by

Tim Ferriss

Mike Birbiglia, The Sleepwalking Comedy Giant (#176)

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Photo credit: Evan Sung
Photo credit: Evan Sung

“Art is socialism, but life is capitalism.” – Mike Birbiglia

Mike Birbiglia (@birbigs) is one of the best-known and busiest working comedians in the world, both behind and in front of the camera. His standup blends elements of theater, film, storytelling, and comedy.

Mike has been deliberate in studying many crafts and tying them together, which is reflected in a diverse string of successes: sold-out tours as a solo theater act, New York Times bestselling books, off-Broadway shows, feature film, TV, and more. In recent years, his work has appeared on public radio’s This American Life, where he began a meaningful collaboration with host and producer Ira Glass.

Currently, he is the creator, writer, and star of the new film Don’t Think Twice, which was just released. I loved it, which I do not say lightly. Check it out.

So…how the hell does he do it all? I aimed to find out.

In this conversation, we cover a ton, including:

  • His writing process and schedule
  • Favorite books, documentaries, and TV shows
  • Morning routines
  • Stories and lessons from Oliver Stone, Ron Howard, and others
  • How he “workshops” and develops material
  • Hilarious interactions with POTUS
  • The best pizza joints in NYC
  • Which three comedians he’d combine into one “super comic”
  • How he runs jokes by other people
  • And much, much more…

If you only have 5 minutes (and need a good laugh), here are Mike’s rules for good sex.

Enjoy!

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#176: Mike Birbiglia, The Sleepwalking Comedy Giant

Want to hear another podcast related to comedy? — Listen to my conversation with Bryan Callen, who is a world-class comic and prolific actor. Stream this episode below or right-click here to download.

Ep 47: Bryan Callen on Eating Corgis (Yes, The Dogs) and Improving Creativity

This podcast is brought to you by Four Sigmatic. I reached out to these Finnish entrepreneurs after a very talented acrobat introduced me to one of their products, which blew my mind (in the best way possible). It is mushroom coffee featuring chaga. It tastes like coffee, but there are only 40 milligrams of caffeine, so it has less than half of what you would find in a regular cup of coffee. I do not get any jitters, acid reflux, or any type of stomach burn. It put me on fire for an entire day, and I only had half of the packet.

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QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

Scroll below for links and show notes…

Selected Links from the Episode

  • Connect with Mike Birbiglia:

Twitter | Website | Facebook

Show Notes

  • Mike loves comedy. Here is his other obsession. [07:24]
  • Mike talks about his writing routine, the value of improv, and how he workshops his movies. [13:14]
  • Mike tells us about his “blessed” journal. [17:45]
  • What are mind writing slogans? [21:54]
  • Why Mike is cautious about being too topical with his references. [22:54]
  • “Art is socialism, but life is capitalism.” [25:05]
  • Mike says there are no stakes to showing your friends your work, and it provides valuable feedback that improves the end result. [26:00]
  • Mike generally doesn’t curse on stage — this is why. [30:40]
  • Who does Mike run his jokes by before sharing on stage? [34:50]
  • What questions does Mike ask when he wants feedback? [37:57]
  • How did Mike succeed in a business where so many fail? [40:35]
  • What is the “ratio” for good comedy? [43:37]
  • Advice Mike would give to his younger self. [46:35]
  • Mike’s thoughts on how technology has been democratized. [47:53]
  • Who does Mike think of when he hears the word “successful?” [50:05]
  • How Mike and his wife successfully solicited parenting advice from President Obama (and how you can engage someone who doesn’t necessarily want to talk to you). [52:13]
  • Mike’s rules for good sex. [55:13]
  • Books and movies Mike gives as gifts. [57:00]
  • Mike’s favorite movies and documentaries. [59:03]
  • If Mike could mix three comedians into one super comedian, who would he pick? [59:41]
  • Low-cost purchase that had the biggest impact on Mike’s life. [1:03:13]
  • Mike’s nighttime rituals. [1:04:45]
  • Mike’s morning rituals. [1:07:10]
  • Mike’s favorite venue in the US. [1:08:37]
  • The worst advice Mike hears most often (and what he keeps in mind when considering stories to share with an audience). [1:09:21]
  • Mike responds to something Jon Favreau said about him. [1:12:43]
  • How chance encounters can unfairly lead people toward unfavorable opinions of celebrities. [1:16:29]
  • Mike on the joy of the cuisine loophole (and why you should order peanut butter and jelly if it’s on the menu at a fancy restaurant). [1:19:03]
  • What would Mike’s billboard say, and where would it be? [1:21:18]
  • What Mike likes about his career niche (and who he’s really working for). [1:22:56]
  • Mike’s advice for finding your own niche in the entertainment industry. [1:23:16]
  • The insanity of Hollywood accounting. [1:24:07]
  • How you can help Mike and other independent filmmakers. [1:29:42]
  • Mike endorses yoga and The 4-Hour Workweek [1:32:12]
  • Parting comments, requests, and disclaimers. [1:36:05]

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