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The official podcast of Grassroots Comedy (GC)! Host/GC Executive Director Chris Blackwood and rotating comedian Co-Hosts dive into pressing causes of our times (climate change, immigration, racial equity, etc.- basically anything that‘s been keeping liberals up at night over the past five years), with spoonfuls of comedy to help the anxiety go down. Each episode covers a different cause and features a representative from an organization that works on it, providing insights on the good fight to make the world a better place, and how you the listener can help. If that‘s not enough, there are also topical clips from some of the funniest up and coming comedians today (taken directly from GC‘s live comedy shows) throughout. Cheaper, healthier, and more informative than Xanax! Listen today to learn about something important and how to be a part of it while laughing throughout!
Episodes
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
This episode does a deep dive into the very important cause of supporting Afghan refugees, and is somehow also very fun. Chris Blackwood and guest Co-host, comedian Yasmin Elhady, interview Merritt Groschel – the Founder and Director of Solutions in Hometown Connections (SHC). SHC is an organization that supports immigrants and refugees in the DC Metropolitan area through connecting them to mentors, tutors, community groups and other resources needed to resettle.
A real life Afghan immigrant - Marzia Nazari - also joins the conversation and provides important perspective on her own experience of immigrating to Maryland with her family and escaping Taliban rule. They break down refugee stereotypes while leaning into American stereotypes, share some stories and laughs, and most importantly – learn about how refugees can be supported in their new lives abroad.
This episode includes Grassroots Comedy Show clips from comedians Yasmine Elhady, Christian Escoto, and Jaffer Khan. This may just be the funniest and most important episode yet!
Friday Dec 31, 2021
Friday Dec 31, 2021
This final episode of 2021 has it all. Hosts Chris Blackwood and Robert Mac dive into the issue of voting rights in an effort to understand and solve ongoing voter suppression in the USA. They interview Damon Hewitt, the President and Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and discuss why they don't have a shorter name, the origin and current state of American voter suppression and what can be done about it, and why everyone seems to enjoy making fun of lawyers.
If that's not enough, this episode also includes comedy clips from some recent live Grassroots Comedy shows, featuring Jani Tillery, Martin Amini, Haywood Turnipseed Jr, and Grassroots Comedy's own Chris Blackwood. With all of that, along with some additional surprises, this is not an episode you want to miss!
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
After a long hiatus we're finally back! In this long-awaited episode, we dig into youth empowerment in the Nation's Capital in an interview with Leigh Player from Horton's Kids. In addition, Chris and Robert offer advice to teenagers, because they are like, really smart and good at it. They also advise you to listen to this episode for your own good. Because education and laughter are good for the mind, body and soul.
Saturday May 29, 2021
Saturday May 29, 2021
Hosts Chris Blackwood and Robert Mac dig into the issue of climate change through interviews with Mike Tidwell from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), Charley Silverman from Orchard City, Colorado, and another special guest that Chris met as a gas station. Featuring comedy clips from comedians Brittany Carney, Violet Gray, and Robert Mac, this episode is as funny as it is informative.
Thursday Apr 22, 2021
Thursday Apr 22, 2021
In this pilot episode of the Grasscast, we dive into the issue of immigrant rights, with a special guest from Ayuda- a Washington, DC based organization that provides legal, social, and language services to help low-income immigrants access justice and transform their lives.
Chris and Robert discuss silver linings of harmful immigration policies (spoiler alert- there are none), we hear from a real life United States immigrant, and hear topical comedy from comedians Denise Taylor, Maher Matta, and Dana Fleitman.