I'm a Disaster: Recent Episodes
I'm a Disaster
Lauren Holt (comedian, writer, UCB) is SO over being hard, unkind, and overly critical of herself; life is too gd short and that energy can be much better spent elsewhere. Lauren sits down with Cait to talk about embracing her awesomeness, changing her perspective to positivity over negativity, and speaks to the truth that, for most of us, it’s harder to be nice to ourselves versus mean…which is effed up! Lauren goes on to chat about being a reformed apology addict, embracing being kind to herself, and praising the all powerful art of laughing at yourself. Lauren also sounds off about the effed up way the industry handles body types for lead roles and how we should all find happiness in our own bodies. Treat yourself with love, gd it!
Lauren Holt is funny af and truly one of the warmest and kindest people you will ever meet. Follow her on Instagram @holtlauren, it’s Holt like her last name, but she’s also Hot Lauren! Watch her performing all around this wonderful city of LA, on your screens, and if you’re lucky enough to know her in person, see her there too.
I’m a Disaster is on:
Facebook @imadisasterpodcast
Instagram @imadisastercartoon
Cait on Insta @caitchock
Cait on Twitter @caitchock
Christina Calph (Actor, Comedian, Writer) was in her early 20’s, cast in a major movie, and had agents telling her she was the to be the next ‘big thing’. She was on the precipice of seeing her dreams realized. Then, in an instant, her name, credibility, and everything she worked so hard for was smeared when she was made the scapegoat of someone else’s poor behavior. Christina bravely talks to Cait about being young, naive, and an easy target in a time when she had no one on her side. The fallout from the drama sent her into a depression; but, she never gave up on her dream. Christina and Cait talk about starting over, the humility that takes, and the perspectives they keep in order to stay positive and never lose sight of their goals.
Christina Calph is a fucking badass boss babe and proven she’s resilient af. Follow her on Instagram @christinacalph and watch her awesome YouTube Channel, Bad Girl’s Ball.
I’m a Disaster is on:
Facebook @imadisasterpodcast
Instagram @imadisastercartoon
Cait on Insta @caitchock
Cait on Twitter @caitchock
Adam Macias (UCB, Finger Guns Comedy) had his first panic attack in the middle of his first day of college. Terrified that he had no idea what in the hell he was doing with his life, coupled with an incredible amount of family stress, this moment acted catalyst for the voices he began hearing, which were his anxieties personified. Adam opens up to Cait about that turbulent time, the counselor and coping mechanisms that changed his life, and how he bravely discovered he did NOT have to just accept being unhappy for the rest of his life. Adam and Cait also went to the same dang high school and they talk about some of the toxic culture that comes from an over-saturation of wealth (Cait and Adam weren’t wealthy, they were just in the school zone), lack of diversity, and ‘boredom.’ No doubt these things contributed to Adam’s gloomy outlook on his future. Adam is a fucking badass and has some amazing insights and coping mechanisms for anyone struggling and I implore you to LISTEN!!
Adam Macias is all over LA and the airwaves performing comedy. LISTEN to his podcast, Finger Guns Comedy, available on iTunes and all your other podcast services. Come to his monthly show, Smooch: A Rock and Roll Improv Show, the last Saturday of the month at 7:30pm at the Clubhouse. You can follow Finger Guns Comedy on Instagram @gofingerguns at and follow Adam @adamrmac.
I’m a Disaster is on:
Facebook @imadisasterpodcast
Instagram @imadisastercartoon
Cait on Insta @caitchock
Cait on Twitter @caitchock
Greg Smith (UCB, DopeTown 3000, writer, director) is someone I’ve long admired for being such a funny AND kind individual, and it was a gosh dang treat to sit down and talk to him about a mutual ability to spin the eff out thanks to anxiety and depression!! The treat was chatting with Greg, not our personal panic attacks. But Greg has worked very hard and come a long way at understanding, and learning to manage, his ‘depressive episodes.’ We talk about how just voicing some of ‘the absurdities’ causing us so much strife can feel like a bit of the burden has been lifted. We talk about SO much more: everything can be cured with the mall and Sbarro, a truly insane hazing at Glee Club, understanding mob mentality, and believing in the goodness of people. I personally learned some really great visual techniques for managing my depressive ups and downs from Greg, so thank you on that count, and I encourage everyone else to LISTEN!! (Also, I’ve hired Greg to be my personal hype guy…lol.)
