← Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out
Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out
201. Heidi Gardner: Behind Your Favorite SNL Characters
00:54:33
Heidi Gardner went from being a hairdresser in LA to joining the Groundlings to 8 seasons on SNL, where she created characters like “Dianne, The Mom Who's Only Read About New York on Facebook” and “A Woman Who Insists She's Not Mad.” Heidi talks with Mike about her SNL experience, which included hosting a tailgate party in her dressing room for Travis Kelce, and she shares the lessons she learned about creating comedic characters from her days in the Groundlings. Plus, Heidi’s love for her native Kansas City, and an update on Mike and Jen’s rat problem.
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- [00:01]
A
One of the things that always interests me about your story is that you were like a hairdresser for a considerable amount of time before you did comedy. Like in la.
- [00:12]
B
Yeah.
- [00:13]
A
Was it that your co workers were like, you're funny, you should do this.
- [00:17]
B
It was a friend of mine that I met who was in the Groundlings and she said, come see me in a show tonight. And I went and saw it and it was so funny and great. And at the end of it I was like, oh my gosh, I'm so excited because now I can take any out of towners from Kansas City to Groundling shows. Like, thank you for introducing me to this.
- [00:41]
A
Right.
- [00:42]
B
And she said, I invited you to the show. Cause I thought maybe you don't wanna take classes here. And I was like, I'm not an actor. And she was like, you leave me 7 minute voicemails in character. You can do this.
- [01:00]
A
That is the voice of the great Heidi Gardner. Yay. This is episode 201 of Working It Out. We are thrilled to have Heidi Gardner on the show today. I've been a fan of hers for many, many years. She's on SNL for eight seasons. She's on the new Tracy Morgan series the Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins. She is hilarious and we have a great chat today. Last week, of course, we had John Mulaney for the 200th episode. It was probably our biggest episode ever. If you haven't heard that one, go back and listen. We have a great chat. It is on YouTube as well. Thanks to everyone who has signed up for Working It Out Premium on Apple Podcasts. There's more bonus content coming very soon. We're actually recording it today, so you'll get it, I think next week. And of course you get ad free versions of this very podcast. Some people like the ads, like my wife Jenny, and some people don't. I also have some tour dates coming up with John Mulaney, Nick Kroll and Fred Armisen. They're coming up this fall in New Hampshire as well as Grand Rapids, Michigan. Also, I will be doing my own show at Netflix is a Joke Festival May 6 in Los Angeles at the Wilshire Ebol Theater where I've played before. It's a lovely venue. Get your tickets now@burrbigs.com I think you're going to love this conversation I have with Heidi Gardner today. We talk about her starting out doing improv and sketch comedy at the Groundlings in Los Angeles. We talk about snl. We talk about Kansas City. We talk about creating A realistic character in sketch comedy. Heidi and I both share advice we got when we were starting out. I think Heidi is fantastic. We improvise at UCB with the Please don't destroy guys before. She's just a salt of the earth person and a hilarious, hilarious writer and performer. Enjoy my conversation with the great Heidi Gardner. When you did snl, were you stressed every week. Every week? Like every week?
- [03:11]
B
Yeah.
- [03:12]
A
That's interesting. Do you feel like now that it's over, you're like, not stressed?
- [03:16]
B
Yeah.
- [03:16]
A
Like you're mellow?
- [03:19]
B
Yeah. Yeah. But I also think when I was doing it, after a while you get to a point where you're like, well, I'm comfortable here. I'm good. I'm comfortable. Like, I can just have fun. But no matter what, you're always. It is high stakes and you care so much.
- [03:35]
A
It is high stakes.
- [03:36]
B
Yeah.
- [03:37]
A
But also, did you have to talk yourself down from the ledge when you're there and go like, well, what's the worst thing that could happen?
- [03:45]
B
No, it was always like the worst thing that could happen or the worst thing that could happen was like not getting to do your thing that week. It was just there were so many worst things that could happen and at least one of the worst things would always happen.
- [03:57]
A
That would. I have to say, like, I envy so many things about you guys getting to do snl. But like, that's the thing that would crush me is if I worked on something and then someone was like, you can't do it.
- [04:12]
B
I know like the majority of what you do to there especially I think for me, I mean, I, like, I ended up getting cut, I feel like more than anyone in the world.
- [04:24]
A
No way. There's no way.
- [04:26]
B
I really think so. And, and it's weird because when I think about other things that I do in my life, like I love to throw parties, I love to like. And I, when I get to do that, like, I'll do a whole like three day weekend party and I get to have all my ideas and I get to execute it, I get to see it turn out well. And when I think about all that energy and giving all that energy at that job and most of the time you don't see it. You're like, what?
- [04:56]
A
Totally.
- [04:57]
B
Especially when you know you're competent and you're like, I saw myself do good.
- [05:00]
A
Right, Right. Because it's ultimately like so many people deciding.
- [05:06]
B
Totally. Yeah.
- [05:07]
A
And then probably like the audience deciding in some ways, like at the rehearsal. Do you ever have something that made rehearsal and you're Just like, this is one of the best things I've ever done. It got cut.
- [05:18]
B
It's weird. I. When things would get cut, I would be upset sometimes. You totally know. Sometimes you're upset. I wouldn't watch them back a lot because I was maybe too sad about it. And then years later, I watched a few that were on the server and I was like, probably good at. Got caught.
- [05:40]
A
Totally.
- [05:41]
B
They saved me there.
- [05:42]
A
Totally.
- [05:44]
B
But, yeah, there's not one that fully comes to mind that I'm like, but yeah, I definitely had a few for sure. Yeah.
- [05:52]
A
Your characters on Weekend Update are, like, some of my favorite ever on the show.
- [05:57]
B
Thank you.
- [05:58]
A
Just like, thanks. Well, I feel like it's always, like, woman who blank. Co worker who blank. You know, like, a couple of them were like, the mom who's only read about New York on Facebook. The co worker who's extremely busy doing seemingly nothing. A mom whose son just got famous. A woman who insists she's not mad. How do you pitch those? And, like, how do you decide if it's good enough to pitch?
- [06:28]
B
It is genuinely just seeing someone in the world. Like, I remember watching that. It's just seeing a woman and being like, oh, I think I got you pegged. Just off of an action, just something she's wearing. Like, I watched that Jake Paul, Mike Tyson fight, and at the end, you know, he's celebrating in the ring, and you see Logan Paul get in there, you see his, like, beautiful girlfriend, and then you just see this, like, kind of sneaky, sneak woman come in who's actually blinged out more than anyone. And I'm like, that's the mom. And she is loving her life. And then it just goes from there. And then I start thinking about other moms, and, you know, you think about the juxtaposition of a. That mom to, like, a mama Kelsey. And, like.
