Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen
Straw Hut Media 163 episodes Nov 10, 2026
Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen is a comedy and advice podcast that addresses the isolation of modern life. In each episode, award-winning TV writer and comedian Jay Kogen talks with a friend about problems he is facing. His guests include famous comics, musicians, actors, artists, writers, and sometimes family members. The show aims to connect people through humor, shared experience, and empathy.
Episodes
From Janitor to The Righteous Gemstones: Tony Cavalero’s Insane Rise!
He's played a rock-and-roll teacher, a Satanist with a heart of gold, and Ozzy Osbourne. Now Tony Cavalero is playing his biggest role yet: Dad.
School of Rock star and Righteous Gemstones scene-stealer Tony Cavalero sits down with his old boss Jay Kogen for a hilarious and surprisingly raw conversation. Tony's path ran from military school cadet to Groundlings janitor to HBO's favorite wei
Two Comedy Pros Explain Stand-Up to an Idiot (Me) | Laura Kightlinger & Tony Camin
I’m a pretty good comedian. Not great. Pretty good. So this week I brought in two people who really know what they’re doing to tell me how to get better.
Laura Kightlinger has done just about everything in comedy. She was a featured player on Saturday Night Live, wrote for Roseanne, and spent years as a writer and producer on Will & Grace, where she also played Nurse Sheila. She created and starr
Kliph Nesteroff Explains Why Canadians Are Funny. Jay Still Isn’t.
Comedy historian and author Kliph Nesteroff joins Jay to answer one of life's great mysteries: Why are Canadians so damn funny?
From Jim Carrey and Norm Macdonald to Kids in the Hall, Nathan Fielder, SCTV, Michael J. Fox, and countless others, Canada has produced an absurd amount of comedy talent. Kliph has a theory about why — and it might have something to do with being an outsider looking in o
The Simpsons Writer Who Had to Teach Himself to Be Funny | Brent Forrester
Brent Forrester has written for The Simpsons, The Office, King of the Hill, and The Ben Stiller Show.
So naturally, he says he wasn't born funny.
Brent joins Jay to explain how he actually taught himself comedy by obsessively studying jokes, breaking them apart, and figuring out why they worked — a process that eventually landed him in some of the greatest comedy writers' rooms in television his
Paul Provenza Knows Way Too Much About Comedy!
Paul Provenza has spent basically his entire life thinking about comedy.
Which sounds exhausting.
Paul joins Jay to talk about what actually makes someone funny, why George Carlin scripted his performances like a play, how Sarah Silverman seemed to figure out her comedic voice immediately, and why Anthony Jeselnik understands something most comedians don't: sometimes shutting up is part of the j
Chloe Radcliffe Sold a Movie Before She Knew How to Write One
Comedian Chloe Radcliffe gave up Target corporate for comedy club and has zero patience for people who can't say the word "birthmark" out loud. AND SOMEHOW managed to sell a movie before she really knew how to write one.
Jay sits down with stand-up comedian, screenwriter, and actress Chloe Radcliffe for a funny, candid conversation about what it takes to make it in comedy, why being an outsider m
You're Not Winning This Argument, Jay
Political arguments are everywhere. Productive political conversations? Not so much.
Jay sits down with writer, poet, and political analyst Robert Arnold, author of Defiance Until Death, to talk about why America has become obsessed with winning arguments instead of actually solving problems—and why humiliating the other side probably isn’t changing anyone’s mind.
Robert talks about growing up i
“Nobody Knows Anything”: Confessions of a TV Exec – David Kissinger
David Kissinger grew up swimming in Nixon's pool, getting bad-mouthed by classmates over his dad's Nobel Prize, and hanging out with people history books call monsters — and he calls uncles. Jay sits down with David Kissinger — son of Henry Kissinger, TV exec behind The Office, Battlestar Galactica, and Netflix's The Beast in Me — for a conversation that swings from Watergate to Ted Danson's phone
I Had a Real Career Until I Met Jay Kogen — Jonathan Shapiro
Jonathan Shapiro spent years as a successful attorney, working for the Justice Department and prosecuting organized crime. Then he met Jay Kogen — and somehow ended up writing television.
Jonathan joins Jay for a funny and surprisingly personal conversation about leaving the law behind and building a 26-year career writing some of television’s biggest legal dramas, including The Practice, Goliath
Your Life Isn’t as Interesting as You Think — Bill Martin & Mike Schiff
What happens when two veteran comedy writers start questioning everything they were taught about writing?
