Takin' a Walk: Comedy Saved Me — Margaret Cho

Podcast: takin' a walk
Host: Buzz Knight
Guest: Margaret Cho
Release Date: October 20, 2025

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and lively episode, Buzz Knight welcomes comedian, musician, and activist Margaret Cho. The conversation explores Margaret's new music for the first time in almost a decade, her unique creative process, the intersection of music and comedy, advice for young artists, advocacy, and her reflections on a lifelong creative career. The tone shifts effortlessly from playful, to deeply insightful, highlighting Margaret's wit, candor, and wisdom.

Main Topics & Key Discussion Points

1. Walking with Icons (04:08–05:06)

• Buzz asks who Margaret would take a walk with, living or dead.
• Margaret: “I would like to take a walk with Nancy Kwan… She’s a true pioneer in Asian American cinema and art and entertainment. And she’s everything: singer, dancer, actress, model, icon.” (04:21)
• Margaret admires Nancy Kwan's “great legs” and pioneering presence.

2. Margaret Cho’s Musical Return: "Lucky Gift" (05:09–07:24)

• Buzz: Celebrates Margaret’s new album after eight years.
• Margaret discusses the decade-long process, writing much of it with Roger Rocha (4 Non Blondes) during the B Robin project for homelessness outreach, honoring Robin Williams.
• “We were stealing electricity and playing in these encampments… giving out food… a creative journey for me and Roger to write a number of these songs, including 'Funnyman,' which is all about Robin Williams.” (05:30)
• Garrison Starr co-produced the album.

3. Writing: Comedy vs. Music (07:24–09:55)

• Stand-up creation is immediate and audience-driven.
  • “You have to be confident in your idea in order to make an audience believe it…fake it till you make it.” (14:09)
• Songwriting is more solitary; ideas incubate longer before being performed or recorded.
• Audience interpretation of music can transcend the songwriter's original purpose.

4. The Mandatar and Misfit Instruments (09:55–12:04)

• Margaret describes her unique double-necked instrument: the mandatar from a Nashville luthier.
  • “One neck is a mandolin and one neck is a guitar… the way that I wrote ‘Lucky Gift’… I used both at the same time… It was pretty incredible.” (10:08)
• She collects and writes on strange, luthier-made instruments – “the land of misfit toys.”

5. Musical & Comedic Influences (12:04–14:48)

• Most admired musicians: Bobbie Gentry (“truly one of one”), Dolly Parton, Chapel Rowan, Jill Sobule.
• Embraces unapologetic, forceful artists.
• “You just don’t even know if it’s right. You just do it.” (14:09)

6. Songwriting as Magic (15:03–17:01)

• Songs arrive magically, sometimes in dreams, uncertain where inspiration comes from.
• Stresses the need to capture ideas quickly or risk losing them.
• “When you get like sort of a thread of something, you gotta go and get the whole cloth.” (15:53)
• Daily creative practices: writes a joke every morning, aspires to do the same with songwriting.

7. Improvisation in Comedy & Music (22:13–23:49)

• Margaret values improvisation in music, likening bluegrass to “calculus” and expressing admiration for its complexity.
• She notes the mutual awe between musicians and comedians for each other's crafts.

Healing Power of Laughter & Music (24:18–25:37)

• Margaret eloquently connects laughter and music as essential, healing forces:
  • “Laughter is the unexpected breath that you take…that ensures the next moment of life...it makes you breathe deeper and harder…It actually is medicine.” (24:18)
• Explains that sound can heal, noting that cats’ purring is healing and likens it to the restorative frequencies of music.

8. Animals, Touring, and Creative Life (25:37–27:35)

• Margaret says her pets love music; her dog Lucia enjoys being around musicians.
• Describes life on the road, separating her “road clothes” from her “home clothes.”
• Pandemic forced a reevaluation; discovered a love for being home after 35 years on tour.

9. Advocacy and Activism (31:46–34:26)

• Margaret’s activism influenced by Robin Williams; focused now on LGBTQ+, gender rights, and fighting against policies threatening marginalized groups.
  • “I want to be able to protect the trans community…It’s a crisis now…very treacherous time.” (32:04)

10. Navigating Humorlessness in Society (33:14–34:26)

• Observes defensiveness and a loss of humor around gender and family debates.
  • “What’s harming children is not drag queens…drag queens are like clowns… It’s very humorless.” (33:22)

11. Advice to Creatives (34:26–35:27)

• Same advice for musicians and comedians:
  • “Your voice is the most precious thing and you should put your opinion of your art above others.” (34:44)
  • Cautions that commerce will always try to change you.

12. Pivotal Moments & Ongoing Aspirations (35:38–37:48)

• Recalls being encouraged by a theater teacher who affirmed she could do “everything.”
• Future goals: Focus on basics of musicianship, improve as singer/songwriter, “treat [her] body with more respect… I’m actually the instrument.”
  • “I need to go back to the basics…with music… I need to drink more water, do my scales.” (36:21)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the power of laughter:
  “Laughter is like this hit of oxygen that we all need all the time, but it disrupts your normal breathing pattern and it makes you breathe deeper and harder...It actually is medicine.” — Margaret Cho (24:18)

• On creative magic:
  “It’s like a magical stream…you dip in and it's right there. But if you don't dip in, it's going to go by you.” — Margaret Cho (15:03)

• On advocacy:
  “I want to be able to protect the trans community…gender fluid, nonbinary people…it’s a very treacherous time.” — Margaret Cho (32:04)

• On staying authentic:
  “Your voice should be the loudest, should be the strongest, should be the most important.” — Margaret Cho (34:44)

• On artistic influences:
  “Bobbie Gentry…just such a force. What an amazing songwriter…where is Bobbie Gentry? We’re not sure.” — Margaret Cho (12:15)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Dream collaborators & Nancy Kwan: 04:08–05:06
• New album ‘Lucky Gift’ & Robin Williams: 05:09–07:24
• Creative processes (comedy vs music): 07:24–09:55
• Mandatar & instrument oddities: 09:55–12:04
• Musical influences: 12:04–14:48
• On songwriting magic: 15:03–17:01
• Improvisation: 22:13–23:49
• Healing power of laughter/music: 24:18–25:37
• Pandemic & home life: 29:16–31:46
• Advocacy & activism: 31:46–34:26
• Advice to creatives: 34:26–35:27

Tone & Final Thoughts

The episode is as vibrant, honest, and multidimensional as Margaret Cho herself. Buzz Knight’s thoughtful questions invite Margaret to reflect, joke, and share with intimacy and wit. The conversation offers inspiration for artists, activists, and anyone seeking the courage to use their voice — underscoring the radical, life-affirming power of laughter, music, and authenticity.