The Family and Fitness Issue of SlapStik Comedy Magazine with Tony T. Roberts

S L A P S T I K

Mecha Swain

From a very young age, fitness has always been a priority to me because my parents didn’t play Every year, before school ended, we had to tell my parents two sports that we were going to participate in during the summer that would keep us involved and busy I started off as a little league cheerleader for the Little Tigers In middle school, I ran track and played softball My grandma signed my twin sister and I up for private tennis lessons every summer. When I got to high school, I did drill team during football season, and I did dance team during basketball season I also remember my mom, sister, and I going to aerobics classes at the YMCA (especially on the weekend).

I gave birth to my first son at the age of 18, and I had my second son at the age of 20, so keeping up with my body was critical to me Not only that, but their father played football at Michigan State University, and I knew about groupies so, I knew I had competition

Publisher's Note

Throughout my college years, I took kickboxing classes, which was usually my first class of the day. On the weekends, I regularly walked the neighborhood, and for the past 12 years, I’ve consistently had a gym membership at Planet Fitness Soon, I will have a personal trainer (I think)

Now that I m in my 40’s, I’m still working out as much as possible. I m getting older and my goal is to keep it tight and toned. I used to have a 45-minute drive to work, so before I went in, I went to the gym every single morning at 4:30 am That is how dedicated I was My sons were athletes One played college football He and I visited the gym together often We would take turns doing squats and lifting weights utilizing the same Smith machine.

Now that I can’t think of anything else to tell you about my workout regime, let me tell you about the hard work that Team SlapStik dedicated to this issue Malik Harvey wrote a heart pumping article about sex that made me not only want to have sex, but have frequent sex. Starletta Watson s interview with Tony Roberts made me realize that I don’t need to spend 1.5 hours in the gym: 20 minutes, 5 days a week, will do E Alexander Phillips-Hedge wrote about Veganism I often think about eating right, and that includes making meat obsolete in my daily intake But then I thought about it again and, I just can’t do it. I need meat!

Enjoy reading this issue of SlapStik Magazine There is something in here for everyone

Thank you,

Mecha Swain

Meet The Team

Jonathan Hernandez Malik Harvey MaryBeth Edmundson

Tameeah Browne Nicole Tissot Sable Hawkins

Sally Bessette Summer Jones

Zach Rush

E. Alexander Phillips Hedge

Angie DiDomenica Ben Cena Alexandra Webb

Erin Oliver Kaley Richard

Katherine Hoang

Starletta Watson Shannon Lynch

FINISH The Sentence

w/ Tony Roberts

If I ruled the world…

“I would get everyone off the streets that s homeless If I ruled the world there wouldn’t be one homeless person I hate seeing that driving around. I can t stand that. And I would ask kids certain questions and smack them if they get it wrong because a lot of these kids are gettin’ on my nerve The way they’re raised today, they ain’t got no manners I hate a kid that ain’t got no manners Sometimes when I m in the airport, I see a kid doing something their momma said don t do, and they are doing it. I wanna go over there and yank him I will help her Just give me two minutes with him But yeah, if I ruled the world, that’s what I would do

Help the homeless and slap the bad kids ”

When I was a kid…

“I used to like my aunt s friends, like sexually. My aunt had friends and all her friends had big breasts. I used to stare at them, be in the living room just staring. And she d go, Tony get out of here and go outside I d go, I don’t wanna go outside ’ When I was a kid, I used to love my aunts’ friends I thought they were so cute I didn’t know what I was doing I just liked their breasts. I was like ‘wow look at those boobs.’ And that’s the truth and I hate to admit that. As soon as you asked that (talking to Zach Rush) I was like, shit I don t wanna say that I was gonna say when I was a kid, I loved chocolate That too, but I used to love my aunt’s friends.”

A random thought I had the other day was…

I got the privilege and delight of hopping on a Zoom call with the wickedly talented and incredibly adorable April Brucker April wears many hats: she’s a comedienne, professional ventriloquist, actress, author, screenwriter, and much more. We chatted about her background at NYU, how her teachers discouraged her from going into acting, and how she began her own ventriloquist acts at age 13. We delved into past relationships and books she’s written. I even got to meet some of her puppets (if I knew I was going to get to meet the “Donald Tramp” puppet, I would’ve put a little lipstick on). Here are some of my favorite moments with April that barely graze the surface of this multi-talented, kind, and hilarious star. I wholeheartedly agree with John Katsilometes from the Las Vegas Review-Journal

QWhen you attended NYU for acting, did you intend to do ventriloquism, or what did you intend on doing after?

AI’d always done ventriloquism since I was a kid. I hosted a public access show called “Storytime with April and Friends” with my puppets, where we read bedtime stories to kids and sent the tapes around the world I was on public access stations in 36 states, 6 countries, and the world wide web, and doing this with my own money.

I got into college, and I thought I was going to be a legit actor, like this was just opening the door I get to college and immediately I’m doing the dorm talent shows, and I’m doing well in them. Then, I m going to acting class and had an acting teacher tell me I would never be an actor. She said, “April you are very odd ”ding! I was like I know; I’ve been told my whole life “No, you are very odd But odd doesn t mean you re going to be an actor.

Luckily, you’re young enough that you can find something that you re good at.” Then I had another teacher say, “April, you re not a classical actor”, because I was actually on a track to become a classical actor I actually thought about moving back home, leaving NYC, and doing something else with my life.

One day it was raining, and I passed a comedy club I'd been blowing off at every dorm talent show there was, so I knew I’ve got something going on. So, I walk into this comedy club, and this is how I knew this would be the path for me I was just trying to get out of the rain and they’re like “Free comedy show!” I had to buy this bottle of water, and I thought wow this is where I need to be. I switched to a more contemporary acting track at NYU and started to do comedy in the clubs in college My teacher was right: I was not going to be a classical actor I was going to be something better Just kid

“She’ s fun, this one. ”

How old were you when you started doing your own acts?

I was 13 years old And that was an accident

Any good thing that happens to me in life is an accident. Anytime I make my own plans, I should really stop that crapola. I was 13 and I really thought I was going to be a gymnast and a diver As a matter of fact, I will still try to tumble around my yard, but then I’ll need an Advil because, apparently, I’m not 8 anymore I wanted to be a platform diver because I was getting too tall for gymnastics. I was hitting puberty and getting injured a bunch While I loved being a platform diver, my enthusiasm and my talent did not match I had a diving coach, who had coached Olympians, tell me, “You know, you might not be good at this. Maybe you should take up basket weaving.”

I was 13 years old And that was an accident

Any good thing that happens to me in life is an accident Anytime I make my own plans, I should really stop that crapola I was 13 and I really thought I was going to be a gymnast and a diver. As a matter of fact, I will still try to tumble around my yard, but then I’ll need an Advil because, apparently, I’m not 8 anymore I wanted to be a platform diver because I was getting too tall for gymnastics I was hitting puberty and getting injured a bunch. While I loved being a platform diver, my enthusiasm and my talent did not match I had a diving coach, who had coached Olympians, tell me, “You know, you might not be good at this Maybe you should take up basket weaving ”

I’ve got to ask you about your viral “Donald Tramp” dummy attention. How did it feel to have that type of coverage?

AWell, if you wait a second, I can get him, and you can ask him (“Donald Tramp” doll speaking): That type of coverage was yuuuuggggge!

Did your fiancé really give you an ultimatum on choosing him or your puppets?

Yep The whole relationship itself was insane, honestly. Dating is like free therapy: you learn a lot about yourself, and they may be lessons you don’t want to learn I was young trying to make my way as a ventriloquist All of a sudden, I meet this guy who is everything I think I want, because he’s willing to be my boyfriend on the first date! Then, on our third date he drops on one knee. I thought, “Wow! I ve never had a man love me this much before! This isn’t a red flag at all!” Then all of sudden, he s becoming very controlling. He would say his friends didn t like me and thought my puppets were stupid, which I found out later wasn’t true Finally, I told him I wanted to be a professional ventriloquist He said, “You know what, it’s me or the puppets, April!”

I thought I, maybe, needed to grow up, so I put my puppets away. But the relationship was getting worse, and I was unhappy Finally, one day, I told him I couldn t do this anymore He always said he could do better than me, so I told him, “Go do it, then!”

The best advice I can give to anyone that I learned from this is when you’re not your best self in anything, get out of it I feel like I could write about gaslighting from being with him too

QHow did the opportunity come about for your new “April in Vegas” TV show?

AI wanted to do it since the pandemic with Steve Dennis, who was at a hotel in Vegas in the past. He had worked with my manager back in the day. My manager told me to work with him, and when the world started to open back up, Steve moved back to Vegas He was managing a Marriott portfolio property He has a great YouTube channel and I started doing live streams with him. The next thing we know, we started hosting by the pool and talking with famous comedy guests We’re very grateful and blessed to be part of the Las Vegas entertainment community. And if you want to watch episodes, go to April Brucker Comedy on YouTube

(https://www youtube com/@AprilBruck erComedy)

QWho makes you laugh the hardest?

AMy friends always make me laugh the hardest I’ve always had funny friends To be my friend, I think you have to be funny I am also probably one of the only women you ll meet who love the Stooges. My mom makes me laugh, and my nieces, they’re my free entertainment

QWhat do you watch late at night?

AI watch a lot of funny videos, documentaries, and a lot of good TV I m all about writing and I ve written three books. I wrote, “I Came, I Saw, I Sang”, when I was a singing-telegram-er in New York City to pay for the ventriloquism I wrote an adult picture book called, “April Unwrapped”, and “Don’t Read My Lips” if you guys want to know how I do this. I watch a lot of old classic TV because I have an MFA in screenwriting, and I watch TV as homework

QWhat does a typical “day in the life” look like for you right now?

AIt depends, I’m starting to travel more and do shows Sometimes I leave on a Thursday and spend the week packing. Typically, I get up and look at castings. I rehearse a lot Rehearsing is your friend During the pandemic, I actually got to take the same professors in college through online classes who really embraced rehearsal. When you rehearse sometimes you start and then think, “I just thought of a good joke!” I’m also working on a rendition of “I Came, I Saw, I Sang” I love to write, I love to cook, I love my dogs If you want to come over, you may have to hop on a plane, but I can give you some chili.

Erin Oliver

er er Youtube Videos

Would you gain for a movie? 30 lbs.

"I would if I had a trainer to help me after the movie." Marcus Martin

"I don’t think my body type can gain 30 lbs. It’s a no for me."

Raymond Jackson

"I would do my best, that said, putting ON weight hasn’t been easy for me. Ever."

Neko White

"I’m trying to gain 30 pounds in real life."

Deacon Usually Petty

"Yes, I would!" Skip Clark

"I already have." Chris Anderson

Workout Videos

"Absolutely! In the last year I gained 40 pounds for nothing; so, I’m more than ready for closeup. "

Leighann Lord

"I would gain 30 lbs for a movie role. It would show producers and writers I am versatile and how serious I would want that role. And it also shows sacrifice for your profession, which should be appreciated."

Comedian

"Hell, I’d gain 30 lbs. for a Klondike bar!"

Lifting weights with Mecha Swain and Star Watson

Kevin Hart Discussing Workout

J. Wiley

Paige Jenkins Geisler

Are Kids Exercising Enough?

The lack of exercise from kids has been an ongoing problem for decades. While that sounds depressing, it’s a known fact. Obesity is more common between 6year-olds and 19-year-olds. It’s a huge bracket of kids that need to be sought action immediately. But how come it’s hard for parents to diminish that bracket?

When asking parents what the hardest part about keeping their kids active is, they usually say coming up with exercises to keep them moving. While taking kids to the playground can do a lot of the job, it sometimes isn’t enough Kids can cap out at any time, but thankfully there are techniques available to enhance their persistence to exercise and keep them active enough to receive their daily health benefits.

There are three components to children’s fitness: endurance, strength, and flexibility Improving their endurance helps strengthen their heart and opens more airways, allowing their cells to absorb more oxygen, while also amplifying their strength to toughen their bones. Finally, boosting their flexibility betters their joints and muscles Coming up with ways to have them achieve all three components does not have to be hard It can be as simple as playing tag or going for a bike ride!

