Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out - Episode 152: Gary Gulman Returns: "Mommy, Look!"

Release Date: November 25, 2024
Host: Mike Birbiglia
Guest: Gary Gulman

Introduction

In Episode 152 of Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out, comedian Gary Gulman makes his triumphant return for a third appearance. Known for his insightful and introspective humor, Gary delves deep into his creative process, personal experiences, and the evolution of his friendship with Mike Birbiglia. This episode offers listeners an intimate look into Gary's latest endeavors, including his upcoming Off-Broadway show, "Grandiloquent," and his perspectives on comedy, friendship, and personal growth.

Gary Gulman's New Show: "Grandiloquent"

Gary introduces his new live show, "Grandiloquent," set to premiere in January at the Lucille Lortel Theater in New York City. The term "grandiloquent" refers to the use of extravagant or showy language, which Gary humorously ties to his own persona.

• Definition and Playful Self-Reference:
  • Gary Gulman [04:17]: "Grandiloquent means using extravagant or showy language. And here's my favorite part. Single word, especially when intended to impress."
  • Mike Birbiglia [04:56]: "It's grandiloquent."
  • Gary Gulman [04:59]: "It actually has my name in the definition."

Gary explains that "Grandiloquent" blends memoir elements with comedy, focusing on pivotal moments from his childhood and personal life that have shaped who he is today. He emphasizes the challenge of balancing humor with deeply personal storytelling.

• Show Content:
  • Gary Gulman [05:06]: "It's part memoir in that I talk a lot about my life from first grade... what I am now is based on that. That idea that the child is the father of the man."

Evolving Friendship Between Mike and Gary

The conversation shifts to the nature of Mike and Gary's friendship, exploring whether it remains a work relationship or has deepened into a genuine personal bond.

• Defining Friendship:
  • Gary Gulman [07:05]: "A friend is someone you do stuff with."
  • Gary Gulman [08:00]: "If you're my friend... I will make every effort to come save you."

Gary reflects on his past friendships and expresses a desire to move beyond superficial interactions to more meaningful connections. Mike shares his obsession with adult friendships, highlighting the challenges of maintaining and deepening these relationships outside the structured environment of school.

• Mike Birbiglia [08:46]: "I think the reason I'm pausing is that it's an obsession of mine. Like, adult friendship is an obsession of mine because it's like, it doesn't have the construct of school."

Despite the complexities, Gary remains optimistic about forming lasting friendships, especially within the comedic community where new connections often arise through collaborative projects.

• Gary Gulman [09:10]: "I've been pretty good about making some good friends after 40."

Comedy and Audience Relationship

Gary and Mike discuss the intricate relationship comedians have with their audiences, touching upon authenticity, performance pressure, and the dichotomy between stage and personal interactions.

• Authenticity on Stage vs. Off Stage:
  • Gary Gulman [18:38]: "It is so much the reason why I feel like I'm doing my best work is that I can trust an audience to be patient with me..."
  • Mike Birbiglia [20:27]: "These people expect a conversation that you aren't building to something."

Gary emphasizes the importance of creating a safe space on stage where he can explore deeper, more personal material without the immediate pressure of eliciting laughs. Mike parallels this with his struggle to reconcile his on-stage persona with his authentic self, highlighting the challenge performers face in maintaining genuine interactions outside their performances.

• Gary Gulman [21:05]: "I think all they want is for you to be earnest and sincere."

Creative Process and Joke Development

The duo delves into Gary's creative process, exploring how jokes are crafted, refined, and tested over time. They discuss the balance between specificity and universality in humor, as well as the influence of personal experiences on comedic material.

• Writing Smart Jokes:
  • Gary Gulman [48:17]: "One of the things I've been working on is this, this intellectual insecurity and how it's beneficial to my audience in that I want to write smart jokes."

Gary shares his dedication to producing intelligent humor that resonates deeply with his audience, even grappling with moments when jokes seem too effortless to be genuinely funny.

• Gary Gulman [50:19]: "You can't think about if something seems too easy to be good."

Mike offers insights into balancing structured storytelling with improvisation, encouraging Gary to incorporate personal dynamics to enrich his material.

Personal Anecdotes and Reflections

Gary recounts poignant stories from his past, including a harrowing experience in his youth that shaped his resilience and approach to adversity.

• Running Away from Threats:
  • Gary Gulman [39:07]: "I really ran from my. Ran from fear."
  • Mike Birbiglia [40:37]: "This is straight out of Goonies. This is Jewish Goonies."

This story not only showcases Gary's knack for blending humor with serious moments but also illustrates the complexities of his upbringing and the lasting impact of his early experiences.

Charitable Contributions and Givewell.org

Towards the end of the episode, Gary discusses his involvement with charitable causes, specifically highlighting the Helen Keller Foundation and the principles of effective altruism promoted by Givewell.org.

• Effective Altruism:
  • Gary Gulman [53:33]: "There are kids and people who suffer from vitamin A deficiency and it causes blindness and it can cause death. So by providing vitamin A, it's a cheap, effective way to save lives."

Gary advocates for supporting charities that maximize the impact of donations, emphasizing the importance of informed philanthropy.

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Gary expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to share his journey and insights with Mike and the listeners. Both comedians reaffirm their mutual respect and excitement for future collaborations, encouraging listeners to attend Gary's upcoming shows and support the charitable causes they discussed.

• Gary Gulman [54:32]: "Thank you. I really appreciate that."
• Mike Birbiglia [54:21]: "We'll contribute to them. We'll link to the show notes and encourage the listeners to contribute as well."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Gary Gulman [00:00]: "If you have one good friend, you're doing great."
• Gary Gulman [05:06]: "The child is the father of the man."
• Gary Gulman [06:07]: "Humiliating."
• Gary Gulman [07:25]: "I think I'm very positive about the prospects for a Goldman child."
• Mike Birbiglia [16:07]: "Mommy, Look."
• Gary Gulman [17:16]: "You need a place where you can kill and a place where you can bomb."
• Mike Birbiglia [19:15]: "Developing a deep personal connection with the audience."
• Gary Gulman [21:27]: "This is understatement."

Final Thoughts

Episode 152 offers a comprehensive exploration of Gary Gulman's comedic philosophy, his personal growth, and the dynamics of his friendship with Mike Birbiglia. Listeners gain valuable insights into the artistic process, the challenges of maintaining authenticity, and the importance of meaningful human connections both on and off the stage. Gary's honesty and reflective nature make this episode a must-listen for fans interested in the intersection of comedy and personal storytelling.

Support for this episode comes from Mint Mobile and Helix Sleep.

Note: This summary excludes advertisement segments and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions between Mike Birbiglia and Gary Gulman.