\u201cIf you like looking on the bright side of life, f*ck off.\u201d<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This sentence, one of the first in the podcast description of <\/span>The Downside<\/span><\/i>, pretty much tells listeners all they need to know.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After all, who says that you \u201chave\u201d to make lemonade when life serves you lemons? Not Gianmarco Soresi, that\u2019s for sure. In fact, he\u2019d probably be more than happy to discuss why lemons suck, and why you should enjoy complaining about citrus fruit in general!<\/span><\/p>\n

In a world where so many podcasts in the Comedy Category just aren\u2019t that funny, or at least as funny as the hosts think they are, <\/span>The Downside<\/span><\/i> offers a plethora of laughs. In a recent interview with <\/span>Podcast Magazine<\/span><\/i>\u00ae, Gianmarco explained the \u2018secret sauce\u2019 to making his show work when so many others don\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was planning to do a podcast, it took me over a year to really figure it out,\u201d<\/span><\/i> he said. During that discovery period, he asked himself an important question:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do I want to do every day, even when I’m in a bad mood?\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The answer:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to create a space where you can complain, and no one says,<\/span><\/i> \u2018You know, it’s not that bad.\u2019 <\/span>I hate that,\u201d<\/span><\/i> Gianmarco emphasized.<\/span><\/h3>\n

The type of comedy he discusses in positive terms is for those who just can\u2019t stand those kinds of arbitrary phrases\u2014 <\/span>\u201cEverything will work out,\u201d<\/span><\/i> or <\/span>\u201cThings will be okay,\u201d<\/span><\/i> or perhaps the number one irritant\u2026 <\/span>\u201cThings happen for a reason.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld type, and without question, it attracts a big crowd.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The popularity of <\/span>The Downside<\/span><\/i> may speak to the cathartic side of complaining\u2014the release that comes with pointing out when something is so obviously not right.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think that brings out a unique kind of humor,\u201d<\/span><\/i> Gianmarco shared. \u201c<\/span>Complaining doesn’t mean you hate something. Complaining is a way of interacting with the world. It’s being honest about the way you feel moment to moment. You express your frustration in a way that makes it more bearable.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cThere’s this idea that if you talk about the sh*tty thing that\u2019s bothering you, you\u2019re going to bring everyone down, but I think it’s the opposite,\u201d <\/span><\/i>he pontificated. <\/span>\u201cI think it’s the people who don’t want to talk about the crumbling infrastructure that we live in every day, or the capitalist systems that put us in a horrible position, who are living in an illusion. Everyone is craving some kind of expression that they may not be able to articulate themselves because they \u2018have to be positive,\u2019 whether for their co-workers, family, or on social media. I say we table the idea of looking for the silver lining. It’s about being honest about what we’re all dealing with and laughing at it. You just have to be able to find the humor, rather than trying to hide things or brush things under the rug. We should all be talking about some of these things more.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

One of the aspects of <\/span>The Downside<\/span><\/i> that produces the laughs is the banter between Gianmarco and his buddy Russell. Add a multitude of genuinely humorous guests to the mix, and you have a formula that works.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cI think what makes it funny is when people come on, and I try to set the tone by complaining right out of the gate. So they go,<\/span><\/i> \u2018Okay, well there’s no way I’m going to look like more of an *sshole than this guy!\u2019 <\/span>Then, they feel free to express themselves in an honest, funny way, without sugarcoating stuff or pretending things are nicer than they are.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

This led to a discussion on how the guests are chosen for the podcast. Are they handpicked, knowing that Gianmarco\u2019s brand of comedy will align well with their sense of humor? Or have Gianmarco and Russell just been fortunate in landing great guests who turn out to be perfect fits?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have gotten really lucky, but that\u2019s partially because I know a lot of stand-up comedians,\u201d <\/span><\/i>he said. <\/span>\u201cThis is my world. I know who\u2019s fun to talk to. Comedians understand the premise of joking. So, I am free to make some dark jokes, because they recognize that we\u2019re in a safe space.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

However, not all of Gianmarco\u2019s guests are comedians, and that can create a little more work on his part. <\/span>\u201cWhen the guests are not comedians, there’s risk,\u201d<\/span><\/i> he revealed. <\/span>\u201cBut that’s also when I feel like it’s my job to bring them into my world.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

As the podcast evolves, Gianmarco hopes his role as interviewer follows suit. <\/span>\u201cSometimes, I feel like I can’t get guests to show who they really are. They’re still putting forward a certain kind of persona. There are times I need to pierce through that veneer. This usually occurs when guests do a lot of social media or branded content, or they’re models or influencers. They’re always smiling!\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI never thought of myself as an interviewer. Sometimes, I even struggle socially, but I like to make people feel like they’re in a safe place. And I do want to be braver\u2026 explore and reach outside the comedy world to talk with different people. I think I can poke a little more, and let people feel that I’m just having fun with them. I’m not going to judge them.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is also why I have a co-host,\u201d <\/span><\/i>Gianmarco continued. \u201c<\/span>I was very nervous in the beginning, because again, if you bring me to a party, I’m not Mr. Social. I had this deep-rooted fear that I\u2019d be sitting across from guests, and after a minute or two, we\u2019d just stare at each other and call the episode right there\u2026 <\/span><\/i>\u2018Well that was a good two-minute episode!\u2019 <\/span>That’s why I like Russell co-hosting. We’ve known each other for seven years. So if the guests don\u2019t talk, we bicker with each other, which generally makes the guest feel like they’re with friends. That’s part of the solution.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

However you want to describe the formula, Gianmarco\u2019s brand of podcasting works. <\/span>\u201cI want people who listen to my podcast to enjoy hearing people complain and express frustration,\u201d<\/span><\/i> he laughed. <\/span>\u201cWe end the show with<\/span><\/i> \u2018Go Count Your Blessing\u2019<\/span>\u2014intentionally singular, to at least let people know that we’re not total psychopaths. We can acknowledge that we haven’t seen a rainbow in a while because of global warming.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

It\u2019s clear that Gianmarco is a true comedian hosting a podcast, rather than a podcaster trying to do comedy. He talked about using <\/span>The Downside<\/span><\/i> as a way of trying out ideas, too\u2026 a comedian\u2019s notepad, in a sense.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cI see the podcast as an extension of my stand-up, which is very pessimistic. That’s why I picked the name<\/span><\/i> \u2018The Downside.\u2019 <\/span>I poke fun at everything that is full of sh*t, including myself.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve had stand-up become conversation, and conversations that have become stand-up bits. I feel like podcasting is another creative outlet of many. It feels very essential to my artistic process now.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Both the art of comedy and the art of complaining are on display for all to enjoy on <\/span>The Downside<\/span><\/i>. Give it a listen next time you need a laugh or have the urge to gripe\u2026 or both!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

April 2022 Issue<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cIf you like looking on the bright side of life, f*ck off.\u201d\u00a0 This sentence, one of the first in the podcast description of The Downside, pretty much tells listeners all they need to know.\u00a0 After all, who says that you \u201chave\u201d to make lemonade when life serves you lemons? Not Gianmarco Soresi, that\u2019s for sure. In fact, he\u2019d probably be more than happy to discuss why lemons suck, and why you should enjoy complaining about citrus fruit in general! In a world where so many podcasts in the Comedy Category just aren\u2019t that funny, or at least as funny as<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":12446,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[2874,167,2989,2988,2985,994,2986,2984,2987],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n