Episodit
-
Author Elizabeth Gilbert wrote one of Mikeâs favorite books about creativity, Big Magic. She also wrote a book that, to her surprise, become a cultural phenomenon: Eat, Pray, Love. Mike and Liz discuss the unexpected impact of Eat, Pray, Love, and what it was like for Liz to watch Julia Roberts portray her on the big screen. Liz gets candid about the ups and downs of a creative life, including the reasoning behind the cancellation of a novel she wrote that took place in Russia. Plus, some bawdy jokes and stories care of Lizâs uncles and grandfather, and the surprising reason why Liz was stopped at airport security.
Please consider donating to The Loveland Foundation -
In this Working It Out Q&A Mike breaks down the development of the New York City finale of his show The Good Life. He explains the evolution from Please Stop The Ride to The Good Life. Plus, he answers your questions about embarrassment, fear, jealousy, and inspiration.
Get tickets to The Good Life at the Beacon Theatre
-
Puuttuva jakso?
-
In the 90s, Michael Ian Blackâs college sketch group The State got a show on MTV, spawned another iconic group, Stella, and led to the classic movie Wet Hot American Summer. Now Michael sits down with Mike to talk about how all 11 members of The State have remained friends through the ups and downs of show business. Michael shares his advice on how to keep a comedy group together as well as a marriage, as he and his wife just celebrated 26 years. Plus, jokes and stories about truth or dare, the pros and cons of leaving New York City, and behind the scenes of Michaelâs love scene with Bradley Cooper.
Please consider donating to the Mark Twain Library. -
Bridget Everett, star of the hit HBO series âSomebody Somewhere,â joins Mike on the podcast this week to discuss creative risks and processing grief and loss through their work. Plus, that time Bridget and Patti LuPone performed together at Carnegie Hall. Also, Bridget describes the most outrageous audience reactions she has received in response to performing her songs like âTittiesâ and âWhat I Gotta Do to Get That Dick.â
Please consider donating to True Colors Flint Hills. -
In celebration of his new album, Warriors, Lin-Manuel Miranda sits down with Mike for a wide ranging talk about writing musicals, riding the subway, and taking big creative risks. Lin explains why you need so many ideas to write a musical, and he shares the important lessons he learns from writing and performing in school plays as a student. Plus, Lin recalls the origins of Hamilton and some of the more chaotic performances in the showâs run.
Please consider donating to RISE Theatre.
Get tickets for Mikeâs shows at the Beacon Theatre in New York here. -
Hannah Gadsby joins Mike in the studio for the first time. The two talk Hannahâs new solo show âWoof!â, a painful celebrity encounter with Anna Kendrick, and how to keep track of multiple contradictory ideas in the creative process. Plus, a robust Working it Out session solves the mystery of if that dingo ate a baby.
Please consider donating to: The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
-
11-time Grammy winner, celebrated rock star, and noted Working It Out theme song composer Jack Antonoff returns to the podcast. Mike and Jack discuss Jackâs performing with Taylor Swift and collaborating with Sabrina Carpenter, why cynicism canât exist in a live performance, and the joys of Tim Robinsonâs sketch show âI Think You Should Leave.â Plus, Mike reads excerpts from his wedding speech/roast of Jack, and a musical working it out session in which a new theme for the show is born.
Please consider donating to The Ally Coalition -
This week Matteo Lane joins Mike for an episode that has something for everyone. From Matteoâs hilariously scorching takes on modern pop stars to tales of secret families to insight about what Matteo did when he hit a wall in his comedy career. Plus, Mike and Matteo work out jokes about Mike meeting the Pope in Rome and Matteo gets serious about his Liza Minelli impression.
Please consider donating to Howard Brown Health -
Comedian Jon Laster returns for his third appearance on Working It Out. Longtime friends from the Comedy Cellar, Mike and Jon catch up on Jonâs app Blapp, which highlights black-owned businesses, Jonâs more personal comedy material about his struggles with alcoholism, and why Jon calls his company âThanks Mom.â Plus, Mike and Jon ponder how it is that Mike, despite working in nightclubs, has never even seen cocaine.
