Mike started this podcast so that one day Michael Che would come on. Today is that day. In this all-timer episode, Mike and Che work out tons of jokes and discuss the advice Lorne Michaels gave to Che that he’ll never forget, how Che went from designing and selling t-shirts…
Comedian Mike Birbiglia asks if Leanne Morgan Gossip she heard growing up.
Arthur Brooks might be the only Working It Out guest who's crossed paths with Jerry Seinfeld, Oprah Winfrey, and the Dalai Lama. He’s a professor and bestselling author, whose books include The Happiness Files, From Strength to Strength, and Build the Life You Want, which he co-authored with Oprah. Mike…
This week, Pete Holmes returns to the studio for one of Working It Out’s most joke-dense episodes ever. Mike and Pete work out jokes about strangers in hot tubs, why Jerry Seinfeld sounds like his own name, and how cool guys in movies swallow their pills without water. Plus, the…
The last time comedian Vir Das was on Working It Out, he and Mike discussed the intense reaction to a piece he performed called “Two Indias.” Now Vir returns to share how he moved on from the controversy, and all the ups and downs he’s experienced since then, including: literally…
The last time comedian Vir Das was on Working It Out, he and Mike discussed the intense reaction to a piece he performed called “Two Indias.” Now Vir returns to share how he moved on from the controversy, and all the ups and downs he’s experienced since then, including: literally…
On the heels of her new special “Unspeakable Things,” Leanne Morgan joins the podcast this week to talk Southern beauty shop gossip, getting started in comedy selling jewelry door to door, and in what way Mike is “her Elvis.” Plus, the time Leanne may or may not have been picked…
Todd Glass was one of the first comics Mike opened for. It’s easy to see how, since then, Todd has become one of the most beloved comic of his generation, revered by comics including Nikki Glaser, Judd Apatow, and Rory Scovel. Now Mike and Todd sit down for a discussion…
Mike met Nick Offerman years ago at the Sasquatch! Music Festival in Washington state, which is fitting because Nick is a man of nature, almost as well known for his woodworking as he is for his acting. After examining the Working It Out studio table, Nick tells Mike about what…
Comedian Caleb Hearon just turned 30 and he’s already got an hour-long HBO special, hosts a hit podcast (So True with Caleb Hearon), and was named one of the top social media influencers of 2025 by Rolling Stone. But it hasn’t been an easy road. Caleb talks with Mike about…
The great Jenny Slate joins Mike this week for a wide-ranging conversation about getting hypnotised after being fired from SNL, a graduation speech Jenny gave to a class of one person, and making art to feel less lonely. Plus, jokes and stories about seeing your friends naked, improv classes for…
This week the one and only Sebastian Maniscalco sits down with Mike for a wide ranging conversation on their parenting strengths and weaknesses, the difference in what makes them cry, and Sebastian’s early days waiting on his future co-star Robert DeNiro. Plus, Sebastian reveals if he ever acts like Sebastian…
This week Mike sits down with Julio Torres to talk comedy writing and color theories. Based on ideas posited in Julio’s new Off-Broadway solo show, Color Theories, the two of them get to the bottom of what color Barbie the Movie, Martha Stewart, and Jeremy Strong are. They also discuss…
Comedian and SNL writer KC Shornima might be the only Working It Out guest who has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. KC and Mike get to the bottom of why she thrives in stressful situations like mountain climbing, camping on a glacier, and writing for Weekend Update. Mike asks KC some questions…
Three years ago, comedian Ryan Hamilton was hit by an airport shuttle bus. Two years ago, Ryan came on Working It Out to talk about the experience. Now, he returns to explain how he learned to talk about the traumatic event on stage and find the humor in the pain,…
Fresh off a few gigs featuring on John Mulaney’s new tour, Mike welcomes Fred Armisen for his first in-studio appearance on Working it Out. They discuss Fred’s SNL audition, his best sketch writing advice, and the manners of navigating video exhibits in museums. Plus, Fred borrows Mike’s guitar to demonstrate…
Jo Firestone is a multi-talented writer, actor, and comedian. In her third appearance on Working It Out, Jo explains the thought process behind her experimental live comedy shows, which often involve clay, paper mache, and pie. Jo also delves into the experience of working as the head writer of After…
Kumail Nanjiani is a stand-up comedian, a movie star, and an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter. Now he’s returning to stand-up comedy after a six-year break and co-starring as Abraham Lincoln in the hit Broadway show Oh, Mary!. Kumail sits down with Mike to discuss all the twists and turns of his…
Bob Odenkirk was already a comedy legend (SNL, The Ben Stiller Show, Mr. Show with Bob and David) before he took a left turn into dramatic acting with Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Now he’s entered yet another new phase as an unlikely action star in films like the…
With his fifth appearance, comedian Alex Edelman is the most frequent guest on Working It Out. Since his last appearance, Alex won an Emmy for his HBO stand-up special Just For Us, which Mike was a producer on. Now Alex is back on the road with a new hour of…
Chelsea Handler has achieved massive success, from her latest Netflix special The Feeling to her worldwide tours to her Las Vegas residency. But as she discusses with Mike, and details in her new book I’ll Have What She’s Having, she wasn’t always on top of the world. Chelsea tells Mike…
This week comedy duo Jane Wickline and Liva Pierce (together known as Dukes) join Mike on the podcast. The three discuss how The Graduate brought Jane and Liva together, their unlikely porn preferences, and what happened when Jane showed up to her SNL audition early. Jane and Liva work out…
Malik Elassal is a stand-up comic, writer, actor, and one of the stars of Adults on FX. Meeting for the first time, Mike and Malik discuss Malik’s winding road to stand-up, including working as a long-haul trucker. Malik talks about dealing with his conspiracy-minded cousins, his encounters with Islamophobia, and…