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It's a new year here at Barley & Me Pod-uctions (and the world, I suppose), so you know what that means: A prior year recap with comedian Stephen Furey (@scubastevefurey). We discuss our incredible highs and crushing lows over a glass of tequila soda with 3 limes just a few hours before Stephen rang in the New Year by headlining Punch Line Sacramento. Furey and host Ben Rice discuss the dissolving of their relationships, their current living situations, and the costs of doing comedy business. PLUS! Upcoming cool stuff, Stephen's brush with national fame, the bumpy ride leading to his first Just For Laughs, his Punch Line papyrus, and trying to cover all your bases by empting the clip. All this and more on this episode of This Is Why I Drink... with Ben Rice Thanks to Punch Line Sacramento for supplying the drinks and giving us the space to record. Be sure to follow Stephen Furey's comedy journey this year, as he is set to make his Netflix debut and continues to run shows at The Comedy Store. You can find him on IG @scubastevefurey For Ben Rice, Barley & Me Pod-uctions, and This Is Why I Drink..., follow @barleyandmepod across social media or visit www.barleyandmepod.com for more info. Intro Music: "Functional Alcoholism" by Be Brave Bold Robot Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez Logo by Jaclyn Weiand     

On this episode, host Ben Rice travels to Roseville, CA to sit down with I Can Fight Cancer Brewfest organizer Steve Hayer to find out why he drinks... Old Fashioneds at The Monk's Cellar in Roseville, CA. Over a glass of the "high octane" version of The Monk's Cellar's Old Fashioned, made by bartender Kevin, we discuss the 2nd annual I Can Fight Cancer Brewfest, which is taking place October 18, 2025 in Rancho Cordova, CA, featuring over 30 breweries, 3 food trucks, and a live band. Steve tells us why he paired with Albie Aware for this very personal and important mission. We also see what Steve has been up to since Year One of the brewfest, including buying into partial ownership of Crooked Lane Brewing in Auburn, getting married, and still. not. asking. for help. with the brewfest. We'll delve lightly into why it's hard to ask for help, perfectionism, and what makes for a damn good Old Fashioned. This and so much more, on the latest episode of This Is Why I Drink... with Ben Rice. BUY TICKETS TO I CAN FIGHT CANCER BREWFEST: https://albieaware.org/events/i-can-fight-cancer-brewfest-benefiting-albie-aware/ Find out more on FB & IG: @icanfightcancerbrewfest Steve Hayer can be found on IG @sacbeer For Ben Rice, Barley & Me Pod-uctions, and This Is Why I Drink..., follow @barleyandmepod across social media or visit www.barleyandmepod.com for more info. Intro Music: "Functional Alcoholism" by Be Brave Bold Robot Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez Logo by Jaclyn Weiand

Comedian, former journalist, TikTok personality, and reality TV participant Garin Flowers travels to Auburn Thai Garden in Auburn, CA, to explain why he drinks...thai iced tea. We also delve into that extensive prior career history, finding your footing in comedy, and pursuing your dreams in an entertainment landscape where the usual pipelines are clogged. But instead of complaining, Garin finds the positives in pursuing your passion even though the financial realities can be a challenge. We also discuss Garin's love of pairing Thai iced tea with Thai food and what his heat tolerance is. If you want to see how to grow your skills, pursue a new path, or learn to laugh at yourself, this is the episode for you. Follow Garin Flowers across social media @garinflowers Learn more about This Is Why I Drink... with Ben Rice, Barley & Me, Ben Rice's comedy and comedy productions, other podcasts, etc., follow @barleyandmepod or go to www.barleyandmepod.com Logo by Jaclyn Weiand Intro Music: "Functional Alcoholism" by Be Brave Bold Robot Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez 

Host Ben Rice sits down with journalist, artist, activist, mother, etc., Liv Monahan over a mug of vanilla horchata latte (with an added touch of Leo's Love) from Classie Hippie Coffee & Tea on Broadway in Oak Park, Sacramento. We discuss her career journey, from high school dropout to writing for major publications, as well as her upcoming art installation at SOMA. If you've ever wanted an inside look at the collapsing newspaper industry and where journalism could go as trust has eroded, grab a nicely sweetened milky caffeine drink and tune into this very episode of This Is Why I Drink... with Ben Rice You can find Liv Monahan on IG @thelivstyler Check out This Is Why I Drink..., Barley & Me, Ben Rice's comedy and pollitical stances on IG/FB @barleyandmepod or by going to www.barleyandmepod.com Join the Barley & Me Pod-uctions mailing list to learn about recent and upcoming shows, podcasts, and more, plus get discounts to ticketed events: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1OwEXR-y_MYz6Dp-QB9uPaneXboQ-H22fZtBOJ9JnAe0/edit?usp=drive_web&ouid=101791735312940481630 Theme Song: "Functional Alcoholism" by Be Brave Bold Robot Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez Logo by Jaclyn Weiand

