Ike Barinholtz

Summary

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Ike Barinholtz Episode Summary

In the April 1, 2025 episode of Good Hang with Amy Poehler, host Amy Poehler sits down with the multifaceted comedian, actor, and writer Ike Barinholtz. The conversation delves into Ike's career, personal life, improv roots, current projects, and his enduring passion for comedy and sports. Throughout the episode, Amy and Ike share humorous anecdotes, insightful reflections, and engaging banter that highlight Ike's warmth and infectious enthusiasm.

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1. Early Connection and Improv Roots

The episode opens with Amy reminiscing about her first meeting with Ike in Chicago back in 1996. Ike shares his initial experiences attending an Improv Olympic workshop led by Amy and Matt Besser. Despite the workshop's humble turnout, Ike was captivated by Amy's improvisational skills.

• Ike Barinholtz [15:24]: “I was like, this woman is the greatest improv teacher I've ever seen in my life. Like, oh, my God, I love her. She's the greatest.”

This foundational experience ignited Ike's passion for improv, leading him to immerse himself in Chicago's vibrant comedy scene alongside peers like Jordan Peele and Seth Meyers.

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2. Transition to Acting and Writing

Ike discusses his journey from improv to acting and writing, highlighting his stint with Boom Chicago in Amsterdam. He reflects on performing with notable figures and the wild party atmosphere of the late '90s.

• Ike Barinholtz [39:35]: “I might go back this summer, but I would go back with my family, which would be interesting... This is a different time, guys. This is like 1999. Please don't judge me.”

Transitioning to the U.S., Ike emphasizes the importance of commitment and enthusiasm in his projects, drawing from his improv training.

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3. Current Projects: Running Point and The Studio

A significant portion of the conversation centers around Ike's latest ventures. Running Point, co-created with Mindy Kaling, is a family comedy inspired by Jeanie Buss, the owner of the Lakers. Ike praises the show's authentic portrayal of a female sports team owner navigating a male-dominated industry.

• Ike Barinholtz [22:17]: “Running Point is inspired by the life of Jeanie Buss... a family comedy set in a basketball office would be a really funny world.”

Additionally, Ike and Amy discuss The Studio, a collaborative project with actress Kathryn Hahn, highlighting the dynamic interplay of creativity and friendship that fuels their work.

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4. Personal Life: Family and Parenthood

Ike opens up about his role as a "girl dad", sharing heartfelt and humorous insights into raising three daughters alongside his wife, Erica. He contrasts his upbringing with brothers to his current parenting experience, emphasizing the joy and challenges of nurturing young girls.

• Kathryn Hahn [06:27]: “How are his girls? How is it being... being a girl dad.”

Ike humorously recounts moments like growing a beard and the playful reactions from his family, showcasing his lighthearted approach to fatherhood.

• Ike Barinholtz [31:11]: “I had a beard... It was very long and thick and quite frankly, gross. I shaved it, and then my daughters were like, we missed the beard.”

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5. Reflections on Sports and Michael Jordan

Growing up in Chicago in the '90s, Ike shares his nostalgia for the Chicago Bulls and their superstar Michael Jordan. He recounts his first live game experience and a memorable encounter with Jordan himself.

• Ike Barinholtz [19:57]: “I saw him live, I went to a Bulls game before he was on the team when it was all Orlando Woolridge... I met him years later at a health club.”

Ike expresses his enduring admiration for Jordan, appreciating his legacy and the documentary that introduced a new generation to Jordan's greatness.

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6. Humor, Anecdotes, and Personal Quirks

The conversation is peppered with humorous exchanges about Ike's quirky interests, such as his collection of fake food, and playful banter about wigs and hairpieces. These light-hearted moments reveal Ike's whimsical side and his ability to laugh at himself.

• Amy Poehler [10:29]: “I can't believe I said turning you on. Why did I say that?”

Ike also shares funny stories from his improv days, including mishaps and memorable performances that have shaped his comedic style.

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7. Commitment and Enthusiasm in Work

Ike emphasizes the significance of being fully present and committed to his projects, a trait honed through years of improvisational theater. He credits his ability to embrace failure and remain enthusiastic as key factors in his success.

• Ike Barinholtz [36:33]: “I think that's a big part of it is... learning to not be afraid of failing. So as you develop as an improviser, you start to learn that... you've got to commit, man.”

This dedication translates into his professional endeavors, ensuring that each project he undertakes is infused with his unique energy and passion.

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8. Navigating the Entertainment Industry

Ike provides candid insights into the fluctuating dynamics of the entertainment industry, touching on aspects like the rigors of acting on set versus the creative satisfaction of writing and producing. He highlights the balance between professional commitments and personal life, especially during the demanding periods of filming.

• Ike Barinholtz [25:56]: “It's hard. And we're lucky, too. Like, we're shooting Running Point in LA...”

He also discusses the impact of generational shifts on areas like fitness trends and content creation, offering a humorous take on contemporary societal changes.

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9. Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations

As the episode concludes, Ike reflects on his growth as an entertainer and his aspirations for future projects. Amy and Ike express mutual admiration, underscoring the deep-rooted friendship and professional camaraderie that fuels their collaborative spirit.

• Amy Poehler [36:50]: “I love that you're a party pumper... When Ike shows up, like, we're getting started.”

Ike looks forward to continuing his creative journey, balancing his roles as a father, husband, and creative force in the comedy landscape.

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Notable Quotes

• Ike Barinholtz [15:24]: “This woman is the greatest improv teacher I've ever seen in my life.”

• Kathryn Hahn [06:27]: “How are his girls? How is it being... being a girl dad.”

• Ike Barinholtz [22:17]: “Running Point is inspired by the life of Jeanie Buss... a family comedy set in a basketball office would be a really funny world.”

• Ike Barinholtz [36:33]: “You've got to commit, man.”

---

Conclusion

The Good Hang with Amy Poehler episode featuring Ike Barinholtz offers listeners an intimate glimpse into the life of a dedicated comedian and actor. Through engaging dialogue and heartfelt storytelling, Amy and Ike explore the intersections of personal passion, professional commitment, and the enduring bonds of friendship. This episode is a testament to Ike's vibrant personality and his unwavering love for comedy, family, and the joy of living authentically.

Transcript

[Amy Poehler]

Hi, everyone. This is Amy Poehler. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. We have the great Ike Barinholtz joining us today. Ike is a hilarious, warm, funny mountain of a man that I met back in Chicago many years ago and I work with him on the movie Sisters. You might know him from the Mindy Project. We did a satirical podcast together called the Chris Chapman do Over where he played a podcast host that, well, is not great. He wasn't great, but he was trying his best. He's the co creator of a great new show called Running Point with Mindy Kaling and he is the star of the studio which is out now on Apple and we're going to talk to him about that. Ike is amazing and as always, we like to take a minute before we start to talk about people that know Ike or might know Ike's work and want to talk to me about questions they think I should ask him. So let's get on Zoom and let's talk to two queens. Emily Spivey, writer at snl, and Katherine Hahn, actress and hot extraordinaire. This episode is presented by the Toyota Grand Highlander. Life's journey brings constant change, filled with exciting surprises, new chapters and grand challenges. And the Toyota Grand Highlander is more than a vehicle. It's your partner in embracing all life throws at. You blinked and the kids have grown up. The third row can fit three adults. From daily routines to life changing adventures, the Toyota Grand Highlander is up for every grand challenge. Learn [e-mail] GrandHighlander Toyota. Let's go places. Get up. What do you say?

