Comedian Ramy Youssef Returns with ‘More Feelings’
Mar 24, 2024
auto_awesome
Comedian Ramy Youssef discusses his new HBO special 'More Feelings', the third season of his show Ramy, his coming of age as an Egyptian-American, and the influences behind his work. He also talks about his television debut, finding his essence as a performer, and the future of the series.
Ramy Youssef's journey from first-generation Egyptian-American to showcasing faith and humor in 'More Feelings'.
Diverse creative pursuits from acting to directing demonstrate Youssef's talent for addressing political themes with humor.
Embracing authenticity and exploring unique perspectives highlight the importance of individual differences in storytelling and representation.
Deep dives
Chase for Business Partnership and Inspiring Stories
Starting Girls Who Do Interiors by college friends and reliance on Chase for Business for banking needs highlighted the importance of support in early stages of business. The partnership showcased the role of Chase Mobile App in consolidating financial operations.
Rami Youssef's Versatility in Filmmaking and Comedy
Rami Youssef's transition from his show Rami on Hulu to various acting and directing roles like in The Bear displays his multifaceted talents. His journey in filmmaking showcases his ability to navigate diverse themes from personal reflections to political commentary with a unique comedic lens.
Exploration of Faith and Crisis in 'More Feelings'
Rami Youssef's latest show, More Feelings, delves into his exploration of faith and personal crises. The show reflects his ability to humorously address sensitive topics like the Gaza crisis, Muslim identity, and political issues, showcasing his distinctive comedic voice.
Rami Youssef's Personal Journey and Influences
Rami Youssef's personal journey, from childhood experiences to overcoming Bell's palsy, has influenced his creative pursuits. His dedication to acting, filmmaking, and comedy stems from formative moments like using humor to cope with challenges, shaping his unique storytelling approach.
Comedic Evolution from Bombing Sets to Late Night Debut
The podcast episode discusses the comedian's transformative journey from bombing sets early in his stand-up career to finding his comedic voice and confidence through a challenging performance at a hotel where he was pushed to dig deeper into his essence as a comedian. Despite initial struggles and embarrassment, he embraced the process of self-discovery and honed his craft by delving into different stand-up demographics that demanded authenticity and humor, leading to significant growth.
Challenging Representations and Emphasizing Differences
The podcast explores the importance of depicting authenticity and differences rather than focusing on homogeneity in storytelling and representation. The comedian emphasizes the need to highlight unique perspectives and experiences, rejecting the notion of universal sameness. By acknowledging and embracing individual differences while recognizing common emotions and struggles, the podcast delves into the complexities of identity and representation in media and society.
This weekend, comedian Ramy Youssef released a powerful and personal new HBO special, More Feelings.
To commemorate the one-year anniversary of our first talk, we begin with a phone call with Ramy (5:35). Then, we dive into our talk from 2023, discussing the third season of his Hulu show Ramy (32:59), a timely scene from the show (35:46), and the questions that shaped it (39:37). Then, we walk through his coming of age as a first-generation Egyptian-American in New Jersey (42:28), his early forays into film (47:07), and the sketch inspired by his life-altering Bell’s palsy diagnosis (48:25).
On the back-half, we discuss Youssef's television debut in the sitcom See Dad Run (59:00), how he found his “essence” as a performer (1:00:54), and the politics of his stand-up comedy (1:03:50). To close, he describes the influences behind Ramy, from The Carmichael Show to Curb Your Enthusiasm (1:08:25), a philosophy that guides his work (1:14:58), and the future of the series (1:21:36).
For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com. This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios in Los Angeles.