Please consider donating to the United Negro College Fund -
This week filmmaker and actor Zach Braff joins Mike to talk everything from Garden State to Ted Lasso to what itâs like to direct Morgan Freeman. Zach discusses the story of his ex once following him through Europe and Mike and Zach discuss the possibility that a story like that could be the starting point for a one person show. Plus, the time Zach got too drunk and excused himself from a Rush concert to take New Jersey Transit home.
Please consider donating to: Midnight Mission
-
Please Don't Destroy: SNL's Three Sad Virgins
(Recorded February 2024) Mike welcomes Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy, aka Please Donât Destroy, known for their wildly popular shorts on SNL. Mike is determined to get Martin to talk more than he did on Pete Holmesâs podcast. The group shares what they like and dislike about each other, and break down what itâs like to be both sketch writers and filmmakers on SNL. Plus, what itâs like to work with Bad Bunny in a Shrek costume.
Please Consider Donating To: Meals on Wheels
-
Beloved Irish comedian Aisling Bea returns to Working It Out. Mike and Aisling discuss how to find your people, Catholic school health class, and dating app fails. Plus, new jokes about what Mikeâs dad was doing while his family went to church and the most obvious and best thing about pregnancy sex.
Please consider donating to City Harvest
Click here to purchase signed print of âThe Old Man & the Poolâ joke cards to raise money for the YMCA New York. -
Mike welcomes fellow comedian and podcaster (Giggly Sqaud, Berner Phone) Hannah Berner to the pod. Known for her âHan on the Streetâ videos, Hannah discusses her journey from college tennis champ to stand-up sensation. Hannah also teaches Mike the meaning of the term âzaddy.â Plus, an athlete at heart, Hannah comes to the notebook section ready to work, bringing a bunch of new bits and stories to work out.
Please consider donating to the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation -
This week living legend and giant human Stephen Merchant joins Mike for an all-time great episode of Working It Out. Stephen and Mike talk about actionable advice for creatives starting out, the behind-the-scenes politics of co-creating âThe Office" and âExtrasâ with Ricky Gervais, and how Stephen could turn his story about interviewing a pornstar into stand-up. Plus, the time Stephen walked through a glass door at Sarah Silvermanâs Hollywood party.
Please consider donating to St. Peter's Hospice
-
Gary Gulman Returns: Work Friends or Friend Friends?
(Recorded September 2023) Mike and Gary Gulman have been friends for a long time, but what kind of friends? Real friends or just work friends? Gary returns to the podcast and he and Mike evaluate the true level of their friendship. Plus they discuss vulnerability in comedy, unhappiness vs. depression, and the advice that Gary got from Larry David.Please consider donating to Give Well
-
Mike welcomes the multi-talented Catherine Cohen to the podcast to discuss making doctors laugh, lessons learned from the Ashley Madison documentary, and the medical ordeal that Cat went through last summer. She and Mike break down the best ways to work out a long story in small increments and how to ease an audience to heavy subject matter. Plus, jokes and stories about 1980s parachute pants, and falling down drunk on a candle.
Please consider donating to The Loveland Foundation -
Mike welcomes back old friend and Working It Out hall of famer Tig Notaro. They discuss the inevitability of finding your own comedic voice, how Tig had to come out as gay to her own children, and the time her brother fell into her stepfatherâs grave. All that, plus tales from Tigâs lesbian party bus with Sarah Paulson and Allison Janney.
Please Consider Donating To: World Resources Institute
-
This week Neal Brennan returns to Working It Out in celebration of his new Netflix special, âCrazy Good.â Neal and Mike go deep on what to do when friendship isnât reciprocated, what all comics have in common with Seinfeld, and the irrelevance of the question âIs Kevin Hart humble?â All that, plus the listener email Mike received in response to his joke about joining a cult.
Please consider donating to Amazon Watch -
Hasan Minhaj Returns: Good Boy Syndrome
(Recorded August 2023) Hasan Minhaj was one of the first guests on Working It Out back in 2020 and it remains one of the most popular episodes because of Hasanâs natural inclination to work out bits. Off-air Mike and Hasan often trade notes and ideas and today it spills into the podcast. Hasan compares comedy craft to Steph Curryâs approach to basketball, explains what itâs like to interview Barack Obama, and confesses to the guilty pleasure of watching couples argue in public.
Please consider donating to Vituity Cares - Näytä enemmän