[Ike Barinholtz]

And I am the one who was.

[Amy Poehler]

A really good hate. So how's your day going? What's going on with you? Where are you right now and how has your day been so far?

[Emily Spivey]

Well, I'm in my car, but it's getting hotter and hotter, which is great. I just got my eyebrows done.

[Kathryn Hahn]

Ooh.

[Emily Spivey]

And that's how much I love Ike, is that I'm showing up in this, in this, in this face.

[Amy Poehler]

And Spivey, where are you talking to us from?

[Kathryn Hahn]

I'm in North Carolina. Everything's fine. I'm still getting over that ficocta flu.

[Amy Poehler]

The SNL Covid flu.

[Kathryn Hahn]

Right. The scourge that we all got at the plaza. I blame Lin Manuel Miranda. I feel like he was patient zero because everywhere I went, I saw him.

[Amy Poehler]

All right, well, we'll get to Ike because you both have worked with him in various ways. And I'm going to talk to him and interview him in just a Few minutes. He's going to be so happy, by the way, that you did this, so thank you.

[Emily Spivey]

What I love is his, like, his enthusiasm, the way he falls in love with the project and just has its back from the beginning. Like, I just love how he is so freaking loyal and faithful to the thing that he's doing that it really inspires everybody else to, like, be as enthusiastic. Also, there's never a. He never lets the ball drop in any conversation. Like, if it's an awkward table, he will keep.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Keep it up.

[Emily Spivey]

Like, the vibration is very high with Ike Barinholtz. It's a very high vibration human being.

[Kathryn Hahn]

I think, whenever I've worked with him and he played a character on a show that I did, he was the biggest cheerleader. Just a positive joy bomb all the time. Brought so much to the role, helped really develop this character, and then was completely so supportive and positive the whole time. Showed up for every event. Just an absolute gentleman, funny joy bomb. I mean, what a delight. And I thank him for that because that was a show that I had created and was running, and he really helped with my confidence. Like. Like, I would find myself going, oh, thank God. Ike's gonna be there today. Like, okay, good Ike. B. Fucking God. You're God among men.

[Amy Poehler]

Hansi, by the way, if you have in any way turned off your ac, feel free to turn it on.

[Emily Spivey]

Oh, thank you so much.

[Amy Poehler]

What if you just see me, like.

[Emily Spivey]

Just slump to the side and then you see the roof?

[Amy Poehler]

Just the Rouge and Polar and I.

[Kathryn Hahn]

Are trying to guess which parking structure you're in from.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Oh, God.

[Kathryn Hahn]

What structure is she in?

[Emily Spivey]

There's the sun beating down from above, Louisiana, baby. There it is.

[Kathryn Hahn]

LA is so bright. Louisiana is too bright.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. We're just using context clues, like, from her window to try to figure out where she is.

[Emily Spivey]

Like, where is she?

[Kathryn Hahn]

God, Is that a Vons? No, it's a gal's thing.

[Emily Spivey]

I mean, I first was really introduced to him, and I know he had, like, such a huge body of work before this, but was on your podcast, Amy, that character that he played on with Dr. Sheila was so freaking brilliant. Like, so dropped in. I really dig it. I also dig his height and his father.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. Yes, his height and his father. He's a tall gentleman, and he also has a dad who is new to the biz that we're gonna talk about today. You're talking. I just wanna clarify. You're talking about a show called the Chris Chapman do over, which is on Odyssey, a podcast that we produced as well. As a great podcast that Emily Spivey is the star of called Women Talking about Murder. And they were both with the great Liz Kakowski. And Liz and I also made Chris Chapman do over with our producer Jenna here. And those are two great examples of, like, our love of podcasts and us trying to do comedic versions of styles that we love. And in the one that Ike did, Ike plays one of those guys who can't get it right, and so he has to keep apologizing for the thing he said the week before. And Ike was so good at playing a guy who was trying to learn from his mistakes but who had hot takes and he had to save them.

[Kathryn Hahn]

So good. Such a good character.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay, so the last question I'll ask and let you guys go. Thank you so much for this is I'm talking to Ike, and what do you think I should ask him?

[Kathryn Hahn]

How are his girls? How is it being. How is it being girl dad? And because that's something I really always admired, too, is the fact. Because he has three girls, right?

[Amy Poehler]

Three girls. Yes.

[Kathryn Hahn]

And which I think is so cute.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes. Him and his wife Erica are awesome and awesome parents. And. Yep. Spivey, you and I have boys, so. Yeah, it's a combination. It feels very different.

[Kathryn Hahn]

Well, yeah, I thank God I had a boy. If I had a girl, I'd be completely, like, half crazy. I wouldn't know what to do.

[Emily Spivey]

I'm sure you know this, but I would love to know what in the birth order in his family where he falls and how that influenced him as a comedian and where that all started from for him.

[Amy Poehler]

Wait, what is everyone's birth order on this call? Where are you and your fam?

[Emily Spivey]

I'm oldest of three, and I have two younger brothers.

[Kathryn Hahn]

I'm the oldest, and then I have a younger sister. But people think that I'm the youngest a lot because my sister is so responsible and seems like an adult. And I guess I don't seem like that.

[Emily Spivey]

Amy, you always seem like the oldest in your family.

[Amy Poehler]

I am the oldest. So I'm. I have to say, because I am. I'm older than my parents, which I know that's.

[Kathryn Hahn]

That's what people don't realize about polar.

[Amy Poehler]

She's weirdly older and weird than both her parents. But Ike is the oldest in his family. I know that. And his younger brother is also an actor, so it's just two brothers and his dad and now his dad.

[Emily Spivey]

That's something I would love to hear about what that is. And also, I feel like they all live here. So he has these huge Sunday dinners with everybody all the time. And it feels like. It just feels so wholesome over there. That just kind of like a Sunday roast with all your relatives coming over. Like, sounds like. I mean, it's so far from what, my Sunday. My family spread out all over the country. But I always feel like a. Like a tenderness towards that. It feels really sweet.

[Amy Poehler]

I love a man who likes to eat. I don't trust a man who. Who doesn't eat. It's weird.

[Kathryn Hahn]

It's weird.

[Emily Spivey]

Okay, well, have fun talking to Ike. I can't wait to hear it.

[Amy Poehler]

Thanks. And I can't wait. Can't wait to have you guys on this too. And so that we get to talk well about you behind your backs too. So. OK. Love y'all. Ms. You.

[Kathryn Hahn]

All right. Love you guys. Good to see you, Han.

[Emily Spivey]

Before I pass out.

[Amy Poehler]

I can't wait. And then.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Oh, no.

[Kathryn Hahn]

There she goes.

[Amy Poehler]

She. Wow.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Oh, no.

[Amy Poehler]

This message is brought to you by Apple Card. Apple Card is a no fee credit card that gives you daily cash back every day. That's 3% back at Apple and 2% back on every purchase made with with Apple Card using Apple Pay. Apply for Apple Card in the wallet app on your iPhone today. Subject to credit approval. Variable APRs for Apple Card range from 18.24% to 28.49% based on credit worthiness rates as of January 1, 2025. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch terms and [e-mail] this message is brought to you by Apple Card. Apple Card is a no fee credit card that gives you daily cash back every day. That's 3% back at Apple and 2% back on every purchase made with Apple Card using Apple Pay. Apply for Apple Card in the Wallet app on your iPhone today. Subject to credit approval. Variable APRs for Apple Card range from 18.24% to 28.49% based on creditworthiness rates as of January 1, 2025. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City branch terms and more at AppleCard. Wait, Ike, look at the fake food. Fake food. This is all my personal collection.