Jay sits down with Bill Martin and Mike Schiff, the longtime writing partners behind shows including 3rd Rock from the Sun, In Living Color, Grounded for Life, and The Neighborhood, for a funny and candid conversation about what makes comedy work — and why some of the oldest writing advice mi
King of Queens Writer/director Michael Weithorn - Learning to be THE BOSS
Michael J. Weithorn knows a thing or two about making television work — and about what happens when it doesn’t.
The creator of The King of Queens joins Jay Kogen to talk about the years of trial, error, difficult actors, canceled shows, and hard-earned lessons that eventually led to one of television’s most successful sitcoms.
Michael shares how Jerry Stiller initially turned down The King of Qu
Does Nerve Run in the Family? Comedy Siblings Allan & Phyllis Katz on Risk & Spit Takes
Can comedy run in the family?
M*A*S*H and Laugh-In writer/producer Allan Katz and Groundlings pioneer Phyllis Katz join Jay Kogen to compare the wildly different paths that took two siblings from the same Chicago household into legendary careers in comedy.
Allan's story sounds almost made up. While working in advertising, his work on Screaming Yellow Zonkers caught the attention of Laugh-In prod
When Should You Push? When Should You Back Off? | Christian Duguay (Valley Heat)
When does pushing for what you want become pushing too far?
Jay sits down with comedian, writer, performer, and Valley Heat creator Christian Duguay for a conversation about boundaries, bad decisions, creative confidence, and knowing when to make the call and when to leave something alone.
At the center of Valley Heat is Doug Duguay, a fictional character who keeps finding himself in increasingl
Why This Arrested Development Writer Hates Having a Boss
From Arrested Development to insubordinate rebels: John Levenstein tells all.
Long before podcasting was cool, John Levenstein (Arrested Development, Kroll Show) was already doing it — mostly because he had no idea what he was signing up for. In this episode, the veteran writer/showrunner gets refreshingly honest about what actually makes a comedy writers' room work.
His controversial take? Not
Can America Still Be Saved? | PoliticsGirl
Is America really doomed or is there still a path forward?
In this episode of Don't Be Alone, Jay Kogen sits down with Leigh McGowan, better known as Politics Girl, for an honest conversation about the future of America. Together, they explore whether the country has reached a breaking point, why so many people have lost faith in politics, and what it would actually take to rebuild trust in our i
Writer/Life Coach, Barbara Heller Turns An On Stage Panic Attack Into A Life Quest
Barbara Heller talks about walking away from the perfect man just before her wedding and breaking down with a mid-life panic attack on stage and committing to being a Jew to find happiness and trying to live as a perfectionist and being an all or nothing person. She discusses her one woman show and her ability to get people to explore their life stories through drama to understand who they r
Writing Legend Don Reo Makes It Look Easy. Jay Makes It Look Awkward
Show Notes: On this episode legendary writer and show creator talks about being the first white guy on stage at the Apollo, getting a show about alcoholics cancelled because the network president was an alcoholic, the pleasure of writing a first draft, and driving way too fast, and how music drives his writings and the time he was oddly alone with Bruce Springsteen and told him a dirty joke.
Bio
Leah Rudick Succeeds at Acting, Stand-up, Writing & Jay Doesn't
Brilliant comic, Leah Rudick, talks about growing up in Ohio, being a drama kid, writing and doing sketch comedy, and eventually moving out to LA and becoming a stand-up. Working with her brother. She talks about how being shy gave her the courage to be in front of people while wearing the mask of performing. She talks about making TikTok Instagram her character playground. Leah talks about how cr
Claudia Lonow & Jonathan Schmock Pioneer Making Films While Jay Pioneers Eating Snacks
What happens when two people with complicated pasts — failed marriages, sobriety journeys, and a chance meeting at a 4th of July party — fall in love but decide not to move in together? Claudia and Jonathan join us for a conversation as layered and surprising as the indie film they made together, D(e)AD — a project born from personal heartbreak, an ex-husband who may or may not have faked cancer,
Re-Broadcast: Directing Legend James Burrows Explores Why Jay Lacks “That Certain Magic”
In memory of the great James Borrows we rebroadcasting this episode of "Dont Be Alone with Jay Kogen". We talk with James Burrows about his reign as Hollywood's greatest sitcom director, being the son of Abe Burrows, the genetics of comedy, his book "Directed by James Burrows", "Cheers", "Will & Grace", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "Taxi", "Friends", the scripts that make him want to direct, the o