In this latest episode of This Is Why I Drink... with Ben Rice, Ben invites New Zealand comedian Nick Rado to share his favorite beverage at his favorite spot to drink it. Since Nick was simply visiting Sacramento, CA, he decided to pick a spot he'd like to drink his beverage of choice, coconut water. And that choice...was Folsom Prison. But since that's a museum, Ben upped the danger by selecting the active California State Penitentiary, located in Folsom, CA. So we camped out across the street, with the beautiful Folsom Dam behind us, to record this episode about true crime, coconuts, advertising, and Nick's attempts to break in... to the American comedy market. THIS EPISODE IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE, if you wish to watch us imbibe this sacred beverage on such sacred ground. https://youtu.be/33CKu2_r0i8 You can find out so much more about Nick Rado and his comedy, radio, and podcast adventures on IG @nickradocomedy You can learn more about this podcast, This Is Why I Drink... with Ben Rice, the original podcast Barley & Me, Ben Rice, and Ben Rice's comedy and comedy shows on IG @barleyandmepod or at www.barleyandmepod.com Intro Music: "Functional Alcoholism" by Be Brave Bold Robot (@bebraveboldrobot) Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist) Logo by Jaclyn Weiand

Host Ben Rice chats with fellow podcaster (and musician!) CJ of The Friendship Podcast literally over Slice Beer Co and Old Town Pizza Lincoln (shouts to both for hosting us!) and a pint of Kessel Run Krusher, as we delve into his recent transition to drumming from his reed/brass beginnings, the status of TFP's reunion, showing up to SisQo's house parties, mechanical keyboards, why we podcast in general, the sound of modern metal records, as well as, obviously, why a hazy IPA from Slice is his beverage of choice. And you know we covered so much more ground, because that's what we do for a "living." Be on the lookout for the video version of this episode on YouTube! I fixed the issue from last episode but it's 2am, so give me some time to do the actual edit, please! Again, thank you to Slice Beer Co (@slicebeerco) and Old Town Pizza Lincoln (@otplincoln) for having us and letting us use your space on such short notice, and for delivering killer beer and pizza for years. Thanks to CJ (@g0dcomplex) for popping on the pod - be sure to follow his bands Chemical State (@chemicalstate916) and Dreamdebt (on YouTube only! @dreamdebt) and listen to the extensive back catalogue of The Friendship Podcast (@thefriendshippodcast) You can find out more about host Ben Rice, Barley & Me, This Is Why I Drink..., and his comedy (shows) @barleyandmepod or at www.barleyandmepod.com Intro Music: "Functional Alcoholism" by Be Brave Bold Robot Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez Logo by Jaclyn Weiand

In this episode of This Is Why I Drink... with Ben Rice, I sit down with my good friend and marketer extraordinaire Karen Lewis, an absolute dynamo who immediately seizes the means of production over a pint of Beautiful Blues at Nitty's Cider in Sacramento. WARNING: We are also there on cornhole night, so expect a lot of bang for your buck with this very much free episode. ALSO: There will be many references to the video of this episode, but one of the files got corrupted so...no. But we have a YouTube for this, I swear! Karens are gonna Karen, so Madame Lewis drives hard through conversations about the history of electronics, weird thumbs, pooping so hard you pass out, being raised by lesbians, stealing friends, and all the many, many reasons she drinks...cider and other gluten-free beverages due to Celiac's disease. Somehow, she undersells herself throughout the episode. Be sure to learn more about Karen at her website think4it.com or across social media @think4it Nitty's Cider (now with beer!) can be found at nittyscider.com or @nittyscider. Thanks to Nick and his crew for having us! You can find out more about host Ben Rice, Barley & Me, This Is Why I Drink..., and his comedy (shows) @barleyandmepod or at www.barleyandmepod.com Intro Music: "Functional Alcoholism" by Be Brave Bold Robot Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez Logo by Jaclyn Weiand

