The Gist — "Funny You Should Mention: Liza Treyger" (Jan 16, 2026)
Host: Mike Pesca
Guest: Liza Treyger, comedian
Duration: ~72 minutes (interview)
Theme: Comedy, cultural critique, challenging comfort zones, and the fine line between sincerity, satire, and provocation in both comedy and society at large.
Episode Overview
Mike Pesca sits down with comedian Liza Treyger for a wide-ranging, candid, and hilarious conversation. The episode navigates Treyger’s comedic process, her radical (and very sincere) sociopolitical takes, the legacy of growing up as an immigrant Jew in Skokie, her obsession with true crime (and the infamous "Luigi" case), and her strong feelings about justice system failures, feminism, and the cultural climate. Throughout, Treyger oscillates between deep sincerity and comic exaggeration, blurring the lines between the two in true standup fashion.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Comedic Voice and Special "Night Owl"
- (09:52) Mike clarifies he mispronounced Liza’s name for a long time.
- Liza identifies as a "night owl" both metaphorically and literally, thriving in late-night comedy settings.
- Late-night sets at the Comedy Cellar have "animals" in the audience—drunk, tired, or otherwise wild.
- Specials should reflect actual comedic performance, not pageantry:
"I wanted this to be how I perform, not put on some sort of pageant show." —Liza (25:37)
- She avoided a rigid setlist for her special, emphasizing being present and spontaneous.
2. Name Mispronunciation and Talk Show Culture
- (11:25-14:27) Liza discusses common confusion between "Liza" and "Lisa" and the impact of daytime talk shows on culture—especially the messy, moralizing style of 90s TV (Jenny Jones, Maury, Springer).
- Reality TV and Bravo shows have replaced the old talk show dynamic, providing extended character arcs and connected fandom instead of momentary drama.
3. Defining People by Their Worst Moments & Rape Culture
- (15:38-20:12) Delving into true crime (as the host of the podcast "That's Messed Up") and her insistence on defining abusers by their actions, not just their talents or former achievements.
"If you molest, you beat your wife, that should be your defining moment. Not the movies." —Liza (16:32)
- Liza humorously yet sharply riffs on the ubiquity of "talented rapists" in pop culture and how society is too quick to forgive:
"You should be able to support three rapists in your lifetime. Even if that was the rule, so many more rapists would get in trouble. That's how many there are." —Liza (17:16)
- She draws an analogy to recycling: culture pays lip service to change but the big actors (church, corporations) resist systemic reform.
4. False Accusations, Gender, and Taking Precautions
- (21:05-24:38) Liza lampoons male anxiety about false rape accusations with the same tools society uses to keep women safe:
"If you're so scared [of false accusations], why are you so promiscuous?...If you're so scared, act different. Why do I have to feel bad for you? ...Rape's worse than lying." —Liza (23:08, 23:38)
- Women live defensively; men rarely take such precautions.
5. Comedy Process: Sincerity, Spontaneity, and Craft
- Presenting material as unwritten—she credits Dave Attell and Nikki Glaser with inspiring this approach:
"You don't have to be in order. Do anything. You can know your stuff...you can lead what's happening." —Liza (34:13)
- Mike observes that Liza’s lines blur between standup jokes and spontaneous one-liners—“Lisa just funny.”
6. Background: Chicago, Judaism, and School
- Growing up in Skokie (“super Jewish”), the child of Soviet immigrants, Liza describes her cultural rather than religious identity and early feminist instincts.
"I hated long skirts. I hated gender inequality. From the jump, I saw shit wasn't fair." —Liza (43:11)
- Her college journey: Iowa State for advertising, then Columbia College, then North Park (evangelical Christian), ultimately earning a degree in sociology—which further entrenched her skepticism about organized religion and informs her views on society.
7. Feminism, Stand-Up Crowds, and Gender Exclusion
- (44:05-47:56) Early experience playing boys’ football, being "an annoyance," and continuing to confront male exclusion in stand-up crowds.
- On the Barbie movie:
"Make a movie for the girls. To even think about men while you're making a Barbie movie, it's like so humiliating." —Liza (47:03)
- Women support/cross over to male interests but it’s rarely reciprocated.
8. Taylor Swift, Sports, and Gendered Fandom
- (47:55-49:44) Liza rips into NFL fans’ anger over Taylor Swift’s influence:
"They hate her...you hate women. It makes no sense to be mad." —Liza (49:44)
- Contrasts Swifties' acceptance of Travis Kelce with football fans' rejection of Swift.
9. Cultural Obsessions: “Heated Rivalry,” True Crime, and Russian Identity
- Liza gushes about the TV series "Heated Rivalry" and participates in themed Soul Cycle classes.
- She’s a "native Russian speaker," praises an actor’s Russian on the show, and reflects on the coldness/sternness of Russian family dynamics.
- Touches on the inability to return to Odessa due to war and laments the loss of homeland.
10. Justice System Critique & The “Luigi Mangione” Case
- (66:03-76:12) Deep dive into the criminal justice system’s failings via the “Luigi” case:
- Liza seriously doubts Luigi is guilty and unpacks issues of due process, evidence tampering, and media suppression—pointing to a broader pattern of wrongful convictions, especially among the less privileged.
