Finding Humor in Dark Times with Lizz Winstead
Lizz Winstead is the co-creator of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, the founder of Abortion Access Front, and a comedian who got her start right here in the Twin Cities. Lizz will be holding her annual Year in Review comedy show at the Parkway Theater on December 27 and 31, and she joined host Sean McPherson to chat about how to find humor in really heavy news stories, how she weaves activism and comedy together, and what makes the Twin Cities arts scene so special. Before that, Sean is joined by jazz singer and contributor PaviElle French for a rundown of the can't-miss events happening this week in the Twin Cities.
Check out the events discussed in today's episode:
- 12/22 Alicia Witt In-store Performance and Signing | Electric Fetus
- 12/22 Spending Christmas with Alicia Witt | Dakota
- 12/23 The Annual Holiday Sing-Along with Dan Chouinard | Crooners
- 12/24 Hell-a-Dazzle Christmas Eve Brunch with Joel Shapira & Friends | Hell’s Kitchen
- 12/25 “Violent Night” | Trylon Cinema
- 12/26 Shrimpnose, BloodSmokeBody and Talia Knight at the Entry | 7th Street Entry
- 12/26 Bold North Breakaway | Rice Park and Saint Paul RiverCentre
- 12/26 Pan African Kwanzaa Celebration | Midtown Global Market
- 12/27 Soul Line Dance with Harris Parks | Sabathani Community Center
- 12/27 Close to the Tassel: A Progressive Rock Burlesque Revue | Amsterdam Bar and Hall
- 12/28 KPop Demon Hunters Drag Brunch | Quincy Hall
- 12/27 & 12/31 The Winstead Files: Lizz Winstead's 2025 Year in Review | Parkway Theater
Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.
For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Twin Cities and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
$6M in Rent Relief. Plus, Beer Buyers and Music Archivers
Who picks the beer at your local liquor store? Racket did a story focusing on the local superstar tastemakers and what they’re looking fo...

Newcomer's Guide to the Twin Cities. Plus, WTF are Data Centers?
Welcome, Twin Cities newbies! Here’s everything we forgot to tell you about Minnesota, from why we refuse to eat the last bite to why we...

Will MPD Chief Get Another Term? Plus, Rondo Resilience
The long-vacant Sears near the state Capitol has a new owner, and hopefully soon, a new life. The Rondo Community Land Trust is promising...

'Minnesota's Batman,' HCMC In Trouble, and New Music from jeremy messersmith
A masked vigilante in Minneapolis who goes by the name of "NoMark" has amassed over half a million followers on social media for his crim...

Falling Loons, Food Deserts, and What New ICE Footage Actually Shows
What should you do if you see a loon falling from the sky? You’ll know after listening to this episode, and we’ll explain why Minnesota's...

Remembering an Iconic MPLS ‘Guncle.’ Plus, George Floyd Square Construction
If you don’t know Roy Blakey, you should. Blakey traveled the world as a theatrical ice skater and later became the forefather of male nu...

The ‘Dirtbag’ Lawyer Helping Immigrants. Plus, St. Paul Art Crawl
Dan Suitor is one of many lawyers in the Twin Cities who have pivoted to helping free immigrants from ICE custody by filing habeas petiti...

'Your City Could Be Better': Denver’s Bet on a Women’s Soccer Stadium — Presented By City Cast Twin Cities
If you are a fan of the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx, you already know how incredible women's sports are! While more and more people are embraci...

The State of Sex Work in the TC. Plus, Best Breakfast Spots
The Twin Cities punches above its weight when it comes to breakfast. In fact, host Sean McPherson will argue any day that we do breakfast...

“Surveillance Pricing” on Groceries? Plus, Your April Guide
In the future, grocery stores could use data they’ve collected on you to change the price of your bananas (or other food of choice). Thou...
