If you've seen Nathan Brannon's stand-up, it shouldn't be surprising to hear that his latest endeavor is a podcast focused on the experiences of interracial couples. In his act, Brannon doesn't shy away from uncomfortable topics, equally seemingly at-ease whether discussing his dad's diabetes, his son's biracial identity, or one particularly just solution to America's confederate flag problem. Brannon's podcast, The Hamster Village, is the latest edition to the Funemployment Radio Network. Here's what Brannon told me about hamsters, race, and the new rule that all comedians have to have podcasts.

What made you land on this particular idea for a podcast? I know it’s something your stand-up deals with quite a lot. Have you found the podcast to be really different from talking about interracial relationships in your stand-up? Or do the two kind of feed off each other?

I guess it was a lot of things. The media coverage of race relations in this country, for one, can be very divisive at times. I just wanted to add something from the other end of the spectrum into the mix. Also, I feel like interracial relationships aren’t talked about as much in general, unless someone is referencing some kind of stereotype. Being in an interracial relationship myself, I know there are experiences that other couples have, but not many places to share those with others in “the same boat."

I try to touch on it in my stand-up, but it’s just from my own perspective/experiences. There is no way I can completely articulate those of other couples. The Hamster Village gives an outlet for that to happen.

How are you finding your podcast guests?

I started reaching out to couples that I have met in my community. Long-term, I would like to interview couples throughout the country. I look specifically for “everyday people” like you and me; interracial couples, as well as biracial individuals are encouraged to contact the podcast at hamsterletters@gmail.com, if they would like to be interviewed. I believe everyone’s experience has something to contribute, and am looking for as many interracial stories as I can get!

What do you hope listeners will take away from Hamster Village? (And why is it called that?)

I named the podcast “The Hamster Village” because it seemed like a perfect metaphor for the subject matter that this podcast revolves around. If you go into any pet store, and find the area where they keep the hamsters, you will usually see is a group of hamsters kept in the same enclosure. All of those hamsters in that enclosure will usually have a wide variety of colored fur; some will have brown fur, some will have white fur, some will have spots, etc. You will not see little hamster signs promoting segregation or anything like that. You will just see a group of hamsters that have learned to live together regardless of what they look like. If hamsters can do that, then of course it’s possible for us as a society to live the same way. It requires us learning about and living alongside each other, and there’s no better example of people doing that than interracial couples.

Above all, I just want it to be entertaining. I think we handle some serious issues, and disarm them enough with comedy to have an honest conversation about them. In terms of what I would like listeners to take away from The Hamster Village, it depends on the listener’s background.

If they are in (or have been in) an interracial relationship, I would hope they hear their own concerns and feelings articulated, as well as give them a wider sense of community with other like-minded couples out there; same with biracial individuals. If they have never been in one, I would hope it would give them insight into something they hadn’t really considered before, or at the very least make them challenge negative stereotypes and stigmas out there about interracial couples.

What’s the deal with comedy and podcasts? It seems like you practically HAVE to have a podcast as part of your bio. Please advise.

I KNOW RIGHT?! It does feel like everyone has one these days. For the longest time, I didn’t want to do one for that very reason. That was until this idea came along. It feels like something that needs to be out there. I think that The Hamster Village can really help some people out there, as well as entertain, and as long as those two things are possible I’ll keep doing it.