Catalog
Episodes
#27 Michael Ridley & Taylor GormanJul 7, 2025 · 54 min🎙️ To Be Frank – Frank Castillo returns with an unfiltered, chaotic, and wildly hilarious episode featuring Michael Ridley and Taylor Gorman. From dissecting roast battle racism and "roof Koreans" to exploring the deep psychology of porn preferences and post-nut clarity, this one spirals beautifully. The boys get honest about comedy insecurities, masturbation rituals, toxic relationships, procrastination, and the long road to building something real with your friends. Plus, the hardest metal show/comedy hybrid Portland never saw coming. It's horny, it's introspective, it's stupid, it's brilliant – it's To Be Frank. 💥🎤🍜
🔞 NSFW, hilarious mental health spirals, roast culture, dick flakes, love, therapy, porn sites that sound like ramen shops, and a surprising amount of heart.
Guests: Michael Ridley, Taylor Gorman
Highlights: Banana Phone roast recaps, jiu-jitsu as therapy, Ron White shoutouts, Ridley's anime porn motivation strategy, and the gay paradox of jerking off to straight porn.- # 26 "Comic Books, Catfishing, and the Cost of an Abortion" (ft. Brian Redban)Jun 25, 2025 · 56 minFrank sits down with comedy OG and Kill Tony legend Brian Redban for a wild, deeply personal, and wildly hilarious ride. From selling a priceless comic book collection to fund a fake abortion (surprise: it was meth) to their early dorkdoms—Magic: The Gathering, hentai, and Dungeons & Dragons—the two dive into the nostalgia of growing up nerdy in rough neighborhoods. They cover video games, threesomes, selling acid, and watching someone die mid-flight (yes, really). It's chaos, catharsis, and comics—only on To Be Frank. Sponsored by Puffco & Kalya Extracts.
- To Be Frank #25 – "Gambling Budgets and Glitter Orbs" (feat. Nadav Itzkowitz)Jun 13, 2025 · 1 hr 3 minFrank sits down with Nadav Itzkowitz (YMH, The Fold) for an unfiltered, hilarious, and surprisingly touching convo that covers everything from craps strategies and gambling phones to the grief of losing a dad. They dive into poker stories, Jewish gamblers, and the perils of online slots—plus why a destroyed flip phone might be the most college story ever. Frank's wife Hannah even joins with a round of therapy-style questions that take this from bro talk to deep talk real fast. Chaos, comedy, childhood trauma, and glitter-filled crimes—this one has it all.
- To Be Frank #23 Nick MurphyMay 28, 2025 · 50 minOn this episode of To Be Frank, Frank Castillo sits down with the hilarious Nick Murphy for a chaotic deep dive into comedy club brawls, Moon Tower madness, and childhood humiliation. From hecklers and hazing to crocodile attacks and conspiracy theorist dads, no story is too wild. They swap war stories from the road, dissect the anatomy of a bomb, and reminisce about wasp nests, QAnon parents, and Speedo trauma. Sponsored by Puffco and Coller Extracts—this one's a certified banger.
- To Be Frank #24 Liza TreygarMay 22, 2025 · 53 minOn this episode of To Be Frank, Frank Castillo sits down with the hilarious and unfiltered Liza Treyger—comic, Taylor Swift SoulCycle veteran, and longtime friend. The two dive deep into everything from fitness insecurities and cry-worthy playlists to cat surgeries, childhood traumas, and surviving Moon Tower chaos. With laughs, heart, and raw honesty, they swap stories about their upbringings, the grind of comedy, woo-woo spirituality, and the beauty of not giving a damn. It's funny, chaotic, unexpectedly touching—and full of hot takes (including a controversial one about meatballs).
- To Be Frank #19 Mat EdgarMay 13, 2025 · 58 minOn this episode of To Be Frank, Frank Castillo sits down with fellow Comedy Store alum and Austin comedy brother Matt Edgar for a raw, hilarious, and insightful convo that hits deep for any real comic. They talk door guy days, the grind of getting passed, how Roast Battle and road gigs shaped their careers, and the bittersweet lessons from comedy legends like Brody Stevens.
