Sam Marin on Regular Show, Animation & Creativity
Mad Props with Chris Schnabel
06/15/26
•61m
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Welcome to Mad Props. Host Chris Schnabel sits down with legendary voice actor, animator, and creator Sam Marin for a deep dive into his career in animation, his journey with Regular Show, and his creative projects beyond Cartoon Network.
Known as the voices of Benson, Pops, and Muscle Man on the beloved Cartoon Network series Regular Show, Sam shares how he met creator J.G. Quintel at CalArts, how the original student films evolved into one of the most iconic animated shows of the 2010s, and what it was like returning to these characters for Regular Show: The Lost Tapes.
Chris and Sam also discuss the art of voice acting, working alongside legendary performers like Mark Hamill, creating original animated projects, the changing entertainment industry, social media’s influence on creators, film festivals, collecting vinyl records, classic movies, and why making personal art still matters.
Topics include:
• The creation of Regular Show and working with J.G. Quintel
• Finding the voices of Benson, Pops, and Muscle Man
• The return of Regular Show: The Lost Tapes
• The future of animation and storytelling
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sam_marin_drawings
Pig in a Wig:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hsCSGluI_8
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Mad Props is a Schnabel Studios Production
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
01:03 - Cartoon character coworker tier list before the interview
13:58 - Meeting Sam Marin & discovering Regular Show
15:30 - CalArts, J.G. Quintel & the origins of Regular Show
17:03 - Mark Hamill, Skips & iconic cartoon voices
20:55 - Creating the voice of Benson
21:43 - The origins of Pops and Muscle Man
23:25 - Returning for Regular Show: The Lost Tapes
28:14 - Sam’s puppet and animation projects
36:15 - Music, vinyl records & artistic hobbies
43:16 - Collecting records, comics & nostalgic media
48:07 - Upcoming projects including Pig in a Wig
52:26 - Fan Expo appearances and meeting fans
53:59 - Back to the Future, conventions & movie nostalgia
58:50 - Final thoughts
Previous Episode
Welcome to Mad Props. Host Chris Schnabel welcomes author Kate Pentecost for the first installment of the Comicpalooza interview series, recorded at Comicpalooza.
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Kate Pentecost is the author of Elysium Girls and That Dark Infinity, known for blending fantasy, horror, mythology, and unforgettable storytelling. During this live conversation from Comicpalooza, Kate discusses her journey into writing, the publishing industry, horror storytelling, creative inspiration, gaming concepts, music, and the future of interactive storytelling.
The conversation explores:
• Growing up with a passion for writing
• Traditional publishing vs. self-publishing
• Young adult fantasy and horror fiction
• Video games as narrative experiences
• Health, wellness, and personal growth
Chris and Kate also discuss Ready Player One, horror films, abandoned locations, theater, music, storytelling across different mediums, and why creators should continue exploring new forms of artistic expression.
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Website: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17712741.Kate_Pentecost
IG: https://www.instagram.com/katepentecost/
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Epsiode shot by William Cornell
Mad Props is a Schnabel Studios Production
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Intro
01:42 – Ranking Fictional Musicians Tier List
18:22 – Kate Pentecost Joins the Show at Comicpalooza
19:28 – Kate's History with Comicpalooza
20:01 – From Rural Texas to Published Author
21:20 – Publishing During the 2020 Lockdown
22:31 – Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing
23:55 – Discovering a Passion for Writing
25:01 – Music's Influence on Creativity
26:14 – Alternate Reality Games & Interactive Storytelling
27:11 – Video Games as Modern Storytelling
28:25 – Geocaching, Real World Narratives & ARG Concepts
30:25 – Trying New Creative Mediums
32:48 – Music, Family & Artistic Exploration
34:07 – Theater, Live Performance & Audience Energy
35:24 – The Future of Movie Theaters and Shared Experiences
38:49 – Where Communities Gather in the Modern World
40:26 – Urban Exploration & Creative Inspiration
42:01 – Chris Shares the History of Mad Props
49:09 – Horror Fiction, Suspense & Favorite Horror Stories
54:25 – Health, Wellness & Personal Growth
59:21 – Kate's Upcoming Southern Gothic Horror Project
1:00:02 – Final Plugs
Next Episode
Live from Comicpalooza!
June 22
•22m
Welcome to Mad Props. Host Chris Schnabel takes the stage at Comicpalooza for his first-ever live panel, The Art of the Interview.
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Recorded live at Comicpalooza in Houston, Texas, Chris pulls back the curtain on how Mad Props grew from a small podcast recorded over Zoom during the pandemic into a show with over 16,000 YouTube subscribers and conversations with legendary voice actors, creators, musicians, athletes, and entertainers.
This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at the philosophy that built Mad Props: moving beyond traditional question-and-answer interviews and creating genuine conversations by discovering what guests are passionate about outside of what they are known for.
The conversation explores:
• The origins of Mad Props and the transition from Offstage
• Why traditional interviews often miss the most interesting stories
• Avoiding being starstruck during interviews
• Podcast equipment and starting with what you have
• The importance of consistency and long-term growth
• Stories behind guests like Rob Paulsen, Carlos Alazraqui, and H. Jon Benjamin
• Dream guests and never being afraid to hear "no"
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Follow Chris Schnabel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisschnabel
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chris.schnabel
YouTube: @Chris.Schnabel
Video shot by Will Cornell
Mad Props is a Schnabel Studios Production
Chapters
00:17 – Welcome to The Art of the Interview Panel & The Story Behind Mad Props
02:04 – How a Spider-Man Conversation with Julius Thomas Changed the Podcast
04:01 – Why Mad Props Focuses on Conversations Instead of Q&A
05:39 – How Chris Researches Guests & Finds Unique Stories
07:10 – How to Get Celebrity Guests & The Biggest Mistakes Creators Make
09:14 – Finding Contact Information & Convention Etiquette
11:04 – Interviewing Guests You Know Nothing About
13:02 – Starting Mad Props During COVID & The Importance of Consistency
15:12 – Audience Q&A: Podcast Equipment & Starting Without Perfection
17:43 – Audience Q&A: How to Avoid Being Starstruck During Interviews
20:08 – Dream Guests, Upcoming Episodes & Final Thoughts
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