Dam Yankee

Fer Rodil

Amsterdam performer Fer Rodil's darkly funny take on his harsh year facing cancer & loss
What happens when a professional storyteller is handed a narrative too painful to tell? That's the question Fernando Rodil, a screenwriter and director, was forced to confront over the last 12 months. After moving to Amsterdam from Buenos Aires to follow love, Rodil's life imploded when his close friend Marijn Maas, died from terminal cancer a few months before Rodil himself received a shocking cancer diagnosis. And then his five-year relationship came to an end.
Rodil speaks to the Dam Yankee podcast about how the sheer scale of the tragedy gave him an urgent, unexpected sense of purpose, driving him to create his new solo show, Fer Is On A Deadline, which will next be performed at the Storytelling Festival Nijmegen on Dec. 13. Expertly directed by Igor Alvarez Cugat, the show manages to be clever, introspective, thought provoking, and darkly funny.
For Rodil, a professional screenwriter accustomed to crafting scripts for HBO and Amazon Prime, the sudden confrontation with his own mortality forced a harsh pivot. Diagnosed with follicular lymphoma at age 35, he found comfort and resolve at the Amsterdam storytelling venue Mezrab, which he has called his "second home." He realized that structuring his trauma into a story would allow him to survive it.
He described the writing process as "exposure therapy," a way of "grabbing all these several sources of pain and turn them into something hopefully beautiful," he said. The diagnosis stripped away his previous identity, he told host Zack Newmark: "The most painful thing is the shift, the moment of transition in which you still want to understand yourself as your previous self as someone that is perfectly healthy... and realizing, 'No, you have to let that Fernando go. Now you are this Fernando the cancer patient.'"
This loss of self was compounded by the death of his close friend, Marijn Maas, at age 32. Rodil struggled to find logic in the tragedy. "There's nothing more meaningless, no clearer evidence of meaninglessness, than a cancer diagnosis when you're young," he said. Yet, Marijn’s approach to his final days became a guiding light for Rodil’s own journey. "The fact that I saw him walking us through the process of his dying throughout his last year and seeing him happy also, that was incredible," Rodil noted.
Despite the heavy subject matter, Fer Is On A Deadline is a comedy. Rodil recalled crucial feedback from Farnoosh Farnia at Mezrab's House of Creation that helped him shape the show past his raw grief: "She told me, 'Think of what you want the show to look like in two years.'"
This tip helped him edit out bitterness and anger. He concluded that his ultimate resolve is acceptance. "If I didn't go through all these things, I wouldn't have known that I could go through these things and still be happy," he said. "I think I still need to make plans because I'm not dead yet," he finished. "So, I want to achieve stuff, and achieving stuff requires some planning."
Listen to the full interview with Fernando Rodil on the Dam Yankee podcast on all major platforms, or watch the video on YouTube. For more information on Rodil's show and workshops, visit his Instagram account, and the websites for Mezrab and the House of Creation. Tickets for the Storytelling Festival Nijmegen cost 15 to 20 euros in advance, or 25 euros at the door on Dec. 13.
 
Amsterdam, Fernando Rodil, Amsterdam-Oost, Mezrab, comedy, Improv comedy, storytelling, theater, international theater, live theater, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mezrab's House of Creation, podcast, Dam Yankee, immigration, Podcast Interview, entertainment, Noord-Holland, Farnoosh Farnia, arts and culture

Mike Manicardi

Firebombs, slim finances couldn't stop Mike Manicardi from growing Amsterdam's Badhuistheater
 
