Have you ever just picked up and moved to a big,  metropolitan city you have never visited on a whim? How about deciding one day that you need to thrust your fellow generation into informed political discourse? I’m pretty sure you haven’t done either of those things. You are about to meet someone who has.

Claire Malkie grew up in Virginia and studied classical acting at Hofstra University. After graduating, someone suggested moving to Chicago and, without skipping a beat, she jumped at the opportunity. Arriving in Chicago ready to tackle the stage, she soon realized that the opportunities were pretty limited, but there were tons of opportunities to do improv. So, she headed back to improv school and started learning and performing at Comedy Court and has worked at a number of festivals.

Overhearing a conversation from a peer that included “I don’t really understand politics, so I don’t want to get involved”, Claire realized that she could help change that attitude, which was important to her because she realized that she had the same attitude. To remedy that disinterest, Claire now co-writes and hosts the podcast “Sit Still, Look Opinionated” (still-look-opinionated.simplecast.com">https://sit-still-look-opinionated.simplecast.com) which is not just informative and non-biased, but it is also downright funny as she and her co-writer come up with fantastic jokes about the headlines that deserve to be on late-night talk shows. I highly recommend checking it out, whether you are in the know, or are trying to be, or don’t care… because you should.

Have a completely free audiobook without ANY obligation other than downloading it read by none-other than myself! Get a copy of “Snapshots” a great collection of short stories that I narrated! All you have to do is message the show at sketchcomedypodcastshow@gmail.com and I will send you a code! I won’t even keep your email address, I’m just really excited to hear what you think!

This week’s sketch: “Neo Way!”

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Claire is an improviser, actor, and podcaster located in Chicago, IL. You can catch her in ongoing improv shows with her team Agent Carol, and you can find her podcast Sit Still, Look Opinionated on your favorite podcatcher site. 

Claire originally hails from Alexandria, Virginia and definitely considers herself an east coast gal. She earned her BFA in Classical Acting from Hofstra University on Long Island, NY. She additionally earned minors in English and Musical Theater. 

Now living in the Windy City, you can find Claire performing in improv shows and doing stand up sets all over the city. Claire recently closed Comedy Court at the Laugh Out Loud Theater. Claire has also performed with Huggable Riot, the Contemporary American Theater Festival, and Hampstead Stage Company. 

In her downtime Claire loves workout classes, lightly scented candles, and of course, dad jokes. Hey, it's all in the delivery right?

still-look-opinionated.simplecast.com">Website

[00:00:00] spk_0: in this episode, Shakespearean actress turned improviser Claire Malki and I came up with three sketches. What would improv back in Shakespearean time. What would it have looked[00:00:12] spk_1: like? Yes. And if[00:00:14] spk_0: to Karen's maybe having a conversation on the cycling bikes about current events and or something along those lines like having trying to have a political conversation but not knowing what they're talking about,[00:00:27] spk_1: that would be great.[00:00:29] spk_0: You know, you brought up Neo from the Matrix. What if you woke up and it was right now today, here in this life in this world, what would you decide to do? Which one did we pick? You'll find out on this episode of mm hmm It's a sketch comedy podcast show. Welcome to sketch comedy podcast show though, one of a kind show where I Stewart rice invite interesting people to have intriguing conversations and then improvise a comedy sketch based on what was talked about. This episode's guest is Claire Malki and I've got a couple questions for you. Have you ever just picked up and moved to a big metropolitan city you've never visited before? Just on a whim or how about deciding one day that you need to thrust your fellow generation into informed political discourse. My guess is you probably haven't done either of those things. Claire Malki has Claire grew up in Virginia and studied classical acting at Hofstra University after graduating, someone suggested moving to Chicago and without skipping a beat, she jumped at the opportunity, arriving in Chicago, ready to tackle the stage. She soon realized that the opportunities were actually pretty limited for a Shakespearean actress, but there were tons of opportunities to do improv. So she headed to improv school and started learning and performing at comedy court and has worked at a number of festivals