Greg Smith is truly doing every dang thing! Follow him on Instagram @smithlgreg and Twitter @smithlgreg and go to www.smithlgreg.com for a comprehensive list of everything he’s doing. Tune in and subscribe to The DopeTown 3000 podcast he does with his awesome Hip Hop Improv Team, DopeTown 3000. He’s performing all around LA and you can see him every Friday night at 7pm at The Second City Theater for Supportive White Parents and go to www.dearjerryseinfeld.com to get tickets for the musical he co-wrote and is directing at The Rockwell and Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. He’s an amazing director; the short, Depressed, he directed was featured in Vulture…so do hit this boi up for that!!
I’m a Disaster is on:
Facebook @imadisasterpodcast
Instagram @imadisastercartoon
Cait on Insta @caitchock
Cait on Twitter @caitchock
Erin Byrne Siskind (UCB, Chat Bot, Mach) is not only hilarious af but one of the warmest, most welcoming people I’ve ever met. It makes me doubly sad that often times the most remarkable people are the very hardest on themselves. In this episode, Erin and I talk about struggling to overcome eating disorders and the depression that so often goes hand in hand with them. Having a voice constantly telling you you’re a piece of shit is a pretty fast way to get depressed. More importantly we talk about how we GOT OUT of the cycle and are continuing to stay out! We talk about healthy coping mechanisms, resources those who may be struggling can reach out to for help, and the beauty that is urge surfing. There is loads more so please LISTEN!! Mental health is often stigmatized but we talk about how eating disorders, exercise addiction, and body image get even more blanketed in shame; that should not be the case and anyone struggling needs to know talking is the only way out. You CAN be happy it just takes a lot of fighting.
Erin Byrne Siskind is goddamn KICKASS, inspiring, hilarious, and remarkable human. You can watch her performing around LA with her team Chatbot as well as Mach every Thursday night at 11pm at The Clubhouse. And you need to follow her on Instagram at @esbyrne !!
Resources:
The number for the Suicide Prevention Line is: 1-800-273-8255
Counseling resources and a variety of groups that can help you find a therapist and treatment options are available at: https://www.namiurbanla.org/resources
The National Eating Disorder Association with resources and crisis contact numbers: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
I’m a Disaster is on:
Facebook @imadisasterpodcast
Instagram @imadisastercartoon
Cait on Insta @caitchock
Cait on Twitter @caitchock
Twice a week Jake Regal (actor, comedian, UCB Cardinal Redbird) forces himself to go to an acting class that he loves and hates. This comes in a long line of things he’s made himself do because he knows it’s helping him but he hates the level of dread and anxiety he gets both during and beforehand. Jake talks me through the constant exposure therapy that are these classes and his on-going effort to confront his fear of rejection. Jake and I are both incredibly anxious people by nature (and self-deprecating to the zillionth degree) and laugh our way through sharing some of our most horrible life moments, defeats, how we survived, and what is getting us through the circus that is our brain. We cover so much, so LISTEN! Also, Jake talks about the time he puked on a bunch of fifth graders and if that’s not incentive enough to tune tf in, I don’t know what is!
Jake Regal is honestly one of the most kind, supportive, and hilarious people around the community! You can watch him performing around the city and every Tuesday night at 9:30pm at UCB Franklin with Cardinal Redbird. Follow him on Instagram @jakeregal and Twitter @jakeregal where he’ll soon be announcing where else you can see him popping up on screens and TV’s all over!
