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We'll Do It LIVE! — Howie Mandel - Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis | Wave AI Podcast Notes

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We'll Do It LIVE! — Howie Mandel

Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis

Thu Apr 09 2026

Summary

Podcast Summary: Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis

Episode: We'll Do It LIVE! — Howie Mandel
Date: April 9, 2026
Host: Bill O’Reilly
Guest: Howie Mandel

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Bill O'Reilly sits down with comedian, television host, and actor Howie Mandel for an unscripted, wide-ranging conversation that touches on comedy, show business, mental health, family, and generational change. Both host and guest share personal anecdotes and industry insights, balancing humor with introspection as they discuss everything from Mandel’s Canadian roots to the changing landscape of late-night television and social media's impact on celebrity culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Legacy of "We'll Do It Live" and Mutual Mockery

Bill acknowledges the podcast's self-deprecating title and the jest that surrounds it, setting a playful tone (00:06–02:08).
O'Reilly: “Every week I have to mock myself. And I’m going, why am I doing this?” (00:14)
Howie enjoys the banter, referencing Bill’s own reluctance and self-mockery: “Your mechanics of not getting anybody to look up ‘We’ll Do It Live.’” (01:13)

2. Parent-Child Generational Dynamics and Respect

Howie reflects on podcasting with his liberal daughter Jacqueline, who brings both smart questions and an impassive demeanor (“arresting bitch face,” as Mandel jokes—03:47).
Both agree on the importance of open, respectful dialogue, especially within families with differing views.
Mandel: “You cannot, you have to earn disrespect. We come into whatever the issue is with respect.” (04:03–05:12)

3. Show Business as a Microcosm and Hollywood Perceptions

The duo explores the tension between politics and show business, discussing whether conservatives are truly “canceled” in Hollywood (06:05–07:16).
Mandel: “Show business is just a microcosm of humanity... people outside of show business have this gravitas, respect for somebody who pretended to be something. It’s just pretending.” (05:21)
Anecdote: O’Reilly recounts an edgy encounter with Chelsea Handler in an LA restaurant (07:16–08:53).

4. The Canadian Factor: Humor, Talent, and Upbringing

Mandel ruminates on the disproportionate number of Canadian talents in entertainment and music.
Mandel: “For such a... tenth the population of America, we probably have the highest rate of talent. There must be something in our water.” (09:51–11:02)
Contrasts Toronto childhood with raising kids in LA, emphasizing differences in drive, privilege, and culture (13:24–16:47).

5. Howie’s Children: Upbringing, Work Ethic, and Success

Each Mandel child has built a different path—one is a teacher in underprivileged LA areas, another runs Mandel's company and produces podcasts, the third is a physiotherapist.
Mandel: “They see things that I never got to see in Toronto as a kid... but they all earn their own livings. They work very hard, they invest their money.” (14:37)

6. Unique Podcast Format and Mental Health Advocacy

Howie shares about making his podcast studio a creative, collaborative space—especially welcoming a live band, “Sonny and the Black Pack.” (17:27–18:34)
Discusses his openness about OCD and mental health, and how the creative process and new media help him cope.

7. Stand-up Comedy: Joy, Process, and Darkness

Howie’s love for stand-up remains undiminished. He emphasizes the thrill and risk of live performance.
Mandel: “I love stand-up comedy... comedy for me, and I believe... all comedy comes from darkness.” (21:15–22:40)
On joke-writing: Mandel notes he writes down ideas and riffs on them on stage; inspired by Richard Pryor's authenticity (20:58).
Memorable Quote: “A sense of humor is to find that sensibility in the darkest place. All comedy comes from darkness. All of it.” (21:58–22:40)

8. The Discipline of Linear TV vs. Social/Podcasting Media

O’Reilly and Mandel discuss how traditional TV, like AGT or Canada’s Got Talent, differs from the freedom and spontaneity of podcasts and social media (18:34–20:22).
Mandel: “Linear television is ad supported television. I also know I have the responsibility to be responsible... because there are people like Ford and McDonald and all these people supporting it.” (19:15)

9. Late-Night TV: Johnny Carson, Letterman, Leno, and Stewart

The duo recalls the old late-night world—Mandel details the respect comedians needed from Carson, Letterman’s “prince of darkness” persona vs. Leno’s friendliness (25:34–32:01).
O’Reilly: “If I had faltered on Letterman, he would not have saved me. Leno would save you... Letterman would not.” (32:18)
Mandel: “[Letterman] is not a social butterfly... But you got him. That room was cold because... when you’re up and cold, you’re going to laugh. It makes for a better audience response.” (29:15)

10. Authenticity, Curiosity, and Staying Current

Howie values curiosity and adaptability—being digitally literate and culturally aware have become survival skills in entertainment (37:26–39:35).
Mandel: “Curiosity is our fuel. What drives me is curiosity... Culture moves on. I just want to understand why you think this is funny.” (37:26; 38:26)
Both men reflect on how social media has changed how fans connect to public figures.

