Judd Apatow On: Panic Attacks, His Creative Process, And Why Comedians Are Often So Neurotic

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Oct 18, 2024

Judd Apatow, a prolific comedic mind behind classics like 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin', shares his candid journey through creativity and anxiety. He explores how his parents' divorce shaped his emotional landscape and fueled his work. Apatow discusses the neurotic nature of comedians and the challenges of balancing ambition with inner turmoil. With humorous anecdotes about panic attacks, he highlights the therapeutic value of understanding one’s internal dialogues and the role of comedy in processing life's complexities.

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ANECDOTE

Parental Divorce and Self-Help

Judd Apatow's parents' divorce influenced his interest in self-help.
His dad's reading of "Your Erroneous Zones" sparked unhappiness, while his mom resisted self-reflection.

ANECDOTE

Lack of Communication and Self-Help

Apatow recounts his dad leaving a self-help book, "Growing Up Divorced," for him without discussion.
This lack of communication during his parents' decade-long divorce fueled his need to understand these topics.

INSIGHT

Filling the Spiritual Void

Apatow's interest in self-help stems from a lack of emotional and spiritual guidance during childhood.
Meeting Gary Shandling introduced him to Buddhism and Eastern thought, beginning to fill that void.

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The Bell Jar

Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar is a thinly veiled autobiography that follows Esther Greenwood, a talented and ambitious college student, as she experiences a mental breakdown. The novel begins with Esther's unfulfilling summer internship as a guest editor for a women's magazine in New York City, where she grapples with identity and societal norms. Upon returning home, Esther's mental health deteriorates, leading to several suicide attempts and eventual hospitalization. The novel explores her treatment, including electroconvulsive therapy, and her gradual recovery under the care of a progressive psychiatrist. It also critiques the limited roles available to women in the 1950s and the brutal psychiatric treatments of the time[2][3][5].

Lonesome Dove

Gene Walden

Lonesome Dove is a classic Western novel that follows the journey of two former Texas Rangers, Augustus McCrae and Woodrow F. Call, as they embark on a cattle drive from Texas to Montana. The novel is renowned for its vivid descriptions of the American West, its exploration of themes such as friendship, loyalty, and the decline of the Old West, and its well-developed characters. It is the third book in the Lonesome Dove series and is widely regarded as McMurtry's magnum opus.

Flow

The Psychology of Optimal Experience

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

In this classic work, Csikszentmihalyi investigates 'optimal experience' and reveals that true happiness and satisfaction can be achieved through a state of consciousness called 'flow.' During flow, individuals experience complete concentration on the task, clarity of goals, and immediate feedback. The book demonstrates how this positive state can be controlled and how it can improve the quality of life by unlocking meaning, creativity, and peak performance.

When Things Fall Apart

Heart Advice for Difficult Times

Pema Chödrön

In this book, Pema Chödrön offers life-changing tools for transforming suffering and negative patterns into habitual ease and boundless joy. Drawing from traditional Buddhist wisdom, she advises moving toward painful situations with friendliness and curiosity, rather than trying to escape them. The book emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainty, impermanence, and groundlessness, and provides practical advice for dealing with difficult emotions like fear, anger, and sadness. Chödrön encourages readers to stay present with their feelings and to cultivate nonaggression and compassion, leading to deeper healing and understanding[1][3][5].

Be Here Now

Ram Dass

Be Here Now is a seminal book on spirituality, yoga, and meditation written by Ram Dass. The book is divided into four sections: 'Journey', which details Ram Dass's transformation from a Harvard psychologist to a spiritual seeker; 'From Bindu to Ojas', a core section that includes spiritual themes and inspirational quotes; 'Cookbook for a Sacred Life', a manual for conscious living with practical advice on meditation, yoga, and diet; and 'Painted Cakes (Do Not Satisfy Hunger)', a list of recommended books for further spiritual exploration. The book emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment, shedding ego and material attachments, and finding unity with the divine through unconditional love and mindfulness[2][4][5].

Start Where You Are

Pema Chödrön

In this perennial self-help bestseller, Pema Chödrön offers down-to-earth guidance on how to go beyond fleeting attempts to 'fix' pain and instead take life as it is. The book is framed around fifty-nine traditional Tibetan Buddhist maxims, such as 'Always meditate on whatever provokes resentment,' 'Be grateful to everyone,' and 'Don’t expect applause.' By working with these slogans as everyday meditations, Chödrön shows how readers can develop the courage to work with their own inner pain and discover true joy, holistic well-being, and unshakeable confidence.

