Join host Deadair Dennis Maler as we dive into the comedy and off-stage life of Mitch Shapiro, a comedian who is blind and hard of hearing due to Usher syndrome, and an advocate for those with disabilities. Mitch shares his inspiring journey living with Usher syndrome, from traveling in a motorhome to discussing the challenges and joys of cochlear implants. His story sheds light on the importance of open dialogue about disabilities and mental health. Tune in as Mitch reflects on his experiences founding Help America Here, navigating the comedy scene, and finding humor in life's struggles. 🎉 Subscribe to stay updated with the latest episodes and join the conversation!
KEEP UP WITH MITCH
Mitch Shapiro's comedy is a unique blend of corny humor and honest, down-to-earth observations. As someone who has faced the double challenge of hearing loss and blindness, Mitch's comedy is entertaining and inspiring. He uses his experiences to connect with audiences and deliver relatable and uplifting insights. Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker or a stand-up comedian, Mitch's comedy services will leave your audience laughing and inspired.
Check out his awesome website! https://mitchspeaks.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/mitch.shapiro.12
Foundation for Sight and Sound
https://www.instagram.com/foundationforsightnsound/
Documentary
http://www.bydaybynightdoc.com/
💥 UNLEASH YOUR INNER DENNIS🔥🕺
🔗 Follow Dennis | https://linktr.ee/deadairdennis
🌐 Website | https://www.deadairdennis.com/
🎭 PRESENTED BY BIG COMEDY NETWORK 🎭
🌐 Website | https://www.bigcomedynetwork.com/
📸 Socials | @ilovebigcomedy
🏆 TEAM🏆
🎤 Creator & Host: Deadair Dennis Maler
🌟 Presented By: Big Comedy Network
🎶 Music: Scott Lester & The Dirty Dottys
🎨 Cover Art: April Richelle
🙌 Special Thanks: Ewan Gotfryd
🏆 Full Credits: https://rb.gy/46rrs
AFFILIATE LINK DISCLOSURE
Please note, some of the links in the podcast description are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission. This helps support our content creation and doesn't result in any additional cost to you.
DISCLAIMER
In our content, including but not limited to podcasts and streaming series, we may discuss, mention, or review products, services, or companies. This does not imply any form of endorsement or affiliation. We may receive remuneration for mentions or through affiliate links in descriptions, which will be explicitly disclosed. Parts of our content are satirical, intended for entertainment and do not represent our or any discussed entities' views. All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. Use of these names doesn't imply endorsement. The respective trademark owners are not affiliated with, nor do they sponsor or endorse, our content.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
We aim to respect all intellectual property rights. If we've inadvertently used any materials inappropriately, please contact us so we can promptly address the matter.

Ever wondered if your therapist secretly moonlights as a comedian? This week on "So What Do You Really Do?", Deadair Dennis Maler dives into the fascinating life of Dr. Ellen Orchid, a psychiatrist who's been cracking skulls (both metaphorical and comedic) since the 80s NYC boom.
Ellen shares incredible stories of performing alongside female comedic icons and the challenges they faced. They'll also talk about her time on 'The View' and her role portraying a psychiatrist on 'The Sopranos.' They also dive deep into her experiences in medical school and the advancements in psychology and psychiatry over the years, including the use of ketamine therapy. Ellen discusses the challenges of balancing a career in medicine and comedy and her plans for the future. The conversation also touches on the portrayal of mental health in media and the impact of documentaries like 'By Day By Night.'
This episode is a hilarious exploration of the human mind, the medical field, and the power of a good punchline. So grab your stethoscope and a chuckle, because you're about to witness a therapy session unlike any other! If you've ever had to balance two wildly different worlds or just love a good laugh about life's unexpected turns, this episode is for you. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more gut-busting tales from BIG Comedy Network.
KEEP UP WITH ELLEN
Ellen Orchid is a graduate of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine with an MD and Ph.D. in Neuroscience, as part of their Medical Scientist Training Program. She did a psychiatry residency at New York University - Bellevue Hospital.
She is board-certified and has practiced psychiatry for 40 years. She began stand-up in 1982 and has performed on "The View", "Live with Regis",
"America's Funniest Viewers", and "Oprah's Funniest Viewers".
Check out all her socials!
https://www.instagram.com/ellenorchid
https://www.facebook.com/ellen.orchid.50
https://twitter.com/ellenorchid
https://www.tiktok.com/@ellen.orchid
Documentary: http://www.bydaybynightdoc.com/
💥 UNLEASH YOUR INNER DENNIS🔥🕺
🔗 Follow Dennis | https://linktr.ee/deadairdennis
🌐 Website | https://www.deadairdennis.com/
🎭 PRESENTED BY BIG COMEDY NETWORK 🎭
🌐 Website | https://www.bigcomedynetwork.com/
📸 Socials | @ilovebigcomedy
🏆 TEAM🏆
🎤 Creator & Host: Deadair Dennis Maler
🌟 Presented By: Big Comedy Network
🎶 Music: Scott Lester & The Dirty Dottys
🎨 Cover Art: April Richelle
🙌 Special Thanks: Ewan Gotfryd
🏆 Full Credits: https://rb.gy/46rrs
AFFILIATE LINK DISCLOSURE
Please note, some of the links in the podcast description are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission. This helps support our content creation and doesn't result in any additional cost to you.
