The Jest of It

Part 2 with Brian Apprille (be sure to check out last week's episode before listening to this one... at least for context's sake, or not if you prefer to be confused :D ) This week Brian continues his story of recovery from facial paralysis, crippling depression and eventually getting back onstage... including his epic Simpsons audition!    Per last week: Brian Apprille is a stand-up comedian, voice actor, and motivational speaker who performs across America for comedy clubs, businesses, churches, and any audience who wants to laugh or hear an inspiring story. Even critics (and JJ) describe Brian as “brilliantly entertaining,” and “coast-to-coast funny!” Brian is best known for his high-energy comedy and impressions; he has been dubbed “The Man with A Thousand Voices” and throughout his performances slips between Homer Simpson, Peter Griffin, Alan Rickman and hundreds of other characters both real-life and animated. Brian’s career took a turn for the serious in 2009 when he developed facial paralysis as a result of a rare disease called Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. In today's episode, we talk about how he found humor in the midst of his challenges and got back on the stage after over a year of fighting Ramsay Hunt Syndrome’s debilitating symptoms and severe depression. Now an activist and a comic at once, Brian raises awareness of facial paralysis and inspires hope in fellow sufferers with plenty of belly-laugh healing along the way. He founded San Diego’s first facial paralysis support group and has appeared on NBC’s Inspiring San Diego to share his story. You can listen to the stories of notable facial paralysis survivors like Mary Jo Buttafuoco and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross on Brian’s podcast, Unique Smiles: The Facial Paralysis Podcast. You can find Brian on Social Media as @comedybrian, as well as hosting his comedy podcast: Uncommon Comedy, available where all podcasts are available (or just a click of the Uncommon Comedy button!) To help Brian with his facial paralysis surgery, please visit:  https://gf.me/u/yxvwwg  More Comedy!? Check out drybarcomedy.com/jjb for JJ's stand up special, and keep an eye out for Brian's coming soon!   

Brian Apprille is a stand-up comedian, voice actor, and motivational speaker who performs across America for comedy clubs, businesses, churches, and any audience who wants to laugh or hear an inspiring story. Even critics (and JJ) describe Brian as “brilliantly entertaining,” and “coast-to-coast funny!” Brian is best known for his high-energy comedy and impressions; he has been dubbed “The Man with A Thousand Voices” and throughout his performances slips between Homer Simpson, Peter Griffin, Alan Rickman and hundreds of other characters both real-life and animated. Brian’s career took a turn for the serious in 2009 when he developed facial paralysis as a result of a rare disease called Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. In today's episode, we talk about how he found humor in the midst of his challenges and got back on the stage after over a year of fighting Ramsay Hunt Syndrome’s debilitating symptoms and severe depression. As mental health advocates, we care deeply about discussing mental health issues and raising awareness, and are excited and grateful to have had this time to sit down with Brian.  Now an activist and a comic at once, Brian raises awareness of facial paralysis and inspires hope in fellow sufferers with plenty of belly-laugh healing along the way. He founded San Diego’s first facial paralysis support group and has appeared on NBC’s Inspiring San Diego to share his story. You can listen to the stories of notable facial paralysis survivors like Mary Jo Buttafuoco and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross on Brian’s podcast, Unique Smiles: The Facial Paralysis Podcast. You can find Brian on Social Media as @comedybrian, as well as hosting his comedy podcast: Uncommon Comedy, available where all podcasts are available (or just a click of the Uncommon Comedy button!) To help Brian with his facial paralysis surgery, please visit:  https://gf.me/u/yxvwwg       

Born in Los Angeles but raised in New Hampshire by immigrant parents, Lima experienced the power of stories through her parents as they tell her about their homeland of Guatemala. As her parents learned how to speak English through watching television, Lima’s fond memories of family times were spent gathering around the TV to bond over sitcom shows, telenovelas and film.  With her professional background being in higher education and the nonprofit sector, Lima produced 26+ comedy shows in Santa Barbara with LA based Don’t Tell Comedy (pre-COVID). Through her love of entertainment and Latin (i.e.salsa) dancing, Lima continues to expand her creativity by exploring comedy, storytelling and writing. One day she hopes to follow in the footsteps of Mindy Kahling and Phoebe Waller Bridge to write and create television that tells the stories of the heart of humanity and the power of representation. This was our first recorded episode, a huge thanks to Melissa Lima for navigating unknown territory with us, sharing a story of her own, and providing necessary insight to a successful podcast, like “yes, you should definitely have outro music!” Tune in this episode to hear one of Lima's original stories about when life decides to chuck lemons at you! (2020, anyone!?)  Find Lima on Instagram: LIMA ON IG Tune into Lima's playlists on Spotify: LIMA'S JAMS!  Find this week's graphics in prints and products in: JJ'S ART SHOP!    Find us on Instagram for more current updates and stories!!THE JEST OF IT ON INSTAGRAM!  

