Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out 137. Neal Brennan Returns: How to Be 3% Funnier
Jul 15, 2024
Comedian Neal Brennan returns to discuss friendship dynamics, Seinfeld's influence on comedy, and the question of Kevin Hart's humility. They explore mental health treatments, crafting jokes, fan interactions, and the role of status in comedy. Plus, a humorous anecdote about audience misinterpretation and a nerve-wracking encounter in Tulsa.
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Use Audience Feedback To Clarify Tone
- Neal Brennan used audience feedback to reframe his special and remove expectations about depression.
- He says telling people he's happy made the show clearer and improved the experience.
Psychedelics Changed His Mental Health
- Neal recounts psychedelic experiences (DMT, ayahuasca, MDMA) that helped shift his mental health and beliefs.
- He credits them with getting off an antidepressant and feeling a connection to a central creation force.
Practice Creates Enduring Creative Habits
- Neal argues skill and habit persist even after you stop being depressed because repetition builds identity.
- He compares joke-writing to a background app that keeps producing material without constant suffering.