What’s important is taking each exercise routine step by step If your children don t like to exercise, they can start going out 15 minutes a day, then 30 minutes, and then eventually an hour. This will build their stamina as it can later be a part of their daily habit

It is also heavily important for parents to instigate helpful ways to have their kids exercise early in their development. The sooner parents work on preventing obesity, reducing risks of high blood pressure and heart disease, and lowering chances of diabetes, the better the chances their kids will have at avoiding them in the future Having children start young builds their persistence and cultivates long-lasting healthy exercise habits. It is up to parents to come up with diverse ways to make sure their kids get the full exercise they need. Not only will their children benefit physically, but also mentally Exercising helps prevent depression, reduces anxiety, and teaches them a healthy way to cope with stress as they grow older

A huge and abiding problem is that many kids are allowed excessive screen time Whether it be playing video games or watching television for hours every day, immoderate screen time can lead to weight gain and mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression The reason why parents can’t form methods of exercise can be that they work too much and don’t have the capacity to apply ways to exercise throughout the day, or that developing ways to exercise is too hard. The more time kids spend on a screen, the more time they could have spent being outside or doing some form of exercise While exercise can stimulate children s brains and keep them active until they are tired enough to fall asleep easily, screen time has proven that they will want to stay up all night because of it, and if they spend all day accessing screen time, it will be harder for them to fall asleep at night

Children as young as two years old already have access to their own phones The more they are on their screens, the less they pay attention to the world around them, especially if they are outside on their phones or iPads. They won’t be able to have enough social awareness and not know how to engage with others They are also less likely to pay attention to what’s in front of them, especially if they are in school Now, don’t think screen time is always bad If implemented right, then there shouldn’t be any problems with their development. This might mean watching educational videos or shows that can teach them life lessons that can fortify their brain With many schools wanting to shorten recess time and give kids access to play outside, parents need to apply more ways for them to exercise more than ever.

Children as young as two years old already have access to their own phones The more they are on their screens, the less they pay attention to the world around them, especially if they are outside on their phones or iPads They won’t be able to have enough social awareness and not know how to engage with others They are also less likely to pay attention to what s in front of them, especially if they are in school. Now, don’t think screen time is always bad. If implemented right, then there shouldn’t be any problems with their development This might mean watching educational videos or shows that can teach them life lessons that can fortify their brain With many schools wanting to shorten recess time and give kids access to play outside, parents need to apply more ways for them to exercise more than ever If the chance of resistance happens from a child where they refuse to exercise, putting them in specific social settings can help Like taking them to a zoo, the mall, or having friends over since that’s when kids can feel most comfortable exerting themselves

Keeping up healthy patterns with a daily schedule will help your kids develop committed habits to better themselves Every day can be different with a wide variety of ways to keep them active. They don t have to just be taken to a park, but they can be taught how to play sports, such as basketball, soccer, football, or baseball They can be taken to a water park or a pool so they can swim to improve endurance and build their strength. Skating improves the heart and strengthens the muscles. Biking minimizes blood fat levels and toughens heart muscles Hiking reduces the chances of high blood pressure and heart disease

Steering kids in the right direction so they don t have to think about exercise is a great technique. If being taught a sport or another skill, they are more likely to practice that skill consistently, which will benefit them in the long run They can play tag, play a game of catch, play hopscotch, shoot hoops, fly a kite, race dashes, go scavenger hunting, jump roping, freeze dance, musical chairs, playing “duck, duck, goose,” bowling, walking the dog, or start gardening Redirecting them can prevent them from being frustrated and give them reasons to want to exercise. Keeping them interested in different activities will make them want to come back for more Parents can help them see exercise as something good instead of something that is dragging them down

Exercise isn’t the only way to keep kids healthy. Keeping them healthy all-around is what will help them live longer and be less prone to health problems For example, kids five to eight years old should eat a good balanced diet every day with ¾ cup of vegetables and fruits, one ounce of grains, one cup of dairy, and two ounces of protein. The struggle with getting kids to eat vegetables and fruits is very common but making kid-friendly recipes that taste palatable can help them want to eat these foods Setting a daily schedule to have them exercise at a certain time and also scheduling what they should eat will create a long-lasting habit What also helps is establishing exercise into their daily lives The earlier you can instill a schedule to help them now, the better their lives will be in the long run

For instance, biking to places instead of driving them, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or even walking the dog around the neighborhood This is a calmer approach and makes them more likely to seek out these activities when they get older What helps is having your kids test out different activities and seeing which appeal to them. Observe them on the playground so you can incorporate their favorite activities at home You can also have the whole family join in on the activities, so your kids can see it is just as fun as the family makes it out to be Planning exercises can be stressful, so not putting too much pressure on your kids can help how they view exercising later Keeping the activities fun can also make them want to turn it more into a friendly competition and inspire them to work out

Katherine Hoang

Comedians who Play Sports

Jon Stewart soccer

Ed O’Neill

football

Adam Sandler

basketball

Ellen DeGeneres

tennis

Tina Fey tennis

Jamie Foxx football basketball

Kevin hart Basketball

Will Ferrell

Football Basketball

Bill Murray

baseball

Star Watson

Veganism In Comedy

Vegans, who likes them? Not even vegans themselves if the way that stand-up comics, whether vegan or not, talk about them Some of the typical jabs that comics go for are the uppity attitude that they have or about the body strength that they lack Why these come up, I have no clue. Perhaps it is due to them not liking the idea of them not eating meat or dairy. But clearly this hate for them is odd and unjustified because some comedy icons that many of us love like Weird Al Yankovic and Steve-O from Jackass eat plant-based meals so clearly, no one hates every vegan With this in mind, in this piece, I want to look at some stand-up bits by vegan and non-vegan comics alike to note some of the ways that the caricature of the vegan is characterized and perhaps see why the caricature exists in the first place.

There are plenty of the go to jokes that I have noticed across a multiplicity of comedians (vegan and not) can be seen in this joke compilation Whether vegan or not, many of these jokes are about vegans not having many friends, or about vegans lacking physical strength The first joke comes up due to stereotypes about vegans and people finding these stereotypes to be obnoxious. The latter comes from the composition of a vegan diet being a diet that is not as rich in protein or amino acids as a standard diet is. I assume that these jokes are popular because everyone knows that vegan in their life who is sort of an uppity prick about it, and it is common knowledge that protein is very important in muscular development These jokes stem from a feeling of familiarity, a feeling of connection between the comic and the audience A joke can land successfully if it is something that only the comic has experienced, but a joke will land much easier if it is familiar to us, hence why an obnoxious vegan is such an easy target, even for vegan comics.

One of my favorite bits about being vegan and the treatment that results from it is awkward boy Julio Torres s The Hardest Part of Being Vegan. In this bit he recounts how he feels he is being treated differently from others due to being vegan. In the bit, he talks about a doctor’s visit, the shame he feels for being vegan, and how veganism impacted his social life A phrase he says that is relevant to the rest of the bit is “The hardest part of being vegan is all the umm… the uh… the apologizing.” From this phrase we can infer that he feels a sense of shame from his veganism, and this is all but confirmed in the following lines of the bit, in which he states that, while he does not miss meat or dairy, he misses having fun and being liked. He then follows this bit by recounting a doctor’s visit where he was told that he is seriously underweight

He takes this as a smart-ass comment and replies, “you too” to the doctor From the entirety of this bit, we can assume that he has not had the best experience being vegan and the caricature of vegans has had some impact on his life (assuming that he is not playing this all up as a joke)

Another reason why vegans may not be well liked is revealed in this Brian Simpson joke. Here, he talks about the hypocrisy of vegans, which is why he dislikes some of them. In this bit, he talks to a member of the audience who is vegan and one of her friends catches her eating pizza with cheese on it He uses this as an example of some of the hypocritical behavior that some vegans participate in. To me, this reminds me of some of the abhorrent treatment of animals that PETA participates in, killing most of the animals that they receive to take care of or give them proper homes

It is this type of hypocritical behavior that makes people dislike organizations like PETA, they cannot really put their money where their mouths are. This is the very same case for the example that Brian Simpson calls out in his audience She openly admitted she was vegan but was quickly called out on non-vegan behavior and thus was a hypocrite, and everyone is annoyed by a hypocrite. This helps build upon the caricature of the vegan in comedy.

The character of the vegan is someone who wants to be envied but is just sneered at for the way that they express this feeling

Nigel Grinstead did a fantastic bit called The Problem With Vegans in which he addresses the issue of envy within the vegan community, but not in the same way that I had discussed earlier In this bit, he addresses and asks why vegans name and compare their food to ones with meat in them He simply addresses it as something odd, something that makes you concerned about the food that you are about to eat. And this issue is not only for food but for milk alternatives too.

Jack Whitehall does a bit for his Netflix special, I’m Only Joking, about the various “milks” and why it is an absurd name for them.

In this bit, he discusses that the sheer number and variety of the “milks” is now absurd with milks like almond, cashew, oat, soy, hemp seed, coconut, and more He then goes more in depth and asks why these are called milks when you cannot really milk the seeds and nuts. They should just be called “nut juices” rather than “nut milks”. This loosely connects to something from Julio Torres’s bit from earlier and the feeling of isolation due to being vegan I do believe that there is a sense of envy within the vegan community of not wanting to feel left out just because of a lifestyle choice. This adds to the caricature of the vegan that has been built, they are people who want to be envied because they feel like outcasts

Through the examination of vegans in comedy, I think I have come up with the reason why vegans have this character built around them: it is because they want to be understood and accepted. This caricature is one even used by vegan comedians to connect with their audience and be understood It is a caricature that most people know now and can laugh at; it aids in feeling less lonely because of a lifestyle choice I am not saying this is right or wrong; I am simply stating my observations regarding vegan comedians, and the general attitude towards vegans

A vegan in comedy is someone who has a holier than thou attitude for various reasons like being healthier or advocating for animal rights, while not adhering to them In my opinion, it is the building of this character that we can laugh at that causes a disdain for vegans in comedy culture

E. Alexander Phillips-Hedge

F u n n y W o r k o u t M o m e n t s

Cinema and television have blessed us with countless scenes of embarrassing gym moments Think: Amy Schumer crashing off her bike at SoulCycle in I Feel Pretty, Kip volunteering for “Rex Kwon Do” demonstration in Napoleon Dynamite, and icebox conditioning in Cool Runnings. It begs the question: why are funny gym moments particularly humiliating?

I think a lot of usual gym goers take the activity very seriously It s easy to get in your own head and become self-conscious in these environments, focused on correct form, or feeling like everyone is looking at you You re red faced, perhaps wheezing, thrusting your hips into the air, or making a constipated face at the squat bar. Some gym goers are practically naked or leave unwashed sweat stains on every machine. Needless to say, it s a vulnerable environment. However, in these seemingly life-ending instances, all you can do is dust yourself off, have a good laugh about it, and tell your friends later so they can laugh with you

For the past few years, I have worked at an indoor cycling studio in which I have witnessed, and/or experienced, several hilarious moments in which the unexpected occurred. Some have happened right in front of me, and some have happened to me. Let us begin.

W e t f l o o r s

O u r l o v e l y l i t t l e s t u d i o p o s s e s s e s t h e s l i c k e s t f l o o r t e x t u r e k n o w n t o m a n . I g e n u i n e l y

a m n o t s u r e w h e r e y o u p u r c h a s e f l o o r i n g l i k e t h i s . T h e b e s t w a y I c a n d e s c r i b e i t i s a

s i l v e r c o l o r e d , p l a s t i c k y , b u m p y s u r f a c e t h a t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o g e t t o t a l l y c l e a n A n d

b o y d o e s t h a t b u m p y s u r f a c e g e t s l i p p e r y !

T h e s t a f f t y p i c a l l y m o p s m i d - d a y a n d a r o u n d c l o s i n g i n t h e e v e n i n g s , i n w h i c h w e t

f l o o r s i g n s a r e p r o m p t l y p r o p p e d a r o u n d t o e n s u r e r i d e r s a f e t y . H o w e v e r , t h i s d o e s

n o t a l w a y s p r e v e n t a c c i d e n t s . I c a n c o u n t n e a r l y a d o z e n t i m e s r i d e r s a n d s t a f f h a v e

c a u g h t a i r f r o m s l i p p i n g o n t h e s e d a n g e r o u s g r o u n d s S o m e a r e q u i c k l i t t l e h i c c u p s ,

m a y b e n o t e v e n h i t t i n g t h e f l o o r , h o w e v e r t h o s e a r e r a r e T y p i c a l l y , a s l i p t u r n s i n t o a n o f f i c i a l f a l l , l y i n g s t o m a c h u p , s u c k i n g w i n d f r o m t h e s p i l l a n d c l a s s j u s t c o m p l e t e d I f y o u r e n o t s o m e o n e w h o f i n d s p e o p l e g e t t i n g h u r t h u m o r o u s ( I b l a m e m y m o t h e r ) t h e n y o u m a y n o t f i n d t h i s a s h i l a r i o u s a s I d o . O f c o u r s e , I c h e c k o n t h e r i d e r b e f o r e h i d i n g i n t h e b a t h r o o m t o b u s t a g u t .