[Ike Barinholtz]

You are one of the great collectors of fake food in North America.

[Amy Poehler]

Wait, this is the fake food. This is fake food for my house.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Oh my God.

[Amy Poehler]

Look at the garlic.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Fake garlic. I'm obsessed with this tiny nutrigrain. Can I have it?

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, really? Why don't you open it up? Wow.

[Ike Barinholtz]

There's actually a.

[Amy Poehler]

There's a weird Japanese nutrigrain thing in there.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I can't prove this, but I feel that the people who make. Make these are perverts. You know, I mean, there's something mildly perverted about it. In a good way.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, you know what, can we talk about that? You know that we have a theory that there's. There's a difference between pervert and creep.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Perverts can be great.

[Amy Poehler]

Agree.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Some of our greatest Americans have been perverts. Fdr, hands down, the best president. Huge pervert.

[Amy Poehler]

This is exactly why I wanted you here. We've got Ike Barinholtz and we're at. We're off to the races.

[Ike Barinholtz]

But to your point, perverts can be good. Creeps almost always are bad.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. And it's. And perverts. You know, people are so afraid of creeps that I think they can overcorrect and they can scoop up perverts.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

When they should just scoop up the creep.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Welcome back to justice for Perverts.

[Amy Poehler]

When I hear the word pervert.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

I go like this. Like, for those people that are listening, not watching, I just get a little smile on my face. Like. Yes, Like a little pervert.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Oh, little pervert. Sweet little pervert.

[Amy Poehler]

You know, someone who's just like, I don't know, doing their thing. Again, consensual adults.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Consensual adults. Everyone's into it.

[Amy Poehler]

Sitting on cakes and they all like whatever they like to do. They like no cake shame. I do not. Cake shame.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I might cake shame a little bit just because it's a waste of a delicious cake.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay. That's right. Because you love food.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I love food. I take it very seriously. And when I see someone sitting in it and touching themselves, I'm just thinking, like, someone really put love into that cake and spent time baking. But to your point, I love a good pervert. Creeps. No, thank you.

[Amy Poehler]

No, thank you. And. And it's kind of like. Like good art. Like, you know it when you see it. You know the difference between a pervert and a creep? Do you think that we have high, a higher tolerance for perverts because of our age?

[Ike Barinholtz]

I think it's a generational thing. Yeah. I think the younger generations don't have as much love for. For perverts. But they're young. You'll get there, guys.

[Amy Poehler]

Get there. Give us a chance.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I can also tell you this. Sometimes perverts can become creeps.

[Amy Poehler]

100%.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I had a friend who I loved, and he had a dad who I actually liked a lot. But I remember Going to their house as a kid and the dad had Playboys in the bathroom. And I was like, amazing. This is the greatest thing in the world. And then his parents got divorced. And then the next time I went over there, he had Hustler under there. And then you're like, because Playboy, you're like. When you're whatever 8 year old boy, you're like, this is great. Hustler, like that's pulling. We're talking about pee now, which is not great for a young man.

[Amy Poehler]

I think what you're trying to say is that every creep started as a pervert, but not every pervert becomes a creep.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Could not be more well said. I believe it was Mark Twain who first coined that phrase.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, you said that to me at the Mark Twain Awards when we gave each other awards at the Mark Twain. Aw.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I whispered and I hugged you and said, congratulations. How's my hairpiece, by the way?

[Amy Poehler]

You look incredible, Ike.

[Ike Barinholtz]

This got woven into my head this morning. Looks gorgeous. A little, yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

What kind of glue do you use on that?

[Ike Barinholtz]

This is just good old Elmer's. Good old Elmer's. Pick up at right age. You know, paste it on there. It's a glue stick though. So it's not like I don't have white glue all over my hair.

[Amy Poehler]

Do you like wearing wigs, by the way?

[Ike Barinholtz]

Like, no, I hate it because I have like seven hairs left in my head and just whenever. Well, yeah, but whenever they. They pull them out like the clips, it just. That hair comes out.

[Amy Poehler]

I'm like, yeah, I have so much fake hair in my head right now. And it's wild. Like, if I took it all out right now and laid it on the table, it would look like a regular person's hair. But I need so much fake hair to look like I have even normal hair.

[Ike Barinholtz]

You are a great wig wearer, though. Like when you used to like old UCB SNL sketches, you really wore a wig better than anyone. Better than anyone in this old town.

[Amy Poehler]

Well, let's get really get started.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay. Let's be real and get this interview started.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Let's be real.

[Amy Poehler]

Ike Barinholtz is here. Ike, we met when and where we.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Met in, I can tell you pretty much like the exact year. It was like 1996. I had just started taking classes at Improv Olympic, which was your former theater, and you guys had just left like five months before I started to go start ucb. Maybe it was a year, but whatever, you guys had left and UCB was already kind of like the cool Thing. And I remember they were like, hey, there's a Amy Poehler and Matt Bestar coming back to teach a workshop at Improv Olympic at like 11am on a Monday. So I had a day job and I lied to my boss. I was like, I have the flu. And I went. And no one, like, for some reason, it was just me and three other people. And Matt Besser was like, yeah, we can't do this with this few amount of people. And so I remember you were like, why don't we just smoke a joint in the green room?

[Amy Poehler]

And I was like, I did, yeah. So unprofessional.

[Ike Barinholtz]

And I was like, this is the coolest person I've ever met in my life. Like. Like, I'm obsessed. This is incredible. And then you guys came back and did the workshop. And I remember the first half of the workshop was you teaching us, just getting in there and doing scenes. And I was like, this woman is the greatest improv teacher I've ever seen in my life. Like, oh, my God, I love her. She's the greatest. And then the second half was Besser, who was trying to teach us the Mortal Kombat form, you know?

[Amy Poehler]

Yes.

[Ike Barinholtz]

And the group of improvisers that were doing the workshop, we were all bad. We were all, like, very young and green and trying to get. And the form wasn't going well. I'll never forget Matt Besser, God bless him, just goes at one point, goes, no, I should have done something else.

[Amy Poehler]

He said it out loud. That's never a good sign when your teacher says out loud.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yes, yes, But. But I was still, like. It was such an amazing memory for me because it was really. When I first immersed myself in our world, and it was always cool. And then whenever, like, you know, I'd be at a friend's house watching Conan, and you would, like, come up and do a bit. I'd be like, she taught us a workshop, smoked a joint with her. Oh, my God.

[Amy Poehler]

How much? How you started when you were 18?

[Ike Barinholtz]

I was 18, yeah. I went to college for a year at Boston University and just did not enjoy it. Was not going to class, was very distracted, and I knew I wasn't gonna go back. And I knew I. I was being drawn to acting. And I went to go randomly see the Improv Olympics 10th anniversary show. And I believe you guys shot a video. And I was just blown away by seeing you guys saw McKay for the first time. Tim Meadows specifically was so funny in that show that I was like, I am signing up for classes tomorrow. So that was kind of my journey from college into the improv scene.

[Amy Poehler]

Do you ever think about finishing college?

[Ike Barinholtz]

I am going to try to enroll. Have you seen the film Back to School with Rodney Dangerfield? I'm gonna try to do that. No, you know what? That is something that, like, I just. I don't know if it is for everyone. You know what I mean? I think college used to be. At least when I was there, it was a thing where everyone went, and it was just a fait accompli that you go to college, you would get a job, and that's how it worked. And I think that's changed a little bit. And to me, I'm just kind of like, yeah, I don't. It's never something I. I was, like, longing for.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. You know, I mean, I just find your brain. Your brain so huge. You're super, super smart guy. I mean, we'll get to it. But you basically won. I mean, you won Jeopardy.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I won Celebrity Jeopardy. And then I did. I went on Regular Jeopardy. And I did win.

[Amy Poehler]

You won a regular Jeopardy. Yes.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

So when you were first in Chicago, and by the way, I'm wearing Chicago.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Clothes, like, my heart just melted. It's just beautiful. And that's like a vintage one, but it's nice. It's really good.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes.

[Ike Barinholtz]

That Dave Stassen would go wild.

[Amy Poehler]

We love Dave Stassen.

[Ike Barinholtz]

We love Dave Stassen.

[Amy Poehler]

Your writing partner, co creator, wonderful Mantu of Running Point.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

Great show. That's coming out or out is out?

[Ike Barinholtz]

It's out.

[Amy Poehler]

It's out. With Kate Hudson. Mindy Kaling also producing on that. And you guys are huge basketball fans. We've talked a lot about basketball. Can we talk about the Bulls? And I mean, no. I don't know where to start, but.

[Ike Barinholtz]

The current Bulls or the great Bulls of my youth? Because I will say this. Growing up in Chicago in the 90s was so remarkable that I am so fortunate that I've inoculated myself from any sports pain. Right. Meaning that the Bulls have been terrible now for a while. It's the worst. It's the lowest point for Chicago sports across the board. Every team is terrible, and I want them to do well, but I don't live and die by it. Because I had so much of a run in the 90s that I'm not like, oh, even if the Cubs went to the World Series this year and they lost, I wouldn't be like, damn it. I feel like the 90s gave me such a wonderful joy that I still hold Onto it. And I'm able to watch sports with a very healthy approach to it.

[Amy Poehler]

Do you remember the first time you saw Michael Jordan? And did you ever meet Michael Jordan?

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yes and yes. First time I saw. Saw him live, I went to a Bulls game before he was on the team when it was all Orlando Woolridge. I saw him his second season before he got hurt, or his third. I'm sorry, his third season after he came back for the first time. And it was crazy. It was. It was such a phenomenon. And like, especially in Chicago before he really blew up. And then I met him years later at a health club and I was holding a, you know, archie magazine.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. RG Comics.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I was holding like a Jughead Digest 12. And he walks in. I was froze. And I.

[Emily Spivey]

How old were you?

[Ike Barinholtz]

Oh, God, maybe 11. I don't want to say like 17. I was reading Jughead. Was it Jesse Jughead? It was actually Slaughterhouse Five.

[Amy Poehler]

That's creep territory. That's not pervert. That's creep.

[Ike Barinholtz]

That's creep.

[Amy Poehler]

That's true.

[Ike Barinholtz]

So but I just walked up to him and held up my Jughead digestion and he just looked at it and signed it. And I was. I melted.

[Amy Poehler]

So you have it signed still?

[Ike Barinholtz]

I have it signed still. It's still at home. And yeah, it's. It's. I love him. I love him. I love, too, that he has lasted so long. That documentary that came out was so great. And a whole new generation of people never saw him play live. Still understand how wonderful he is.

[Amy Poehler]

Well, as we continue to talk about sports, I just want to say that underneath my Chicago Bulls sweatshirt is this guy.

[Ike Barinholtz]

It's gonna be a Boston Celtic shirt.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, it is gonna be a Boston Celtic shirt. Because look at this. That's really good.

[Ike Barinholtz]

That's really good. I did love him very, very much.

[Amy Poehler]

Is it? Is it? I loved him so much.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I loved him so much.

[Amy Poehler]

That was the 80s Celtics wore the 90s bulls for us, they kept us going for a really long time.

[Ike Barinholtz]

He was amazing. And I know there's like a nine part Celtics documentary that's coming up.

[Amy Poehler]

Bill Simmons, Bill. We cannot wait to see this.

[Ike Barinholtz]

No, he's from Boston. Bill Simmons.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes, of course. Bostonians are like Canadians. Bostonians are like, love to say they're from Boston and they know everyone from Boston. Canadians are the same way.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Very true.

[Amy Poehler]

They're like, you know, Brian Adams is Canadian.

[Ike Barinholtz]

It's like, okay, all right, you got that one.

[Amy Poehler]

Fine. I was like, you know, you should.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Leave with Martin Short, maybe.

[Amy Poehler]

Can you tell us A little bit about Running Point.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah. So Running Point is, is it's a story inspired by the life of Jeannie Buss, who is the owner of the Lakers, who I've actually gotten to know over the years, and who really is like, I imagine like most owners of sports teams, like, have like satanic rituals where they worship Malik and they're billionaires and stuff. She's just like a normal person, you know, it's like a family business and. And she's so, like, forthcoming and wonderful and her life really is crazy. I mean, she's the only female owner in a. In a incredibly male dominated field and running a legacy team, one of the most important teams in the league. And so we thought that a family comedy or Mindy Kaling thought like a family comedy set in a basketball office would be a really funny world, and thought of Dave and I and brought it to us. We obviously worked with her on the Mindy project years ago and we really loved her and hadn't worked with her in forever. And so the three of us just kind of talked about what it could be and what we think it is. And yeah, that was like three years ago and it's doing really well. It was, yeah. Number one on Netflix, baby. Shout out. Papa Ted. We love you, Papa Ted.

[Amy Poehler]

For those of you who are just listening, we just dabbed.

[Ike Barinholtz]

We dabbed in honor of Ted Sarandos. Running Point is canceled.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, no. You just got a text.

[Ike Barinholtz]

It was the dab. Little dab will do you is what they say.

[Amy Poehler]

A little dab will not do you in.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Little dab will do you in.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, my God. You do a lot of things really well. You write, you produce, you act, and they're all like, you, you. You have a lot of skills that you can do really well. How do you. I guess the question is, like, which one right now is the one that's like turning you on the most? Which is the one that, like, because you just were in as an actor.

[Ike Barinholtz]

My erotic photography and it's a problem.

[Amy Poehler]

I can't believe I said turning you on. Why did I say that? I'm so bad at this. I've just started. I seriously don't know how to ask questions like, what are questions? Hey, there's one that's a question. What are questions? Because on it. But. But I guess what I'm trying to get at is I don't think enough people know how much you write.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I'll say that, yes, I. Right now is a very blessed time where I love shooting and acting and Being on set and production, that is fantastic as you get older. You know, I'm at that age right now where my kids are still want to like hang out with me a little bit. And they still like, they're going to be gone soon. They're going to be teenagers that just don't want to hang out with me.

