Hersh Rephun - "Marketing with Humor & Heart" - 2nd Interview Show #284

Hersh Rephun's career is a dynamic tapestry woven from his diverse pursuits in screenwriting, stand-up comedy, and public speaking. Known for his knack for humor, Rephun has skillfully integrated comedy into his seminars and business talks, adding a distinct flair to his presentations. His evolution in career showcases his ability to blend entertainment with professionalism, creating engaging keynote presentations that resonate with business audiences. Through ventures in authorship and podcasting, such as his book "Selling the Truth" and shows like "the yes brand," Hersh continues to explore and share his passion for storytelling, establishing himself as a valuable figure in the marketing world.

(00:02:45) The Versatile Evolution of Hersh Rephun

(00:07:59) Enhancing Business Presentations with Humorous Content

(00:15:24) Global Business Insights through Conversational Podcasting

(00:23:02) Adapting Comedy and Screenwriting for Presentations

(00:26:09) Humor-Infused Marketing Techniques

Transcript

R. Scott Edwards: 0:04

This is another episode of Stand Up Comedy. Your host and emcee celebrating 40 plus years on the fringe of show business stories, interviews and comedy sets from the famous and not so famous. Here's your host and emcee, Scott Edwards. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the podcast, Man. I got another fantastic interview for you. This gentleman is Dan. Definitely a Renaissance man. I'm going to explain his background and that will kind of explain that terminology, but let's first welcome him onto the podcast. I did a nice in depth interview with him a few years ago, but we're doing a little bit of catch up here. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome back on the podcast, Hirsch Repoon.

Hersh Rephun: 0:54

Thank you. Oh, please, please.

R. Scott Edwards: 1:00

The crows are going nuts.

Hersh Rephun: 1:03

They are. Thank you, Scott, for having me back.

R. Scott Edwards: 1:06

Well, thank you for coming back on the show. And I want to lay the foundation for our audience. And then we'll jump into what you've been up to lately. I titled you a Renaissance man for a very obvious reason. First of all, you were a longtime stand up comic. You did impressions like Paul Lynn. You, you had a character called Sonny Swing where you came out in a tux and kind of played with the audience. Then you became a marketing guru and you had Selling the Truth, a webinar and program that you went around talking to people and became kind of the message therapist. But that wasn't enough. You went into podcasting and you have the yes brand and the Truth Taste Funny podcast. You've been doing that for a while, but that wasn't enough. You took it another level and you became a book author and you have a book out called Selling the Truth. Ladies and gentlemen, a true Renaissance man. Hirsch, you've done so much. It's been really interesting getting to know you and talk about the amazing career you've had. And I want to kind of get an update, but to make it easy for me and the audience, let's take it step by step. You have this amazing character called Sonny Swing. You got into a tux, you went out on stage and you interacted with an audience, did a lot of comedy. You're really good at impressions. Have you done any stage work in the last few years, or is it at all in your future?

Hersh Rephun: 2:45

I have not been doing stage stand up, but I have been doing stages. So given my evolution and you. And you somehow neglected which, which is hard because you had a whole full list of really, of really significant career stuff. But, but the movies are not, are not there. But we'll, we'll talk about the, the screenwriting Also, which, which. Which was a part of the crazy adventure, the wild ride. But. But yeah, I found myself since COVID and being so deep in the podcasting and the interviewing, speaking about personal branding, brand strategy, and brand voice, that the stand up comedy just didn't feel like the right forum for my self expression. So I haven't really been doing straight stand up, but I'm. I'm writing a kind of signature keynote now that will combine some of those impressions, combine humor, and just be hopefully a very entertaining and engaging talk, but will really be geared to business audiences and not necessarily something I would go and do at the Comedy Cellar.

R. Scott Edwards: 4:04

So what you did is you took the knowledge and experience that you learned as a standup comic and, and you mixed it with the research and what, you became a marketing guru, and you've been doing these webinars and seminars called Selling the Truth, and you're incorporating some of those impressions and comedy to kind of engage the audience more. Does that sound about right?

Hersh Rephun: 4:29

Yeah. I mean, when appropriate, it's like, as I'm writing this stuff, I wasn't planning to do any of them. And then as I was kind of writing out or talking through this talk, I was like, oh, you know, this would be a funny moment for Scarface to come in or whatever it might be and just do it. But I'm not promoting it like it's stand up. It's just gonna be my style.

R. Scott Edwards: 4:58

Oh, yeah, no, there's plenty of, you know, retired or semi retired comics that went on to other types of work and they integrate their humor in the comedy to help make it more engaging. I hate to put you on the spot, Hirsch, but is there an example of an impression that you could do, share with the audience that kind of talks about your marketing stuff or how you might do that?