Harper Steele Found Her Authentic Self While Jay Is A Total Fake
Harper Steele talks about transitioning and the differences in how she experiences the world as a woman and how the world experiences her. The differences in parenting, writing, and comedy. Trying to fight off who she really was for years. Her fears of being judged. How finding her true self saved her life. How road trips are different. How being macho was an odd priority before. How that reflec
Screenwriting Legends Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski Love Movies but Don’t Love Jay
Screenwriting Legends SCOTT ALEXANDER and LARRY KARASZEWSKI discuss their origin stories of being film nerds, drive-in movies, how looking on the back of Variety was glorious when they were kids, how Shakey's Pizza's silent movies influenced them, meeting the first hour at school and deciding to go to the Nuart Theater in Los Angeles, why they program screenings including The Wrong Guy, what makes
Friends/Co-writers Peter Farrelly & Bennett Yellin Talk About Lifelong Connection & How Jay Has None Of That
Bennett Yellin and Peter Farrelly talk about meeting each other in school and immediately connecting over their shared sense of humor. Bennett talks about substance abuse in college, while Peter discusses being a very hard driver at work. You talk about getting very lucky working with Eddie Murphy and David Zucker, and about bringing Bobby Farrelly into the group when they were writing movies toge
Actress/Writer Cheri Oteri Is Optimistic About Everything But Jay
Cheri talks about growing up in a rough house with a lot of kids and a young mom and pretending to escape and maybe grab some attention. She talks about imitating TV shows, soap operas and Joe Cocker. She talks about moving from Pennsylvania to California to pursue dreams of acting after a break-up and found herself in the heart of Panorama City nowhere near Hollywood. Later she found early succe
Michael Elias wrote "The Jerk", Jay IS The Jerk
Writer, Michael Elias, talks about growing up in the Catskills, where you had to make your money in the summer to survive the winter, and how that created a lot of tension. He also talks about taking acting classes, dealing with being an actor, and how acting helped him build scenes and characters. He talks about working for Glen Campbell without realizing how talented he was. He discusses his boo
Author/Actress Annabelle Gurwitch Has Cancer Yet Jay Is The Worst Thing That Ever Happened to Her.
Actress/Author Annabelle Gurwitch talks about living with stage 4 cancer, dating a hard rock tour manager, making each day count, the search for cures, ketamine fails, finding joy in writing, medicine overload, and the joys of hand painted wallpaper.
Bio: ANNABELLE GURWITCH is a New York Times bestselling author of six books, and two-time Thurber Prize finalist. Her writing appears in The New Yo
Actor/writer Paul Greenberg Gets Along With Everyone But Jay
Actor/writer talks about being in The Vacant Lot, the sketch show immediately after Kids In the Hall and how the CBC tanked it, what it takes to be a bad waiter, why Canadians are funny in the US, how Canada makes people take turns being successful, how show business culls the herd, and the great conversation he had with his dad on the day he died.
Bio: Paul Greenberg is an Emmy-winning writer,
Stand-up Great Wendy Liebman Says Jay Should Keep Performing, Just Not Around Her.
Wendy Liebman - talks about her joke prompts as a help for writing, people who want to be picked on in the audience, being an actress as and turning to stand-up, slowing down your performance, the audience as a community, jokes that lead you somewhere, the joy of the Jindo dogs, AI stealing jokes, Steven Wright, the plusses of being a comedy team, Phyllis Diller, comics who get their own sitcom, j
Comic Al Madrigal Is The Pride Of His People. Jay Is The Pride Of Nobody.
Comic/Writer/Actor/Podcast-Entrepreneur Al Madrigal talks to Jay about representing our culture in our work. We also chat about the dangers of a guest based podcast, the pleasures of morning golf vs lunch, how Neal Brennan’s podcast “Blocks” is better than Jay’s, ADD, Vyvanse, roadrage, comic on comic anger, leaving the parent’s staffing company business to be a comic, the reality of show busines
Arrested Development's Jim Vallely Has Boyish Charm While Jay's Just Creepy
Comic/Writer Jim Vallely talks about dignity, flirting, young people, being a joke guy, Arrested Development, Golden Girls, My Wife & Kids, Don Reo, our mutual love of The Rockford Files, how being broke is good motivation, having a daughter who's working while you're unemployed, jokes vs emotional engaging of the characters, casting is 1/3 of a show, boyish only lasts so long, trying to not be an
Comedian Greg Fitzsimmons Doesn’t Think Jay is “Friend” Material.