T h e l o u d c r a s h t h a t f o l l o w s h i t t i n g t h a t c h e a p s u r f a c e , o t h e r s t r y i n g t o h e l p t h e f a l l e n u p , a n d t h e s h e e r u n e x p e c t e d n e s s o f i t a l l i s t r u l y t h e p e r f e c t s t o r m O r m a y b e I ’ m j u s t a t e r r i b l e p e r s o n

F a l l i n g o f f t h e b i k e

* S e e A m y S c h u m e r v i d e o a g a i n . Y o u d t h i n k I R L t h i s d o e s n ’ t n e c e s s a r i l y h a p p e n , b u t I

c a n t e s t i f y t h a t i t d o e s S o m e t i m e s , y o u g e t l o s t i n t h e s a u c e o f t h e i n s t r u c t o r ’ s

e n c o u r a g e m e n t , t h e h e a v y b a s s , a n d p u r e a d r e n a l i n e i n w h i c h y o u l o s e t o t a l c o n t r o l I

h a v e w i t n e s s e d o n l y a f e w r i d e r s ( t h a n k f u l l y ) b e c o m e u n c l i p p e d f r o m t h e i r b i k e

p e d a l s a n d f l y f o r w a r d t o t h e g r o u n d ( a g a i n w i t h t h e f a l l i n g ! I t s j u s t t o o g o o d ! ) I w a s

w o r k i n g t h e f r o n t d e s k o n c e w h e n t h e i n s t r u c t o r r a n o u t o f t h e s t u d i o l o o k i n g

t e r r i f i e d t o t e l l u s o f s a i d i n c i d e n t .

“ S h e ’ s j u s t l y i n g t h e r e g i g g l i n g d o I k e e p t e a c h i n g ? ” s h e s a i d s h a k i l y T h i s p o o r y o u n g w o m a n w h o f a c e d t h e u n h i n g e d c l i p s , w h i l e u n h u r t p h y s i c a l l y , b u t w o u n d e d e m o t i o n a l l y , d e c i d e d t o s t a y d o w n a f e w m o m e n t s t o p r o c e s s w h a t h a d o c c u r r e d I n s p i t e o f t h i s , t h i s t r o o p e r h o p p e d b a c k o n t h e b i k e a n d f i n i s h e d o u t t h e w o r k o u t , l a u g h i n g o n h e r w a y o u t . N o w t h a t i s s o m e o n e w h o d o e s n ’ t t a k e t h e m s e l v e s t o o s e r i o u s l y .

I s u d d e n l y b e c o m e a d u m b 2 1 - y e a r - o l d p o u n d i n g t h e c o m p u t e r t o m a k e s o m e t h i n g w o r k

T h e w o r s t p a r t i s t h e s c r e e c h i n g o f b i k e p e d a l s a m i d s t t h e d e a f e n i n g s i l e n c e I a m t h e n

r e m i n d e d : w e a r e r e a l l y j u s t r i d i n g b i k e s i n a d a r k r o o m t h a t g o e s n o w h e r e

A m i d s t t h e s e l a u g h a b l e i n s t a n c e s , I a m r e m i n d e d t h a t t h e g y m d o e s n t h a v e t o b e s o

“

O u r s p i n s t u d i o o f f e r s a w i d e r a n g e o f s h o e s i z e s f o r r i d e r s t o w e a r d u r i n g c l a s s R i d e r s m u s t w e a r t h e s e s p e c i f i c s h o e s d u e t o a s p e c i a l c l i p t h a t k e e p s t h e m a t t a c h e d t o t h e b i k e H o w e v e r , m u c h l i k e a b o w l i n g a l l e y , t h e s e s h o e s f a c e h e a v y w e a r a n d s w e a t D e s p i t e r i g o r o u s c l e a n i n g b e t w e e n e a c h c l a s s , t h e r e i s a c e r t a i n f u n k t h a t j u s t c a n t b e e l i m i n a t e d w h i c h i s w h y i t i s i m p e r a t i v e t o w e a r s o c k s . S o u n d s o b v i o u s , r i g h t ? W h e n y o u r e g o i n g t o w o r k o u t , o n e t y p i c a l l y l a c e s u p t h e i r s n e a k e r s i n a p r o c e s s t h a t i n c l u d e s s p o r t s s o c k s o f s o m e s o r t s W r o n g T h e a m o u n t o f f o l k s w h o a s k i f w e s e l l s o c k s ( w h i c h w e n o w d o ) i s a b i t o n t h e a l a r m i n g s i d e Y o u d o N O T w a n t t o s t e p y o u r d o g s i n t o t h e s e o v e r u s e d b a d b o y s w i t h o u t t h e s h i e l d o f s o c k s I h a v e s e e n t o o m a n y p e o p l e s h r u g t h e i r s h o u l d e r s , a n d s t e p i n p i g g i e s f i r s t w i t h o u t w o r r y M a y b e I s h o u l d t r y t o b e m o r e l i k e t h e s e c a r e f r e e p e o p l e a n d n o t d r a m a t i z e t h e s i t u a t i o n … I a m n o t t h e r e y e t .

T e c h G l i t c h e s

N o t h i n g i s m o r e h u m b l i n g f o r a y o u n g a d u l t t h a n w h e n t h e y g o f r o m y e l l i n g a t p e o p l e o l d e r t h a n t h e m t o p e d a l f a s t e r t h r o u g h a m i c r o p h o n e a n d s p i t t i n g m o t i v a t i o n a l t i d b i t s a b o u t h o w t h e y s h o u l d l i v e t h e i r l i v e s , t o t h e m u s i c a n d m i c r o p h o n e c o m i n g t o a s c r e e c h i n g h a l t a n d t h e f u n d i s c o l i g h t s d y i n g . T h e f u l l b r i g h t l i g h t s e x p o s e e v e r y d u s t p a r t i c l e a n d r e a l i t y o f t h e s i t u a t i o n I a m s p e a k i n g f r o m e x p e r i e n c e , a s s a i d y o u n g a d u l t T o o m a n y t i m e s h a v e I

b e e n t e a c h i n g a c l a s s w h e n t h e i n t e r n e t c r a s h e s o r s o m e t h i n g g o e s t e c h n o l o g i c a l l y h a y w i r e , a n d t h e “ c o o l s p i n s t u d i o f a c a d e ” i s r u i n e d

i n t i m i d a t i n g . T h e b e s t p a r t a b o u t g o o f y g y m s t o r i e s i s t h a t i t h a s h a p p e n e d t o e v e r y o n e . I c a n t h i n k b a c k t o t h e w e i g h t r o o m i n h i g h s c h o o l , a s e l f - c o n s c i o u s b r a c e - f a c e d s o p h o m o r e s t r u g g l i n g t o c o m p l e t e a n a s s i s t e d p u l l - u p M y f o o t s l i p p e d f r o m t h e b a n d , a n d i t s n a p p e d b e t w e e n m y l e g s i n f r o n t o f o u r e n t i r e f o o t b a l l t e a m I n e i g h t h g r a d e g y m c l a s s , I c a n s t i l l r e p l a y a f r i e n d b u s t i n g t h e i r f a c e ( t h e y w e r e t o t a l l y f i n e ) f r o m t a k i n g a c r a c k a t t h e a b w h e e l

W e a l l l a u g h e d a b o u t t h e s e m o m e n t s … s o m e l a u g h s m o r e d e l a y e d t h a n o t h e r s . B o t t o m l i n e :

W h y m a k e a b i g g e r d e a l o u t o f a m o m e n t o f h i l a r i t y w h e n y o u c o u l d l a u g h a b o u t i t i n s t e a d ?

L i f e o u t s i d e t h o s e g y m d o o r s i s s e r i o u s e n o u g h

N e x t t i m e y o u f i n d y o u r s e l f e m b a r r a s s e d a t t h e

g y m , I e n c o u r a g e y o u t o d u s t y o u r s e l f o f f , t a k e a

m o m e n t t o s m i l e , t h e n f i n i s h t h a t s e t . Y o u ’ r e d o i n g

g r e a t , s w e e t i e .

E r i n O l i v e r

B o w l i n g S h o e s ”

Tony Roberts

INTERVIEW

Tony Roberts is a comedian from Detroit I have always loved to watch because of his energy from start to finish. He’s running around, acting out what he says, and everything becomes a prop! I’ve always wondered, how does he still do it? Now, we get an idea of where his energy comes from – being so damn fit! Since BET Comic View, Tony Roberts has electrified stages around the world using his wild mouth and antics to tell hilarious stories about real-life things. I sat down with him to talk about his longevity, specifically his fitness journey involving his wife and kids.

STARLETTA WATSON WITH

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

You were always one of those comedians who came in hot, out the gate with such high energy How did you approach that and decide that was gonna be your thing?

TONY ROBERTS

When I first started, I was doing these open mics, and I didn’t know where exactly I wanted to go with all this. I just knew I wanted to do comedy. Then I saw a comedy special called Afros and Bellbottoms with Sinbad, and the way he acted everything out, running around; ever since then I just took off with it. I started breaking bar stools, mics and mic stands I actually have a friend who would open up for Sinbad for years, who told me he was a big fan of mine! He knew how I took off and started my career from watching him, but we’ve never physically met. And he s from Michigan. We never crossed paths, shook hands, nothing. We had said to my friend for years, “we’re ready to meet” “let’s meet here” but we never physically met We’ll mention each other in interviews, and I m gon always give him his praise on how I became me

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

What about any other major comedic influences you have?

TONY ROBERTS

I’m a Red Foxx guy A lot of comedians first think of Richard Pryor, and yeah, that’s one too, but the first for me is Red Foxx Then Flip Wilson Then Bernie Mac And my opening act Lance Woods That’s one of the funniest young cats and quickest thinkers out there, man A lot of comics won t let him open for them – that s how funny he is! When he does his 25 minutes, I gotta come with fire!! But with Bernie Mac, it was his attitude and one-liner pops, Red Foxx is another one-liner dude, and that s how I get down with the speed of it Oh, and I can’t forget Robin Harris I got a Robin Harris Award at a BET comedy awards show for most original comic of the year, which was back around 94-95 after my first time on TV I still got the glass plaque from that at my momma house, all them years later. And it was because of Robin Harris.

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

Well, lemme ask you this – what is the main thing that keeps you going and doing stand-up?

TONY ROBERTS

What makes a lot of comics keep being comedians is, folks wanna say, because of the big break You start doing movies and sitcoms, you blow up like so many others But for me, it’s not really that It s the hunger, the craving, when you’re on stage and say one thing, and like 500 or 2000 people laugh? It feels spiritual It’s a beautiful thing that you can do that, and everybody can t do it for that long. So, I always recognize and remember the gift I was given, and I keep exercising it

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

Stand-up is the best way, in my opinion, to tell a story You mention Robin Harris and Bernie Mac, and those are, like, the gods of storytelling

TONY ROBERTS

And the key thing about stand-up is people love when they see somebody of that stature tell all about their downfalls or what they re going through Like, I’ll talk about my kids getting on my nerves or a cheap flight, and they see oh, I m telling a story they are already living. That s good comedy right there.

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

Well, being that this is our Family & Fitness issue of the magazine, I gotta ask you about your fitness journey. We see it on social media, you and your wife getting to it! Even got a cardio challenge. What made y’all wanna put the journey on social media?

TONY ROBERTS

I was doing a movie in LA, and I saw myself running from the cops in this crazy little comedy, and I looked like a cake I said, “Is that me?!”

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

Damn! Like, oooh a little chocolate cake!

TONY ROBERTS

One in trouble, running So I started working out more, trying to diet, but everything was going wrong and I wasn’t taking it serious at all Then I met my wife We were both into fitness but not a lot We got married 14 years ago, and in our wedding pictures we were big. So we just started hitting it. We started going around the right people hitting the gym. We started dieting and drinking more water. Remember to watch what you eat, cut out the sugar. Then we found out that working out is not an hour and a half in the gym and you hating it, you dread to go No, we found out working out is 20 minutes to 25 minutes Consistently You can't skip gym days You got to go at least four days a week, five days a week, and you got to put in the work and watch what you eat, and you'll see it s shredding down My wife became more of a guru than me I’m thinking to myself, I can t be around her looking like a walrus, I gotta get up and go to the gym! Then we didn’t even look at how we look – we just kept doing it. We were too busy to look and do measurements and all that. People noticed more than what we did. We were already online, and we said we might as well start videoing, and then when we watched it, it motivated us

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

Yeah, y’all look amazing! And your wife is cut!

TONY ROBERTS

My wife is in the gym right now! She got the Peloton downstairs. I asked her once “You sure it’s not a vibrator on that Peloton? You on that a lot!”

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

It’s a lifestyle!

TONY ROBERTS

It’s a lifestyle for her Gym is #1 for her, then it’s her oldest son/my stepson Travis who plays probasketball overseas in the Philippines. Her hair and facial is #3. Then it’s either my other son or the dog. And I m like a tight #6, running 6th or something. She s also my road manager, so my career may be fighting for 3rd or 4th in there She s all about the boys, I’m a girl dad Our two daughters, I raised them They come to me for everything The boys go to her because she’s so tough

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

Fellow dog parent here! What type of dogs do you have?

TONY ROBERTS

We got two French Bulldogs One is six years old, and the other is two We had a Cane Corso, and it was my wife s best friend, 180 pounds! It was ridiculous! He got cancer at six years old, and we had to put him to sleep. It broke her heart. She got a big tattoo of him on her arm. I think if Skylar passes, we’ll get a big dog. We re a dog family.

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

She s half Shih Tzu, half Pomeranian

TONY ROBERTS

Sounds like a pain in the ass. That is diva on top of diva. I see them at the airport all the time What’s her name?

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

Gianna, after Kobe’s daughter.

TONY ROBERTS

Oh, look at that. That’s cool though.

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

What is a daily workout routine like for you? Do you have a set schedule?

TONY ROBERTS

First thing I do when I get up (around 6:30-7 o clock) is read from my Bible app for like 30 minutes Then I get dressed and go straight to the gym. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I go boxing first. I ll drink water, I don’t eat before I work out, I’ll work out on an empty stomach Do a good workout for 25 minutes, then I eat, and then I run errands. Sometimes I’ll get the dogs and run errands with them I’m never home Thursdays through Sundays, so Mondays through Wednesdays I m on my rounds. It goes: God, gym, errands, then family. On Mondays, I work on chest, back, biceps and triceps. Tuesdays I work on legs and shoulders then boxing is my cardio Wednesdays I’ll do chest and back I work on abs every day. But you know what? You don’t have to even work out hard. You don't have to. All you got to do is give yourself 30 days with no sugar Try your best not to eat no sugar You might cheat. Eat a candy bar or something. But no sugar, no bread, and a lot of water. Work out a little bit and just watch – try something on and it s gonna be loose as hell

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

I try to go 3-4 days a week in the morning before I go to work Do you do your challenges by yourself or with a group?

TONY ROBERTS

I’m a Red Foxx guy A lot of comedians first think of Richard Pryor, and yeah, that’s one too, but the first for me is Red Foxx. Then Flip Wilson. Then Bernie Mac. And my opening act Lance Woods. That’s one of the funniest young cats and quickest thinkers out there, man. A lot of comics won t let him open for them – that s how funny he is! When he does his 25 minutes, I gotta come with fire!! But with Bernie Mac, it was his attitude and one-liner pops, Red Foxx is another one-liner dude, and that s how I get down with the speed of it. Oh, and I can’t forget Robin Harris. I got a Robin Harris Award at a BET comedy awards show for most original comic of the year, which was back around 94-95 after my first time on TV. I still got the glass plaque from that at my momma house, all them years later And it was because of Robin Harris

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

Well, lemme ask you this – what is the main thing that keeps you going and doing stand-up?

TONY ROBERTS

I would have like 10 people around the country, friends of mine or athletes, we ll do 25 push-ups a day and add 25 more the next day, but you got Saturday and Sunday off. You have the whole day to do them, just check in by 9 o’clock that night. You can do them in pieces, you can do them in the DMV, the dentist office, you can do 5 or 10 at a time With a group you got people checking in with you But by yourself you get more disciplined I’m more disciplined now: I work out by myself a lot Me and my wife don t work out together too much because she d be on a different body part than me. We do work out with a trainer twice a week. We go to a bootcamp class every day – one of our friends owns that. It gets it in too! It’s called Fit Body Boot Camp

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

Shout out to Fit Body Boot Camp, got us looking right out here!

TONY ROBERTS

I can’t look like shit. I got tattoos, a whole sleeve done with Polynesian work on it. I can t look like a paperboy with all this shit on! I can’t look like no landlord or built like Napoleon Dynamite with these damn tattoos I gotta look dope!

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

I see that your kids are already active Did that come natural to them or did y'all have to give them a push?

TONY ROBERTS

Our kids are very capable but now it s more digital They got they lazy ways, but when we say “Hey, I m about to go to the gym. You wanna come?” They just jump in the car. They know we’re a physical family, so they compete in sports like volleyball and basketball. But if you don t tell them nothing they ll be in their rooms or on the gadgets So they’re fit, but they can be lazy Real smart though, they smart My daughter goes by Taylor now, she s 17, she told us she was gay when she was 15 We were like “whatever you wanna be, do it.” They tough when they wanna be or gotta be. Sports-wise, my son is in MMA, but he’s a geek, like an introvert nerd. But when it comes to MMA, he does what he wants to do.

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

But you know, geeks got their own form of discipline, their own mental.

TONY ROBERTS

He had to lose weight to fight in a match because the match he went to in Temecula he was too big to fight the kids He was 13 and 179, had to fight grown men In a year he slimmed down, lost almost 30lbs, we re trying to get him to build muscle now and lift weights He did it, it was shocking! He was determined and disciplined But he ll stay in his room on that phone He be saying words I gotta look up

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

But you know, geeks got their own form of discipline, their own mental

TONY ROBERTS

He had to lose weight to fight in a match because the match he went to in Temecula he was too big to fight the kids. He was 13 and 179, had to fight grown men. In a year he slimmed down, lost almost 30lbs, we re trying to get him to build muscle now and lift weights. He did it, it was shocking! He was determined and disciplined But he ll stay in his room on that phone He be saying words I gotta look up

SLAPSTIK

COMEDY

Kids have so much access to everything nowadays. There are games dedicated to words and vocabulary.

TONY ROBERTS

My kids got into their program. My daughter is a gymnast and volleyball player, and she could have gotten far, but she would have no time for friends, and she wanted her social life to come first. So she started playing volleyball for the school My other son Taylor taught himself how to play two guitars and a keyboard, reading music and everything It s incredible! We ll hear the music in the room all the time but won’t play nothing for nobody. We can t prove it at all. Try to open the door, everything shuts down –like a ghost or elf.

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

So, I know your wife is your road manager. How did that come about?

TONY ROBERTS

It’s easier for me because I don t like to deal with money or with people and all that. My agent is on top of the Hollywood stuff I’m an Innovative Artist, and the two agents I have pass that information to my wife, and she takes it from there I don’t meet promoters, do the contracts, I don’t ever see the money

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

That’s a different level of trust, ya know?

TONY ROBERTS

A lot of people can’t be with their spouse on the road They don’t get along with them like that, but we do We get along because although we husband and wife technically, I m an artist and she got her job

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

Did you two gel instantly?

TONY ROBERTS

I was on the road when we met. We got together and a couple of years went by. She started wanting to go to different cities with me, you know how everybody wanna go to New York or Miami or go on the cruises. I had a road manager but had to fire him because I caught him stealing She started waking me up for interviews, let me know what time I gotta do radio, she’ll go get the money while I was busy with fans At the time, she was writing grants for big companies, working from home or traveling with me. So I said I want you to stop doing that and we excelled in it. Everything started working smoothly for me. My wife is expensive, she spends most of the money, why not just work in it?

SLAPSTIK COMEDY

What would be some words of inspiration for upcoming comedians?

TONY ROBERTS

First you got to believe that God put you out there to do this Everybody can t do stand up When you feel like you’re getting pretty good at it, that means God gave you that talent. So now you gotta structure the talent You gotta pace yourself, take your time, and don t try to rush into so much so fast Another thing: stop being so sensitive If you think it s funny, say it Don’t stop, no matter what

Starletta Watson

Kat Williams 2023 And Me Tour

Events Schedule

February 24, 2023 UNO Lakefront Arena – New Orleans, LA

February 25, 2023 Mississippi Coast Coliseum – Biloxi, MS

March 17, 2023 Baxter Arena – Omaha, NE

March 18, 2023 Van Andei Arena – Grand Rapids, MI

March 24, 2023 Desert Diamond Arena – Glendale, AZ

March 25, 2023 Thomas & Mack Center – Las Vegas, NV

March 31, 2023 Paycom Center – Oklahoma City, OK

April 1, 2023 Freeman Coliseum – San Antonio, TX

April 8, 2023 Greensboro Coliseum Complex – Greensboro, NC

April 14, 2023 Addition Financial Arena – Orlando, FL

April 15, 2023 Hard Rock Live – Hollywood, FL

April 21, 2023 Chaifetz Arena – St Louis, MO

April 22, 2023 Peoria Civic Center – Peoria, IL

Check out Tony Roberts

Houston Improv

April 28, 2023 Nashville Municipal Auditorium – Nashville, TN

April 29, 2023 Heritage Bank Center – Cincinnati, OH

March 10, 2023 Houston, TX

March 11, 2023 Houston, TX

March 12, 2023 Houston, TX

Illustration by Shannon Lynch

The Ultimate Game

am the type of person that cannot seem to get away from sports In college, I knew I wanted to stay active, even if I was not on a varsity level team. What I found instead was something a thousand times better than what I had hoped for.

It all started with friends of mine joining a club sport team as a freshman. Many people play this sport for fun rather than competition. I thought about this disc sport the same way most people do: just as a fun game with minimal rules I could not have been more wrong when I joined my school’s Ultimate Team last year.

Ultimate is played with a disc, not a frisbee, as that is a brand of disc (like Kleenex or Band-Aid), and is very similar to football, minus the contact Players cannot shove or hit other players. If they do, this is a foul. There are seven players on each team that are on the field, and fourteen in total On both sides of the field, there are end zones that each team needs in order to score points. The field is the length of a soccer field but is a bit shorter in width.

Some of the more technical rules include the positions of the seven players, which divide up into handlers and cutters.

Cutters are the players that make runs and plays in order to move the disc down the field The handlers are the players that have the most skill with the disc and can get the disc down the field to the cutters I will admit, I am more of a “cutter ” But my teammates that are handlers are something else, as they truly can get the disc to anyone making a run.

I feel the need to also mention that there is a time limit with being a handler The other team guards, man on man style, meaning every player has a defender, even the handlers The handler has till the count of ten, ten seconds, to throw the disc to another player. This, of course, makes the game more difficult, as a lot can happen in ten seconds.

What is most different about Ultimate, is what my captain calls the “Spirit of the Game.”

In most competitive contact sports, players get snippy with each other This is normal in sports: or, at least, it was normal for me. In Ultimate, however, the players do not get snippy with each other. In fact, throughout each point, players will complement each other and ask questions. I have been told I am fast, I have good positioning, and one girl even apologized for pushing me over on the field When the teams disagree on a play or a call, the play will stop and both teams will politely talk out the disagreement and come to a conclusion. Truly, I have never participated in a nicer sport.

With Ultimate, I have gained an amazing group of friends and learned to channel my competitive spirit in a nicer, more democratic way Of course, the usual practice and competitive spirit exist, but being kind and respectful of others makes this sport my Ultimate game.

Meredith Hamm

Yoga and Comedy The Best

Pair!

Yoga is typically a quiet, calming practice that relieves stress with meditation and movement. Laughing is loud and shared with others. While those two activities might seem like complete opposites, comedians like Leon “Leroy” Walker, Jessica Brustad: The Funny Yogi, and Rach Cox: The Laughing Yogini have combined them and created an overall stressrelieving, fun practice!

All three of these comedians/yogis agree that laughing is one of the greatest stress relief practices and it can increase your mood Add it to yoga and feel totally stress-free!

Leon “Leroy” Walker is a comedian, actor, and yoga instructor Walker has changed his entire lifestyle, going from taking anger management classes to practicing yoga and comedy He often includes jokes about yoga in his shows.

Walker says that comedy and yoga help to relieve any negative feelings he might have in a healthy way. Practicing yoga helps him remember to practice other things in life, like his comedy and actively sees improvement after doing so Walker participates in and performs at yoga-comedy shows, which his Instagram calls “the most entertaining yoga you ll ever do.”

