Stand-up comedian Gary Gulman joins Marc Maron to discuss how comedy can be a tool for helping people feel less alone, integrating mental health into his act, and his recently published book on depression. They also explore topics such as depression, suicidal ideation, therapy and medication, the impact of depression on memory, and reflections on past traumas.
Gary Gulman's severe depression became a focal point of his comedy in his HBO special.
Comedy can serve as a tool to help people feel less alone and connect with others.
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The lasting impact of emotional abuse
The speaker discusses the emotional immaturity of their mother, who often said hurtful things without understanding their impact. The speaker's mother lacked empathy and did not provide comforting support when they were sick. This behavior left a lasting impact on the speaker, causing them to struggle with trust and connection in relationships. They also explore the realization that their father, whom they initially blamed, was not the main problem but rather their mother's behavior.
The traumatic experience of sexual anxiety
The speaker shares their traumatic experience of trying to engage in a sexual relationship in high school and college. They discuss how early heartbreak made it difficult for them to open up emotionally and intimately to others. The speaker also opens up about their struggles with premature ejaculation and anxiety-driven impotence, which has caused significant anxiety and shaped their view of sexual experiences.
When Gary Gulman was on WTF in 2013, he and Marc talked about Gary’s mental health in relation to his comedy. Since that time, Gary has dealt with severe bouts of depression and integrated it into his act, specifically in his 2019 HBO special The Great Depresh. Now, with Gary putting a lot of his thoughts on the pages of his first book, he and Marc revisit the ideas they previously had about comedy and how those perceptions changed as they’ve realized comedy can be a tool to help people feel less alone.
