meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The James Altucher Show

426 - Gilbert Gottfried: Laugh Everyday (It's Medicine For Your Day)

The James Altucher Show

James Altucher

Education, Business

4.62.7K Ratings

🗓️ 10 January 2019

⏱️ 74 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Gilbert Gottfried started doing stand-up comedy when he was 15 years old. He dropped out of high school and within 10 years he was on Saturday Night Live. And he built his career up from there. But he's also been the center of a lot of controversies. People get upset at comedians for "going too far." But Gilbert does it for a reason... He said, "I remember, I did this show that was a tribute to Joan Rivers. It was right after there was that shooting at a gay nightclub. I started doing jokes about the shooting and the audience was laughing all the way through and you know, Joan Rivers has a large gay audience. One guy tweeted me and he said, 'I never thought that I'd wake up crying and go to sleep laughing.'" It's easy to misunderstand people. And get upset. Whenever I'm made, I say to myself, "This means I'm not understanding something." So then I move that anger into curiosity. I kept asking Gilbert about his jokes. And we walked me through the humor. This episode will make you laugh and maybe uncomfortable but I promise the laughter makes it all worth it. The laughter is medicine for your day. I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltucher.com/podcast.    Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts Stitcher iHeart Radio Spotify   Follow me on Social Media: YouTube Twitter Facebook Linkedin Instagram ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This isn't your average business podcast and he's not your average host.

0:06.6

This is the James Altiger Show on the Choose Yourself Network.

0:12.6

Today on the James Altiger Show.

0:15.4

I mean you started doing stand up when you were 15 and you dropped out of high school

0:20.8

and then really the next thing we hear from you is that you're on Saturday Live and

0:25.5

you become part of the cast there.

0:28.5

What's happening between 1970 and 1980?

0:30.5

How did you kind of build your skills?

0:33.3

God, I don't know.

0:35.4

First time I went up on a stage I was 15.

0:39.6

And I think everybody in show business has this.

0:43.8

That's that split personality where one half of you is like I'm going into show business

0:54.0

and people are going to pay money to come see me and they're going to go to the movies

1:00.2

and turn on the TV just to watch me because I'm that great.

1:06.0

And then the other half of you is saying oh please love me, please love me.

1:11.0

I want some reassurance.

1:13.0

I'm worth it.

1:14.0

Do you think you need both because when you're on the stage you probably can't let the

1:19.0

audience see you're nervous about what they think or else they'll tear you apart.

1:24.0

But at the same time you have to perform material that you know is going to make them laugh.

1:28.0

Yeah, so yeah it's so to definitely split thing.

1:33.4

Was there ever a point where you felt like oh I did go too far.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from James Altucher, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of James Altucher and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.