Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

130. Rory Scovel: Dare to Be Funny

29 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mike welcomes Rory Scovel, whose special made Mike laugh so hard he spit water all over himself. Rory talks about how telling the truth and being vuln...

129. J. Hope Stein Returns: Earth Day Poetry from Clo

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mike welcomes back the poet J. Hope Stein, aka Jenny, aka Clo, aka Mike’s wife of fifteen years. A frequent collaborator on Mike’s comedy specials...

The Wisdom of Chicago Improv with Liz Allen

15 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Chicago improv performer and teacher Liz Allen taught a workshop for Mike’s college improv group almost 25 years ago. Since then, Mike and Liz have ...

128. Alex Edelman Returns: He Did His Best

08 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On the heels of the release of his new special “Just For Us” on Max, Alex Edelman returns to the podcast for the fourth and best time yet. Mike an...

127. Esther Povitsky: What Is Your Comedy Attachment Style?

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mike sits down with comedian, actor, and writer Esther Povitsky to discuss her special Hot For My Name. Mike has a lot of questions about the time Est...

126. Seth Meyers: SNL, Late Night, and a Ton of New Jokes

25 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mike sits down with the legendary comedian and writer Seth Meyers for a conversation that reveals who is secretly the funniest of the funniest at SNL ...

125. Ilana Glazer: Life Lessons from the Broad City Star

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mike became an instant super-fan of Ilana Glazer in 2014 when her hit series Broad City premiered on Comedy Central. This week on the podcast Mike and...

Mike Answers Your Questions About Comedy

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Mike responds to listener questions. How many of your stories are true?  Who is your dream guest? What is your greatest piece of comedy adv...

124. Chris Distefano: Crowd Work With The Mob

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Mike welcomes Comedy Cellar friend and comedy star Chris Distefano. Chris’s shares important lessons in failure: how a bad set got him boo...

123. Please Don't Destroy: SNL’s Three Sad Virgins

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mike welcomes Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy, aka Please Don’t Destroy, known for their wildly popular shorts on SNL. Mike is determ...

122. Roy Wood Jr: Perfect Jokes From an Imperfect Messenger

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Roy Wood Jr makes a triumphant return to the podcast and he and Mike pick up right where they left off. The two old friends discuss the evolution of u...

121. Maddie Wiener: How to Find the Humor in a Panic Attack

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Maddie Wiener started performing stand-up at age 16. Now, at age 25, she headlines clubs, is a fixture at the Comedy Cellar, and  she was recently a ...

120. Ronny Chieng Returns: Classic American Show Business

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ronny Chieng, one of the earliest and most popular Working It Out guests, makes a triumphant return. Ronny and Mike discuss the significance of Ronny’...

119. Rosebud Baker Returns: Pregnant with Jokes and People

15 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rosebud Baker’s first appearance on Working It Out was in 2021. Since then she’s become a writer on SNL, written for That Damn Michael Che, and be...

118. John Early: A Man With Needs

08 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Early, recently nominated for an Emmy and a Critics Choice Award, sits down with Mike for the first time since the two of them appeared as brothe...

The Very Best Working It Out Moments of 2023

01 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve created an episode for all of you making long car trips or taking long jogs or stretching out on your long beloved couch. It’s our best mome...

117. Beth Stelling Returns: Two Skeletons Telling Jokes

18 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mike welcomes back to the podcast comedian Beth Stelling, whose Netflix special If You Didn’t Want Me Then is on seemingly everyone’s best of year...

116. Jimmy Carr Returns: The World Ordered A Comedian

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jimmy Carr is one of the most successful comedians in the entire world. On the heels of playing Carnegie Hall and heading out to hundreds of concert d...

The Old Man and the Pool: Spoilers Only

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

115. Pete Holmes Returns (Again): The Funniest and Longest Episode Yet

27 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mike’s new special, “The Old Man & The Pool” is finally on Netflix and he brings on an all-timer to celebrate. Pete Holmes returns for a third W...