Host Ben Rice visits Sacramento dive bar mainstay Benny's AKA Q Street Bar & Grill to chat with STAB! Comedy Theater owner Jesse Jones about why he drinks well. Well, well, well, there are so many reasons and ways to pair well vodka with cranberry juice in a desperate attempt to keep costs low and your joie de vivre high! Some might call it the bottom shelf, some might call it cost-effective drunkenness, and for others like Jesse, it's just because the flavor isn't why we're here. Walk down Jesse's long road of life, taking him from the burgeoning Sacramento sketch and improv scene to the fast-paced, high-flying, Chicago-influenced sketch and improv scene of Los Angeles in the early aughts, and back to Sacramento, where he has spread his wings to develop one of the internet's most inexplicable comedy game show/podcast/writing competitions, the long-running STAB!, which existed before its titular comedy club STAB! Comedy Theater. Bask in Jesse's well-crafted improv character stylings and scene chewing recurring characters and act outs, his self-published book, his glancing mention in the New York Times. Are host Ben Rice and guest Jesse Jones perhaps the same person, splintered at some unknown and unknowable crossroads, forever indebted to lifting those around them no matter the cost? Or are we both just bottom shelf vodka crans, more sugar than juice, more hydrating than intoxicating? So many questions, so many answers, to be found here, on the latest episode of This Is Why I Drink...with Ben Rice. And if your questions remain unanswered, consider joining (from a vast distance) Jesse Jones on his yearly voyage to the desert for Burning Man, in search of those remains. STAB! Comedy Theater can be found physically at 1710 Broadway, Sacramento, CA, on YouTube, Twitch, or elsewhere @stabcomedy or stabcomedytheater.com Jesse Jones is...around, and also at those same places, nearly every hour of every day! Thank you again to Benny's/Q Street Bar & Grill for allowing us to record - they can be found at 2013 Q Street in Sacramento or on IG @bennysofficialqstreet You can find out more about host Ben Rice, Barley & Me, This Is Why I Drink..., and his comedy (shows) @barleyandmepod or at www.barleyandmepod.com Intro Music: "Functional Alcoholism" by Be Brave Bold Robot Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez Logo by Ben Rice and Jaclyn Weiand

This Is Why I Drink... is a new Barley & Me Podcast offshoot, where Ben Rice sits down with a comedian, musician, writer, or other creative type, over a glass of their favorite beverage. Today, we're talking to comedian Kalea McNeill over a cup of STASH Refreshing Peppermint tea. Find out why Kalea drinks it, as we also discuss her time in the ROTC, acting, theme parks, lifetime bans, bad jobs, harassment, a dash of 9/11, and, oh yeah, comedy. Including the fact that she is headlining Ben's new show The Bomb Shelter on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 9pm at The Silver Lining in Sacramento. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.com or at the door. Learn more about Kalea McNeill at www.kaleamcneill.com or on socials  @WhateverKalea  Follow Ben Rice, Barley & Me, and This Is Why I Drink... @barleyandmepod or find shows, other podcasts, and more at www.barleyandmepod.com Intro Music: "Functional Alcoholism" by Be Brave Bold Robot (@bebraveboldrobot) Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist) Logo by Ben Rice

Welcome to the inaugural name pending offshoot of Barley & Me, where I (host Ben Rice) sit down with interesting people over their favorite drinks at their favorite places, whether it be beer, hard alcohol, coffee, or anything else. Today, we're talking to improvisor Lacey Carroll (@lacey.m.carroll) about this weekend's (Friday March 28/Saturday March 29, 2025) Femme Fest at Sacramento Comedy Spot (tickets at www.saccomedyspot.com/femmefest) while seated on the patio at Sacramento's first Belgian beer bar, Pangaea Bier Cafe. Lacey is a big fan of saisons, so we started with Sante Adairius's Jaybird, a foudre-aged saison with mango. We then tried a beer both of us were hesitant on, a hoppy brown from Ghost Town called Rust & Ruin. Aside from Femme Fest, we also discussed Lacey's attempts to get into improv at the age of 12, why she loves a good saison, merch-making, marketing, corporate comedy, and how local news journalists have some of the worst background work instincts on the planet. All this and more on...Bevy of Bevvies? Bevs with Ben? What Are You Drinking? Let's Grab a Drink? Imbibin' with Ben? If you have an idea, let me know! As always, you can folow me across social media (but really just Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube) @barleyandmepod. You can also visit www.barleyandmepod.com to find out what projects I'm working on, latest episodes, and my comedy shows. Thanks for listening!

