Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen

Meredith Salenger talks about fighting for justice, making peace, mediating, falling in love over text, growing up in Malibu, being picked to be a star by John Houston, being a good stepmother, having a dentist dad, Patton Oswalt, Natty Gann, sunsets, and wolves. Bio: Meredith Salenger is an actress, writer, producer from Malibu, CA who began her professional acting career at the age of 10, playin...

Marianne helps Jay try to find his spirituality. She talks about how we need to step into our own power. We talk about finding truths of the universe, faith in the people, and trouble at the bagel store.  Bio: For more than four decades, Marianne Williamson has been a leader of spiritually progressive circles. She is the author of 16 books, four of which have been #1 New York Times best sellers. A...

Writer Dan Ewen talks about his new show which was the last from Norman Lear, Dear Santa, growing up across the street from the good side of town, loving Athens. Bio:Dan Ewen is a writer/producer from Athens, Georgia. On the series front, he has written for Disney, USA Network and Amazon, where he serves as Executive Producer, co-creator and co-showrunner of "Clean Slate", Norman Lear's final come...

David Silverman explores the history of The Simpsons from before it existed until now. He talks about animating the hard stuff and making it look easy as well as his love of Burning Man & the tuba. Bio: After graduating from UCLA in 1983, David Silverman worked as a freelance illustrator and animator until, in 1987, he landed a job animating on The Tracey Ullman Show — where The Simpsons began. An...

Patton Oswalt and I finish our discussion in this first ever two part DBAWJK! You can never get enough Oswalt. He has been one of the most original minds out there for the last 30 years and a touch stone for quality who seems to be committed to art, laughter, ideas, and making the world slighty less shity. Bio: Patton Oswalt is a comic/actor/writer, but in alphabetical order. Learn more about your...

Patton Oswalt talks about life, love, parenting, fandom, art and comedy in an episode so great it had to be two!  We talk about putting in the work to be an actor, and how comedy bits form on stage, and how dismissing bands for not being cool is a dangerous game since cool changes on a dime, we talk about the need to bring marketing into everything we do, we talk about blow hards demanding audienc...

Screenwriter and actor Jim Rash and I talk about what makes him an empathetic and responsive friend, growing up in Charlotte, NC, being adopted, the Groundlings, winning an Oscar, Allison Janney, his dream of being on Friends coming true, Community, turning off your cell phone, directing his new movie,  playing Snoopy, and singing and dancing in the kitchen to feel good. Bio:  JIM RASH is best kno...

Annie and Mindy talk about what it takes to have a deep and lasting friendship. They discuss what brought them together, how they are alike and how they are not. They also talk about a divorce workbook, pets, kids, the trauma of ex-husbands, the difference between growing up in Detroit vs Miami, having parents who asked you to perform and parents who didn’t, asking your teacher to “hang out”, Grou...

On this episode we talk about the energy and commitment to be funny in everyday life with famed actor, writer, and improviser, Adam Pally who thinks it’s just a way of hiding yourself.  We talk about being less funny and more authentic. We also discuss Mr. Throwback, Happy Endings, adulting, fatherhood, why New York is better than Los Angeles, parents who sing, deciding UCB was something Adam had...

Writer/Comic/Director Lew Schneider talks about how he copes with his house burning down in the L.A. firesand. How to manage the feelings of loss and gratitude, how his wife Liz is feeling, the kindness of people, what he’ll miss, the french horn, and how he no longer needs his signed Bobby Orr poster. Bio: Lew Schneider is a youthful 62 year old manCalifornia Community FoundationProject HOPE Lear...

On this episode Jay’s former writing partner, Wallace Wolodarsky and Wally’s new writing partner, his wife, Maya Forbes talk about partnership – the joys and the pitfalls including having your partner pretend to be shot in the head on film. We also discuss trying to make movies vs TV, the difficult current writing landscape, being pals with the Coppolas and Wes Anderson, Maya at the Harvard Lampoo...

Nicole and Jerry talk about Friendship, iCarly, MadTV, “Wendell & Vinnie”, electric shock collars, escape rooms, snowboarding, keeping in touch, drinking, LA tour buses, kids, and playing a grandmother at 40.Nicole Sullivan - As a native New Yorker, Nicole has been acting since she was seven years old. Nicole studied the drama classics at Northwestern University. Sullivan was an original cast memb...

Blurb: Matt Selman talks about keeping The Simpsons afloat and still funny after all these years, being the rare writer who stayed in one place, Terry Jones being the smart Python, innovating the show each week, what’s too silly, looking back with pride, how we are more judgy when we are younger, Ghost, Matt’s says he’s not a sociopath, and we discuss if Jay regrets leaving The Simpsons after 5 se...

