John Branyan's Comedy Sojourn Podcast

Just me and Luke today. We manage to discuss some important concepts even without Brian and Juan. Takeaways Honesty in social interactions can lead to better understanding and communication.Sometimes we do things we don't want to do to accommodate our spouses or loved ones.Different people have different approaches to activities and hobbies.The discovery of sharks with cocaine in their system raises questions about drug use in aquatic animals. Sound Bites "So you'd rather the honesty of knowing that you were not as good as something else?""I don't think that you necessarily have to want to go to a place in order to go to a place if your wife wants you to go there.""There's so many things that I want to know about. Specifically, I want to know how long the guy who tests drugs, who tests sharks for drugs, I want to know how long he's been doing that job."  

Hey, Neighbor. If this is your first episode--please don't assume we ALWAYS talk about bodily functions...  But, we're talking about them today.  Two-month-old Bridger's life has improved significantly since probiotics turned his poo yellow. (That's the color a breastfed baby's poo is SUPPOSED to be.)  From there, the conversation about ways to heal your gut biome just gets weirder and weirder... Joe stops in temporarily, to offer his expert opinion about fecal transplants.  Later:  John wants to talk about the Steve Lawson Scandal, even though nobody at his church knows who Steve Lawson is... Contact the Comedian's family by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com

The gang dives into theme songs, chronic pain, and the mysterious allure of pickup trucks. We swap hilarious stories about cigarette lighters, Fourth of July shenanigans, and the quirks of patriotism. Things get wild with tales of fireworks, vending machine ammo, and our lack of culinary snobbery—let’s just say we’re not foodies! We wrap up with a light chat about edible bowls and a missing host. You're welcome to tag along!

Hey, Neighbor! The McKinney Kids are at the table for another improv game.   They answer some important questions--just one word at a time. We love laughing with these crazy characters... How do you know you've had a great birthday party? What's the best way to get rid of hornets? How do you make a birdhouse? Find out on today's episode. Email the Comedian's Family at nextdoor@johnbranyan.com

The gang gets nostalgic about cars, laughing over how we remember them more than people’s names. We joke about using cars as nicknames—hilarious or creepy? You decide. We also dive into the quirks of self-checkout machines and their fake gratitude, wishing they’d just give us a sarcastic “thanks.” Then, it’s all about weird food combos, like ice cream on hot stuff (why?), fried ice cream, and the genius idea of a cookie dough caulking gun. We wrap things up with a silly take on the phonetic alphabet and Morse code.

You can't just sit and listen to a podcast, Pkarlgh!  The Podcast Ninja has spoken.   Turns out, all of our attention spans are shorter than we'd like...   What's the minimum amount of time you have to concentrate on something for it to count as "focus?" Then: Joe and Luke both have the sort of study habits that make their wives craaaaaazy.  Later: Play "guess that word" with Emmi's spelling test.   Contact the Comedian's family by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com. 

The gang, with special guest Curtis Crow, dives into the hilarious transition from young to old—think reading glasses, sensible shoes, and pharmacy apps. We also chat about the wacky world of Guinness World Records and the absurdity of some titles. Then, we tackle the ultimate culture clash: marriage. Cue the awkward gift-giving scenarios with white elephants and secret Santas, and brace yourself for the laugh-out-loud idea of the "Joelympics"—where regular folks compete in everyday tasks like grocery bag hauling and car packing. We wrap it up with some honest family talk, exploring the quirks of communication and the art of not offending Aunt Mildred.

Welcome to the table, Pkarghl!  We're joined by two, young McKinneys to play one of our favorite Family Improv games.  But first--allow Luke to tell you about his latest KILL... Then, Cami and Collin help us demonstrate how easy it is to create comedy without ANY advanced planning or set-up!  Email the Comedian's family at nextdoor@johnbranyan.com.  And don't forget to pray for The Peaches' thighs!

If you like outlines, you're going to LOVE this week's  synopsis! Navigating life with oblivious kids? You'll need the patience of a saint and a sense of humor the size of Texas. Roughhousing: where childhood fun meets a near-certain trip to the ER. Gold mining: a high-stakes game of “Will I strike it rich or just strike out?” TV shows: where even the simplest task turns into a life-or-death struggle, because who needs realism? Reality TV: more about dramatic glances and less about actually doing the thing they’re supposed to be doing. Society’s greatest hits: pretending you’ll keep in touch, and convincing yourself that all babies are adorable. Asking real questions: it’s rude until it’s not, and suddenly, you’re deep in conversation about life’s big mysteries. Social interactions could use a lot less small talk and a lot more “Let’s be real for once.”