Jessica Brustad, the Funny Yogi, is a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader who focuses on comedy during sessions to bring joy and play back to adults With a background of improv, Brustad enjoys making others laugh, leading her to this path. Her website describes it as “recess for grown-ups ” Brustad has led teams from Google and Microsoft through laughter yoga sessions During these sessions she helps them relearn how to be playful Rach Cox, the Laughing Yogini, pinpoints laughter as an “official meditation technique” Like Walker, Cox sees laughter as a way to release negative emotions in a healthy way Laughter transforms what would be an angry outburst into something positive that can be shared with others, and it releases endorphins making you feel good Cox shares laughter with others during her Spiritual Stand-Up Comedy

Pets Joining in on the Workout

Starletta Watson

Gianna’s Favorite Toy

I had just gotten Gianna, a small mixed puppy, a month before those pesky shelter-in-place orders from the pandemic She was only 15 weeks old and wasn’t spayed yet When I decided to exercise at home instead of the apartment’s gym, I found a workout video on YouTube I hoped it wouldn’t involve me getting on the floor because I feared Gigi would jump on me thinking it was playtime Oh, but the worst ended up happening! Five minutes into the video, sure enough, the next exercise was reverse crunches I rolled my eyes and got on the floor, shooting Gigi “the look” on the way down. She acknowledged my look and ran to her favorite toy – a small stuffed dog In the corner of my eye, she s tossing it up and fetching it herself I go back to focusing on the video (because the guy had so much to explain about some damn crunches) and waited for him to start. The second I start my movement I feel something bump the top of my afro. And a few more grazes later, I tilt my head back to look above me, and Gigi is humping her favorite toy –on my head! I knocked both they asses over and cut the video off I was done working out for the day.

Domingo Claudio

Domingo vs Zeus and Behr

My fitness pet disruption started with me trying to do some quick sit-ups in my room. I was lazy that day, and since I decided to skip the gym, I figured I could do a fast mini workout Almost halfway through my rep, my dog, Behr, walked in and just started to slowly approach my face where he began to lick me. told him to stop about 6 times until I decided to get up and take him out of the room I went back to my reps, only to hear claws tapping the floor, and I looked towards the door

My other dog Zeus walked up to me and began to lick my face too! So, I just got up and went to eat some extremely sweet ice cream.

Shannon Haynes Harley vs. the Family Elliptical Bike

My dog Harley is a massive, seventypound Goldendoodle with a taste for destruction. She has devoured heaps of my family’s clothes, ruined numerous pieces of our furniture, and has generally burned a hole in our savings. So, the chaos that ensued the day that my mom ’ s boyfriend bought a new elliptical bike really wasn’t all that surprising. Clint had just finished moving the bike into his bedroom, prepared to start his workout. He put his favorite reality TV show on and was ready to go. But there was one thing that he forgot to consider; Harley had not seen this bike yet

She barreled through the room in the middle of his workout, her big paws smacking the hardwood floor, and froze. Clint was not paying much attention to her; a new bombshell guest had appeared on the show, and he was locked in. Harley did not understand what this new, strange contraption was or what it was doing next to her bed. Through her eyes, it appeared to be attacking Clint She began barking ferociously at the bike, challenging it to some sort of fight. Unfortunately, the bike won. In a panicked frenzy, she dashed out of the bedroom. She attempted to scamper down the stairs, but she was moving too fast. She ended up falling down the stairs and knocked over a large, standing vase in the process. This also frightened her. She raced out into the backyard, knocking over picture frames and any other valuable possessions made of glass. She then ran straight through a hedge, but somehow managed to get her collar tangled in one of the branches and got herself stuck.

It wasn’t long after that I came home from school to a living that I initially thought had been ransacked.

Josie Byron Walking Her Horse

I kinda knew what was starting to feel really niiicceee as a growing puberty-diagnosed teenager That corner on the couch, shoes in the dryer, and something about electric toothbrushes Right about this time, my horse came back from winter. That first ride was awakening. I understood why it was called "coming to the west" or "panning for gold" That saddle and I became best friends And I ll tell you what, that's why I "walked" my horse all summer

Jeremiah Maxon Zaeske Sam Drags Jeremiah

I used to have a dog named Sam, not sure what his breed was but he was a fairly big dog, which meant half the time he was walking me rather than the other way around.

SlapStik

I also used to ride a bike around the city to get some exercise, and one day decided to combine the biking and the walking by tying the end of Sam's leash to the bike handle so he could run along beside me. He was really excited about it because usually he never gets to run, but maybe it wasn't the best idea near so many cars. He ended up taking off ahead of me, pulling me along behind him so I was more like a passenger on a crazy carriage ride than the one steering, and nearly got us both run over Team

The Spontaneous Humor of Dog Walking

While growing up, playing outside with my sister and cousins was always so much fun Being active as a kid was so easy because we had so much energy, and of course, when we were so young fitness wasn t on our minds so much. Now as an adult, I feel like everywhere I look I see people trying to find their favorite ways to be physically active and healthy. I have always loved being outside, so now as an adult I still look for ways to be active outdoors so I can get fresh air while moving my body

After being an athlete for over half of my life, I’m no longer interested in pushing my body to its physical limits Instead, I like to do things that allow my body to move without strain or stress Something I have come to enjoy is going for walks I know, just plain old walking may sound boring, especially to people who seek the natural highs of intense workouts. But simple walks around the neighborhood can turn out to be quite interesting at times.

There was one day over the summer I really wanted to go on a longer walk than usual, but I didn t want to walk around town all alone, so I brought the family dog with me His name is Zeus, and he is a 100-pound Cane Corso People say he looks scary, but he’s really just a big, sweet baby When we set off down the street, I had forgotten to bring any plastic bags with me to pick up his poop.I thought to myself, “I really hope he doesn t poop in any of the neighbors yards, but if he does, I guess I’ll come pick it up later…” I live just two blocks from the center of my small hometown, so we arrived quickly at the store fronts

Fortunately, there weren’t many people out shopping that day, but when we got close to an old closed-down deli I saw a cat sitting on the windowsill inside the shop Thank god that cat was in the shop instead of outside I honestly don’t think Zeus would hurt a fly, but still I was glad I didn’t have to deal with that And how odd to see a cat inside an abandoned store in this do-nothing town.

Anyway, we made our way down the street to the school I attended for elementary school, which has also been closed down for years now I thought it would be nice to walk over there to check it out and reminisce about the sweet days of my childhood. Zeus was sniffing around the grass, which is normal for dogs, so we were wandering around slowly in the large backyard We were in a big grassy patch when suddenly Zeus stopped walking altogether I looked down and his back all hunched up the tell-tale sign. Oh, shit, I thought literally. I was over half a mile from my house and didn’t want to walk all the way back here to pick that up I hesitantly looked all around and didn’t see anyone on the sidewalk or in the nearby church parking lot; so, as soon as he finished, we hurried away from the scene. I was over half a mile from my house and didn’t want to walk all the way back here to pick that up

I hesitantly looked all around and didn t see anyone on the sidewalk or in the nearby church parking lot; so, as soon as he finished, we hurried away from the scene I felt bad leaving his steaming pile in the middle of the playground, but I figured the school is closed, no one uses this anyway, right? No one will ever know

The rest of our walk was uneventful and calm, until I was almost home After walking nearly two miles, Zeus’ feet were practically dragging, because he was still less than a year old and not used to going on such long walks One block from my house, a young man rode by us on a bicycle and said he liked my dog. I simply said thanks and the man rode off. Only then did I think about how the two of us must look together, walking around town Me, a young woman in my favorite summer workout clothes, with this massive dog who supposedly looks ferocious

That walk around town was certainly different from any of my other walks because I usually go by myself. To be truthful, it wasn’t anything particularly special, but sometimes you just need to look for the little pieces of humor to make mundane tasks like walking more fun I challenge you to go for a walk around your neighborhood, even if it’s chilly outside, and look for ways to make the walk fun and exciting!

Sally Bessette

Dance Exercise Is

Kick, spin, squat, and bounce Those moves can be a dance, or they can be exercise For me, they’re both, especially squatting and bouncing HA! In my opinion, dance is exercise. I think any movement in general is a form of exercise. Dance and exercises consist of sequences and movement Actually, any physical movement, including sex, is a method of exercise, to me, especially when it makes you sweat

Actually, any physical movement, including sex, is a method of exercise, to me, especially when it makes you sweat. While researching dance, I cannot believe what I learned. Did you know the waltz dance was a controversial dance, totally different than twerking, which happens to be a controversial dance as well The waltz is a ballroom dance that is a box step The most basic dance ever.

HERE ARE SOME FACTS ABOUT DANCE.

The first dance was the belly dance that dates back to 6,000 years ago

Twerking works the deep muscles of your hips as well as the core muscles of the lower back and abs

Dancing engages the full body and kills calories

Dancing is fun and includes cardio

A 30-minute dance class burns between 130 and 250 calories

Dance can improve your fitness for all ages, shapes, and sizes

Dance can improve your strength, muscle tone, and endurance

If you don’t ever feel like going to the gym, stay home, turn the music up, and dance! Mecha Swa

The Benefits of Working Hard… During Sex

Aside from feeling as though you’re taking a hot shower, sex can bring other benefits that even I was unaware of prior to writing this article.

Physical benefits from sex?

If you dread going to the gym, “Do not fear, sex is here.” If my level of sarcasm didn’t bleed through as I expected, then allow me to be the first to tell you sex doesn’t replace working out, but it does count as “light” exercise; about five calories are burned a minute during sex: if my math is correct, most people (who are not porn stars) are burning about 2 6 calories each time they perform coitus

Not only can sex help you trim a fraction of a pound, but it aids in keeping blood pressure low, heart rate and muscle strength high, and heart disease, hypertension, and possibilities of a stroke at a minimum.

It’s believed people who have sex more often practice good dietary habits and exercise more: next time you see someone overweight simply roll over in bed and tell them, “Babe, I think we ve become less intimate lately.” Hopefully, that s a passive way of telling them it’s time for some lifestyle changes. Astray from keeping arguments in the household pint-seized, frequent sex will give you a stronger immune system and better sleep. When your body orgasms, it releases oxytocin, also known as the “love” or “intimacy” hormone, along with endorphins to help sedate you

One benefit - that can be viewed as oxymoronic for many - is that sex helps relieve headaches, but what if the person you're getting the release from is also the cause of the headache you needed a release for? Best advice we can give is to plainly keep at it: being subject to love and hate from the person you re sharing a bed with is the definition of a relationship For those of you who are in no more than a “situationship,” I d suggest you order one last takeout meal because that restaurant is sure to be closing soon: it’ll be for the best, trust me.

Particularly with men, frequent sex can help lower the chance of prostate cancer Sadly, for those who masturbate more often than having penile-vaginal intercourse (PVI), this study left you out of the equation Men who engaged in PVI were 36 percent less likely to get prostate cancer if they ejaculated 4 6 to 7 times a week on average; as opposed to those who ejaculated 2.3 times or fewer. Maybe, you ve heard the saying, “f*** like your life depends on it.” Well according to one study this relatively lewd quote is true: after a 10 year follow-up, men who orgasmed two or more times a week were less likely to perish by 50 percent compared to those who had sex less often

In the case of women, frequent sex can lead to better bladder control, reduce intemperance, alleviate menstrual and premenstrual cramps, heightened fertility, erect formidable pelvic muscles, amplify more vaginal lubrication, and protect you from endometriosis. Furthermore, the more sexual encounters a woman has helps prevent the chance of a sagging uterus The blessed women who choose to still engage in sex after menopause lessens their chance of experiencing vaginal atrophy, which keeps pain down during sex and urinary symptoms No longer should we judge the promiscuous woman, since experts have proven such, a woman chooses to be a star player in the game for health reasons

How can sex benefit you mentally?

Particular benefits of masturbation

When you wake up in the morning and you got that feeling of desire yet no one to share it with, there’s specific advantages to pulling out the Jergens or your toy of choice: engaging in masturbation increases the amount of pleasure you have with a partner (when you find one), a new level of comprehension toward one’s body, elevated ability for orgasms, better self-esteem and body image, and serve as a treatment for sexual disorders

If the threat of having an unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection (STIs) looms over you whenever the idea of having a partner comes up, masturbation feels something like a happy medium or compromise to any anxieties you might have.

Abstinence and Celibacy

If dating just hasn’t been working out for you, or perhaps you re a nun, then choosing to place an embargo on sex may be your decision; if it is, it’s still proven that you can lead a long, happy life without engaging in the world s favorite pastime Studies indicate that you can experience the same sort of pleasure you gain from listening to music, connecting with pets, having a strong religious faith, and having a formidable connection with friends as you’d get from sex In other words, life doesn’t have to be all about sex if you don’t want it to be God, Jehovah, or Yawa (however you refer to it) has graced our world with numerous attractions that you can gain a euphoric feeling from: sex is just one of those things on the list.