I’m a Disaster is on:
Facebook @imadisasterpodcast
Instagram @imadisastercartoon
Cait on Insta @caitchock
Cait on Twitter @caitchock
Cameron Gavinski (actor, comedian, animator) has an award winning animated short, is a hilariously talented improvisor, a witty af writer, and stays up late at night to put off doing what he has to do tomorrow. Cait and Cam talk about both being night owls with a flawed ‘endless day’ reasoning and how they’re managing to still get through those dreaded to-do lists. Cam is obviously productive as hell and he shares how he manages his anxieties, a full schedule, and hearing himself ‘think’. Cam and Cait are also both people pleasers, horribly indecisive when it comes to menus, and struggle with saying, “no”; they explain some ways they’ve been getting better at that. Speaking of menus, they OF COURSE praise the heavens above for Taco Bell and Cam makes a push to bring back the Cool Ranch and Fiery Doritos Locos Tacos flavors. There’s lots more, so LISTEN! Please and thank you!! And if you have any ties to Taco Bell, please pass the message along.
Cameron Gavinski is not only funny, he’s a nice af human and you NEED to follow him on the socials to stay up to date on all his projects and shows!! He’s on Twitter @camgavinski and Instagram @camgavinski and his adorable comics are on Instagram @camthefartist. Check out his amazing short film, FRANK, on YouTube and/or www.camgavinski.com/frank.
I’m a Disaster is on:
Facebook @imadisasterpodcast
Instagram @imadisastercartoon
Cait on Insta @caitchock
Cait on Twitter @caitchock
Tell Paul Heredia (UCB, Moon Goon, Fruit Chicken) he’s hilarious, smart, and kind (all of which I did) and he’ll think you’re lying and full of it. Juust kidding, but he probably won’t believe you. Paul and I chat about finding it insane to believe people are complimenting us without an end game or ulterior motive. We talk about how we’re learning to trust that people DO just genuinely like us (I mean, Paul’s husband likes him enough to stick around for 10 years and counting!! haha) and learning to reframe how we approach goals. This was such a fun episode, mostly because Paul is funny af and will go with me on tangents, we cover so much: being anxious children, discovering comedy, family drama, finding balance with comedy/life, addiction and self-control, Paul surviving the apocalypse with his $5 machete from Walmart, and legit, so much more…so LISTEN!!
Paul Heredia truly is a magical, witty, genius human and so gosh dang nice! Follow him on Instagram @paulheredia , watch him performing with UCB Maude Team, Mood Goon, and watch to his amazing sketch team, Fruit Chicken, on YouTube and on Instagram @fruitchicken! They currently have some hilarious sketches and are poised to release a web series and mockumentary soon! The mockumentry will also be screening, yes, a real life screening in a theater, this summer so get your butts to LA!!
I’m a Disaster is on:
Facebook @imadisasterpodcast
Instagram @imadisastercartoon
Cait on Insta @caitchock
Cait on Twitter @caitchock
Marc Amadin (UCB, actor, comedian) needs to go to Tokyo. But, he wants to go totally alone, without knowing the language, and without planning things to a T; just go, plug in his earphones, walk around, and have an adventure. To most that sounds terrifying (I’d 100% get lost!!), but in talking to Marc, he’s both brave and wholly content to figure things out by himself so long as he can hear himself think. A true introvert, Marc chats with Cait about managing social anxiety in an industry wrought with extroverts, small talk, networking shit, and being, well, on stage. Marc shares the best summer of his life, tips for fellow introverts in managing their anxieties, and has a HOT TIP for where to find the best damn taco truck in the world. Honestly, we all need to go on a road trip. LISTEN because as Marc is incredibly self-aware, speaks on things many of us can relate to, and you can save time/money on therapy (still go!!) by heeding his words.
Marc Amadin is a fucking hilarious human and it was such a treat talking with him!! You can follow him on Instagram @marcamadin and Twitter @marcamadin .
I’m a Disaster is on:
Facebook @imadisasterpodcast
Instagram @imadisastercartoon
Cait on Insta @caitchock
Cait on Twitter @caitchock
At his worst, Andy Bustillos (UCB Ghost, High Maintenance, Raven’s Home, Trojan commercial) couldn’t leave his house for three months because his anxiety was so severe. Cut to today, he’s performing, nailing auditions, meeting friends…living. Andy is a friggin BADASS in every sense and, look, I’ve admired him for being funny af for a long time, but after hearing just how much he overcomes just to get out, and stay out, of his room, I’m in awe. I had so much fun talking to him, laughing about the personal hell that is anxiety and panic (Personal hell isn’t ‘funny’ but the ability to laugh at the ridiculousness that is our own thought processes helps!), and his ability to look that anxiety in the face and tell it to “suck it” inspires me. And it’ll inspire you. No matter the degree to which you may be struggling, if there is a mental obstacle holding you back, this is a MUST LISTEN!! Managing anxiety is on-going and Andy is a shining example that if you want something badly enough (to perform, go to a show, get a job, etc.) you can do it…dry heaves and all, keep fightin, Badasses!
Andy Bustillos is goddamn all over and you need to watch him! Go to UCB Harold Night to see him performing with Ghost. He hosts BYOT at the Inner Sanctum the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00pm and Kaleidoscope at The Clubhouse the second and fourth Thursday of the month at 9pm. He’s also a kickass musician and you need to check him out on Spotify under Bustillos, follow him on Instagram @andybustillos, and see loads more of all things Andy at www.andybustillos.com. Finally, if you want to put together a death metal band HIT HIM UP!!
I’m a Disaster is on:
Facebook @imadisasterpodcast
Instagram @imadisastercartoon
Cait on Insta @caitchock
Cait on Twitter @caitchock
Driving to Anaheim!!! (worst recap, but I am driving, sorry, LISTEN plz and ty!) Iâm a Disaster is on: Facebook @imadisasterpodcast Instagram @imadisastercartoon Cait on Insta @caitchock Cait on Twitter Continue Reading â
Piera Pizzo (social media maven/digital content creator), with her bright hair, rainbow eye makeup, and kickass assortment of rings is the visual equivalent of pizza: the mere sight of it Continue Reading â
Yaki Margulies (UCB, stand-up, musician, cartoonist) is a big âmovie guyâ and grew up getting his perception of love from the movies. Spoiler, itâs not like that and, since moving Continue Reading â
Caitâs having trouble writing this description because Loring Griggs (comedian, musician, Caitâs best friend) is truly one of her favorite people in the world and the only words to properly Continue Reading â
Gregory Adam Wallace (UCB Queen George, Actor, Photographer) is impressive onstage because of his ability to bring actual emotions to his comedy, making it land even harder. (Credit that to Continue Reading â
Mike Christian (UCB, The Pack) is an introvert who loves being around people, but sometimes it takes him âignoring his brainâ to get out and be a part of the Continue Reading â
Chuck Maa (Seventh Grade, Comedian, Dancer) grew up obsessively striving to eke out that extra 10% from himself. He wants to be the very best he can be. That drive Continue Reading â
Mike McLendon (Outside Dog, UCB, writer, artist) fits into the role of a âfunâ mentor the way Ryan Gosling fits into that friggin scorpion jacket in Drive. Itâs something that Continue Reading â
Annabel Seymour (UCB, Netflix) got staffed as a writer for a fucking Netflix show!! She hit the goal sheâd been working towards for YEARS, and then?? Well, of course she Continue Reading â
Blake Wilding (UCB, comedian, writer) is an icon for many reasons, being funny af is one, and now we can add another reason: he eats popcorn in bed with chopsticks!! Continue Reading â
Even Will Hines (UCB, improv God, author) feels anxious during improv scenes sometimes, and when he does, he pictures a bird with X-ray vision looking down at the stage seeing Continue Reading â
Mary Sasson (UCB, The Rank Room, Party in the Back) has always been called, âfunnyâ but she wants the world to know thatâs she sweet too! Growing up in a Continue Reading â
