Episodes
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Bobby Lee: I Wish I Knew
Bobby Lee joins Neal Brennan to share what he wishes he knew sooner: worrying about his career wouldn’t change its course, asking for help mattered, and the life he built could look different from the one he imagined. He still likes the MadTV tattoo, though. They talk about Bobby’s first stand-up...
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LL Cool J: I Wish I Knew
LL Cool J joins Neal Brennan to talk about what he wishes he knew sooner: knowing his value, learning how to lead, and being a better friend. They get into growing up in Queens, the family lessons that shaped him, getting his start in hip-hop in the late 1970s along with a (too) long list of...
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Mark Normand: I Wish I Knew
Mark Normand returns to Blocks with Neal Brennan to talk about what he wishes he knew sooner: how much time a phone can steal, why trying so hard to be the funny guy can backfire, and why getting older doesn’t automatically make you feel like an adult.Mark and Neal also get into fatherhood,...
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Dan Soder: I Wish I Knew
Dan Soder returns to kick off the new I Wish I Knew premise on Blocks: the things people wish they'd figured out sooner.Dan gets into why being funny matters more for men than having abs, how cutting out industry middlemen is the best path to creative freedom, and why stealing from corporations…
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Gianmarco Soresi
In this episode of Blocks, Neal Brennan sits down with comedian Gianmarco Soresi to discuss the unconventional path that led him to standup. They dive into his childhood experiences with divorce, his short-lived dreams of becoming a professional singer and actor, and the deep-seated desire for...
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Daniel Sloss
In this episode of Blocks, Neal Brennan sits down with Scottish comedian Daniel Sloss to dismantle the "blocks" that have shaped his life and career. From the massive social impact of his Netflix special Jigsaw—which Daniel claims has led to over 350,000 breakups and hundreds of signed divorce...
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Craig Ferguson
Comedian and former late-night host Craig Ferguson joins Neal Brennan on the Blocks Podcast to explore the "blocks" that have defined his life and career. From his upbringing in Scotland and the impact of sectarian violence to his iconic run on the Late Late Show and over 30 years of sobriety,...
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Rory Scovel
Rory Scovel joins Neal Brennan to talk about being born into grief—his mother died on his first birthday—and how losing his dad in 2020 reshaped his standup, his parenting, and the way he thinks about aging and death. Plus: learning to read at 44, improvising his entire show every night, asking…
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Happiness Expert Dr. Arthur C. Brooks
Happiness expert, Harvard Professor & author Arthur Brooks joins Neal Brennan to discuss why happiness is ~50% genetic, why men and women fundamentally need different things from love (adoration vs. admiration), the dark triad/tetrad in dating apps, why “success addiction” ruins marriages, the...
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Jordan Jensen
Neal Brennan interviews Jordan Jensen ('Take Me With You' on Netflix, RIP w/ Jordan Jensen) about cancelling her last scheduled appearance at the last second, codependency, sex and love addiction, shapeshifting in relationships, chaos vs. calm, addiction, quitting coke, the biology of rage…
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Josh Johnson
Neal Brennan interviews Josh Johnson (New HBO special: Symphony) about being too nice, working together at The Daily Show, how his fashion sense has changed thanks to a good deed Neal doesn't remember, his prolific posting of standup on his Youtube channel, growing up lower-income, billionaires...
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Brad Williams
Neal Brennan interviews Brad Williams (New special: Live on Short Street) about his experience living with dwarfism, the guilt he felt after his daughter was born with the same disability, how he learned to reframe his thinking and approach parenting in a positive manner, the arc of his standup...
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Malcolm Gladwell
Neal Brennan interviews Malcolm Gladwell (Revisionist History, Broken Record, Blink, Outliers The Tipping Point) about the moral dilemmas of responsible journalism, why he doesn't believe in complaining or introspection, playing Monopoly standing up, money anxiety, his lack of jealousy, the...
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Jordan Klepper
Neal Brennan interviews Jordan Klepper (Daily Show, "Fingers the Pulse") on the Blocks Podcast about the true nature of MAGA, what he witnessed in Washington D.C. on January 6, how the American attitude toward shamelessness and hypocrisy has shifted since Trump's rise to power, using his improv...
