About the Podcast
The Reluctant Phoenix podcast, by New York standup comic Jeff Simmermon is a series of conversations with a wide variety of people who have restarted their lives whether or not they really wanted to in the first place. In season one, you'll hear from a Presbyterian minister whose real goal is social justice, a burlesque performer who strips as Abe Lincoln, a special ed teacher in NYC public schools who's trying to teach during COVID and more than one or two professional standup comics. Don't forget: a phoenix has to burn to be reborn, and it probably screams like hell on the way out.
About the Host
Jeff Simmermon
Jeff Simmermon is a standup comic and storyteller whose stories have appeared on Risk!, This American Life, The Moth‘s podcast, PBS’ Stories From the Stage and in written form in The Paris Review Daily and Newsweek. He teaches storytelling to businesses, individuals and performers, either through 1:1 coaching or custom-tailored workshops. Prior to his work as a performer and story coach, he worked for five years as the Director of Digital Communications for Time Warner Cable where he developed crisis communications, developed overall story and messaging arcs and edited/developed the official company blog. His latest album of standup and storytelling is called "Why You Should Be Happy" and was released on May 5, 2020, by Eight Hundred Pound Gorilla Records and is available wherever the very finest digital music and comedy is sold. His previous album, And I Am Not Lying, was released in June 2017 and reached #1 on the iTunes comedy charts. It was pressed onto pink vinyl and is distributed by Dischord Records. Jeff's performing clients have appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central's "This Is Not Happening," and "Ramy" on Hulu. Business and educational clients include NYU and Burning Man.
