House of Bad Comedy Podcast

Behind the Jokes: AI Ruined The Em Dash

Another joke writing session with A & V this week.  #BTS
Adamandia thinks AI ruined the em dash, and takes way too long to explain what could be a short joke. Vanessa reveals what it takes to disappoint the family (hint: it might be related to some BDE)
As always, one joke leads to another, and somehow the conversation keeps circling back to itself – proof that the best material comes from just talking it out! (Did a human write that em dash or an AI? You be the judge).

From Wreck Beach to Poop Diaries: A Catch-Up Episode

This week, we're catching up on everything from Wreck Beach to... well... poop journals! 😅
Vanessa shares what it was like visiting Vancouver's famous nude beach, for the very first time, while Adamandia celebrates surviving an intense round of summer school. Along the way, we chat about the strange (and sweet) experience of seeing our younger selves reflected in our friends' kids.
Then Adamandia opens up about navigating food sensitivities and intolerances, which somehow leads us into a surprisingly passionate conversation about healthy digestion, why "garbage in, garbage out" applies to more than just your diet, and why good poops might be one of the best indicators of overall health.
We also dive into one of Vanessa's more... unique personality traits. From writing closure letters to people she's dated to keeping a diary tracking what she eats and the quality of her poops, we ask the question: is she incredibly intentional... or just a little intense?
We also introduce our new "What Was I Thinking?!" segment, about our more questionable life choices.  That's a bigger conversation that's definitely getting its own episode soon.
Coming up next week: We workshop more jokes together!

Before Our Summer Break: Feeling Old, AI Fails & New Jokes

This week on the podcast, Adamandia and Vanessa are keeping things light and, hopefully, funny, before heading into their short summer break!
 
The two run new joke ideas past each other, talk about the random moments that suddenly make you feel super old, and question whether watching school lectures on 2x speed is actually destroying Adamandia’s life. They also chat about modern dating disasters, including why sending AI-edited photos to the person you’re dating is probably never a good idea.
 
Plus, the conversation gets weird as they debate how much affection toward your parents is “too much."
 
This is their final episode before a short summer break and they'll be back with brand new episodes on July 7!

90s Childhoods and Conversations About Having Kids

In this catch-up episode, Adamandia and Vanessa get into everything from stand-up comedy in Montreal to growing up with strict 90s parenting expectations. Vanessa shares what it was like performing comedy in a completely different city and the things she learned while traveling solo.
 
Vanessa also talks about (unexpectedly!) bonding with her friends’ dog, which sparks a deeper discussion about wanting kids, not wanting kids, and how those feelings can shift as we get older. They also chat about the unspoken rules many of us grew up with: what moms and dads were “supposed” to do, what daughters were expected to be like, and how those expectations still shape us today.

Self-Discrepancy Theory: Who I Am vs. Who I Think I "Should" Be

Who are you really… and who do you think you should be?
 
This week, Adamandia brings a fascinating psychology topic from school: Self-Discrepancy Theory — the idea that we’re all made up of three versions of ourselves: our actual self, ideal self, and ought self. But what happens when those selves don’t align? And is finding balance between all three actually possible?
 
Vanessa opens up about being raised in a more conservative Chinese Christian household, how those experiences shaped her sense of self, and how a past relationship blurred the lines between who she was, who she wanted to be, and who she felt she was expected to be.
 
They also talk about how one version of ourselves can become louder than the others, and what it looks like to reconcile those competing voices.
 
#SelfDiscrepancyTheory #PsychologyPodcast #PersonalGrowth #Identity #SelfDiscovery #MentalHealthPodcast #Relationships #Comedy #HealingJourney #AuthenticSelf
 

Why We Get in Our Own Way...and Laugh About It!

What do your inner stories say about you, and are they quietly holding you back…?
 
In this episode, Adamandia and Vanessa talk about the psychology behind self-schemas (the beliefs and narratives we build about ourselves over time), and how they can shape everything from our confidence to our decisions.
 
They also chat about how these internal scripts can lead to self-sabotage, and how to adjust their thinking to fit new experiences.
 
And of course, they always find a way to relate their learning back to comedy and how it's been a necessary step in their personal growth.

Open Mic Prep: Chia Pets, Asian Parent Guilt & That One D*ck Pic

This week, Adamandia and Vanessa are doing something a little different. Vanessa has some open mics coming up, so they sit down to workshop a few joke ideas before they hit the stage. Nothing is fully formed, everything is up for debate, and that's kind of the whole fun of it.
On the table: disappointing your Asian parents, why eye exams are a lose-lose situation no matter what you say, and an old unsolicited d*ck pic resurfaces. 
It's a mini episode, it's messy, and some of these bits might actually make it on stage. Tune in and let us know what you think.
Got thoughts on things? Email us at houseofbadcomedy@gmail.com.

Intuition vs. Pattern Recognition: Can You Really Trust Your Gut?

This week, Adamandia and Vanessa discuss the fascinating overlap between intuition and pattern recognition.  Are our gut feelings truly instinctual, or are they shaped by everything we’ve experienced?
Adamandia shares some of the ideas she’s been exploring in school, and the conversation evolves into how we make decisions, when we trust ourselves, and what happens when that trust gets shaken. That leads them to chat about the book Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, and how reconnecting with ourselves is often a process of unlearning, healing, and rebuilding trust.
Plus, a little preview of what’s coming up: Vanessa will be testing out some fresh jokes on next week’s episode (pray for her), and the week after that, they'll be talking about self-sabotage.
 

Unexpected (and Uncomfortable) Moments Make the Best Jokes

This episode is a reminder that sometimes the best material comes from the weirdest, and unexpected, corners of real life.  Get ready for raw (literally), real, and slightly unhinged storytelling this week.
Please be advised: Adamandia and Vanessa get a little more open than usual in this episode, and some topics might make you squirm.

Healing Grief Through Movement and Healthy Coping Mechanisms

In this episode, Adamandia and Vanessa get real about self-perception, movement, and the little habits that shape how we feel day-to-day.
 
They talk about why it’s not what other people say about you that sticks…it’s the story you tell yourself. From there, they explore the impact of moving your body for both mental and physical health, and how finding something you actually enjoy makes all the difference, especially when you’re managing stress or navigating grief.
 
And of course, it wouldn't be the House of Bad Comedy without workshopping joke ideas, including kids who love to show off, and the things Adamandia watches just to make herself cry.