Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen
Don’t Be Alone with Jay Kogen is a comedy/advice podcast trying to fight the isolation of modern life. Each episode, Award winning TV writer/comedian/philosopher Jay Kogen has a conversation with a friend about how to solve the problems on Jay’s mind. These friends happen to be famous comics, musicians, actors, artists, writers, and sometimes even his family. It’s an entertaining, fun, and thoughtful show meant to bond us through humor, experience, and empathy.From Straw Hut Media
Bruce Vilanch Tells Jay He Needs To Market Himself Better
Bruce talks about stumbling into writing and finding a home. His feud with Barbra Streisand, writing for Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and Lily Tomlin. He talks about how being your own weird self is the best marketing and he discusses his new book “It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time: The Worst TV Shows in History and Other Things I Wrote” He talks about t-shirts, Elmo, Hollywood Squares, The Star Wars Holiday Special and surviving as a writer forever no matter what he’s asked to write.
Bio: Bruce Vilanch is an American comedy...
BONUS EPISODE! Actor Jim Turner Gets Stuff Done While Jay Doesn’t.
Jim Turner talks about doing one of our first pilots, Monkey World, being friends for 32 years, being the kind of guy who shows up at shows, makes shows, raises money for important causes, The Good Deed Corporation, Harry Styles, poker games, basketball games, Des Moines, Randy of The Redwoods, running for President, and almost talking about almost dying in Italy.
Bio: Jim Turner was an actor for many years in teevee shows and movies. He’s got an IMDB page and everything (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0877642/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1) He still does the actorizing no...
Manager Liz Kamlet Proves Jay’s Destroying His Son’s Music Career
Liz Kamlet answers all the music questions the dad of an aspiring musician has from Social Media to publishing to concerts to recording to warnings about the music contest TV shows. We also talk about the old school acts like Stephen Bishop, David Pack, and Michael McDonald! Liz is the smartest voice in music and promotion on the planet!
Bio: Liz Kamlet is an accomplished music industry professional with over a decade of experience collaborating with world-renowned artists, leading record labels, publishers, composers, film studios, and top executives. Her multifaceted expertise encompasses artist management, social media m...
BONUS EPISODE! Comic J. Elvis Weinstein Says Jay Jokes Wrong
J. Elvis Weinstein was a head writer on many shows so he knows a good joke while Jay just jokes often from character. On this show we sort out the differences. Also J. talks about his funny family. Hobbies like ice cream, bad jokes, bubble gum jokes, fortune cookies, losing money on documentaries, saving your marriage by wasting less money than your wife thinks, Mystery Science Theater, old credits, and how jokes ruin dramas, hack jokes, improvisations, the perfect punchline, and hating Seinfeld.
Bio: J. Elvis Weinstein began his stand-up comedy career at age 15 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At...
Jay Gets Andy Kindler Angry
Andy and Jay talk about anger, falling down, therapy, neuropathy, parents, the power of singing, audio books, back aches, Quakers, the State of The Industry, the Thought Spiral podcast, Binghamton University, LSD, The Stump, and Moon Zappa’s new book “Earth To Moon”, and running away from Jay Leno.
Bio: Andy Kindler currently recurs on Fox’s hit animation, Bob’s Burgers and Comedy Central’s long-running Tosh.O. He is also a regular on the critically praised Canadian web series, But I’m Chris Jericho (for which he was nominated as Best Supporting Actor by L.A. Webfest 201...
Zak Penn Explains Why Jay Knows Nothing About Show Business
Screenwriting legend Zak Penn talks about how he got so savvy in the business of show. We talk about how coming to LA and scouting out the city geared him up for his big move after college and his sale of “The Last Action Hero” started him on a 35 year journey of being one of Hollywood’s most sought after writers. We talk about the good times with Speilberg, JJ Abrams, Shawn Levy, Ryan Reynolds, & Dwayne Johnson and we talk about the bad times with others.
Bio: Zak Penn’s career began as a screenwriter when he sold his...