- [07:10]
A
Yeah.
- [07:11]
B
And that one felt to me. I just had a billion ideas immediately.
- [07:15]
A
Yeah.
- [07:17]
B
So, yeah, it's just. And it really was just this woman sneaking in the ring.
- [07:21]
A
Just this little mob. That is so funny. Did you know, you know mama Kelsey, right?
- [07:27]
B
I've met her.
- [07:28]
A
Right?
- [07:28]
B
Yeah.
- [07:29]
A
And because you're K.C. folk.
- [07:32]
B
K.C. folk.
- [07:33]
A
And you're like, ride or die on K.C.
- [07:36]
B
Ride or die.
- [07:36]
A
Similar to Caleb Heron, who was on here too.
- [07:39]
B
Yes. Love Caleb. So I have to be ride or die Caleb. I would be anyway.
- [07:44]
A
No, he's great. And you guys do that big, slick fundraiser every year for Children's Hospital in Kansas City. Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, Rob Riggle. Rob Riggle.
- [07:56]
B
Dave Koechner, Eric Stonestreet. Yeah.
- [07:58]
A
It seems like there's, like a ton of goodwill for Kansas City.
- [08:02]
B
I know. We're so.
- [08:04]
A
From the hometown folks.
- [08:05]
B
From the hometown folks. And then the people we bring in for the big slick, they end up loving Kansas City.
- [08:11]
A
Yeah.
- [08:12]
B
I have a lot of friends that come in town, have visited Kansas City in the past few years. Whether it be big slick or they'll come in for my birthday and they're full like Casey lovers now.
- [08:26]
A
Yeah.
- [08:26]
B
It's easy to love. You fall in love quick.
- [08:28]
A
Tell me three things to love about Kansas City.
- [08:31]
B
I mean, these are so. Okay, well, the obvious ones that are the barbecue.
- [08:37]
A
Barbecue's amazing. Arthur's.
- [08:40]
B
Yeah. Arthur Bryant's the best. Vernon's are at LC's. Every single place has their own, like, best thing. I love the salsa gates. But yes, I'm still obsessed with barbecue. And I'm still obsessed with the Chiefs.
- [08:53]
A
Okay. That's true.
- [08:56]
B
And the people. I'm obsessed with the people. But if you were getting, like a little bit more niche about it, I'd say the downtown area in Kansas City and the art scene there and just like just the bars and the galleries, it's just really come up in the last 15 years. It's just like a good place to be.
- [09:15]
A
That's great.
- [09:16]
B
Very fun down there.
- [09:18]
A
I performed at the Midland.
- [09:20]
B
Yeah, it's beautiful.
- [09:20]
A
It's really nice. Gorgeous. Really old. Beautiful building.
- [09:24]
B
Yep. We used to go see the Nutcracker there.
- [09:26]
A
Oh, that's cool, kid.
- [09:28]
B
Yeah.
- [09:28]
A
But like, a lot of loyalty for that town.
- [09:31]
B
Oh, big time. It's. And it just. I don't hear other people talk about their hometown.
- [09:35]
A
Me neither.
- [09:35]
B
Like, I. I do. Or Paul or Jason do. Like, we're very. And we're. There's nothing in the water. We just like it.
- [09:43]
A
Right.
- [09:44]
B
So we're not. I promise.
- [09:45]
A
You have like this unbelievable house there. That was an Architectural Digest. It's like, gorgeous.
- [09:50]
B
Thank you.
- [09:51]
A
So you live like part time there and here kind of thing. Okay.
- [09:54]
B
Yeah.
- [09:56]
A
That is so cool. And then you celebrate your birthday every year for multiple days.
- [10:00]
B
Yeah.
- [10:01]
A
When's your birthday?
- [10:02]
B
It's July 27th.
- [10:04]
A
So it's like a. It's like a three day party.
- [10:06]
B
Three day party. And every night is a different theme. And it. But it's like, really. It's a. It's full camp. It's a full. It's a full weekend where, like, especially if you come in town for it.
- [10:20]
A
Yeah, it's.
- [10:21]
B
It's a lot.
- [10:23]
A
What are some of the themes. Can you say?
- [10:26]
B
Yeah. So the third night is always kind of just the rowdiest night. It's like, people are tired. It's kind of in that way where you're like, can I really even pull it together for one more day or night? And this third night, it's been my favorite night. I've done this for three years now. This third night, I did a thing called Disguise Night.
- [10:47]
A
Okay.
- [10:48]
B
And what disguise night is, is everybody shows up to one location in five minute increments in disguise. Not a Halloween costume, but just enough something different to throw your friends off. So there were about 35 of us. We went to this place called Knucklehead Saloon in Kansas City, which is like a biker bar, concert venue. There was a new wave cover band playing that night and, like a Boogie Nights disco one. So I was like, there's already gonna be people, like, you know, with flair. So I really think with disguise, we will blend in great. And then the goal is you try to find everybody. And then we got on a party bus and then went to the next location all in disguise.
- [11:34]
A
What was your disguise?
- [11:36]
B
My disguise was. I can show you. Me and my friend Teddy, we dressed up as two guys. Our names were Seth and Barrett, and we looked like that.
- [11:50]
A
Okay, so this. So the disguise is just another person. It's not like another. You're dressed as a detective or like. Yeah, just Professor Plum or something. You're just actually another person.
- [12:03]
B
Another person? Yes. I mean, like. Oh, hold it up. Yeah, yeah.
- [12:08]
A
This camera.
- [12:09]
B
So we were these guys.
- [12:10]
A
Just those two dudes.
- [12:11]
B
Yeah.
- [12:13]
A
That is hilarious. I read that you were voted most likely to be on SNL when you were in high school. So I feel like between the disguises and like, being voted most likely to be on snl, like, that was always part of you. Like, what was your tip off in high school to your. To your classmates that that's most likely to be on snl?
- [12:36]
B
I think so those things were part of me, like disguise Night or prank phone calls or doing funny. You know, back in the day, I called them skits. Doing funny skits, like at the talent show or school assemblies, but definitely not acting or theater or any sort of training or anything that required classes and money to take. And also I was shy, so I think it was just what tipped people off was maybe my good friends that I was comfortable with being like, she's funny, or have her do this, or, you know, she would do good. And then kind of getting pressured into things.
- [13:17]
A
Yeah.
- [13:17]
B
And then doing them and. And, yeah, I'm. I'm still surprised because I was like, I was fairly shy. I'm surprised that I got that.
- [13:26]
A
Yeah, you were like. One of the things that always interests me about your story is that you were like a hairdresser for like a. Like a considerable amount of time before you did comedy. Like, in la.
- [13:39]
B
Yeah.
- [13:40]
A
Like, how many years?
