Neal Brennan interviews Stephen Merchant (‘The Office,’ ‘Extras,’ ‘An Idiot Abroad,’ ‘Life’s Too Short,’ ‘Hello, Ladies’ and more) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. 

----------------------------------------------------------

00:00 Intro

1:33 Origin story

3:07 Ricky Gervais

7:49 Origins of the Office

10:56 Ambition in the UK vs. US

14:22 The Office First Season

17:11 Success

18:24 Christmas Specials

21:35 Sponsor: Mando

23:55 Sponsor: BetterHelp

25:52 American version of The Office

28:08 Secret sauce of his relationship with Ricky

34:42 American adaptation

39:12 Current roles and goals

48:08 Sponsor: Harrys

49:56 Tall

58:30 Comedy persona vs. who he really is

1:05:30 Ambition

1:07:00 Relationships

1:09:06 How Success Impacted Him

1:15:40 Stephen Imparts Wisdom

----------------------------------------------------------

Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan

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Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557

Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234

Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased).

Edited by Will Hagle ([email protected]) 

Sponsors:

Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get 20% off + free shipping  with promo code [NEAL] at

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This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/neal and get on your way to being your best self.

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----------------------------------------------------------

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Neal Brennan interviews Josh Groban (multi-platinum musician) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. 

----------------------------------------------------------

00:00 Intro

2:07 Getting discovered

6:34 Early singing career 

15:21 Singing with Celine Dion at the Grammys

20:11 Reaction to success

21:37 Insecurity

34:07 TV Special

35:04 You Raise Me Up

38:55 Loneliness from  Being Uncategorizable 

46:56 Building Walls

53:51 Sponsor: Tushy

55:44 Sponsor: Square

57:21 The Show Must Go On 

1:00:56 Work Life Balance 

1:02:57 Stage Fright

1:09:55 Hobbies

1:10:30 Talented Introvert

1:14:11 Depression

1:15:55 Self-Acceptance

----------------------------------------------------------

Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan

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Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557

Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234

Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased).

Edited by Will Hagle ([email protected]) 

Sponsors:

Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code [NEAL] at

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This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/neal and get on your way to being your best self.

Over 2 Million Butts Love TUSHY. Get 10% off TUSHY with the code [NEAL] at https://www.hellotushy.com/NEAL

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Neal Brennan interviews Tom Green (The Tom Green Show, Freddy Got Fingered, This Is The Tom Green Documentary) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. 

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00:00 Intro

00:33 Testicular Cancer

3:44 White Rapper

4:59 DIY roots

6:18 Norm Macdonald & Letterman

9:44 Experiencing sudden fame

15:05 Hosting SNL

19:08 Sponsor: Harrys

21:10 Sponsor: BetterHelp

23:13 Early adoption of creative technology

26:45 Negative reaction to fame

30:05 Shell shocked by fame

32:10 Downside of sudden fame

35:45 Relationship with Drew Barrymore

37:07 Anxiety

41:16 Testicular cancer

48:41 Difficulty of public relationship

51:39 Sponsor: RocketMoney

53:10 Moving back to Canada

1:03:29 Positive Thoughts

1:06:30 Procrastination & Indecision

1:15:26 Keeping the Dream Alive

1:17:05 How His Relationship with Himself has changed

----------------------------------------------------------

Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan

https://twitter.com/nealbrennan

https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan

Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557

Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234

Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased).

Edited by Will Hagle ([email protected]) 

Sponsors:

An exclusive offer for our

listeners -- Get a $10 trial set for just $5 at https://www.harrys.com/NEAL 

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/neal and get on your way to being your best self.

Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to https://www.RocketMoney.com/NEAL today.

Sponsor Blocks: https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/blocks

----------------------------------------------------------

#podcast #comedy #mentalhealth #standup

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Neal Brennan interviews W. Kamau Bell (We Need to Talk About Cosby, United Shades of America, Who's With Me? 2025 standup tour) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. 

----------------------------------------------------------

00:00 Intro

9:20 We Need to Talk About Cosby

14:19 Sponsor: Huel

17:01 Sponsor: BetterHelp

18:25 Who Defines What's Black?

50:42 Sponsor: Aura

52:16 Sponsor: Tushy

53:48 Smart for a Comedian

1:05:31 America

----------------------------------------------------------

Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan

https://twitter.com/nealbrennan

https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan

Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557

Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234

Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased).

Edited by Will Hagle ([email protected]) 

Sponsors:

New customers visit https://www.Huel.com/NEAL today and use my code NEAL to get 15% off your first order plus a Free Gift.

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/neal and get on your way to being your best self.

Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat at https://www.AuraFrames.com. Promo Code [NEAL]

Over 2 Million Butts Love TUSHY. Get 10% off

TUSHY with the code [NEAL] at https://hellotushy.com/[NEAL]

Sponsor Blocks: https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/blocks

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Neal Brennan interviews Larry Wilmore (Nightly Show, Daily Show, Bernie Mac Show, Blackish, Insecure & much more) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. 

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00:00 Intro

3:15 Dating, Marriage & Kids

7:30 Therapy by Proxy

8:26 Emotions

13:53 Providing

25:01 Sponsor: Mando

26:52 Sponsor: BetterHelp

28:00 God & Death

49:04 Sponsor: Rocket Money

50:24 Sponsor: Harry's

52:12 Procrastination & Messiness

1:04:15 Empath/Sociopath

1:17:08 Likes being alone

1:23:23 Health

----------------------------------------------------------

Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan

https://twitter.com/nealbrennan

https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan

Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557

Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234

Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased).

Edited by Will Hagle ([email protected]) 

Sponsors:

Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with

@shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code [NEAL] at https://www.shopmando.com! #mandopod

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/neal and get on your way to being your best self.

Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to https://www.RocketMoney.com/NEAL today.

Get the shaving products that always deliver. Get Harry’s. Normally their trial set is $13 but right now you can get it for just $3 at harrys.com/NEAL.

Sponsor Blocks: https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/blocks

----------------------------------------------------------

#podcast #comedy #mentalhealth #standup

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Neal Brennan interviews Blake Griffin (NBA Rookie of the Year, 5-time All-NBA, Amazon Prime announcer) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks. 

----------------------------------------------------------

00:00 Intro

1:45 Retirement 

12:00 Mentoring

16:10 Clippers

19:50 Are NBA Players happy?

23:03 Sponsor: CookUnity

27:38 Coachability / arguing / Competitive

34:20 Clippers

47:40 Announcing 

51:46 Survey

53:00 Sponsor: Huel

55:19 Luka's shape

1:05:40 Positive visualization

1:13:30 General racial ambiguity 

----------------------------------------------------------

Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan

https://twitter.com/nealbrennan

https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan

Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557

Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234

Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased).

Edited by Will Hagle ([email protected]) 

Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/neal and get on your way to being your best self.

Go to https://www.cookunity.com/NEAL for 50% off your first week. Thanks to CookUnity for supporting the show!

Take our audience survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/blockspodcast

New customers visit Huel.com SLASH NEAL today and use my code NEAL to get 15% off your first order plus a Free Gift.

Sponsor Blocks: https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/blocks

----------------------------------------------------------

#podcast #comedy #mentalhealth #standup

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Neal Brennan interviews Carol Leifer (Standup, 'Seinfeld,' 'Hacks,' 'SNL' & Much More) about the things that make her feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how she is persevering despite these blocks. Carol's new book is called 'How to Write a Funny Speech... for a Wedding, Bar Mitzvah, Graduation & Every Other Event You Didn't Want to Go to in the First Place: https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Funny-Speech-Graduation/dp/1797232231

