Off The Beat with Brian Baumgartner

As he gears up for his next tour, actor and comedian Maz Jobrani regails Brian with tales of getting recognized by Spike Lee, filming his seventh stand-up special, and fighting for democracy through comedy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hanging out with Brian today is stand-up comedian, actress, and author Anjelah Johnson-Reyes. She tells stories about following a producer into 7-Eleven, going viral before going viral was a thing, and the joke that’s lived a thousand lives. They also get into her book, Who Do I Think I Am: Stories of Chola Wishes and Caviar Dreams (now available in paperback) and her sixth comedy special which wi...

Brian gains yet another new best friend today - this time it’s Yellowjackets star Steven Krueger. Steven nerds out with Brian about their time in high school speech & debate, shares how he changed his dream from being a lawyer to being an actor, and issues an apology to Canada for the crimes he committed while filming in Vancouver. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scandal co-stars and rewatch podcast co-hosts Katie Lowes & Guillermo Díaz are on with Brian today for a very fun episode, in which they discuss their roots in New York and the never-ending hustle of actor life, give a glowing report from the magical world of Shondaland, and share their safe word (oops - they don’t have one!). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First aired in 2021. As a special happy birthday treat to the “heart of The Office”, we are revisiting Brian’s full interview with receptionist and vet technician Jenna Fischer (Pam Beesly). Jenna discusses the time she laid everything down to protect the Office pilot DVD, DMing fans on Myspace from set... back when Myspace was a thing, and her only regret from the show (ugh, thanks, Toby!). See o...

He’s an executive producer and director these days, but Brian knows him better as the director of photography on an old show called The Office. Randall Einhorn is back on the podcast to share stories about his life in the wilderness, moving from behind the camera to behind the cameraman, and turning teachers into heroes on Abbott Elementary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

His name is Kyle Bornheimer, but you might know him as The 30-Second Man, as Adman on The Office, or maybe as Steve Martin if you knew him when he was little. Whatever you want to call him, he talks to Brian about his dreams of tap dancing, guest starring in almost all your favorite TV shows, and how he became a joke on BoJack Horseman without ever appearing on the show. See omnystudio.com/listene...

Brian’s newest bestie, NBC meteorologist and 3rd Hour of TODAY co-host Dylan Dreyer is on the podcast to teach Brian many things, like how to read a weather report, what Lake Effect Snow is, and her name (which maybe Brian had some trouble with when they first met). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s that time of year again… Super Bowl season! Brian brings on sportscaster extraordinaire Kay Adams and esteemed commissioner of The Office Fantasy Football League Stephen Saux to talk Super Sunday. From the hottest takes on the big game to the worst trade Rainn offered this year, Brian, Kay and Stephen have you covered. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dog mom and gymnast Nastia Liukin joins Brian to share her inspiring journey to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. They discuss everything from how she convinced her dad to coach her to being mentored by Kobe Bryant and the time she gave a gymnastics lesson to Brian (yes, the host of this podcast, Brian). Check her out in Fox’s new competition series Special Forces. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

This week, the hilarious Richard Kind breaks it to Brian he can’t join his exclusive dinner club. He also tells him all about his philosophy of life, bringing a sense of realism to his role as an NYPD officer, and all the people he’s wanted dead over the years (it’s a long list). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fresh off the set of their new show The Other Black Girl, Brian’s friend and recent co-star Bellamy Young is on today’s episode. She tells him about her pageant days in North Carolina, her time as POTUS Mellie Grant on Scandal, and vows to teach Brian to sew. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will and Grace star Eric McCormack joins Brian this week to chat about his early days in Canadian theater, his failed Friends’ audition, and the moment Elton John offered him a private home performance. They also discuss their new Hulu show, The Other Black Girl! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian is joined by golf legend Michelle Wie West to talk about her career which began at the age of ten. They discuss the unexpected impediment that made her choose golf over tennis, why playing against the boys just wasn’t that big of a deal, and the motivation behind her “visually shocking” golf stance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian takes one last look at a few of the wonderful people who’ve stopped by this year on Off The Beat. He looks back on everything from how Catherine Tate blossomed from shy child to performer to how Penn Badgley was convinced to take his role on Gossip Girl. Hear from: Catherine Tate, Jon Hamm, Penn Badgley, Lamorne Morris, Paul Walter Hauser, Penn Jillette, Danica McKellar. See omnystudio.com/l...

This week, Brian reflects on some of the incredible guests who have joined him in going Off The Beat. From the audition nerves that launched so many into stardom to the man who lip-synced long before it was cool, he revisits a small sampling of the amazing people who’ve made the podcast what it is today. Hear from: Rob Riggle, Alyson Hannigan, Eric Stonestreet, Busy Philipps, Kevin McHale & Je...

Brian interviews his second Penn in today’s episode - the charming, philosophical, plays-a-murderer-on-tv Penn Badgley from the smash hit show, You. Penn digs into Joe Goldberg’s myth of love, the awkward middle school years, why amoral characters are compelling, and the importance of journaling your way through starring on Gossip Girl. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Off The Beat’s #1 fan, Mike “The Miz” Mizanin, is back for a full interview with Brian about his fascinating journey from reality TV star to WWE Superstar. He dives into his VHS tape audition for The Real World, the creation of “The Miz,” and the advice The Rock gave him for his first film. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian is Glee -ful to have his first threesome in this episode with Jenna Ushkowitz and Kevin McHale. They talk about Jenna’s start on Broadway and Kevin’s days in a boy band, facing Ryan Murphy for the first time, and the origins of the beloved holiday known as Snixxmas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Danica McKellar is a different type of triple threat than you’ve met before - she’s a mathematician, author, and actor all in one. She sits down with Brian to explain two-dimensional magnetic models, the magic of Christmas movies, and getting a round of applause for her first kiss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedian and SNL alum Taran Killam talks to Brian about his varied career, from the stage to sketch comedy to sports. They discuss Taran’s envious role in Hamilton, SNL’s infamous after-after parties, and the importance of monthly pedicures. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian is joined by the one and only Rob Corddry to talk about his incredible acting career. They dive into everything from Rob’s penchant for embarrassing himself in front of celebrities, the “joke machine gun” that was Childrens Hospital, and the years of media plants that led to hosting Top Gear America. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Penn Jillette, one of the greatest magic men in history, joins Brian for a fascinating dive into his career. They talk about the key ingredient in his 47-year partnership with Teller, the “scientist” who never deserved to have such an influence on his life, and how a career as “carny trash” would have been perfectly fine by him. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Brian tells John Krasinski and Craig Robinson (Jim and Darryl from The Office) “IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY.” To celebrate, he digs into the archives to hear all about the way John and Jenna constantly shut down production, John’s tendency to cry-laugh, and Craig’s unique method for wooing college sweethearts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian sits down with the prolific Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters, Oz, The Family Business) for a hilarious chat about how he started busting ghosts, Gordon Parks stumbling upon his resume, becoming a Reserve Deputy Sheriff, and working with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.