- [13:41]
B
I did hair for nine years. And probably six years into that, I started taking classes at Groundlings.
- [13:49]
A
Wow.
- [13:49]
B
Yeah.
- [13:50]
A
So when you moved to la, did you know you wanted to do comedy?
- [13:53]
B
No, it was fully to do hair. It was actually to work on movies, doing hair and makeup. But then I was like, oh, there's unions. I was already in LA at this point and I was like, I can't get on a set. And I was also like, I can't just work for copy and credit. Like, I need to pay rent. So I started working at a salon.
- [14:13]
A
And then at a certain point, was it that your co workers were like, you, you're funny, you should do this.
- [14:21]
B
It was a friend of mine that I met who was in the Groundlings, and she said, come see me in a show tonight. And I went and saw it. And I'd heard of the Groundlings for sure. I mean, also as a kid obsessed with pop culture, snl, all the things obsessed with movies, could quote movies. Just thought, like, I'm just gonna quote movies my whole life. But went and saw her in the Groundlings. It was so funny and great. And at the end of it, I was like, oh, my gosh, I'm so excited because now I can take any out of towners from Kansas City to Groundling shows. Like, thank you for introducing me to this.
- [14:59]
A
Right.
- [15:00]
B
And she was kind of like upset by that and said, I invited you to the show because I thought maybe you don't want to take classes here. And I was like, I'm not an actor. And she, she was like, you leave me 7 minute voicemails in character. You can do this.
- [15:22]
A
That's so funny.
- [15:24]
B
So then, yeah, I told my brother and he was said, I've been waiting our whole lives for you to say this. I'll pay for your classes.
- [15:31]
A
That's so sweet. And so Groundlings, if people don't know, is essentially like the equivalent in New York would be, well, there isn't one. But like, UCB or like in Chicago, Second City in Los Angeles is the Groundlings. It's basically like, I don't want to get this wrong. Was it sketch and improv? Right?
- [15:50]
B
Yeah, for sure.
- [15:51]
A
So were you. So you Went in and they have, like. They have, like. Similar to Second City, they have, like, mainstage shows and then, like, more like work in progress kind of shows.
- [16:02]
B
Yeah. Main company. A Sunday company. Who are all the people that are wanting to get in the main company and then all the classes that come before that and all the levels. Yeah.
- [16:12]
A
And so how long were you in Groundlings?
- [16:15]
B
I think total, it was five years till I got into Groundleans with taking classes and Sunday Company. And then I was in the Groundleans for a year and a half when I auditioned for snl.
- [16:31]
A
So when you did Groundlings, did you have the kind of like, these are my people moment feeling of like, oh, my God, this is what I should be doing?
- [16:42]
B
It's so weird. Definitely. I mean, I was having the time of my life in a very almost unaware way. I'll say. When I was taking the classes, I didn't even understand the levels for a while at Groundlings, so I really was just doing it like, this is making me less shy and this is fun. And, oh, my gosh, like, people think I'm funny. It felt so. No stakes and just so. Such a fun hobby.
- [17:07]
A
Yeah.
- [17:08]
B
Then I learned the stakes, and it's like, almost. I wish I could go back in time and be like, I wish I wouldn't have learned the stakes of. Because I just don't think I was ever competitive in life before. That turned you on? Yeah.
- [17:26]
A
It acted like.
- [17:27]
B
Well, it just made you feel like, oh, I have to. I have to get this thing. I have to. Oh, this is like, you have to. You have to get ground leans, and then you have to get snl.
- [17:34]
A
Right.
- [17:35]
B
But since I was a hairdresser, I kept. I could easily act like I didn't want it. I was just kind of like, I'm doing this for fun. Even though inside I was like, I want this. All these things so bad.
- [17:45]
A
Yeah.
- [17:47]
B
So I definitely. But the thing that was weird was that a lot of people at Groundlings were actors that were just also good actors that I remember just already being so behind and so jealous. Just, you know, when I would just have to play the straight man in a scene, I'm like, I don't know what to do. I want to cross my eyes right now. I don't like, how can you be such a good actor and be funny? There's not even jokes on the page and you're being funny.
- [18:13]
A
Yeah.
- [18:14]
B
It's like. So I just felt really behind.
- [18:16]
A
It's so funny, though, because you and I improvised at ucb. With the please don't destroy guys ones. And I was like, I feel like whenever folks from SNL come over and improvise at ucb, you just jump in so easily. Like, I feel like, is that a skill you developed through years? Like, I was just like. I was just like, Heidi can just, like, improvise with anyone and is, like, fearless. Like, you seem fearless on stage improvising.
- [18:42]
B
I think it's a people pleaser thing, really. You know, Mikey Day and I would always talk about going back to Groundlings and doing an improv show and how the stakes feel so high. Cause you're like, well, I've been doing snl. And then if I come back and do this show or even I would think. I'm sure I thought about it that night. Like, what if people come and see me at UCB and I suck?
- [19:03]
A
Right.
- [19:03]
B
And they can see all the holes? But I agreed to it, so I'm doing it. And I don't. I'm always nervous about an improv show. Always. And always, like, think afterwards. Beat yourself up. Yeah.
- [19:18]
A
It's so funny you should say that. Like, your original intention of taking the improv, the improv workshop was just to, like, you know, do as an exercise and loosen up and all these things is like, I always say that to people who have no interest in comedy is like, take an improv class. Like, it's interesting life experiment.
- [19:38]
B
Yeah. One of the. Probably the. The biggest thing I still think about that I learned within the first or second improv class I took was, you know, hey, you gotta not apologize when something stupid flies out of your mouth because we're improvising. A billion stupid things are gonna come out. So don't look at the teacher and be like, sorry. Or your scene partner, sorry. And I was perpetually one of just those people in life that are like, sorry. Oh, sorry. Oop, can I get by? Sorry. You know, and the way that the teacher broke it down was like, sometimes when you say. When you're apologizing all the time, it makes the person on the other end of the apology so uncomfortable because they're kind of like, what did I do to you that, like, is making you so sorry? And I really thought about that a lot. Cause I was like, I say sorry all the time.
- [20:27]
A
Right. Like, it's putting something on the other person.
- [20:29]
B
Yeah. Where they're just like, did I scare you? Like, or did I?
- [20:33]
A
Right.
- [20:34]
B
Yeah.
- [20:35]
A
That's going to make me think a lot about myself too. I think I apologize a lot.
- [20:40]
B
Yeah. I think it at Least lessened. My apologies.
- [20:43]
A
I hope so you're doing improv there and you were doing. Is that the first time you had done sketch other than high school?
- [20:48]
B
Yeah, for sure.
- [20:50]
A
Did you learn anything at Groundlings that you had never considered about comedy?
- [20:55]
B
I think I just learned a lot at Groundlings. Had so many good teachers about just grounding a character in reality.
- [21:04]
A
Yeah.
- [21:05]
B
One of my best examples of that was my mom. My whole life is such a character, you know, just like, wears her sunglasses at night, you know, like forever. Used to, like, would called everybody girlfriend. Oh, girlfriend or oh, motherfucker. Or like, you know, my mom and like these sunglasses, short spiky hair, fingerless gloves. Just like, so many things about her. Okay. And when the first I was like, oh, perfect. This will be like one of my showcase Groundlings characters in one of my classes. And so I write a sketch and it's just like all the things that are about my mom that I said and 100 other things in a three minute sketch. And I do the sketch and I pitch it. My teacher was like, heidi, that's not a real person. And I was like, it absolutely is a real person. It's my mom. And they're like, pick one. Pick one thing and like, build a sketch around that and put or two of those things and put her in a fish out of water situation. And then guess what? You have a hundred other funny specifics. You can do those in other sketches. Like, he was just like, if you load it this hard from the top, they're not gonna believe you, you know? And that has just trickled down with characters for me where it's like, oh, I really can focus in on one specific, you know, like the mom whose son just got famous. Like, the way I saw that mom, what she was wearing, like, that was enough where I could go deeper and I didn't have to, like, I don't know, research this woman so much and pull all the, you know.
- [22:49]
A
Yes.
- [22:50]
B
It was just.
- [22:50]
A
Well, it's. Yeah, it's one quirk.
- [22:52]
B
Yeah.
- [22:52]
A
That provides, like, information into a character's like, desire or want.
- [22:59]
B
Yeah.
- [23:00]
A
And if you. Yeah. If you run with that, that can be something.
- [23:03]
B
Yes.
- [23:04]
A
That already is absurd.
- [23:06]
B
Yes. Like, when I did, I did a sketch on SNL based off of my mom when she went to Cuba when my brother and I were really young or probably like 10 or 11. And she came back and she was calling it Cuba, Cuba, Cuba, Cuba. So, like, that was funny. But then also she years later said to us, like, oh, well, you know, when I was in Cuba. I attended a rooster competition. And Justin and I were like, rooster competition? She's like, yeah, roosters. And we're like, a cockfight. And she was like, I don't believe. And we were like, was there a dead rooster at the end of it? But that was something where it's like, okay, that's enough. That funny tidbit of my mom, the kuba and the cockfight. I don't have to have also the sunglasses on.
- [24:02]
A
And you don't need to cut off gloves. Yes.
- [24:05]
B
I can actually look like a different. I can look like just a more like, quote unquote, normal woman. So that. That offsets it.
- [24:12]
A
Like, just, you know, that is super smart. Like, honestly, like, that's making me think a lot about stuff I'm even writing right now. Like, oh, right. Like, I. I remember I took a workshop once with Ian Roberts from ucb and. And he said, like, a really simple thing. He was just like, there's no reason to play a wild character if you haven't, like, figured out the best way to play yourself.
- [24:39]
B
Whoa.
- [24:40]
A
And I was like, man, yes, that's exactly right. And so with improv for, like, many, many years, I was just like, zero in on, like, okay, well, what. What are the motivations of the myself version of this in the scene?
- [24:54]
B
Yeah, that's like, shaking my core. Even life and everything.
- [25:00]
A
Totally.
- [25:00]
B
Yeah.
- [25:06]
A
Working it out is supported by Rula. Let's talk about therapy for a second. We talk about therapy all the time on this show. I've been in therapy for a long time. Some people in the comment section of my YouTube say too long. But I've been for 25 years. I've been in therapy. I know firsthand sometimes navigating mental health care can be challenging. But here's the thing about Rula. Rula helps to make that part easier. Rula works with major insurance plans. Sessions can cost as little as $15 and in some case, $0, depending on what your benefits are. Rula isn't just a directory. They help book appointments. They stay on top of your schedule and keep track of progress so you actually can get somewhere with therapy. Every therapist on Rula's platform is licensed, vetted, and chosen for their expertise. You're not rolling the dice. You're talking to legit professionals who know how to get results. Thousands of people have already used Rula to finally get the care they needed. Go to rula.com burbigs and get started today. That's R U L A.com Burbigs take the first step. Get connected. Take control of your mental health. Working it out is supported by Helix. Hey look, it's wintertime. Why not be as cozy as possible? Helix has you covered, literally. Comfy sheet sets and duvets, not to mention their iconic mattresses. Helix makes award winning sleep products. That's right. Forget the Oscars. Helix is the most awarded sleep mattress brand. You can also rest easy with seamless returns and exchanges. The Happy with Helix guarantee offers a risk free customer first experience designed to ensure you're completely satisfied with your new mattress. Helix offers a 120 night sleep trial and limited lifetime warranty. 120 nights. I've been a Helix custom for many years, since the beginning of this podcast almost six years ago. If I could bring my Helix mattress with me on tour, I would go to helixsleep.com and you will get. This is a really good deal. 27% off sitewide exclusive for listeners of Mike Birbigli is working it out. That's helixsleep.com B I R B I G S for 27% off site wide. Make sure you enter our show name after checkout so they know we sent you helixsleep.com brewbigs. So you're at Groundlings. You have like literally like the best case scenario for being a Groundling, which is SNL has like an audition and did you get it from. I saw your audition, which is amazing because it was on the 50th.
- [27:48]
B
Oh yeah.
- [27:48]
A
Like, it was like you did Kristen Schaal. It's like fantastic.
- [27:54]
B
Thank you.
- [27:55]
A
Is it? So you get the call? You get the. You they did Lauren come see Groundlings?
- [28:02]
B
No, I did a showcase at Groundlings where a lot of the producers had come and like the talent department and then they then flew me out a week later to do a test. Yeah.
- [28:15]
A
Was it with other Groundlings at the same time?
- [28:18]
B
Yep, it was with some of the Sunday company and other Groundlings. Yeah.
- [28:23]
A
Did anyone get it who you were friends with like the same year?
- [28:27]
B
Mm. Mm. No.
- [28:30]
A
How was that?
- [28:32]
B
Well, kind of. Luckily most of the people that I did it with were in the Sunday company, so I didn't know them quite as well, you know, so I didn't have to feel. But you know, I was in New York with a couple of them during the auditions and they were amazing to me and we really were there for each other.
- [28:51]
A
Yeah.
- [28:52]
B
Yeah. So I'll always remember that.
- [28:55]
A
It's so funny. You, like in your audition, I have to say, like you were saying, you get nervous before shows. Or whatever. You seem not phased at all. You seem as like confident as just a cast member on the show.
