoodsoda.com and duluthtrading.com.    Advertisement Music: "Double Polka" By Kevin McLeod

This week Charlie is joined by his long-time friend and fellow Midwest content creator, Myles Montplaisir, aka the You Betcha guy. They talk golf, Midwest red flags and their new podcast Bellied Up.   Follow Bellied Up on all platforms @bellieduppod  Follow You Betcha on all platforms @ohhyoubetcha  Follow Charlie on all platforms @charlieberens  Follow the Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast

Rachel Harrison, advocacy coordinator for the Milwaukee human trafficking non-profit Fight to End Exploitation (FEE) joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. The two discuss the baseline definition of human trafficking and its impact in Southeastern Wisconsin. Rachel shares some signs to look for and the role that social media and online porn sites have on sex trafficking. Rachel also explains the difference between sex trafficking and prostitution, what people can do to help victims of sex trafficking, and opportunities in Wisconsin legislation to help stop the exploitation of children.   For more information about FEE and the work they’re doing, go to fighttoendexploitation.org.    If you see something, say something.   National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888.

This week Charlie answers some fan questions. Wanna get a question answered? Email us at cripescast@gmail.com.

This week, Charlie’s high school English teacher, Jim Kearney, joins the Cripescast. They talk about the book “Hero With a Thousand Faces” by Joseph Campbell that Jim taught Charlie about back in the day. Jim reflects on his career as a teacher, the pivotal trips he took his students on, how to reach kids on a deeper level, and what being a teacher meant to him. Jim and Charlie share a beer and Jim recommends his all time favorite books that everyone should read.

This week, Charlie is joined by the hosts of the “And That’s Why We Drink” podcast and authors of the new book “A Haunted Road Atlas: Sinister Stops, Dangerous Destinations, and True Crime Tales” Em Schulz and Christine Schiefer. They discussed their fascination with paranormal and true crime stories. Christine and Em outline their individual careers before ATWWD. Christine worked as a staff writer for Nickelodeon and Em shares some deep dark secrets from their time working on “The Price is Right”. The three talk about their shared experience staying at the notoriously-haunted 5-star hotel in downtown Milwaukee, The Pfister Hotel, and other interactions with ghosts.

Ryan Busse, a former firearms executive for Kimber America and author of “Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America” comes on the Cripescast today to talk about gun control. Having grown up with guns, a love for the outdoors and hunting, and years of experience in the gun industry, Ryan has a unique relationship with guns and offers insight on the gun problem in America and their place in our society. Ryan and Charlie talk about all areas of the gun control conversation including universal background checks, red flag laws, mental health, the NRA, conspiracy theories, and where we can go from here.

Stand-up comedian and actor Jon Reep joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week. You may know him from "Last Comic Standing", from his own podcast "Country-ish" or from his special "Ginger Beard Man" on Amazon Prime. He and Charlie compare their similar career paths and talk about how they both spent time working in the entertainment industry in LA and made their way back to their hometowns to continue creating content. Jon shares about how he finds humor even in dark times, how social media has changed the comedy scene and his approach to it all. Jon shares about his creative process for stand up, his worst experience on stage, and Charlie offers him some travel advice for when he visits Milwaukee.

Kristopher Pollard eats, sleeps and breathes cinema. As Membership Manager for Milwaukee Film and co-host of the “Cinebuds” podcast, Kristopher is continually working hard to advocate for Milwaukee’s film scene. He explains how Wisconsin is a hidden gem for the film industry and has a vibrant and receptive movie-loving community. He argues that the only difference between Milwaukee and cities with well-known film scenes is that people just aren’t paying attention to Milwaukee yet. This week, he joins Charlie on the Cripescast to discuss the use of AI in filmmaking, he crushes it in a movie trivia game, and shares what Milwaukee Film is doing to preserve the city’s historic theaters. Kristopher also explains the new state bill that aims to form a Wisconsin Film Office and dives into how it would create jobs, boost the economy, and amplify the local scene. 