Comic, Writer, Podcast Greg Fitzsimmons talks about growing up in a the son of a well known radio personality who lived large but was a tough dad, learning how to be a fighter, being a Boston comic when being brave was more important than being funny. The power struggles on Ellen. Being on the road. Having kids and dealing with them differently than his family did. Actually living past the age of
Dan Castellaneta & Deb Lacusta Talk About Being Real Artists vs Jay’s Fake Art
On today’s AUDIO ONLY show we talk about the value of anonymity, how to try and not let The Simpsons take over your life, being writers and actors, bad auditions, the value of improv, The Tracey Ullman Show, Chicago (the city), singing dancing, the thoughts behind jokes, being actors and writers, the origin of The Simpsons, how actors often know their characters better than writers, being a creati
Simpsons Showrunner, Al Jean, Won’t Say a Bad Word Against Anyone But Jay
Emmy Award-winning producer/writer Al Jean has worked on THE SIMPSONS since it became a series in 1989. He has a credit on over 600 episodes and been showrunner for 22 seasons. In addition to nine Emmy Awards, he has won two coveted Peabody Awards and was nominated for two Golden Globes. Currently he serves as executive producer and showrunner. He also served as writer and producer on "THE SIMPSON
BONUS EPISODE! Author David Wolinsky Discusses Why Jay’s Podcast Ruins America.
Author David Wolinsky talks about whether the internet is helping or hurting more, AI destroying movies and TV, dopamine addiction, The Onion, going cold turkey on social media, the email monster, and the idea that asking questions without having the answers is better than trying to figure it out.
Bio: He's a former Onion editor best known for once interviewing the watermelon-smashing comedian G
Comic Alex Edelman is always thinking. Jay is not Part 2
Alex Edelman is an outstanding stand-up, writer, and creator of Just For Us talks about making his acclaimed broadway triumph, the death of his friend and collaborator - Adam, retiring the show, loving that others can do it, always being a student, staying curious even when you know alot, being an introvert on stage, being miserable does not equate to quality, jokes that don’t quite work, me winni
BONUS EPISODE! Debbie Kasper Helps Jay with His One Woman Show
Comic Writer Debbie Kasper discusses her tumultuous life and what it would take for Jay to make his one woman show.
Bio: Debbie Kasper is a multiple Emmy-nominated writer and an award-winning solo performer. After touring the country a few times over as a comedian and also with several theatrical shows she wrote & starred in, Debbie turned to television writing (Roseanne and The Rosie O'Donnell
Alex Edelman is always thinking. Jay is not Part 1
Alex Edelman is an outstanding stand-up, writer, and creator of Just For Us talks about trying to be an artist, how Greg Daniels is the best writer/showrunner/teacher, The Paper, the strength he gets from friends, the music in dialogue, meeting at UnCaberet, the greatest sitcom jokes of all time, camera awareness in a mock documentary, how everyone is a director now, AI, and how Alex refuses to us
Writer Josh Corey Becomes A Boxer While Jay Does Not
Josh Corey talks about the journey to become a boxer and why he needed to challenge himself and turning that into a podcast called “From Writer To Fighter.” He also talks about coaches and sparring partners being key to learning, the danger and pain of it, being in the moment, becoming a writer with the encouragement of teachers, working for Jay as a writer’s assistant, the process of learning to
Writer/Creator Liz Feldman Tells Jay How She Makes Art From Tragedy & Jay Just Makes Tragedy
Liz Feldman talks about turning tragedy into comedy and drama by being open. She also talks about being a young stand-up, writing for other comics, sexual harassment in the writers room, having to be better than men, her motherhood journey, how to be a show-runner, the Groundlings, deciding that her future was writing not acting, and all the guests that won’t do my podcast but does her new podcast
Comic/Actor Jamie Kaler Is A Face You Know. Jay Is A Face You Want To Forget
Actor comic and writer Jamie Kaler talks about trying to manage a career while still making dinner for his girls, how's staying home to be a dad forced him to find other outlets, how podcasting in social media is the next big hurdle, how the navy helped him be funny, how stand up comedy has changed, and how to survive the wild ride of show business.
Bio:Jamie Kaler An accomplished actor, comic, h
BONUS EPISODE! Comic Jay Mandyam Loves Comedy But Not Jay’s.
We talk with Texan/South Asian stand-up, writer, director about his journey from Texas, his love of comedy and its connection to his father’s love, a family of doctors, was stand-up a phase, bad jokes, going to USC film school, his love of sitcoms, Jess Oppenheimer, making his first pilot, putting his road career on hold while he takes care of his mother, opening for the great D.L. Hughley, being
Firesign Theater Legend Phil Proctor Discusses How Jay Has Changed The Face of Nothing
Comedy and radio legend Phil Proctor talks about the origin of the Firesign Theater, his love of radio, his many careers as an actor, reporter, writer, comedian, author, and how he made the New York, San Francisco, and LA scenes when there were scenes to make! He also talks about his biography “Where’s My Fortune Cookie” and how he almost died three times. Let’s see if he survives our podcast.
Writer/creators Kohan & Mutchnick Compare Their Success with Jay’s Failure Part 2
The conversation continues and we talk about being more confident as we get older, learning to be happier in the writer’s room, Linda Lavin, bad table reads, dealing with notes, notes are not helpful, politics in shows, Ryan Murphy’s genius, trying to make multi camera sitcoms in a world that may not want them, being high school friends, Sidney Pollack, David getting the writer’s job, Jay was poli
Writer/creators Kohan & Mutchnick Compare Their Success with Jay’s Failure Part 1
Max and David talk war stories about working on “The SIngle Guy” including Ernest Borgnine, playing poker, NBC screwing Jay over, Buz Kohan, David Bowie, The Garth Brooks Joke, Max telling the show runner stuff he shouldn’t, having your partner being yelled at, the love of Jim Burrows, lunch of Walter’s, setting up boundaries, Will & Grace, Mid Century Modern, early success, why they never hired J
Performer/Writer Jim Wise Has 40 Years of History with Jay but Still Has Questions
Writer/Actor/Singer/Improviser Jim Wise talks with Jay about meeting as runners on The Garry Shandling Show, song Improv, acting, writing for Mad TV, Jay Leno, The Groundlings, singing for a living, being one of the best song improvisers in the business, and how Jay pushed him in all the right directions.
Bio:JIM WISE is a fervent improviser and an alumnus of the Groundling Theater. If you’re in
Screenwriters & Scriptnotes Podcasters, John August & Craig Mazin, Wonder If Writing’s Really the “Right Fit” for Jay
Writing legends John August & Craig Mazin talk about their journey to screenwriting, podcasting, & writing a book. They talk about how to boil down 15 years of shows down to a book, the origin of the scriptnotes podcast, the need to help people combined with being annoyed by people, what each of them considers good writing, why people who hate books on writing wrote a book on writing, there are
Michael McKean Says "Dignified & Beloved" May Not Be In Jay's Future.
Michael McKean talks about going from goofball to respected dramatic actor, how his high school drama teacher, NYU and Carnegie Mellon pushed him into a lifetime of being a creative person, Christopher Guest being his roommate, the credibility gap, being a long haired hippie, how Rob Reiner and Penny Marshall got him on “laverne & shirley”, being a writer, Annette O'Toole being the perfect partne
Gammill & Pross Disparage Kogen & Wolodarsky
Writers Tom Gammill and Max Pross discuss being comedy writing partners and then not being partners on SNL, Gary Shandling’s Show, Seinfeld and dozens of great comedies, while Marc Wolodarsky and Jay Kogen, also former writing partners, do the same. They discuss the state of show business, what’s life like after writing, becoming an EMT, writing novels, pilots with puppets, development hell, pitc
UnCabaret Founder, Beth Lapides, Says Creativity Belongs To Everyone But Jay
UnCabaret founder and host, Beth Lapides, talks about creating the show to have a place to perform then how it shifted to a place where she nurtured Taylor Negron, Judy Toll, Patton Oswalt, Margaret Cho, Bob Odenkirk, Janeane Garofalo, and everyone else to be the best performer they could. She talks about how to be creative and how to stop getting in your own way, how life is change and change is
Shane Black, Fred Dekker, Jim Herzfeld, & David Silverman of “The Pad O’ Guys”, explains why I’m not “Pad O Guys” Material