- [29:08]
B
Well, that is what was really crazy about even doing that documentary about the auditions we started getting. So I did two auditions for snl. I think the one they showed on that show was my first one. It was within two weeks. And it's like once you do it, then you black out completely. It's like an anxiety blackout. I'm like, I think it was good. And then I start thinking about all the things I did bad or. Yeah, just anxiety. Don't really remember the audition at all. And I knew for years at snl cause the writers would be like, oh, I pulled up your audition on the server and I was thinking about this character. And in my head I'm like, oh, that is just accessible to everyone. Like, I don't want anyone to see my audition. And you know, you'd see, you know, Will Ferrell's audition. And I was like, no one ever better release mine. I never, you know, just had this really shame based thing. I'm like, I got the job. I don't know why I was thinking so mean about it. I was so scared. So when it time comes around, they're doing that documentary for the 50th about the auditions, we start getting these emails that are like, would you come in and talk about your audition? And I was. I said, absolutely. I just want to make sure this isn't a thing where I talk about my audition. And then at the end I watch my audition and the email back to me just said, exactly.
- [30:35]
A
Exactly.
- [30:36]
B
And I was like, well, I said, I just wanna make sure it's not. And so then they said, exactly. So I was like, okay. So then I get there, I talk about my audition, and the director was like, all right, and now we're gonna cue it up. And I was like, whoa. I for sure said I didn't want this. And I don't know that I can do this. Is it okay to walk out? I actually don't know if I can do this. I have been avoiding this for almost eight years now. It was almost like it was my first time. He's like, we can take it slow. If at any point you want to stop, you just let me know. I was like, okay. And then it was so weird because it wasn't that painful. I watched it and the resounding thing was, I cannot believe I did that. I'm sure I have not watched that documentary or heard what I said, but I'm sure I said That I feel like I'm such a baby. I watch that. I'm like, I look different. My hair's longer, all these things. I'm like, who was that girl? And I can't believe she did something so brave.
- [31:40]
A
We're gonna queue it up. I emailed with you. You wrote exactly. I wrote exactly. There was an understanding that I was gonna play it.
- [31:50]
B
Yeah, exactly.
- [31:54]
A
I love the email is intentionally opaque.
- [31:59]
B
Yeah. One word.
- [32:00]
A
Exactly. Exactly. Very smart manipulation.
- [32:05]
B
Yeah.
- [32:06]
A
Who's your favorite SNL host and least favorite SNL host?
- [32:09]
B
Oh, my gosh. My favorite SNL host is Jack Black. Oh, he's my hero.
- [32:16]
A
He's amazing.
- [32:17]
B
Yeah. And he was the best. And he was. I've seen said it too many times now, but I'm like, I got to meet my hero. I got to work with my hero. Because people say, don't meet your heroes. But I got to work with my hero, meet my hero. And my hero inspired me to be a better person. And watching him, who he is around set that week, how much people want his energy and just to quote his movies.
- [32:45]
A
Totally.
- [32:45]
B
And that he still has so much love to give. And.
- [32:49]
A
Oh, it was.
- [32:51]
B
It was the best. I remember actually after that show thinking to myself, this is not true. But I was like, I might quit. Just like, I wouldn't have really. But just how. How good I felt, like. And all my friends came, the two shows where, like, I had so many friends and family come over the eight years. But, like, it was a big deal for people to come for the Travis Kelce show. Cause there was a chief on snl. And then we were such, like, tenacious D heads, like in end of high school, college, and just in love with Jack Black our whole lives. And so it was like I had a tailgate the Travis Kelce week in my dressing room. And I had a Jack Black essentially tailgate in my dressing room that week. And we just partied and celebrated.
- [33:38]
A
That is so funny. So when you say you have a tailgate, it's like you're kind of semi barbecuing, like, in your dressing room.
- [33:46]
B
For Travis Kelce, definitely full barbecue. And him and Jason Kelce came in before the show, ate barbecue.
- [33:53]
A
Oh, my God. For Jack Black, did you bring in Casey barbecue?
- [33:57]
B
I didn't do that.
- [33:58]
A
Okay.
- [33:58]
B
And I should have, because then I found out I can. I mean, actually, it would have been a whole thing. Cause you can order KC bbq, but you kind of like sous vide it and boil it.
- [34:07]
A
Right.
- [34:08]
B
Actually, I don't think I could have gotten that done that day.
- [34:10]
A
Totally.
- [34:11]
B
But then for Jack Black, everything was like a Jack Black reference. So in Saving Silverman, he plays a character called JD McNugent and he works at Subway and his thesis at college was a party sub. So I got a party sub for Jack Black.
- [34:28]
A
Oh my God.
- [34:28]
B
Yeah.
- [34:29]
A
Who's your least favorite host?
- [34:31]
B
Oh my gosh. How could I ever say that? Or pick that? I'm trying to think in hushed tones.
- [34:40]
A
People have said to me, bieber.
- [34:43]
B
Well, I didn't work with him.
- [34:44]
A
Oh, you didn't?
- [34:45]
B
No, I'm trying to think.
- [34:49]
A
I thought you had. I don't know.
- [34:51]
B
Oh, no, he was a musical guest.
- [34:53]
A
Oh, okay.
- [34:54]
B
But I didn't. I don't even think I met him that week.
- [34:58]
A
Is there anyone who's. Come on who you were surprised how funny they were?
- [35:01]
B
Oh, I'm. Well, this was like a big lesson in life. So my first year, I think it was my first year Sterling K. Brown hosted and I had just seen him in dramatic stuff.
- [35:14]
A
Sure.
- [35:14]
B
And at the table read, there was a sketch where he's saying that Shrek is the best DreamWorks movie. He's like defending it and like he's on it. He's with his date, I think, like at her parents house or something. And I think Beck probably plays the dad. And he's like, no, it's not. It's how to Train youn Dragon or something. And watching him at that table read Defend Shrek and just all the words on the page. He didn't play anything for jokes. He just earnestly acted it and it was so funny. And I was like, wait, are dramatic actors funnier than funnier people? Oh, that's interesting because if any of us at that table who worked on the show would have read that sketch, we would have been going so hard at just like, what are you getting this? Shrek is like, you know, just doing a full character. He just played himself defending it. And then I've always just watched. Like I. I probably had my best weeks at the show when it was like a Benedict Cumberbatch, a Josh Brolin, someone who's a little dramatic where I can be a little crazy and like play.
- [36:19]
A
I actually, I've heard that idea before that like often the best guest hosts who come in just play everything. It's like totally straight.
- [36:28]
B
Yeah.
- [36:28]
A
And they're just good. And they're just good to bounce off of.
- [36:31]
B
Yeah.