Ask long-time Amsterdam resident Mike Manicardi whether he is an actor, director, community leader, or entrepreneur, and he'll give you a complex answer making it clear why he worked 80 hours per week for most of his career. The founder of the Badhuistheater in the capital's Oost district, Manicardi says it is his family's survivor mentality and his refusal to quit that allowed him to defy the odds and grow the theater over 40 years into a vital cultural hub for Amsterdam's Dutch and international community. Manicardi told the Dam Yankee podcast it was never easy turning the venue into one of the city's most diverse small theaters, noting that the building's assignment by City Hall to international audiences prompted violence from extreme nationalists and youth gangs in the then working-class neighborhood.
The early years of the Badhuistheater were marked by open hostility and literal threats to its existence. Compounding the danger was the immense physical labor required just to open the doors each night. Manicardi recalled transforming the derelict structure: "We had to rebuild it... we had to pull half of the building apart and create a kind of circus tent of beams to create the amphitheater that you have now." In that part of Amsterdam-Oost, which he described as an "impoverished ghetto," he faced "a kind of a criminality" and "fascist parties" who "tried to burn us out. But it didn't matter. It didn't work." Manicardi's tenacity in the face of firebombs and gang crime cemented the theater’s foundation on a principle of absolute refusal to fail.
Manicardi credits his English, Irish, and Italian heritage for his immense fortitude, tracing his "survivor mentality" through his parents’ dramatic experiences. His mother was quite literally born in a forest in Myanmar, when it was still known as Burma, a "complete miracle that they all didn't die of disease." Meanwhile, his Italian father was rounded up as a teen during World War II and held in an internment camp on the Isle of Man. Manicardi speculated his father carried the shame of that experience "all his life," noting that in the camp "they didn't mind if a couple of them died because then there was less people to feed." This intergenerational history instilled in Mike the unwavering resolve needed to save his theater.
After over five decades in theater, Manicardi, now in his 70s, admits that the fight for survival never went away; it just changed. The early physical threats have been replaced by the persistent, draining struggle against slim finances and institutional neglect. "In my 70s, I’m still working 60 hours a week," he noted, explaining that he must constantly be two people: the artistic director and the entrepreneur who keeps the lights on. The battle has intensified with politicians who "sometimes disregard the need for culture," leading Manicardi to work constantly to protect the diverse, vital role the Badhuistheater plays in the community.
Despite the battles, Manicardi remains intensely optimistic about the future of his city and his country. He expressed hope for the political landscape: "I'm very positive. Amsterdam is going to be the wonderful magic city which it still is," adding, "I'm a complete fan. And I think, 'Thank God, we live in the Netherlands.' I'm very proud to live in the Netherlands." Today, the Badhuistheater stands as a unique monument to independence and resilience, hosting live theater, improv comedy, and productions from Dutch, English, Czech, French, Italian and Polish companies—a testament to one man’s decades-long commitment to culture.
Listen to this entire episode of Dam Yankee on all major podcast platforms, or watch the full videos on YouTube. For more information and tickets, visit the Badhuistheater website and their Instagram pages.Amsterdam, Mike Manicardi, Amsterdam-Oost, Badhuistheater, theater, nationalism, political violence, extreme right, international theater, live theater, comedy, improv comedy, United Kingdom, podcast, Dam Yankee, immigration, Podcast Interview, entertainment, Noord-Holland, gang violence, organized crime, finance, arts and culture

Marc Isaacs

BAFTA-nominated director Marc Isaacs on his "scripted" IDFA film, the myth of purity in documentaries, blurring the lines of truth and AI
BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Marc Isaacs joins host Zack Newmark to discuss his latest provocation, Synthetic Sincerity, currently in competition at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). Isaacs challenges the myth of the "pure" observational documentary, arguing that the genre has been staged since the days of the Lumière brothers and Nanook of the North. In his new film, he blurs the lines between reality and fiction by placing real AI researchers into a scripted narrative at a fictional university, using the setup to explore the very real implications of Artificial Intelligence and human emotion.
Isaacs takes aim at the "unsubtle" nature of modern streaming documentaries, criticizing the formulaic "Netflix style" that uses overpowering music to force specific emotions onto the audience. He argues that his hybrid method—which blends scripted scenarios with improvised reactions—is often more honest than so-called "fly-on-the-wall" films. By acknowledging the camera's presence and the inherent performance of his subjects, Isaacs invites the audience to critically engage with the truth rather than passively consuming a manufactured narrative.
The conversation delves into Isaacs’ recurring themes of loneliness, transience, and the search for connection, tracing back to his breakout 2001 film, Lift, which was filmed entirely in an elevator. In Synthetic Sincerity, these themes converge on a powerful storyline involving a real-life Uyghur chef. Isaacs explains how he utilizes the film's AI premise to give a voice to the chef's hidden trauma and displacement—pain that he cannot openly discuss—creating a poignant exploration of identity and the "non-spaces" people inhabit when they leave their homelands.
Beyond the creative process, Isaacs offers a sobering look at the business side of the British documentary industry. He laments the slashing of budgets and the centralization of power, where risk-averse executives have replaced independent commissioners. This shift, he argues, has stifled creativity and forced filmmakers into "cookie-cutter" molds. Isaacs champions the "cinema of discovery," describing his refusal to follow rigid plans in favor of making the film up as he goes along to preserve spontaneity.
Synthetic Sincerity is currently screening at IDFA's International Competition before heading to the international festival circuit, and potentially appearing on broadcast television and online platforms. His previous work is available on a variety of streaming services, and Isaacs releases updates about his film work and upcoming projects on his Instagram account.
Listen to this entire episode of Dam Yankee on all major podcast platforms, or watch the full videos on YouTube.
 
