Reviews

I came across the “You Made It Weird” podcast about 8 or 9 years ago when I was looking everywhere specifically for <<<Mike Birbiglia content>>> and saw he’d been on Pete’s show multiple times. Have listened to Pete’s podcast since then and this one since it started. I am a huge fan of both. My husband and I wanted to go see “The Old Man and the Pool” but it didn’t work for us to go to NYC while it was playing. But we saw Pete in SF for our anniversary last January. He listened to “We made it weirds” with me… He died unexpectedly two months ago and I’ve been in the aftermath of grief. As morbid as the old man and the pool is I couldn’t wait to see it. I watched it today and found comfort in laughing and being moved by the vulnerability of it all even though some was really hard. Then this episode dropping today, hearing Mike and Pete talk about both shows (Pete’s special has some of the same material my hubs and I saw) is like a gift to my soul. I need to be able to laugh now more than ever. And I find myself writing poetry to process my grief so I can be there for my 2 year old. I plan to WIO so I can publish the poetry later. Thanks for being a lifeline in my darkest chapter.

There are a lot of comedian podcasts and a lot of “interviews with entertainers” podcasts. This is one of the best. The conversations are hilarious and insightful. Fav episode, because Mike said to pick one: it’s tough, but maybe Atsuko Okatsuka.

I’ve been a fan of Mike Birbiglia since the first special I saw of his show. I love the concept of bringing on a fellow comedian and talking about their career and then dissecting bits they are working on. Always enjoyable.

I can’t pick just one. All the Mulaney and Nick Kroll visits, and Judd Apatow. Start there. I am a religious listener and massive fan of Birbigs. A singed Thank God for Jokes poster sits framed in a prominent part of our living room from when we got to see the show in a tiny theater in Sonoma. We would have seen him perform for the fourth time in SLC is broadway hadn't happened. Can’t wait to see The Old Man special eventually

Long time fan, had no idea he had a podcast! Loved the Gary Gulman episode!

Maria bamford 👍

I love Mike’s interviews because he actually stops talking long enough to let his first speak. Fairly rare for some other podcasters, so thank you for being a considerate conversationalist!

Bill Hader 💙

The episode with Greg Warren was thoughtful and useful.

One of my very favorite podcasts. Funny, charming, inspiring, heavy - it’s great.

Love your comedy specials and admire how you connect with your audience. Wish I were able to see in person “old man in the pool.” Hope you consider filming it and offer it to stream. I was especially impressed with your touching interview with a Gary Gilman. You are the real deal. Love you.

These podcasts are a treasure trove of valuable insights into the process of writing comedy and personal essay material. After seeing The Old Man and the Pool in Seattle, with Atsuko Okatsuka opening the night, I found my way to the podcast and I’ve been drilling through the catalog. I bought a pair of quality headphones so I could immerse myself in the dialogue while doing menial chores like organizing and cleaning the garage. It’s a win win! Thank you Mike and all the guests! Some of my favorites are his conversation with Seth Parrish (I’ve applied to take a course with the Barrow Group), three Atsuko episodes, Neal Brennan and all of the discussions with Ira Glass.

This is my current favorite when I’m needing something while I’m working in my studio! Thanks for existing!

I want a Harry and David basket

Dear Entire WIO squad! This is absolutely one of the quintessential must listen pods for anyone caught in the limbo that is trying to become a comedic storyteller (but to be honest it fits all lanes of creativity!) I’m just gonna drop my top 5 eps: Ira Glass 3 : “you mean Jesus been telling this American life type stories!?!” Quinta Brunson : “little did you know mom and dad that I almost drowned… can I have some more chips?” Rachel Feinstein : “the Costco pajama set for the win… also yeah I know I’m a shallow husband 😂 !” Mo Amer : “Vist this man in Houston already!” EVERY ATSUKO OKATSUKA EP! I mean that was hard to narrow down but they are all always so sharp and humorous but amazingly human! I mad there aren’t 100 more yet! Also if I get a chance to vote for an episode I’d love to hear you rap with Tone Bell , Nate Bargatze, Sheng Wang, Tom Segura… ok that’s probably too much but any who keep up the amazing work! - Sam

I love comedy. Although I am not funny, I appreciate the art form. I just loved this episode. Thank you for sharing her special. I think I enjoyed it more because I learned a little bit about her first. She’s brilliant and beautiful. “Ladies and Gentlemen: Kitty Berlant.”

fave ep: Sarah Sherman (what’s the worst that could happen????) Heard the joke about the klonopin in the Kate Berlant episode and wanted to share a tip for splitting pills without a cutter: if the pill is scored down the middle, put the pill on a flat surface, put one finger on each half of the pill, and press down; the pill will split along the score. If that doesn’t work you could try it on a curved surface like the side of the pill bottle.