Mo Welch Claims Jay’s Utter Lack of Fame Is A Blessing
Comic/writer/cartoonist Mo Welch talks about her journey to find her dad and the Hulu special that came out of it called, “Dad Jokes”. She also dives into how she came fun humble beginnings to become a headlining comic who isn't so famous she gets hassled all the time. She talks about improv and drawing cartoons for the new yorker and being a mom and the difference between her upbringing and her wife's. She also talks about scolding her audiences and answers a few questions as basketball legend, Larry bird
Bio: Mo Welch is a stand up comed...
Andy Gordon Loves Writing while Jay Podcasts to Avoid Writing
Writer/Producer Andy Gordon loves writing. He talks about writing for pleasure after all these years. He talks about how the characters can make him laugh or cry in the car. He also talks about breaking into show business on the day he arrived in Hollywood, Jon Landis, Tom Lynch, Chuck Lorre, sending messages to his daughters through his shows, working on Big Bang and Modern Family, and the joys of arrest videos.
Bio: Andy Gordon is a writer/producer who worked on KIDS INC, DREAM ON, MAD ABOUT YOU, NEWSRADIO, FOXWORTHY, JUST SHOOT ME (2 pilots + 4 years), DAG, W...
Actress/Activist Meredith Salenger Says Jay Needs To Fight The Mediocre Fight
Meredith Salenger talks about fighting for justice, making peace, mediating, falling in love over text, growing up in Malibu, being picked to be a star by John Houston, being a good stepmother, having a dentist dad, Patton Oswalt, Natty Gann, sunsets, and wolves.
Bio: Meredith Salenger is an actress, writer, producer from Malibu, CA who began her professional acting career at the age of 10, playing an orphan in 1982’s “Annie,” directed by John Huston. She is perhaps best known for her starring role performances in “The Journey of Natty Gann” with John Cusack, “Dream a little Dream,” and “A Night in Life o...
Marianne Williamson Tells Jay That Maybe He’s Not Cut Out For Self Actualization
Marianne helps Jay try to find his spirituality. She talks about how we need to step into our own power. We talk about finding truths of the universe, faith in the people, and trouble at the bagel store.
Bio: For more than four decades, Marianne Williamson has been a leader of spiritually progressive circles. She is the author of 16 books, four of which have been #1 New York Times best sellers. A quote from the mega-bestseller A Return to Love, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond mea...
Writer Dan Ewen Says Jay's A Spoiled Brat
Writer Dan Ewen talks about his new show which was the last from Norman Lear, Dear Santa, growing up across the street from the good side of town, loving Athens.
Bio:Dan Ewen is a writer/producer from Athens, Georgia. On the series front, he has written for Disney, USA Network and Amazon, where he serves as Executive Producer, co-creator and co-showrunner of "Clean Slate", Norman Lear's final comedy, starring Laverne Cox and George Wallace, He also created Paramount's feature, PLAYING WITH FIRE, starring John Cena, and the recent Jack Black vehicle, DEAR SANTA. Ewen has been d...
Cartoonist Extraordinaire David Silverman Explains Why Jay’s Writing The Simpsons Wasn’t What Made It Good.
David Silverman explores the history of The Simpsons from before it existed until now. He talks about animating the hard stuff and making it look easy as well as his love of Burning Man & the tuba.
Bio: After graduating from UCLA in 1983, David Silverman worked as a freelance illustrator and animator until, in 1987, he landed a job animating on The Tracey Ullman Show — where The Simpsons began. Animating on all 48 shorts led to David directing the first shows of The Simpsons. Starting with the Christmas Special in December 1989, and then the premiere episode the following month, David so...
Patton Oswalt Part 2 - The Reckoning
Patton Oswalt and I finish our discussion in this first ever two part DBAWJK! You can never get enough Oswalt. He has been one of the most original minds out there for the last 30 years and a touch stone for quality who seems to be committed to art, laughter, ideas, and making the world slighty less shity.
Bio: Patton Oswalt is a comic/actor/writer, but in alphabetical order.
Patton Oswalt Explains Why Jay Isn’t Cool
Patton Oswalt talks about life, love, parenting, fandom, art and comedy in an episode so great it had to be two! We talk about putting in the work to be an actor, and how comedy bits form on stage, and how dismissing bands for not being cool is a dangerous game since cool changes on a dime, we talk about the need to bring marketing into everything we do, we talk about blow hards demanding audiences, and the brutal give and take of Hollywood on all levels. We also talk “King of Queens”, “AP Bio”, Black Sabbath, sci-fi, finding your plac...
Oscar Winner, Jim Rash, Knows He’ll Never Befriend Jay
Screenwriter and actor Jim Rash and I talk about what makes him an empathetic and responsive friend, growing up in Charlotte, NC, being adopted, the Groundlings, winning an Oscar, Allison Janney, his dream of being on Friends coming true, Community, turning off your cell phone, directing his new movie, playing Snoopy, and singing and dancing in the kitchen to feel good.
Bio: JIM RASH is best known for playing “Dean Pelton” on NBC’s Community. Most recently, he starred opposite Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum in Fly Me To The Moon. He won an Academy Award for Best Adapted S...
Annie Sertich & Mindy Sterling Question Jay’s Ability To Have Friends.
Annie and Mindy talk about what it takes to have a deep and lasting friendship. They discuss what brought them together, how they are alike and how they are not. They also talk about a divorce workbook, pets, kids, the trauma of ex-husbands, the difference between growing up in Detroit vs Miami, having parents who asked you to perform and parents who didn’t, asking your teacher to “hang out”, Groundlings, tums, having no emergency contact, boundaries, and how Jim Rash is the center of the universe.
Bios:
Annie Sertich wanted to be a lawyer - instead ended up...
Adam Pally Thinks People Hate Jay Kogen
On this episode we talk about the energy and commitment to be funny in everyday life with famed actor, writer, and improviser, Adam Pally who thinks it’s just a way of hiding yourself. We talk about being less funny and more authentic. We also discuss Mr. Throwback, Happy Endings, adulting, fatherhood, why New York is better than Los Angeles, parents who sing, deciding UCB was something Adam had to do, the artistic tribe he joined, why he thinks old show business is dead, and how his kid can’t believe Adam knows Childish Gamino.
Bio: Hailing from...
Jay Makes Lew Schneider’s House Burning Down All About Jay
Writer/Comic/Director Lew Schneider talks about how he copes with his house burning down in the L.A. firesand. How to manage the feelings of loss and gratitude, how his wife Liz is feeling, the kindness of people, what he’ll miss, the french horn, and how he no longer needs his signed Bobby Orr poster.
Bio: Lew Schneider is a youthful 62 year old man
California Community Foundation
Project HOPE
Writer/Directors Maya Forbes & Wallace Wolodarsky On Why Jay Is A Lousy Partner
On this episode Jay’s former writing partner, Wallace Wolodarsky and Wally’s new writing partner, his wife, Maya Forbes talk about partnership – the joys and the pitfalls including having your partner pretend to be shot in the head on film. We also discuss trying to make movies vs TV, the difficult current writing landscape, being pals with the Coppolas and Wes Anderson, Maya at the Harvard Lampoon, writing books, and long distance swimming.
Maya Forbes began her career writing for The Larry Sanders Show. She has since written numerous television episodes and feature films. She made her direct...
Jay’s Work Friends, Nicole Sullivan & Jerry Trainor, Explain That Jay’s Has No Real Friends\
Nicole and Jerry talk about Friendship, iCarly, MadTV, “Wendell & Vinnie”, electric shock collars, escape rooms, snowboarding, keeping in touch, drinking, LA tour buses, kids, and playing a grandmother at 40.
Nicole Sullivan - As a native New Yorker, Nicole has been acting since she was seven years old. Nicole studied the drama classics at Northwestern University. Sullivan was an original cast member of FOX’s smash hit “MADtv” and was their youngest member. She left “MADtv” to join the hit series “King of Queens.” Nicole was a series regular on “Hot Properties,” “Raines,” “Rita Rocks,” “Sh** My Dad Says,” and “Disjointed.” She has appeared...