11. Therapy, Coping, and Anger

Mandel is candid about regularly seeing a therapist to cope with OCD and life’s challenges, emphasizing mental maintenance (43:00–44:16).
Mandel: “I always say that we need to take care of our mental health the way we take care of our dental health.” (43:45)
On anger: Mandel admits it’s his “arresting emotion” and that he copes by staying busy and focusing on the present. (45:27–46:18)
Lighthearted Quote:
- O’Reilly: “I have an excuse. I’m Irish.”
- Mandel: “I have an excuse. I’m an idiot.” (46:29–46:33)

Notable Quotes & Moments

Howie Mandel:
- “Comedy is just looking at something incredibly dramatic from another way.” (22:40–23:12)
- “Everything I’ve ever been punished for, expelled for, gotten in trouble for is what I seem to get paid for.” (13:24–14:37)
Bill O’Reilly:
- “If you don’t know what ‘We’ll Do It Live’ is, just Google O’Reilly and ‘We’ll Do It Live’ and it will pop up. Now, I don’t recommend you do that.” (00:24)
On family and respect:
- Mandel: “You have to earn disrespect. I think we come into whatever the issue is with respect.” (05:00)
On late night television culture:
- O’Reilly: “Now the late night won’t book anybody that doesn’t hate Trump.” (28:41)
- Mandel: “Letterman is not a social butterfly... but you got him. I think that’s... what people are glomming on to you. You’re authentic.” (29:15)

Timestamps of Key Segments

00:06–02:08 – Opening banter; Bill on podcast title origin; Mandel’s reaction
03:22–05:12 – Discussion of generational and political differences with Mandel’s daughter
06:05–07:16 – Is Hollywood as politically intolerant as rumored?
09:51–11:02 – Mendel analyzes why Canada produces so many entertainers
13:24–16:47 – Howie contrasts his Toronto upbringing with his children’s LA experience
17:27–18:34 – The making of Mandel’s podcast, live band addition, and coping during COVID
19:15–20:22 – The discipline of linear TV and joy of stand-up
21:58–22:40 – “All comedy comes from darkness...”
25:34–32:01 – Carson/Letterman/Leno/Stewart experiences and influence
37:26–39:35 – On curiosity, staying current, discovering new forms of comedy online
43:00–44:16 – Mandel’s experience with therapy and acceptance of mental health care
45:27–46:33 – Admission of frustration and anger, with laughter
47:51–48:07 – Closing gratitude and sign-off

Tone & Atmosphere

The tone of the episode is warm, humorous, and self-effacing, with both O’Reilly and Mandel comfortable poking fun at themselves and each other. There is mutual respect, candid discussion of personal and professional vulnerabilities, and a shared appreciation for authenticity and curiosity as lifelong engines for creativity and connection.

End of summary.

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Transcript

Howie Mandel (0:00)

Foreign.

Bill O'Reilly (0:06)

Here. Welcome to another edition of We'll Do It Live. And I just want to remind everybody that I did not want to do this podcast or long form, whatever you want to hear it, because it's basically the title of it. We'll Do It Live mocks me. So every week I have to mock myself. And I'm going, why am I doing this? So if you don't know what, We'll Do It Live is just Google O'Reilly, and we'll do it live, and it will pop up. Now, I don't rec. I don't recommend you do that. Okay. You probably be a better person if you don't do it, but that is what this is named. We're very pleased to have the very talented Howie Mandel coming up.

Howie Mandel (0:56)

Thank you.

Bill O'Reilly (0:57)

Coming to us from his lair in Los Angeles, California, where I was a few months ago doing his podcast. So how he decided to return the favor. Now, you know I'm a huge fan

Howie Mandel (1:13)

of yours, Bill, and number one, I'm already enjoying the. Your mechanics of not getting anybody to look up. We'll Do It Live.

Bill O'Reilly (1:22)

Right.

Howie Mandel (1:22)

You know, which it was part of. It's the closing of the podcast you did with me.

Bill O'Reilly (1:28)

It's epic.

Howie Mandel (1:30)

It's not missive. It's. It's. And I love the fact that you celebrate that moment, which is probably in the moment, not one of the tiny moments.

Bill O'Reilly (1:40)

Right. But I don't know if celebrates the right word. It was like my younger staff said, we have to do this, but I want to alert everybody that the podcast is going to go downhill from here. So the high point has been reached in the intro, and now we're going to descend into what a gracious host you are.

Howie Mandel (2:03)

I just joined you, and now you're touting the fact that this is going downhill.