Fascinating, funny, great guests - I listen every week! Thanks, Mike!

…so far: gladwell and sedaris. Laughed a lot. MB is a great host. Solid volley with the guests and does not hog the conversation like so many others tend to do. Great work MB and the team.

I have loved Mikes comedy for years. And quote his lines in my everyday life. A year ago I was in the hospital after just giving birth to my finale baby. He was born early and was in the NICU. I had never felt so bad to be sick and not able to be with my baby. We names him Jonas, calling him Joey. I watched “Joey Bag of donuts” so many times to laugh through my tears. This podcast has my heart. Listened to every episode. Hard to pick a favorite but Varna’s might be the best. I dedicate this to all of my enemies.

Loooooove this podcast, no way could I ever pick a favorite. Makes you feel like a comedy insider, without ever having to get on stage and bomb yourself 😂. As a former English major I especially appreciate the careful attention to nuances in language & the prompts. Sorry Mike I can’t pick a favorite, they’re all so good. Thanks for doing this!

Thank you. Long story long, I have been an avid listener to the Working it Out podcast and loved going on the journey with you as you developed your new show, “Old Man and the Pool.” I was looking forward to possibly getting the opportunity to see the finished show one day. To my surprise, the show was being presented in Chicago, and the residency at the Steppenwolf started on my birthday. It felt like it was meant for me. I do not often make plans for my birthday, not because I hate birthdays nor am I uncomfortable with getting older. I have a history of plans I make for my birthday going awry in interesting ways. One year I thought it would be fun to going bowling my birthday. My partner and I had been going to our local bowling alley, which seldom had more than three other lanes full when we were there, fairly often and found we really loved it. So, plans were made for myself, my partner and my friend to go to the local alley near my work after we clocked out. We arrived and found that this afternoon was the one time a month to do a full lane cleaning with their heavy duty machines. All lanes were shut down until later that evening. We decided to trek back to my local lanes, an hour away. We arrived and found that the entire place was rented out by the boys and girls club for their annual bowling night. In all the times Marcus and I had gone bowling in the past year I had never not been able to get one lane with relative ease, but it was my birthday, so it weirdly was not an option. And apropo to how things had transpired in the past for birthday plans. Even with my weird birthday stuff, I felt compelled to buck my unluck and try to make “a plan” for my birthday. Now, I was not going to press my unluck to hard and choose to try and attend a performance on the weekend after my actual birthday. On March 3, my partner bought three tickets for me, my dear friend from Arizona, and my sister to attend the show. Still, I am sure my weird birthday energy made the oddity of the weather be interesting enough the early evening of the show on April 30th to have those emergency sirens go off in the middle of the show. Being that attending this show was my “birthday” celebration it prompted my just older sister to feel more apt to attend with me. I have five sisters, three of us have seven children under the age of four between us. As you can imagine, that makes it difficult for us to get a child free outing together. This show gave us the opportunity to do just that. As the show started I felt a surreal feeling like I was a part of the production. It was similar to how I felt when I did tech for the plays in high school. I was not a part of the performance, however, I still felt ownership in the process. I had some ownership this evening from listening to the podcast. This also meant I knew most of the show in a skeletal fashion. On March 26th, my Dad worked a full Saturday shift hauling scrap in a big truck around the city. He had done this for over forty years. He accidentally FaceTimed my Mom from the scrap yard, old people and phones, and took the happy accident to take her on a virtual tour of the place. An hour later he called my Mom on the way home to tell her he was having a heart attack. In July last year my mom sent a group text to my sisters and I to let us know she was bringing Dad to the ER for a possible heart attack. The cardiologist determined that he was moments away from a massive heart attack and place two stints. He was put on a restrictive diet and regular check ins with the cardiologist. On March 26th we got another text in our group chat that Dad was going to the ER once again. Twenty minutes later a simple text to the group “He Died.” Even though I knew the crux of the show, I had did not know there was going to be such a stark similarity to what we had just experienced and are still processing. Like I said at the beginning, Thank you. Thank you for coming to Chicago for my birthday so my sister was with me. Thank you for crafting your shows in such a masterful way to present such difficult topics in a real and vulnerable way with enough humor weaved in to make two sisters grieving their father on a rare outing be able to cry and have such joy in the experience. This is the days of us and I am so grateful to have spent this day at the show. I love you. Take Care, Theresa Coomer

Hey Mike. Rob Dundon here. Binging the pod daily. In the 70’s now. What are the lyrics for the theme-song. I hear, “workin it out cuz it’s not done, workin it out cus there’s no_______. Intentionally left blank? Genius if it is. “Dip that in ranch!”

Love to hear Mike and guests work through creating stand up! Occasionally Mike is too self referential, or wordy about promotions. Very glad this exists. Thank you Mike!