----------------------------------------------------------

00:00 Intro

00:48 Start in Show Business

5:25 Jerry Seinfeld

7:49 Improving at Standup

9:38 Moving to LA

12:51 Women in Comedy

14:51 Sponsor: Hims

16:05 Sponsor: Tushy

17:41 Bulletproof

19:71 Becoming Lesbian

26:29 Having a Kid

32:52 Sponsor: Mando

34:35 Sponsor: BetterHelp

35:53 Working

37:32 Seinfeld, Larry Sanders, Modern Family, Hacks

41:55 SNL Regrets

47:40 Career vs. Relationships

50:42 How to Write a Funny Speech

56:38 Spirituality / Mortality

59:45 Goals & Regrets

----------------------------------------------------------

Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan

https://twitter.com/nealbrennan

https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan

Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557

Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234

Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased).

Edited by Will Hagle ([email protected]) 

Sponsors:

Visit https://www.hims.com/NEAL for your personalized ED treatment options.

Over 2 Million Butts Love TUSHY. Get 10% off TUSHY with the code [NEAL] at https://hellotushy.com/NEAL

Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with

@shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code [NEAL] at

Mandopodcast.com/NEAL #mandopod

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/neal and get on your way to being your best self.

Sponsor Blocks: https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/blocks

----------------------------------------------------------

#podcast #comedy #mentalhealth #standup

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Neal Brennan interviews William H. Macy (Shameless, Fargo, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Seabiscuit, Pleasantville & many more) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks.

----------------------------------------------------------

00:00 Intro 

1:19 Serendipitous

2:27 Becoming an Actor 

5:32 Different roles he’s played 

6:21 David Mamet 

10:10 Meddler 

16:00 Adlibbing vs writing

22:50 Sponsor: The Perfect Jean

24:46 Sponsor: Mando

26:23 Procrastinator

32:00 Going deeper in his acting

34:54 Aging as an actor

39:25 Sponsor: BetterHelp

40:40 Sponsor: The Ridge Wallet

42:31 Fatherhood 

47:40 Too Honest 

55:04 Fargo

57:23 Boogie Nights

59:15 What makes Phillip Seymour Hoffman great 

1:01:00 Acting techniques

1:05:50 Accepting Himself 

1:08:30 Seabiscuit & Pleasantville 

1:11:30 Shameless 

1:12:39 Woody Creek Distillers 

1:15:40 Continuing to Work 

----------------------------------------------------------

Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan

https://twitter.com/nealbrennan

https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan

Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557

Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234

Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased).

Edited by Will Hagle ([email protected]) 

Sponsors:

F*%k your khakis and get The Perfect Jean 15%

off with the code [NEAL15] at theperfectjean.nyc/NEAL15 #theperfectjeanpod 

Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with

@shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code [NEAL] at

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This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/neal and get on your way to being your best self.

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anniversary sale and get UP TO 40% Off right now by going to https://www.Ridge.com/[NEAL]

#Ridgepod

Sponsor Blocks: https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/blocks

----------------------------------------------------------

#podcast #comedy #mentalhealth #standup

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Neal Brennan interviews Ari Shaffir (America's Sweetheart on Netflix, You Be Trippin' Podcast, This Is Not Happening & more) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks.

----------------------------------------------------------

00:00 Intro

00:58 Neal gives Ari his flowers

3:15 Anti-authority

6:12 Parking Lot Urchin

7:50 Moving to LA, Comedy Store, how he changed

13:39 Wanting to Make Things

17:40 Sponsor: CookUnity

19:22 Sponsor: BetterHelp

21:06 Doesn’t Care About Money

26:50 Living in Defiance

30:09 Travel

40:15 Doesn’t follow the news

45:05 Sponsor: Hims 

47:01 Sponsor: Rocket Money

48:15 Openly Amoral

49:50 Contrarian

52:03 Being positive

1:05:53 Drugs

----------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to Ari Shaffir:  @arishaffir  

Subscribe to You Be Trippin':  @youbetrippinpod  

Watch Ari Shaffir: Jew - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2YtIBYM4w0

Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan

https://twitter.com/nealbrennan

https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan

Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557

Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234

Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased).

