Hey there, I'm Jason Gautz, and you're listening to Think Again, a Big Think podcast.

Since 2008, Big Think has been sharing big ideas from some of the most creative thinkers around.

On the Think Again podcast, we step outside of our comfort zone, surprising our guests and me, your host, with unexpected

conversation starters from Big Things interview archives, ideas that we didn't necessarily come

here prepared to discuss.

Today I'm very, very happy to be sitting here with Jim Gaffigan.

He is a Grammy-nominated comedian and the New York Times best-selling author of Dad is Fat

and other books, And he's about to

launch the second season of his semi-fictitious TV show, The Jim Gaffigan Show, which premieres with two

episodes on Sunday, June 19th on TV land. Welcome to Think Again, Jim. Thank you. Thanks for having

I wanted to start off just kind of asking you about courage, right?

Like a lot of people in the world seem to be, I would say, most people in most industries

seem to be walking around with various kinds of masks on trying to protect themselves from

looking stupid.

And in your work, you go to the land of totally grotesque over the top kind of all of the worst

possible insecurities and reflections that the world might have on you.

You put them out there and like maybe exaggerate them as well.

Do you feel that that makes you stronger over time?

Does that help you deal with those demons?

Is it free therapy?

I mean, your work is hilariously funny, but I'm interested in your perspective on going

out raw like that into the world.

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