Hersh Rephun: 5:26

What came up for me last night was I used to do a bit called Scarface as a comedian. And that was a little bit of a meta, meta thing where I would just be Scarface doing that crowd work thing that we do as comics. And he would say, you know, how are you guys doing tonight? You having fun? You're having some laughs, you know, And I would. And I would go into this, into this material. And last night when I was writing this thing, I just was talking about leaders in business who tend to not want to be the center of attention, which is for people in comedy. We don't know about people who don't want to be the center of attention. We don't know those people. But in the business world, in the entrepreneurial world, there are a lot of people who are shy. And it just came out where I was speaking to the audience in my mind or out loud. And I was saying, you know, you think that you're normal, you know, that you just want to be a normal person. And I said, what do you think that makes you normal? You're not normal. You just know how to hide. And so things like that where it just kind of comes up. I'm not talking specifically about branding, but anything you do in that character is so antithetical to that character that it's funny. So if I were to say to you, Scott, you know what, you gotta work on your personal brand. That's your problem. You don't know how to master your brand, you know, so that's funny because it's not what you would expect him to say.

R. Scott Edwards: 7:14

Right. And you use the Scarface character because it wouldn't quite be as impactful as Paul Lynn.

Hersh Rephun: 7:21

Right, right, Paul Lynn. No one would know Paul Lynn. Nobody would remember.

R. Scott Edwards: 7:26

Oh, that's sad though. But true. So when you're doing as a message therapist and you're trying to help your customers and your clients through your webinar and seminar, Selling the Truth, where you're helping them with their marketing and getting their message to their customers, you're helping companies reach their clients, you're using your stand up comedy experience and some of your impressions to not only get the message across, but make it a little bit more engaging. I think that's just smart.

Hersh Rephun: 7:59

Thank you. Thank you, man. And you know as well as I do, you know, even if you're dealing, or maybe especially when you're dealing with business or more serious life stuff, the humor cuts the tension and the humor makes it more digestible. And people know that you're not taking yourself too seriously. And that puts people at ease. Because if you are an expert or if people expect you to be an expert, they might think there's a certain amount of ego involved there where you think you know more than other people. And I, I've always shared information from the student's point of view. You know, we're all students. I learned this. Here's what I'm sharing with you. So the lightness of it is helpful.

R. Scott Edwards: 8:48

Well, as a lifelong entrepreneur, I've both experienced and shared with others that you can never stop learning. And as the teacher, if you go out arrogant and overly self confident, that I am the best, I am the warlord you should listen to, that tends to turn off people. But if you go out and you kind of humanize yourself and bring a little comedy and human connection to it. I think that, as you said, it opens up the audience to your message a little easier and comes across a lot more helpful as opposed to dictatorial. And I think that makes the information you're sharing more absorbing. You know, people can accept it easier and hopefully learn from it. Are you still doing. You're still writing them, so I imagine you're still doing a lot of the Sell the Truth webinars and seminars.

Hersh Rephun: 9:49

Well, yeah, so now I have the book. The book is completely new stuff. So it's. Anyone who had seen me speak before or who had been a client of mine or whatever it might be, they would not have necessarily heard these stories or insights. They're really pretty much up to the minute of what I've learned, especially the last five years since COVID And so there's a lot about life, a lot about business, and I call it a semoir, a semi memoir that has stories from my past, but only those that really pertain to life and business as. As lessons, you know, as. As selling the truth of being about. You know, the truth is really all we have to sell. You know, a lot of people out there are BS artists and kind of snow people and want to manipulate people. But I think that, you know, this. This notion of. Of being okay, being a salesman is something that took me a long, long time to. To come to, and I think that's kind of new. That's a little bit new. All that time I was saying selling the truth. But I'm not. I'm not really owning the salesman part that I am. I'm selling things. And someone pointed out to me not long ago, they said, look, you know, you're not. No one sells anything. People buy things. You know, people buy what they want or what they need, but you're facilitating their being able to benefit from it. And I really like that idea. And I think a lot of us have the wrong idea about sales and what it means to perform a service or provide something that somebody needs.

R. Scott Edwards: 11:39

Well, ladies and gentlemen, if you want to learn more about this, look out for Hirsch's book, Selling the Truth. You can pick it up on Amazon or go to one of his seminars where I'm sure he's doing the right thing, where he's talking and selling and autographing his book. A great way to make money. But as a lifelong salesman, I will tell you that your friend gave you the exact truth, that it's not about selling something. In fact, I found a lot of success in the ability to listen to people. If you ask the right questions and then listen to your customers or clients, they'll tell you what they need. And then our job as salesmen is to fulfill those needs and provide the product or service that takes care of that customer or client. And if you do that on a consistent basis, you'll be a successful salesman. You also, Hirsch, have the podcast Now. A couple years ago you had the Truth Tastes Funny, which is a great podcast. It's on my Stand up comedy podcast network, which is available on all Android and Apple phones. So free access to that amazing podcast. But you had also just started the yes brand. Are both of these podcasts still going strong?

Hersh Rephun: 12:55

Yes, they are. Thank you. Yeah. Truth Tastes Funny is about surviving and thriving in a chaotic world and playing into my hands. The world has continued to be chaotic, so we have survival stories and tips for people who don't want to lose their sanity altogether, but want to have a little sense of humor about life. And then yes Brand celebrates really the best in independent branding, we may call it. You know, they're not the big corporation. Coca Cola, Frito Lay, you know, Apple, Disney. I have people on the show who are entrepreneurs, who built their own businesses and I, I try to get to the bottom of their trial and error and how they've succeeded and where they've learned from failing, but also with some good humor. And that's. We're about to record our seventh season of that show, which will be a very special kind of each interview will be in depth with real heart centered leaders in a number of different fields. And I'm very excited to start that. I did want to mention that the book is actually not being sold on Amazon. The book is what? Yeah. Well, in keeping with the selling the truth thing, I didn't want to go down the road of feeling compelled to have a bestseller, a best selling book on Amazon. It felt so kind of cliche among business people to have the bestselling book on Amazon in some kind of capacity there. You know, I wanted to go differently. I didn't want to go corporate. So I did go with Barnes and Noble because Barnes and Noble is known for, you know, selling books. That's what they do. They know, you know, that they're not buying my book from the same place that they, that they get, you know, their refrigerator filter. So I wanted it, it to be a little bit different. And I'm also selling it on prairielight.com which is Prairie Light out here in Iowa City where I, where I live now is a very well known indie bookseller and they're carrying the book as well. So it's like a nice kind of hometown outlet where people who want to support, you know, independent booksellers can go to prairielights.com and buy it there.

R. Scott Edwards: 15:24

Well, thanks for sharing that information. I am a little surprised it's not Amazon. Only because all of us self published book people that want to get it out there and I have two or three, it's not trying to be a best seller, it's just to reach a broader audience. But yes, if you're bringing content that really is going to change lives and support businesses and you're an official marketing guru, which is a truism, being in Barnes and Noble and other localized out of Iowa book programs is going to be more true to who you are, Hirsch. And I think that that's a respectable place to come from. So congratulations on that and congrats on the podcast. I have been doing mine. I'm in my sixth year going into the seventh and it's been a long haul, but lots of fun and great conversations with people and I'm sure we're. One of the reasons you've kept both the yes brand and the Truth Tastes Funny, two great podcasts people should go check out is because you like engaging with like minded people that you can have engaging conversations and share knowledge with. I'm sure you've learned from doing them as much as presenting the information to others, correct?

Hersh Rephun: 16:43

Yeah, yeah. You know, I love, by the way, it's a great opportunity to mention that I love your show for that reason because you are engaged in these, in these conversations with people that are, you know, that we've chosen a certain life, we've chosen a certain road and you have a way of celebrating the adventures of people and I think that's really laudable, you know, and I really enjoy the exchange, the sense of humor and just the interplay. It's a lot of fun.

R. Scott Edwards: 17:17

Well, thanks. Now that we've patted each other on the back, it is great because it is interesting that as a podcaster in both of our cases, well, I shouldn't speak for you. In my case, I got into podcasting because I really enjoyed and was interested in the people in the standup comedy industry. And the podcast gave me a chance to share everyone's story, which in many ways are similar. And yet, as you stated, everyone finds their own path to success and stand up comedy and ends up doing different things. You know, you became a marketing guru. Some went into TV and movies, Others went into the government. I mean, there's different aspects of what happens. But it all started with stand up comedy as the basis of this podcast. But it is so true that we want to have good conversations with people, that we have interest in their stories. And what's fascinating, Hirsch, is that I did it quite selfishly because I like having my toes in show business in interacting with these people that I worked with back in the 80s and 90s. But it was interesting because recently somebody said, well, yeah, it's always funny, and yeah, there's always a lesson to learn about show business. But truly, I've created accidentally a history of standup comedy from 1980 on, and I never looked at it that way. And when you look at it from this other perspective, it really added some interesting nuance to the podcast and what I'm doing. And in your case, you're not only engaging in great stories and having fun guests, but because of your sense of humor and your background and because you're so good at marketing, you're really sharing solid business information in an entertaining format. And I think podcasting is amazing that not only does it allow us this opportunity, but we get to share it not with, you know, Iowa or California or a small group of friends, but with the world.