overhearing a conversation from appear that included, I don't really understand politics, so I don't really want to get involved. Claire realized that she could help change that attitude, which was important to her because she realized she had the same attitude to remedy that disinterest. Claire now co writes and hosts a podcast, sit still look opinionated, which is not just informative and non biased, but it is also downright funny as she and her co writer come up with fantastic jokes about the headlines that deserve to be on late night talk shows. I highly recommend checking it out whether you are in the know or trying to be or don't care because you should and this show can help you get there. And now my conversation with Claire Malki, risk taker and political motivator for the hip crowd.[00:02:56] spk_1: Hey,[00:02:58] spk_0: I've got a question for you. Yeah, what makes you interesting,[00:03:04] spk_1: right? You know, I was thinking a lot about this question because[00:03:07] spk_0: you actually listen to the show. Not everybody does that by the way, but that was pretty good,[00:03:12] spk_1: I'm glad I did and something that came to mind is that I am all about taking a risk and not quite understanding where the reward would come out of it. Um I think some people like to call that being naive, but I like to think of it as being adventurous. Um so I currently live in Chicago and I moved here straight out of school, I was gonna move to Manhattan as like the rest of my theater class did, and then one of my friends was like, hey, I'm gonna move to Chicago, and I was like, oh, I've never been to that city before, so why don't I just moved there? Um I knew like nothing about the city, I didn't even pick out the apartment that I lived in. Um but it ended up being the best decision I ever could have made. Um How[00:03:58] spk_0: many, so how many years ago did you do that?[00:04:01] spk_1: It will be three in October Mhm Yeah, and and that theme has sort of been very central in my life um in that same day I started taking classes at all of the grade comedy theaters in Chicago, so I was like, oh, I'm a classically trained Shakespeare actor, why don't I take some improv classes? And I was like, oh, this is great, I love this. And then um I was looking for more ways, I could be creative and I was like, oh why don't I start a podcast without really doing any research into what all of that entails. Um but luckily everything has worked there okay for me so far, so I just keep liking to, you know, jump off the cliff and land on my feet where it can,[00:04:50] spk_0: that's pretty great, so now, um so as far as like improv places, second city, is that one of them? And uh that's cool. One of my favorite podcasts actually comes from Chicago and it's the improvised star trek, I don't know if you've heard about that. Yeah, it's pretty great, those guys are fantastic, they won't be on the show, but um anyway, uh but you are, so that's the best part. Um so you were a Shakespearean actor and you just decided like I should probably just throw some improv in there, see what happens.[00:05:26] spk_1: Yeah, so when I decided to move to Chicago, my friend had kind of pitched this city to me as you know, it's the best of everything, It has a lot of um film and tv work, it has great regional theater, you know, we are classically trained actors who also had focuses on finding new work um which was a little bit interesting that our university pitched it to us is like, oh, you guys have the bones of, you know, the best, the best for history, but we're not really going to teach you about contemporary theatre, which was a little bit of a shell shock when we first got there. So I was like, oh yes, I can do these sonnets and I can do all of these, like have all of these um illusions that I, you know, I can pinpoint and you know, no the ins and outs of R and J. And midsummer and all of those things. Um but when I moved to Chicago I realized I was like, oh, this city actually has a lot of comedy and sketch comedy and improvisation and I was like, well I'm gonna live in this city, I should probably, you know, figure out what it's all about. Um And I actually used to work on the night staff at the second city. So I would bus tables, see guests um you know, watch for illegal cellphone use. And so I got to take classes for free. So that was something that really drove home. I was like, why why would I not take classes if they're being handed[00:06:50] spk_0: to me? Yeah, that would be silly. So it sounds like you went to school, learned how to work on horse drawn carriages, got out to the world and realized, oh everybody's driving the car, Yeah, how'd you go?