Jay and Kelly talk about what we got from our fathers, both good and bad. We also talk about the genius of George Carlin, living in the shadow of your parents, Crossroads School, Judd Apatow, taking care of you parents, the Emmy Awards, defining yourself, fans, wanting to make people laugh, and how pity sex is just fine. Kelly Carlin-McCall is an author, storyteller, depth psychologist, transforma...

We talk with James Burroughs about his reign as hollywood's greatest sitcom director, being the son of the Abe Burrows In the genetics of comedy, his book “directed by James Burrows”, “Cheers”, “Will & Grace”, “Mary Tyler Moore”, “Taxi”, “Friends”, the scripps that make him want to direct, the ones that don't, his amazing memory, his humble beginnings, the decade it took him to learn how to direct...

Simon Rich talks about how writing fantastical stories can still be authentic and personal.we also talk about growing up in a family of writers, why SNL is not a pit of vipers, John Mulaney & Richard Kind being in his new play, bad driving, Mad Magazine and why Jay is responsible for Simon's career because he watched The Simpsons as a kid. Bio:  Simon Rich has written for “Saturday Night Live,” Pi...

The great Jon Lovitz talks about comedy, acting, stand-up comedy, dogs, The Groundlings, Managers, A league of Their Own, The Simpsons, The Critic, and the serendipity of show business.  Bio: Jon Lovitz has been one of the best known comedians for the last thirty years. He got his start acting in High School plays and developing his skills at the University of California, Irvine where he earned a...

Moon Zappa talks about her book, “Earth To Moon” which details her family trauma, the desire to dance, what makes good art, not being perfect, wanting more from life, how trying to spend a few minutes with her dad, Frank Zappa, led to his biggest hit, tea can lead to joy, and how sometimes your first rodeo is your last. Bio:  Moon is a writer, actor, yogi, podcaster and tea merchant. Learn more ab...

Comic and writer Fahim Anwar and I talk about failed TV shows, Afghan and Ukrainian treats, performing at Largo, comedy today, working for Boeing, disappointing your parents by being a comic, the power of Margo Robbie, YouTube vs Netflix, crowd work, not playing sax for The Roots, having a great bit you can’t put online, hecklers, comedy persona, dancing in clubs, and convincing your parents you h...

Jonathan talks about growing up the son of a minister, not ruining other people’s shows, not doing stand-up comedy, not staying with Conan, and not being the Jonathan Groff, the Broadway superstar! Bio:Jonathan Groff is a television writer, showrunner and executive producer, with over thirty years of experience. Recently, he was an Executive Producer alongside Fred Armisen on the HULU comedy THIS...

Jennifer spills the beans on what it takes to be an actress in Hollywood. We talk "Beverly Hills Housewives", how your gal pal will cover your problem spots in lesbian love scenes, poker, glamour, getting hit on by producers, and the indignity of promoting yourself by going on to podcasts like this one. Bio: Jennifer Tilly received an Academy Award nomination for her role in Woody Allen’s “Bullets...

Blurb:  We talk about Philosophy, comedy writing, agreeing with the show runner, not being afraid of the truth, the power of walking sticks, trying to figure out if God exists is dumb, Brooklyn as a place to grow up, and whether to lie to your kids about Santa Clause. Bio: A native of Flatbush, New York, Eric Kaplan began writing for Spy magazine and the Harvard Lampoon before getting his first te...

Steven sings some amazing songs and talks about The BareNakedLadies, Trans-Canada Highwaymen, the creative process, blowing up your life, breaking up with your partners, repairing your life, finding freedom working for yourself, being a self starter, zoom shows, Brian Wilson, Yoko Ono, band camp, and getting pelted with mac & cheese. Bio: Over the last thirty-five years, Steven Page has establishe...

Tim & Jay talk about connecting, being in the moment, getting fired from “Friends”, the Groundlings, being brave enough for relationships, laughing during improv, Frosted Mini Wheats, auditions, serious acting vs not, The Playboy Mansion, being gay, coming from the middle of the country to Los Angeles, good pizza, and angels. Bio:Tim Bagley is currently on the 2nd season of Peabody Award winning "...

Paul Reiser talks about his new film, “The Problem with People”, deciding to be a comic, comedy and heartbreak being from the same well, His love of Peter Faulk, Jack Lemon, and Alan Arkin, fathers, getting out of the house, building a music room just in case Billy Joel dropped by, Writing “What A Fool Believes” with and about Michael McDonnald, “Diner” “Mad About You.” “The Thing About My Folks”,...