Episode 43 of Good Times, Noodle Salad features the hilarious and legendary Simply Shanell—a beloved local comic who brings big laughs and real-life wisdom to the table. In this episode, we talk about everything from the chaos of working in direct care for the elderly to the underrated security system of driving a stick shift (because apparently car thieves can’t drive them anymore).

Shanell shares stories from her life in comedy, what it’s like grinding it out on stage, and why sometimes the smartest financial move is just staying home so you don’t spend any money. The conversation also dives into her dream of opening a backyard comedy club at her home in North Carolina—a laid-back, grassroots space where comics and audiences can connect in a totally different way.

Alongside the laughs, Shanell also opens up about something much more personal: grieving the loss of her mother and how that experience has shaped her perspective on life, work, and comedy.

It’s funny, honest, and full of the kind of real conversation that makes Good Times, Noodle Salad what it is. Pull up a chair and hang out with us for Episode 43.

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In Episode 42 of Good Times, Noodle Salad, Matt sits down with Michael, Jordan, and Pauly of Breakfast at 2PM for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, technology, and the strange cultural moment we’re all living through.

The group dives headfirst into the growing controversies around AI—why it seems like every week there’s a new industry people are told to be outraged about, from data centers and pipelines to automation and artificial intelligence. Are these existential threats… or just the latest step in how technology and industry evolve?

They also get brutally honest about the grind of trying to make it in the arts. From unreliable collaborators to the emotional rollercoaster of creative work, the guys talk about the real-world frustrations artists face when passion collides with logistics, egos, and the reality of trying to build something from nothing.

And of course, the elephant in the room: AI as a creative tool. Is it unethical to generate art instantly with tools like ChatGPT, or is it simply the modern equivalent of using better equipment? When real artists can be brilliant but also a pain in the ass to work with, is convenience starting to win?

It’s a funny, thoughtful, occasionally spicy conversation about creativity, technology, outrage culture, and the shifting rules of making things in the modern world.

Pull up a chair, grab a bowl of noodles, and enjoy the ride.

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In this one-on-one episode of Good Times, Noodle Salad, Matt sits down with comedian James River for a wide-ranging conversation. They dive into the craft of comedy, debate the impact of Reaganomics and the fateful decision to let Wall Street gamble on mortgages, and share their love for the late Norm Macdonald. Insightful, irreverent, and unapologetically funny, this episode is perfect for anyone who loves smart comedy and big-picture conversations about culture and economics.

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On episode 40 of Good Times, Noodle Salad, Matt and Paige sit down with musician Josh Story for one of the most honest and heavy conversations we’ve had yet.

Josh opens up about his battle with cancer and the physical toll radiation took on his body — from the unexpected side effects to the long-term impact on his strength, energy, and identity. As a lifelong musician, one of the hardest blows was losing the ability to sing the way he once could. We talk about what it feels like to have a core piece of yourself altered, and how you begin redefining who you are when your abilities change overnight.

Beyond music, Josh shares what it’s like running a day center for adults living with mental illness — the emotional weight of that responsibility, the purpose it brings, and how his own health battle reshaped the way he approaches compassion and leadership.

The conversation also turns toward the brighter parts of life: getting married, having kids, and learning how to adjust expectations while still showing up as a husband, father, and creative. Josh talks candidly about adapting his life to meet his post-treatment reality — physically, emotionally, and spiritually — and how resilience isn’t always loud… sometimes it’s just continuing to move forward.

This episode dives into:

• The hidden havoc radiation can cause
• Identity loss and rebuilding after illness
• Fatherhood during crisis
• Marriage under pressure
• Music, creativity, and adapting when your body won’t cooperate
• Finding purpose in service to others

It’s vulnerable. It’s real. It’s heavy at times — but it’s also hopeful.

Episode 40 is about strength that doesn’t look like strength.

Listen, share, and as always — thanks for hanging out with us.

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Episode 39 of Good Times, Noodle Salad features special guests King Norman for a loose, three-hour conversation that drifts between music, comedy, culture, and real-life habits.

The crew gets into favorite stand-up comedians and how comedy influences performance, timing, and confidence on stage. There’s plenty of band talk too — writing, rehearsing, gigging, and what it actually takes to keep a group moving forward while balancing work and real life.

They also wade into the controversies surrounding Dan Schneider and the broader discussion about accountability in entertainment, including the legal case involving Drake Bell and his conviction for attempted endangerment of a child. It’s an honest conversation about media narratives, fame at a young age, and how public opinion shifts over time.

Add in a real discussion about quitting cigarettes — the mental battle behind it and what finally pushes someone to make a change — and you’ve got another wide-ranging episode of Good Times, Noodle Salad that goes wherever the conversation takes it.

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This week on Good Times, Noodle Salad, Matt sits down one-on-one with touring comedian Chris Harvey for a real behind-the-curtain conversation about life in stand-up.

Chris shares what it’s actually like touring with Steve-O — from wild crowds to the discipline required to survive the road — and how the day-to-day grind of being a working comedian is way less glamorous than people think. The two get into staying humble while chasing success, learning your love language, and why relationships can be harder than bombing on stage.

It’s part comedy talk, part self-reflection, and part therapy session — the kind of honest conversation that happens after the show when the mics are still on.

Expect laughs, perspective, and some surprisingly real moments about balancing ambition, ego, and connection while trying to make people laugh for a living.

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Matt and Paige are joined by musician Stick Boovy and stand-up comedian Floyd Jones for a chaotic, funny, and surprisingly philosophical hang.

Floyd talks about performing on Kill Tony — what the experience was really like, the pressure of those sixty seconds, and how brutally honest live comedy feedback changes the way you write jokes afterward. The group dives into bombing vs. killing, chasing stage time, and why comedians willingly put themselves through psychological warfare for laughs.

Stick shares the moment he realized his TV was quietly murdering his creativity… so he sold it. That decision spiraled into a deeper conversation about boredom, discipline, and why removing distractions is sometimes the only way to actually make art. He also explains the legendary pizza tattoo — yes, it got him free pizza for a year… but only once a month, so technically 12 pizzas total. Worth it? Debatable.

Also discussed:

• Motivation vs comfort
• Creative habits that actually work
• The comedy grind in Michigan
• The strange psychology of artists
• Whether small rewards can trick your brain into big productivity

A classic Good Times, Noodle Salad episode — equal parts jokes, existential crisis, and terrible life decisions that somehow make perfect sense.

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This week on Good Times, Noodle Salad, Matt sits down with stand-up comic Peggy Beatie to break down the emotional rollercoaster of doing your first ever set — the nerves, the silence, the laughs you didn’t expect, and the jokes that absolutely betrayed you.

They get into what it’s really like trying to carve out a place in the Michigan comedy scene, why a heated garage might secretly be the perfect social environment, and the eternal internal argument between doing the responsible thing and doing the thing you actually want to do.

It’s part comedy talk, part life philosophy, and part justification for questionable choices.

Expect:
• bombing stories
• comedy process talk
• garage hang theory
• rational decisions vs self-indulgence
• Matt reliving his first set trauma in real time

Follow, rate, and share if you enjoy honest conversations with funny people figuring life out as they go.

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