Lisa Gilbert is back, fresh off of our virtual comedy show and picking up where we left off last week. After her own story of growing up in foster care, being adopted by a single mother, and eventually marrying later in life and giving birth to TRIPLETS!!... Lisa shares with us this week about what it's like to raise kids in the current climate of racial tension, and her own story and family history of growing up bi-racial, being raised in a white family, marrying into a black family and addressing the dynamics and differences of each, yet how to find common ground and unity through the art of listening.  Our personal favorite take away from Lisa this week: "be willing to have a learner position instead of a judgement position." Find Lisa on Instagram @lisagilbertcomedy, and be sure to tune into her Facebook Live show every Sunday night at 8pm PST "I Feel Like a Bad Mom."  You can watch our episodes on YouTube at THE JEST OF IT YOUTUBE CHANNEL! Find us on Instagram for fun updates and clips of each guest: THE JEST OF IT INSTA! Find merch for The Jest of it Podcast and JJ's art and comedy over at: JJ's Artdy Shop! (Art+Comedy= Artdy!)

This week, Comedian, Social Worker and recent Home School Teacher (thanks to Corona), Lisa Gilbert, shares her story of growing up in foster care, being adopted by a single mom, and finally becoming a mother herself... to triplets(!!) at the age of 44. In this first part of two episodes, Lisa has a lot to say about having hope in the midst of waiting... whatever it is you may be waiting for. Lisa Gilbert and The Jest of It host, JJ Barrows, perform live comedy with Nowhere Comedy Club this Sunday night, August 23rd, 2020 5pm PST! Tickets available at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jj-barrows-live-stand-up-comedy-tickets-116076928217 Be sure to check out Lisa on Facebook Live every Sunday Night for her show "I Feel Like A Bad Mom" 8pm Eastern. Find her on Instagram at @lisagilbertcomedy  https://www.instagram.com/lisagilbertcomedy

Maria Fuentes Alexander grew up fast, raising her 4 siblings in poverty and a time of war in El Salvador. At only 10 years old, her parents set off for America to prepare a new place to them all to call home.   Maria shares openly for the first time in public, what is was like to grow up as a lonely child of war, dreaming of an America with golden streets and miracle-producing microwaves. With her arrival in America came relief, but also great disappointments... like chicken sandwiches.    Now raising a son of her own on a farm in Indiana, Maria is able to laugh, enjoy life and express gratitude for where she has come from. Her story serves as her compass for how to raise a son in America with the grit of a third world immigrant.    -------- Added Notes and Upcoming events: Upcoming live virtual comedy show!! August 23rd, 5pm PST, Lisa Gilbert (an upcoming guest) and I will be performing comedy via zoom! My first attempt in this pandemic world! Join in the awkward fun and get tickets at:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jj-barrows-live-stand-up-comedy-tickets-116076928217 

It's our first introductory episode! Welcome to season one. This week, artist, author and our kinda funny host, JJ Barrows, starts us off by sharing one of her own stories about surviving middle school. Afterward, she'll break down what this podcast is about, how it came to be and where JJ is in life that brought her to this place of wanting to share people's stories. Perhaps it's what we all need right now, just to listen to each other's stories, even the hard parts, knowing eventually we'll get to the jest of it!   Show notes and more from the host:   JJ's ART and tees: www.teepublic.com/user/jj-barrows     JJ's book "it's called a spade" available at: www.amazon.com/author/jjbarrows     Annnnnnd... her kinda funny Comedy Special: www.drybarcomedy.com/jjb   More info on website at www.jjbarrows.com   Find The Jest of It on Instagram at @thejestofit www.instagram.com/thejestofit   THANK YOU!!!