[Amy Poehler]

You have so much time until they're teenagers. Yeah, they're still little.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah. But yeah, the oldest is like, she's like 11 going on.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ike Barinholtz]

And it will, I know it will go fast. So right now, like in this little phase of like writing and spending, I think also too, we've kind of through the years, through Covid, we figured out how to like really focus a writer's room and be very effective with our time. Like I'm sure like at Parks, you know, you remember like, oh yeah, they're coming in at 10 and they're leaving at 10. You know what I mean? Like, it's long, long hours. It is a little bit better now where you can kind of manage your time a lot better, target a lot more, still put in the time, but be able to cook dinner every night. That's my real favorite thing to do is to like cook dinner at night for the kids and eat like a giant just bucket of food. That is like the fun zone right now. And that will, you know, hopefully change at some point because in a few months I'll be like, I need to get out of here. I need to be on set.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, I don't, you know, maybe for people that aren't too aware when you're on set filming something, it's kind of when you have the least amount of control of your time and you're just surrender completely and you're looking at a 12 hour day.

[Ike Barinholtz]

12 hour plus day. If you're acting too, you're getting into hair and makeup. If you're shooting far away, you know, you're waking up at 5am and that's when it can get rough. But then you're exhilarated because you're on set and you're funny and you're with all the fun people and stuff. So. But right now the zone I'm really loving is being, creating and being at home and writing and stuff.

[Amy Poehler]

I remember with Parks, I mean the best thing about it was the immersion into the world. And the worst thing about it was just so much time away. Like I really had to figure out how to balance having little kids and being on set. It is not easy.

[Ike Barinholtz]

It's hard. And we're lucky, too. Like, we're shooting Running Point in la. I got friends that are like, oh, yeah, I'm going to Newfoundland for four months to shoot, like, a Sci Fi show. That's really tough. That's where you're like, oh, man, you got to really love acting or, you know, need to do it and go. And that. That's the rough one.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay. And then to get to the other thing that you're doing, because I'm very excited to watch this.

[Ike Barinholtz]

The studio Studio with our good friend Katherine Hahn. We love her. I remember you told me years ago, you were like, do you know Kathryn Hahn? And I was like, no. You're like, you would love her. And you were right.

[Amy Poehler]

Kathryn Hahn is. She's a good example of someone I met in my 40s. You know, you think you've kind of met your friends for life. And Catherine and I, we just kept hearing about each other, and I was a big fan of her work, and I knew her work. And then she came on Parks and Paul Rudd was like, have you not. You don't know Katherine Hahn? And he said, oh, you two are gonna. And we just immediately. And she is one of my dearest friends and so funny and so talented.

[Ike Barinholtz]

People are obsessed with. With her on Instagram, like. Like, if someone posts, like, a trailer for the show, like, every reply is like, mother, Mother, I'm coming for you. I love you.

[Amy Poehler]

You know why? Because her and Plaza did the Kissy Kissy.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Oh. Oh, I know.

[Amy Poehler]

It did a little bit about witches. Witches. Kissy Kissy Witches.

[Ike Barinholtz]

And the original show was called Kissy Kissy Witches.

[Amy Poehler]

The original show was. It was like, I'm doing a show.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Where me and another Wizard Kiss. I don't think it's Wizard Kiss. Wizard Kiss actually does sound like a pristine show.

[Amy Poehler]

Who would be the guy that we would like to see you kiss in Wizard Kiss?

[Ike Barinholtz]

Do you remember Bull from Night Court? Richard Mole?

[Amy Poehler]

I'm gonna say, who would we want to see you kiss in Wizard Kiss? It would be like, do you want.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Like, a younger guy? Like, I met Timmy the other night at the Laker game. Should we get Timmy?

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, my God. I would binge.

[Ike Barinholtz]

She's adorable.

[Amy Poehler]

If you and Timothee Chalamet kissed in a new show called Wizard Kiss.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Jimmy, if you're around, give me a call.

[Amy Poehler]

And you guys are casting spells. And every once in a while, you go.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Critics are like, this is the worst show ever. It's the end of peak tv. It's over. So many executives are firing because of this Green lighting.

[Amy Poehler]

How about Timmy? Shallow Timothy. Shalom.

[Ike Barinholtz]

He's got the good.

[Amy Poehler]

Speaking of Michael Jordan.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah. That's. I. That's. I thought of you, and I thought. Because I was like, that's. That's my guy right there.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay. And I promise we'll cut this part, because I could talk about it forever, but, you know, I'm kind of into the Enneagram, which is this, like, thing that tells what personality you are. And Ike is an enneagram 3. So is Jenna, our producer. So is Tina. So is Seth Achiever. Right. Threes are like, get it, win.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

Be the best.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

I would say that Timmy's speech is ultimate enneagram3 energy. He recently gave a speech at the SAG Awards where he basically said, I want to be the greatest.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

I loved it.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I loved it. I loved it. And I loved it, too. He wasn't like, I want to be the greatest, like Brando. He's like, no, I want to be like Michael Jordan and Michael Phelps and Viola Davis. Viola Davis, Yeah. It wasn't just due to acting. It was. Was this whole spectrum of things. Yeah, no, he's got the. He's got the goods, man. He's making mustaches great again. He really is. I saw him at the Laker game. He had a beautiful mustache. He looked great.

[Amy Poehler]

Who grows a great mustache?

[Ike Barinholtz]

Henry Cavill.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Ike Barinholtz]

That thing is incredible.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ike Barinholtz]

It's. It's, like, thick and strong. Mine is not great. Mine looks like a guy that, like, is killed very early on by Liam Neeson in one of the Taken films. That's like, I don't know what I like. Yeah, like that. It's, like, thin and wispy, and I will grow it out sometimes, and, like, no one likes it. It's not.

[Amy Poehler]

Have you ever grown a full beard?

[Ike Barinholtz]

I had one, like, literally two weeks ago. It looked like it was very, like, was I an imam? Was I a rabbi? Somewhere in between? I don't know. But it was very long and thick and quite frankly, gross. It got you, like, once it gets past a certain point, once you're dealing. What's that smell? Oh, I had cereal, like, you know what I mean? It's so disgusting. So, yeah, so I shaved it, and then my daughters were like, we missed the beard.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, we like it.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Oh, too bad. Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Did Erica like it? Your wife?

[Ike Barinholtz]

I think at first it was kind of like, oh, this is nice.

[Amy Poehler]

She's like, oh, there's a stranger in the house. She was like, oh, no, don't chase me.

[Ike Barinholtz]

We'll do a whole scenario.

[Amy Poehler]

Don't chase me. Don't chase me.

[Ike Barinholtz]

The money's in the safe. Leave me alone.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, fine. I'll take off clothes. Fine. For every five minutes, she says some long, complicated thing. For every five minutes I don't tell you the code to the safe.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I'll take off one article of clothing.

[Amy Poehler]

One article of clothing. Bearded man that doesn't live here. That's not my husband. You're like, wait, what's the rule?

[Ike Barinholtz]

Let's just watch tv. Come on.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay. But she liked it. She didn't mind it.

[Ike Barinholtz]

No, she didn't mind it. And it was cool. But then it just got like. I think for the premiere of Running Point, I showed up. And also, when you're an actor, people are like, what are you shooting? And you're like, nothing. Like, are you in the Revenant Part 2? You're like, no, I'm just. I got nothing going on.

[Amy Poehler]

You brought up Kathryn Hahn. And we do this fun thing on Good hang, where before we have our guest in, we do a little zoom, a little fun zoom with people that know them and we talk well behind their back.