The untethered soul

Michael A. Singer

In 'The Untethered Soul', Michael A. Singer explores the nature of the self and how to achieve spiritual growth by recognizing and releasing the inner blockages that prevent us from experiencing true happiness. The book emphasizes the importance of accepting reality as it is, rather than trying to control or resist it. Singer provides practical advice on how to manage negative thoughts, cultivate a positive mindset, and live in harmony with the natural flow of life.

Sicker in the Head

More Conversations About Life and Comedy

Judd Apatow

In 'Sicker in the Head,' Judd Apatow conducts in-depth interviews with a diverse range of comedians, including David Letterman, Whoopi Goldberg, Will Ferrell, John Mulaney, Hannah Gadsby, and others. The book delves into the personal and professional journeys of these comedians, discussing what drew them to comedy, how they navigate personal and national traumas, and the existential questions they face in their careers. Apatow explores themes of creativity, ambition, vulnerability, and the evolving landscape of comedy and Hollywood[3][4][5].

Sick in the Head

Conversations About Life and Comedy

Judd Apatow

Sick in the Head is a comprehensive and personal collection of interviews conducted by Judd Apatow with some of the most influential figures in comedy. The book spans Apatow's entire adult life and includes conversations with comedy legends like Mel Brooks, Jerry Seinfeld, and Steve Martin, as well as contemporaries such as Seth Rogen, Amy Schumer, and Chris Rock. It delves into topics such as creativity, ambition, neediness, generosity, spirituality, and the joy of making people laugh. The interviews provide back-of-the-club stories and insights into the lives and careers of these comedians, making it a valuable resource for comedy enthusiasts and anyone interested in the craft of comedy[2][3][5].

Your Erroneous Zones

Wayne Dyer

In 'Your Erroneous Zones,' Wayne Dyer introduces the concept of self-defeating behavior and erroneous zones—areas of life where negative thinking and misconceptions act as barriers to success and happiness. The book offers strategies to break free from guilt, worry, and other negative emotions by taking control of one's feelings and reactions. Dyer emphasizes the importance of self-love, living in the present, and overcoming societal and self-imposed barriers to achieve true self-reliance and personal growth.

The Healing Path

A Memoir and an Invitation

James Finley

In this book, James Finley shares his personal story of healing and spiritual transformation. The memoir reflects on his traumatic childhood, his time in a monastery under Thomas Merton, and his experiences with abuse and a dysfunctional marriage. Finley's narrative is not just a personal account but an invitation to readers to reflect on their own stories and find paths to healing and wholeness. The book emphasizes the integration of psychology and spirituality, highlighting how even the most devastating wounds can become portals to divine encounter and healing.

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Why the man behind “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” is a self-help junkie.

Judd Apatow is one of the most prolific comedic minds in the industry. Recently, Apatow produced Peacock’s buddy comedy Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain and Universal’s romcom, Bros, starring and co-written by Billy Eichner. Apatow also directed, produced, and co-wrote with Pam Brady, the Netflix comedy The Bubble and produced and co-directed HBO Films’ Emmy®-winning documentary George Carlin’s American Dream with Michael Bonfiglio. His Netflix comedy special, Judd Apatow: The Return, released in 2017 and premiered to critical acclaim. Previous director credits include the Emmy®-award-winning documentary, The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up and The King of Staten Island. He produced Academy Award®-nominated The Big Sick and Bridesmaids, as well as Superbad, Pineapple Express and Anchorman. For television, he executive produced Crashing, Girls, and Freaks and Geeks. Off screen, Apatow authored Sicker in the Head, a follow-up to his New York Times best-seller Sick in the Head.

In this episode we talk about:

The role of his parents’ bitter divorce in his life and work
The balance between creativity and ambition
Why so many comedians are so neurotic
His creative process, including some gems from the TV writer David Milch
His relationship to panic, and a hilarious story about freaking out on weed
The way he’s started to understand the different voices inside of him
His recent experiment with ayahuasca, and what he learned
And the role of comedy when it feels like the world is on fire

Related Episodes:

Bill Hader on Anxiety, Imposter Syndrome, and Leaning into Discomfort

Duncan Trussell on: Being a Spiritual Omnivore, Whether Psychedelics Are a Bridge to the Divine, and How the Gates of Hell Are Locked From the Inside