E023 Sandy MacFarlane Comedians as Artists Asking Questions
Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 23
Date: July 5, 2022
Participants: John Webster, Sammy Damaren, Cameron Earnshaw and Sheila Webster
Guest: Alex “Sandy” MacFarlane and Brad Mills
Start times and Segment Segments:
[0:00:19] What’s On Your Mind: When people say, “That’s just how Sammy is”, or “That’s just how John is”, are they missing an opportunity to see that there’s much more to it?
[0:10:53] Expanding Minds Interview: [Artistic Wellness] Comedian Alex "Sandy" MacFarlane rejoins us. We chat about a theory that many comedians ask the audience questions, based on the unique way they see the world, including observations many of us miss.
[0:28:14] Adventures of the Starving Artist: Cameron was in a booth at Jazzfest, helping kids have fun with button-making while connecting with new students. There was plenty of amazing jazz music to enjoy.
[0:32:32] Move That Body: Brad Mills enjoys indoor rock climbing.
[0:38:23] Running Popup: How did I forget that I was going to make the world a better place? How did I let that slip?
[0:40:38] Flipside of the Coin: Sheila and John discuss (argue about?) what we shouldn’t say on the show.
Quotes and Take-Aways:
Sammy – I still hear people saying that: “That’s just how they are”, maybe very shy or very quiet, but sometimes there’s stuff that’s going on behind that. The main question of the person who did the TikTok video is nature versus nurture. Is that just how they are, or are they taught to learn these things?
Sammy – Sometimes hearing “that’s just who they are” is a negative thing. The speaker might think it’s positive, because they’re accepting that person, but maybe the person is dealing with a lot of things, like childhood traumas and wounds they haven’t fully dealt with.
Alex – If you look at some of the most well-known comedians, they do ask questions. Think of comedians like David Chapelle, John Stewart and Trevor Noah. I really do think that comedians look at the world in a different way. They absorb information differently, and regurgitate it differently than other people.
Alex – Pretty much every Friday and Saturday night a comedian will do a joke and I’ll say to myself, “how did I not think about that?”
Alex - When you see things that are unjust or you don’t think is right, and other people don’t see it, it’s not necessarily a good thing. Sometimes you eat that.
Alex – When you can get up on stage and make people think in a different way, and make them laugh at the same time, that’s gold.
Bulletin Board Quote brought to you by Sheila: He’s really not that nice. Everyone thinks he’s so nice. He’s not that nice!
Guest Information: Alexander MacFarlane goes by Sandy in comedy. He got into comedy when a friend suggested he try it at a stand-up competition at London Ontario Yuk Yuk's. Sandy won and was invited back to open for the Yuk headliners that weekend. After years of travelling for comedy, Alex started producing shows in his hometown Kitchener Waterloo and Rusty Nail Comedy was born. Rusty Nail produces comedy shows all over Southern Ontario but mainly in venues thorough out Waterloo region. In August 2020 Rusty Nail found a home at The Crazy Canuck restaurant in downtown Kitchener. Every Friday & Saturday night The Crazy Canuck turns into Rusty Nail Comedy Club, Waterloo Regions only comedy club. Rusty Nail Comedy's philosophy is “comedy will save the world” (a quote from Jean Paul).
Rusty Nail Comedy Website: https://www.rustynailcomedy.com
Rusty Nail Comedy Instagram: @rustynailcomedy
Crazy Canuck Restaurant Website: http://www.thecrazycanuck.ca
Crazy Canuck Restaurant Instagram: @crazy_canuck_restauranteh
Connect with Let’s Be Well Together Podcast:
website: https://letsbewelltogether.com
Follow our Instagram account: @lets.be.well.together use hashtag #letsbewelltogetherpodcast
Provide input on Instagram using hashtag #letsbewelltogetherinput
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Lets.Be.Well.Together