Hersh Rephun: 19:29

Yeah, that's well said. I mean, you know, I love that idea. I got into podcasting because, honestly, during COVID I felt so isolated. I was wanting to expand my horizons, not be more isolated. And as soon as I started talking to people from all over the world and started to have some listeners in different countries and all of that interplay, I was like, oh, my gosh, that's just amazing. It's so fulfilling. And I wouldn't have gone on to be doing the stuff that I'm doing now if I hadn't been podcasting and meeting all these entrepreneurs and business people and speakers and coaches, consultants, all this whole world that I've been exposed to now.

R. Scott Edwards: 20:18

Right, right. Not only are you opening your world of marketing to the rest of the planet, but you're bringing that marketing world into your life. And it's a really strong give and take. Now, for those out there that might be interested, truth tastes funny. The most recent episode was Unleashing Creativity through Play, which is really an interesting title and really a good podcast, and brings to light how important it is to have fun. Fun with what you're doing. You'll be more successful if you're enjoying your life and what you're doing. And on your yes. Brand Podcast, your recent topic was navigating business change. And as an entrepreneur that started over 20 companies and all of them different, those changes, there's a core to how you start and operate and get a business going, especially from a marketing point of view. But at the same time, everything's changing around you and you have to stay focused on the success of your business if you're going to make it work. So again, you're really bringing some good, strong information through both humor and strong marketing skills to a broad audience. So congratulations on all that. I will say you've been a guest on many podcasts. I've seen a list of the podcasts you've been on quite noticeably. I was able to see that my podcast wasn't on your list. So I know that that means that you have a strong connection with stand up comedy. You're hosting emcee.

Hersh Rephun: 21:59

It is on my list.

R. Scott Edwards: 22:01

Oh, I didn't see it on the list. You had all these other really impressive marketing podcasts that you've been on. And.

Hersh Rephun: 22:11

It'S in chronological order. So every, every time I appear on a new show, it gets put up there on that page in that, in that kind of carousel of shows.

R. Scott Edwards: 22:26

Yeah. Okay. Okay.

Hersh Rephun: 22:27

So you're, you're. I like that. I should create. Got an OG section of the, of the podcast that I featured on when I was, when I was newer to podcasting. And, and that way I can showcase some of the people that were gracious enough to, to have me during that time.

R. Scott Edwards: 22:45

So I wasn't, I wasn't going for a plug. I was just kind of picking on you. But it makes sense that you're showcasing the recent ones.

Hersh Rephun: 22:55

Yes, but I'm happy to blast a little sunshine up your skirt if that's what, if that's what you need.

R. Scott Edwards: 23:02

That's so funny. Well, I gotta tell you, that is something I would not have expected. Now that we've talked about all your great accomplishments, you mentioned that your focus now is on the screenwriting. Before we end this short conversation, let me and my audience know what's happening with you and your screenwriting.

Hersh Rephun: 23:27

Okay, so I am not focused on screenwriting. The screenwriting was so long ago that it actually slipped through the cracks of our, of our storytelling. It was back in the 90s that I was doing screenwriting and I had, I started when I was living in New York. I was doing stand up, I was working, selling computers or who knows what, and I started writing screenplays. And I wrote a few that were, that became movies or that I was Commissioned to write that are total, like, genre pictures. So it's funny to look back on it. One, one is called Spring Break Sorority Babes, which also. No joke, which also goes by the title Can It Be Love? And if you, if you look on IMDb, it's there. I mean, it became like a little bit of a cult favorite. It got a good review from Roger Ebert, so I cling to that. But then I wrote one called Assault on Dome four that Bruce Campbell starred in, and that was like Die Hard in Space, basically. He was the villain in that. And he was brilliant. He was wonderful. And that was a kick. And then I did one called the Base, which was a military action movie with Mark dacascos, who is a very prolific martial arts actor. And he's now been on, like, most recently he's been in the John Wick movies and he was on the show Warrior on hbo. So those are my. That's my canon of movies that I've. That I've written, but it's not new.

R. Scott Edwards: 25:09

Well, let me rephrase it. But I love that you got a chance to reiterate some of the movies you worked on back in the day, because I was aware of that. What I was alluding to is that you were doing some recent writing, and I thought it was for a new project.

