Quick-To-Read Conversation Starters: Give me 2 minutes of your time, I'll help you put your network to work (or play, or thinking, or…) with something worth talking about.
Maria Bamford’s You Are A Comedy Special was my top non-business business book of 2020. Her new book, Sure I’ll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere is out now so she’s doing some book promo spots. Her interview on Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend didn’t disappoint. This … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Maria Bamford Is Back (New Book + Conan)
Questlove has said for a while how Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend may have saved his life during the pandemic. Not only do I find that relatable, but seeing as Quest and Conan both factored heavily into my pandemic and post-pandemic not dying experience, I was so excited when this crossover episode appeared in my … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Questlove On Conan
Was he weird? Yes. Kind of a genius? Absolutely. I’ve previously discussed Paul Reubens’ mastery in “Pee Wee And Establishing Range.” I know this clip isn’t a podcast. I also know the audio isn’t great. But in the tradition of weird genius and crossover absurdity, here’s Pee Wee making an appearance on The Dating Show … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Pee Wee On The Dating Show (And Conan’s Eulogy)
In 1991, Conan O’Brien, Dana Carvey, Kevin Nealon, and Robert Smigel wrote a feature-length, Hans and Franz movie. Musical. Starring Arnold Schwarzaneggar. It never got made. Shocking. I know. But in 2023, they got together and gave the script a read-through. There are no better people in our lives than the people that make us … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Conan (And Friends) Read The Lost Hans And Frans Movie
When they offered Conan O’Brien the Late Night Show, he wasn’t going to take it. He was living in a (self-described) paltry apartment, writing for The Simpsons, and overall enjoying a simple, rewarding life. He called his friend Robert Smigel. They agreed getting out of the writer’s room and into the performing business was exciting. … Continue reading Conan On Having Nothing To Lose
Hey! On Saturday’s I highlight a podcast about being a creative professional. Sometimes it’s direct, sometimes it’s indirect, but it’s always entertaining and educational. This week I’ve got THREE for you. Your Podcasts of the Week are… Dr. Kristin Neff on NPR’s Hidden Brain. Find me a person with creative inspirations and I’ll show you a … Continue reading Podcasts Of The Week: Self-Critical, Comedic, Singing Lessons (Dr. Neff, Conan, And Ariana)
Conan went from being a writer on SNL and the Simpson’s in his 20s, to taking over for Letterman as he turned 30. Talk about a promotion. No pressure! To make things worse, he wasn’t just filling big shoes, he was also charged by the network to help find a younger audience. That gave him … Continue reading When Feedback Is Full Of It (With Conan O’Brien)
YouTube has been trying to get me to watch this video for months, and I finally clicked play. What follows is Conan teaching a group of elementary-age kids how to write blues music. “My sister and my mommy / they just eat edamame” will now be stuck in my head for weeks.
Charles Barkley’s appearance on the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend Podcast (episode #53) will make you laugh, think, and laugh some more. They get into the the work ethic required to be a professional, the role talent and luck play, and more. The most entertaining aspect of this episode is just how good Barkley is … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Charles Barkley Is Conan O’Brien’s Friend
All the marketing people will tell you to find your niche. Which is fine. It’s good advice and you should take it. I’ll find mine eventually. Maybe. But in the meantime, I’ll admire people who have already figured it out. Especially in a way that doesn’t feel so infinitely narrow. Like Fred Armisen. Here he … Continue reading Fred Armisen On How To Niche Down