Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

Jo Firestone joins Mike for her second appearance on Working it Out. In addition to just being named the head writer of the newest late night show on network TV, Jo just published a comedic murder mystery called “Murder on Sex Island” and proclaims she is *nothing* like the book’s protagonist even though the similarities are striking. Jo also explains why there’s so much dust in her purse, and posits that the scariest part of haunted houses aren’t actually the jump scares, but rather the promise of nudity.Please Consider Donating To: UNICEF Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stand-up comedian Todd Barry, known for his crowd work, reflects on his 35 years in comedy, discusses his problem with Mike's cat, and shares his experiences performing at prom shows. They also talk about crying on planes, Mitch Hedberg's unreleased movie, and promote their support for Doctors Without Borders.

Ramy Youssef was one of the first and most popular guests on Working It Out back in 2020, and now he’s back with updates to some of the same very material he worked out the first time around. Mike and Ramy discuss which Death Cab For Cutie songs make Ramy cry, unfriendly encounters in Jacksonville, the perils of public restroom keys, and Ramy’s not-so-secret “secret marriage.” All that and why Ramy wants Mike’s next special to be called “The Arab Dad.”Please consider donating to Karam Foundation Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gary Simons, winner of Georgetown University's funniest person on campus contest, joins Mike Birbiglia to ask 10 key questions about starting out in comedy. They discuss getting an agent, transitioning from 5 minutes to an hour, and relationship advice for comedians in love. Pete Holmes also offers his advice in this insightful and engaging conversation.

Comedian Greg Warren joins Mike for an hour-long discussion on setups, punchlines, and what makes a good partner to work out jokes with. Greg also discusses his new special 'The Salesman' while sharing road memories and worst gig experiences with Mike.

Stand-up comedian Gary Gulman returns to the podcast as Mike and Gary evaluate the true level of their friendship. They discuss vulnerability in comedy, unhappiness vs. depression, and the advice Gary got from Larry David. They also delve into the dynamics of being called a nerd, navigating happiness, overcoming fears, and the power of simple truth. They reflect on the impact of the pandemic, balancing comedy with family, and the challenges of parenthood. The chapter also covers best and worst nicknames, loneliness in art, jokes about Jesus, and personal experiences with Jewish pride.

Comedian Nimesh Patel shares his experience of being kicked off stage at Columbia University for a controversial joke. They discuss finding their comedic voice and writing every day. They also talk about bombing at a college comedy show and feeling let down by white people due to racism. The podcast includes sponsor ads and delves into Nimesh Patel's special and YouTube success.

Hasan Minhaj and Mike Birbiglia have an insightful conversation, comparing comedy craft to Steph Curry's approach to basketball, sharing stories about interviewing Barack Obama, and confessing to the guilty pleasure of watching couples argue in public.

Joe “Joey Bag O’ Donuts” Birbiglia returns to the podcast. Last time, Mike and Joe broke down what it’s like to work together as brothers. Now, in honor of Mike’s upcoming Christmas shows in Boston, they share their favorite Christmas and Boston memories—from the time Joe broke the news about Santa to Mike to their time as busboys in high school when Joe came up with the idea for The Busboy Olympics™. Plus, America’s Guest breaks the news to Mike that they’re going skiing in March while Mike does shows in Colorado.  Please consider donating to: https://www.gbfb.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike lost his mind laughing at Kate Berlant’s new comedy special “Cinnamon in the Wind.”  So he dropped her a line and asked her to discuss it on the podcast. Mike and Kate discuss working with director Bo Burnham, the looseness of the special, and how the special almost didn’t come out. They discuss Kate’s solo show “Kate” which was an off-Broadway sensation and is now heading to London at the exact same time that Mike brings “The Old Man & The Pool." They talk about Kate’s comedy special with John Early called “Would It Kill You To Laugh?” that was just nominated for an Emmy. They discuss how Kate has always been suspicious of “cool” people but now- between her three hit shows and appearing in movies by Quentin Tarantino and Boots Riley- she may have become one of them.Please consider donating to DIGDEEP Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.