WAIM #069 - Christian Finnegan

Back in March, I attended Podjam in Las Vegas and got a chance to see Christian Finnegan live. I’ve long admired Christian as a comic with a terrific wit, a tremendous vocabulary, and a fascinating view on the world. His stand up is hilarious, insightful, and sharp. Getting to see him perform was a highlight of the Vegas trip and confirmed my theory that he is still one of the funniest and smartest comedians working today. I first became familiar with Christian when he appeared a few times on the Chappelle Show. He was also a featured guest on VH1’s Best Week Ever. In more recent years, Christian has become a regular guest over at the Stand Up with Pete Dominick podcast. His analysis of current events is shockingly deft, hilarious, and always incredibly informed. What Am I Making is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.While Christian is a terrific political commentator, I wanted to stay closer to home in our conversation. After a bit of time catching up and recounting our time in Vegas, Christian and I jump into his recent experience at a nostalgia-laden music festival. It brought out both his inner child and his inner cynic, and even led him to discover that nostalgia is a lot like cilantro; One loves a single sprig, but doesn’t want to eat a whole bunch of it in one sitting. We cover what makes our wince meter peak, but also admit that we need to not be too cool for shit. Sometimes it’s best to just give in to the moment and enjoy it. Later in the discussion, we chat about the ways in which Christian’s terrific New Music For Olds newsletter has shaped and evolved his listening habits for both better and worse. Christian talks about the unending pool of content that is out there and how one can find a great album in almost any genre, if we’re willing to dig deep enough. There is some advice that Christian offers on treating the algorithm like a step-parent to keep it on its toes. We learn why all comedians want to be musicians, and why most musicians are afraid to try their hands at comedy. There is even an encounter with Shia Lebouf that involves hiding in a CVS. It’s great stuff from start to finish. Cheers,Matty C Get full access to What Am I Making at whatamimaking.substack.com/subscribe