Main Takeaway

As I’ve just unloaded a treasure chest of information on you, it’s important for us to summarize this together: first, there are an innumerable amount of ways sex can benefit your life but remember that everything is good in moderation Not everyone can live as long as Magic Johnson Second, even if sex isn t your thing, you can still live a prosperous, exciting life It only takes forming the right connections and likely (lots of) masturbation Lastly, regardless of what side of the spectrum you fall on, being fit physically and mentally are keys to winning at this game of life (or at least having a chance) so whether you’re engaging in sex regularly, masturbation, or a hobby, have fun while doing it.

Malik Harvey

Working Out

with Comedians

When people think of comedians, the next word they associate isn’t usually “fitness”. Comedians are on the road a lot, and sometimes it can be hard to find time to go to the gym. It can be especially hard when the only gym available to them often is a hotel gym Some comics like Kevin Hart and Tom Segura take working out seriously and do it almost every day Comedian Kumail Nanjiani recently got in shape for his role as “Kingo” in 2021’s Marvel: The Eternals Other comics like Dan Cummins, and Jim Gaffigan have less serious thoughts on working out. Then there are the outliers that can run a marathon without training like Bert Kreischer.

Not very many people enjoy working out, but the ones that do never seem to want to stop working out Every year people try to start working out again, like it’s going to suddenly catch on this time This is always the busiest time of the year at the gym Someone should open a gym from January to March, they could do it wherever there s a Halloween store. That way I don’t have to remember to cancel my membership. It could be like a trial run for gyms.

Instead of Gold s Gym, it s Bronze s Gym, because we gave it our best effort. It always feels so awkward going and trying to figure out how the gym works I ll just end up monkey-see-monkeydoing my way through the workout and walk out of the gym not really knowing what will be sore the next day

Jim Gaffigan has a joke about his New Year s resolution This seems much more doable to me than working out every day He also has a lot more material about working out Jim Gaffigan has a take on working out that, while he would like to be in shape, the process isn t worth it. Going to the gym every day is hard and requires a lot of free time It’s so much more fun to eat pasta and watch Netflix Gaffigan also brings up the different types of people that workout, and the people that are already in-shape

One reason Gaffigan might find that disheartening is because it feels out of reach to him This can be a feeling that a lot of people get One comic, Dan Cummins, found a way around this by working out at the local YMCA that is only frequented by elderly people. That way he is the most in-shape person out of everyone in his gym, anytime of day I think this is a smart approach because as he said it’s “a favorable matchup situation ”

If you are only comparing yourself to people that are behind you, it s much easier to keep going to the gym Instead of climbing to peak physical form, lower the standard a couple notches, and you’re already there

Some people do make it to the best possible shape though, and stand-up comedian and actor Kumail

Nanjiani is one of them In 2019 Kumail began working with personal trainers and dieticians so he could get in-shape for Marvel: The Eternals

Nanjiani s transformation was everywhere online and discussed on a lot of podcasts. This is one of the workouts he said led to this transformation. Kumail has also cited that the ways he got so jacked aren t really accessible to the everyday person It s hard to hire a trainer, nutritionist and afford a home gym if you are working on minimum wage. Kumail also wasn’t terribly out-of-shape before, he just wasn’t as muscular as most people would envision a superhero

Another comedian that is associated with a specific kind of fitness, or maybe lack-their-of, is Bert Kreischer. He has talked about walking on the treadmill every day, only to reveal those treadmill walks usually include a box of wine Kreischer does have something he refers to as the “Mickey Mantle Gene” Mickey Mantle was a baseball player in the 50 s and 60 s that was known for being able to consume large amounts of alcohol and still play well the next day. Kreischer mainly brought this up around the time he was challenged to run the LA marathon, because he insisted he was capable Kreischer did end up running the marathon in around 5 5 hours This begs the question of if this “Mickey Mantle Gene” may have something to it. It’s like the kid who doesn’t study for the test at all, but somehow gets an A At one-point, Kreischer had been recruited to play Division 1 baseball, which may be where some of the athleticism comes from

"He has talked about walking on the treadmill every day, only to reveal those treadmill walks usually include a box of wine "

We Need to Bring Back

People have a lot of different opinions on working out and that’s because people are different. There are some people who lift every day and love it, others that feel like working out every day is cruel and unusual punishment People also react differently to work outs

Some people feel rejuvenated, others feel like every muscle in their body is trying to kill them People don t always work out in the same way, but everyone has their own way of working out While the gym might not be for everyone, everyone has their own rule in the gym. As much as I have gotten motivation from others working out in the gym, thinking I want to look like them, some people have probably gotten motivation from me, thinking I never want to look like that

Zach Rush

Family Sport Games

My experience with these revered family sport games was so unimaginably intense and lifechanging that it still resonates within me today. Everyone knows as a kid it s difficult to find common interests with your parents. The generational gap sure is tricky to jump and you definitely have to watch what you say to prevent getting grounded But one day we went to visit my uncle s house and sometime later in our visit, their family was excited to show us something in the living room. They had recently bought the new Xbox 360, all with the Kinect Sensor and the game Kinect Sports At first it looked like my uncle was just flexing on us (like he usually does) but things went a little differently. He probably still was flexing as well but that s beside the point.

(this is a hill I am willing to die on) Don’t feel old, but during the glorious year of 2006, the Wii and Wii Sports were born and were big hits to say the least. So much so that four years later, Sony and Microsoft decided to hop aboard the motion control train and came out with the Playstation Move and Xbox Kinect respectively Regardless, these consoles gave a whole new meaning to family game night

They went on about how much fun it was, and that we should try it They didn’t participate because they said they played last night and were too sore. How dramatic; it s just a video game, right? Wrong. Kinect Sports was a warzone, and we were all out for blood. The moment we started playing, everyone was jumping and sidestepping and swinging their arms around Luckily, the Kinect Sensor doesn’t use a controller to work If we had played the Wii then the Nunchuck controller would have a double meaning and hit someone. Things got so crazy that my cousin joined in for a bit and broke one of the lights on the ceiling during the Olympic Long Jump minigame Shit was going down

The integration of motion controls to video game consoles was the pinnacle of interpersonal connection and human fitness in the history of the world

My parents, brother, and I were sweating, panting, getting a good workout, while also having a good time and laughing together Adult or kid, this was a universal experience anyone could use to bridge the gap between people. This truly was one of the best moments I shared with my parents despite it being just virtual sports. The next day, however, none of us could move; we were all super sore This really put into perspective how little exercise we did in our lives Our bodies ached, and it pained us to do anything, but it didn’t matter because even then we were sore together. The next week my family bought an Xbox 360 and Kinect Sensor for the house

You see the impact these silly little family games can have on us as a society? But the Wii, Kinect, and etc are outdated now; no longer getting consumer attention. Motion control is no longer the next big thing and is just common technology used casually Like when 3D was first invented: every movie used to have multiple exaggerated 3D scenes that were shoved into the audience s faces (yes, I’m talking about Sharkboy and Lavagirl).

Sure, there’s the new Nintendo Switch Sports, but it still uses the same unexciting concept from almost two decades ago And it costs like sixty bucks We still need the game to be accessible to the general public, like come on

We need something new and fresh to revive the family sport genre. Maybe something like augmented reality, virtual reality, or some other technology that ends in “reality” Who knows, maybe the Metaverse will surprise us and actually do something cool like answer our unconscious prayer and make a new sport game. Technology has gone in the wrong direction with family interactivity with the creation of Tablet Kids and Incluencer Family YouTube Channels It s time to go back to a simpler time, a time where families can stay healthy and connect.

Also, I just really want a rematch in Kinect Table Tennis to settle the score.

Jonathan Hernandez

THE PHENOMENON OF Workout Clothes

Working out can be one of the most relieving activities because it simultaneously releases endorphins while making you feel productive. There are more benefits to working out than what just meets the eye Research studies from The Mayo Clinic show that working out can not only help you manage the physical aspects on the human body, but can also help to anchor anxiety, depression, and other mental health aspects. By working as an anchor for these mental health issues, it helps to make things feel more under control The Mayo Clinic also shows that it can improve mood, energy, and help you feel good throughout the day So why not feel good in the clothes you re working out in?

Working out in an attire that makes you feel good will ultimately make you do well Everyone deserves to feel good physically and mentally

Certain workout clothes may fit in an uncomfortable or awkward way thus leading to the person ultimately feeling uncomfortable If the clothes are not stretchy enough, it may be difficult to move around in such constricting clothes. Wearing the correct clothing is also beneficial in reducing injuries. Clothes that fit you properly can help to not fall, slip, or fumble when you re doing a workout routine

"Research from Everyday Health mentions that having workout clothes that cater to your body type will help in terms of mobility."

This is also important when thinking about running shoes, tennis shoes, and other forms of footwear Most running shoes are made to be light and padded When attempting to perform in shoes that are not made for running, extra impact and force will go to the knees creating a slew of knee problems, such as unnecessary aches and pains The Mayo Clinic mentions that it is best to buy footwear for running in the evening due to the fluid in your feet being at its highest point. This will aid in finding a shoe that accurately fits the foot. The Mayo Clinic also advises people to examine the type of arch in their foot when buying running shoes due to comfortability and practicality

There are tons of health benefits physically and mentally to working out, but working out in clothes that make you feel good externally aids in boosting self-esteem. It is oftentimes difficult for most people to go to the gym due to embarrassment and gym intimidation, but something that almost every gym goer has experienced at least once is feeling insecure in the clothing. It can be challenging for people to go to the gym due to comfort zones and sometimes workout clothes can make things even more uncomfortable Certain workout brands may advertise more form-fitting or tight clothing which can be uncomfortable for a number of reasons. It is important to remember that everybody is beautiful and deserving of love It is also important to realize that everyone has felt insecure before Fitness Project revealed in a study that 50% of people at the gym feel intimidated To put that in perspective, that is one in every two people.

Some tips and tricks to feel good in your workout clothes are to find some options that make you feel good about yourself This can be anywhere from loose fitting shorts to t-shirts, there are many options to choose from. Another tip is to remind yourself that you are not alone. Many other people in the gym are feeling this type of way. It may also help to view yourself as a friend instead, and of what one would say to a friend This helps to allow people to be easier on themselves and to remind them that they are here to show love and support for their body. Everyone is at a different pace in the working out career and a lot of people are going to the gym for many different reasons Some people want to bulk, others want to increase mobility, and perhaps others are there to decrease health issues Whatever the reason may be, everyone is there to show support to themselves and their body.

As many people have heard, getting to the gym is half the battle. Many people should pat themselves on the back for even making it to the gym in the first place Workout clothes are a great way to boost confidence, but they are also a great way to boost motivation to going to the gym Nothing says going to the gym like feeling good in a stylish outfit! Workout outfits are made by numerous brands such as Nike, Adidas, Fabletica, and so many more The possibility of styles are truly endless Part of the excitement for working out could be what kind of outfit to wear or what color to match or mismatch Not to mention, there are tons of accessories in which people can add to make the whole outfit go together There are hats, shoes, headphones, water bottles, gloves, and jackets

These are all things that can make going to the gym feel good externally and internally. Sometimes half the battle is also feeling good about yourself, and everyone deserves to feel this way through their entire gym experience

If you are one of the many people who feel as if you need motivation to go to the gym, then this article is definitely for you. Feeling good, at the end of the day, is a mindset in which we all have the ability to achieve No matter who you are or what type of workouts you like to do, you deserve to feel and look good while you do it You shouldn't cater to your clothes; your clothes should cater to you. Whether it’s releasing endorphins or picking out a killer outfit, there are several different factors to look forward to when working out

Alexandra Webb

Energy Boosters

There are many energy boosters that people use to get through their days such as caffeine, vitamin B12, and a variety of chemicals that are produced in your body. Some of these chemicals that are most relevant to comedians are dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline. While there are a multitude of “energy boosters” that you can find online, many of them are scams, or will only work through the placebo effect.

Dopamine

is one of the happy chemicals; it is produced whenever one feels happy, or has used substances some drugs (some other drugs stimulate serotonin which will be talked about later) or alcohol. Dopamine is naturally produced in your body due to the repetition of actions that work towards a goal It is often referred to as the reward chemical This chemical is the main reason why substances are addictive – your brain begins to think that it is rewarding to constantly be on drugs or alcohol because it will see them as rewarding activities This is why it is best to use any dopamine producing substances in extreme moderation Dopamine can be very useful to comedians because it can give them the drive to continue working in

comedy, the sense of happiness from making someone laugh or smile, and the want to do it again and again Dopamine can be seen as energizing It makes you desire to continue, to reach that high, and hype you up But it can be addictive While addiction is usually seen as a negative side effect of something, you can certainly harness it as a tool to keep you doing something like stand-up to either making it a career or by having a relatively healthy way to keep a sense of joy in your life, thus energizing you, giving you a pep in your step Some more natural and healthy ways to increase your dopamine levels might be exercising, listening to a song you like, meditation, and having a high protein diet For more information on dopamine please check out https://www webmd com/mentalhealth/what-is-dopamine and https://www healthline com/nutrition/how-toincrease-dopamine.

Whenever I hear of supplements that you find online that supposedly can impact the regulation of these chemicals, I personally think of this South Park clip where Butters is selling his semen as an energy and performance booster for sports. Energy boosting supplements are sought after because people consistently have problems with finding motivation and energy to do what they need to do and while I am not positive, I would think that having an “energy supplement” that someone thinks works but really doesn t link to our dopamine receptors, hence why they may still feel energized and motivated to do what they need to. All in all, it is important to be careful when looking at energy supplements that you may or may not be considering using and it is much better to give some of the natural things you can do to make you function with more energy rather than relying on substances that are supposed to do this for you.

The one sure thing that all of the above chemicals can be better regulated through is exercise; it helps regulate the release of all the chemicals, makes you feel good, and promote an overall attitude of health. Have you ever felt that rush to get your last set of reps done whenever you are already feeling a little bit sore? That is adrenaline Do you not feel a sense of accomplishment from completing your workout? Serotonin! What about that feeling of wanting to continue working out after seeing your gains or weight loss goals? This one is dopamine. Exercise can help in the production of the other two happy chemicals too Overall, exercising is something that is good for not your physical health but is extremely helpful for your mental health as well. Without these three bodily chemicals working in tandem, I believe stand-up and comedy in general would look nothing like how it looks today

E. Alexander Phillips-Hedge

Illustration by Shannon Lynch

Morning Routines from our audience

I am up by 7am. Feed the dogs, get dressed for the gym, check emails, drink a energy drink and eat a piece of fruit and a protein bar, get to the gym at least by 8:15am, workout, come home make breakfast and that's it Boring AF

I feel like I have to check my phone lmao. I usually say good morning to my cat and grab my phone

Hmm let’s see usually when I wake up, I immediately use the bathroom, and then brush my teeth and get dressed for the day, Basic as basic can be.

I wake up. Thank God, The Most High, for the opportunity to see another day. I pray for those unfortunate than I I listen to some good R&B and try to inspire ANY human being I cross

Wake up, get my coffee going, wash my face while it’s brewing, figure out what I am going to wear for the day, lay out my outfit, do some yoga and meditation, pray, shower, get dressed, and be out the door.

I wake up (obviously lol), turn on Tiana Major Mantras… I tell the universe how cool I am, prepare for the day, then get out of bed. I do my thang in the bathroom, make coffee, get dressed, pack my lunch & out the door. That’s my M-F morning routine oh & I always have to listen to music kinda sets the tone according to how I’m feeling

Kat Taylor

Lauren Martin

Tiara Curry

Elizabeth

KaWambee Gaines

Nell Nadeau

FITNESS fails

Staying physically active is important. Everyone knows that exercise plays a major role in maintaining good health. However, people have their own “special” ways of working out and their own routines along with some unexpected challenges. Those challenges are what become “fitness fails”. Let’s have a laugh as we watch some of them.

When the new year begins many people make a resolution to get in shape. While that’s great the regulars at the gym aren’t too pleased with the inexperienced gym rats.

Speaking of gym rats, some people go overboard when it comes to workouts. If “doing too much” was a person, it would be them. There probably aren’t many doctors who would recommend that you throw a couch on your back while riding an exercise bike, but kudos to those who can do it!

Others seem to live out their superhero dreams while in the gym whether it’s using exercise equipment to become Spiderman or doing “Flying Push Ups”.

On the other hand, the whole fitness “thing” can really embarrass you or cause you to walk away with a few battle scars. Seeing videos where people are showing their struggles or sheer pain gives everybody someone to relate to.

Aside from the obvious fitness fails, there’s also the unrealistic self-proclaimed fitness gurus. They appear to be so disciplined that they’re almost unhuman.

Annddd last but not least, what do you think this guy forgot? His headphones? Maybe his water bottle? Who knows.

Fitness fails are a part of life, and looking back at them teaches us that it’s okay to laugh at ourselves sometimes!

Tameeah Browne

How Fitness Makes you Feel

It’s no secret laughter has a profound impact on happiness and well-being After all, as the old adage goes, “laughter is the best medicine.” Here at SlapStik, we re dedicated to providing a good laugh. But for this issue of our magazine, we’ve got our crosshairs locked on health, fitness, and family How are these topics connected? Well, it turns out that modern science supports the view that laughter is medicinal. Laughing for fifteen minutes a day can burn up to forty calories, which is enough to lose four pounds a year! In addition, as the American College of Healthcare Sciences points out, laughter reduces your body’s level of the stress hormone cortisol This, in turn, makes you happier and lowers your metabolism, making fitness more achievable. Clearly, a good laugh is a panacea for the body and the soul.

Getting moving makes you happier, of course, and feeling happier and more energetic makes it easier to laugh and joke around. I always feel that getting out and going for a run clears out some of the cobwebs in my brain, sweeping away those old and dusty thoughts that I don’t need anymore And what better way to ring in the new year than clearing the old out and welcoming in the new? One almost can’t help but circle back to laughter here.

After all, it clears out your stress, encourages deeper breaths once you finish, and gets your body moving What s not to love about it? So, if you are one of the many people who has improved fitness on your list of new year's resolutions, consider practicing humor while you run, or every time you hit the gym. Laughter, if you let it, can be a part of a healthy new dynamic that will expand your happiness and fitness to an entirely new dimension

It’s also easier to maintain your fitness goals when you re happier Stress makes you more tired and disrupts your sleep By exercising, and of course, by laughing, you begin to break that vicious cycle and start a positive feedback loop in which you feel happier and happier.

Sometimes I didn’t even know what the other person was laughing at, and yet it became a fond memory for me all the same .

It’s quite literally viral; you spread your happiness and fitness through the community by laughing

Of course, laughter is not sufficient all on its own There are many benefits to getting enough exercise, and they extend beyond just improving your mood and helping to maintain a healthy weight. These require more regular and planned exercises Regularly getting your body moving not only reduces anxiety and depression, it also lowers your risk of heart disease, several cancers, stroke, and diabetes. It also improves the health of your bones and muscles, increases your chances of living longer, and helps manage some chronic health conditions

There are also several health benefits that stem partially from improving your mood, one of which I know from personal experience. I often have quite bad eczema on my hands and wrists It turns out that the primary stress hormone cortisol can dry out your skin, making conditions like acne, eczema, and inflammation worse! So, if you struggle with any of these conditions, it can be immensely helpful to go out and get some exercise Sweating a lot can also help with skin conditions like acne and eczema It clears out the pores, preventing them from getting clogged and infected.

Another of the many benefits of fitness-vialaughter is that it’s infectious! I’m sure all of you have had the experience of being overcome by laughter simply because someone around you was laughing. I certainly have, and my moments of greatest happiness are when I laugh so hard that I couldn’t focus on anything else

Getting some exercise can also provide other health benefits that are not directly tied to physical activity, particularly if you choose an outdoor activity like running or biking. Exposure to sunlight is one source of vitamin D, a vitamin with several health benefits For example, it promotes healthy bones and the proper functioning of the immune system Running can be one of the best ways of getting vitamin D. It exposes you to sunlight of course, and it has several other health benefits. Cabin fever is a well-documented phenomenon, one that running outside goes a long way to combatting Running also gets your blood pumping, improving blood flow and the health of your circulatory system. This supports your general health, and it also improves your body’s temperature regulation, particularly in the extremities such as your fingers and toes Another benefit of regularly running is improved heart health And of course, going out for regular walks provides all of these health benefits as well.

The heart is of particular note in my opinion, being the organ that is colloquially associated with emotion, therefore looping us back around to where we started: with laughter and improvement in your mood. Many medical conditions are psychosomatic or influenced by both the mind and the body This is particularly true of mental health conditions such as anxiety or depressive disorders While not a cure-all, regular physical exercise can reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety, which in turn will have an effect on your physical health, as stress and depression both affect it negatively Your immune system functions worse when you are overly stressed for instance. I’ve personally found that regular physical exercise helps manage my own symptoms of ADHD Getting fresh air and moving my body as part of a run helps quiet my thoughts which otherwise tend to be overwhelming and omnipresent It helps me to relax, and particularly to sleep.

The benefits to sleep are not particular to those who are neurodivergent Regular physical exercise generally improves the quality of one’s sleep. This is also another benefit that will improve the health of the immune system, as poor sleep negatively impacts the functioning of the immune system and increases one’s susceptibility to disease and infection Good sleep also reduces stress and irritation. The fourth phase of the sleep cycle, REM sleep, can have a profound effect on your mood

Frequent interruptions in REM sleep will leave you more irritated and make them more prone to anger

Because good fitness helps sleep, this is yet another way in which fitness helps one s mood

And, with this fact, we once more circle back around to laughter. Laughter improves your mood and has incredible fitness benefits And fitness, in turn, also improves your mood, which makes humor and laughter easier to come by Fitness and your mood are deeply intertwined. So, this new year, see about moving your body more, through laughter or any other exercise It just might turn your frowns upside-down

Sable Hawkins

So, You Started Doomscrolling...

So, you started doomscrolling.

Hey, it’s okay. It happens to the best of us. But now that we have recognized the problem, let’s take some steps to find the solution.

What is Doomscrolling? 1

According to the very reliable website, Wikipedia com, doomscrolling is “the act of spending an excessive amount of screen time devoted to the absorption of negative news ” I know, it may not sound like something that would positively not happen to you. Still, in 20 minutes you’ll be on some site like the Wall Street Journal reading some article reviewing a movie you’ve been anticipating, celebrity drama, the impending global water shortage, recession, the ever-increasing number of police misconduct and brutality, or the myriad of wars currently being fought, or the potential future wars, or the inevitable food shortage, or the threat of nuclear war, or the–okay maybe there’s some merit to this thing

Why do we Doomscroll? 2

Doomscrolling is in a way, a coping mechanism for many who are just overwhelmed by the world Robin Blades, a neuroscience researcher, in her article “Protecting the Brain from Bad News” stated that we doomscroll as a way to “help” us cope with bad news. If you only consume negative stories, when something actually negative finally happens, you won’t feel any pain!

Right?

Wrong Doomscrolling can result in “increased distress, anxiety, and depression, even when the news in question is relatively mundane ” As it turns out, our brains can be stupid, which means we need to be even more proactive when consuming news so that we can minimize the chance to develop an unhealthy relationship with it

The 24-hour news cycle also plays a part in this phenomenon, as news stations need to get as many views and clicks as possible to stay afloat, which means they must resort to only reporting/highlighting as many sensational, attention-grabbing, memorable stories as possible It s not the people’s fault that they are surrounded by carefully selected stories and information chosen to increase the chance of them consuming more news, trapping them in an endless cycle.

Why do we Doomscroll? 3

One of the best and cost-effective ways to reduce (and perhaps eliminate) doomscrolling is to just disconnect from the world. Put down the phone, turn off the television, shut the laptop, and just relax Unplugging–while it can be scary for us living in this interconnected world–is still one of the most effective ways to deal with these situations. The rush of dopamine we get by just using technology alone ensures that we come back frequently for that little hit This addiction to technology and how it has become mandatory in modern society has made it rather difficult to walk away from the screen.

I remember when I was but a small child in 2019 when North Korea boasted about the US potentially receiving a “Christmas gift” during former President Trump s stint in office This, of course, freaked me out, resulting in a handful of sleepless nights, scrolling through my Apple News app, anxiously reading every article

I could find about North Korea, while mentally preparing myself for nuclear war A major part of me knew that it was a one-in-amillion chance of happening, but there was a tiny voice in my head that kept saying “what if?” And of course, I listened to that voice instead of the overwhelming feeling in me that everything was going to be fine After Christmas came and went and the ball in New York dropped signaling the new year, I breathed a sigh of relief and went about my life. I stopped this destructive habit just by not opening that app and moving on.

