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Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen

Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen

By: Straw Hut Media
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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 MediaStraw Hut Media Art Performing Arts Stand-up Shows
Episodes
  • Kliph Nesteroff Explains Why Canadians Are Funny. Jay Still Isn’t.

    Kliph Nesteroff Explains Why Canadians Are Funny. Jay Still Isn’t.
    Oct 27 2026
    Comedy historian and author Kliph Nesteroff joins Jay to answer one of life's great mysteries: Why are Canadians so damn funny? From Jim Carrey and Norm Macdonald to Kids in the Hall, Nathan Fielder, SCTV, Michael J. Fox, and countless others, Canada has produced an absurd amount of comedy talent. Kliph has a theory about why — and it might have something to do with being an outsider looking in on America. Kliph also tells Jay about growing up in rural Canada, obsessing over comedy and The Simpsons, becoming “California sober” before ever moving to California, and the legendary high school election where he roasted his teachers in front of the entire school, won the presidency 398–2… and promptly got kicked out. They also dig into the strange history of Canadian television, why some brilliant Canadian comedians never become famous in America, what actually makes something funny, and why Southern California apparently doesn't count as moving to the United States. Kliph's new book, Sorry, We're Funny: How Canada Became a Comedy Powerhouse, explores how a country once dismissed as humorless became responsible for some of the funniest people in entertainment. And after nearly an hour of discussing what makes Canadians funny, absolutely no progress is made toward explaining Jay. Bio: Kliph Nesteroff is the author of four books about comedy: The Comedians, We Had a Little Real Estate Problem, Outrageous and the forthcoming Sorry, We're Funny: How Canada Became a Comedy Powerhouse. He often appears in his capacity as comedy historian on CNN, HBO and Vice and has worked on projects with Judd Apatow, Albert Brooks and the late Rob Reiner. Born in Castlegar, British Columbia, he grew up watching Wayne and Shuster and the Kids in the Hall on CBC. Subscribe to Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen for more conversations with writers, comedians, actors, creators, and thought leaders exploring life, creativity, politics, and the human experience. Website: https://www.dontbealonewjk.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dontbealonewithjaykogen/https://www.instagram.com/jaykogen/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dont.be.alone.wit Substack: https://substack.com/@jaykogen Merch: https://shop.app/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • The Simpsons Writer Who Had to Teach Himself to Be Funny | Brent Forrester

    The Simpsons Writer Who Had to Teach Himself to Be Funny | Brent Forrester
    Oct 20 2026
    Brent Forrester has written for The Simpsons, The Office, King of the Hill, and The Ben Stiller Show. So naturally, he says he wasn't born funny. Brent joins Jay to explain how he actually taught himself comedy by obsessively studying jokes, breaking them apart, and figuring out why they worked — a process that eventually landed him in some of the greatest comedy writers' rooms in television history. They talk about writing during the classic years of The Simpsons, what made The Office work, Judd Apatow and The Ben Stiller Show, why some brilliant comedy writers aren't particularly funny in person, and whether being funny is something you can actually learn. Then things get existential. Can AI replace writers? What happens to art when there's no human being behind it? Why should anyone keep writing when a computer can generate something in seconds? Brent and Jay don't completely agree. They also get into the mechanics of writing jokes, why beginning comedy writers should start with sketches, Brent's formula for funny, why "silly isn't funny," writing characters who are broken, and why Brent is now betting on YouTube instead of waiting for Hollywood to give him permission to make something. Basically, two comedy writers attempt to explain comedy. Which seems like a terrible idea. Enjoy.Subscribe to Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen for more conversations with writers, comedians, actors, creators, and thought leaders exploring life, creativity, politics, and the human experience. Website: https://www.dontbealonewjk.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dontbealonewithjaykogen/https://www.instagram.com/jaykogen/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dont.be.alone.wit Substack: https://substack.com/@jaykogen Merch: https://shop.app/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 mins
  • Paul Provenza Knows Way Too Much About Comedy!

    Paul Provenza Knows Way Too Much About Comedy!
    Oct 13 2026
    Paul Provenza has spent basically his entire life thinking about comedy. Which sounds exhausting. Paul joins Jay to talk about what actually makes someone funny, why George Carlin scripted his performances like a play, how Sarah Silverman seemed to figure out her comedic voice immediately, and why Anthony Jeselnik understands something most comedians don't: sometimes shutting up is part of the joke. They also get into The Aristocrats — the completely insane idea Paul and Penn Jillette talked about for years before finally buying some cameras and convincing a bunch of legendary comedians to tell the same filthy joke. Then there's MAD Magazine, Bugs Bunny, John Mulaney, Doug Stanhope, Set List, Paul's upcoming documentary, getting older in show business, losing people you love, and the surprisingly difficult question of what actually makes comedy... comedy. Basically, two comedy nerds spend 50 minutes talking about why things are funny. Which, somehow, is funny. Subscribe to Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen for more conversations with writers, comedians, actors, creators, and thought leaders exploring life, creativity, politics, and the human experience. Website: https://www.dontbealonewjk.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dontbealonewithjaykogen/https://www.instagram.com/jaykogen/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dont.be.alone.wit Substack: https://substack.com/@jaykogen Merch: https://shop.app/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    54 mins
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