Matt Selman Says Jay’s Big Failure Was Leaving The Simpsons
Blurb: Matt Selman talks about keeping The Simpsons afloat and still funny after all these years, being the rare writer who stayed in one place, Terry Jones being the smart Python, innovating the show each week, what’s too silly, looking back with pride, how we are more judgy when we are younger, Ghost, Matt’s says he’s not a sociopath, and we discuss if Jay regrets leaving The Simpsons after 5 seasons? We also talk about Matt’s chance to leave that he left behind and working out on chest day.
Bio: Emmy Award-winning writer/p...
Kelly Carlin-McCall Says Her Dad Is Better than Jay’s
Jay and Kelly talk about what we got from our fathers, both good and bad. We also talk about the genius of George Carlin, living in the shadow of your parents, Crossroads School, Judd Apatow, taking care of you parents, the Emmy Awards, defining yourself, fans, wanting to make people laugh, and how pity sex is just fine.
Kelly Carlin-McCall is an author, storyteller, depth psychologist, transformational coach and television producer. Her solo show, A Carlin Home Companion, was expanded and then published as a memoir by St. Martin’s Press in 2015. Her television work includes being a...
Directing Legend James Burrows Explores Why Jay Lacks “That Certain Magic”.
We talk with James Burroughs about his reign as hollywood's greatest sitcom director, being the son of the Abe Burrows In the genetics of comedy, his book “directed by James Burrows”, “Cheers”, “Will & Grace”, “Mary Tyler Moore”, “Taxi”, “Friends”, the scripps that make him want to direct, the ones that don't, his amazing memory, his humble beginnings, the decade it took him to learn how to direct, working with geniuses like James L. Brooks, Chuck Lori, and Kohan & Mutchnick, Andy Kaufman. And Jimmy explains how his two best friends are Al Michaels and Bruce Springsteen.
Bio: James Burrows is one of television’s most...
Simon Rich Explains Why Jay Isn't A Good Writer.
Simon Rich talks about how writing fantastical stories can still be authentic and personal.we also talk about growing up in a family of writers, why SNL is not a pit of vipers, John Mulaney & Richard Kind being in his new play, bad driving, Mad Magazine and why Jay is responsible for Simon's career because he watched The Simpsons as a kid.
Bio: Simon Rich has written for “Saturday Night Live,” Pixar and “The Simpsons.” He is the creator and showrunner of “Man Seeking Woman” (FXX) and “Miracle Workers” (TBS), which he based on his books. His collections include GLORY DAY...
Comedy Legend Jon Lovitz Say That Acting Is Easy, Comedy Is Hard, and Tennis is Even Harder And Jay Is Terrible At All Of Them.
The great Jon Lovitz talks about comedy, acting, stand-up comedy, dogs, The Groundlings, Managers, A league of Their Own, The Simpsons, The Critic, and the serendipity of show business.
Bio: Jon Lovitz has been one of the best known comedians for the last thirty years. He got his start acting in High School plays and developing his skills at the University of California, Irvine where he earned a B.A. in Drama. He also studied acting with Tony Barr at the Film Actors Workshop. At the advice of Tony Barr, Jon decided to concentrate solely on comedy.
Moon Zappa Says Size Doesn’t Matter When It Comes To Jay’s Trauma
Moon Zappa talks about her book, “Earth To Moon” which details her family trauma, the desire to dance, what makes good art, not being perfect, wanting more from life, how trying to spend a few minutes with her dad, Frank Zappa, led to his biggest hit, tea can lead to joy, and how sometimes your first rodeo is your last.
Bio: Moon is a writer, actor, yogi, podcaster and tea merchant.
Comic Fahim Anwar Knows Jay’s Stand-up Will Fail
Comic and writer Fahim Anwar and I talk about failed TV shows, Afghan and Ukrainian treats, performing at Largo, comedy today, working for Boeing, disappointing your parents by being a comic, the power of Margo Robbie, YouTube vs Netflix, crowd work, not playing sax for The Roots, having a great bit you can’t put online, hecklers, comedy persona, dancing in clubs, and convincing your parents you have value by wearing a tie.
