Michelle Buteau on Comedy, Community and Calling Out Dave Chappelle

On with Kara Swisher

New York Magazine

News Commentary, News, Society & Culture

4.2 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 31 March 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Comedian Michelle Buteau is a true mutli-hyphenate — actor, standup comic, TV host, podcaster, and executive producer — and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Kara spoke to Buteau about the season 2 launch of “Survival of the Thickest,” a Netflix series loosely based on her 2020 memoir, and how she’s using her life stories to push the boundaries of representation. They also talked about Buteau’s 20-year stand up career, how she became the first woman to record a special in Radio City Music Hall (“A Buteau-ful Mind”), why she stands by calling out Dave Chappelle for his transgender jokes, and how she wants to use her producing prowess to uplift more marginalized voices, despite the current political climate. Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected] or find us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	You know, it's okay for you to swear on this podcast. I hope you're not worried about that.
0:05.8	Thank fucking God.
0:20.0	Hi, everyone, from New York Magazine in the Vox Media Podcast Network.
0:21.3	This is On with Caro Swisher, and I'm Caro Swisher.
0:24.3	My guest today is Michelle Butoh, the multi-hyphenate comedian, writer, actor, and producer, and one of my favorites.
0:30.8	Last year, she made history as the first female comic to record a stand-up special at Radio City Music Hall, A Beautiful Mind, her second special for Netflix,
0:38.5	and she starred in the movie Babes with Alana Glazer.
0:41.8	Bouto's comedy has been described as dynamic, conversational, and big-hearted.
0:45.8	I just think she makes me feel good, and I think comics right now are doing some of the most
0:49.4	trenchant analysis of what's happening from a variety of different viewpoints, not always
0:53.4	things I agree with,
0:54.6	but I'm really enjoying how much comics are really contributing to the conversation now,
0:58.7	especially compared to a lot of people, including our politicians.
1:02.2	The second season of our Netflix series, Survival of the Thickest, came out last week the same day
1:06.9	we talked.
1:07.8	The show is loosely based on Boutot's memoir, personal essays, which she published
1:12.0	back in 2020. It's about the size inclusive stylist who wants to change the fashion industry
1:16.8	and not just for big girls. And she surrounds herself with friends, including friends in the
1:20.8	transgender committee that help her do that. I think it's a wonderful show. There's a series of
1:25.1	shows right now that have a lot of political elements that
1:28.4	aren't so obvious, but actually are about joy and friendship and community. I think it's just what we need
1:33.2	around this time, because they're also not silly and stupid. They're actually quite substantive,
	...

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