Working: A Stand-Up Comedian Explains How to Be Authentic on Stage

Slate Culture

Slate Podcasts

Arts, Tv & Film, Music

4.4 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 23 April 2023

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, host Karen Han talks to stand-up comedian and writer Josh Gondelman, whose hour-long special People Pleaser is now available on multiple streaming platforms. In the interview, Josh explains how he compiled material for the special and created a logical flow of jokes. He also talks about his stage presence and what it was like to find his authentic voice as a comedian. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Karen and producer Cameron Drews discuss the ideas of “persona” and “voice” in creative work. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Josh shares what it’s like to write for shows like Last Week Tonight, Desus & Mero, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to [email protected] or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Jonathan Braylock, I'm Dra. Milligan, and I'm James III. And we're those of Black
0:09.2	Man Kenchup in Hollywood. It's a comedic podcast that reviews films with leading actors
0:13.6	of color and analyze them in the context of race and Hollywood's diversity issues.
0:17.7	Yeah. Listen to new episodes on Mondays. Find us wherever you get your podcasts. I don't
0:22.7	care where you get them. I just want you to listen. Don't threaten the people we need
0:26.9	them to listen. Okay. Okay. Okay. Sorry, guys. Listen. Listen to us. Yeah. Yeah. Put on a
0:32.2	happy voice. I think some people who bring a different energy to the stage can get a little
0:54.5	rougher with audiences in ways that are like sometimes very fun, but I can't get away
1:00.3	with it. If like someone yells something out, and I'm like, Hey, shut your fucking mouth.
1:05.8	It's like it is very jarring. Welcome back to working. I'm your guest host for the week,
1:12.6	Cameron Druves. And I'm your other host, Karen Han. Hey, Karen, it's great to be hosting
1:18.2	the show with you again. Yeah. And I'm really excited for this week's episode. Why don't
1:23.8	you tell our listeners whose voice we just heard at the top of the show? Yeah. So for
1:28.2	this Cameron and Karen episode, yeah, as our guest, Josh Gondelman, a comedy writer,
1:35.3	producer, author, and stand-up comedian, who's working, maybe familiar with from shows
1:39.5	like Dazis and Miro last week tonight with John Oliver. Wait, wait, don't tell me. And
1:44.2	also his recent comedy special, People Pleaser. Okay. So I should show all my cards here,
1:49.9	Karen, and revealed that I'm definitely familiar with Josh's work. And I think anyone who
1:55.6	sees live comedy around New York City with any regularity will probably come across Josh.
2:01.5	He is in demand and out there. And you know, if you do see him, he probably will stick
2:07.8	in your memory because he does have a pretty unique voice and style, right? Yeah. I feel
2:14.1	like he's known to be, and this is going to sound pretty simplistic, but he's known
	...

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