Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

Mike Birbiglia

Comedian Mike Birbiglia welcomes a different comedian or creator each week and together they work out original, untested material. And, occasionally, uncomfortable topics. Join them as they work it out.

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248 episodes
Updated Monday

Episodes248

Newest first

Oct 20, 2025 · 1 hr
Caleb Hearon: Improv Saved His Life
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 his battles with suicidal ideation, how improv comedy saved his life, and how he drew on the passing of his estranged father for his comedy special. Plus, Caleb and Mike discuss the value seeing stand-up live vs. on TV, and c
Oct 13, 2025 · 1 hr 10 min
187. Jenny Slate: Unafraid of Sadness
The great Jenny Slate joins Mike this week for a wide-ranging conversation about getting hypnotized 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 the elderly, and the time Jenny’s faked case of appendicitis went too far.
Oct 6, 2025 · 57 min
Questlove: The Art of Self-Sabotage
Best of WIO: Questlove (Recorded April 2025) 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 The Roots. Plus, what it was like accepting an Oscar after The Slap and the behind-the-scenes process of Quest’s new documentaries Sly Lives! and Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years
Sep 29, 2025 · 53 min
186. Sebastian Maniscalco: What Is He Even Doing Here?
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 offstage.
Sep 22, 2025 · 47 min
185. Julio Torres: Off-Broadway, SNL, and Why Barbie Isn’t Pink
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 the behind-the-scenes story of Julio’s viral SNL sketch, “Papyrus” starring Ryan Gosling. Plus, two encounters Julio and Mike had at the gym that aren’t sitting right with them.
Sep 17, 2025 · 57 sec
Announcing Working It Out Premium
Mike announces Working It Out Premium
Sep 15, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
184. KC Shornima: Get Comfortable With This Darkness
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 from her bosses, Michael Che and Colin Jost, and KC explains why she feels compelled to talk about difficult topics on stage. Please note: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault.
Sep 8, 2025 · 58 min
183. Ryan Hamilton Returns: You Better Have Some Jokes
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, which included buying weed with his mom during his recovery. Ryan also breaks down the daily routine of touring with Jerry Seinfeld, and shares the blunt advice he got from Chris Rock.
Sep 1, 2025 · 53 min
Ben Stiller and Adam Scott: Working it Innie and Outie
(Recorded January 2025) Mike 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 advice for actors, as well as how their grieving processes influenced their work together. Plus, Mike and Adam nerd out about The Ben Stiller Show and Reality Bites, and Mike reveals which Severance character he almost play
Aug 25, 2025 · 49 min
182. Fred Armisen Returns: Is He Joking?
Fresh off a few gigs featuring on John Mulaney’s new tour, Mike and Fred sit down 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 how cultures around the world play the acoustic guitar.
Aug 18, 2025 · 51 min
181. Jo Firestone Returns: The Best Stand-Up (Who Doesn’t Do Stand-Up)
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 for After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson and discusses being the subject of a search warrant by the Paramount lot police after a golf cart mishap. Plus, Jo and Mike break down the various text acronyms for l
Aug 11, 2025 · 57 min
180. Kumail Nanjiani: Oh, Mary!, The Big Sick, and a Return to Stand-Up
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 career, including co-writing The Big Sick with his wife Emily Gordon for producer Judd Apatow. Plus, how Kumail coped with the unexpected reception of the Marvel movie Eternals, and what Elon Musk an
Aug 4, 2025 · 28 min
Q&A: Mike Answers Voicemails About AI and Weird Audience Energy
For this all-new Working It Out Q&A, Mike fields listener questions about how and why he cuts jokes that he loves, the impact AI might have on comedy, and how to navigate weird or bad energy from an audience. Plus, how to get motived for creative work, and how to restart stand-up comedy after a long pause. Got a question for Mike? Send a voicemail at birbigs.com/wio.
Jul 28, 2025 · 51 min
179. Bob Odenkirk: The Art of Anger in Comedy
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 Nobody series. Bob sits down with Mike to discuss how anger works in comedy and action films, the stress of making Better Call Saul, and the time Bob played Mike’s brother on a TV pilot.
Jul 21, 2025 · 55 min
178. Alex Edelman Returns: Boston Sports and Hospital Clowns
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 comedy, including a just-announced visit to Carnegie Hall. Alex discusses Boston sports memories, whether AI will replace comedians, and grieving the death of his creative collaborator Adam Brace. Plus, Alex’s rocky stint as a hospital clown
Jul 14, 2025 · 46 min
177. Chelsea Handler: Why She Must Say It
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 about bombing badly at Just For Laughs, and how some advice from Jane Fonda helped her during a difficult time. Plus, the story of when Chelsea unintentionally drove a giant bag of cocaine across the country, and
Jul 7, 2025 · 46 min
176. Jane Wickline & Liva Pierce: SNL, Dukes, and Working Out Songs
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 a couple songs from their touring show and for the first time ever on Working It Out—Mike’s jokes get set to music.
Jun 30, 2025 · 44 min
175. Malik Elassal: One of The Adults
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 why you should never leave your comedy set list open on your phone when you’re at the airport. Please Consider Donating To: The Red Cross
Jun 23, 2025 · 52 min
174. Pete Docter: The Inside Out of Pixar’s Process
In 2012, Mike was invited his film Sleepwalk With Me at Pixar and he’s been friends with filmmaker Pete Docter ever since. Known for his directorial feats of greatness with Monsters, Inc., Up, Soul, and Inside Out, Pete Docter is now the Chief Creative Officer at Pixar. Pete walks Mike through the Pixar “draft” process for developing a story, and reveals the ups and downs of being a Pixar director. Pete shares stories of his time spent with Steve Jobs, George Lucas, and some of the original Disn
Jun 16, 2025 · 53 min
173. Atsuko Okatsuka Returns: The Dizzy Duo
Atsuko Okatsuka returns for her fourth Working It Out episode. Mike and Atsuko trace their friendship from Atsuko’s first appearance on the podcast, to opening for Mike at the Chicago Theatre, to touring with Mike across the country. Through it all Mike and Atsuko (and Atsuko’s husband and creative collaborator Ryan Harper Gray) became close friends and trusted comedy confidants. Now they discuss the delicate process of turning domestic drama into comedy, like Atsuko’s story of essentially being

Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

Caleb Hearon: Improv Saved His Life

187. Jenny Slate: Unafraid of Sadness

Questlove: The Art of Self-Sabotage

186. Sebastian Maniscalco: What Is He Even Doing Here?

185. Julio Torres: Off-Broadway, SNL, and Why Barbie Isn’t Pink

Announcing Working It Out Premium

184. KC Shornima: Get Comfortable With This Darkness

183. Ryan Hamilton Returns: You Better Have Some Jokes

Ben Stiller and Adam Scott: Working it Innie and Outie

182. Fred Armisen Returns: Is He Joking?

181. Jo Firestone Returns: The Best Stand-Up (Who Doesn’t Do Stand-Up)

180. Kumail Nanjiani: Oh, Mary!, The Big Sick, and a Return to Stand-Up

Q&A: Mike Answers Voicemails About AI and Weird Audience Energy

179. Bob Odenkirk: The Art of Anger in Comedy

178. Alex Edelman Returns: Boston Sports and Hospital Clowns

177. Chelsea Handler: Why She Must Say It

176. Jane Wickline & Liva Pierce: SNL, Dukes, and Working Out Songs

175. Malik Elassal: One of The Adults

174. Pete Docter: The Inside Out of Pixar’s Process

173. Atsuko Okatsuka Returns: The Dizzy Duo