Hersh Rephun: 25:25

Oh, it's going to be for my speaking career, my public speaking as kind of a book tour.

R. Scott Edwards: 25:33

So you're kind of rewriting Selling the Truth, which you've been doing for a few years. You're just kind of reformatting it.

Hersh Rephun: 25:40

Yeah, well, I, Yeah, so I'm. So what I've done is instead of either go with what I had before the book or in the book, I've taken it to the next level and said, okay, well, if you love the book or if you're, if you love the show, I kind of think of it as a one man show. Then, you know, you'll love the book and vice versa. But you get different, different things in each. So. But I'm. But I am just writing that. So that's the thing that I'm. That's my creative project right now that I'm doing.

R. Scott Edwards: 26:09

Okay, well, that explains a little bit better, Hirsch. And I think it's. It is obvious that you've taken your history and your experience as a screenwriter and you're putting it to work in 2025 as part of your webinar seminar program. And with the new book out Selling the Truth, you're trying to kind of update and rework Your marketing webinar or seminar? I'm not sure. They probably do both.

Hersh Rephun: 26:37

Yeah, it doesn't. Yeah, yeah.

R. Scott Edwards: 26:38

But you're getting a chance to kind of refresh. Refresh everything and sounds like you're even kind of refreshing and adding a little more humor to it.

Hersh Rephun: 26:49

Yeah. I think what happened, Scott, is that I've gotten comfortable enough with my business kind of public speaking for a business audience or doing seminars, that kind of thing. And now I'm ready to bring more of that comedy back because it just kind of comes up. But I didn't want to make light of what I was doing or have it not be taken seriously. So now I feel like I'm just comfortable enough in my skin as a business speaker that I can incorporate some of the more fun, silly, the silliness, a little bit more silliness.

R. Scott Edwards: 27:25

Well. And I think it's really impressive that you're taking your experience as a comic and as a screenwriter and here, decades later, you're making it work for you in a way to additionally engage with an audience in sharing all the marketing skills that you have available, not only through your seminars, but through your book. I think that constantly reforming yourself, remaking yourself and getting more comfortable being more human and humorist, Bring out the humorist in you will only make you that much a hotter product to the business world as a marketing guru. So I think you're really taking all these experiences, including podcasting and bringing it together, to make yourself that much more valuable product. I think that's impressive. Congratulations.

Hersh Rephun: 28:24

Thank you so much, Scott. Really, I appreciate that. Oh, there's my dog barking. He agrees. I guess he agrees.

R. Scott Edwards: 28:33

He definitely does. Well, ladies and gentlemen, we want to thank Hirsch for coming back on the podcast. Hopefully you've picked up some great ways to learn more about Hirsch. You can listen to his podcast, the yes Brand. You can listen to his podcast, the Truth Tastes Funny. If you get a chance and you're around a Barnes and Noble look for his book Selling the Truth. And if you're a business owner and you're trying to help your. Your staff engage in a better way and be stronger in the marketing world, keep an eye out or hire Hirsch Seminar of Selling the Truth. Is it Sell the truth or Selling the Truth?

Hersh Rephun: 29:13

Either. Either way, I would say if they go toYesBrand builders dot com. That's the consulting firm. Oh, that's the yes Brand Builders.

R. Scott Edwards: 29:24

Okay. Yes Brand.

Hersh Rephun: 29:25

And everything is there. Yeah, everything's there. All the good stuff is there.

R. Scott Edwards: 29:30

Alright, let's cut the crap and go straight to it.

Hersh Rephun: 29:32

Yes. Brand Builders.

R. Scott Edwards: 29:33

The Yes. Brand builders dot com. I think I finally got it.

Hersh Rephun: 29:38

Thank you.

R. Scott Edwards: 29:39

Thank you. Yes. It took me a while. I'm a little slow. All right. Well, Hirsch, I really appreciate you came back on the podcast, ladies and gentlemen. You know how to reach him, learn more about his marketing skills and see some of his humor at work. Hirsch, congratulations on all your success and from being the 2025 Renaissance Man.

Hersh Rephun: 30:02

Thank you, Scott. Thanks so much. And you keep doing this great stuff, man.

R. Scott Edwards: 30:07

Well, thank you. Well, ladies and gentlemen, we hope you enjoyed that interview as much as I did. We'll be back next week with some great stand up comedy. We appreciate you listening by. We hope you enjoyed this episode of Stand Up Comedy. Your host and mc. For information on the show merchandise and our sponsors or to send comments to Scott, visit our website at www.standupyourhostandmc.com. look for more episodes soon and enjoy the world of stand up comedy. Visit a comedy showroom near.