Welcome to Episode 22 called Life Update and Some Hard Truths. This is a podcast I host called the Midday Show With J.R. Bjornson
You can read the podcast transcript or Listen to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
Hey man, where did you go? Where did you go? Well, I’ll tell you where I went.
The last podcast, the last episode aired on August 31st, 2026. It is officially Friday, the 6th of November. Oh my goodness.
Can you tell that when it comes to podcasts, I am very sporadic? You think this is bad. This is me on medication to help manage my attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Whoever said having ADHD as a superpower, they’ve truly never had it. Because this is me on medication. This is me trying to function.
Anyway, I’m not using that as an excuse. Who am I kidding? I’m using it as an excuse. They get it. I’m also using my DJI Mic 3 to record this podcast. So yeah, this is something new that I’ve been trying.
And yeah, we basically have it connected to my iPhone. And then we’re broadcasting live using the Boss Jock Studio app, which allows me to interview guests and all this good stuff, which I wouldn’t mind going back into guests.
But where was I? Right. So August 31st, it was episode 20, which I mislabeled. It was actually episode 21. So now we’re on episode 22. And you know what? I didn’t even make it a full month of this podcast. I had big plans for this podcast. And then life got away from me. We took the kids to school, and then life just got busy. A lot happened. I run Open Mic Comedy Night now twice a month in a little place called Beats in Bourbon, which is located in Springbrook, Alberta, about 11 kilometers outside of my home base in Red Deer. And when I’m not doing that, I’ve been getting booked for a few comedy gigs. And then I’ve been managing shows and putting together stuff and just being very, very busy to the point where The Midday Show with J.R. Bjornson kind of just disappeared from my view. And I had big plans for this show. I was really, really hoping that I would stick to this, but I didn’t. And for that, I’m not sorry because we have a few listeners. You guys know me. You know what you subscribe to. I was looking at emails, and this podcast, The Midday Show with J.R. Bjornson, was born in 2017, around the same time I started my comedy career. So this show, as unorganized as it is, is coming up to its nine-year anniversary. I almost went Oompa Loompa.
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Yeah, I was thinking about a joke I heard from a comedian. Anyway, so this show is coming up to nine years. And I just got to tell you, if you’re still here, if you’re still putting up with my shenanigans, thank you so much. I don’t know what has possessed you to be here other than my glorious personality. But I was gone for two months, and in those two months, I started comedy. And I’ve been getting my kids off to school. And when my kids are not in school, I’m busy planning more comedy. And I’m also getting booked for gigs. I’m getting booked for comedy gigs. This comedy thing might actually be working out. And I can’t believe what’s going on. I’m going to check in on this podcast, but I’m not going to promise you anything. Like the intro we made, the one that’s like, “New episodes, Monday to Friday,” that’s lies. I should just say, “New episodes, whenever he gets around to it.” I shouldn’t hide from the truth that I’m a terrible task-complete person. I struggle with completing tasks. And this is even on the odd good day. So, yeah. Anyway, I’m here, and I’ve got some big news. I am actually recording my first ever stand-up comedy album. And it’s going to have 45 to 55 minutes of the best jokes I’ve ever written. Jokes that have gotten me through some tough times. Jokes that I have created. They’re going on this album, and it’s happening on December 4th. So you might not even see me or hear me until January. But I am going to probably record a new intro at some point. Maybe I can see if the voiceover guy that I paid is still somewhere online. Because it would be great to ask him to record the new intro again. And not derive from, you know, “New episodes, Monday to Friday.” Like, seriously, just embrace it and make a script that says something like, “Episodes, whenever he gets around to it.” Because, honestly, he’s busy. I don’t know. I feel like blaming my functionality on bad attention deficit hyperactivity disorder management is just such an easy way out. And I just don’t think that’s right. I don’t think that’s right to do.
I do struggle with planning. I can’t live life without the help of my loving wife. She keeps me on gear. You know, people ask, what is the secret to stand-up comedy, running a successful company? And I’m like, it’s having a very powerful woman.