[00:07:05] spk_1: That's very true to the way my background was, but it really has helped me because I understand language in a way that I think a lot of um other performers who maybe have different skill sets, like they might be stronger writers or um you know, have other skills, but I feel like I can really understand where language is coming from and the meaning behind every word, even if the writer of the sketch was like, oh I just thought it was funny, I'm like, oh, I don't understand, I understand in my bones like how to make this sound with my objective and my obstacle and using those acting techniques in sketch comedy. Um and I honestly think that helped me a lot in the shows I worked on.[00:07:48] spk_0: Oh, absolutely, absolutely. Have you been in a situation where you can you think of a situation where you were in that moment and you were like, oh, I gotta, I gotta pull something out of[00:08:00] spk_1: like, oh yeah, I was doing an improv show, there's this group that I worked with in Chicago called huggable Riot, and they're a sketch comedy group and I was in the show, there's last summer in 2019 and then um in the fall they were doing sort of a just like a one off improv show with a lot of different people who have been in their shows and um this one guy, he he also knew Shakespeare and he was kind of like poking at me to see like what I could actually do until we recited some verses back and forth to each other and we had never improvised together before. Um and so it was so funny to watch, this would be like, oh, you know, Shakespeare, you know, Shakespeare to what? Um so it's definitely been, there have been some moments where I like have to show my chops a little bit more?[00:08:50] spk_0: Yeah, that's pretty cool, very cool. Have you been in a situation doing improv, where you were just like, you were like, I am so lot, you're in a scene and you're just like completely lost. And what was that like? Because it's not like that with Shakespearean, you know, the marks, you know, we were supposed to be exactly, what was it like, give us that one?[00:09:14] spk_1: Um Yeah, because like, as you were saying, when you're working with text that is established, like the period is there for a reason, like the semi colon has a meaning, um whereas when you're improvising, you have to go with the flow and think on your feet. Um and when I was first starting out, I was doing some auditions, obviously we all do auditions, They come and go and I was improvising with someone who had worked on someone who had worked with on some Children's shows and so I knew them quite well, but they were a much better improviser than I was, and they were just like calling the shots and they were like, we knew what to do to complete command of the stage, and I was in such off of this person that I sort of forgot what I was doing and how I had to help tell the story and I definitely floundered on that and I was like, oh my gosh, like, I'm working with this person that I really admire. Um And then, I mean I ended up not looking the show, but like that's not a big deal.[00:10:10] spk_0: Whatever you get a all practice, right? Like that's that's actually a really good practices. Can and I have been in that situation where you're with somebody and you're like, whoa, that's, they're really good. You just got in ah you're like, oh wait, I'm not in the audience, I should probably do[00:10:27] spk_1: something and one of my faults too is I love to laugh and I constantly laugh all the time. And um so when I'm in a scene and something's funny, I just, I can't help but enjoy it if my scene partner does a funny accent or comes out as you know, an inanimate object, like sometimes I'm just gonna laugh but sure[00:10:47] spk_0: yeah, that is actually, it can be, it can be charming and it can also be irritating, but most of the time I find it charming. Um you know, unless it's forced it, if someone's like, oh that was really funny, It's like, okay, wow.[00:11:02] spk_1: Yeah, and then we're not actually gonna laugh at it, Don't laugh at it.[00:11:06] spk_0: Exactly. Exactly. Have you been in that situation where you work with uh with someone who chewed up the scene a little too much and and like you're you're starting to feel uncomfortable because there they're taking too long to get to the point.