Follow @cinebudspodcast and check them out anywhere you get your podcasts! Follow Kristopher @kpollyart. For more information about Milwaukee Film, including screenings and membership, visit mkefilm.org and follow @mkefilm. 

Follow the Cripescast and Charlie on all platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens. Find tour dates, merch, our Patreon, video clips and more at cripescast.com. 

Donate to Doctors Without Borders at doctorswithoutborders.org.

Stand-up comedian Dan Cummins joins Charlie this week on the Cripescast. You may recognize him from his half-hour special on Comedy Central, his appearances on the Tonight Show or the Late, Late Show, or the host of his own podcasts “Timesuck,” “Scared to Death,” or “Is We Dumb”. Dan dives into his path to comedy and provides some advice to those starting their stand-up careers to be authentic to themselves. He also talks about how social media has changed the comedy game since his start in the early 2000s. He and Charlie talk about creative burnout, where to find inspiration, performing for Midwest crowds. Charlie also addresses America’s latest mass shootings.

Bluegrass legend Vince Herman joins the Cripescast this week. He and Charlie talk about his start in music, how bluegrass has evolved over the years, and his bands Leftover Salmon and the High Hawks.

For the 100th Episode of the Cripescast, Charlie invited on his folks Molly and Dick Berens. They came ready with embarrassing stories of Charlie and much more.

Israel Del Toro Ph.D. and Relena Ribbons Ph.D., faculty for the Lawrence University environmental studies program and leaders for the No Mow May initiative in Appleton, Wisconsin join Charlie this week to talk about how not mowing in May can help the environment and economy.   Find out more about No Mow May at byobeez.org  Follow the Cripescast on all social media @cripescast Follow Charlie on all social media @charlieberens

Comedian Joe Dombrowski joins the Cripescast this week to talk about growing up in Michigan, his path to comedy and how he blends his teaching career into his stand-up.   Follow Joe Dombrowski on all platforms @mrdtimes3  Follow Charlie and the Cripescast on all platforms @CharlieBerens @cripescast

He’s back! Taylor Calmus a.k.a Dude Dad returns to the Cripescast to talk about his new book “A Dude’s Guide to Baby Size“, improv, the best part about home renovations, and of course, bird watching.    Follow Taylor on all platforms @dudedad   Follow Charlie on all platforms @charlieberens   Follow Cripescast on all platforms @cripescast

Comedian and teacher Chastity Washington joins Charlie on the Cripescast to talk about the Milwaukee comedy scene, incorporating her job into stand up and the wisdom of the kids she teaches.

Comedian Sasheer Zamata joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week to talk about her experience on SNL, her role on ABC's “Home Economics”, and her and Charlie's shared love of bird watching.    Follow Sasheer on Instagram and Twitter @thesheertruth

Comedian Jeff Foxworthy joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week to talk about comedy, his new Netflix special “The Good Old Days” and his love for hunting arrowheads.    Follow Jeff on Instagram @realjefffoxworthy, Twitter @foxoutdoors and on Facebook Jeff Foxworthy.    Follow Charlie and the Cripescast on all social media @CharlieBerens @cripescast

This week comedian and actor Kevin Pollak joins Charlie on the Cripescast. You may recognize him from his roles in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “A Few Good Men,” “The Usual Suspects,” or listened to his podcasts “Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show” or “Alchemy This”. Kevin came on to talk about stand-up, podcasting and shared some funny ideas from his notes app.   Follow Kevin on Instagram @kevinpollak123 and on Twitter @kevinpollak    Follow Charlie on all social media @charlieberens    Follow the Cripescast on all social media @cripescast

This week Charlie celebrates the 200th episode of the Cripescast by answering all of your burning questions. Buckle up for his advice on dating, lawn care and how to craft the perfect junk drawer. He and his producer Colleen go on many tangents spanning from deep philosophical discussions to what cheese is best on a charcuterie board. Full episode out now!