They dive into what it really means to make it in comedy, how chasing festivals or industry attention can mess with your head, and why being good at your job behind the scenes matters as much as crushing on stage. From LA hustle to Austin freedom, from bombing to breakthroughs, it's an unfiltered look at the life behind the laughs.
Also covered: anxiety, hypochondria, Rey Mysterio, throwing up, booking politics, open mic egos, and why listening to your sets might be the most powerful tool a comic has.
🔊 Real talk. Big laughs. No filters. Just comics being comics.
Press play. Stay unfiltered.
- To Be Frank #22 Chris PorterMay 2, 2025 · 56 minBrain Surgery, Bomb Stories, and Choosing Happiness (with Chris Porter) In this hilarious and heartfelt episode, Frank sits down with comedian and friend Chris Porter for a wild ride through health scares, comedy war stories, and backstage gossip. Chris opens up about the golf accident that led to emergency brain surgery and ultimately steered him toward stand-up. The two dive into the brutal realities of life on the road, imposter syndrome, and why choosing happiness can be the hardest — but most important — decision. From bombing (literally) onstage to rubbing shoulders with legends, it's a deep, funny, and unfiltered conversation between two comics who've seen it all. Sponsored by Puffco & Kalya Extracts.
- To Be Frank #21 Shawn GardiniMay 2, 2025 · 55 minFrank sits down with the one and only Sean Gardini for a wild ride through brotherly bonds, barfly dads, getting way too drunk at Eagles games, and the art of standing ten toes down—whether it's in a Philly dive bar or a comedy club green room. They get into old-school sibling brawls, near-fistfights at comedy shows, unfortunate rectal abscesses, and the glory of trash truck jokes. Oh, and there's a Chihuahua humping incident you won't forget. It's honest, it's unfiltered, it's very Frank.
thank you to our sponsors Kalya Extracts! and Puffco!
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- To Be Frank #20 Jay Light - Roast Battle - Master ChefMar 7, 2025 · 1 hr 2 minFrank sits down with longtime homie and fellow Comedy Store alum Jay Light for a raw, hilarious, and brutally honest conversation about comedy, sobriety, open mics, Roast Battle glory, and the cringe-y art of trying. They talk about the good, the bad, and the straight-up gross moments from their days as door guys, the emotional minefield of family expectations, and the subtle beauty of learning how to give a shit.
Jay opens up about making amends in recovery, teaching his wife financial literacy, and why playing Super Mario Party alone at midnight is therapeutic. Frank shares childhood trauma, suburban weirdness, and why Mexican guilt hits different. Hannah joins with a few pointed questions and plugs therapy on the way out.
This one's full of laughs, heart, old war stories, and a couple moments that'll punch you right in the feelings.
🎤 Jay's special My Wife Hates These Jokes is out now on the Roast Battle YouTube.
🎲 Follow @wronggameshow for upcoming tour dates.
Sponsored by: Puffco, Kalya Extracts, and Community Extracts.
- To Be Frank #18 Toby SimmonsFeb 18, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min🎙️ To Be Frank – Legends, Laughter & the Dark Ages
Frank links up with Comedy Store OG and legendary bartender Toby Evans for an unfiltered, hilarious deep-dive into the chaotic, beautiful madness that was the Comedy Store's dark-to-golden era glow-up. From door guy hazing rituals (yes, 151 shots and puke buckets are involved), to the spiritual mentorship of Jeff Scott, to roast battle bloodbaths and post-wedding groomsmen debauchery—this episode is a full-on love letter to the misfit haven that shaped them.
Toby shares insane stories: Pauly Shore firing him (and forgetting), dicey run-ins with Suge Knight and Katt Williams, bartending during the store's near-death days, and walking in on way too many comics mid-coitus. Frank opens up about what it meant to earn respect, the heartbreak and joy of chasing stage time, and why this job was better than any degree or trophy.
It's raw, nostalgic, and stupid funny. A must-listen for comedy nerds, ex-door guys, and anyone who's ever puked in a dustpan while chasing their dream.
🎤 Sponsored by Puffco, Kalya Extracts, and Community Extracts.
