Episodes

  • Ramy Youssef wants to make it weird

    Ramy Youssef wants to make it weird
    May 29 2025
    Ramy Youssef's creative pursuits range from stand-up to his semi-biographical Hulu show, "Ramy," to his new animated series, "#1 Happy Family USA." In all of his efforts, he says he's just trying to make work that feels exciting to him. Ramy is one of the costars of the new HBO film, "Mountainhead." He talks to Rachel about his gripe with Santa Claus and reckoning with his mortality.

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    39 mins
  • Mike Birbiglia doesn't think every setup needs a punchline

    Mike Birbiglia doesn't think every setup needs a punchline
    May 22 2025
    When Mike Birbiglia tells a story, he tries to make it relatable to everyone in the audience – whether it's tapping into his childhood anxiety, relating his clumsy attempts at self improvement or sharing his earnest fears about his aging parents. Mike's new Netflix special is The Good Life. He shares with Rachel how he learns valuable lessons from writing jokes, and explains how found some peace.

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    38 mins
  • Jonathan Groff lost his faith while spelunking

    Jonathan Groff lost his faith while spelunking
    May 15 2025
    Jonathan Groff has brought his killer vocals and Disney-hero charm to Broadway hits like "Spring Awakening," "Hamilton" and "Merrily We Roll Along." He's nominated for a Tony award for his latest Broadway show, "Just in Time," a musical about singer Bobby Darin. He talks to Rachel about responding to criticism like a 7-year-old and realizing he didn't believe in God at a Youth for Christ camp.

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    41 mins
  • Wanda Sykes is looking for higher stakes

    Wanda Sykes is looking for higher stakes
    May 8 2025
    Wanda Sykes life has been defined by one act of courage after another. Leaving a safe career for comedy, getting divorced, coming out and surviving breast cancer all took a lot of guts. She shares with Rachel what she learned from each chapter of her life, and how it has made her stand-up stronger. Wanda is on the road for her new tour - it's called Please and Thank You.

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    37 mins
  • 'Weird Al' Yankovic is the most normal person in show business

    'Weird Al' Yankovic is the most normal person in show business
    May 1 2025
    When Weird Al's debut single, "My Bologna," came out, there wasn't really a model for how a parody artist could have any longevity in their career. Yet Al's figured out how to stay popular for over four decades. Ahead of his summer "Bigger and Weirder" tour, he talks with Rachel about staying weird as he ages, parenthood, and his devoted (some might say obsessive) fans.

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    33 mins
  • Joy Harjo thinks writing can heal regret

    Joy Harjo thinks writing can heal regret
    Apr 24 2025
    Joy Harjo is one of the most revered poets in the United States, but she took a winding path to get there. The former U.S. poet laureate spoke with Rachel Martin about a pivotal decision in her childhood that put her on the creative path and how she views writing as a way to have second chances. This spring, Harjo is releasing a new version of her book, For A Girl Becoming.

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    33 mins
  • Brett Goldstein avoids emotions at all costs

    Brett Goldstein avoids emotions at all costs
    Apr 17 2025
    Don't be fooled by Brett Goldstein's grumpy exterior – he can't resist a big, open-hearted story. You see it in the TV shows he's acted in and helped create, "Ted Lasso" and "Shrinking." He's about to release a new HBO standup special called "The Second Best Night of Your Life." He spoke with Rachel about what Pixar knows about the afterlife and about finding ways to love annoying people.

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    37 mins
  • Julianne Nicholson just wants everyone to take a beat

    Julianne Nicholson just wants everyone to take a beat
    Apr 10 2025
    Anyone who has seen Julianne Nicholson in "Mare of Easttown" or "Janet Planet" knows she is really good at portraying grief. In her new show "Paradise," she plays Sinatra, a heartbroken tech billionaire trying to micromanage the end of the world. She's an evil genius who is also a little bit funny. She shares with Rachel an early memory of "outhouse beauty" and her secret to social situations.

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    32 mins