[00:11:22] spk_1: Yeah, there's um so some of the improv classes that I've taken. Um they are open to all people, which I think is great because, you know, everyone should try performing and I think it brings a lot to your everyday life. Um[00:11:40] spk_0: but as someone who's the games that you gain an appreciation for when people do perform, I feel like that that definitely worked for me was I used to be like, well that wasn't that funny, but then when you're up there and you're doing it like, oh man, it's hard, like that's amazing. That was funny, right? Like[00:11:56] spk_1: such a good point because I feel like a lot of people um only see the outcome of the arts and don't see all of the like labor and intensive nous that goes into it. So when you're actually trying to make it, when you're trying to establish a scene and make it coherent and also be funny. Um I think, yeah, that's so true that sometimes people are like, oh I can do that, but it's like can you can you do[00:12:20] spk_0: that? It's like anytime anybody says I should be a stand up comedian, it's like really well tell me some jokes, it's like, oh no, I just tell stories about my life and and they're funny and I'm like, yeah, I've known you for 10 years, I've never laughed at anything, you said a[00:12:38] spk_1: such a good point because I'm like, you know, like stand ups, they like, they have a story, like they know what they're saying, they're not if they're just like, oh yeah, that one, kind of thanksgiving my aunt got really mad and you're like, okay, but what's the point? And I totally agree with that. Um I was in so I was in one of these classes that was for everyone, which is great, um and this this guy, it was one of those like warm ups where you know, everyone is on the back line um and then, you know, two people at a time going to the scene and he just came out and he just started talking and he was talking and talking and talking and then let me get a word in edgewise, and I remember being like, okay, so I don't necessarily want to work with you, but you kind of just have to roll with it. And like if that person is going to talk a bunch, which is also hard for me because as I'm sure you've noticed, I also like to talk a lot, so when someone else is like doing all the talking, I'm like, okay, how can what do I character doing this scene? Like it's not just clear up there on the improvised stage, it's whatever character I bring to it. So maybe I know this other character, they always do this, they always talk so in those moments I kind of have to go back to my it's the character work not my personal stand up moment,[00:13:53] spk_0: right? I think that's hard, it's hard to do because making that switch from this is Me Too, this is a character and then especially an improv one, and then I've performed in that situation where you're like, this is a whole another scene. I have to be a completely different character and having to devise those as you're going along. Yeah, yep, it's good, it's good stuff and you learn to use that in other parts of your life too, which is pretty great. I I do think people need to go take an improv class just to get an understanding. Most people don't need to stay in improv because they're not good at it. Um and I feel that way about podcasting. Like most of the time when I listened to a show, I'm like, oh cool, you've got you in a couple of your buddies, you're drinking beer and talking about pop culture around sitting around the table neat. Um Also don't do it anymore, right? And that's a recurring theme that happens when any time I talked to a podcaster. So any time a podcaster contacts this show and says, I'd like to be on, I'm always like, we'll see your show that you do sit, still look opinionated. First off the title brilliant, I thought it was great. Um and I was like, okay, well, I've got to give it a listen, I got to see what this is all about, brilliant show. I really enjoyed it. I don't I don't give praise off very easy when it comes to podcasting. So what was the genesis of the show first off? Tell us what the show is about and why you're doing it. And then let's let's let's talk about how you got into that and all that. So[00:15:36] spk_1: yeah, thank you. Um I really, I really appreciate that because we, my writing partner mike we put a lot of work into the show. So it's it's good to know that it uh, is received well. Um, so before Covid 19 and possibly post Covid 19, I worked at a fitness studio that had indoor cycling bikes that uh had a word that has an S S cycle, I don't want to necessarily, but[00:16:10] spk_0: I have no[00:16:10] spk_1: idea. Uh you know, okay, it's a fitness studio where a lot of affluent women workout.[00:16:19] spk_0: Karen's[00:16:20] spk_1: all the Karens, that video. And unfortunately, um not all, but some of my coworkers could possibly also be described as Karen's um in the most loving sense, and I don't mean that they didn't care, but just some of those stereotypes I think existed by the nature of our work place and the people that we worked with. Um And our President # 45 was getting impeached last fall, which I think everyone has just forgotten about and way[00:16:56] spk_0: bigger things on our plate at this point, I guess.[00:16:58] spk_1: Yeah, way And um, some of my coworkers, we were like, oh yeah, I don't even know the difference between the House and the senate. Like, I don't even know this stuff doesn't affect me like, you know, politics. It's just not really my thing. And I was like, oh my gosh, because I, I'm a news junkie. Like I listened to, you know, The Daily NPR, you know, so many, so many news shows. I'm always like trying to take it in and learn from different perspectives. And I figured like, how can I access a access a way to help people like me? Maybe other Karen types, unfortunately, um, to get them to care like how, how can I get them to care about what's going on in the world and not necessarily just women, like also young, other young people who maybe it's just like I have other things on my list. Like I have to, you know, before covid, like I have my job, I have my social life. Like, you know, that's everyone else just deals with that. I[00:18:01] spk_0: Have to manage the 535 Instagram followers that I've got as well as learn about news. What, how am I supposed to do this? No, I'm not making light of it actually. But that's, that's actually not too far from the truth is that were hit with more things to pay attention to previous generations. I am lumping myself into your generation, which is incorrect, but let's just play that game. But there are just more things to pay attention to now and it is, it's, it's hard because it's, uh, we're not as engaged. That isn't the theater. It used to be that used to be entertainment for people. And it's not so much anymore. So to your point, there are a lot of people my generation to that, that don't understand things. And then because they don't understand them, they think like it's that, uh, you ever seen that chris pratt meme where it's like, uh, I don't know what the difference between the house and the senate and now I'm afraid to ask. Like I feel like that one is pretty prevalent, like that's a pretty good one.[00:19:08] spk_1: And it's, it's so true. And a lot of people that, that was the part of it. It's like, I don't really know. So I'm just not even going to talk about it. And I, and the thing that really got me, I was like politics is for us, like this is our country. Like you don't have to be a political scientist or have a degree or have, you know, you know, a wealth at your fingertips, understand what's going on around you. And so I figured I was like, you know what, it's time for us to get opinionated and have those conversations and not feel afraid about it. Um, and so the title is, you know, sit still look pretty, which I'm from Virginia and I went to Cotillion and they told us All, you know, girls will sit pretty and guys will sit strong. Um, and I wanted to play on that a little bit. So that's where the title came from. And then when it came to starting the show, you know, that idea where it's like, if you have an idea, you should start talking about it and like maybe somehow it'll, it'll happen. Um, so I was taking the train, the sea to here in Chicago and I ran into my friend's boyfriend too. He also is a writer and an actor and he was like, oh, what's going on? Like what's up? And I was like, oh, I have this idea for this comedy show that would be informative so people could learn in a way that was easy to understand and was like geared towards them and he was like, oh my gosh, that's a great idea, I'd love to write and produce it with you. And I was like, oh, okay, like you, you want to help me with this idea and we'll do this together and it won't just be me. And he was like, yeah, totally. And he was super on top of, um, like meeting every week. And he even like had a straight out of contract so that we would stay on top of our writing process. Um, and then he sort of jumped in two ft first and we have been writing every week. Um, and we wrote, uh, 18 episodes and a trailer and now we're working on a season to um, I've learned a lot and definitely podcasting is a lot more than I think what people think it is. And in the same vein of wanting a story to have an arc, I want my podcast to have an arc to, so I want there to be a beginning, middle and end and like why does it matter? So why are we listening to this? Because I think it's really easy for people to just say the facts be like, you know, George Washington was the first President of United States, but it's like, okay, but why do you need to know that? Or like why do you need to know about misinformation or why do you need to know about the difference between, you know, the Democratic and Republican Party? Um, so now we're working on season two and we've got some great episodes and storms so excited to share them. Once we released them in september, it'll sort of be like a back to the podcast, back to school type thing.[00:21:43] spk_0: I like it. I like that a lot. You release weekly?[00:21:46] spk_1: Yes, we released weekly on Fridays.