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Ali Siddiq
Neal Brennan interviews Ali Siddiq (9+ standup specials) about dealing crack, his dad dealing cocaine, getting arrested and incarcerated, the emotional toll of his sister's death, being a "weird dad," growing up experiencing relative levels of poverty, the valet parking landscape of Houston, Slim...
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Sarah Sherman
Neal Brennan interviews Sarah Sherman (SNL, Live & In The Flesh), AKA Sarah Squirm, about her fashion style, always wanting to be a comedian, going to Northwestern, her emo phase, anxiety, paranoia, delusion, SNL nightmares, why she thinks she's "kind of bad at standup," live sketches vs. Weekend...
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Sam Harris
Neal Brennan interviews Sam Harris (Making Sense, Waking Up) about his mother Susan Harris' sitcom history, philosophy of the mind, meditation, Trump, secular rationality, fiction writing, dropping out of Stanford, psychic powers, magic, eye contact, consuming bad news, pacifism, meditation vs....
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Kevin Nealon
Neal Brennan interviews Kevin Nealon (SNL, Weeds, Happy Gilmore) about ADHD, Johnny Carson, mirroring, SNL, painting, Lorne Michaels, death, Chris Farley, claustrophobia, Dana Carvey, defibrillators, Adam Sandler, Irish accents, Garry Shandling, his documentary, Anthony Bourdain, family, Larry...
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Robby Hoffman
Neal Brennan interviews Robby Hoffman ('Wake Up' on Netflix) about the things that make her feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how she is persevering despite these blocks. 00:00 Intro 01:31 Growing up Poor with 9 Siblings 05:09 Leaving religion and moving away 13:53 Rich kids...
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Phil Hanley
Neal Brennan interviews Phil Hanley (Spellbound: My Life as a Dyslexic Wordsmith) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. Get Phil Hanley's book:...
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Matt McCusker
Neal Brennan interviews Matt McCusker (Matt & Shane's Secret Podcast, New Netflix Special: A Humble Offering) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. 00:00 Intro 00:15 Neal Reacts to Matt’s Special 5:36…
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Hank Azaria
Neal Brennan interviews Hank Azaria (The Simpsons, The Artist, Mystery Men, The Birdcage & much more) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. 00:00 Intro 1:35 Career 3:55 Apu 30:39 Sponsor: Ground News…
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Scott Galloway
Neal Brennan interviews Scott Galloway (Prof G Podcast, The Pivot, Professor, New Book: 'Notes on Being A Man') about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. Subscribe to Scott Galloway: @TheProfGPod Buy…
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Michael Kosta
Neal Brennan interviews Michael Kosta (The Daily Show, Standup) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. Subscribe to Michael Kosta: @MichaelKosta 00:00 Intro 00:37 Birdman Joke 4:28 Code Switching &…
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Russell Peters
Neal Brennan interviews Russell Peters (Act Your Age Live in Abu Dhabi & Much More) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. 00:00 Intro 00:23 Meeting Neal with Chappelle in the 90s 1:24 Marriage &...
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James Sexton
Neal Brennan interviews James Sexton (Attorney, Author, Sexton Show) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. Subscribe to James Sexton: @sextonshow 00:00 Intro 1:30 Fame 10:21 Childhood 14:29 Debate Skills...
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Ari Melber
Neal Brennan interviews Ari Melber ('The Beat' on MSNBC) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. Subscribe to the Ari Melber on Youtube: @AriMelber 00:00 Intro 3:25 Speed Reading 9:40 Defending journalism’s...
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Alain de Botton
Neal Brennan interviews Alain de Botton (The School of Life) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. Subscribe to the School of Life: @theschooloflifetv 00:00 Intro 00:33 Philosophy as self-therapy 3:24...
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Jon Lovett
Neal Brennan interviews Jon Lovett (Pod Save America, Lovett or Leave It, Crooked Media) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. 00:00 Intro 1:55 Surprise Party Story 4:03 Writing background 4:49 Pod Save...
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Katey Sagal
Neal Brennan interviews Katey Sagal ('Futurama,' 'Married with Children,' 'Sons of Anarchy' and more) about the things that make her feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how she is persevering despite these blocks. 00:00 Intro 2:28 Growing up in Hollywood 4:11 Music career 6:13...