Shane Black, Jim Herzfeld, Fred Dekker, and David Silverman look back on their formative years at UCLA and the shared house that became a creative hub and lifelong support system. What began as a loose collective of film-obsessed college friends evolved into a 24-hour open-door hangout where movie watching, gaming, writing, joking, and low-budget filmmaking fueled both friendships and ambition. In
Rebel Comedy Writer/Director Larry Charles Chats About Jay’s Lack of Courage
Larry discusses his brilliant autobiography Comedy Samurai, becoming a writer, Friday's, arsenio, seinfeld, mad about you, borat, curb your enthusiasm, and all of the strife and feeds, and turmoil they and he created. We talk about the passion that drives you to take risks. And why wearing pajamas is dangerous.Bio: Larry Charles, rose from the mean streets of Brooklyn and the working class housing
Universally Loved Actor/Writer Michael Hitchcock, Explains Why Jay Isn't
The always in demand, Michael Hitchcock, talks about how children's theater led to adult theater which led to a career of acting and writing with the groundlings, mad tv, christopher guest, crazy ex girlfriend, currently the lowdown and nobody wants this. We chat about writing vs acting and what it takes to realize where you should be. Bio: Actor, writer, producer (and when he was a teenager, sem
TV Legend Dave Thomas Talks About A Life of Creating and How Jay Just Can’t
SCTV legend Dave Thomas reflects on the bold choices that shaped his life and career, from growing up in Canada to navigating success and uncertainty in Hollywood. He discusses how Shakespeare and literature helped ground him early on, and the pivotal decision to leave a lucrative advertising career to pursue improvisational comedy at Second City. Thomas shares stories of becoming head writer on S
Comedy Legend Dave Foley Believes In Aliens More Than Jay’s Career
Actor/Writer/Kid-In-The-Hall Dave Foley talks about what to do with the next 20-30 years of our lives, finding love, making comedy he’s proud of, aliens, conspiracy theorists, Canada, Trump, keeping friendship alive from two coasts, and the day he fell out of a train. Bio: Dave Foley rose to fame as “the cute” member of the revered sketch group, “Kids In The Hall”. He went on to star in “News Ra
Kathy Griffin Tells Jay He’s Not Worth Gossiping About
Kathy talks about surviving Trump, the Groundlings, Stand-up, her parents who loved show biz, Sia, Joan Rivers, relationships, dating younger guys, saving every dime, and why she made Jay pay for their date. Bio: Two-time Emmy and Grammy award-winning comedian Kathy Griffin is a towering figure on television, on tour and in publishing. In 2013, Kathy was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Re
"BONUS EPISODE! Author/Director Rick Beren Says Jay Would Learn More In Jail "
Rick and Jay talk about stupid mistakes, shoe money, James Burrows, Cheers, directing people, not getting the girl, and the moment you reveal your big secret and no one cares.
Bio: Rick Beren grew up in the Sixties and Seventies in the very liberal Bay Area. Even then, he managed to push the boundaries of tolerance of his parents, teachers, and eventually, the law. Mostly minor indiscretions, and
Intellectual Influencer Douglas Rushkoff Says A New Society Will Save Everyone but Jay
Douglas talks about trying his hand at theater and seeing how technology and society were changing so he became an expert in navigating the future instead. We talk about tech, social media, surviving the collapse of the old economy, how to fight the tech giants, and helping each other in smaller societies that use less crap will save us. We also talk to Mamie, Douglas’s daughter about what it's l
David Koechner Says Jay Is Too Old To Get Laughs
Comedian David Koechner talks about growing up in a big family in a small Missouri town, and developing the need to be heard and seen by taking the attention, the importance of SNL and Monty Python. Deciding to be a performer. Making the move to Chicago, the influence of being Catholic, the fall of old show business, trying to carve out a career in the aftermath. Becoming a stand-up, how we don’t
Writer Mike Rowe Says Jay Should Have Been Run Out Of Hollywood Years Ago
Mike Rowe talks about not being the “dirty jobs” Mike Rowe, planning for the future, being funny in high school, becoming an electrical engineer and giving it up for comedy, performing in NY comedy clubs, Alan Zweibel moving him to LA, roasts, jokes, his book “It’s a Funny Thing”, Rodney Dangerfield giving him hope, comedy cliques, and why he’s moving to Connecticut. Bio: Michael Rowe is an Emmy
Friends Helen Hunt & Helen Slater Tell Jay Why He’s Not Friend Material.
Actor/Director Helen Hunt & Actor singer/songwriter psych/mythology PHD phd Helen Slater discuss a deep friendship and love, growing up in art, the beginning of their friendship on a trip to russia, Winnie The Pooh,, growing beyond your first dream, parenting, parenting artists, Helen H. introducing Helen S. to her husband, improv, acting styles, baseball, French Fries, & clown school.Bio: Helen H
Actor Gary Anthony Williams Can Get Alone With Anyone Except Jay
Gary Anthony Williams talks about his remarkable ability to fit in when he wants to, how growing up poor in Georgia gave him optimism for everything else, how he got skinny, the connection between skinning rabbits and vegetarianism, how he’s uncomfortable at a party yet makes strangers comfortable at coffee shops, falling into acting through computer error, how nerds are his people, and how it’s s
Ken Marino: Being Present Works For Everyone Except Jay
Actor/writer Ken Marino talks about The State, how cases of booze made him popular at college, the best way to be present when you are acting, opening your heart to others just for the fun of it, parenting, how Catholic Camp made him an actor, The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, Role Models, the joy of singing in your car, and Voo Doo Donuts!Bio: Kenneth "Ken" Joseph Marino is an American actor, come
”Wicked” Scribe Winnie Holzman Attributes Her Success To Mentors, Drive, Luck, & Not Working with Jay
The amazing writer Winnie Holzman talks with Jay about hard word and being lucky, Wicked the Musical, Stephen Schwartz, My So Called Life, laying in bed depressed about writing, fighting your fear, tricks of staying in the creative process, Marianne Williamson, studying Broadways musicals even when she didn’t know she wanted to, being driven towards showbiz at 13, taking the train to acting classe
Political Guru, Mike Murphy, Says The People Have Spoken & They Don’t Want Jay
“Hacks on Taps” political guru, Mike Murphy, talks about growing up in Detroit, studying ads, becoming a political consultant by being the only one to raise his hand, starting political pacs, being on the outs with the current Republican party, what the Dems should do to win a bigger percentage of the vote, how buying an EV can really help America, being a Republican in Blue Los Angeles, and secre
BONUS EPISODE! Writer Rob Kutner Encourages Jay To Be Anti-Anti-Semitic
Writer Rob Kutner talks about being anti-anti-semitic, “The God Gang” cartoon, beards, and a lot of other “Jew talk.” Bio:Rob Kutner is an Emmy-winning writer for TV (The Daily Show, CONAN, Teen Titans Go!) and books (Apocalypse How, Snot Goblins & Other Tasteless Tales, Look Out for the Little Guy), and the head writer of the independent kids’ animated series God’s Gang. For more info, and to “jo
Writer/Showrunner Peter Murrieta Explains Jay Needs To Give Back Everything Now
Writer Peter Murrieta talks about how teachers pushed him to a better life, riding in the car with his grandparents, baseball, creating TV, college training him to be a showman, being a rare latino at Second City, Danny Trejo, collecting baseball cards, loving writing, and becoming a teacher to give back. Bio: Peter Murrieta is a two-time Emmy Award winning producer and writer who has contributed
Simpsons Showrunner Mike Scully Confirms Jay Will Never Be Beloved
Writer/Producer Mike Scully talks about being new in a writer’s room, Yakav Smirnoff, how he learned empathy from a non empathetic childhood, being a boss, taking over The Simpsons, how 5 daughters run his life, writing with his wife Julie, writing with his brother Brian, doing stand-up, Amy Pohler, Parks & Rec, how Jay ruined Bruce Sprinsteen being on The Simpsons, NRBQ, being a Masshole, getti
Joely & Tricia Leigh Fisher Remind Jay His Childhood Was Boring
Joely and Tricia Leigh Fisher talk about being the kids of stars, Connie Stevens and Eddie Fisher—the allure of show business, putting on shows in their living room, and deciding at a young age to make performing their career. They share stories of being on the road with their mom, the good and bad lessons they learned, going to Beverly Hills High School while living alone across the street, and w
Amy Brenneman Talks About “Normal” and How Jay Isn’t It.