Amsterdam, London, Marc Isaacs, Synthetic Sincerity, documentary, Documentary film, International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, United Kingdom, comedy, dark humor, podcast, Dam Yankee, loneliness, immigration, artificial intelligence, filmmaking, Podcast Interview, entertainment, social media, film, Netflix, BBC, Nanook of the North, Lumière Brothers

Sacha Hoedemaker

Emmy winner Sacha Hoedemaker’s odd career from neo-classical, improv, to Frenchcore
 
After 14 years, over 3,000 shows, and an Emmy win, Dutch musician Sacha Hoedemaker is making a dramatic exit from the improv comedy stage at Amsterdam's Boom Chicago. Hoedemaker joins host Zack Newmark to detail the biggest leap of faith in his career, leaving stability to focus on his deeply meditative neoclassical solo work, and his creative detour into its complete sonic opposite, the ultra-fast, ultra-hard dance genre known as Frenchcore.
Hoedemaker’s departure from Boom Chicago, where he served as Musical Director, is the central theme of his upcoming album, Drift Season. He compares the career change to a necessary purge, telling Zack Newmark: “It feels like letting go and getting this fresh wind and clearing that which is no longer necessary for us or no longer serving us.” This drive for change also manifests in his music, where he has embraced the ultra-fast Frenchcore genre. He explains the surprising beauty of the contrast: "The classic neoclassical music that I play is very slow, but if you put a very fast beat around it on top of it, it becomes this beautiful, meditative piece.”
This willingness to follow opportunity led to his current success, culminating in an Emmy for "excellent innovation" for a neoclassical piece written during the COVID-19 lockdown. His career is full of unexpected turns, starting with a shift from studying biomedical science to pursuing music. This blend of fast and slow music was highlighted at Defqon.1 Nederland last summer, where he performed his composition, Illusion of Time, in front of 65,000 people. He shares the thrill of writing music that became a festival theme, saying, “I cannot believe I wrote it, because I like it so much.”
After performing over 3,000 shows, Hoedemaker admits that his “performer muscle” is sore and needs rest. While he confessed that he has "lost a little bit of that" desire to perform live 10 times a week, he remains open to the future. He is thrilled for this new independent chapter and plans to continue both his classical composition and his work in Frenchcore, embracing the “shifting currents” of his life.
Sacha’s music is available under his name on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. He is also active on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). Listeners can hear the full Dam Yankee episode on all major podcast platforms or watch the video on YouTube, where Sacha also discusses writing an Emmy-winning piece during the COVID-19 lockdown, managing career transitions, and the impact of trauma on life.

Ed Gamble

Comic Ed Gamble Draws an Ethical Line at Riyadh, and His New Obsession with Wrestling
British comedian and presenter Ed Gamble (from Off Menu and Great British Menu) sits down with Dam Yankee host Zack Newmark to discuss his successful 15-year career, his first proper international tour, and the ethical dilemmas that come with fame. While preparing for his upcoming shows in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, Gamble speaks candidly about his decision to turn down the highly lucrative offer to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, despite some colleagues jumping at the massive paycheck.
Gamble is unequivocal about his moral stance, stating that his line is "heavily drawn" long before reaching Saudi Arabia. He highlights that his main issue with the Riyadh event is being directly paid by the Saudi Arabian Royal Family and the entertainment commission, which he views as crossing an insurmountable ethical boundary. He also dismisses the justifications of other comedians who claim they are performing to bring comedy to the Saudi people, saying he wishes they would simply admit it was for the money.
The conversation then shifts to Gamble’s famously obsessive personality, a trait that has powered his career in comedy and his lifelong obsession with food. He jokingly expresses concern about finding great late-night eats in Amsterdam and Rotterdam after his shows, and shares his goal to try local favorites like bitterballen and James Acaster’s proclaimed "best beef Wellington" in Amsterdam.
But his latest fixation is professional wrestling, a childhood love rekindled by his wife, a TV producer who is now training for the sport. Gamble details his experience training and competing in a sold-out "Clash of the Comics" match in London, where he took on fellow comedian Phil Wang. Gamble, competing as "Ed 'The Gambler' Gamble," calls the wrestling stunt the biggest buzz of his life, even eclipsing the thrill of a successful comedy gig. He explains that the underlying fear of getting the physical performance wrong created an unmatched level of excitement.
As he prepares for the tour, Ed Gamble Live, the comedian reflects on his past experiences with Dutch audiences, whom he finds have a distinctly different—but still enjoyable—"sensibility" compared to "rambunctious" UK crowds. He discusses his plan to focus on his strongest material rather than relying on local jokes, ensuring fans get "the good stuff."
The food fanatic also wants fans to tip him off to the best spots to try in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, as well his other tour stops. He posts frequently on his Instagram account, @edgamblecomedy. Tickets for Gamble's two shows at Comedy Club Haug in Rotterdam on Nov. 15 are sold out, as is the evening show at Boom Chicago in Amsterdam the following day. Tickets are still available for his late matinee on Nov. 16 in Amsterdam, with tickets priced at 28 euros. More information about the Ed Gamble Live tour is available on his website.
Listen to this entire episode of Dam Yankee on all major podcast platforms, or watch the full videos on YouTube. Ed Gamble goes on to discuss life with diabetes, his 2023 autobiographical work, Glutton, and his plan to bring out his best material on the upcoming tour, especially after his oddly humorous interaction with the audience member at his previous Amsterdam gig.
Ed Gamble, Off Menu, Riyadh, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Riyadh Comedy Festival, James Acaster, Phil Wang, 2025 Riyadh Comedy Festival, Saudi royal family, Off Menu podcast, London, United Kingdom, Great British Menu, Lisbon, Portugal, comedy, Stand-up Comedy, Dam Yankee, podcast, Comedy Club Haug, Charlie Jamison, Boom Chicago, diabetes, wrestling, pro wrestling, United States, podcast, Podcast Interview, entertainment, social media

Cuebrick

Dam Yankee Podcast: Episode DescriptionTop 100 DJ Cuebrick: AI, Avicii, and the Antidote to Industry Pressure
On this episode of Dam Yankee, host Zack Newmark sits down with Top 100 DJ and producer Cuebrick (Mannheim, Germany) to discuss the raw reality of a 15-year career in electronic music. Cuebrick shares his surprisingly positive take on Artificial Intelligence (AI), explaining why artists must "go with the time" and how AI is already driving up the quality of music production—specifically the "top lines" for dance tracks.
The veteran DJ also offers a candid reflection on the intense, non-stop pressure of the industry, fueled by his meditations on the tragic suicide of EDM superstar Avicii. Cuebrick reveals his personal antidote to the stress: the quiet strength and perspective of his late grandmother, who taught him not to take life too seriously, famously saying, "We’re not coming out of this alive."
Discover how a forced stop during the pandemic helped Cuebrick find gratitude, set boundaries, and protect himself from the industry pressures that can overwhelm even the biggest stars.
Listen to the full interview for Cuebrick's thoughts on his future plans, the illusion of success on social media, and what it takes to survive and thrive on the long road to success.
Listen to the entire episode of Dam Yankee on all major podcast platforms, or watch the full videos on YouTube. Cuebrick also talks about his future plans in music and other trends happening in the music industry. He mentioned his presence on social media, particularly Instagram, where you can find him @cuberick_dj.Cuebrick, AI, Avicii, Mental Health, Resilience, Electronic Music, DJ Mag Top 100, Dam Yankee Podcast, Music Industry Pressure, Grandmother's Wisdom, Production Quality, Tobias, Creative Independence, Amsterdam Dance Event.

Meg Buzza

Three years ago, musical comedian Meg Buzza was practically paralyzed by Long Covid, facing months of bedridden isolation and intense uncertainty. Today, the Bay Area native is living her dream as a full-time professional improv comedian in Amsterdam.
Join us as Meg shares her incredible story of resilience with host Zack Newmark on Dam Yankee. A former professional dancer, Meg recounts the mysterious illness that left her with crushing pain, chest pressure, and a "suicidal depression." She details her exhaustive search for a diagnosis and recovery, which ultimately led to a life-changing realization while visiting the Netherlands.
Hear how Meg shifted her focus from the "obsession with healing" to cultivating joy with the physical capacity she has, a philosophy rooted in her decade-long practice of Buddhism. She discusses her upcoming one-woman show at Boom Chicago and how she uses comedy to explore self-acceptance, chronic illness, and finding happiness despite physical limitations.
Find Dam Yankee on YouTube and all podcast platforms. Join Meg on Instagram and her website.
Tags:
Amsterdam, San Francisco, California, Meg Buzza, musical comedy, improv comedy, Boom Chicago, Long Covid, chronic illness, Buddhism, Dam Yankee, Zack Newmark, self-acceptance, performance art, one-woman show, health, Noord-Holland, comedian, United States, comedy, podcast, podcast interview, entertainment, immigration, social media, Bay Area, Santa Rosa, disability advocacy, Dutch audiences, Dutch

Katie Nixon

Boom Chicago's Katie Nixon on Comedy, Doomscrolling, and Life in Amsterdam 🇳🇱
Join Emmy-winning journalist Zack Newmark, host of the Dam Yankee podcast, for a chat with American comedian and Boom Chicago cast member, Katie Nixon. Now living in Amsterdam, Katie discusses how she transforms the anxiety of the news cycle into comedy, including a song about doomscrolling from the improv show The Good, the Bad and the Algorithm.
Katie recounts her move from the boisterous laughs at Second City and iO in the Chicago improv scene, to the far more reserved audiences in the Netherlands, the surreal experience of seeing ICE raids intensify in her former Chicago neighborhood, and the cultural differences she faces.
Hear her take on using political comedy as a powerful "release"—screaming about billionaires and political figures—while acknowledging that not every moment needs a huge laugh. She shares how the Boom Chicago team handles tricky, real-time audience input on stage.
Don't miss this candid conversation on life as an expat comedian, teaching improv, and hosting the monthly Laugh Out Proud queer comedy show.
 
Katie Nixon, Amsterdam, Chicago, Boom Chicago, doomscrolling, comedy, Comedian, Dam Yankee, entertainment, immigration, social media, United States, Donald Trump, anti-immigration, Illinois, Improv comedy, Chicago Improv, Second City, Improv Olympic, Political Comedy, Improv, Zack Newmark, Laugh Out Proud, ICE raids

Best Comedy Bits from 30 Episodes!

Ready for the funniest highlights from the Dam Yankee Podcast ? Don't miss out on this collection of great comedy bits from the first 30 episodes, featuring Morgan Jay, Neema Naz, Ria Lina, Russell Howard and more! 
This episode brings together the best moments from our conversations with some of the world’s most exciting stand up comedians.
From Morgan Jay’s musical comedy brilliance to Neema Naz’s hilarious takes on culture and family life, this episode is packed with nonstop laughs and insights.
You’ll also catch Ria Lina’s razor sharp humor, Stacey Smith’s quick wit, Roue Verveer’s storytelling genius, Kyla Cobbler’s wild honesty, Matt Castelvi’s improv energy, and Russell Howard’s classic British charm.
If you love stand-up comedy, crowd work, and behind the scenes stories from today’s top comedians, this Comedians compilation is for you.
🎙️ Featuring:
1: Morgan Jay
2 : Neema Naz
3 : Ria Lina
4 : Stacey Smith
5 : Roue Verveer
6 : Kyla Cobbler
7 : Matt Castelvi
8 : Russell Howard
 
Timestamps :0:00- Intro1:24 - Neema Naz3:34 - Morgan Jay11:27- Ria Lina18:42 - Russell Howard20:50 - Roue Verveer23:09 -Stacey Smith26:41- Matt Castelvi 29:30 - Kyla Cobbler ---------Connect with me - Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharynewmark
Instagram ( Dam Yankee Podcast ) : https://www.instagram.com/damyankeepodcast?igsh=YmxxbHpiMnZxZGlm
Website : https://damyankeepodcast.nltimes.nl/

He Huang

Comedian He Huang on Challenging China’s One-Sided Narratives
This week on Dam Yankee, host Zack Newmark talks to Chinese comedian He Huang, the rising star whose career exploded after her viral Australia’s Got Talent audition garnered over 60 million views but also triggered a fierce cultural backlash back home. Huang, who traded a path in public policy analysis for the stage, explains that comedy is the truest platform to "say whatever I want," and that this freedom is precisely why her material, which challenges established cultural norms, is so empowering.
Huang shares her philosophy on why her humor is the "highest form of critique." Having studied public policy and observed different political systems, she recognized that in her home country, "only one voice is allowed." She explains that her use of comedy directly pushes back on the societal teaching that tells Chinese women, "The problem is you," giving her a sense of "self value" and power that she had never felt before.
Her unconventional journey began in an unexpected place: a free comedy class at a local library in Arlington, Virginia, while she was a graduate student at Georgetown University. That first gig convinced her, "Okay, this is it. I'm never going to stop." Though her European tour plans were recently derailed by a last-minute visa issue, Huang joins the podcast from London, expressing a firm commitment to reschedule her canceled shows in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Don't miss this candid conversation as He Huang discusses navigating the tricky balance between global fame and domestic criticism. She explains how easily her jokes are taken out of context by flat translations, and why she believes the attempts to silence her are futile. The full episode is available on all podcast platforms.
The full episode of Dam Yankee is available on all podcast platforms, and can also be seen on YouTube.
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