[Emily Spivey]

Ooh.

[Ike Barinholtz]

It's almost like this is your life. A little bit. Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

It's a little bit like. Like, you know, the idea is that you don't really know who's going to show up and who's going to pop in. And so we did a zoom with Katherine Hahn and Michelle Obama.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Who are you going to say.

[Amy Poehler]

With your first wife? Michelle Obama.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Oh, yes, yes.

[Amy Poehler]

And Catherine, we did it with Katherine Hahn and Emily Spivey.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Oh, my God.

[Amy Poehler]

And we got to talk about two.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Of my all time faves. Truly.

[Amy Poehler]

I know.

[Ike Barinholtz]

God, I love Spivey.

[Amy Poehler]

And they had questions for you. Oh, and Han, Spivey's question was about your daughters. Like, what is it like to be the dad of three girls? You know, you're a girl dad, as they would say.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I'm a girl dad. I'm a girl boss. And.

[Amy Poehler]

And that's problematic.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I'm a girl interrupted. It is. You know, I grew up in a house with boys, just me and my brother. And it is. It is a delight. Like, it is like, you know, and again, I'm in that zone where they are really, like, still little and they want to play, and they are asking me questions about the world. You know what I mean? And I am very well aware of the fact that there will be a time where they're just, like, they won't even be texting. They'll have, like, A chip in their brain and be like, dad, I'm shipping.

[Amy Poehler]

Right now, but I have a vision of, like, you know, Peyton Foster getting married.

[Ike Barinholtz]

To each other. Jesus, Amy.

[Amy Poehler]

Sorry. No, not to each other. And you, first of all, you love to cry. You're a big crier.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Oh, Jesus. Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

And that might. I don't know if that's a girl dad thing, but it's definitely an Ike thing. You love to cry, I feel like. And I have this vision of you dancing with one of them and then the other sisters tapping out. Like, that's.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I'm.

[Amy Poehler]

I know.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Convulsions right now.

[Amy Poehler]

That's the part about girl dads, of which I.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Are you trying to make me cry? And then you're like. And then your grandfather's ghost comes down, and he tells you he forgives you. And I'm like, that would be good.

[Amy Poehler]

I think we're similar in this way, which is you. You live very big. You take big swings, and you love that about people. And you are definitely that kind of person. You're a party pumper. Yes, I think we both are. I'd like to say we share that in common. We like a good time. We like, trying to, like, get.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Get the party going, man.

[Amy Poehler]

Party going. The energy going. Like. Like, I've been to a million parties with you, small and big. And when Ike shows up, like, it's like, we're getting started.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Come on, let's cut loose.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. And have you always been like that? Do you think that just, like, that was your. From day one vibe?

[Ike Barinholtz]

I remember, like, when I was, like, five, like, my parents would have, like, friends over for dinner, and I would, like, after dinner, walk around and be like, let me see your cigar. Like, you know what I mean? Like, I was, like, doing bits and, like, imitating Indiana Jones and stuff. And so, like, I. I do love, you know, being around people. I love, like. Like, sitting around, like, a bunch of your friends, like, doing bits and laughing and. And maybe having a few drinks. Like, that is a very, very fun time. And. And I'm not stuffy again. I'm a lot like Rodney Dangerfield.

[Amy Poehler]

You really are. And let me just ask anybody under the age of 53 about Rodney Dangerfield. Okay, let's take a water break.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Nice. Stanley.

[Amy Poehler]

I wish Stanley was a sponsor.

[Ike Barinholtz]

You can get him.

[Amy Poehler]

Do you have a Stanley, too?

[Ike Barinholtz]

No, this is a Yeti. Should get Yeti as a sponsor, but an actual Yeti.

[Amy Poehler]

I love my Stanley so much. I know it's basic. Well, maybe not Stanley. If you're A sponsor. It's not basic.

[Ike Barinholtz]

It's not basic.

[Amy Poehler]

It's a wonderful way to drink, but if you're not a sponsor, I know it's kind of basic Bitch Stanley stuff, but there's something about the weird, like, baby bird gerbil thing you have to do or you have to go that's so satisfying, it's strange. Okay, so I feel like you're like, your Emily and. And Han and I were talking about this, about you, about your enthusiasm for life and for projects. Like, when you come onto a set, when you say yes to something, one of the best things about you is people know you're gonna commit.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Where did that feeling of, like, where did you learn that idea that you had to commit? And what is it? You know, what does it do for you?

[Ike Barinholtz]

That's. I'm gonna say that's. I think, from our old improv days. I think that's a big part of it is. I mean, just at, like, a basic level. Like, you know, I will give Mick Napier some credit on that one, because I remember Mick, who was like, a famous Chicago improv director and guru. I remember I was taking classes with him one time, and I think early on, when I would do improv, I was, like, a lot bit of a sideline guy. Like, I would kind of come on and say, like, a funny line from the side, and he was like, get in there, man. Get in there. You know, do weird. Be weird. And I think that kind of a big part of our improv training is learning to not be afraid of failing. So as you develop as a improviser, you start to learn that, like, oh, yeah, even if this scene is bad, you got to commit, man. You got to, like, go all in. You got to just. You got it. You got to do it. And I think that kind of just bled into, you know, the way I look at work. I will say I'm very lucky. I'm, you know, by and large, doing projects that I love. You know, if I was doing the Sound of Freedom too, you know, I don't know if I'd be like, hey, everybody, I got a food truck. Yeah. You know, but. But, you know, and again, most of the things I do are comedy and stuff, and I do think it's very important that, you know, when you're on set, when you're. When you're. When you're doing a. Whether a TV show or movie, it's a comedy. It should be loose. It should be.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Ike Barinholtz]

You know, it should be. People should be ready to laugh. And. And. And.

[Amy Poehler]

But you do. But you bring it over to not just your work, but your life, too. Like, when you're in something, you're really in it.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

You really are in it.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I. Yeah, I. You know, I. Again, I think it's just because I'm lucky that people I'm hanging out with, like, our friends, are great friends, you know, the people we know are wonderful people. And so I'm. I don't know, it feels like I think we're only here for a couple minutes, and it's good just to kind of throw it all out there, you know what I mean?

[Amy Poehler]

It's a heart. It's a good lesson to learn early. I always try to tell my kids this, too. Like, if you can get past the fear of being cool, like you said, or failing or being cool, the coolest people are the people that are like, take the biggest swings and go for it and just kind of. It's a hard lesson to learn to just get over being embarrassed. But you don't mind being embarrassed.

[Ike Barinholtz]

You also have to go through, I think, a lot of embarrassing things, like, you know what I mean? Like, I shit my pants on the L one time. You know what I mean? And, like, it was a nightmare. Like, I've been in countless bad improv scenes and movies that didn't work, episodes of TV that were just like, what? You know what I mean? Like, I've had. I've tripped at an airport. Like, you know what I mean? Like, all these things, I think, add up and kind of. They give you metal.

[Amy Poehler]

I think people probably know who maybe have listened to you on other podcasts, but you talked about being in Boom Chicago, which is, like, you performed in Amsterdam with Jordan Peele, Seth Meyers. Seth Meyers, Josh Meyers, Liz Kakao, Josh Meyers. All these, like, great people over there. And how many. How long were you there?