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Jason Biggs
Neal Brennan interviews Jason Biggs (American Pie, Loser, Saving Silverman and much more) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. 00:00 Intro 2:00 Is acting safe for kids? 8:00 Early acting career 11:20...
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Matthew McConaughey
Neal Brennan interviews Matthew McConaughey (New book! 'Poems & Prayers) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. 00:00 A Time To Kill 00:58 Intro 3:05 Musical Talking 4:40 Seems Resolved 7:06 Significance...
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Ezra Klein
Neal Brennan interviews Ezra Klein (The Ezra Klein Show) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. 00:00 Intro 00:28 Being a liberal leader 1:40 Biden & Democrat Ineptitude 12:32 Social Media 17:30 Future for...
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Andrew Callaghan
Neal Brennan interviews Andrew Callaghan (Channel 5, All Gas No Brakes) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. 00:00 Intro 1:13 Origins of All Gas No Breaks 3:40 Approach for Interviews 6:00 Avoiding...
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Nick Swardson
Neal Brennan interviews Nick Swardson (Grandma's Boy, Bucky Larson, Specials, Pretend Time, Adam Sandler movies and much more) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. 00:00 Intro 2:35 Congrats Marc Maron…
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Leanne Morgan
Neal Brennan interviews Leanne Morgan ('I'm Every Woman' on Netflix, What in the World?! book, 'Leanne' on Netflix) about the things that make her feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how she is persevering despite these blocks. 00:00 Intro 00:44 The White Ail Wong 1:00 Neal &...
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Earthquake
Neal Brennan interviews Earthquake (Chappelle's Home Team - Earthquake: Legendary plus more specials) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. 00:00 Intro 2:30 Comedy Career 10:00 Spirituality 16:02 Sponsor:...
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Ramy Youssef
Neal Brennan interviews Ramy Youssef (#1 Happy Family USA, Ramy, Mountainhead) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. ---------------------------------------------------------- 00:00 Intro 1:17 Television...
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Stephen Merchant
Neal Brennan interviews Stephen Merchant (‘The Office,’ ‘Extras,’ ‘An Idiot Abroad,’ ‘Life’s Too Short,’ ‘Hello, Ladies’ and more) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks....
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Josh Groban
Neal Brennan interviews Josh Groban (multi-platinum musician) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. ---------------------------------------------------------- 00:00 Intro 2:07 Getting discovered 6:34…
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Tom Green
Neal Brennan interviews Tom Green (The Tom Green Show, Freddy Got Fingered, This Is The Tom Green Documentary) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks....
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W. Kamau Bell
Neal Brennan interviews W. Kamau Bell (We Need to Talk About Cosby, United Shades of America, Who's With Me? 2025 standup tour) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks....
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Larry Wilmore
Neal Brennan interviews Larry Wilmore (Nightly Show, Daily Show, Bernie Mac Show, Blackish, Insecure & much more) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks....
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Blake Griffin
Neal Brennan interviews Blake Griffin (NBA Rookie of the Year, 5-time All-NBA, Amazon Prime announcer) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks.…
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Carol Leifer
Neal Brennan interviews Carol Leifer (Standup, 'Seinfeld,' 'Hacks,' 'SNL' & Much More) about the things that make her feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how she is persevering despite these blocks. Carol's new book is called 'How to Write a Funny Speech... for a Wedding, Bar...
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William H. Macy
Neal Brennan interviews William H. Macy (Shameless, Fargo, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Seabiscuit, Pleasantville & many more) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks....
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Ari Shaffir
Neal Brennan interviews Ari Shaffir (America's Sweetheart on Netflix, You Be Trippin' Podcast, This Is Not Happening & more) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks....
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Joe List
Neal Brennan interviews Joe List (Fourth of July, 'Enough for Everybody,' + more specials, 'The Standups' on Netflix) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks....
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Jason Reitman
Neal Brennan interviews Jason Reitman ('Saturday Night,' 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife,' 'Up in the Air,' 'Juno,' 'Thank You For Smoking' & more) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks....
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Paul Scheer
Neal Brennan interviews Paul Scheer ('Joyful Recollections of Trauma,' Human Giant, The League, Black Monday, How Did This Get Made? Podcast) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks....