Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out: Q&A on AI and Audience Energy

In this special episode of Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out, host Mike Birbiglia delves into an array of listener questions, exploring topics ranging from artificial intelligence in comedy to handling challenging audience dynamics. Released on August 4, 2025, this episode offers insightful perspectives from Mike, enriched with personal anecdotes and professional experiences.

1. Handling Creative Feedback and Rejection

Question from Lex ([00:52]): Lex inquires whether Mike ever outright rejects a joke or material during collaborative sessions, emphasizing the fear of stifling creativity by saying "no."

Mike's Insight ([01:37]): Drawing from his improv training, Mike underscores the importance of the "yes, and" philosophy in creative collaborations. He explains that initially embracing every idea fosters creativity, allowing for organic development before any critical editing occurs.

“If you listen to the Liz Allen episode... the principle of long, long form improv is yes and yes and yes and.” – Mike Birbiglia [01:37]

2. AI's Role in Creativity and Comedy

Question from Lily ([03:48]): Lily, a performer involved in AI, asks about the potential of AI to enhance the creative process and its implications for the comedy and entertainment industries.

Mike's Perspective ([04:02]): Mike acknowledges the evolving role of AI in comedy, mentioning instances where AI attempts to mimic his comedic style with moderate success. He emphasizes that while AI can generate material, it lacks the "fundamental spark" of personal and confessional elements that make art truly engaging.

“What it doesn't offer is the fundamental spark of what makes art interesting, which is the personal element of it and particularly the confessional element of it.” – Mike Birbiglia [04:02]

3. Breaking into Comedy Writing Without Relocating

Question from Niffer ([05:31]): Niffer from Orlando seeks advice on how to get her comedy writing noticed without moving to major hubs like Los Angeles or New York.

Mike's Advice ([06:04]): Mike encourages finding and engaging with local comedy communities, highlighting that relocating isn't a necessity. He shares his own journey of discovering improv groups, which significantly impacted his creative growth. Building a supportive community can provide the necessary platform to showcase and refine one's work.

“There is one in Chicago, there's one in San Francisco... and being goofballs and doing theater games and heralds and all this stuff.” – Mike Birbiglia [06:04]

4. Maintaining Motivation in Creative Work

Question from Steve Picatagio ([09:40]): Steve, a freelance musician, asks how Mike stays motivated on days when he's feeling uninspired.

Mike's Strategy ([10:16]): Mike shares that consistent daily practice creates a routine that sustains his creativity even when motivation wanes. He likens it to a pianist's daily practice, emphasizing the importance of showing up and producing work, which in turn stimulates creative thinking.

“I've done the repetition of it so long for so many years that it feels more normal to do it than to not do it.” – Mike Birbiglia [10:16]

5. The Golden Rule of Comedy: Tragedy Plus Time

Question from Sean Flanagan ([12:30]): Sean probes into the concept that "tragedy plus time equals comedy," seeking Mike's thoughts on the appropriate timing for tragic events to be transformed into humor.

Mike's Exploration ([13:06]): Mike reflects on the delicate balance between sensitivity and humor. Using his experience with "Sleepwalk with Me," he illustrates how presentation and audience perception play crucial roles in determining when tragic elements can be effectively and respectfully turned into comedy.

“It's the relationship between me and the audience... are you comfortable talking about it and does the audience find it funny?” – Mike Birbiglia [13:06]

6. Managing Difficult or Unresponsive Audience Energy

Question from Aj ([19:08]): Aj seeks strategies for handling situations when the audience's energy feels off or unresponsive.

Mike's Approach ([19:37]): Mike advises acknowledging the unusual energy in the room candidly. By addressing peculiarities—like a disruptive noise or unexpected behavior—he creates a shared experience with the audience, fostering a connection that can reset the room's vibe.

“I'm speaking into a microphone... if you can get the audience into the headspace of, like, okay, that's what we're all doing.” – Mike Birbiglia [19:52]

7. Editing: Cutting Material for Larger Project Arcs

Question from Dan ([??]): Dan asks about the process of cutting jokes or bits that, while loved, don't serve the overarching narrative of a project.

Mike's Reflection ([??]): Mike discusses the importance of curating content to maintain the strength and coherence of a project. He draws inspiration from "This American Life," emphasizing that eliminating weaker elements can enhance the overall impact, turning the remaining material into a more powerful and resilient narrative.

“They kill it, and it's like an artistic victory because it's sort of proof that what has remained is so strong that it has defied the killing process.” – Mike Birbiglia [??]

(Note: Specific timestamps for Dan's question were not provided in the transcript.)

8. Rekindling Creativity as a New Parent

Question from Eva ([23:14]): Eva from Brazil, a new mother, struggles with a creative block after having her child and seeks advice on reigniting her comedic creativity.

Mike's Guidance ([23:56]): Mike empathizes with Eva's challenges, suggesting she write down her feelings without the pressure of shaping them into comedy immediately. This raw expression can lead to authentic material once she starts processing her experiences, helping her reconnect with her creative side.

“Don't think about the genre that is comedy. Just think about who you are as a human being and how you feel and go from there.” – Mike Birbiglia [23:56]

9. Advice for Aspiring Comedians

Question from T. Edward Strinsky ([??]): T. Edward asks what advice Mike would give to his younger self as an emerging comedian.

Mike's Recommendation ([??]): Mike advises young comedians to experiment with different types of jokes and to deeply explore the ones that resonate with audiences. By pushing the boundaries of successful material, comedians can discover the underlying elements that make their humor compelling, potentially expanding a single joke into extensive material.

“Always go in harder on that joke that is working. Probe on stuff that works.” – Mike Birbiglia [??]

(Note: Specific timestamps for T. Edward's question were not provided in the transcript.)

10. Balancing Authenticity and Humor in Performances

Question from Andy J. Pizza ([27:50]): Andy shares his struggle with making his public speaking feel authentically funny and asks how Mike overcame the tendency to "try too hard" in his comedy.

Mike's Solution ([28:35]): Mike highlights the value of improv classes in fostering genuine reactions and presence on stage. He emphasizes focusing on conveying ideas rather than memorizing lines, allowing natural humor to emerge from honest storytelling and interaction.

“Improv teaches you to kind of listen and respond... there's actually no, you just have to be present.” – Mike Birbiglia [28:35]

Conclusion

This episode of Working It Out provides a comprehensive look into Mike Birbiglia's approach to creativity, audience engagement, and the evolving landscape of comedy. By addressing diverse questions from listeners, Mike offers valuable insights that resonate with both aspiring and established performers. Whether grappling with the integration of AI in creative processes or seeking methods to maintain authenticity on stage, Mike's thoughtful responses serve as guiding principles for navigating the complexities of comedic artistry.