[Ike Barinholtz]

Almost two years, which was wild. It was crazy. It was a crazy party.

[Amy Poehler]

Did you celebrate Y2K in Amsterdam?

[Ike Barinholtz]

I did. Oh, what was that like, cocaine? Y.

[Amy Poehler]

Very cocaine.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Y Very cocaine.

[Amy Poehler]

Y, from what I remember, cocaine. But it was. It was Dutch, so it was like cocaine. Cocaine.

[Ike Barinholtz]

It's like regular cocaine. It's just more condescending.

[Amy Poehler]

It's just more to the point.

[Ike Barinholtz]

It's more directed to the point.

[Amy Poehler]

It's more direct.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yes. Yeah. But it was really. It was a great time. It was. It was just, you know, really fun people. I was really young. I was, like, 22. I'd never been to Europe before. We were doing, like, the theater was, like, becoming, like, a thing where, like, the Prime Minister would come and we would have huge audiences and it was just. It was like the ultimate party and we're all, like, still friends and it's, it was really, really fun.

[Amy Poehler]

That sounds so great.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I might go back this summer, but I would go back with my family, which would be interesting, you know, like, hey, girls. This is where I took too much ecstasy and vomited before I saw Oasis. Yeah. I picked the pill out of the vomit and ate it again. This is a different time, guys. This is like 1999. Please don't judge me.

[Amy Poehler]

This is. Before you could get another pill. You only had one. You had to get it out.

[Ike Barinholtz]

But it wasn't untrue.

[Amy Poehler]

Are you, Are you going to see Oasis again? Do you want to.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I would like to see Oasis.

[Amy Poehler]

Do you think that Oasis. I mean, I'm curious if Oasis. Will they, will they tour? Are they going to make it to the thing?

[Ike Barinholtz]

I think they will make it. They seem to have, like, they're pumped. I think they're pumped and I think they need the money very bad. There's an amazing clip, if you can find it, of Liam Gallagher making a little cup of tea. And he's just like, you know, back in the day, I had four people doing this for me. I had one person holding the cup, the other person put in the bag and the other person getting the water the person handed to me. Now I have to do this fucking shot by myself. That's why there's no more rock stars. It's really a good, good little clip. But, yeah, no, I'll see Oasis. Like, I, I, I'm a 90s boy.

[Amy Poehler]

Me too.

[Ike Barinholtz]

They were so fucking cool.

[Amy Poehler]

And those brothers fighting all the time. So cool. That was when you could just be like, maybe I'll show up, maybe I won't. And, and I mean, I guess you can do that now still, but it just feels more. You'll just get sued more.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

If you watch it back then, you just. People would go, hey, come on.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah, yeah. Oh, man, it sucks, but I had a great night anyways. Still saw Sebideaux. They rocked Cebado.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, my God, that's such a deep cut. I love your family. You have a brother in who's an actor, an incredible John Barinholtz. Great actor, great guy, wonderful family. Family man. And now you have a dad who is an actor.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

And Emily and, and Han both wanted to know what it was like now to have your dad be on tv. And we, they were Asking what your dad did before, which I didn't really know. What was your, was he a lawyer?

[Ike Barinholtz]

He was a lawyer for like 35 plus years. He wanted to be an actor back in the day. And then like he like audition for Second City when like John Belushi was there. Like he wanted to be an actor, but just. It was impatient. I was like, I'm gonna have a family, I'm gonna go to law school. And he, he was, yeah, it was a, you know, litigator for 30 plus years. But he was very supportive of my brother and I and they came to so many improv shows and there was a couple shows that we did with him. We brought him on stage and acted with him, which was really fun. Susan Messing brought him on stage and did a show with him one time was crazy. But. But yeah, he always had this kind of little passion. And I remember like five years ago he was like, I'm going to retire and I don't know what to do and blah, blah, blah. And I remember thinking like, well, move to LA and maybe you could, I don't know, get a line on a show or something or I'll put you in stuff if I can. And long story short, a year after that, a friend of a friend is like, hey, would your dad put himself on tape? We're trying to do like a new hybrid show where they need a judge. And it sounded insane, low stakes. I was like, yeah, sure, call. And so he, he, he, they called him and my brother and I put him on tape. And I remember filming him and looking at John and being like, it's pretty good, good read. He gave a nice little performance. So we sent in the tape and like an hour later a friend of mine is like, hey, I'm cast, I'm producing the show. I'm gonna cast your dad.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh.

[Ike Barinholtz]

And that show was Jury duty. So it comes out and it's a huge hit and he's like recognized everywhere he goes now. And like, God bless him, he loves. It's like it's his dream. He's so living his best life. And he's in Running Point, he's in the studio, He's. He was in The Accountant Part 2 with Ben Affleck.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, my God.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah. No, he's, he's, he's a working Los Angeles act actor. And it's amazing. And it's like, even when there's times where you're like, like, if I'm cooking dinner on Sunday at 4 o'clock and I got the stove, I got four burners going. He'll come up and be like, hey, remember, whenever you get a chance, if you could put me on tape for that thing. And you're like, okay. So then you're. All of a sudden, you're still taping him. Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, so we gotta talk. That's too much.

[Ike Barinholtz]

It's.

[Amy Poehler]

You gotta hand that over to somebody else.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah. And that someone else is not my mom. I'm not gonna put her through that.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay. So we did this podcast that was really fun. Cause we did a bunch of satirical podcasts.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Well, your pitch to me, which was still like the greatest pitch, is like, don't you want to improvise but not have to go on stage after 8pm you know, you were like, we could just go. If we were in a studio and just riffing. And I was like, oh, my God. And you were like, what if it was a fake podcast network? And basically one show. Your character. Doctor. Doctor.

[Amy Poehler]

Dr. Sheila. You have to say her name in the form of a question. She's not a doctor.

[Ike Barinholtz]

She's not a doctor. She kind of launched it. And then her last episode introduced Chris Chapman, which was my character, which was a. I would say he would be a member of the manosphere.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Right. He's definitely adjacent to some of the podcasts.

[Amy Poehler]

You've heard of experts who have supplements and labs and like a lot of. They do extreme stuff.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah. Kind of thing.

[Amy Poehler]

Rotique.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah. Where it's like, oh, yeah. No, you're supposed to actually sleep in ice water. Like, you're supposed to. I read that if you sleep for eight hours encased in ice water, it's. It will help your de. Inflammation. It's the stuff.

[Amy Poehler]

Or even more. They're like, it'll help with your menopause. That's what they say. And you're like, oh, okay, give that a shot.

[Ike Barinholtz]

But yeah. Misinformed, confident.

[Amy Poehler]

You were incredible at talking extemporaneously as that kind of person. Because like I said from the beginning, when we started and Liz Kakowski, the co. Creator, and I would laugh, we would just say, like, look at. I go. You are able to talk about subjects and go very deep about the conspiracy theories around them. And sometimes I don't know where you left where Chris Chapman.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

And Ike. There was some blurred lines.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah, definitely. There were some blurred lines. They came to me with an idea and they said, we know the effect you have on our society. We know how significant you are. We want you back. And they said, the one thing we are worried about we are worried that no women will listen to the show. So they said, you want to do the show, you need to get 1%, at least female listenership. Right.

[Amy Poehler]

The character of Chris Chapman is feeling like the world is moving too fast, and he's trying to catch up and trying to apologize for stuff that he got wrong. And then when he apologizes, he kind of. He gets it wrong again.