- Liza calls out "execution happy" administration and systemic contradictions in legal proceedings.
- On whether she wants the real killer caught:
"No, I actually believe that more rich people need to be murdered violently in the streets. Legit." —Liza (70:51)
- After Pesca presses to clarify if she’s serious, she doubles down.
- The “Luigi” case is a stand-in for larger justice issues, and Liza is self-aware about her rhetoric, blending sincerity and comic exaggeration, but insists she is “serious” on this point.
11. Free Speech then and now, Comedy's Risk-Taking, and Ethics
- (58:08-63:56) In Skokie, Liza learned the foundational importance of free speech, even for hate groups.
- Navigates current debates over "words are violence" vs. the right to say anything on stage if it’s funny, but insists listeners/audiences retain the right to object or dislike what’s said.
"Say whatever you want, but then the entitlement for everyone to love it...it's like, okay, but then if someone is pissed, they're the problem?...No, I'm allowed to not like it." —Liza (60:21)
- Mike points out many comics can use "cancel culture" as an excuse for unfunniness; Liza says the answer is "be funny" and strive to "kill in every room," accepting not everyone will like you.
12. Trauma, True Crime, and Comedy Ethics
- (76:43-79:57) Liza discusses her ongoing, research-driven obsession with true crime ("That's Messed Up" podcast), always mindful of the real trauma for victims and the pervasiveness of injustice.
- Jokes about rape, violence, and trauma need to keep the survivors' perspectives in mind:
"I want those people [survivors] to laugh. I don't want someone sitting there who's gone through that to see a roomful of people laughing at that." —Liza
13. Final Self-Reflection and Special Promotion
- Liza plugs "Night Owl" repeatedly, hoping Netflix will keep investing in her special if viewership stays high.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)
-
On defining abusers by action, not talent:
"If you molest, you beat your wife, that should be your defining moment. Not the movies."
—Liza (16:32) -
On rape culture and social priorities:
"Our culture forgives and accepts sexual abuse and pedophilia. And that's just it."
—Liza (18:52) -
On men’s precautions vs. women’s lived reality:
"If you're so scared [of false accusations], why are you so promiscuous?...If you're so scared, act different."
—Liza (23:08) -
On female comedians' audiences:
"Straight men don’t usually come to see me...I perform for girls and gays...proven time and time again, men don't want to hear women."
—Liza (45:45) -
On the Barbie movie and the male gaze:
"To even think about men while you're making a Barbie movie, it's so humiliating...Make a movie for the girls!"
—Liza (47:03) -
On Taylor Swift and the NFL:
"They hate her...you hate women. It makes no sense to be mad."
—Liza (49:44) -
On the Luigi case and a comic’s sincerity:
"No, I actually believe that more rich people need to be murdered violently in the streets. Legit."
—Liza (70:51) -
On free speech and audience entitlement:
"Say whatever you want. But the entitlement for everyone to love it...if someone is pissed in the crowd, they're the problem?...No, I'm allowed to not like it."
—Liza (60:21) -
On survivors and trauma in comedy:
"I want those people to laugh...I don't want someone sitting there that’s gone through that to see a room full of people laughing at that."
—Liza (79:57)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 09:52 — Opening about Liza's name, comedy special, and late-night comedy.
- 14:27 — Reality TV vs. talk show messiness.
- 16:00-18:52 — Rape culture, talent vs. crime, cultural complicity.
- 21:05-24:38 — False accusations, gender roles, defense mechanisms.
- 33:22-36:33 — Comedy style, Attell/Glaser influences, authentic performing.
- 43:11-47:03 — Growing up Russian Jewish, feminist roots, gender barriers.
- 47:03-49:44 — Male gaze, Barbie, Taylor Swift and the NFL.
- 58:08-61:07 — Free speech, ACLU, and boundaries in comedy.
- 66:03-76:12 — The Luigi case, critique of justice, radical rhetoric.
- 76:43-79:57 — Trauma, research, ethics in comedy, true crime podcasting.
Tone and Language
- Candid, darkly funny, and often combative. Liza’s language is explicit, passionate, direct—even when discussing violence, trauma, or political extremism.
- Confessional and self-aware. Treyger oscillates between radical sincerity ("I really believe this") and acknowledging the comedic absurdity of her position.
- Provocative but thoughtful. Both trade in irreverence, but the underlying themes—misogyny, inequality, injustice—are tackled earnestly beneath the jokes.
Summary Takeaway
This episode exemplifies The Gist’s “responsibly provocative” style—deep and often uncomfortable cultural critique delivered with wit and warmth. Liza Treyger is both a comic and a cultural critic, weaponizing her humor and sociological training to challenge dogma, demand justice, and interrogate both society’s and her own hypocrisy, all while keeping the punchlines coming. For fans of thoughtful standup, trenchant social commentary, and the unique joy of seeing those two in constant, lively dialogue, it’s a must-listen.
[End of Episode Summary]