[00:21:48] spk_0: Okay. That's good. Good on you for keeping a nice consistent schedule because I certainly can't do that anymore. Um, but that's good. Uh, so you, um, you just decided like it was time you heard all you heard people you're your age like saying, I don't know and it was time to just fill that space. I think that's fantastic. What when you think about um where you'd like to see the show go, what what is it that you're hoping happens with the show? Do you have like a desire for it to do something beyond just, you know, you could have a million listeners, you could have five listeners. I have no idea, but like, what is it that you want to see this, this show? Do?[00:22:38] spk_1: I think my goal with the show has changed a lot over the course of writing and creating it, especially working with my writing partner mike and working with a second person, because initially I was selfishly end up just for me and I was like, oh, this will be in my way, that I'll make a mark and everyone will know my name and it'll be great. And then I realized as I was doing the work, I was like, Oh, you know, yes, it's great. I love having people listen to my voice for 45 minutes. But it's really I my ultimate goal, even if only 10 people listen to it is that they've gone and learn something and that they've gone and had a conversation with their grandmother, their neighbor, their friend about what's going on in the world, because if you don't talk about what's happening, that's how complacency forms and that's how people stop questioning things and just fall in line. Um so[00:23:34] spk_0: that's the totalitarian ism, basically, Yes,[00:23:38] spk_1: I[00:23:39] spk_0: mean famously, um uh boy, I can't believe, I can't remember. And they're a Brave New World. I don't know if you ever read the book, but uh, by Aldous Huxley, he uh him and in 1919 84 and Brave New World War Two books that were side by side one pick, pitched it as no information will ever be given to anybody. And that's how That's how totalitarian that's 1984. The other one was, you're gonna have access to solve the information, but nobody cares. And he was right, That's where we're at. And so I like that you're like, hey, as long as we get some dialogue going, so we have some discourse going, that's important. I think that's really good.[00:24:25] spk_1: Yeah, thank you.[00:24:26] spk_0: Yeah, tell me about tell well, you don't have to tell me I listened to the show, but tell people how is the format of the show set up? Because it's interesting. I was I was actually pleasantly surprised by the way the set of the set up the show was So go ahead and just tell me how tell us how that works.[00:24:46] spk_1: Yeah. So in the trailer that we released, we were frustrating the show. I wanted people understand that, um like, you wouldn't go drinking without eating something before you leave, at least people who are cognizant. Um, so the same way the show, this would be your way to understand what you're going into before you went to the polls. Um So with that in mind and when you go into a voting situation or even having a conversation you need to be prepared you need to have some tools. So there's two parts to it. The show starts with um usually a little joke about a margarita and usually something about the week that has happened. So when it was cinco de Mayo we made jokes about how you know that's not mexican Independence Day, you know be respectful. Um And then we go into a deep dive about a topic. So we've done misinformation, we've done education, we did three parts on the health care system um looking at um trump's plan biden's plan. And even though Bernie Sanders was out of the running we still wanted to look at his plan for health care. And then we do weekly headlines in sort of the um daily show a satirical way where it's the headline and then a punchline. And then I have an interview to round out the show with um before it was sort of with just anyone who had something pertinent to say but now we're relating it, we're at least attempting to relate it to the topic at hand. Um So when we did our episode on education we had a high school teacher come on and talk about the state of education when we did our episode on healthcare um I had a friend of mine who works in um for healthcare firm in D. C. A lobby firm and so she came and spoke to us very eloquently about you know the state of health care in America. Um And also I try to have people that are accessible and it's like oh yeah like this isn't someone who is like you know the mayor or the president I mean which would be amazing but it's usually tried someone who who's voice people will listen[00:26:54] spk_0: to. Uh Yeah I'll be on your show. I'm just[00:26:58] spk_1: nobody cares about what I[00:27:00] spk_0: said um When you think about. Um And it is it's a what was actually the really surprising thing is the headline with the punch[00:27:10] spk_1: line[00:27:12] spk_0: was actually funny because that that's hard it is harder to do than people think without rehashing somebody else's joke. You did a fantastic job. Thank you. Yeah you're welcome thank