Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen

Stephen Root is a genius actor who brought humanity to the character of the outsider. Jay and Stephen share the feeling of being on the outside and how that makes being an artist more insightful but being a guy at a party more of a drag. Stephen talks about the art of acting and auditioning and what it’s like to finally be able to tell the producers “no” when it’s not something he wants to do. Jay...

Comedian/Actor Andy Richter shares stories of fame, fans, and family and being a regular guy in an irregular world. Bio: Andy Richter has been working in television comedy for over 30 years as an actor, writer, host and producer. He’s best known as Conan O’Brien’s sidekick, but has been in numerous movies and tv series. He hosts the podcast The Three Questions, which is in its fourth season. He’s...

Funny Actress/Writer/Improviser Jamie Denbo talks about jumping in the water of acting and writing while also trying to have a decent relationship with your kids. As expected, none of it is easy but Jamie somehow makes it work. Bio: Jamie Denbo currently serves as CO-EP on the 20th season of ABC’s smash hit, Grey’s Anatomy. She was the creator, EP and showrunner of Lifetime’s 10 episode one-hour d...

Jay challenges his son, college senior, Charlie Kogen, to list the top 5 things Jay did wrong (and right) as a father. Along the way they talk about pushing your kid too hard, the pain of spending time apart, fear of the future, and the tyranny of expectations. Jay explores the dichotomy between loving fatherhood and wishing he could trade it for pure friendship with Charlie. Charlie shares the ir...

Lisa Kudrow helped introduce Jay to his wife Brown Mandell, and now 27 year later they are all trying to make sense of it. Brown has issues with Jay. Jay has issues with Brown and Lisa understands them both even when neither is making sense. Tune in to marriage miscommunication on this week’s DBAWJK!Bio: Lisa Kudrow. She was on Friends. Full bio online somewhere. Brown Kogen is the mom of a handso...

The great writer/actor/food & travel show host, Phil Rosenthal talks Jay down from feeling bad about undeserved success. Phil claims dumb luck is part of the game. They also talk about good times, Jack Benny, spoiled kids, great show-running, enjoying life, being able to connect with people no matter what. Bio:Phil Rosenthal is the award-winning creator, executive producer, and host of “Somebody F...

In one of our first recordings, Actor, writer, director, and all around mensh, Greg Grunberg helps Jay settle in on what podcasting is and how it might help get people (and especially kids) more connected in their ever increasingly isolated life. And if we can’t fix that, then maybe, just maybe, we can sell them stuff. Bio: Actor/Producer and epilepsy advocate Greg Grunberg has been an actor in TV...

Character actor extraordinaire, Richard Kind, talks about having the authenticity and self confidence to speak his mind and get away with it. He says having a healthy ego and approaching the world with joy give him permission to say just about anything. And how that confidence goes into his landing acting jobs and parenting his children. We also talk about the loss of Matthew Perry and the horror...

Comedy hero and one of Jay’s best friends helps Jay work though the deep mysteries of friendship, UFO’s, their failed hit movie “The Wrong Guy” and how to stay pals for 30 years. Bio: Dave Foley rose to fame as “the cute” member of the revered sketch group, “Kids In The Hall”. He went on to star in “News Radio” and dozens of movies and TV shows, He’s also the co-writer and star of the cult darling...

Dana talks to Jay about the ego death of change. You think you’re something and then you’re not. He talks about aging, dadding, growing comfortable with being who is and being damn lucky to be that. Bio: Dana Gould began his professional comedy career at the age of seventeen with six solo stand-up comedy specials and done all talk shows from LETTERMAN to CONAN. As an actor, Dana has had memorable...

The brilliant Kevin Pollak forgives Jay for being late, talks about poker, growing up in San Francisco, becoming Don Rickles’ buddy, the loss of Matthew Perry, inventing podcasts and only does one Shatner impression on this week’s “Don’t Be Alone with Jay Kogen.”Bio:Kevin Pollak is an world class actor, respected comedian, delightful impressionist and one of the original podcast hosts. He’s appear...

Josh talks about acting, podcasting, being proudly Jewish without being sure about being Jewish and about not being afraid to tell his friends he loves them. Bio:Joshua Malina is an American film and stage actor (and writer) known for playing Will Bailey on the The West Wing, Jeremy Goodwin on Sports Night, US Attorney General David Rosen on Scandal, and Caltech President Siebert on The Big Bang T...

Comic, author, producer, Wayne Federman discusses if there’s an expiration date to being funny. Are you stuck in your generation or can you speak to a broader audience? That, plus what underwear to sport when shouting “Get off my lawn!” at passing children. Bio: Wayne Federman is a stand-up comic, actor, author, cultural historian, and producer. Wayne received a 2022 Emmy Award for producing the H...

Jay is completely enthralled with the depth of comedian/writer/actor, Pete Holmes, talks about religion, philosophy, keeping your artistic standards high, staying good while being human, the joy of seeing his daughter’s face, and making his new Netflix special not so “death-y”. Bio: Pete Holmes is one of the best standup comics around. He’s the creator and star of HBO's Crashing (produced by Judd...

Singer-songwriter Aimee Mann explains creativity, writing musicals, knowing how to pick a good writing partner and how Jay should weather the crumbling TV streaming world. Just become a critically acclaimed voice of a generation. Easy peasy. Bio: Aimee Mann is a Grammy- and Oscar-nominated singer-songwriter. Mann fronted the band 'Til Tuesday with their mega hit, “Voices Carry” then went solo maki...

The funny and fabulous Julia Sweeney helps Jay fight through the fear of people, work, life, aging and the crippling danger of improv groups. Bio: Julia Sweeney started with a dream of being a Hollywood accountant and wound up becoming an actress, comedian, writer, and director known for her years on SNL and her amazing comedic one-person shows such as “God Said Ha!” about her struggles with life,...

Actor Steven Weber helps Jay negotiate the changes in the business. Meditation, fatherhood, and convinces him that, even though they never see each other, they are true friends. Bio: Steven Weber is an actor, comedian, dad and all around delight who has acted on Broadway, TV and films but he is most at home guessing on friend’s podcasts. From Straw Hut Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Join Jay Kogen, former stand-up actor and award-winning comedy writer, as he shares his great stories from his decades in show business on his podcast, "Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen." With a mission to fight disconnection in modern life, Jay invites funny, smart, and interesting guests to tackle life issues he's dealing with. From stand-ups to actors, writers to artists, Jay's guests are always e...