📍Catch Toby at The Baddy in Austin—serving drinks and stories.
- To Be Frank #17 Zack HolmesFeb 9, 2025 · 59 min🎧 To Be Frank - Zach Holmes: Jackass, Jokes, and Junkie Tales
Frank sits down with Jackass wild man turned stand-up comic Zach Holmes for a brutally funny, surprisingly heartfelt convo about addiction, bombing onstage, recovery wins, and eating too many hot dogs on heroin (yes, really). They talk about Netflix showcases, the mind games of comedy auditions, the trauma of flappers, and the awkward beauty of growing up broken but still trying.
Zach opens up about speedballing, sobriety, burning fish sticks, and why stuffed animals aren't always a red flag—while Frank shares his thoughts on dysfunctional families, Hello Kitty trauma, and the slow crawl toward being "just funny enough." This one's got laughs, war stories, near-death memories, and the kind of heart that sneaks up on you.
🎙️ Sponsored by Puffco, Kalya Extracts, and Community Extracts.
📺 Watch Zach's chaos at Maximum Zach TV on YouTube.
- To Be Frank #16 Exotic Scottie & CertifiedJan 30, 2025 · 1 hrFrank sits down with Exotic Scotty and Certified for a high-spirited, smoke-filled convo about music, creative brotherhood, Austin weirdos, and near-death road trip highs. They swap hilarious stories about first studio sessions, tripping too hard behind the wheel, wild nights on Sixth Street, and how finding your voice in art means finding the right people to tell you the truth.
They also dive into conspiracy theories, city icons like Running Man and Leslie, and the chaos of comedy, weed, and weirdness in Texas. It's part music doc, part stoner diary, part streetwise survival guide—and somehow ends with a $25K cat sex change story.
🎵 Certified's debut single "Blues" drops Jan 18
🔥 Exotic Scotty's new tape "Exotic Junkies" out now on all platforms
💨 Sponsored by Puffco
🎙️ Powered by Comedy Frequency
This one's full of laughs, late-night truths, Austin lore, and good-ass vibes.
- To Be Frank #15 Nate MarshallJan 30, 2025 · 52 minSpotify-Style Podcast Description:
In this hilariously unfiltered episode of To Be Frank, Frank and guest Nate Marshall get wildly high and dive headfirst into everything—from helping homies make it in comedy, to porn addiction honesty, Instagram thirst traps, and absurd plans to murder a stepdad as teens. They talk about loyalty, roast battles, the state of stand-up in Austin vs. LA, beef between Kendrick and Drake, and the pressure of proving yourself at the Mothership. It's raw, real, and ridiculously funny—like barbershop talk with a mic.
🎧 Puffco-powered chaos.
🎤 Featuring: Nate Marshall
💨 Sponsored by: Puffco
- To Be Frank #14 Andrew PackerJan 9, 2025 · 48 minComedy, chaos, and cannabis collide in this smoky, freewheeling episode of To Be Frank. Frank Castillo welcomes Canadian comic Andrew Packer for a deep sesh on Canada's weed laws, wild open mic lore, and the art of bombing with grace. From underground lounges to comedians stamp-signing sign-up sheets, the stories are ridiculous, real, and sometimes rogue. Throw in a Burrito Lady with a merch pitch, Franz Ferdinand getting arrested, and a heartfelt ode to being a married comic—and you've got a perfectly rolled episode that's both hilarious and unexpectedly wholesome.
- To Be Frank #13 Zako RyanDec 29, 2024 · 56 minIn this wild, winding episode of To Be Frank, Frank Castillo welcomes the hilarious Zako Ryan for a chaotic deep-dive into everything from accidentally living in a massage parlor to the emotional balancing act of comedy life. It's a rollercoaster of absurd true stories—arrests, shaved heads, PTSD, and a botched hookup with a woman who once saw a man fold his junk like origami. But in between the laughs, there's raw honesty about anxiety, stage presence, family guilt, and the grind of staying funny while staying human. It's raunchy, real, and ridiculously good.
- To Be Frank #12 LaMaire LeeDec 19, 2024 · 49 minName mix-ups, gamer bonding, and messy confessions—this episode of To Be Frank is a hilarious descent into chaos. Frank Castillo sits down with LeMaire Lee for a wild ride through forgettable last names, growing up around different cultures, and the unspoken rules of fast food survival. From deep dives into Street Fighter, RimWorld, and $130 worth of Stellaris DLC to anime philosophy, porn bans, and post-jack courtesy, nothing is off-limits. It's like hanging out with your funniest, most chaotic friends—if they were also hoarders with strong opinions about glizzies.
- To Be Frank #11 Ehsan AhmadDec 6, 2024 · 54 min🎙️ In this deep-cut, no-holds-barred episode of To Be Frank, Frank Castillo welcomes comic and longtime friend Ehsan Ahmad for an unfiltered conversation that swings from religion to relationships, with pit stops in identity, comedy, and cowardice. From bombing on Kill Tony to ducking confrontation, Ehsan opens up about boundaries, cultural baggage, and the minefield of being a brown comic in a white room—or worse, a liberal comic in a red state.
🚩 They talk censorship, cowardice, and cancel culture; Mormon marketing genius; Latino identity confusion; and the bittersweet grind of comedy post-pandemic. Plus: Jim Carrey joins the door guys, Salman Rushdie flashbacks, and why bombing with magic might be the boldest play in stand-up.
This episode is raw, introspective, hilarious—and way more therapy than podcast. If you've ever questioned your place in comedy, culture, or California, this one's for you.
- To Be Frank #10 Benji AflaloNov 26, 2024 · 59 minIn this heartfelt and hilarious episode of To Be Frank, Frank Castillo sits down with fellow Comedy Store alum Benji Aflalo for a deep dive into the sacred chaos of door guy culture, stand-up evolution, and lessons learned the hard way. From selling booths and taking calls to surviving the open mic gauntlet, they unpack what it really meant to grow up at the Store. Along the way: tales of phone guy politics, roast-level honesty, comics getting hazed, and the beautiful absurdity of Boone Shakalaka selling porn at 7 p.m. Raw, reflective, and ridiculously funny—this one's a masterclass in comedy camaraderie and growing up on stage.
- To Be Frank: #9 Chris Guglielmo - BaysideNov 6, 2024 · 1 hr 2 minIn this deeply personal and laugh-out-loud episode of To Be Frank, Frank Castillo sits down with Chris Guglielmo—drummer of iconic punk band Bayside—for a candid convo that hits everything from Warped Tour memories and "When We Were Young" fest highs to the chaos of transitioning from tour life to real life. The two dig into identity, creativity, growing up on the road, chasing the high of live performance, and how being loved onstage doesn't always mean you love yourself off it. There's music talk, therapy talk, roast battle cringe stories, and even a hilarious Michael Cera mix-up. If you've ever chased a dream or come home from one, this one's for you.
- To Be Frank #8 Kevin ChapmanOct 29, 2024 · 51 minIn this extra-smooth sesh at the Melrose Podcast Studios, Frank Castillo sits down with Kevin, Director of Events at Puff Co, for a hazy, hilarious, and heartfelt convo on everything from organizing the legendary Puff Con to geeking out over Miatas, wiener dogs, and tap dancing wives. They dive into the evolution of hash culture, the old-school torch vs. new-school Puff Co debate, and how cannabis connects creatives from comedy clubs to glass art showcases. Sprinkle in stories of high school drama, irrational fears (or lack thereof), and Magic the Gathering beatdowns, and you've got an episode that's equal parts hilarious, nerdy, and surprisingly deep. Light up, settle in, and enjoy the ride to Hash Mountain.
- To Be Frank: #7 Chris PaughOct 23, 2024 · 57 minFrank Castillo is back in Austin and high as hell, diving into a hilariously dark and thoughtful sesh with Cleveland comic and mortuary transport driver Chris Paugh. From roast battles and midwestern open mic chaos to transporting corpses and dodging Midwest racism, this one goes deep. They riff on intrusive thoughts, sketchy fast food addictions, and the weird healing power of improvised roasting. Toss in childhood trauma, parenting through stand-up, and a severed-hand Social Security scam—and you've got one of the wildest and most unexpectedly touching To Be Frank episodes yet. Sponsored by Puffco and Collab Extracts.
- To Be Frank: #6 Matt McCuskerOct 14, 2024 · 56 minIn this hilarious, deep, and delightfully chaotic episode of To Be Frank, Frank Castillo welcomes Matt McCusker for a high-level sesh on everything from hash pipes to heartfelt marriage confessions. The two comedians swap wild tales about rosin pressing in basements, fighting like adults (sometimes), and getting spiritually rocked by fatherhood, therapy wives, and air mattresses. From deep thoughts on society and ego to immature bathroom fap strategy and guard cats, this episode is equal parts hilarious and unexpectedly profound. Grab your Cold Cure and settle in—this is McCusker at his most real and ridiculous.
- To Be Frank: #5 B CELL THE GREATOct 8, 2024 · 1 hr 3 minTikTok virality meets the grind of stand-up in this hilariously deep episode of To Be Frank with Frank Castillo. Viral dancer and aspiring comic Marcel Hamilton stops by to unpack the wild ride from bathroom dance videos to blowing up on social media—and now chasing laughs on stage. They dive into the highs of internet fame, the dark side of TikTok culture, the harsh truths of comedy club politics, and what it really means to find your voice. With stories of dancing at work, freaky fan encounters, and a terrifyingly funny deep dive into horse-related local lore (seriously), this ep is a rollercoaster of real talk, laughs, and unexpected inspiration.
- To Be Frank: #4 CJ LandrySep 24, 2024 · 52 minA wild ride from green rooms to backyard bathroom breaks, this episode of To Be Frank dives deep into the unfiltered chaos of comedy club culture. Frank Castillo sits down with fellow comic and mothership door guy CJ Landry for a hilariously honest conversation about bombing with slurs, security guards who train jiu jitsu, political minefields in material, and the gritty reality of making it in stand-up. From teacher crushes to weed possession charges in rural Texas, this episode is as raw as it is ridiculous. Comedy war stories, childhood cringe, and the Price Is White—nothing's off limits in this one.
- To Be Frank: #3 Uncle LazerSep 24, 2024 · 53 minIn this hilariously unfiltered episode of To Be Frank, Frank Castillo sits down with the wild and magnetic Uncle Lazer for a freewheeling ride through comedy, chaos, and oilfield origins. From directional drilling and $400k rig paychecks to psychedelic wedding brawls and stabbing exes with snapping turtle vibes, no story is off limits. The two bond over family fights, bombing onstage, growing through comedy, and how being truly self-aware separates the good from the great. Add in poop witches, rig groupies, childhood cringe confessions, and dab science—this one's a gritty, raunchy, and genuinely inspiring deep cut.
- To Be Frank: #2 David JollySep 23, 2024 · 52 minIn this unfiltered and hilarious episode of To Be Frank, Frank Castillo sits down with the one and only David Jolly for a raw, rapid-fire ride through comedy, chaos, and coming up clean. From cracking into Austin's comedy scene to wild bar stories, messy breakups, and moments of accidental public shame, the two reflect on stand-up, sobriety, and strange intrusive thoughts—like midget fetishes and farting in airports. This episode is part therapy session, part comedy bootcamp, and fully outrageous. Sponsored by Puffco, Kalya Extracts, and Alien Labs. Buckle up.
- To Be Frank: #1 Kim CongdonSep 23, 2024 · 51 minOn the premiere episode of To Be Frank, Frank Castillo welcomes hilarious and unfiltered comedian Kim Congdon for a wild, no-holds-barred deep dive into hash pipes, hot yoga, panic attacks, and emotional redemption. From smashing Puffcos to barefoot New York chases and Coke math via eight balls, this is stoner storytelling at its sharpest. They unpack Austin vs. L.A. comedy hustle, chaotic parenting patterns, and relationships that heal childhood wounds. Real, raw, and relentlessly funny—this one's for the comedy heads, the therapy nerds, and everyone who ever chased someone yelling, "Give me your phone, fatty!"
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