Host Ben Rice travels to Santa Rosa, CA, to record with US craft beer legends Moonlight Brewing, with Moonlight's Chaos Management Specialist and Adult In Charge Erin Latham-Ponneck. Joining us for the conversation is comedian Jon Lehre, who is also the booker at Santa Rosa's premier comedy club Barrel Proof Lounge. Together, we'll discuss Moonlight's magnificent flagship beers, their efforts to keep to their goal of clean, beautiful beers that still break the rules in an increasingly bolder craft model; replacing hops with redwoods; and do side by sides of Bombay By Boat IPA on draft and on cask and Reality Czech versus its supercharged cousin 14 P Special. Plus! FeBREWary, which takes place every Saturday in February, which involves a free shuttle between Sonoma County mainstays Moonlight, Shady Oak, Cooperage, Iron Ox, Cuvee, and Russian River (Windsor); doing comedy on a dare; and some of Ben's worst ideas ever. Enjoy! You can always learn more about Moonlight Brewing at moonlightbrewing.com or on IG @moonlightbrewing See what's going on at Barrel Proof Lounge, including live stand up and music, at www.barrelprooflounge.com or on IG @barrelprooflounge You can follow Jon Lehre's comedy journey @jlehre or at www.stepdadofcomedy.com Barley & Me can be found across social media @barleyandmepod Check out past episodes, show dates, and more at barleyandmepod.com Email questions, comments, concerns, guest ideas, brewery ideas to [email protected] Intro Music: "Functional Alcoholism" by Be Brave Bold Robot (@bebraveboldrobot) Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist) Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alchemistqueen)

Host Ben Rice travels to Roseville, CA to sit down with Andy Klein, brewmaster and owner of the Monk's Cellar, to discuss their upcoming 10th anniversary (taking place October 15-19, 2024). Joining us on this journey is BJCP judge, softball star, and all-around badass Amber Dalske. We sip on some anniversary ales as well as the Monk's Cellar Festbier, since we recorded during their Oktoberfest celebration. Obviously, I am most excited for their final anniversary event, the return of FIRKINFEST! Which we discuss at length, sure, but you can also hear about body-changing saisons, harvesting yeast, working with mixed culture barrels, and our shared love of old-school British-style beers. Plus! Special FOOD anniversary collaborations, Andy and Amber's early days in Davis, growing out of the concept of 'favorites,' and beer judging woes. All this and more, on episode 184 of Barley & Me! (and Anniversary 10 of Monk's Cellar!) Enjoy! Find out more about the anniversary, the brewery, the bourbon collection, the food, the on and on and goings-on at Monk's Cellar on IG @themonkscellar Check out the various ventures of guest Amber Dalske @ambeezy10 Barley & Me can be found across social media @barleyandmepod. Check out past episodes, show dates, and more, at the newly-revamped barleyandmepod.com Email questions/comments/concerns/guest ideas/brewery ideas to [email protected] or [email protected] Intro Music: “Functional Alcoholism” by Be Brave Bold Robot (@bebraveboldrobot) Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist) Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alchemistqueen)

Host Ben Rice travels to Rocklin, CA, to talk about the inaugural I Can Fight Cancer Brewfest with organizer/creator Steve Hayer, beertender at Moksa Brewing and co-founder of Sacramento Beer Enthusiasts. The brewfest is taking place on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at The Village Green Park in Rancho Cordova, from 1pm-5pm for VIPs and 2-5 for everyone else. This the bigger, better, more marketable version of Steve's initial project, F*** Cancer, which we discussed last year. In this episode, we talk about why this fundraiser is so important, who it helps, how it helps, and all the breweries that responded with no hesitation. Before I forget, you can grab your tickets, buy shirts, or just donate at give.albieaware.org. Albie Aware supports breast cancer research as well as provides financial benefits to people fighting breast cancer, helping to deal with the cost of medical care as well as the hidden costs associated with a breast cancer diagnosis. While we continue to fight to learn more and find a way to eradicate this deadly and life-altering disease, events like I Can Fight Cancer help make this physically, mentally, emotionally, and family-altering disease just a little bit more bearable. Together, we can help to do more than just keep people afloat. We can help them find their footing back on dry land. We also discuss finding joy in an increasingly bitter world, maturity in the beer-drinking world, and HELPING STEVE PASS OUT FLYERS. By the way, there are shirts available for pre-order, but that pre-order ends Friday, August 23, so order now at give.albieaware.org. That's give.albieaware.org. I know you're reading this, but what if you're having someone read it out loud to you? That's give dot albie a as in alpha l as in lima b as in bravo i as in igloo e as in elephant dot org give.albieaware.org. Buy tickets to the brewfest there too. Give what you can, maybe even a little teensy tiny bit more. Mention you heard about the event on the podcast and receive a 0% discount because we're fighting cancer and there are no shortcuts. On episode 183 of Barley & Me. Enjoy! In case you missed it, support I Can Fight Cancer on FB/IG at I Can Fight Cancer Brewfest Or buy tickets at give.albieaware.org Follow Moksa Brewing @moksabrewing and thank you again for giving us the time and space to discuss this event and issue Learn more about Albie Aware at albieaware.org Barley & Me can be found across social media @barleyandmepod. Check out past episodes, show dates, and more, at the newly-revamped barleyandmepod.com Email questions/comments/concerns/guest ideas/brewery ideas to [email protected] or [email protected] Ben is also posting #Chugs4Charity videos semi-regularly on Instagram (@barleyandmepod), to help raise funds for various local and national charities with goals of making our world a better place. You can Venmo Ben ($comedianbenrice) or hit his PayPal (@barleyandmepod) and all money will go to support the NAACP, ACLU, Black Lives Matter, and other civil rights helpers. Charities will change with the times and as emergencies arise. But the point is: all donations will go to help those who need it. Intro Music: “Functional Alcoholism” by Be Brave Bold Robot (@bebraveboldrobot) Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist) Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alchemistqueen)

Host Ben Rice travels to Davis, CA to sit down with Ryan Fry and Trenton Yackzan of the legendary Sudwerk, with special guest Paulina Olivares of the Sacramento Pink Boots Society and co-host of Barley & Me Presents: Leonard Malting, our beer movie offshoot. In this episode, we talk about the past, present, and future of Sudwerk specifically and beer in general, in three separate parts, recorded in their new outdoor seating area, in their new restaurant, and in their meeting hall. In part 3, we're joined by surprise guest (he just happened to be there while we recorded), Chris White of White Labs! Join us as we discuss the origins of what was once America's #1 craft brewery for pints poured, including how it started as a hobby for Trenton's grandfather and his friends and how their original brewer stopped making beer for Sudwerk (and how the design of the brewhouse was meant to keep it from happening). Plus! Professional pilsner battles! Gateway beers! Open fermentation! And so much more, like the ever-hovering Year of the Lager, getting ahead of trends, and how old school marketing and education might help move craft beer forward in a drasticly changing market. All this and more, on episode 150 of Barley & Me. Enjoy! You can see what's going on with Sudwerk @sudwerkbrew Catch up with Sacramento icon Paulina Olivares @holapaulina and find out more about Sacramento Pink Boots Society @pinkbootssacramento Got questions about yeast? Turn to Chris White and White Labs Yeast at www.whitelabs.com And of course, Barley & Me can be found across social media @barleyandmepod. Check out past episodes, show dates, and more, at the newly-revamped barleyandmepod.com  Email questions/comments/concerns/guest ideas/brewery ideas to [email protected] or [email protected] Ben is also posting #Chugs4Charity videos semi-regularly on Instagram (@barleyandmepod), to help raise funds for various local and national charities with goals of making our world a better place. You can Venmo Ben ($comedianbenrice) or hit his PayPal (@barleyandmepod) and all money will go to support the NAACP, ACLU, Black Lives Matter, and other civil rights helpers. Charities will change with the times and as emergencies arise. But the point is: all donations will go to help those who need it. Intro Music: “Functional Alcoholism” by Be Brave Bold Robot (@bebraveboldrobot) Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist) Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alchemistqueen)

Host Ben Rice travels to Elk Grove, CA, to talk to their newest brewery owner, Enrique Silva of Coatza Brewing, as well as Daniel Savala, partner in CervezaLandia, Sacramento's only bottle shop to focus Mexicano/Chicano-brewed beer. In addition to discussions on the culture itself and the rarity of these brewers/breweries, we also talk up the debut CervezaLandia pop-up beer festival and market, taking place Sunday, June 9, 2024, from 2-6pm at Cesar Chavez Park in Sacramento, which features 8 Mexicano/Chicano-owned breweries, arts and crafts, vendors, music, and more. You can find tickets on Eventbrite or at the door. Plus! Enrique's goal to make Coatza Elk Grove's go-to venue for live music and the creation of the inaugural Elk Grove Music Festival (and plans for year two), CervezaLandia's taproom dreams (and how you can help), and making your local brewery a truly family-friendly space. All this and more, on the latest episode of Barley & Me. Enjoy! You can follow CervezaLandia's latest offerings on Instagram @cerveza_landia or cervezalandia.co Grab your tickets to CervezaLandia on Eventbrite or at the door Follow Coatza Brewing, their on-site food vendors, and their music schedule on IG @coatzabrewing Barley & Me can be found across social media @barleyandmepod. Check out past episodes, show dates, and more, at the newly-revamped barleyandmepod.com Email questions/comments/concerns/guest ideas/brewery ideas to [email protected] or [email protected] Intro Music: “Functional Alcoholism” by Be Brave Bold Robot (@bebraveboldrobot) Interstitial Music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist) Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alchemistqueen)