Lewis Black's Rantcast

Lewis reflects on the closing of the West Bank Cafe in New York. After 40+ years his friend and owner Steve Olsen is closing the location. The West Bank is a performance space where Lewis began his career on stage. He tells the story about how he began there as an aspiring playwright performing plays and his evolution to a stand-up comedian because of the space Steve fostered for creative types to perform. As a special treat this podcast includes a brief performance from Lewis at the West Bank on New Year's Even 2014 where he brought in the new year by celebrating Olsen and Rand Foerster and the club. End of an era indeed. ___________________ For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lewis just wrapped up his last tour date of 2024 so he's taking the week off and lying low. But he wasn't going to leave you hanging this week so here are some rants from the road when Lewis performed them live on stage in various cities this past year. ___________________ For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lewis is back in the states after his trip to escape Thanksgiving and not only has the holiday of focus changed, so has the weather. We’re officially in the stretch of the winter and it seems he’s yet to outrun the madness of everything, holidays, politics, AI chatbots, and even some school prayer. Rantcast #201 might be short, but packed full of rants.  PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW'S SPONSORS VIIA - If you are 21+ visit https://bit.ly/viialewis and for a limited time you can save up to 25% Off Sitewide PLUS up to 50% off Select Items & Bundles. Use code LEWIS UNBOUND MERINO - Visit www.unboundmerino.com and use code LEWIS for 10% off. ___________________ For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s Lewis’ 200th episode of The Rantcast! It also happens to be Thanksgiving. The time of year where Lewis heads out of the country with friends. Something he’s done for many years. So, while we celebrate reaching a pretty impressive milestone of the podcast, we also keep traditions alive. It’s also nice that a happy side effect of travelling around this time is it makes the Christmas season just a little be quicker.  PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW'S SPONSOR VIIA - If you are 21+ visit https://bit.ly/viialewis and for a limited time you can save up to 25% Off Sitewide PLUS up to 50% off Select Items & Bundles. Use code LEWIS ___________________ For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This past weekend Lewis performed some stand-up shows live in the Pacific Northwest. On a recent stop in Seattle, WA he decided to read some fan-submitted rants. And they were a doozy, ranging from the simple like complaints about food, to worries about the future of America's youth. Enjoy. PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW'S SPONSOR Unbound Merino - Visit www.unboundmerino.com and use code LEWIS for 10% off. ___________________ For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lewis is on the road and realized that now that the big election has ended the world just collectively decided it was Christmas time. For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lewis is out on the Fall leg of his Goodbye Yeller Brick Road tour and this past weekend the show rolled through a few stops in Kansas. On Sunday night in Salina, KS he took to the stage at the Steifel Theater for the Performing Arts and read some fan rants. They ranged from hot takes about Daylight Savings Time, political ads, and our never-ending desire for social media attention. Enjoy. For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The anxiety about the election is at an all-time high. But that’s not the most important thing on Lewis’ mind. He’s deep in the week’s NFL games and how his Commanders are performing with a spectacular comeback that broke him out of his sleep-deprived weekend of shows down south. Back on the election front, Lewis has hot takes about the state of things. It forces him to make a decision that he doesn’t take much joy in or does lightly. And that is publicly endorsing a candidate. We end with a piece Lewis wrote some years back about the election. See you on the other side. For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lewis is currently out on the road for the fall leg of his "Goodbye Yeller Brick Road" tour. This past Saturday he read fan-submitted rants live on stage in Madison, WI. Enjoy. For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lewis just spent the weekend in Skokie, IL and while there he discovered Will's Place a great restaurant with an even better mission, so let him tell you all about it. Lewis also realized an important anniversary was upon him and probably why he felt off on stage one night. But it's not long before the looming election pokes its head up again and, well that goes about as well as you'd imagine with lies and crime on both the local and national level. Is it election day yet? For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR Try VIIA: https://bit.ly/viialewis and use code LEWIS for 15% off ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lewis is back in his public access podcasting studio this week. He returned from the road just in time to catch the Vice Presidential debates, possibly so you didn't have to, because it featured a lot of nonsense, and in at least one candidate's case, the normalization of said nonsense. While the debates were one thing, Lewis also has some thoughts on his beloved Baltimore Orioles ending their season after not advancing in the Wild Card playoffs. For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lewis on the road for the Fall run of his Goodbye Yeller Brick Road tour. At the The Wilbur Theater in Boston, he read fan-submitted rants live for the first time this run. Enjoy rants from the people of Boston. For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lewis recaps his trip out West to attend The Emmy Awards for the first time in 20 years. Not only did he get to experience a win with his Daily Show crew but met up with a couple former collaborators. What did he learn from the experience? Mostly that LA is still a surreal place to visit. But the weirdness isn’t only confined to the West Coast as Lewis finds out what’s happening in Ohio, Georgia, Venezuela, and right at home in NY where one of the wildest stories of the week leaves him dumbfounded. For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lewis watched the presidential debates and, whooo boy! Does he have some thoughts about it. Not only did he get particularly enraged about the two minute format, but just what was said on stage flat out seemed to be detached from reality. But the action didn’t stop there as there was plenty of post-game analysis by pundits that was just as zany. After the debates, Lewis battled the political spam messaging but it might not be one he can win. But don’t worry if you want an escape from all the politics as there’s plenty more crazy happening around the country.  This episode features a clip from the Master Plan podcast that includes an excerpt of the Powell Memo read by Lewis himself. The podcast is a new investigative series hosted by award-winning journalist and former Bernie Sanders speechwriter David Sirota (who is also the Oscar-nominated screenwriter for the Adam McKay film Don’t Look Up) has been working to unearth never-before-reported documents showing how a group of tycoons legalized corruption for the wealthy. It's an epic journey from the 1970s to the present, hearing the untold stories of infamous folks you already thought you knew — like President Richard Nixon and Fox News boss Roger Ailes. And you’ll meet operatives and oligarchs you’ve probably never heard of, because they’ve wielded their power in the shadows. If you somehow think government corruption doesn’t affect your daily life, think again: from high medical bills to lower wages today, it’s all part of the "Master Plan." Listen to more episodes of Master Plan and follow the podcast:  For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lewis has returned from some time off celebrating both Labor Day and his birthday and he's doing his best to not lose his cool. A concept that's really difficult considering what's happening in the world around him. But there's hope, for Rantcast regular Mildred Ellison found a story that just tickled Lewis' fancy. This episode was recorded before the debates happened so the rage towards that will be saved for next week. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing out there to make you grumpy from Florida quietly trying to be a little less helpful to minority groups to a town in NC that fears the sun. __________________ For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Labor Day and Lewis also just celebrated a birthday. With those two things in mind we're presenting you a Best Of for this week's episode of The Rantcast. In the spirit of our half-hearted attempt to turn Lewis into a food influencer in his post-touring life, we present a Best Of: Food Rants for you all. Some from fans, some from the man himself, all about food. Enjoy, Lewis will return next week. __________________ For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lewis is back from Vegas and after the travel nightmare story from last week, there’s still a lot from the travel that pissed him off. In fact, he didn’t even get the chance to share what his Vegas experience was like (hint, a lot has changed) and how he’s now even more committed to his idea of a new hotel there on the strip. At the same time, the DNC National convention just wrapped and there’s a lot of talk about the vibes that came out of Chicago. While he is still trying to grasp what exactly they mean by “vibes” it seems most people are already turning toward the schedule debates between the two candidates. Ugh, is this election over yet? It’s a good thing we have the long Labor Day weekend to recover from it all. __________________ For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lewis was just in Las Vegas performing and while the shows went great, the flight home was anything but. It was as he described it as one of the worst travel experiences of his life. Which is saying a lot for someone whose made a living on the road traveling for decades. This trek included heavy storms, grounded planes, storms, boarding planes, de-boarding planes, and Buffalo. And somewhere in the midst of the chaos he got a buffalo chicken wing omelet, so perhaps it wasn't all bad? ___________________ For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lewis is back on the road to complete the final leg on his final tour (dates at www.lewisblack.com) and he has a couple warm-up dates lined up before the fall starts. Mostly to re-learn his act since he’s been trying his hardest to maximize downtime this summer. With dates in Cleveland last weekend and a couple shows in Las Vegas this weekend the road also brings great things like the chance to eat some terrific food. While Lewis might not consider himself a foodie, he certainly does appreciate a good meal, so nobody should be surprised if he becomes a food influencer as he winds down his time on the road. Not a bad way to spend your time. In the headlines Lewis has a follow-up to the Boneless Wing controversy, finds out they make designer fragrances for dogs, and learns about the alleged bad benefits of wearing all black clothes. ___________________ For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why that title? Because it’s a great metaphor for Lewis’ golf game. On in which he recently spent time in Maine working on. While there, Lewis took the time to keep ownership of his summer. For anyone who has followed the Rantcast for a while knows that summer is our time and should be politics free. Unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be possible these days. Why? Because VP running mates are being chosen and political nepotism has led us to dead bears being dumped in Central Park. If you don’t understand that last detail, you’re probably actually having a great summer.  THE GOFUNDME FOR GREG THE VETERAN Greg the veteran: https://gofund.me/bb81dca5 ___________________ For advertising opportunities email: rantcast@thesyn.com ___________________ TOUR DATES: http://www.lewisblack.com/tickets GET MERCH: http://www.lewisblack.com/collections ____________________ SUBMIT RANTS TO LEWIS Have something you want to get off your chest? http://www.livelewis.com _____________________ SUBSCRIBE TO THE RANTCAST http://www.lewisblacksrantcast.com ____________________ FOLLOW LEWIS https://www.lewisblack.com https://www.instagram.com/thelewisblack https://www.twitter.com/thelewisblack https://www.facebook.com/thelewisblack https://www.youtube.com/OfficialLewisBlack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices