Comedian Zach Zimmerman knows a lot about success, and even more about rejection. The author of the essay collection Is It Hot in Here (or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed on Earth)? shares how he cold-pitched his way into the New Yorker and how he handles unruly audience members as a standup comedian. He and host Jillian Anthony (freelancer writer and author of the Cruel Summer Book Club newsletter) talk about accepting rejection as part of making your art, dealing with difficulty family members, and how they both got broken up with on flights back from Europe. Plus, Zach shares a simple pep talk for pursuing your creative dreams: Nowhere is it written that you can't do it.

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Follow guest Zach Zimmerman:

• Book: Is It Hot in Here (or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed on Earth)?
• Instagram: @zzdoublezz
• TikTok: @zzdoublezz
• Website: zach-zimmerman.com
• Tour: zach-zimmerman.com/tour

Follow host Jillian Anthony:

• Subscribe to the Cruel Summer Book Club newsletter
• Website: jilliananthony.com
• Instagram: @jillathrilla
• Threads: @jillathrilla

Resources mentioned:

• Zach’s appearance on After Midnight
• Zach’s New Yorker articles
• Derry Girls on Netflix
• My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
• On Writing by Stephen King
• Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
• The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
• "Dead Eyes" podcast by Connor Ratliff
• Focusmate.com
• Speechify