[Ike Barinholtz]

He gets it wrong again. And I think there is a big part of me, like, that, like, a lot of the guys that he's inspired by, I think there's a part of a lot of dudes who. There's a component of that. We're like, yeah, I like to smoke weed and like to, you know, talk about, like, oh, fuck, who shot jfk? I want to know who shot rfk. You know what I mean? Like, like, that's like, there's a part of that now I think all that is kind of gone, and it's been replaced by just.

[Amy Poehler]

Well, I think it's always interesting. And this is men and women. I think we both share this, which is. I think it's very funny when people act like experts. Super experts.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

And then go, hey, I'm just a guy. I'm just a guy, man.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I'm just a comedian.

[Amy Poehler]

No, no, no. You just told us about how to perform a heart transplant.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah. Yeah. You own that now. A little bit.

[Amy Poehler]

But you just said it. Yeah, but now it's like, but you know what I mean?

[Ike Barinholtz]

What do I know? I'm just a dumbass.

[Amy Poehler]

I just got a lot of hot takes.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

And, yeah, I'm just a dumbass. And I would say also with women, women are asked to also give tons of supportive advice and life advice in a way that if you missed it, you'd be like, I imagine they're a certified therapist. Yes. And you look at them, you're like, oh, no, they used to own a gym.

[Ike Barinholtz]

It is a golden age for those types of people in all fields. Like, when you go onto your Instagram algorithm or TikTok album, you just see people that are just like, I'm here to tell you that if you eat oatmeal, you will literally die. And, like, they're so confident. You're like, I was gonna have a bowl of oatmeal, but let me. Let me see what. What they're up to.

[Amy Poehler]

And I like the ones that are like. And by the way, I'm the biggest sucker for this too. Like, I, I. I am the audience, but I like people that are like, top five Ways to, you know, Top five ways to forgive your partner. It's like, number one, take a moment and realize they didn't mean to do what they did. Number two, make a decision to forgive your partner. You're just like, you're listening. This is so good. And it's just. It's so surface level stuff or it's just so, like, the only way to be happy is to choose to be happy and say to yourself, I'm a happy person. And you're like, yeah, yeah.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yes, you are right.

[Amy Poehler]

So. But I'm. I am a sucker for. I love a list. I love a list.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Especially workout stuff, too. Like.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, really?

[Ike Barinholtz]

Oh, oh, this is tough. Ways to like, to, like, do sit ups, but not doing sit ups. Yeah, sign me up. And then you see, like, a doctor comment being like, I'm actually a spine doctor. This will. You'll never walk again if you do this. You're like, okay, what do I do?

[Amy Poehler]

But then you do research in. The spine doctor is actually an actor who played a spine doctor on tv and he added the word doctor. And if you look a little closer.

[Ike Barinholtz]

His Last name is Dr. John.

[Amy Poehler]

Dr. John. Doctor. And. Yeah.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

One of the things we're doing on Good Hang is we're just kind of like figuring out, you know, these conversations are an attempt to, like, feel fun and an escape from a lot of stuff. What do you do? Where do you go? What do you watch? Who do you listen to? What kind of video do you put on? What do you watch to laugh?

[Ike Barinholtz]

One of the great things about having kids is you get to go back and you get to watch shows with them that you love. So I have gone through Seinfeld with my kids, and they loved Seinfeld.

[Amy Poehler]

Really?

[Ike Barinholtz]

They love the.

[Amy Poehler]

They do. Who do they. They love everyone.

[Ike Barinholtz]

They love everyone. They love jld. They love Kramer. They love Kramer's standup. No, I'm joking. He's maniac. But they just love the show. They love the show. And then we started the Mindy Project, which they were very into. They got into the office. Our next on the docket is a little show called Parks and Rec, which.

[Amy Poehler]

You'Re gonna love it.

[Ike Barinholtz]

They're going to, like, freak out about. So going back and watching those like, like watching three episodes of a sitcom that you have seen before but you love very much is like mother's milk to me. Like, it's so nice. It's so relaxing. It is. It is just. It just makes you laugh really hard and also just takes you back to that time. You know what I mean? You instantly go back to like 2012 and you're like a different world. What a. So those are the main ones. But I also like, I love when I see, like a totally new thing. Like, I loved. I love you ever seen movie Bottoms?

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. So good.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I loved that movie.

[Amy Poehler]

So good.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Reminded me of one of my all time favorite comedies. A very big movie in our house, which happens to star one Amy Poehler. Hamlet too, I'm not even kidding you. Is like, like, it is a Hamlet 2.

[Amy Poehler]

Check it out.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Masterpiece. It is one of the funniest movies ever made. I've seen it dozens of times. It's one of Eric and I's favorite. We always tell people about it. Like, have you seen Hamlet 2? They're like, what?

[Amy Poehler]

Steve Coogan, the greatest Steve Coogan, literally.

[Ike Barinholtz]

One of the funniest men of all time. And you and a bunch of high schoolers. Kathryn Keener. But Bottoms reminded me of that. And it came out of nowhere. I had never seen a lot of those people before. So when I see things like that and then, you know, there's. There is Tik Tok. There is.

[Amy Poehler]

You do watch, do you?

[Ike Barinholtz]

I do watch Tik Tok.

[Amy Poehler]

I do watch secret Tik Tok person.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I'm gonna. Once I learn how to do it.

[Amy Poehler]

Who do you like on Tik Tok or Instagram?

[Ike Barinholtz]

A lot of chefs. A lot of. A lot of chef work.

[Amy Poehler]

Do you like all that macho chef stuff where the guy, like, cooks in the woods and the meat?

[Ike Barinholtz]

Yeah, there's those guys, but then there's the guys that are, like, like, shirtless and they're like, kneading dough, like, putting their face in the dough. Like, it's like a butt. Like, and you're like, it's like, too much. Too much. Guys, you're turning mad. A little too much.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. Like, I love you so much. Thank you for doing this.

[Ike Barinholtz]

I can really say without a doubt, this was. You know what? It's a good hang.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, my God. It was a good hang.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Hang.

[Amy Poehler]

Please, just come back all the time.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Let's do it tomorrow.

[Amy Poehler]

All right, let's do it tomorrow. See you then.

[Ike Barinholtz]

Fantastic.

[Amy Poehler]

Thank you so much. Ike Barinhold. Isaac Barinholtz, your legal name. Thank you so much for being on the podcast. I love you and you're so hilarious. And check out the studio, which is coming out soon or already out, depending on when this is out. But I just want to end by saying when we do the polar plunge, we want to dip into something that changes the chemistry in our brain and makes us come alive. And I, I wore my Chicago Bulls sweatshirt today, but really, at the end of the day, I'm a Celtics girl. Grew up watching the Celtics and love them. And if you have not checked out the great documentary It's Bird versus Magic about Larry Bird and Magic Johnson and their incredible friendship, rivalry, competitive relationship, whatever you want to call it, highly suggest. It's excellent storytelling and it's about the two greatest players ever. I know Michael Jordan. Okay, thank you so much for listening to Good Hang. We love that you're here and we'll catch you next time you've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss Berman and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by by the Ringer and Paper Kite for the Ringer production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spillane, Kaia McMullen and Aleya Zaneris. For Paper Kite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy Mill.