Edited by Will Hagle ([email protected]) 

Sponsors:

Go to https://www.cookunity.com/NEAL for 50% off your first week. Thanks to CookUnity for supporting the show!

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/neal and get on your way to being your best self.

Visit https://www.hims.com/NEAL to start your free online visit. 

Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to https://www.RocketMoney.com/NEAL today.

Sponsor Blocks: https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/blocks

----------------------------------------------------------

#podcast #comedy #mentalhealth #standup

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Neal Brennan interviews Joe List (Fourth of July, 'Enough for Everybody,' + more specials, 'The Standups' on Netflix) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks.

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00:00 Intro

1:12 Netflix Specials

3:30 Marriage

4:55 OCD

15:03 Sponsor: Tushy

16:36 Sponsor: Mando

18:08 GAD

23:00 Mental Health Improvements

25:45 Family & Raising Kids

29:40 Fear of death

37:40 Panic Attacks & Drinking

40:50 Guidance

44:50 Learned Behavior

48:00 Lack of Confidence

51:56 Sponsor: BetterHelp

53:31 Sponsor: Hims

55:27 Sponsor: The Perfect Jean

56:54 Alcoholism  

1:03:23 Herpes

1:09:14 Tinnitus 

1:11:30 Hypochondria

1:13:00 Dying

----------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to Joe List:  @JoeListComedy  

Watch Joe List: Enough for Everybody

Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan

https://twitter.com/nealbrennan

https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan

Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557

Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234

Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased).

Edited by Will Hagle ([email protected]) 

Sponsors:

Visit https://www.hellotushy.com/NEAL for 10% off your entire order.

Visit https://www.shopmando.com & use promo code NEAL for $5 off your Mando Starter Pack

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/neal and get on your way to being your best self.

Visit https://www.hims.com/NEAL to start your free online visit. 

F*%k your khakis and get The Perfect Jean

15% off with the code [NEAL15] at theperfectjean.nyc/[NEAL15] #theperfectjeanpod 

Sponsor Blocks: https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/blocks

----------------------------------------------------------

#podcast #comedy #mentalhealth #standup

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Neal Brennan interviews Jason Reitman ('Saturday Night,' 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife,' 'Up in the Air,' 'Juno,' 'Thank You For Smoking' & more) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks.

----------------------------------------------------------

00:00 Intro

1:30 Fears Obituary Credits 

3:00 Reason for Making 'Juno'

6:00 Ego After Making ‘Up In The Air’

7:45 Being Ivan Reitman’s son

11:00 Ambition & Nepotism

14:22 Saturday Night 

23:08 Sponsor: ZocDoc

24:50 Sponsor: BetterHelp

26:25 Anxiety

30:05 Writing about show business

32:23 What his movies are really about

36:33 Young Adult

37:40 Movies that Hurt

39:22 Ghostbusters: Afterlife

43:51 Sponsor: The Perfect Jean

45:07 Sponsor: Verso

46:26 Indie Director in Studio Director's Body

47:40 Movie Theaters vs. Streaming

55:15 Shame 

----------------------------------------------------------

Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan

https://twitter.com/nealbrennan

https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan

Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557

Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234

Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased).

Edited by Will Hagle ([email protected]) 

Sponsors:

Visit https://www.zocdoc.com/NEAL to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/neal and get on your way to being your best self.

F*%k your khakis and get The Perfect Jean

15% off with the code [NEAL15] at theperfectjean.nyc/[NEAL15] #theperfectjeanpod 

Visit https://ver.so/ and use coupon code NEAL at checkout to save 15% on your first order.

Sponsor Blocks: https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/blocks

----------------------------------------------------------

#podcast #comedy #mentalhealth #standup

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