Fire stars. Chains. Dual Axes. Pouring hot wax in your mouth. This week, we’re joined by Ram Belle—aka Christy—a NYC based performance artist whose work spans burlesque, fire manipulation, and LED flow. She’s been setting East Coast stages ablaze (literally) for over a decade, and we sat down to trace the spark all the way back to where it began.

We talk about her first time performing with fire (what goes through your head when you’re literally holding flame), how she prepares her body and mind for shows that mix danger with beauty, and what it means to do this kind of work in New York, where your venue might be House of Yes one night and a birthday party in Jersey the next.

Ram Belle is pure magic. She's literally lighting NYC on fire and we are HERE for it.

Love us? Hate us? Keep in touch!

Check us out (yes, literally!) on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@newyorkeroftheweek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tiktok: ⁠⁠⁠@ny_of_the_week⁠⁠⁠

And if you've fallen head over heels for our hosts (and who could blame you?), show us some love on Instagram too:

Hanna Gerlander:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hanna_gerlander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Nora Fried: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@norafriedcomedy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sean Curley - Production Manager and Video Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@therealseancurley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Special Guest: Christy aka Ram Belle @rambellefire

Follow, comment, share—in the wise words of Sheryl Crow, “If it makes you happy, it can't be that badddd.”

Who runs NYC? Some say the rats. Some say the real estate developers. Some say that one woman who sits outside T-mobile smoking a cig. But this week, we bow down to the real monarchs of the moment: King Beau Dega and Queen Virgo Rising, our New Yorker(s) of the Week.

On today's episode, we’re talking late-night lashes, early-morning meetings, and the commitment of gluing on a mustache before hitting the stage. We discuss the unspoken labor of drag—of crafting a persona, commanding a room, and somehow still answering emails the next morning.

This is an ode to the kings, the queens, and everyone in between who make this city shimmer under stage lights and street lamps alike.

It’s giving duality. It’s giving duct tape and rhinestones. It’s giving gender, exploded. Enjoy! Xx

Love us? Hate us? Keep in touch!

Check us out (yes, literally!) on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@newyorkeroftheweek⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tiktok: ⁠⁠@ny_of_the_week⁠⁠

And if you've fallen head over heels for our hosts (and who could blame you?), show them some love on Instagram too:

Hanna Gerlander:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hanna_gerlander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Nora Fried: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@norafriedcomedy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sean Curley - Production Manager and Video Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@therealseancurley⁠⁠⁠⁠

Special Guests: Beau Dega (@beau__dega) and Virgo Rising (@virgorisingnyc)

Follow, comment, share—in the wise words of Sheryl Crow, “If it makes you happy, it can't be that badddd.”

This week’s New Yorker of the Week? The radiant, risk-taking queen of Astoria herself: Jessie Jolles.

If you’ve ever spotted a curly-haired brunette strutting the streets in neon, feathers, faux fur, or anything that screams “YES,” chances are you’ve just witnessed Jessie in the wild. Miranda Priestly and Nigel? Sorry. Jessie is the fashion authority now.

But don’t get it twisted—Jessie’s not just a style icon. She’s a hilarious writer, director, performer, and co-host of two incredible podcasts: Happily Ever Heard of It and Middle Children. She’s also taking over your TikTok and Insta feeds with comedy that serves looks and laughs.

She was a joy to interview, a dream to behold, and an easy choice for this week’s NYC royalty.

Love us? Hate us? Keep in touch!

Check us out (yes, literally!) on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@newyorkeroftheweek⁠⁠⁠

Tiktok: ⁠@ny_of_the_week⁠

And if you've fallen head over heels for our hosts (and who could blame you?), show them some love on Instagram too:

Hanna Gerlander:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hanna_gerlander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Nora Fried: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@norafriedcomedy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sean Curley - Production Manager and Video Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@therealseancurley⁠⁠⁠

Special Guest: Jessie Jolles @jessiejolles

Follow, comment, share—in the wise words of Sheryl Crow, “If it makes you happy, it can't be that badddd.”

When we think New Yorker of the Week—actually, scratch that—New Yorker of the YEAR… one name comes to mind: Laurie Cooper. NYC royalty. Real estate legend. Martini-fueled dating guru.
You may recognize Laurie from The Real Housewives of New York City, where she helped Dorinda Medley list her Upper East Side apartment (because of course she did). Since then, she’s gone from luxury broker to viral TikTok icon, doling out dating advice and hosting glamorous “Martini Meet-Ups” for NYC singles.
We had Laurie on our last show (RIP to HH&PL), and it only felt right to have her return to help us kick things off here. She’s a gem, a riot, a queen—and we’re obsessed. You will be too.

Love us? Hate us? Keep in touch!

Check us out (yes, literally!) on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@newyorkeroftheweek⁠⁠

Tiktok: @ny_of_the_week

And if you've fallen head over heels for our hosts (and who could blame you?), show them some love on Instagram too:

Hanna Gerlander:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hanna_gerlander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Nora Fried: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@norafriedcomedy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sean Curley - Production Manager and Video Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@therealseancurley⁠⁠

Special Guest: Laurie Cooper @laurie_cooper_realty

Follow, comment, share—in the wise words of Sheryl Crow, “If it makes you happy, it can't be that badddd.”

