In this podcast episode, Evan and Austin based comedian Markus Olind explore the guest's family history, delving into the origins of their last name and their grandparents' decision to change it. The guest shares their German and Polish ancestry and discusses their grandparents' relocation to Austin, Texas, where they eventually retired.
The conversation then transitions to Markus' experiences living in Germany and their ability to speak German. They touch on the reactions they receive when people discover their language skills, including stereotypes and misconceptions. Additionally, they briefly mention attending a German festival and highlight the cultural differences between North and South Germany.
Evan and Markus discuss the challenges and rewards of pursuing comedy. They talk about their experiences performing in Los Angeles, including the difficulties of the comedy scene, such as paying for spots and diminishing returns. They reminisce about various comedy venues in LA and share stories of performing in front of fellow comedians. They also emphasize the importance of finding a balance between comedy and regular life.
The conversation then focuses on the guest's decision to move to LA and later to Austin, Texas, reflecting on the timing of their move just before the COVID-19 pandemic. They express gratitude for how things eventually worked out for them and acknowledge the difficulties faced by others who moved during that time. the hosts discuss their experiences in the comedy scene during the pandemic and their subsequent decision to move to Austin, Texas. They emphasize the importance of taking risks and pursuing one's career despite the lack of guarantees or ideal conditions. They share personal stories of driving long distances to perform, the challenges faced during lockdowns in their home state, and the significance of drive and dedication in pursuing comedy. They also delve into the competitive nature of the comedy scene in Austin, its focus on quality comedy, and the support from fellow comedians.
Markus talks about his love for Eminem and their reflections on the Detroit music scene. They talk about Markus Olind's special that can be watched on Amazon Prime streaming services titled "getting off comedy" Markus talks about growing up in Detroit and what it is like listening to Eminem there.. They discuss Eminem's rap skills, his ability to deliver clever wordplay, and his beef with Machine Gun Kelly. They also touch on the rapper NF and his music style and origin.
Markus dives into their experiences with excessive drinking during the pandemic and their subsequent decision to quit. They discuss the role of entertainment and how being confined at home led them to drink more. Markus shares a pivotal moment when they attended a show on their first day of sobriety, resisting the temptation to drink offered by another comedian. They reflect on the challenges of maintaining sobriety and the positive impact quitting drinking and moving to Austin had on their lives.
Evan & Markus talk about their pre-show routines, their preferences for meaningful interactions within the comedy community, and the importance of refining timing and tracking the length of sets.
They talk about all things comedy in the sense of the challenges of starting out as a comedian and the hosts' understanding of the audience's perspective. They discuss the need to connect with audiences quickly, the risk of controversial jokes, and the importance of self-deprecating humor. They touch on the pressures of performing in Los Angeles and the fears and experiences they faced during the early stages of the pandemic. Lastly and most important Evan & Markus talk about their love for Jurassic Park. They share their love for Jurassic Park and Star Wars, recounting personal stories and memories associated with these iconic films. They discuss the impact of Jurassic Park as the only successful dinosaur franchise and the deeper themes explored in the movie. They draw parallels between the meaningful elements of both Jurassic Park and Star Wars, emphasizing the importance of well-written stories and high production value with scifi movies.