- [36:32]
A
And that. Yeah. Sometimes. Sometimes when people come in with expectations of like being big and broad, it's like, what are we gonna do? About him.
- [36:45]
B
Yeah.
- [36:45]
A
How do we work around this?
- [36:47]
B
Yeah.
- [36:48]
A
When you were a hairdresser, did you ever have like a what do I do Moment?
- [36:54]
B
Like, oh, oh, like where I messed up some hair? Yes. And I think about those often, actually. Like a friend of mine's hair that I cut way too many layers in it. Or we were kind of just becoming friends. And then I gave her a bad haircut and I think the friendship ended. The budding friendship.
- [37:14]
A
It chilled it.
- [37:15]
B
It couldn't go on because I messed up her hair.
- [37:17]
A
Wow.
- [37:18]
B
And then one time I was it noticeable her hair. I mean, when she left the salon, I thought she looked cool, but she definitely was like, you know, sent me messages that were like, I do not know what to do with this.
- [37:30]
A
Oh my God.
- [37:32]
B
And if I think about it, I'm like, yeah, it was probably too many layers, but she was like so cool and pretty and it was like around hipster time, so it just seemed like she could pull off anything.
- [37:43]
A
But totally.
- [37:44]
B
Yeah. And then I do remember bleaching a girl's hair once and putting her under the dryer. And I mean, she wanted it like white, like, you know, Queen of Dragons hair. And at one point her being like, it's burning, it's burning. I'm rinsed out. And her hair did not fall out. But I hate the fact that like, she felt like her head.
- [38:06]
A
Yes.
- [38:07]
B
Yeah.
- [38:08]
A
You were known on SNL for not breaking. That's one of the things you're known for. How come you broke during Beavis and Butthead?
- [38:18]
B
So it's funny cause I didn't even really know that I was known for not breaking. Although inside of me, I like, so had like a stick up my butt about like, can't break, can't break. Cause I know when people just break just to break. And you know, I was just very like, the audience loves when people break. It's fine. I mean, sometimes it can be used as a tool in the wrong way, but it's like that just means people are having fun. But I was just so just like, no, this is my job and I do not break and I stay in the scene. So I will say that it does make me very happy that, well, some of the reason I think that I broke and I've broken this down because I'm like, I broke so hard. Like, how can you not break and then break that hard for that long? Like, I was a little worried like another sketch might have gotten cut because it's like a minute break and everything's time wise there. But if you watch Debbie Downer, when everyone starts breaking, or at least from Temecula, where everyone's breaking, everyone is at a round table. Everyone can see each other and see exactly what's going on. And I just don't think in a sketch where someone, like, big time broke did they ever have to not know something and look back for a reveal. You know, that everyone. So I just think that it's set up a little too.
- [39:35]
A
It's not fair.
- [39:35]
B
Yes. But then I will say I did see Mikey in the rehearsal during the day on Saturday. I saw him at dress rehearsal. Mikey is like a brother to me, so someone who makes me laugh anyways. But they did keep amping up the look by the time it got to air.
- [39:52]
A
Yeah.
- [39:53]
B
And then just like someone, you know, spikes a camera, I. If you look at Mikey, he definitely spikes me. Like, he. When I look back at him, he does this thing with his face. He goes hard. And I just. It's like. It is as if I was doing SNL with one of my brothers and they were doing something to annoy me. Cause the one thing that I'm so surprised I didn't do, because I know I'm thinking it when I watch back, I know that I'm wanting to say, mikey, stop, stop. I'm so surprised. At least I didn't do that. But that's what I would have done to one of my brothers. Like, stop.
- [40:32]
A
I feel like that. Do you have any tricks to not breaking? Like, I feel like when I was in all out, I had to do tricks to not break sometimes because that consensus, like, I would want to laugh and I would kind of just, like, look above them or something. Like, I would just, like, not make eye contact.
- [40:49]
B
I. I mean, it used to be something where people are like, if you bite your cheeks or your lip or something, I'm like, that's kind of obvious. I think I do a thing now where I am about to break. I think I've done this in all out where I just. I go, oh. Or I make like, a sound like. Like, it's like an inhale, Right. An audible inhale. So I don't exhale a laugh. And then I think I can keep going.
- [41:17]
A
That is really technical.
- [41:19]
B
Yeah. And then I can usually play that off into the character. Yeah.
- [41:38]
A
Support for Working it out comes from a Warby Parker. Believe it or not, everyone on the Working it out staff wears Warby Parker glasses. We didn't plan it that way. That's just how it went down. I recently got reading glasses and Glasses, by the way, are expensive. I've shopped around. The prices on prescription glasses and sunglasses are exorbitant. But at Warby Parker, prescription glasses start at just $95. Am I reading this correctly? $95? That's for the frame and the lenses. I know you're probably thinking, what's the catch? Are $95 glasses any good? Yes, they look amazing. And how often is the least expensive option still high quality? It hardly ever happens. Our listeners get 15% off plus free shipping when they buy two or more pairs of prescription lenses at warbyparker.com Burbix Ooh, my own URL. That's 15% off when you buy two pairs of glasses at w a r b y parker.com Birbigs after you purchase, they will ask you where you heard about them. Tell them we sent you. Support for working it out comes from Article. Article offers a curated range of mid century modern, coastal and Scandinavian inspired pieces that not only shine on their own, but also pair seamlessly with nearly any other Article product. I love this Article furniture. They have a thoughtful design approach that makes it incredibly easy to mix and match, helping you create a space that feels cohesive as well as stylish. I feel like if you went on the Article website, you could spend hours there. I was on the site and got this saltwater blue ottoman. It's in my living room. It's gorgeous. With Article's 30 day satisfaction guarantee, you can shop with confidence, knowing that if you're not completely in love with your new furniture, you can easily return it. The peace of mind ensures that you can invest in your home without hesitation. Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim that, visit Article.comWIO for working it out and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout. That's article do for $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. Okay, this is called the slow round. What do you daydream about?
- [44:10]
B
Daydream about? Oh, I really want to open a movie theater and I dream about it all day long.
- [44:18]
A
You know, I think about that a lot too.
- [44:20]
B
Really?
- [44:21]
A
Yeah. I love movie theaters.
- [44:23]
B
Yeah.
- [44:24]
A
Do you think you might do it? Like I feel like you could in Kansas City. Like Quentin Tarantino, I think has a movie theater in Los Angeles. Like I think it is a thing you could plausibly do you think you might do it?
- [44:36]
B
Mm. Wow. Yeah.
- [44:39]
A
I'm coming.
- [44:39]
B
Okay, good. That's too. What a big part of that is. I want people to Come in. I want it to be community talkbacks connection.
- [44:49]
A
Yeah.
- [44:50]
B
I wanna be talking about movies, I wanna be visiting, I wanna be encouraging that afterwards.