114. Jo Firestone Returns: Fact Check This Episode

20 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

113. Todd Barry: The Inventor of Crowd Work

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On the heels of the release of his new special “Domestic Shorthair,” Todd Barry sits down with Mike this week for a conversation about his 35 year...

112. Ramy Youssef Returns: You Already Love Him

23 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 m...

111. Gary Simons: A New Comedian Asks Mike 10 Key Questions About Starting Out in Comedy

16 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

25 years ago, Mike won Georgetown University‘s funniest person on campus contest. This week's guest Gary Simons won it three years ago. Now, Gary ha...

110. Greg Warren: Comedy Lessons From a Salesman

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian Greg Warren is one of Mike’s oldest friends in comedy. Greg and Mike often work out jokes on the phone but today they bring their collabora...

109. Gary Gulman Returns: Work Friends or Friend Friends?

25 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 h...

108. Nimesh Patel: Comedy is Cancer Plus Time

18 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian Nimesh Patel joins Mike this week for a joke-filled conversation about how to find your comedic voice, how to turn your saddest stories into ...

107. Hasan Minhaj Returns: Good Boy Syndrome

04 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Hasan’s natural i...

106. Joe Birbiglia Returns: You Think I Give a Care About Christmas Parmesan?

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

105. Kate Berlant: The Comedy Special That Almost Didn’t Come Out

14 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

104. Jim Gaffigan: Dark Comedy from the Cleanest Comedian

31 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mike met Jim Gaffigan in 1997 when he cold-called Jim’s New York City landline. Jim appeared as a guest on Working It Out in 2021 and now, between t...

103. Liz Kingsman: The London Comedy Exchange Program

17 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

British comedy sensation Liz Kingsman has brought her acclaimed show ‘One Woman Show’ from London’s West End to New York City, just as Mike is p...

102. Tom Papa: Conflict Resolution with an Old Friend

03 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mike welcomes comedian, author, and podcast host Tom Papa. The two old friends get candid about a bump in their relationship and how they reconciled. ...

101. Elyse Myers: Telling Stories Literally Anywhere

19 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Elyse Myers has exploded into long form storytelling from a short form platform: TikTok. She tells funny and personal stories to millions of people on...

100. Ira Glass Part 3: The Best Advice

05 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ira Glass was the first guest on Working It Out back in June 2020, and now he’s back for the 100th episode. The two friends and collaborators discus...

6 Tips For Bringing Your Solo Show to Broadway (and the West End!)

29 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mike’s creative collaborator and director Seth Barrish returns for a special episode of Working It Out announcing the UK premiere of “The Old Man ...

99. Craig Mazin: The Definitive "The Last of Us" Interview, Sort Of

15 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When Mike became obsessed with the series “The Last of Us” on HBO he had questions. And he went straight to the source. This week Mike welcomes th...

98. Ray Romano: Sometimes the Setup is the Punchline

01 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ray Romano has an iconic sitcom and a celebrated stand-up career under his belt, so what drives him to keep challenging himself artistically? Mike and...

97. Bert Kreischer: Inside A Storytelling Machine

24 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mike and Bert Kresicher have known each other a little bit for a long time. Now they sit down for an in-depth chat about how to develop a story for st...

96. Alex Edelman Part 3: The Broadway Debut

10 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian Alex Edelman returns to the podcast for a victorious third visit, as his award-winning solo show Just For Us heads to Broadway. Mike and Alex...

95. Nick Kroll: Old Friends

27 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Nick Kroll and Mike met in college and started doing improv and sketch comedy together. Since then, Nick has become a comedy superstar, from his Comed...

94. Jorma Taccone: The Lonely Island’s Comedy Revolution

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mike and Jorma Taccone are old friends and former next door neighbors. Jorma also just so happens to be an acclaimed screenwriter, director, actor, an...

