To kick off the new year, here’s a little bonus episode to keep you warm as the show ramps up for its seventh year. Recorded live from Vulture Festival, comedian/comedy podcast legend Jonah Ray Rodrigues interviews his friend/idol Weird Al Yankovic about his long and varied career. Rodrigues has Al named the song that is his favorite to do live, was his most surprising hit, features the best accordion skills, and much much more.This was an event of the real Weird Al-heads. But, even a casual fan will appreciate this unique look back at Weird’s unique career.Stream Weird: The Al Yankovic Story on the Roku Channel.Order Jesse's book, Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture–and the Magic That Makes It Work here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374604714/comedybookLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's that time of year again: Vulture critic Kathryn VanArendonk's Best Specials of the Year list is out! Years removed from lockdown and with a rise of specials on YouTube, there was a lot to consider. But these are the 10 VanArendonk thought were best!Kathryn’s ranking: https://www.vulture.com/article/best-stand-up-comedy-specials-2023.htmlOrder Jesse's book, Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture–and the Magic That Makes It Work here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374604714/comedybook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Good One, host Jesse David Fox welcomes Zainab Johnson to the pod. Johnson, who is best known for her role on the sci-fi sitcom Upload. Earlier this year, she released her first stand-up special, Hijabs Off. One of the best, most visually interesting specials of the year, Hijabs Off displays Johnson’s ease onstage, unique pacing, and in-the-moment performance.You can stream Upload and Hijabs Off on Prime Video.Order Jesse's book, Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture–and the Magic That Makes It Work here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374604714/comedybook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fresh off the release of his latest Netflix special, I Am Not For Everyone, comedian and podcaster Pete Holmes sits down with Vulture's Jesse David Fox to discuss one of his favorite jokes from his previous special Dirty Clean, and deep dives into his joke writing process.Watch I Am Not For Everyone on Netflix.Follow Pete Holmes on twitter and instagram. Follow Jesse David Fox on twitter and instagram.Buy Jesse's book, Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture–and the Magic That Makes It Work here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374604714/comedybookLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Good One host Jesse David Fox’s debut Comedy Book, a book of comedy criticism and history, is coming out today! To give listeners a taste of what to expect, this week we’re offering an exclusive first listen to the audiobook, read by Jesse. The excerpt answers the question: Has Jesse ever tried stand-up?Buy Jesse's book, Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture–and the Magic That Makes It Work here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374604714/comedybookBuy tickets for Jesse’s November 7 Brooklyn book release comedy show: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-very-good-show-to-celebrate-the-release-of-comedy-book-tickets-696148497897?aff=odwdwdspacecraftBuy tickets for Jesse’s November 13 Los Angeles book release comedy show: https://www.squadup.com/events/a-very-good-show-to-celebrate-the-release-of-comedy-book-w-chris-fleming-jay-jurden-joel-kim-booster-naomi-ekperigin-and-moreLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Good One host Jesse David Fox’s debut Comedy Book, a book of comedy criticism and history, is coming out on November 7! To mark this occasion, this week on Good One, he will be the guest. Filling in as host is comedy legend and guest from the most popular episode of this show, Gary Gulman, whose own debut memoir, Misfit, came out earlier this year. Pre-order Jesse's book, Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture–and the Magic That Makes It Work here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374604714/comedybookBuy tickets for Jesse’s November 7 Brooklyn book release comedy show: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-very-good-show-to-celebrate-the-release-of-comedy-book-tickets-696148497897?aff=odwdwdspacecraftBuy tickets for Jesse’s November 13 Los Angeles book release comedy show: https://www.squadup.com/events/a-very-good-show-to-celebrate-the-release-of-comedy-book-w-chris-fleming-jay-jurden-joel-kim-booster-naomi-ekperigin-and-more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Good One, host Jesse David Fox welcomes Sam Jay back to the show. Since they last spoke, Jay left her job writing for Saturday Night Live to host her own talk show, the revolutionary, provocative Pause on HBO and co-create Peacock’s Bust Down. Jay is here to talk about her newest special, Salute Me or Shoot Me where she displays what really edgy material looks like.You can stream Salute Me or Shoot Me and Pause on Max.Pre-order Jesse's book, Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture–and the Magic That Makes It Work here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374604714/comedybookBuy tickets for Jesse’s November 7 Brooklyn book release comedy show: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-very-good-show-to-celebrate-the-release-of-comedy-book-tickets-696148497897?aff=odwdwdspacecraftBuy tickets for Jesse’s November 13 Los Angeles book release comedy show: https://www.squadup.com/events/a-very-good-show-to-celebrate-the-release-of-comedy-book-w-chris-fleming-jay-jurden-joel-kim-booster-naomi-ekperigin-and-more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's that time of year again! Vulture dropped their annual list of all the future stars of comedy. In honor of this special occasion, we compiled mini Good One episodes featuring each list-honoree so they could introduce themselves to you personally.This week—in alphabetical order by first name—we present to you the Comedians You Should and Will Know, 2023:Andrea JinAsha WardAuguste WhiteBrian BaheCurtis CookEdy ModicaFumi AbeJordan JensenJordan TempleKatrina DavisMaggie WintersNatalie Rotter-Laitman & Charlie BardeyNimesh PatelOpeyemi OlabajuRachel KalyRalph BarbosaRichard PerezRob HazeSabrina WuSophie BuddleStavros HalkiasZach ZimmermanZach ZuckerLearn more about the list on Vulture.com Pre-order Jesse's book, Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture–and the Magic That Makes It Work here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374604714/comedybookBuy tickets for Jesse’s November 7 Brooklyn book release comedy show: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-very-good-show-to-celebrate-the-release-of-comedy-book-tickets-696148497897?aff=odwdwdspacecraftBuy tickets for Jesse’s November 13 Los Angeles book release comedy show: https://www.squadup.com/events/a-very-good-show-to-celebrate-the-release-of-comedy-book-w-chris-fleming-jay-jurden-joel-kim-booster-naomi-ekperigin-and-more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Good One, host Jesse David Fox talks to comedian Hari Kondabolu! From his time as a writer/performer on Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell to his 2017 documentary The Problem with Apu to his 2018 Netflix special Warn Your Relatives, Kondabolu has been one of the foremost political comedians. His work brings to mind the question of what comedy actually can do to foster social progress. Now Kondabolu is back with a new YouTube special, Vacation Baby, which seems him heading in a more personal direction, talking about the birth of his son while keeping his socio-political bent.You can stream Vacation Baby on YouTube.Pre-order Jesse's book, Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture–and the Magic That Makes It Work here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374604714/comedybookFollow Hari on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Jesse David Fox on Twitter and Instagram.THIS INTERVIEW WAS RECORDED BEFORE THE WGA AND SAG-AFTRA STRIKES.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Good One, stand-up comedian and podcast host Chris Gethard steps in for Jesse for an interview with SNL-Alum and comedian Sasheer Zamata to discuss her latest comedy special The First Woman. The two discuss their humble beginnings at UCB and how their unique approach to improv and stand-up shaped their comedy voices, how Sasheer handles being a voice for many women while also staying true to herself, and gives us a deep die into her comedy writing process.Watch Sasheer Zamata's latest special The First Woman free on YouTube.Pre-order Jesse's book, Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture–and the Magic That Makes It Work here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374604714/comedybookFollow Sasheer on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Chris on Twitter and Instagram. Jesse David Fox on Twitter and Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices