Episode 22

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Published on:

10th Dec 2024

Comedian (Jason Weems)

In this episode, the guys welcome comedian Jason Weems who shares his harrowing experience of collapsing at one of his shows from a severe asthma attack. How severe you ask? Bad enough that he was dead for a few minutes. The conversation explores Jason's journey in comedy, the challenges of performing with a chronic illness, and, of course, the life-threatening incident that occurred during a show in Philadelphia. Jason reflects on the trauma of the event, the challenges of returning to stand-up comedy, and how the experience has reshaped his perspective on life and family. He discusses the process of turning his traumatic experience into art, highlighting the importance of humor and resilience in the face of adversity.

As mentioned in the episode, you can see Jason’s special, Unknown, on Amazon and Youtube.

His incredible story is also the subject season three of the podcast First Day Back (Apple Podcast/Spotify).

Hear Jason every morning by streaming his radio show The Good Morning Show on WPGC 95.5 weekdays from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM.

Follow Jason on his Instagram at @jasonweemscomedy.

Music provided by Quincy Ledbetter (https://www.qledbetter.com/).

Artwork provided by Megan Weaver (https://meganweaverart.com/).

Special thank you to our premium members. If you’d like to listen to additional episodes, you can become a premium member by clicking subscribe in your podcast app or visit https://thebaggagepodcast.com/support to sign up or to gift a membership to someone. A percentage of all proceeds go to charity.

If you have questions, comments, or a good story, email us at thebaggagepodcast@gmail.com.

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About the Podcast

Baggage

Baggage is a collection of compelling, unique, and sometimes traumatic stories from people of all walks of life. These stories typically only get heard by the storyteller’s friends, family, or co-workers. Now there is a platform for everyday individuals to share their experiences with a larger audience as well as how they cope with the emotional and mental baggage that sometimes follows those events. Once a month, the show’s hosts—Eric Shaw (doctor), Ryan Frank (prosecutor), Adrian Bonenberger (journalist/author), and Ryan Conner (comedian)—hear a different set of stories bringing their own distinct perspectives. Sometimes serious and sometimes humorous, it’s sure to always be interesting.

To share your story or ask a question, email us at thebaggagepodcast@gmail.com.

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About your hosts

Eric Shaw

Eric is a pediatrician in Denver, Colorado. He started his medical career as a volunteer EMT in Blacksburg, Virginia. He practiced professionally as a Cardiac Tech for Richmond Ambulance Authority. He attended VCU Medical School and completed his pediatrics training at The Children's Hospital of the King's Daughter's in Norfolk. He currently is a partner at Pediatrics West, and an associate professor at Rocky Vista University.

Ryan Frank

Ryan Frank has prosecuted criminal cases since graduating law school in 2012. He's handled everything from petit theft to homicides with a focus on child-victim crimes. Before going to law school, he served in the Marine Corps with two combat tours in Iraq.

Adrian Bonenberger

Adrian Bonenberger is an essayist, writer, and poet. In addition to publishing his war memoirs and co-editing an anthology of veteran fiction, his writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Foreign Policy, Commonweal Magazine, The New Republic, Forbes, and other outlets. He co-founded and edits fiction for The Wrath-Bearing Tree. Several of his books can been found here.

Ryan Conner

Ryan Conner is a writer/comedian who has been on the Late Late Show with James Corden and was a Top-10 finalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. View his website, https://ryanconnercomedy.com/, for his latest tour dates. His debut novel, The Party, is available for purchase on Amazon.