Emily Clark (comedian, dancer, DJ, model) is the chillest NOT chill person ever. She never tries to hide her enthusiasm for things sheâs passionate about because, why should we? And, Continue Reading â
Warning, Cait did almost asphyxiate during this recording because she couldnât breathe between laughs. Mike Lane (UCB, American Princess, Boat Comedy) is fucking hilarious and he talks with Cait about Continue Reading â
Robbie Rittman (musician, actor, comedian) is a goddamn gem of a human. He is an old soul with compassion and the self-awareness that can only come from being forced to Continue Reading â
David William Montgomery (The Moth, UCB) is insane in the best possible way. He quit his job to follow The Spice Girls on tour, heâs so quick youâll still be Continue Reading â
You, Guys!! You know that feeling when you see freshly baked chocolate chips cookies? Thatâs the same feeling you get whenever you talk to Pete Byrnes. Pete (comedian, musician, magical Continue Reading â
From an early age Natasha Chandel (Kinda Dating Podcast, Comedian, Writer) had the maturity and awareness that most people will never reach. She was an empath for whom, unfortunately, that Continue Reading â
Matt Chamberlin (comedian, writer) is a thinker. Heâs considerate, chooses his words carefully, and is a âreformedâ over-thinker (oh, but honestly, arenât we all works in progress on that one?!). Continue Reading â
Brad Varian (comedian, musician, overall good dude!) by all outward appearances is the coolest, chillest person you will ever meet. And while he IS the coolest, inside heâs not the Continue Reading â
After graduating college, Charlie Mihelich (UCB, Donatella, Catharsis) did what he felt he was âsupposed toâ and went to graduate school. But nothing felt right and every adult he talked Continue Reading â
In what is officially the longest, bit-filled, and most open episodes to date, Eric Pastore (UCB, A-Team) sits down with Cait to talk about harboring a crush on a friend Continue Reading â
Wickedly funny, Scott Thiede (Comedian, UCB, Camp Fire Media), sits down with Cait to talk ALL about the blessed curse of being a self-aware, goal-driven individual who believes they are Continue Reading â
Monica Loomba (UCB Rat King, Making Partner) is goddamn hilarious, talented, driven, and possibly the best liar youâll ever meet. Donât worry, she only uses her power for good! Even Continue Reading â
Jeremy Culhane (American Vandal S2, UCB, Heathers) grew up with a myriad of fears, think the Ocean, snakes, and being alone. He eventually got pretty good at hiding how anxious Continue Reading â
You read that right, we got Courtney Fuckin Sevener on the podcast! Courtney (Thank You, Ten, UCB, Unrepresented) talks to Cait about growing up a âscared kidâ and the anxieties Continue Reading â
Cara Meyers (WILD Improv, But My Dadâs a Therapist podcast) is hot af, hilarious af, and SO OVER dealing with the cesspool that is dating in LA. Cara recounts to Continue Reading â
ALL NEW Iâm a Disaster podcast episode with the wildly funny and King of Podcasts himself, Jeremy Schmidt!! We all have that moment(s) when we watched our parents (or parental Continue Reading â
Sean Quetulio (writer, comedian) is a comedy writer so it shouldnât come as much of a shock that heâs had his fair share of anxiety and depression. Sean is also Continue Reading â
Justin Patterson (UCB Rat King, Deuce Ex Machina) used to be so terrified of public speaking he passed out not once, but twice, during two separate presentations. His anxiety around Continue Reading â
Honesty is difficult for a lot of people, be it from trying to spare someone elseâs feelings, a fear of rejection, or any other reason, a lack of honesty winds Continue Reading â
Cait sits down with Nancy Castelan to talk about the importance of positive self-talk and learning to loving yourself. Itâs interesting that, though weâre living in a time when Influencers Continue Reading â
Jeff Whitaker (Fuck This Week, Unrepresented, Snacks Improv) experienced an insane amount of loss at a time when most people were still getting drunk at college. Losing his mother to Continue Reading â