Interested in donating to Doctors Without Borders? Check out doctorswithoutborders.org to see how you can help. 

Find the Cripescast on all socials @cripescast. 

This week comedy writer Joey Clift joins Charlie on the Cripescast. Joey is an enrolled member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. They discuss Native representation in Hollywood, his journey to screenwriting and the process of pitching a show.   Follow Joey on Twitter @joeytainment and on Instagram @joeycliiiiiift Follow Charlie on all socials @charlieberens Follow the Cripescast @cripescast on all platforms   Special thanks to JollyGood Soda and Duluth Trading Co. for sponsoring the podcast.

Fishing guide and television host Larry Smith joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week to discuss their recent fishing trips, how the outdoors can bring people together and the role fishing and hunting have on preserving the environment.

Live from New Hampshire, it’s the Cripescast snowed in! This week, Charlie is joined by his opening acts, Andy Roffe and Bill Doucette, and the Cripescast’s executive producer, Colleen Muraca, where the group gives a glimpse into life on the road with Charlie on tour, all while at a bowling alley.    Make sure to follow:  Andy – @asap_roffe on all social platforms Bill – @billydeuce86 on all social platforms Colleen – @colleenmurrr on all social platforms  And of course, Charlie and the Cripescast @charlieberens and @cripescast on all social platforms.

Director for Athletic Bands at UW-Madison, Dr. Corey Pompey, joins the Cripescast to discuss his career path, the audition process, upholding important Badger traditions, and his goals for promoting diversity in the band.

Packers legend LeRoy Butler returns to the Cripescast this week to talk about being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, stories from his childhood and diversity in NFL ownership and coaching staff.

USA Olympic Luge team member Brittney Arndt joins Charlie to discuss what it takes to compete in the Winter Olympics, how climate change is affecting winter sports and Charlie’s first time attempting the luge.

Former owner and editor-in-chief of The Onion, Scott Dikkers, joins Charlie on the Cripescast to discuss how The Onion started, the space for satire and humor in news today and how to craft great jokes.

This week comedian Julie Nolke joins Charlie on the Cripescast to talk about her rise to success during the pandemic, Canada vs. the Midwest, and the proper way to get your car out of snow.

Former high school government and law teacher turned viral non-partisan educator Sharon McMahon joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week to discuss the importance of facts versus conspiracy theories and bias versus spreading lies.

Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week to talk about his journey to becoming a Packer, his love for Door County, and crushing watermelons with his quads.

Kristen Kish may be new to hosting “Top Chef” but she’s no stranger to the show. Crowned the Season 10 champion in 2012, she became the second woman ever to claim the title and has since returned to host the show. After her 2012 win, she’s gone on to open her own restaurant in Texas called Arlo Grey, release a cookbook, and host other TV shows like National Geographic’s “Restaurants and the End of the World” and Travel Channel’s “36 Hours”. In this episode, she and Charlie talk about both of their experiences on the show, her as the fresh-faced host and Charlie as an eager diner, with no culinary palette, in the second episode. As a Michigander, Kristen says she felt at home while filming the newest season of “Top Chef”, which was set in Wisconsin, because of the nasally accents and Midwest niceness. The two discuss everything from Wisconsin supper clubs to anxiety, and Charlie even walks away with some tips for cooking as a single guy. 

Follow Kristen on all platforms @kristenlkish and be sure to catch this season of Top Chef!

Follow the Cripescast and Charlie on all platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens. Find tour dates, merch, our Patreon, video clips and more at cripescast.com. 

Donate to Doctors Without Borders at doctorswithoutborders.org.

Multi-time National Champion Heavyweight Olympic boxer, diversity consultant and motivational speaker Cam F Awesome joins the Cripescast this week to talk about the importance of discussing race and racism in the Midwest.