93. Rachel Feinstein: Don't Call Your Wife "Big Guy"

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian Rachel Feinstein is a comic’s comic— the type of original comic who cracks up other comics. In this episode it definitely works. Rachel b...

92. Vir Das: Getting Cancelled Except For Real

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In an age when many comedians talk about being cancelled, Vir Das was actually very nearly cancelled in a real way. When his YouTube monologue "Two In...

91. Ryan Hamilton: Utah, Idaho, and the Clean Trick

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Many people worry about getting hit by a bus. Last year, comedian Ryan Hamilton did get hit by a bus. Ryan talks to Mike about the shocking experience...

90. Marc Forster: A Man Called Marc

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For Mike, filmmaker Marc Forster is a rare example of making a new friend as an adult. Mike and Marc met on the new film A Man Called Otto starring To...

89. Chris Redd: How to Express Your Mind on Stage

02 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mike and Chris Redd first met when they appeared in the movie Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Since then they’ve become friends in the world of ...

88. Seth Barrish: Mike and Seth’s 15 Year Phone Call

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mike welcomes to the podcast his longtime creative collaborator, the director and actor Seth Barrish. Seth directed all five of Mike’s solo shows bu...

87. Atsuko Okatsuka: I'm Here to Make Friends

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When Atsuko Okatsuka first appeared on Working It Out in 2021, she and Mike were both still developing their new shows. Now Mike’s The Old Man and t...

86. Wendy MacNaughton: Putting On Your Art Eyes

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Wendy MacNaughton is an acclaimed visual artist whose work you’ve probably seen and/or love. Between illustrating the bestselling cookbook Salt Fat ...

85. Iliza Shlesinger: When You're Hot Forever

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Iliza Shlesinger is one of the most prolific comedians on the planet, with six specials including her latest, Hot Forever, and a new comedic memoir, A...

84. Chloe Fineman: The SNL Star Who Can Literally Do Anything

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Chloe Fineman’s first TV appearance was doing bird calls on Letterman. Now she plays a multitude of beloved characters on SNL and a role in Noah Bau...

83. Chris Gethard: Don’t Think Twice About Being Naked

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mike has seen Chris Gethard naked. So has the cast and crew of Mike’s film Don’t Think Twice. Chris shares his memories of being nude on set, as w...

82. Sam Morril: What Did You Do? My Act.

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sam Morril tells well-crafted jokes but sometimes they make people angry. Sam is known for dealing with provocative subject matter but he doesn’t co...

81. J. Hope Stein: Jokes and Poems

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mike welcomes his wife, the poet J. Hope Stein, a.k.a. Jen, a.k.a. Clo, on the release day of her new book of poems "Little Astronaut.” Mo and Clo h...

80. Larry Wilmore: Putting It Out There

05 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Larry Wilmore’s credits are endless. In Living Color, The Bernie Mac Show, The Office, The Daily Show, Insecure, and more. Now the legendary writer ...

79. Sarah Sherman: From New Faces to SNL

22 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Sherman a.k.a. Sarah Squirm is the first and only Working It Out guest to show up wearing a t-shirt of the band Cannibal Corpse. The breakout SN...

78. Jimmy Fallon: Dip It in Ranch

08 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week Mike literally picks up Jimmy Fallon in his car and drives him to the studio for this joke-filled and joyful episode of Working It Out. The ...

77. Joe Birbiglia: Who Doesn’t Like Free Stuff?

25 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mike welcomes his longtime collaborator and lifelong brother Joe Birbiglia. They discuss what it’s like to work together as family—from different...

76. Jessi Klein: This Is the Reason For Comedy

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jessi Klein is an Emmy-award winning comedian, writer, actor, and author, with a resume that includes Inside Amy Schumer, Saturday Night Live, Transpa...

75. Zarna Garg: Humor is a Strategy

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian Zarna Garg immigrated to the U.S. from India at age 16 and started performing stand-up comedy in her forties. As Zarna’s daughter Zoya expl...