Actress/writer/activist Amy Benneman talks about creating a TV show, writing plays, the pleasure of performing in front of people. Her kick-ass judge-pioneer mother, lawyer activist dad and how they started her on a journey of trying to fix the world, expectations of what the world thinks is normal and how it messes up the rest of us, parenthood and raising a neurodivergent child and how she taugh
For Writer Felipe Torres Medina USA Has Been An Amazing Journey Until He Met Jay
Felipe talks about his new book, coming to the USA under an EXTRAORDINARY ARTIST visa, writing for Colbert, growing up in Columbia, the beauty of curious Americans, the danger of being too comfortable, and losing emmy awards to his wife.Bio: Felipe Torres Medina is a Peabody and Writers Guild of America Award–winning writer from Bogotá, Colombia. His writing for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Jay’s Dad, Arnie Kogen, Talks About How Having Kids Held Him Back
Writing Legend, Arnie Kogen, talks with Jay and Jay’s son, Charlie, about his childhood, career, and what it’s like to be 91. Three generations of Kogens in one pod! Bio: ARNIE KOGENComedy Writer/ TV ProducerHas written and/or produced for the Carol Burnett Show, The Tonight Show, Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, Empty Nest, Mad TV, The Dean Martin Show, Sinbad, Donnie & Marie, The Jackson Five, Evening
BONUS EPISODE! Writer Turned Therapist, Phil Stark, Says Jay Should Have Given Up By Now
Phil Stark talks about writing and learning it wasn’t really his dream, telling patients to find their bliss, deciding joy wasn’t in the writers room, writing “Dog With A Blog”, treating writers who are panicking about work, writer’s block, and where’s the best Tex Mex in Houston. Bio: Screenwriter (Dude, Where’s My Car?) turned therapist (Dude, Where’s My Car-tharsis?) Phil Stark sees clients v
Writer/Legend Carl Gottlieb Always Makes The Scene, Jay Doesn’t.
Writer of “Jaws" & "The Jerk" Carl Gottlieb talks about working with Spielberg, Steve Martin, Carl Reiner, David Crosby, Joan Baez, improv group The Committee, performing comedy in the army, how the Smothers Brothers Show was the hippest most popular show at the time and somehow also cancelled. Bio: Carl Gottlieb is a screenwriter (Jaws, The Jerk), director (Caveman), & actor (Mash). His book, TH
Will Forte Says, “Everyone Follow Your Dream” But Maybe Not Jay
Will Forte talks about almost being a financial advisor, his checkered writing career, SNL MacGruber, Nebraska, The Groundlings, Last Man on Earth, having kids late, seeing shrinks, frats, & Val Kilmner being the weirdest roommate of all time.Bio: Will Forte is a comedian, actor, writer, and improviser best known for his work on Saturday Night Live and his starring role in The Last Man on Earth. B
James L. Brooks Explains Why Jay’s Such A Disappointment
This week, James L Brooks talked about The Simpsons, Mary Tyler Moore ,Terms of Endearment, having a million lunches to cast parts, his difficult beginnings and how the fear of survival and women's shoes drove him to his success. We also talk about what an amazing mentor he is, incredible writer, the worst notes he's ever gotten from a network, and now he likes to have drool days.Bio:James L. Bro
Writer/Comic/Activist Steve Skrovan Explores How Jay Isn’t Making Life Better For Anyone
Writer/Activist Steve Skovan talks about his work with Ralph Nader, his substack “Bits and Pieces”, his dad being a comic inspiration, the trouble with politics, Public Citizen a progressive consumer rights group, starting as a stand-up, and how a football coach changed his life without molesting him.Bio: Steve Skrovan has worked as a stand-up comedian, actor, and TV comedy writer since the ear
Comedy Legend Thomas Lennon Explains Why Jay Is Lazy
Tom Lennon tells us he's not working that hard on the unbelievably large number of projects he never stops working on. From writing movies (including a “HALL OF PRESIDENTS” SciFi comedy) to acting in 100s of shows to playing in a Smiths tribute band Thomas Lennon doesn’t stop. And don't try to stop him. Bio: Thomas Lennon is an actor, producer and New York Times Best Selling author from Oak Park,
Film Makers Byron Manuel & Justin Graves Say Jay’s Art Isn’t Worth Suffering For
Film-Makers Justin Graves and Byron Manuel talk about what it takes to make movies in 2025 being young, talented, and black. They talk about finding the dream of movies and giving up the dreams of music and sport. They talk about doing what it takes on a budget, fundraising, festivals, developing a ton of projects, and getting their movie “Swoon” on Tubi. They also talk about being able to handle
Rachel Bloom Found Her People & They Are Not Jay
Rachel talks about why people love or hate musicals, Crazy Ex- Girlfriend and how it would never be made today and how unlikely it was to get made back then. She also talks about growing up in Manhattan Beach, Theater School in NY, not having billionaire friends, enjoying the now, writing her one woman show to get through the death of Adam Schlessenger and the birth of her daughter, how being mar
Kenya Barris Credits Jay with The Disappointing Parts of His Career
Kenya Barris talks about his messy childhood, the do’s and don’ts of the writer’s room, laying low during covid, Larry David making Kenya take the leap to star in a show, raising kids better than our parents, running a writer’s room is like conducting music, making podcasts with Malcolm Gladwell, being pals with Jonah Hill, Eddie Murphy putting points on the board, the pleasure and importance of d
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