Stand-Up Memories

This week on Stand-Up Memories, we take a turn off the beaten comedy path… and into a story that spans history, humanity, and the power of preservation. Our guest, Richard Hurowitz, is an author, historian, and humanitarian whose work explores the moments—and people—that shape the world we live in. He’s the author of “In the Garden of the Righteous”, a powerful book that uncovers extraordinary acts of courage during one of history’s darkest times. So what happens when you drop a historian into a room with Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling and Peter “The Professor” Bales? You get something unexpected. A conversation that moves between laughter and legacy… between punchlines and perspective. Because while comedians preserve moments on stage… Richard preserves the stories that might otherwise be forgotten. It’s still Stand-Up Memories—just zoomed out a bit… from the stage to the world. 👉 If you love great storytelling, surprising conversations, and episodes that hit a little deeper… this one delivers. #StandUpMemories #RichardHurowitz #InTheGardenOfTheRighteous #Storytelling #HistoryMatters #ComedyPodcast #JackieMartling #PeterBales #HumanStories #PodcastEpisode

Every local comedy scene has that one guy who feels like he’s been everywhere, seen everything, and somehow has a story about all of it. On this episode of Stand-Up Memories, Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling and Peter Bales sit down with Long Island comedian Fat Jay—a larger-than-life personality with a sharp sense of humor and a lifetime of comedy stories tucked under his belt. Fat Jay has been grinding it out on stages across Long Island and beyond, bringing his unapologetic style, street-smart observations, and quick punchlines to audiences who like their comedy real, raw, and hilarious. Whether he’s talking about the insanity of everyday life, the characters you only meet in New York, or the strange road of being a working comic, Jay delivers it the way only a seasoned stand-up can. In this episode, the guys swap stories from the trenches of stand-up comedy—club gigs, wild audiences, life on the road, and the unpredictable moments that only happen when a microphone, a spotlight, and a room full of people collide. It’s loose, funny, and exactly what you’d expect when three comics start reminiscing. Expect laughs, unexpected stories, and a few moments where you realize the best part of comedy isn’t just the jokes—it’s the journey getting there. 🎤 Stand-Up Memories is where comedy history, backstage stories, and real conversations with legendary and rising comedians come together. #StandUpMemories #ComedyPodcast #LongIslandComedy #FatJay #JackieMartling #PeterBales

This week on More Stand-Up Memories, we sit down with Vinny D'Agostino — and his story is not your typical path to the punchline. Before the stage lights… before the microphones… before the green rooms and late-night sets… Vinny was an FBI agent. Let that sink in. We talk about the leap — from federal investigations to standing in front of a brick wall with a two-drink minimum. What shifts inside a person when you go from building cases to building sets? From reading suspects to reading crowds? Vinny opens up about the mindset it takes to operate in high-stakes environments — and how that discipline, awareness, and psychological insight unexpectedly translate to comedy. Turns out, reading a room isn’t all that different from reading a witness. Timing is timing. Pressure is pressure. And both worlds demand presence. We explore the courage it takes to pivot careers so drastically, the reactions he got when people found out about his past, and how those lived experiences shape his voice on stage today. It’s not just a career change story. It’s about identity. Reinvention. And realizing that sometimes the second act is the truest one. From badges to belly laughs — this one’s a ride. And yes… we do ask if anyone ever feels nervous heckling a former federal agent.

It’s Part 2 of “Just the Guys” on Stand-Up Memories. No guest. No agenda. Just Jackie and Peter doing what they’ve done for decades — talking, remembering, busting chops, and somehow turning everyday nonsense into comedy gold. When it’s just Jackie Martling and Peter Bales, the stories get looser, the punchlines get quicker, and the tangents go exactly where they’re not supposed to… which is usually where the good stuff lives. In Part 2, they dig a little deeper — more road stories, more backstage moments, more reflections on how stand-up has changed… and how it hasn’t. There’s something special about hearing two seasoned comics talk shop without trying to impress anyone. It’s not a performance. It’s perspective. This is the rhythm of friendship. This is the rhythm of comedy. This is what happens when you hit record and let it roll. Just the guys. Part 2. Stand-Up Memories.

This week on More Stand-Up Memories, we sit down with Vinny D'Agostino — and his story is not your typical path to the punchline. Before the stage lights… before the microphones… before the green rooms and late-night sets… Vinny was an FBI agent. Let that sink in. We talk about the leap — from federal investigations to standing in front of a brick wall with a two-drink minimum. What shifts inside a person when you go from building cases to building sets? From reading suspects to reading crowds? Vinny opens up about the mindset it takes to operate in high-stakes environments — and how that discipline, awareness, and psychological insight unexpectedly translate to comedy. Turns out, reading a room isn’t all that different from reading a witness. Timing is timing. Pressure is pressure. And both worlds demand presence. We explore the courage it takes to pivot careers so drastically, the reactions he got when people found out about his past, and how those lived experiences shape his voice on stage today. It’s not just a career change story. It’s about identity. Reinvention. And realizing that sometimes the second act is the truest one. From badges to belly laughs — this one’s a ride. And yes… we do ask if anyone ever feels nervous heckling a former federal agent.