Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

Comedian Roy Wood Jr discusses the evolution of his stand-up material, sharing insights into crafting jokes about sensitive topics like his father's infidelity. They explore the controversial aspects of stand-up comedy, react to not taking over The Daily Show, and discuss live performances and comedy versatility. The speakers also challenge the stereotype of dads as losers and share their process of crafting jokes, including humorous observations about drugs.

Experienced stand-up comedian Maddie Wiener joins Mike Birbiglia to discuss the relationship between anxiety and comedy. They explore Maddie's journey as a comedian and the wisdom she gained from Nikki Glaser. Topics include panic attacks, the challenges of touring, personal finance app Rocket Money, and humorous anecdotes about urgent care confusion.

Ronny Chieng, known for his chic onstage wardrobe and comedy career, returns to discuss the similarities between law and comedy, controversies surrounding the Daily Show, and his refusal to reveal his actual birthday. They also explore comedy and fashion, show business concepts, and the challenges of constantly coming up with new material as comics.

Rosebud Baker, writer on SNL and That Damn Michael Che, returns to talk about the challenges of incorporating parenthood into comedy, pitching ideas for sketch shows, the camaraderie in writers' rooms, humorous family dynamics, life-changing perspectives, and working things out in comedy and life.

John Early, recently nominated for an Emmy and a Critics Choice Award, joins Mike to discuss avant-garde comedy, Brittany Spears impressions, and John's new Max special. They also talk about John's experience of coming out to his best friend and explore the complexities of sentimentality and the meaning of life.

Ray Romano jokes about marriage, Ramy Youssef's funny uncle, Rachel Feinstein's spot-on impressions, Mike's deep confessions about friendships with Tom Papa and Gary Gulman, and Ira Glass helps work out Mike's jokes and life.

Beth Stelling returns to the podcast. They discuss her desire to be authentic on stage, touring together, and the parallels between stand-up comedy and professional field hockey.

Jimmy Carr, a global comedy sensation renowned for his dark humor, returns to chat with Mike Birbiglia. They delve into the edgy nature of dark comedy and reflect on the lessons learned from public cancellations. Jimmy also shares insights on the pursuit of personal improvement in comedy. Their conversation highlights the therapeutic power of laughter and its role in connecting people, addressing themes of mental health, grief, and the complexities of parenting—all wrapped in humor and authenticity.

Mike welcomes back three-peat guest Joe Birbiglia to celebrate the premiere of Mike’s new Netflix comedy special The Old Man and the Pool. Mike and Joe discuss the four year development of the show, share memories about the Worcester, Massachusetts YMCA pool, and share the funniest jokes that didn’t make it into the special. *Should* they have made it into the special? Joe thinks so. You be the judge. Plus, Mike answers listeners’ questions about the special.Please consider donating to Rhode Island Community Food Bank Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Comedian Pete Holmes joins Mike for a hilarious episode. They discuss Pete's new Netflix special, the problem with Michael Jackson's nickname, and Pete's upcoming hour of comedy. They also indulge in impressions of Bill Burr, Jerry Seinfeld, John Mulaney, and Mike, while reflecting on their experiences opening for well-known comedians and sharing personal stories of scorpion stings and family planning.