74. Ben Stiller: Get Some Sleep

13 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week Ben Stiller joins Mike  to talk about everything from leaving the SNL cast within weeks of joining to early nerve-racking test screenings f...

73. Michael J. Fox: When Your Hero Comes on Your Podcast

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week Mike welcomes one of his all time heroes, Michael J. Fox. Not only is Michael a five time Emmy award winning actor who has starred in ‘Fam...

72. Drew Barrymore: Do What You Love

16 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mike’s first-ever major movie role was in Going the Distance, starring Drew Barrymore. Now, 12 years later, Drew takes Mike through her journey from...

71. Alex Edelman Returns: The 25 Word Pitch

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mike welcomes back Alex Edelman. Since his last appearance on the podcast, Alex has opened his solo show “Just For Us,” received rave reviews, app...

70. Judd Apatow Returns (Again): He Has Fettuccine in His Heart

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Judd Apatow returns for a record third appearance in support of his latest New York Times-bestselling book Sicker in the Head. He turns the tables and...

69. Atsuko Okatsuka Returns: How to Become Yourself

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When Atsuko was first on the Working It Out podcast, Mike only knew her from her viral Instagram videos and some of her stand-up. Since then, Mike and...

68. Taylor Tomlinson Returns: She's Not Like Us

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The last time Taylor Tomlinson was on "Working it Out," she had just released her first Netflix comedy special Quarter-Life Crisis. Now, Taylor retur...

67. Lynn Shawcroft: How Mitch Hedberg Wrote Jokes

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Last summer, Mike revistied to the classic comedy album "Strategic Grill Locations" by his friend, the late great Mitch Hedberg. The listening experie...

66. David Cross: Fully Committed Dad

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week Mike welcomes David Cross, who is a legend in comedy and also makes cameos in Mike’s dreams. The two comics discuss the origins of Mr. Sho...

65. Jon Laster Returns: Playing Legacy Ball

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When Jon Laster was last on the podcast in the summer of 2020, Mike and Jon talked race relations in America and the relationship between tragedy and ...

64. Mo Amer: The Creative Savings Account

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mo Amer started doing stand-up when he was 14, and now he's being introduced by The Rock in his latest Netflix special, Mohammed in Texas. Mike talks ...

63. Sarah Millican: Put The Email Address In Last

10 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What started as a poem by Sarah Millican about a bad divorce sprouted into one of the most popular comedy careers in England in the last 20 years. Mik...

62. Hannah Einbinder: The Joke’s on You For Loving a Clown

27 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hannah Einbinder received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her breakout performance in HBO’s “Hacks.” Today Hannah and Mike discuss what it...

61. John Green: The Fault in Our Birbiglias

13 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In addition to his new hit book “The Anthropocene Reviewed,” John Green has written several novels that have debuted at #1 on the New York Times b...

60. Rosebud Baker: Addicted to Comedy

29 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rosebud Baker can make anything funny. She has jokes about the tragic death of her sister, her own struggles with addiction, and why nurses seem to be...

59. Alex Edelman: A Jewish Person Walks Into a Meeting of White Supremacists

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In December Mike presents Alex’s Edelman’s solo show, "Just for Us" off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre. It's an award-winning comedy in which...

58. Jimmy Carr: Life Is Better With Laughter

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Legendary British comedian Jimmy Carr begins his conversation with Mike by saying, “I wrote a book in lock-down because it was that or a podcast and...

57. Stephen Colbert: Laughter As An Act Of Love

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Fresh off his Emmy win (with stage companion Conan O’Brien) Stephen Colbert joins Mike for a discussion of comedy, anxiety, and why he’ll never ru...

56. Atsuko Okatsuka: Her Life Should Be a Movie

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Atsuko Okatsuka makes comedy videos featuring her grandmother & her husband, which Mike is convinced should be a feature film. The two comedians discu...