Hey, Neighbor, the family almost had to do this episode WITHOUT the Comedian because John is passing a kidney stone.  But he is present and soldiering on! (If you struggle with the same ailment, Luke has a suggestion for something to try.)  Drink more water, find the nearest theme park, and try to get some "bang" for your buck.  Next:  John and his wife are landlords who have been fighting a legal battle with a group of squatters for over a year... The whole Branyan family pitched in this weekend, to help clean up the mess left behind by these people.  Why would someone hang a boat motor from a tree? Maybe for the same reason they would keep a rotting deer head in their kitchen?  Or a hollowed out tree stump full of scrap metal?  Later:  Let's try to make sense of the fact that some human beings actually live in that sort of squalor (and refuse to pay any bills).  What causes someone to make those sorts of decisions? And if you've never read the Lord of the Flies,

Juan kicks things off with a wild tale about his dad’s mysterious age and a hilarious take on Tom Brady’s Hertz commercials. Things get deep with a chat about gratitude—like how hard it is to find new stuff to be thankful for without rolling your eyes. Then, they dive into the evolution of pants and why wearing them low is a fashion fail. They also touch on credit scores, organic food, and the odd value of a perfect score. And if you think that's random, wait till they introduce the Humpty Dumpty scale for fall risk and debate World War I interest rates! It’s a whirlwind of laughs and life’s quirks.

Tabby's at the table--with her enormous baby.  He's even bigger than a baby panda! Next, Luke did a show with Chris Farley's brother, and he unintentionally gave us a GREAT new marketing idea!  (How much would YOU pay for a lousy T-shirt???) Later:  John reads a piece of sage wisdom...   Who cares what your parents think? Defer to your children instead! Join the conversation, Neighbor! Contact the Comedian's family by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com . 

The guys discuss the idea of celebrities doing ordinary things and how it becomes news. What about a service where normal people can hire paparazzi to make them feel famous? Luke talks about the joy of gift-giving and the pressure to find the perfect gift. There is some anxiety in gift exchanges. Technology is impacting amusement parks and  algorithms control our lives. At Disney World, anything counts as an 'attraction.'

Welcome to another Sunday evening at the Branyan/McKinney table--after another great Sabbath day of family fellowship and DISC GOLF.  Yes, The Peaches will allow a Disc Golf Recap today, since her husband accomplished something totally world-changing... Then:  John's yardwork adventures aren't getting any less painful.  Hear the latest injury story, especially if it has been awhile since you considered the danger of using a chainsaw near stinging insects.  Later: Some Christians really are shocked--SHOCKED--about how "quickly" the culture is declining. To them it seems it happened over night. But at least they're shockable, right? Their eyes are apparently working, even though they're a little slow on the uptake.    The big kids are making a happy ruckus in the background, and the newborn fusses (just a little) in his daddy's arms. If you want to be part of it all, tune in! Contact the Comedian's family by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com  

Hey, Neighbor!  John has some things he wants to say--while the Peaches and the Pod Ninja ignore him... Did you hear about the man (or is it a woman?) who failed the gender test in women's boxing? Did you know even CONSERVATIVES are struggling to understand what makes someone a woman? Tune in for this biology-heavy lecture on female hormones, fertility cycles, and--oh yeah--all of our headphones are broken, so listen while we complain about that.  Baby Bridger makes himself known a time or two as well.  It's a pretty typical Sunday at the Comedian's house! Email the Comedian's family at nextdoor@johnbranyan.com.  

Another riff session with the gang. Among other topics, we discuss the intrigue of candy hearts and how the Handmaid's Tale would be a different story from the male perspective.

John is sweaty. Peaches is sweaty. But the baby doesn't mind... Luke hurt his tongue...twice. And, eventually we get around to talking about being "counter-cultural."  Viva la Revolucion!  You can email the Comedian's family at Nextdoor@johnbranyan.com.

Join us as we workshop some ideas for comedy. It's possible you'll have a laugh, but we can't promise that.

New Baby Bridger is at the table! He has been a little cranky lately, so we'll see if he makes himself heard... The baby is hearing and smelling new things, while old men are LOSING those senses. John remembers the old man neighbor who used to "putter" around and do Old Man things when John was a kid.  That's the neighbor whose bushes were set on fire by Bob Branyan... Let us tell you the story! Later: John had a brief conversation with a Christian lady about "unity." But did she really mean "just agree with me"? Email the Comedian's family at nextdoor@johnbranyan.com .     

We're riffing on the destructive force of children, pro wrestling, and the back of IKEA stores. Plus some other random thoughts. Join us for another comedy writing session.