And that’s what my wife is to me, right? My wife is a very powerful woman. Because of her, I can do stand-up comedy. Because of her, I can get to stand-up comedy. Because of her, I can put together stand-up comedy events. So I always give my wife the best credit. Because, you know, if I could do this on my own, well, first of all, it would be great. But I’ll always need someone to help me get to the gigs. I’ll always need somebody to help me with stage equipment. I could do it on my own, but it would be much harder. First of all, I would have to pay for a very expensive Uber bill because I can’t drive, right? As someone who can’t see, driving is one of those, it feels impossible. I can’t do it. I can’t drive on my own because people will get hurt, you know? Hence why I don’t have a driver’s license because I can’t see. But hey, if I did have a driver’s license, life would be even more expensive. I was having a conversation with my child, my oldest, his name is Xavier, he’s 15 now. And I was having a conversation with him and I asked him, I said, “Hey, you’re 15, why have you not got yourself a driver’s license yet? Or even a learner’s for that matter?” Kids these days, they’re so blatantly honest and I love my kid for being honest. But he says, “Dad, if I get a driver’s license or a learner’s, I’m going to pay more money because having a vehicle, you got to pay for insurance. And sometimes I see you and Mom struggle. And insurance is like $300 a month. “I’m not going to pay $300 a month just so I can struggle and barely make it. I got city bus.” And I’m like, all right, okay, cool. Well, you know what, son? To each their own, you know? Because I’m over here like I can’t do this without my wife. And the truth is I can’t do this without having a vehicle, which means I do pay for insurance.
I still don’t make a lot of money with comedy, but I make some, which is nice. It’s good to make a little bit of money and just not making a lot. As for the goal of becoming an outreach worker, I think that dream died. I definitely tried everything in my power and I think I have to accept that. I just—I can’t, you know, like I think I have too much empathy. And what that means is when I was trying to get my training done, get my certificates, remember in one episode I told you I got my first aid certificate, Class C?
That was a struggle because everybody that was doing CPR was like, “Look for the green light. Do you see the green light?” You know, I’m over here like, “I can’t see the green light.” Oh my—because when you’re pushing on the chest of the dummy, you know, and reciting to yourself, “How deep is your love, how deep is your love,” you know, you’re trying to push to a similar-esque beat. And everybody else could see a green light if they’re doing it right. I’m over here like, “I don’t think there’s a green light.”
And then everybody, “No green light, J.R.” So I go a little faster. “Okay, yeah, we got a green light.” So everybody could see the green light on the dummy. I could not see the green light on the dummy. And even the first aid instructor, you know, bless her heart. She’s like, “I hope you never actually have to use first aid training because I don’t know if you’re going to see the signs.” And I’m like, yeah, man, you know, I don’t mind saving somebody’s life. But, you know, when they do the CPR and they’re pumping your heart, most of the time you’re going to break some ribs because you have to push, right? You have to go with both of your fists, right? That’s what they mean when they say fist deep. I don’t know. I just made that up. So, yeah, I don’t know. I don’t think outreach work is for me. But I will find that dream job sometime, someplace, you know, in a world of pure metano. I think I will find a job for me one day. And it just hasn’t come to light, you know. Some people tell me I should get back into radio, that I have that natural knack to be in radio. You know, and some people tell me I should be a voice actor, which I think voice acting would be fun, right? In a time, in a place when taxes are not that expensive, this coming summer, dystopia. You know, I don’t know if I could become a voiceover, but it would be fun. And, you know, there’s something there I can definitely work towards. Anyway, thank you so much for enjoying me and my musings. I hope you consider subscribing. And just like I alluded to earlier, I can’t promise you I’ll be back Monday, but I will be back eventually. Keep an eye on me if you want. You can follow me on blindguycomedy.com Because at this point, Blind Guy Comedy is becoming my brand. It’s the place where I can go and, you know, people listen. Thank you so much for hanging out. Remember to be cool, be kind, and be yourself. It is who we love. This podcast is made possible by you.
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