- [44:56]
A
Disguises people come dressed up as the characters in the movie.
- [45:00]
B
Well, here's the thing. It's like, if I show True lies at my theater, I want to say, Jamie Lee Curtis in that movie famously wears a little black dress. I want to be like, if you come in a little black dress, free popcorn.
- [45:12]
A
Free popcorn.
- [45:12]
B
Fun incentives.
- [45:13]
A
That's a great idea.
- [45:14]
B
Yeah.
- [45:15]
A
You could get Jack Black to come. I would get a bunch of kids with playing instruments at the theater. That seems fun, right?
- [45:24]
B
School of Rock Night.
- [45:24]
A
School of Rock Night.
- [45:25]
B
Yes.
- [45:26]
A
That seems great. Yeah, I love that.
- [45:28]
B
That's what I daydream about.
- [45:30]
A
Can you remember a roommate or neighbor that you had that was particularly bad or good?
- [45:37]
B
Oh, yeah. I had a neighbor in LA that every night I could hear her having sex with a different person. I was very. I was also mid-20s at the time, so I don't know, I would have thought that I would be chill, just like, hey, we all go out, we all hook up or something. But I was working at the salon. I had early clients, early mornings.
- [46:00]
A
Right.
- [46:01]
B
I was also. It was like a different cadence. It was different sex every night. It wasn't just like a couple, like a lot of variety, soon to be boring, you know, I was just like, this is every. This is different. This is wild.
- [46:14]
A
You ever say it?
- [46:15]
B
Yeah, I find. Well, okay, so first I did all the passive things or just kind of like, hey. And then nothing. I guess that's not passive banging on the wall. I'd play like Michael Bolton through the Wall. Cause I was like, they won't want to hear. They won't keep having sex to steal bars, but they did. And then one night, I like, knock, knock, knock. I'm so mad. It's four in the morning and a guy answers the door. And I'm like, are you the one? And he's like, excuse me? I'm like, are you having sex? And he was like, I am, and I would like to get back to it.
- [46:46]
A
My God.
- [46:47]
B
I was like, listen, every night I get woken up by sex and I. I work at a salon and I have to be. To work to, you know, like, color and cut in, you know, three hours, and I just need my sleep. And da, da, da. He's like, miss, are you familiar with BJ's Brewery? And I was like, the brewery in Glendale? Like, yes, I've eaten there. It's like, I'm a Server there. If you come in tonight, I am willing to give you a free pizookie.
- [47:24]
A
This is outrageous.
- [47:25]
B
And that's the dessert, the famous BJ's dessert, which is a pizza cookie. It's called a pizookie. If you just kind of let me wrap things up.
- [47:38]
A
Oh, my God.
- [47:39]
B
I'm like, just make it quick. I will think about the pizookie.
- [47:44]
A
That's a great outcome.
- [47:45]
B
Did you go, no, I didn't. I was like, I don't want to see him again. And I never did because it was a different guy every night. And then it happened again. I went over there, and she was like, you're just jealous because you're not getting any.
- [47:58]
A
Oh, my God.
- [47:59]
B
And then her roommates. She got kicked out because her roommates were also like, she's not even our friend. She was just kind of crashing here. And then she was like, you know, having sex so much, we kicked her out.
- [48:10]
A
I had one recently where I was on tour in Detroit, and I get the key to my room, and I open the door, and people are having sex in the room. And then. And then I go. I know. It's kind of loudly. Had to be like, okay, this was my room. Okay. But this was my room.
- [48:32]
B
And so then I had to go.
- [48:33]
A
To the front desk and be like, there. So the key you gave me is people having sex, for sure. And. And then. And then the guy came. Yeah, like, the guy came. I went back, and it was like a different room down the hall. And. And the guy saw me, and he was like, we're having sex. Is that okay? I was like, sure. This is. I really got cornered by this one. Yeah, that's tough. Yeah, it's a bad neighbor.
- [49:03]
B
Yeah.
- [49:05]
A
Okay, so I've mati. This is material new, material fun. This is an update to last week I did. I. I actually talked about this, like, a few weeks ago, but there was a rat in our ceiling. I know. And I say. Whenever I say to an audience, it's, like, different levels of reaction because out of towners are shocked. You know what I mean? Like, New Yorkers. I feel like there's some sense of, like, when you move to New York, you're like, I hope I don't see a rat. And then after a week, you're like, I hope I don't see rats. And after, like, a month, you're like, I hope a rat doesn't eat my face. And like, 10 years later, rats eating your face. And you're like, say what you will about this city. I like it. And so there's a rat in our ceiling.
- [49:51]
B
Yeah.
- [49:51]
A
And Jen says she. She was like, we got to do something. And so I call the rat guy. It's this guy named Eric. And he comes over, and we're like, so there was a rat in the ceiling. And then he goes over here. And then Jen goes, also he was over here, but also over here. But that actually might have been in a dream. And I had to be like, we have to keep the dream conversation between us, maybe not go into the outside world with the wizard and dream. And then. So then Eric goes like, I'm gonna put poison in your ceiling. And then Jen goes like, we don't do poison. Very into organic stuff. She's like, we don't do poison in the ceiling. And this is a guy whose whole job is to put poison in the ceiling. And so he's looking at me like, mike, what are we gonna do? Yeah, you know about your wife. And I was like, we need two doses of poison. That was when I. Yeah, I tried that out this weekend. We need two doses of poison. Obviously, I'm not gonna poison my wife, but this is fun.
- [51:11]
B
Yeah, fun.
- [51:12]
A
Goofy joke. And then. But he says me. He goes, well, Mike, what do you think? And I was just like, I think that we don't do poison in the ceiling. And I. The betrayal that Eric felt for me, it was pretty profound. So there's an update. I talked about that a little bit on the Sarah episode. An update, which is, I'm at all out. One night, I get off stage. I get a text from Jen, and it says, call me now. My wife has never, in our 20 years of being together, texted me, call me now. So I call her, and she goes, the rat was in a trap in the ceiling and fell from the ceiling and onto our bedroom floor. And so I built up the courage to call Eric. I built up the courage to text Eric, call me now. And I called Eric, and I was like, we need your help. So Eric comes over and unceremoniously murders the rat in our bedroom. I know, it's intense.
- [52:30]
B
Yeah.
- [52:31]
A
And now we have poison in the ceiling. That's the new ending. Now we have poison in the ceiling, which is, by the way, so Jen can hear. This is maybe true and maybe not true. We may still not have poison in the ceiling. So that's. Anyway, that's a new piece I'm working on, on the rats in the ceiling. Have you ever had rats or animals in your place?
- [52:57]
B
So I. Ever since I've gone to New York, I Think rats are cute. I love rats. When I see one on the street. I.
- [53:05]
A
That's a crazy take.
- [53:06]
B
I know I am.
- [53:07]
A
That's an absurd.
- [53:08]
B
I think it's good luck. I have sat with.
- [53:11]
A
You think rats are good luck.
- [53:13]
B
Yes. But I will say so. I have. I have even gone as far as in Brooklyn Heights. There was a rat that was. Had been run over or something. I sat with it died. No, I was actually. It was very early on, like, in a new relationship. I think he found it endearing, but. So this is what I'm saying now.
- [53:37]
A
Okay.
- [53:39]
B
Where I live now, I have a backyard area where my cats can go out. And my. I feel like I have, like, the zodiac cat killer.
- [53:53]
A
Oh, my God. Just like, dead rats, dead mice all the time.
- [53:56]
B
Like, to the point where there were, like, seven bodies lined up in the same direction.
- [54:02]
A
Oh, I can't take that.
- [54:03]
B
Like, ceremonious. Like, he is being methodical about these guys.
- [54:08]
A
Is it rats or rats? Like, full size rats? Like, like.
- [54:12]
B
No, there's a lot of small ones.
- [54:13]
A
Okay.
- [54:13]
B
Like, so it's more. More small. This is all to say that it's like, I think they're cute. The thought of them being inside or in the bedroom.
- [54:23]
A
Yeah.
- [54:23]
B
That is a whole different ball game.
- [54:25]
A
That's a deal breaker. That's a relationship deal breaker.
- [54:27]
B
I don't know what. I don't know that. It's like, I wouldn't want poison either, but if one crawled across me, I don. That thought is terrifying. I had that thought last night in bed for some reason. Actually, I was like, what if something crawls across me right now? Like, even though there's not one in the apartment.
- [54:46]
A
Well, it's funny. Cause what? Your. Your cat thing is reminding me of a thing that I feel like could be a joke in this, which is like, we have two cats.
- [54:56]
B
What are they doing?
- [54:56]
A
Precious and Mr. Mustache.
- [54:58]
B
It's like, well, Precious isn't gonna.
- [54:59]
A
You guys, what are we doing?
- [55:01]
B
You didn't name them Precious.
- [55:03]
A
I know you didn't name it Precious. I knew you wouldn't be there for us. But Mr. Mustache.
- [55:07]
B
No. And not even. I have a John Ross Jr. That.
- [55:10]
A
Sounds like John Ross Jr.
- [55:14]
B
Yes. Like, I am. I am living up to my legacy. I had a hunting father, John Ross Jr. And I am John Ross Jr. Wow. Yeah.
- [55:23]
A
I love that.
- [55:23]
B
Yeah.
- [55:24]
A
But, yeah, I think that there might be something in my story of, like, having a heart to heart with the cats and just being like, I love that. Everybody's got to pay their way around here.
- [55:33]
B
Yes.
- [55:33]
A
You guys are on rats.
- [55:34]
B
Yeah, like, fully.
- [55:36]
A
Like, like when we had rats, the cats ran away.
- [55:39]
B
Right.
- [55:40]
A
They didn't even go towards the rats.
- [55:42]
B
That's wrong.
- [55:43]
A
I know it's wrong.
- [55:44]
B
Yeah. They're way too privileged.
- [55:46]
A
But in fairness, a lot of rats, a lot of cat privilege in New York City. But like, in fairness, like New York City, like big rats.
- [55:54]
B
Big rats. Yeah.
- [55:56]
A
Like it would. I mean, it reminded me, size wise, more of a guinea pig.
- [56:00]
B
Yeah. Oh, fully. I have a very small gray cat that when it goes outside, it just looks like a rat. And I'm worried then that John Ross Jr. Is going to kill little Romeo.
- [56:13]
A
Sure.
- [56:14]
B
Because he's little and Rob.
- [56:15]
A
John Ross Jr. I think could kill Lil Romeo. I think these are valid fears. Yes. So the final thing we do is working it out for a cause. We give to an organization that you like to give to and then we link to it in the show notes and we encourage listeners to contribute as well.
- [56:40]
B
Yeah, the Big Slick.
- [56:42]
A
The Big Slick.
- [56:42]
B
Yeah.
- [56:43]
A
Big slick.
- [56:44]
B
KC.org so it is a. It's a charity in Kansas City for Children's Mercy Hospital for kids and families with pediatric cancer. And that's what we raise all the money for. That's what we put on a three day weekend for.
- [57:00]
A
It's in May again, right?
- [57:02]
B
Yeah, end of May. So also, I know I always invite people to Kansas City, but it's cool. Like, you know, we do a big show on Saturday night with like all the guests. We bring in comedy, live music, and it's unbelievable.
- [57:16]
A
Like, I have never been. But the photos and the videos are crazy. Like, it seems like kind of a hodgepodge of like all different musical and comedy performers like, on stage at once.
- [57:26]
B
Totally. I mean, we had, you know, two years ago, George went Robert Smigel Sudeikis and Travis Kelsey and Patrick Mahomes all did like the Bears super fan sketch together.
- [57:41]
A
That's amazing.
- [57:42]
B
You know, it was so cool.
- [57:44]
A
My gosh.
- [57:45]
B
So special. Yeah. That opened the show and then, you know, we had hot ones. Like we had the wings challenge. We all these amazing things.
- [57:53]
A
Heidi, thank you so much for coming on the show. This is super fun.
- [57:57]
B
Yeah, I've been wanting to. So thank you for having me.
- [57:59]
A
Amazing. Working it out because it's not done. We're working it out because there's no. That's gonna do it. For another episode of Working it out, you can follow Heidi Gardner on Instagram. Heidi lgardener. Check out brabigs.com to sign up for the mailing list and to be the first to know about my upcoming shows. You can watch the full video of this very episode on our YouTube channel, Ike Birbiglia. If you like our videos, subscribe because we are posting more and more videos. Our producers of Working it out are myself, along with Peter Salomon, Joseph Birbiglia, Mabel Lewis and Gary Simons, sound mix by Shub Sarah and supervising engineer Kate Balinsky. Special thanks to Jack Antonoff and Bleachers for their music. Special thanks to my wife, the poet J. Hope Stein, and our daughter Oona, who built the original radio fort made of pillows. Thanks most of all to you who are listening. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. It really helps out. We've done 201 episodes. We appreciate you so much. Thank you most of all for telling your friends and telling your enemies and telling yourself. Let's say your roommate is having loud sex and keeps waking you up. Just start blasting this podcast. They'll get the idea. Maybe they'll settle down and start listening to deep conversations about craft and comedy. And maybe they'll incorporate those lessons into the sex. Thanks everybody. We're working it out. We'll see you next time.