Bio:Fahim Anwar is a Los Angeles-based standup comedian, actor and writer. Fahim is touring on the heels of his third stand up special, “House Money...
Showrunner Jonathan Groff Questions Why Jay Would Book Him & Not the Broadway Star Jonathan Groff
Jonathan talks about growing up the son of a minister, not ruining other people’s shows, not doing stand-up comedy, not staying with Conan, and not being the Jonathan Groff, the Broadway superstar!
Bio:Jonathan Groff is a television writer, showrunner and executive producer, with over thirty years of experience. Recently, he was an Executive Producer alongside Fred Armisen on the HULU comedy THIS FOOL. He was with ABC's BLACK-ISH for all eight of its seasons, serving as Executive Producer/Showrunner for four seasons. Also at ABC, Jonathan was the EP / Showrunner on HAPPY ENDINGS for three seasons. Fr...
Jennifer Tilly Explains Why Jay Is Clueless About The Plight of Actresses
Jennifer spills the beans on what it takes to be an actress in Hollywood. We talk "Beverly Hills Housewives", how your gal pal will cover your problem spots in lesbian love scenes, poker, glamour, getting hit on by producers, and the indignity of promoting yourself by going on to podcasts like this one.
Bio: Jennifer Tilly received an Academy Award nomination for her role in Woody Allen’s “Bullets Over Broadway” for her memorable portrayal of the terribly untalented Olive, actress wannabe, and gangster’s moll. Her performance in “Liar Liar” as Jim Carrey’s gold-digging client earned her an America...
Writer/Philosopher Eric Kaplan Dumbs It Down For Jay
Blurb: We talk about Philosophy, comedy writing, agreeing with the show runner, not being afraid of the truth, the power of walking sticks, trying to figure out if God exists is dumb, Brooklyn as a place to grow up, and whether to lie to your kids about Santa Clause.
Bio: A native of Flatbush, New York, Eric Kaplan began writing for Spy magazine and the Harvard Lampoon before getting his first television-writing job on The Late Show with David Letterman. Before THE BIG BANG THEORY, he worked on other shows including Futurama (for which he won an Emmy), Fl...
Singer/Songwriter Steven Page Explains Why Jay’s Writing Partner Was Right To Leave Him
Steven sings some amazing songs and talks about The BareNakedLadies, Trans-Canada Highwaymen, the creative process, blowing up your life, breaking up with your partners, repairing your life, finding freedom working for yourself, being a self starter, zoom shows, Brian Wilson, Yoko Ono, band camp, and getting pelted with mac & cheese.
Bio: Over the last thirty-five years, Steven Page has established himself as one of the most recognizable and enduring voices in music. The release of his latest album, Excelsior, shows that he has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. Since its release, Steven has toured Canada, The U...
Tim Bagley Counsels Jay On Why His Bad Self Image Is Still Too Positive
Tim & Jay talk about connecting, being in the moment, getting fired from “Friends”, the Groundlings, being brave enough for relationships, laughing during improv, Frosted Mini Wheats, auditions, serious acting vs not, The Playboy Mansion, being gay, coming from the middle of the country to Los Angeles, good pizza, and angels.
Bio:Tim Bagley is currently on the 2nd season of Peabody Award winning "Somebody Somewhere" for HBO, streaming on MAX, with the 3rd season coming out soon!
Paul Reiser Insists Jay Isn’t Nuanced Enough
Paul Reiser talks about his new film, “The Problem with People”, deciding to be a comic, comedy and heartbreak being from the same well, His love of Peter Faulk, Jack Lemon, and Alan Arkin, fathers, getting out of the house, building a music room just in case Billy Joel dropped by, Writing “What A Fool Believes” with and about Michael McDonnald, “Diner” “Mad About You.” “The Thing About My Folks”, acting and writing seriously, his sons, and realizing you can’t write a standup act but just holding a pad and thinking to yourself…”What’s funny?”
Bio: n Hulu’s recent cri...