The oh so wonderful Ezra Parter (Three Pack Abs, Bath Bombs Improv, Recap Gameshow Podcast) sits down with Cait to talk about transitioning out of friendships when you realize you Continue Reading â
Everyoneâs favorite Papa, Joe Fahey (Mach, Ringo, UCB), blesses us with his wisdom! Joe sits down with Cait to talk about âthe turning pointâ, or âmental clickâ, when he realized Continue Reading â
Luke Null (SNL) sits down with Cait to talk about everything from âcashing outâ to his passing out and rolling down a hill at a hot, LA party. âCashing Outâ Continue Reading â
Cory Webster (Dick Cannon, Chat Bot) and Cait take a drive down memory lane through all the pieces of shit cars theyâve owned. From pushing your car 15 miles in Continue Reading â
Finding the balance between a healthy amount of alone/reflective time and social time is difficult when youâre an introvert with extrovertive tendencies! Such is one topic of discussion with the Continue Reading â
There was a time when Amanda Bonar (comedian, writer, Dick Cannon, Wild) was regularly experiencing sleep paralysis, which is, fucking terrifying! Amanda sits down with Cait to talk about what Continue Reading â
Two years ago, Jake Jabbour (comedian, writer, UCB Harold Team Vulture, The Meat Improv podcast) boarded a train to escape LA and the ever-present reminders that he had just lost Continue Reading â
A topic we ALL must deal with: failures. Loring Griggs (comedian, songwriter, musician, magical human being) truly has the best perspective on them and makes this an incredibly insightful and Continue Reading â
Josh Simpson (host of The Meat Improv podcast, UCB Teacher/Performer) sits down with Cait to talk about being adopted and proving family is more than blood relations. Josh talks about Continue Reading â
Monte Montepare (extreme adventurer, comedian, storyteller, improvisor) has unflinchingly faced death on the Alaskan tundra dozens of times, but what truly scares him is having to âinteract like a normal Continue Reading â
Outside of losing that V card, few things get as much hype during adolescence as getting your first kiss. Itâs a benchmark of growing up that carries enough pressure as Continue Reading â
Jessica Rogersâ life knows no middle ground, interestingly enough neither does Caitâs! In this episode, that is truly all over the place, Cait chats with hilarious comedian, Jessica, about the Continue Reading â
Getting dumped sucks!! Jessica Svendsgaard (comedian, improvisor with The Interns, Wild, and Del Taco Talk Show Host) bravely talks us through her first break-up experience, and, in a word it Continue Reading â
Letâs talk about money, or more correctly, the lack there-of! Cait sits down with UCB darling, Cassi Jerkins (comedian, director, musician, all-around kickass boss babe), to talk about what itâs Continue Reading â
How do you survive when EVERYTHING is going wrong at the same time? Rachel Van Nes (UCB Harold Team Heartthrob, sketch team New Hot Dog, slews of indie shows, featured Continue Reading â
Comedian and musician, Jacob Godbey, (one half of the biggest comedy duo out of Montana, Gingerâs on Ice) sits down with Cait to talk about learning how to better communicate Continue Reading â
They say New York has a special kind of magic unlike any other city in the world, but is it worth slogging through all the shit, trash, and actual waste Continue Reading â
UCBâs all-around good boi, Conner McCabe, talks with Cait about overthinking and getting waaaaay too ahead of yourself in relationships and in life. Conner talks about sabotaging a would-be relationship Continue Reading â
Cait sits down with Indie Improv King, Dennis Curlett, (insert Dennis cringing reading a compliment directed at him) about their worst Prom experiences. Dennis talks about crushing on a girl Continue Reading â
Cait sits down with UCB darling, Andrew Young, to talk about the summer he spent 18 hours a day working in an Alaskan fish cannery in order to fund his Continue Reading â
The very first episode of Iâm a Disaster gets DEEP and we fuckin love it! Hilarious UCB improvisor, Sam Johnson, talks about the worst year of his life where he Continue Reading â