Blocks w/ Neal Brennan

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 psychology of comedy, the power of the “Reverse Bucket List,” why you need to be bored, how SSRIs affect...

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, status anxiety, living in reality vs. living in delusion, her standup comedy, telling the truth, self-sabota...

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 building bunkers, being present emotionally, becoming an effective communicator, whether or not comedy c...

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 career, why Ari Shaffir said no one wants to follow him on stage, the fears no one else sees (why Brad w...

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 attention Gawker gave him, his interview techniques, dinner party conversations, Elvis Presley's mom's toes,...

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 background in field pieces, taking a Trump supporter to a Kamala rally, interviewing a guy who pleaded g...

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 Thug, his attitude toward violence, shooting people, breakdancing, how Billy D. Washington and D.L. Hu...

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 Update, therapy, being gross and crazy, the internet, Adam Sandler and more. 00:00 ‘Live & In The Fles...

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. political agitation, social media addiction, leftist hypocrisy and much more. Subscribe to  @samharrisor...

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 David, relationships, Robin Williams, Jan Hooks, standup comedy, Steve Martin, sketch comedy, David Lette...

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 vs. Poor kids 18:50 Feeling like an outsider 19:50 Being called “annoying” 28:00 Having opinions on ev...

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: https://www.amazon.com/Spellbound-My-Life-Dyslexic-Wordsmith/dp/1250860156 00:00 Intro 00:34 Dyslexia 9:27 Upbringing 10:41 Being a Male Model 19:24 Starting Comed...

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 Matt & Shane’s Secret Podcast 8:43 Parenting 16:05 Panic Attacks 29:04 Therapy and Psychology 30:14 Sponso...

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 33:03 Sponsor: Mando 35:17 Simpsons Characters He Voices 38:44 Perfectionism & Uptightness 42:32 Drugs, Add...

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 Scott's new book 'Notes on Being A Man': https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Notes-on-Being-a-Man/Scott-...

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 & Identity 5:58 Competitiveness 10:12 Long-term vs. Short Term Thinking 14:02 Arrogance in Comedy 16:30 Daily...

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 & Co-Parenting 4:21 Relationships 8:56 Why Russell Likes Nice Things 10:25 Financial Incompetence 18:20 Touring 19...

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 17:10 Trauma, Growth & Divorce Clients 23:47 Sponsor: FitBod 26:06 Sponsor: Aura 28:11 Tactical Mind...

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 credibility 18:20 Truth vs. Fiction in News 22:10 Lawsuits & Freedom of Speech 36:10 Sponsor: Better...

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 ‘Status Anxiety’ & Career Snobbery 5:30 You Will Marry the Wrong Person 11:40 The Tragedy of Baldness 14...

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 America 8:30 Rehabilitated Sad Sack  10:03 Depression, ADHD, Edibles 11:21 Relationship with Ronan Farro...

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 Drugs 16:13 Getting Sober 18:55 Peg Bundy 24:49 Sponsor: Huel 27:45 ‘Married with Children’ 33:30 Type...

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 American Pie: The Pie Scene 18:50 How his life changed post-American Pie 29:30 Partying 31:26 Sponsor: Bet...

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  12:27 Violence of childhood  16:00 Parenting 20:39 Dating two prom queens 21:45 Charisma 24:41 Hea...

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 Democrats 22:22 Sponsor: BetterHelp  23:40 Sponsor: CookUnity 25:09 Finding the right candidate 28:42...