55. Sterlin Harjo: Comedy From Tragedy and Reservation Dogs

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Filmmaker Sterlin Harjo co-created the smash comedy hit Reservation Dogs for FX about four Indigenous teenagers growing up on a reservation in Oklahom...

54. Phoebe Robinson: Is She a Writer? Oh Yes, She Is

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The last time Phoebe Robinson and Mike hung out, they were waiting to be picked up by an Uber on the side of a highway after their tour bus broke down...

53. Pete Holmes Returns: Paperback Pete and His Soft Body

03 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mike welcomes back one of our most beloved guests, Pete Holmes, to celebrate the paperback release of The New One. Pete has a lot to say about hardcov...

52. Randall Park: His Superpower is Turtle Figurines

29 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Randall Park has brought his one of a kind comedic approach to Trainwreck, Fresh Off the Boat, Veep, and the Marvel Universe. Randall reveals how he a...

51. Jim Gaffigan: We Met in 1997 at a Pizzeria

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mike met Jim Gaffigan in 1997 when he cold-called Jim’s landline. They went out for, of course, pizza and Jim gave him advice that Mike has not only...

50. Kate Micucci: Don't Think Thrice

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For the 50th episode Mike welcomes Kate Micucci, another member of the “Don’t Think Twice” cast. Kate is one half of the folk comedy duo Garfunk...

49. Keegan-Michael Key: Schmigadon't Think Twice

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In 2015 Mike filmed “Don’t Think Twice” where Keegan-Michael Key played a guy who got cast on a fictional version of SNL. This year Keegan hoste...

48. Judd Apatow Returns: Judd Has Notes

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Judd Apatow recently saw Mike's entire new show in progress, and he's got a lot of feedback. As they break apart Judd's notes, they veer into topics l...

47. Malcolm Gladwell: 10,000 Hours of Jokes

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You can hear the excitement in Mike's voice as he welcomes legendary author Malcolm Gladwell, host of Revisionist History and author of 'Outliers' as ...

46. Brie Larson: Captain Marvel Helps Captain Jokes

05 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mike is joined this week by Academy Award-winning actor Brie Larson whose films range from Captain Marvel to Room as well as Trainwreck, where her cha...

45. Neal Brennan: The Comedy Whisperer

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Before they became comedians, Mike and Neal both got their start working the door at different comedy clubs. Now, they sit down for a discussion of wh...

44. Sarah Silverman: A Hard Comedy Reset

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mike is a huge admirer of Sarah Silverman and in this episode Sarah brings jokes, stories, and answers to tough questions like, “Why do so many of o...

43. Bill Hader: This Episode Has It All

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode has it all. Bill’s time at SNL. Bill’s time at South Park. Bill’s work at Pixar. Bill’s impression of Mike and Mike’s impressio...

42. Quinta Brunson: Flinging Cats, Lovingly

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week Mike welcomes Quinta Brunson, the comedian, actor, and writer who blew up from her “He Got Money” memes and viral videos. She has since ...

41. Jack Antonoff: Jokes Are The Melodies Of Comedy

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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40. Aisling Bea: The Right Amount of a Bit Much

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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39. Nish Kumar: The Sidekick Soliloquy

03 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week Mike is joined by British comic Nish Kumar and they discuss Brexit, the craft behind building a one person show, and the time Nish was told ...

38. Conan O'Brien: It's His Birthday, Celebrate Him

18 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mike welcomes his comedy idol and former boss Conan O’Brien whose hit podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” prompted Mike to demand that they...

37. Jo Firestone: Onomatopizza and the Fyrestone Fest

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In anticipation of this week’s “Worldwide Comedy Pizza Party” Mike welcomes one of the most uniquely funny people alive and the two comics go de...

36. Gary Gulman: The Joke Nerd Summit You've Been Waiting For

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

These two comedy nerds discuss the elements of math, science, art, and music that go into constructing the perfect joke as they trade collected wisdom...