Have you ever gone to Citi Field on a Saturday? Maybe you went for the Mets. But we went for Lola—the dog dressed as a Mets player who sits outside the stadium giving high fives like it’s her full-time job. A local legend. A paw-sitive icon (so sorry). The truest New Yorker of the Week.

You might be wondering, “How did you interview a dog?” Great question. But on this podcast, magic happens left and right. Lola is a certified staple of NYC, and we’re honored to crown her queen of the city—for at least one glorious, tail-wagging week.

Love us? Hate us? Keep in touch!

Check us out (yes, literally!) on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@newyorkeroftheweek⁠

And if you've fallen head over heels for our hosts (and who could blame you?), show them some love on Instagram too:

Hanna Gerlander:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hanna_gerlander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Nora Fried: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@norafriedcomedy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sean Curley - Production Manager and Video Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@therealseancurley⁠

Follow, comment, share—in the wise words of Sheryl Crow, “If it makes you happy, it can't be that badddd.”

There comes a time in every girl’s life when she realizes—wait a second—I’m becoming a woman. The evidence is everywhere! Take Miley Cyrus: one day, she’s Hannah Montana, the next, she’s lightly problematic, and before you know it, she’s a full-blown cover song sensation.

Now, you may be wondering: what does any of this have to do with this podcast? Excellent question. The answer? Everything and nothing. Because much like Miley, we—Hanna and Nora—have gone through a transformation of our own. High Heels and Punchlines? Dead. Gone. A relic of the past. But in its place? A shimmering, once-in-a-lifetime, cover-song-level reinvention:

Introducing… New Yorker of the Week.

Every week, we’ll be crowning one of our favorite overlooked New Yorkers—the hidden gems of this city—and treating them to their rightful moment in the spotlight. Expect a short but essential interview with our newly minted royalty, plus plenty of classic HHPL-style chatter: all things Nora x Hanna, chaos included.

If you’re confused—don’t worry. Just listen, and you’ll get it. And yes, this is an abrupt transition, but please, grant us grace. We’re artists. And sometimes, to create the masterpiece of a lifetime, you have to make an absolute mess first.

Love us? Hate us? Keep in touch!

Check us out (yes, literally!) on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Now⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@newyorkeroftheweek

And if you've fallen head over heels for our hosts (and who could blame you?), show them some love on Instagram too:

Hanna Gerlander: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hanna_gerlander⁠⁠⁠⁠

Nora Fried: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@norafriedcomedy⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sean Curley - Production Manager and Video Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@therealseancurley

Follow, comment, share—in the wise words of Sheryl Crow, “If it makes you happy, it can't be that badddd.”

Welcome back girls (and gays! and straight men? idk). On today's episode of High Heels and Punchlines we get to chat with the hilarious Milly Tamarez. Tune in as we dive into "All or Nothing" and get Milly's thoughts on what makes this episode...rich and not so timeless.

Love us? Hate us? Keep in touch!

Check us out (yes, literally!) on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Now⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@highheelsandpunchlines⁠⁠⁠⁠

And if you've fallen head over heels for our hosts (and who could blame you?), show them some love on Instagram too:

Hanna Gerlander: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hanna_gerlander⁠⁠⁠⁠

Nora Fried: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@norafriedcomedy⁠⁠⁠⁠

Becky Hermenze - Production Manager and Video Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@beckywtheokhair⁠⁠⁠⁠

Special Guest: Milly Tamarez @milly_tamarez

⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe, follow,⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get ready to dive into a world of humor and fabulousness with High Heels and Punchlines!

This episode is a revelation. Did you know some people actually keep their underwear on when trying on swimsuits at Old Navy? What is this, caution? Decorum?

Also, is Justin Trudeau gay? He was spotted at a gay bar, so obviously, the scientific method points to yes. We will now be accepting this as fact with zero further research.

And if you were a hoarder, what would be your prized collection? Wicker baskets? Tiny trolls? Make-up palettes stacked to the ceiling, half of them cracked but still emotionally significant? Actually—scratch that. Those are our niche obsessions, and we will be trademarking them immediately.

Point is, this episode of Chirp is a wild ride. We go in 100 different directions, and miraculously, every single one slaps. Enjoy!

Love us? Hate us? Keep in touch!

Check us out (yes, literally!) on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Now⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@highheelsandpunchlines⁠⁠⁠⁠

And if you've fallen head over heels for our hosts (and who could blame you?), show them some love on Instagram too:

Hanna Gerlander: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hanna_gerlander⁠⁠⁠⁠

Nora Fried: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@norafriedcomedy⁠⁠⁠⁠

Becky Hermenze - Production Manager and Video Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@beckywtheokhair⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe, follow,⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get ready to dive into a world of humor and fabulousness with High Heels and Punchlines!