Smoothly transitioning into my next tip: take up new hobbies outside of technology Blades cited a 2017 study that simple solutions like journaling or even just imagining a better future have better positive health benefits for you (“improvements in optimism, hope, life satisfaction, and anxiety two and four months later”) than mindlessly scrolling until your thumb falls off

I have a few hobbies, but a lot of them require an internet connection or a power socket, and that made me want to turn back to my hobbies of days past like drawing Going outside is a great way to distance yourself from the digital world, especially if you have something to do, like playing a sport or just going out for a walk. Just trying to curb the amount of time you spend consuming news can make a huge difference Something that might also help is to just find something to laugh at Comedians are experts at distracting us from the world around us, and while humor may not be the end all be all solution to your problems, it brightens your day just a little bit Laughter is the best medicine, after all!

Hopefully, there can be a time in society where the world cools down for a few minutes and the news cycle can write stories that don’t give people severe anxiety But until then, the best we can do is to adapt to our surroundings And if all else fails, go touch some grass

Lauren Kellum

Athleticism In Comedic Films

The age of comedy and sports are a timeless duo that will never fail to make an audience laugh. There is a specific kind of trope in which the fun, goofy, characters are met with some form of athleticism All across the board we have seen just about every sport being portrayed in a comedic way There has been baseball, basketball, hockey, golf, and everything in between. This niche form of comedy has been around for a very long time and has produced several iconic films in which people continue to love to this day These kinds of films show the hardships and training of sports while, nonetheless, making the audience laugh so hard they kick the wind.

Some of the world s favorite actors are the face of these hilariously loveable films These movies have offered us Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, John C Reilly, Channing Tatum, Tom Hanks; and-seriously, Adam Sandler is almost in every single one of these movies. He cannot be stopped The movie industry has tried, and he just keeps coming back with new movies about sports Furthermore, there is a special kind of trope that as an audience we can view, and that in turn is the pure athleticism in the genre of comedy. With that, here are some of the greatest movies in which we thought made the cut for this specific trope

A slew of movies has graced the earth with their exuberantly funny nature, one of which is Happy Gilmore made in 1996 This movie shows the raw talent of a man named Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) in his golfing endeavors. Happy stumbles upon his golfing talent shortly after figuring out his hockey career is nonexistent due to his lack of skill on the ice This hilarious film goes through the motions of life alongside the thrill of golf, but the trope continues to prevail Happy, though not the brightest and short-tempered, will go to great lengths to save his grandmother's house from being bought out Through trials and tribulations with discipline, skill, and alligators, Happy learns the love of golf This fan favorite film exemplifies athletics at its core while still delivering laughs along the way

This film has numerous twists and turns, making audience members ask themselves “why is Bob Barker in this film?” we re not mad Bob, just curious Not only did this plot offer coaching and the climax to being a great golfer, but it also offered the heart, companionship, and what it looks like to fail and try again This film is arguably the epitome of sports and comedy and to that we say, next movie

In the 2006 film, The Benchwarmers, viewers follow an unlikely group of three men, Gus (Rob Schneider), Clark (Jon Heder), and Richie (David Spade) who were considered “losers” in the thicket of their childhood As redemption, they form a baseball team with the goal of defeating all of the bullies of the little league to give other children the chance to play ball without getting bullied. This film is gut-busting with humor as it follows through the “innings” and outs of baseball and bullies

From showing an agoraphobic man named Howie attempt to fight the sun with a sword to a man named Gus in his protagonist arc, this movie has just about anything you could imagine. We get funny one-liners such as “This is my son Nelson. He's become quite the fart magnet for the neighborhood bullies ” This film shows the true love of baseball whether you’re good at it or not Not only does this film display all of the different levels of athleticism and comedy for this trope, but it also offers the fall of the bullies, character development, and heart. This is truly a movie that will be forever etched in the hall of athletic comedies if that existed of course But alas, the arc of comedic sports films does not stop there! 2006 birthed yet another famously humorous film called Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. This film walks the audience through the life of two NASCAR drivers, who double as best friends, Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell), and Cal Naughton Jr (John C Reilly)

This amusing and humorous film is filled to the brim with one-liners such as “If you ain’t first, you re last!” and “I’m all jacked up on Mountain Dew!” This comical film is exactly what one would expect when mixing NASCAR with Will Ferrell and John C Reilly This film is a whirlwind of motivation and giggles while simultaneously watching the sport of race car driving. Who doesn t love watching Will Ferrell and John C Reilly play two country race car drivers?

Movie viewers are also able to see movies like She s the Man in which we get comedy, drama, solid plot, and competition between different soccer teams. This movie follows a young girl named Viola (Amanda Bynes) who would do anything to play soccer “Anything” in this scenario, is defined as dressing up as her twin brother in order to play on the boys soccer team due to the girls’ soccer team falling through. But alas, she falls for the infamous Duke (Channing Tatum) while sometimes forgetting she is posing as her twin brother Sebastian

This film showcases comedy in its purest form while allowing people to follow an incredible storyline that is in reference to Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

This movie delivers hilarious lines like “When my eyes are closed, I see you for what you truly are. Which is uuu-glay!” and “Does he have your number? 1-800-BEYOTCH?” Nevertheless, this movie shows the brute training of soccer as well as flashing the comedic side of things The film industry also portrays even the most unconventional sports in which most people would not think of such as Blades of Glory (2006) where Will Ferrell and Jon Heder are Olympic ice skaters Viewers are also able to welcome films such as 2004’s Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story in which the film follows actors Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn in the dodgeball tournament of a lifetime.

This film is exactly what one would expect it to be about, dodgeball This goofy film has so much to offer such as plot, funny scenes, and most importantly, the art of dodgeball There are so many other films in which the link between sports and comedy are the main focal point of the plot This is a theme in which several movies enjoy exercising, no pun intended. Though this is an idea that was incredibly popular in the early 2000’s, families all over are still able to enjoy the simplicity and humor in films with this particular trope

You name a sport, and there is a comedic version of it People can view tennis, baseball, hockey, basketball, dodgeball, baseketball (arguably not real, at least not with that attitude), cheerleading, race car driving, golf, soccer, and more. Comedy as a whole is a chameleon in which we see it woven through different thematic genres. This article opens up the floor for a slew of films in which we see athleticism going hand in hand with its comedic side If there is anything to take away from this article, it is that comedic sports films have a high chance of having Adam Sandler or Will Ferrell in it Now run, don t walk, to go view one of these hilarious films

Alexandra Webb

Dad Bods

They Were Funny, and Why It’s Good That They’re Not Anymore

Comedy is obsessed with bodies Old, young, tall, short, wrinkly, pregnant– you name it, and someone’s made a joke about it. This obsession with the human form has been particularly so regarding what we now know as the “dad bod”. Beer bellies, soft, strong arms that once contained muscles, and cozy thighs all adorn the men who have been the punchline of a million jokes. However, in the past few years, I’ve noticed an uptick in appreciation for these bodies, with the dad bod garnering a lot more love than it used to– and for good reason! In a culture that is notoriously harsh on what doesn t meet the “ideal” body type (whatever that may look like at the time), it’s about time that the bodies that are the result of the purest way to live– simply being human– are given the love they deserve. Let s talk about how the fatherly form of many middle-aged men has evolved from being the butt of society s jokes to the apple of its eye.

Recently, my TikTok s “For You” page has been overwhelmed with the audio “Big Boy (SZA)” (https://www youtube com/watch?v=jhSONuHXxkM) Its lyrics are as follows: “It's cuffin' season / And now we've got a reason / To get a big boy, I need a big boy / Give me a big boy”, and I ll say it, the song is addicting. And it’s pretty cool, too– it feels like one of the first popular body-positive songs ever written for men, and it s usually used in such a way that appreciates and uplifts men with this body type.

Upon research, however, I discovered that this song wasn’t initially real In fact, it originated as an SNL sketch, during which a group of women sing about needing bigger men to keep them warm during the winter season (https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=B9Z5YtWOJBM). The crowd laughs at the mere mention of the body type– “big boys” drives them into hysterics The sketch mockingly glorifies various aspects of this body type, which drives the crowd wild However, the internet has taken a different approach towards interpretation of this song. Its YouTube video’s comment section is almost completely filled with fans’ dreams of it being a real song, demanding the sketch be turned into a reallife big boy anthem TikTok is a similar community, with thousands of videos heralding the dad bod to this song. Many creators don’t even know that the song originated as a joke; it s taken on a new life for itself, transforming from mockery to celebration. At this point, it feels like the “Big Boy” known outside of SNL is more prevalent than the original

There’s definitely a long way to go, but for now, American dads can claim this victory and revel in it over some beers together While the dad bod craze is fortunately dismantling formerly destructive societal ideals surrounding male image, I can’t help but notice that “dad bod” is in the Google English dictionary while “mom bod” is not There s a near infinite resource of comedy that centralizes around the female body, and so I wonder when this new age of comedians, TikTokers, and real people will be able to twist jokes about childbearing hips and soft chins into a celebration of feminine beauty With a recent increase in body positive artists, I trust that we soon will Perhaps by this time next year, we’ll be just as in love with big girls as we are with big boys. But until then, let’s go big boys!

Comedians That Lost Weight BEFORE AFTER

“Big Boy ' is just one example of the dad bod’s rise from laughingstock to hero In recent years, there have been a number of these instances, from Chris Pratt s 2019 sexy dad bod comeback to an Lizzo’s nod to bigger men in her song “Boys.” (https://youtu.be/HQliEKPg1Qk?t=61) In a society that usually only uplifts thin or muscular body types, this is a huge step forward

Comedian J. Wiley

We, as a society, have truly turned lemons into lemonade, elevating and honoring a body type that was once viewed as undesirable.

Summer Jones

AFTER

What’s Cooking?

Comedians to the Rescue

Cooking has gone from a life skill to a hobby

With all the hardships that come with living, Millennials have begun to associate cooking a meal that nourishes their body with stress. After a grueling day at work who wants to come home and cook? Thanks to delivery apps it has become easier to avoid the kitchen altogether With the click of a button, you can have your food on your doorstep within a measly 20 minutes. Gen Z are not learning to cook altogether.

Kenduiywa Carpenter

It’s not like we’re becoming unhealthier

According to the USDA Millennials are demanding healthier and fresher food This food, however, is generally “a larger share of prepared foods, pasta, and sugar and candies,” not food that is strictly home cooked. While we are health conscious, we have become unmotivated to cook

Eating is an activity almost everyone must partake in three times a day for the rest of their lives. There is not a food replacement that will compare to a hot cooked meal I’m not saying it’s bad to eat out, but everyone should have the skill to make their own food The kitchen can be scary and for women, at times, could feel degrading. However, it is the only way to ensure that the nutrients that are beneficial to you enter your body Restaurants and fast-food chains are a business

While you can choose healthier options, there are ingredients and chemicals in food that are often the cause health problems There are only a handful of businesses that will be fully transparent about every component that goes into their food. And to be frank eating out is much more expensive than eating at home There s a reason why when you asked your parents for McDonalds there was always, without a doubt, food at home

Though we shouldn’t lose hope just yet. The internet and mass media have a way of motivating people Especially the youth Joshua Weissman is a very popular cooking YouTuber, who got his start when he was on his own fitness journey He is a self-taught chef that teaches the youth about the fundamentals of cooking. That is butter, spices, sauces, etc In his comedic videos he goes in depth on what makes food taste good in your mouth and in your body

What tastes good is sometimes unhealthy. And that s OK. On the other spectrum of the cooking world, comedian and TikToker, Desarae, cooking comedy chaos, takes a playful approach on sharing her recipes online She focuses on making videos about popular foods that are more for enjoyment than fitness. She is a hilarious Pittsburgh based chef, mostly popular on TikTok that gives basic tips and tricks in the kitchen. She is chaotic and positive, ultimately a reminder that cooking is not a chore Cooking is not just about surviving, but an experience that is all meant for your own wellbeing There is no need to constantly be cooking for the sake of health. If you are eating three meals a day and you are happy that is enough.

There are many other comedians that inspire people to treat their body with the utmost care as possible Cooking is not a burden if you change your mindset Once you stop treating the day like it’s a ticking time bomb and start treating your body like it s a temple these skills will accumulate with time.

Natal e Moreno

To those who made this possible: Writers

Mecha Media

Alexandra Webb

E Alexander Phillips-Hedge

Erin Oliver

MaryBeth Edmundson

E. Alexander Phillips-Hedge

Nicole Tissot

Patience Hurston

Shannon Lynch

Illustrators

Ben Cena

Shannon Lynch

Magazine publisher Editors Lead Designer media manager

Angie DiDomenica

Sable Hawkins

Jonathan Hernandez

Kaley Richard

Katherine Hoang

Lauren Kellum

Malik Harvey

Meredith Hamm

Mecha Swain

Sally Bessette

Shannon Hynes

Starletta Watson

Summer Jones

Tameeah Browne

Zach Rush

Natalie Moreno