you. Uh So the other thing is uh the the other thing I'm thinking about is we're in a really interesting time and you're an informed person when you look out and see all the things that are happening right now with between Covid Black Lives Matter. Um And really even before that we I mean we we still talk about it right? The uh the um uh why can I not think of the hashtag Me Too movement. I mean there's a lot of different things happening right now. What is the thing that gets you the most um that gets you the most. Either excited or ah the opposite of excited. Like what is the thing that you go we need to make this real change. What is[00:28:18] spk_1: that? I think a lot about um okay, this is going to be maybe out of left field, but you know the matrix in that movie, you know, Neo understands there's something out there and that he can make it better and so he goes out of his way and he wakes up and he realizes that you know there is a lot that has to be done and it's sort of that the allegory of the cave, that thing, it's like is ignorance better than understanding. And I constantly have to have that discussion with myself. It's like I can either live my life the way it was going and be fine just for me or I can inform myself because I have, you know this cube in my pocket all the time that has tons of information at my fingertips and I can use that to assuage my anxieties by also helping my friends and people I don't know. And that's what I love about the podcast is anyone can listen to it for free um Is that I can help share what I've learned and give that to other people. Um so we've been researching, we were doing an episode about what is fascism next season and honestly like it's really been scaring me. I'm 100% honest, like I'm afraid. But the way to conquer that fear is to say these are the warning signs of what it is. And this is what I can do to understand my place in it. And my role, um, one of my a theater gig that I had worked two summers ago was at this um, farm in new Hampshire and this this beautiful old woman Kathy owned the farm and basically help to run the company. And she was actually a holocaust survivor. And she told us this quote that I'll never forget. And she said, um, you know, 80% of people will not listen and 20% will and the 80% is what you should be afraid of those people who don't listen and don't understand. And I've always kind of thought about that is like I have to understand that some people won't listen and that's okay. I don't know if I necessarily answer your question. I kind of went,[00:30:38] spk_0: you're doing just fine. Yeah.[00:30:41] spk_1: Yeah. So that basically is what keeps me going and um, is with with my fears. The education is what will make them better. Um, because if I'm in the dark then I'll never be able to be in the light.[00:30:55] spk_0: That's true. You know, I actually just had this conversation earlier about something in business where someone was talking about their employees and how can't get compliance. And I was like, well, did you tell them exactly what it is that you expect, right? And I think that that's exactly true with everything that's going on is let's clarify what these things are so that people can start to see like when you discount the media a great deal and everything that the media says suddenly becomes a lie. That is the start of fascism. Yeah. It's very conservative.[00:31:37] spk_1: Yeah,[00:31:38] spk_0: yeah, yeah, that's the, yep. Oh man, hit the nail on the head. Now I'm depressed. Um[00:31:44] spk_1: That's the thing too. I was actually just talking with my boyfriend about with about Covid and about traveling and I'm like, where is this line? It's like, I want to be safe. But I also want to enjoy life. But it's like, am I putting my life at risk by enjoying life? There's so many ups and downs and it's like there's there's a lot to question there. But the questioning, one of my other favorite quotes is the journey is the reward. So, it's the journey of understanding that will enlighten you.[00:32:16] spk_0: Yeah, that's absolutely true. Love it. So good. Well, Claire, it has been about a half an[00:32:23] spk_1: hour.[00:32:24] spk_0: So you had to talk to me for half an hour. You did a good job.[00:32:28] spk_1: Thank you for what you talk for half an hour.[00:32:32] spk_0: All right. So now we have to come up with a sketch before we get to the sketch. I really want you to check out Claire's podcast sit still look opinionated. It is so good. The link is in the show notes. So go down there click them. I don't know if it's down, I don't know if it's up. Get in the show notes, click on that link. One other thing I want to offer you is I have a completely free audiobook that you need no obligation other than just downloading it and listening to it. That's all I want you to do and here's how I want you to do it. I want you to email the show at sketch comedy podcast show at gmail dot com and say give me an audio book or whatever you want to say. I'll send you a link and I'll send you a code so you can get this thing for free. I am trying to do audio books for fun and money. So what I would love to do is get your feedback. Now this book is a series of short stories, it's called snapshots and it's fantastic. I didn't write it. Award winning author Eliot Parker did but I did record the audio book and there were lots of accents and I would love to hear your feedback on how silly my accent sound. There's irish, there's Scottish, there's a bunch of a lot of Southern which is good. I can do Southern. I don't know why but please hit me up if you want to get a free audiobook with zero obligation. You don't have to sign up for anything. You don't have to do anything, you just have to click on a link and copy and paste the code. I'm going to give you and free boom free audiobook for life and you get to keep it and enjoy it if you want to leave a review, Fantastic. If you want to leave a bad review, just email me the review and I'll make sure audible, gets it. And now our sketch Neil way with claire Malki in three two[00:34:31] spk_1: morpheus is that you they're looking for you everywhere.[00:34:37] spk_0: It is me Neo, come get out of the goo. Oh here where a towel Because you're very exposed right now.[00:34:47] spk_1: Oh is this what it feels like not being in the Matrix,[00:34:52] spk_0: It is, you are in 2020, this is the world not as we just merely see it.[00:35:00] spk_1: What? Well, what's different morpheus This world looks so similar though, I thought it would be, you know, aliens or computers or something. But[00:35:10] spk_0: yes, you came to in what we call an IKEA,[00:35:15] spk_1: this furniture is definitely looks like it could be easy to be built. So what's this world like? Like is it different than in the game?[00:35:24] spk_0: Here? We do not have universal health care.[00:35:30] spk_1: What? That's the main part of what our society, everyone can be healthy.[00:35:36] spk_0: There's certain things that are happening now that maybe make it less safe, you know how in the Matrix everyone is treated equally.[00:35:46] spk_1: Yeah, that's like a main principle.[00:35:48] spk_0: We don't have that here right now, there are a lot of protests because certain people are not given the freedoms that other people are.[00:35:57] spk_1: We're going to go fight them, right? But that's what we're here to do for your mind, right?[00:36:02] spk_0: In a way, quite honestly, the federal government is very much opposed.[00:36:07] spk_1: That's our First Amendment right to oppose the[00:36:10] spk_0: government.[00:36:11] spk_1: How are we going to do it?[00:36:13] spk_0: We're going to go make some signs and stand downtown and wait until the federal agents come into the area and shoot tear gas at us. Also, before we leave the I. K. I need you to put this on[00:36:27] spk_1: over my nose and my mouth,[00:36:30] spk_0: whatever both your nose and your mouth. You cannot breathe air near other people.[00:36:36] spk_1: Why do I have to wear this?[00:36:39] spk_0: There is currently a pandemic that is on its way to kill most of us. And this is the only way, the only way to stop transmission is to wear one of these masks.[00:36:53] spk_1: So just to reiterate by wearing this piece of cloth over my nose and my mouth at the same time, I can stop the spread of this deadly disease.[00:37:06] spk_0: Whoa! The only problem is most people refuse to do it.[00:37:12] spk_1: There's no way it's so easy to[00:37:14] spk_0: do.[00:37:15] spk_1: We gotta go, we gotta go, we gotta go put these out.[00:37:18] spk_0: Unfortunately. Everybody's supposed to stay six ft away from each other so we can't hand them out.[00:37:25] spk_1: Well can we take out a newspaper ad,[00:37:27] spk_0: nobody believes anything they read in a newspaper or watch on Tv unless it's telling them to do exactly opposite of what I just said.[00:37:37] spk_1: Is there any way I can go back, you know, in the[00:37:42] spk_0: goo, if you go back into the goo, you don't go back to your original world,[00:37:48] spk_1: what's it gonna be like?[00:37:49] spk_0: You'll live in a dystopian society where humans have been driven underground by robot octopuses.[00:37:58] spk_1: You know more because this is a really tough call. But like honestly maybe that would be better. Mhm[00:38:09] spk_0: Thank you so much for joining us for this week's episode of sketch comedy podcast show. We hope you enjoyed listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it Sketch Comedy Podcast Show is Copyright 2020 Stewart Rice and is protected under a creative commons attribution. No derivatives for international license. Looking forward to you joining us for next[00:38:31] spk_1: episode