DISCLAIMER
In our content, including but not limited to podcasts and streaming series, we may discuss, mention, or review products, services, or companies. This does not imply any form of endorsement or affiliation. We may receive remuneration for mentions or through affiliate links in descriptions, which will be explicitly disclosed. Parts of our content are satirical, intended for entertainment and do not represent our or any discussed entities' views. All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. Use of these names doesn't imply endorsement. The respective trademark owners are not affiliated with, nor do they sponsor or endorse, our content.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
We aim to respect all intellectual property rights. If we've inadvertently used any materials inappropriately, please contact us so we can promptly address the matter.

Ever dream of ditching your day job for the roar of the comedy club crowd? Our guest, comedian Claudia Bonavita, traded in her special ed classroom for the comedy club stage. This hilarious episode dives into her journey: the joys (and chaos) of teaching, the unexpected switch to stand-up, and her documentary that exposes the "By Day, By Night" lives of entertainers (hint: it's way more interesting than you think).
Get ready for a healthy dose of inspiration, a sprinkle of teaching war stories (we all need a laugh, right?), and a crash course in comedy creation from someone who truly walked the walk. Plus, Claudia spills the tea on her documentary which perfectly aligns with our love of peeking behind the curtain of funny people. Subscribe for more eye-popping tales, and share your own wild career pivot in the comments!
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
4:04 - Early Morning Routine
5:52 - Transition to Teaching Career
9:22 - Special Education Experience
15:23 - Evolution of Autism Education
18:50 - Children vs Parents Challenges
20:44 - Importance of Parent Training
23:17 - Comedy Career Beginnings
25:35 - Stand-Up Comedy Inspiration
35:10 - Comedy Scene Insights
37:00 - Embracing Opportunities in Comedy
38:50 - Stand-Up Comedy Mishaps
39:52 - Balancing Offense and Humor
43:05 - Podcast Appearance Reason
46:05 - Documentary Creation Process
49:00 - Selecting Documentary Subjects
56:00 - Documentary First Draft Journey
59:21 - Behind the Scenes Work
1:03:04 - Tips for Getting Comedy Gigs
1:13:50 - Teaching Comedy Aspirations
1:15:38 - Claudia Bonavita’s Contact Info
1:16:20 - Documentary Viewing Details
1:17:00 - Appreciation Note
1:18:20 - Podcast Outro
KEEP UP WITH CLAUDIA
Claudia began her career as a Special Education Teacher in 1988. In 2019, Claudia took a Stand-up comedy class and hit the stage performing stand-up. She has met some very interesting people while performing stand-up. She thought of the idea for this movie and contacted a young director she knew who told her to "write a treatment."
Check out her website for the documentary!
https://bydaybynightdoc.wixsite.com/mysite/about
& trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEtlsBT_cuY
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudiagoodnightgoodlife
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claudia.bonavita.5
💥 UNLEASH YOUR INNER DENNIS🔥🕺
🔗 Follow Dennis | https://linktr.ee/deadairdennis
🌐 Website | https://www.deadairdennis.com/
🎭 PRESENTED BY BIG COMEDY NETWORK 🎭
🌐 Website | https://www.bigcomedynetwork.com/
📸 Socials | @ilovebigcomedy
🏆 TEAM🏆
🎤 Creator & Host: Deadair Dennis Maler
🌟 Presented By: Big Comedy Network
🎶 Music: Scott Lester & The Dirty Dottys
🎨 Cover Art: April Richelle
🙌 Special Thanks: Ewan Gotfryd
🏆 Full Credits: https://rb.gy/46rrs
AFFILIATE LINK DISCLOSURE
Please note, some of the links in the podcast description are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission. This helps support our content creation and doesn't result in any additional cost to you.
DISCLAIMER
In our content, including but not limited to podcasts and streaming series, we may discuss, mention, or review products, services, or companies. This does not imply any form of endorsement or affiliation. We may receive remuneration for mentions or through affiliate links in descriptions, which will be explicitly disclosed. Parts of our content are satirical, intended for entertainment and do not represent our or any discussed entities' views. All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. Use of these names doesn't imply endorsement. The respective trademark owners are not affiliated with, nor do they sponsor or endorse, our content.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
We aim to respect all intellectual property rights. If we've inadvertently used any materials inappropriately, please contact us so we can promptly address the matter.