Multi-instrumentalist, performing artist and producer Klassik joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week where they talk about building Milwaukee’s music scene, the importance of art education and finding inspiration in the Midwest.    Follow Klassik on social @IAMKLASSIK and find more information at iamklassik.com.

Casey Creech, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer for Everlight Solar, comes on the Cripescast to discuss the solar power industry and how his company is working to make it accessible to all.

Resource recovery program manager for the City of Milwaukee, Samantha Longshore, joins the Cripescast this week to discuss the dos and don’ts when it comes to recycling and the impact it has on our environment.  For more information, visit milwaukeerecycles.com or cityofmilwaukee.com.

Television writer, actor, and host of the podcast "Keep It!", Ira Madison III, joins Charlie this week to discuss content creation, podcasting, and growing up together in Milwaukee.

MKE Black’s co-founder, executive director, and board president, Rick Banks and director of strategic partnerships and initiatives, Ayrton Bryan, join the Charlie on the Cripescast this week. They talk about the work that MKE Black is doing, the importance of supporting Black owned businesses, and ways to help further their mission of promoting, advancing and empowering Black businesses in Milwaukee.   Find out more about MKE Black at mkeblack.org or download the app MKE Black.   Want to contribute to the movement? Please donate here to further support the MKE Black mission: https://mkeblack21.givesmart.com/

Milwaukee-based digital artist and muralist Emma Daisy Gertel joins Charlie this week on the Cripescast to discuss her recent works, the benefits of art in our everyday lives, and the Midwest’s potential for harboring vibrant art scenes. For resources concerning the Waukesha parade incident:  Find a place to donate blood near you: https://rcblood.org/3FCCGAs  Consider donating to the United for Waukesha Community Fund: https://bit.ly/3DO8Ete

Kristin Brey, creator of As Goes Wisconsin and video columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week to discuss Wisconsin politics, gerrymandering, and the importance of voting for every election.

This week Charlie's giving you a sneak peek at his upcoming book "The Midwest Survival Guide." If you like what you heard, pre-order it here: https://m.lndg.page/wM30f0

This week, Charlie is joined by a few special guests including Midwest cooking duo Mad Dog and Merrill and Wisconsin potato grower Alex Okray. They discuss Wisconsin’s potato industry, the environment and best Midwest recipes.

Comedian Cristela Alonzo isn’t afraid to grab life by the horns. Having grown up squatting in an abandoned diner with her mother and three siblings, she knows what it’s like to live like you’ve got nothing to lose. Her lifelong love for comedy had her jumping at the chance to work as an office manager at the Addison Improv in Texas circa 2003, even if it meant fudging some of the details on her resume to land the job. Fast forward to today, she’s headlining the country and has made history as the first Mexican-American woman to create and star in her own US primetime sitcom, “Cristela.” With two Netflix specials under her belt and another on the way, Cristela shares that she’s living comfortably with her bills on autopay and her “therapy money” in hand. This week, she joins Charlie on the Cripescast to chat about everything from professional wrestling, to her love for Wisconsin cheese curds, and of course Packers vs Cowboys.

Follow Cristela on all platforms @cristela9 and be sure to check out her specials on Netflix!

Follow the Cripescast and Charlie on all platforms @cripescast and @charlieberens. Find tour dates, merch, our Patreon, video clips and more at cripescast.com. 

Donate to Doctors Without Borders at doctorswithoutborders.org.

Paralympic silver medalist Ahalya Lettenberger joins Charlie on the Cripescast this week to talk about competing in the Olympics, growing up as an athlete with arthrogryposis, and life in the Midwest.

Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and record producer Skylar Grey joins Charlie on the Cripescast. She discusses growing up in Wisconsin, her new single "Last One Standing" with Eminem, and where her music is going next.

This week, stand up comedian Drew Lynch joins the Cripescast to talk about his path to comedy, his new stand up special and what it means to be a content creator today.