Breaking Down with Ali Kolbert

In the final episode of Breaking Down, Ali is joined by iconic New York couple, Roberta Smith and Jerry Saltz. Smith, the newly retired co-chief art critic of The New York Times, and Saltz, the senior art critic for New York Magazine, chat with Ali about: what makes “good art,” pursuing your passions, finding your purpose later in life, the makings of successful partnership, the relationship betwe...

Lilly and Ali chat: Lilly's come up as a YouTuber, the keys to a great relationship, social media detoxes, The Mindful Adventures of Unicorn Island, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedian Leslie Liao joins the show and talks about her impressive journey as a stand-up from working HR at Netflix to snagging a hot-to-get special on the platform. The two dig into writing material, breaking out in the scene, and the agony of dating straight men. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Podcaster Mal Glowenke chronicles her journey of “escaping the hetero sexual trap.” Mal and Ali take listener questions like: is scissoring really a thing, smooth pick up lines, and best date ideas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

YouTuber Mattie Westbrouck talks safety in relationships, anxious attachment, “queering” straight relationships, feeling OK, and being famous online. PLUS: special guest Luca makes his first appearance! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedian Moshe Kasher gets into his FASCINATING story, which includes: sober drug dealer, 24-time Burning Man attendee, son of a man who converted to Hasidic Judaism, son of deaf parents… and somehow, more. It’s all in his new book, “Subculture Vulture.” Plus, Ali and Moshe go deep on randomness vs. meaning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sexpert, author (“Opening Up: Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships,” “The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women”) pornographer, and educator Tristan Taormino gets very adult with Ali. They talk feminist porn, anal, whether you can be addicted sex, and what constitutes good sex. Tristan tells Ali some of her story, recorded in her new memoir, “A Part of the Heart Can’t Be Eaten.” Learn more ab...

Heather McMahan, who recently put out the Netflix special “Son I Never Had,” talks about lazy standup, almond moms, sororities, Joan Rivers, and lifting each other up.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Sexton has a unique perspective on marriage and on divorce. The rock star divorce attorney wrote “If You’re In My Office, It’s Already Too Late: A Divorce Lawyer’s Guide to Staying Together.” But while his career — and his personal life — has given him plenty of insight into what makes marriages work and not work, it’s also shown him that it may be fundamentally illogical to get hitched in t...

Jade Iovine, host of the podcast “Live from Bed,” gets deep with Ali on the extremity of sisterhood, when's the right time to have kids, love at first sight, and adult friendships. Ali answers Jade’s sex questions.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The legend Bonnie McFarlane tells Ali what her favorite feeling in the world is, the secret to a lasting marriage, and how having a baby isn’t as hard as it’s cracked up to be.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The brilliant comic, author, and actor almost became a priest during the pandemic. She and Ali talk lesbian fashion, the isolation of standup, and the complicated relationship between mental health and comedy.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is having a baby ethical? YouTuber Kelsey Kreppel and Ali hash it out. Plus: what it’s like to be pregnant, bringing a baby into the world — especially as a vlogger — and how Ali wants to knock a woman up.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh Johnson is a comedian and musician who’s written for the Daily Show and the Tonight Show. Ali and Josh get into how talking to strangers makes for good standup, expecting people to change, and how Pam and Jim are actually awful.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedian Beth Stelling gets into it with Ali about taking a breaks from comedy and from men, freezing her eggs, keeping it casual, and foreplay. Ali accidentally spoils all of Beth’s upcoming hour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The hosts of Girls Gotta Eat join Ali to talk sex toys, jealousy, boundaries, cucking, and paypigs. Plus, Ali breaks out her mob accent? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The creators of Dicks: The Musical set the record straight about their long, unlikely journey from the improv comedy stage to the big screen. Dicks: The Musical is now available on VOD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jamie Lee — standup, actor, and Ted Lasso writer — goes in on relationships with Ali. Jamie’s been married and divorced, and engaged again — plus, she also hosted The Wedding Coach, a reality show about weddings. So she has the bona fides to talk dating, breakups, and divorce, and life after love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The incredibly talented comic, actor, singer, and host of FBOY ISLAND goes deep with Ali on self-worth, relationships, and whether a certain someone might be bi.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The girls from Two Dykes and a Mic join Ali to talk strap-ons, dating bi women, Sophia Bush, Gaylor, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did Jade become gay after using Flonase? Are Ali and Jade “closet lube”? Does it take a certain kind of person to become a stand-up? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prolific actor and comic Ron Funches gets into adult stuff — like life after divorce, and raising two kids 20 years apart. He also talks about the freedom that voice acting allows. Ali admits that she still says she’s engaged in her standup sets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ashely Gavin hosts We’re Having Gay Sex and Chosen Family. This week, she joins Ali to hear about Ali’s big relationship news — plus, they get into open relationships, “merging,” and celebrity breakup culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jared and Ali talk breakups, gender dynamics in relationships, the difference between dating in your 20s and your 30s, and a lot more. See more Jared in his new Netflix special, “37 & Single,” on one of his podcasts (U Up?, The Betchelor, and The JTrain Podcast), or find him on tour this fall.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Queer Eye ray of light, stand-up, and author joins Ali for the inaugural episode of Breaking Down! They get into healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, lesbian reincarnation, and, shockingly, #notallmen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices