We Can Do Hard Things

109. How to Survive This Absurd Life with Samantha Irby

Jun 30, 2022

Samantha Irby, a humorist and author known for her candid and witty insights, shares her thoughts on navigating the absurdities of life. She discusses using humor to mask deeper emotions and her philosophy on friendship, highlighting the value of casual connections. Irby embraces JOMO (Joy of Missing Out), convinced that true joy comes from personal experiences rather than the fear of missing out. She also reveals the powerful behind-the-scenes story of a pivotal episode from 'Shrill,' showcasing the importance of representation in storytelling.

01:05:07

Episode guests

Samantha Irby

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Laughter and Resilience: A Comedic Journey

22min

Navigating Therapy and Empowerment in Creative Storytelling

4min

Celebrating Diversity at the Pool Party

8min

The Humor-Driven Landscape of Friendship

4min

The Dynamics of Friendship and Connection

12min

Navigating Non-Parental Dynamics with Humor

3min

Embracing JOMO: Finding Joy in Missing Out

6min

Embracing Life's Journey

6min

1. Sam’s life-changing strategies for (reluctantly) interacting with humans.

2. How we use humor to hide the lava of rage churning beneath our surface.

3. Sam’s friendship theory and why she doesn’t need a deep soul connection with every “lowercase f friend.”

4. Sam’s embrace of JOMO (Joy of Missing Out)–and why she genuinely believes no one else is having a better time (except maybe Abby).

5. The behind-the-scenes story of the “Fat Babe Pool Party” Shrill show–and why that episode was one of the most important things she’s ever written.

About Samantha:

Samantha Irby writes the "Bitches Gotta Eat" blog, and is the author of WOW, NO THANK YOU; WE ARE NEVER MEETING IN REAL LIFE; and MEATY. She has been a writer and/or co-producer for TV shows including And Just Like That, Work in Progress, Shrill, and Tuca & Bertie.

IG: @bitchesgottaeat

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.