Grief Expert David Kessler Tells Jay He’s Going To Die Wrong
David Kessler discusses grief and loss and how it’s not that bad and why Jay is reluctant to grieve. We talk about accepting the end of our lives, how children deal with death, and why we are triggered to feel loss in the strangest moments. We talk about being honest with loved ones and not overreacting, and the value of using the ticking clock of death to live better today. We take listener questions and get ready for the best end we can create for ourselves.
Bio: David Kessler is one of the world’s foremost experts on gr...
Actors Lawrence & David Pressman Explain Show Biz Is A Family That Jay Is Not Part Of
Father and son actors, Lawrence & David Pressman talk about their journeys to becoming actors, what it’s like to grow up in Kentucky vs Los Angeles, knowing acting was your calling from a young age, the problem with drinking, acting out when you are young, having your dad bribe you to quit showbiz, and getting blown up in Independence Day and getting yelled at by Elia Kazan.
Bio: Lawrence Pressman was born in 1939 in Cynthiana, Kentucky. A graduate of Northwestern University, he has appeared in over 150 roles on the screen and stage. Including, “Shaft” “9 To 5” “American Pie”...
Liza Powel O’Brien Feels Jay Will Never Be a Good Partner
Liza talks about her podcast, “Significant Others” and what makes someone devote themselves to making someone else famous, and how no one does it alone, and how empathic she and her husband, Conan, are to the world, and how the trees just might be killing us.
Bio: Liza Powel O'Brien has an MFA in Fiction Writing from Columbia University's School of the Arts. Her work has been seen at The Geffen Playhouse, Echo Theater Company, The Blank Theatre, Unscreened LA, Naked Angels LA, Ojai Playwrights Conference, Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival, Hedgebrook, and Whidbey Island Center for the A...
Richard Rushfield Blames Jay For The End of Show Business
Entertainment reporter Richard Rushfield discusses how silicon valley and stockholders tried to make sure bets and wound up destroying the infrastructure of Hollywood. We also talk about comedy, movies, being a pessimist, and the notion that storytelling will continue no matter what.
Bio: Richard Rushfield founded The Ankler in January 2022. Called a “hit Hollywood newsletter” by the New York Times the Ankler is the number one go to information source for Hollywood Insiders who really want to know what’s going on inside Hollywood. has covered Hollywood and American culture as a reporter, editor and critic for over 20 years. A...
Comic Sierra Katow Proves Jay Doesn’t Have The Will To Succeed
Blurb: Comedian Sierra Katow talks about her new special, being so insecure she conquers everything she sets out to do, Asian comics, hitting the comedy clubs with your dad waiting in the car, and throwing your Harvard Education away on jokes, when it’s right to start a family, and hustling to prove your not a typical type-A person.
Bio: Sierra is a standup comic, writer, and actor who recently released her debut comedy special, Funt, with Comedy Dynamics available on Amazon Prime, AppleTV, YouTube, and more. She can be seen in the upcoming PBS series Roots of...
Actor/Writer Husein Madhavji & Jay Are Surprisingly Similar But Jay Is Clearly Worse.
Blurb: Husein and I talk about shared traditions, taking faith seriously but being open and curious to all cultures and not eating at Ramadan, writing a pilot together about South Asians, Canada’s Thanksgiving, India’s holidays, his father not trusting his career until Husein showed up in a suit and my father punching up the jokes my dates told.
Bio: Actor and storyteller Husein Madhavji, has taken on diverse roles throughout his career most notably playing Dr. Shahir Hamza for 5 seasons in the hospital drama Saving Hope, on stage starring in the Soulpepper production of Yasmina Reza’s 'Art’...
Laraine Newman Says Jay Squandered His Success
The Great Laraine Newman talks about the growing up in Beverly Hills, founding the Groundlings, being part of the pioneering cast of SNL, raising kids who work in show business and still have integrity, fighting addictions, avoiding auditions, voice work, writing an audible memoir “May You Live in Interesting Times”, and what it’s like to make a movie that’s powered mostly by cocaine.
Bio:Laraine Newman is an Emmy and Annie Nominated performer and an actual native of Los Angeles. She began studying improv at the age of 16. She, along with her sister Tracy Newman are amongst t...
