Nikki Glaser returns to the podcast for the first time since her acclaimed performances as the host of the Golden Globes and on the Roast of Tom Brady. Nikki breaks down her approach to the Golden Globes, explains her perspective on controversial comedy topics, and explores the possibility of a…
Mike welcomes back comedian Gary Simons, who, since his last appearance on the podcast, opened for Mike on his latest tour, had a few of his stand-up bits go viral, and has been performing at the Comedy Cellar. Now, Mike and Gary answer listener questions from people who have taken…
This week Please Don't Destroy returns to the podcast a year and a half after originally coming on. Since then, Mike and the boys have started a monthly improv show called “Please Don’t Birbiglia” at UCB. The group talks about what it’s like to improvise together, the unsparing roasts PDD…
Ira Glass has appeared on the Working It Out podcast three times before, and usually it’s Mike asking Ira for advice, whether it’s about podcasting or storytelling. But now the tables have turned: Ira recently listened to a stand-up set he performed years ago, he has the itch to try…
Zarna Garg first appeared on the Working It Out podcast in 2022 and since then her popularity has continued to rise. Zarna explains to Mike how she has built her comedy career like a business, and why performing for an audience of one or two is no different for her…
After decades of being a beloved comedian’s comedian Jessica Kirson has broken out in the last few years with viral crowd work videos and a brilliant new special on Hulu called “I’m The Man.” Mike and Jessica dig deep into the nuts and bolts and emotional work of being a…
After decades of being a beloved comedian’s comedian Jessica Kirson has broken out in the last few years with viral crowd work videos and a brilliant new special on Hulu called “I’m The Man.” Mike and Jessica dig deep into the nuts and bolts and emotional work of being a…
This week the legendary Ahmir Thompson (aka Questlove) sits down for his first appearance on Working It Out. Mike and Questlove discuss touring with his father’s band as a kid, every DJ’s worst nightmare, and how jealousy and self-sabotage can affect even a member of a band as iconic as…
Rachel Feinstein recently appeared as a surprise guest on one of Mike’s shows at the Beacon Theatre, where Mike observed after the show that everything Rachel said in the green room could be a bit. Now, on the heels of her Netflix special Big Guy, and in her third appearance…
This week Andrew Schulz comes on the podcast and Mike Birbiglia and Andrew break apart why the two of them are unlikely work friends. They discuss Andrew having Donald Trump on his podcast, Andrew’s new deeply personal Netflix special, “Life,” and the politics of free speech in comedy. Plus, Andrew…
Comedian Josh Johnson is a writer and correspondent for The Daily Show and his stand-up sets have millions of view on YouTube. Josh talks with Mike about cultivating a fan base via the YouTube videos, why he thinks chasing success in the comedy industry is sometimes antithetical to the art…
For this all-new Working It Out Q&A, Mike fields listener questions about people fainting at his shows, how to write comedy about topics that are painful to you, and balancing a day job and creative life when starting out. If your question didn’t get answered on this week’s Q&A, stay…
Pete Holmes returns to help Mike Birbiglia punch up some last minute jokes before the premiere of Mike’s show The Good Life at the Beacon Theatre in New York. What follows is a heated debate about puns, an attempt to define and dissect the nature of “clean” comedy, and, yes,…
This week, the great Nathan Lane returns to Working it Out for a chat with Mike Birbiglia. Nathan recounts moments from his legendary career — discussing what it was like to work with Mike Nichols, Elaine May, and Robin Williams. He shares what he likes most in a director, who…
This week Rory Scovel returns to the podcast with his review of how doing a year of completely improvised stand-up went. Mike and Rory dive into the creative process and their own fears on stage, why Rory is jealous of other comedians, and why someone being married to a comedian…
Working It Out fan favorite Hasan Minhaj returns for a third episode. Mike and Hasan discuss the enduring memories of childhood crushes, an obsession with who was the fastest in middle school, and why comedy and politics move in cycles. Plus, Hasan keeps Google Image searching Mike, and Mike invites…
This week Mike Birbiglia sits down with Severance’s very own Ben Stiller and Adam Scott. The three of them dig into the behind the scenes of Severance season 2 and discuss what it is that makes them work so well together as actor and director. Ben and Adam share audition…
Matt Rogers is a beloved comedian, writer, actor, and co-host of cult hit podcast “Las Culturistas.” Matt sits down with Mike Birbiglia for a chat about the ups and downs of show business, the inside of writing for a hit TV series, and what it was like when Matt and…
This week the legendary Stephen Colbert returns to the podcast. Mike and Stephen discuss the behind-the-scenes workings of Stephen’s Late Night job as well as his Chicago improv days. Stephen shares wisdom passed down to him from David Letterman, Del Close, and Mike Nichols. Plus, Stephen’s thoughts on meeting George…
This week Mike has all-timer David Sedaris back on the podcast. Sedaris, of course, wrote Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, and Holidays on Ice, among other classics. The two discuss where the truth lies in autobiographical non-fiction, fact-checking comedy at The New Yorker, and how to navigate storytelling when…
In this special episode of Working It Out, Mike Birbiglia's old friend and frequent guest Pete Holmes sits down for a holly jolly discussion about classic and new classic Christmas movies. Mike and Pete sing the praises of Elf, examine the dark underbelly of A Christmas Story, and take the…
Hot off her new Netflix special Crushing It, Fortune Feimster sits down with Mike Birbiglia for a candid chat about telling personal stories on stage, dealing with audience complaints, and Fortune’s coming out journey. Fortune also explains her dynamic with her Handsome podcast co-hosts Tig Notaro and Mae Martin, and…
Mike Birbiglia welcomes back one of most referenced guests in Working It Out history, the legendary Maria Bamford. Mike and Maria discuss the importance of true confession in stand-up comedy, the financials of being a comedian, and why Maria works out new material one on one with strangers on coffee…
Working It Out Hall of Famer Gary Gulman returns to discuss his upcoming Off-Broadway show Grandiloquent. Mike Birbiglia and Gary break down, first of all, what “grandiloquent” means, and how the new show that looks back on Gary’s early life and looks ahead at the prospect of Gary becoming a…