Bill O'Reilly (2:08)

Yeah. It's going to be disaster. Yes. So I want to tell people two things about you. The first thing is that Mandel makes me laugh. And I'm not exactly a historical guy, Right. But there's something about him that makes me laugh. I paid good money to see Howie Mandela at the Westbury Music Fair in my hometown. Okay. And I drag along a date, and I said to her, look. She goes, what is this, a talent show or something? I said, no, no, no. This guy is just. He just gets. And it's true. And then Howie was nice enough to allow me in the dressing room for 38 seconds. He had a stopwatch, and we just said, commiserated there. And then when I went on Mandel's podcast. I was surprised a bit because a very successful podcast, Howie Mandel does stuff. And people don't know this, but you spent tens of thousands of dollars getting that title, right? Howie Mandel does stuff. Then you.

Howie Mandel (33:26)

It was a joust because it's a real conversation. You know, Carson and Leno and I'm not beginning. They're great at what they do, you know, but 99.9% of the people, people that you book on a late night talk show are there to promote whatever it is they're going to promote their movie, their TV show. You know for a fact that there's a pre interview. So the, in the pre yen you have these six minute segments. In six minutes you have to plug your show. A producer has asked you for a really funny, interesting story and they want to know what the, the outline is so that the, you know, what is your punch out? Like what's the end of that story? So the host knows that that is what the story you're going to tell. Unlike, you know, I can't tell you how many times you watched Letterman and just he would pick up the card, he wouldn't even look at the card. He would rip it, he'd throw it away and he just wanted to talk. But not a lot of people can do that. You're, you're one of few. I like doing that. There was no pre interview with this. I didn't, I don't, didn't know what you were going to talk about. It's a real conversation. Whether it's interesting or not, I don't know. But it's a real, I'm enjoying just sitting down. We might as well just go out and have a sandwich and have this conversation. Letterman, there's very few people that were willing to do that or could do that or wanted to do that. They had to come up with a show every day. They have four guests. They were forced to watch a movie or a TV show they don't even care about or read a book they have no interest in and they have to ask this set of questions. The publicist would. I know for a fact I did a talk show in the 90s. I'll never forget my, my first guest was Jennifer Aniston and the, at the time she was dating Brad Pitt. And the publicist came to me and went, you know, what are you going to ask? She went over to the publicist, went over all the questions and said, you cannot mention Brad Pitt. You can't. And if you do, you're never going to book another one of my clients. And they Ended up cutting and stopping tape. Because my first question is, you know, did you ever. Did you ever see the River Runs Through It? Isn't that a good movie? I didn't ask, I didn't mention his name. But then they went cut and then. The publicists hold all the power in the talk show business.

Bill O'Reilly (39:35)

Right? One of the positives of social media is that it allows the folks, I call them, to get to know people that they see in the entertainment, sports, political world much better. And there is a tremendous hunger for that. I want to know this person better. This format, okay, allows that. I didn't want to do this podcast. I like the podcast. I love being on your podcast with your daughter with a lot of fun. I did Billy Bush when I was out there, but I didn't want to do it because I'm a hard news guy. Essentially. I'm a gatherer of information and I disseminate it and it's been very successful for me but my younger staff demanding a that I humiliate myself with we'll do it live title and that I do this once a week with interesting people that they want to get to know. And that is what's happening here. American homeowners. The FBI has been warning all of us about a type of real estate fraud called title theft. The target your equity. With just a forged signature, ownership can be transferred out of your name and without protection in place you are facing an emotional and financial nightmare. That's why I partner up with home title lock. You can find out today if you are already a victim and protect yourself. Use promo code bill@hometitlelock.com to get a free title history report plus a free trial of their million dollar triple lock protection. That's 247 monitoring urgent alerts and if you are a victim of fraud they will spend up to a million dollars to fix it. Don't be a victim. Protect your Equity today. That's hometitle lock.com promo code bill or use the link below. That's hometitlelock.com promo code bill quick question. How do you normally get your medication? Because there is a better way. When you need something, it's always a hassle. You call a doctor, next appointment and days away you sit in a waiting room full of sick people. Then you stand in line at the pharmacy. Sometimes they don't even have what you need. That system is slow, frustrating, outdated. But there's one pharmacy doing it a smarter way. All family pharmacy. You go online, choose what you need, fill out a quick medical form and a licensed doctor reviews your request and provides a prescription if it's appropriate. Then they ship it right to your door. Stock up on essentials like antibiotics, Ivermetkin and 300 other prescription medications. Please go to allfamilypharmacy.combill use code BILL10 in order to get 10% off your order. Now I got a couple of other questions about that are just curious to me. I've never been to a therapist. No therapist would ever accept me. Even if they're getting 1000 bucks an hour then it's not worth it. We're not going to do him. You say at your age that you still go to therapy. What does that do for you?