Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen
Don’t Be Alone with Jay Kogen is a comedy/advice podcast trying to fight the isolation of modern life. Each episode, Award winning TV writer/comedian/philosopher Jay Kogen has a conversation with a friend about how to solve the problems on Jay’s mind. These friends happen to be famous comics, musicians, actors, artists, writers, and sometimes even his family. It’s an entertaining, fun, and thoughtful show meant to bond us through humor, experience, and empathy. From Straw Hut Media
Episodes
May 14, 2024 • 46 mins
Toby and Jay talked about art and trying to see art (and life) from unique perspectives. Jay calls Toby a weirdo. And, like a weirdo, he accepts it as the compliment which is what it was actually meant to be. We talk about failing at school, meeting a guy called Magic who makes pipes out of antlers, and working as a janitor in a church and 10000 other blue collar jobs before he became a great actor and artist. We also talk about hi...
Mark as Played
May 7, 2024 • 86 mins
Entertainment Journalist and all around funny guy Kliph Nesteroff talks about a Canadian kid who got into collecting stories of strange and eccentric show business events. We both talk about our short lived stand-up days. Capturing worthwhile memories, and how Milton Berle was a jerk. I also stump Kliph when I ask him what else he would care about if I took show business stories away.
Bio: Kliph Nesteroff is an author and comedy his...
Bio: Kliph Nesteroff is an author and comedy his...
Mark as Played
April 30, 2024 • 46 mins
David, fresh off of a weekend with Donny Osmond talks about a lifetime of celebrities. Idolizing them, meeting them, interviewing them, befriending them and eventually making them stars once again on his grammy specials. We also talk Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell, Frank Sinatra, and Phil Rosenthal plus a special surprise call from Brad Paisley!
Bio: David Wild is a Peabody and Emmy-winning television writer and producer, a New York T...
Bio: David Wild is a Peabody and Emmy-winning television writer and producer, a New York T...
Mark as Played
April 23, 2024 • 59 mins
Eugene Garcia-Cross talks about growing up in Pennsylvania, losing his dad early, and becoming a literature professeur only to give it all up to be a Hollywood comedy writer. Only to wind up writing books on the side. He also talks about struggling as a 35-year-old assistant, how to be patient for the next job. making the most out of the writers room and having good times even on bad shows.
Bio: Eugene Garcia-Cross despite being bo...
Bio: Eugene Garcia-Cross despite being bo...
Mark as Played
April 16, 2024 • 67 mins
Nicole talks about the difference between creation and nervous activity and how hard it is to distinguish between the two. We also talk about procrastination, Elvis Costello, the need to let ideas simmer, collaborating on a show, making an album, the meaning of music, the tricks to productivity, and the joy of baby steps.
Bio: For two decades, Nicole Atkins has created her own brand of spectral American rock & roll. She's an ol...
Bio: For two decades, Nicole Atkins has created her own brand of spectral American rock & roll. She's an ol...
Mark as Played
April 9, 2024 • 44 mins
We talk about how to pronounce Bowie, the love of Monty Python, Elvis Costello, growing up in New York, the Ramones. John’s new play, Brushstroke, my love of John’s wife, Jamie Denbo, John’s possible love of Jay’s wife if he ever meets her, John Cleese, John’s dad who wanted to be an actor but never did it but then turned John on to great movies, the freedom of giving up on expectations, and how they should be friends but weren’t… ...
Mark as Played
April 2, 2024 • 46 mins
Paul and Jay discuss looking like losers and feeling like winners, and wearing clothes to match your goals and garner respect, being authentic, Mt. Clemens, Michigan, directing, collaborations, why Paul prefers dinners with girls, why I’ll have to fly to London to see him again, his next movie, his wife Laurie, drinking Artingstall Gin, Paul’s “Cocktail Time!” booze recipe book, and what made us think we could ever be funny.
Mark as Played
March 26, 2024 • 49 mins
We talk about trying to stay positive in a down comedy market, how Jay did or didn’t fit in writing a pilot with much younger people, what started the desire to perform, inspirations, Boy Meets World, and the trick to showbiz is just never leaving.
Bios: Lucy Blehar is an actor, writer, and musician from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (home of Heinz Ketchup). She received her BFA in acting from DePaul University in Chicago where she made...
Bios: Lucy Blehar is an actor, writer, and musician from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (home of Heinz Ketchup). She received her BFA in acting from DePaul University in Chicago where she made...
Mark as Played
March 21, 2024 • 62 mins
We discuss our friendship since 1985, teaching at USC, the graphic novel “Defiant” about slave Robert Smalls who stole a southern ship and gave it to the north, Rob’s analytical brain, being teamed with a monster, being fooled by a first meeting, insane show runners with guns on the table, being a black writer, the sunk cost fallacy, making The Princess & The Frog, Will Smith vs Martin Lawrence vs Chris Rock and the slap, AI as...
Mark as Played
March 12, 2024 • 68 mins
Comedian Kevin Nealon talks about being an older dad, and the butt of all jokes, bad impressions, secret to stand-up comedy, stumbling into SNL and making Weekend Update and how good Germany smells.
Bio:Emmy and SAG-nominated actor, comedian, and author Kevin Nealon is best known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC's Saturday Night Live, and has received critical acclaim for his roles in Weeds, Man With A Plan, Glenn Ma...
Bio:Emmy and SAG-nominated actor, comedian, and author Kevin Nealon is best known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC's Saturday Night Live, and has received critical acclaim for his roles in Weeds, Man With A Plan, Glenn Ma...
Mark as Played
March 5, 2024 • 76 mins
On this episode we talk about making art for artsake. Suzy convinces Jay to start a second career as an actor and demands I put myself in my own show. We also talk about Chicago, Crate and Barrel, reliving one year, old people holding tissues all the time, and the greatest show about masturbation ever created.
Bio: Born and raised in Chicago, Suzy moved to Los Angeles where she began guest starring on television. She now has over 10...
Bio: Born and raised in Chicago, Suzy moved to Los Angeles where she began guest starring on television. She now has over 10...
Mark as Played
February 27, 2024 • 75 mins
Comedian/Author Gary Gulman and Jay compare their latchkey childhoods with memories of being alone, watching endless TV and worrying about whether the real world would have more channels. We also talk about needing to be funny, the excitement of being on a soundstage for the first time, how one of us was built to play basketball, and how we owe our parents nothing but do a million things for them anyway.
Bio: Gary Lewis Weston Gulma...
Bio: Gary Lewis Weston Gulma...
Mark as Played
February 20, 2024 • 67 mins
Bryan talks about commiting to craft and giving up on whether you get the gig. We compare notes about growing up in the valley without adult supervision, writing, why celebrities feel better with other celebrities, the difference between Tequila and Mezcal, having kids in the arts, getting your heart broken in 5th grade, the lessons of struggling, and only doing what you are passionate about. Also we chat about the fact that, somet...
Mark as Played
February 13, 2024 • 52 mins
Rizwan how he got from Calgary to Hollywood, how he stopped playing terrorists and started playing himself, how serious actors who have the knack for funny can make it, and how Jay needs to reconsider acting as a profession.
Bio: Rizwan Manji is one of Hollywood’s most respected TV and screen actors. He received a Best Guest Actor nomination for his portrayal of Ray Butani, Schitt’s Creek. Manji is perhaps best known for playing the...
Bio: Rizwan Manji is one of Hollywood’s most respected TV and screen actors. He received a Best Guest Actor nomination for his portrayal of Ray Butani, Schitt’s Creek. Manji is perhaps best known for playing the...
Mark as Played
February 6, 2024 • 63 mins
Writer/comic Lew Schnieder and Jay talk about the jokes they aren’t allowed to tell and how important being “funny” is to them both.
Bio: Lew Schneider is a youthful 62 year old man.
From Straw Hut Media
Bio: Lew Schneider is a youthful 62 year old man.
From Straw Hut Media
Mark as Played
February 2, 2024 • 37 mins
The talented Kevin Nealon comes in for a quick visit in between painting, writing, stand up, acting and being a renaissance man, while Jay… isn’t. They discuss what’s normal and why Jay can’t be.
Bio: Emmy and SAG-nominated actor, comedian, and author Kevin Nealon is best known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC's Saturday Night Live, and has received critical acclaim for his roles Weeds, Man With A Plan, Glenn Martin...
Bio: Emmy and SAG-nominated actor, comedian, and author Kevin Nealon is best known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC's Saturday Night Live, and has received critical acclaim for his roles Weeds, Man With A Plan, Glenn Martin...
Mark as Played
January 30, 2024 • 62 mins
Stephen Root is a genius actor who brought humanity to the character of the outsider. Jay and Stephen share the feeling of being on the outside and how that makes being an artist more insightful but being a guy at a party more of a drag. Stephen talks about the art of acting and auditioning and what it’s like to finally be able to tell the producers “no” when it’s not something he wants to do. Jay, on the other hand, talks about wh...
Mark as Played
January 22, 2024 • 88 mins
Comedian/Actor Andy Richter shares stories of fame, fans, and family and being a regular guy in an irregular world.
Bio: Andy Richter has been working in television comedy for over 30 years as an actor, writer, host and producer.
He’s best known as Conan O’Brien’s sidekick, but has been in numerous movies and tv series.
He hosts the podcast The Three Questions, which is in its fourth season. He’s married, has 3 children, and lives in...
Bio: Andy Richter has been working in television comedy for over 30 years as an actor, writer, host and producer.
He’s best known as Conan O’Brien’s sidekick, but has been in numerous movies and tv series.
He hosts the podcast The Three Questions, which is in its fourth season. He’s married, has 3 children, and lives in...
Mark as Played
January 16, 2024 • 54 mins
Funny Actress/Writer/Improviser Jamie Denbo talks about jumping in the water of acting and writing while also trying to have a decent relationship with your kids.
As expected, none of it is easy but Jamie somehow makes it work.
Bio: Jamie Denbo currently serves as CO-EP on the 20th season of ABC’s smash hit, Grey’s Anatomy.
She was the creator, EP and showrunner of Lifetime’s 10 episode one-hour dramedy series, AMERICAN PRINCESS, whi...
As expected, none of it is easy but Jamie somehow makes it work.
Bio: Jamie Denbo currently serves as CO-EP on the 20th season of ABC’s smash hit, Grey’s Anatomy.
She was the creator, EP and showrunner of Lifetime’s 10 episode one-hour dramedy series, AMERICAN PRINCESS, whi...
Mark as Played
January 9, 2024 • 72 mins
Jay challenges his son, college senior, Charlie Kogen, to list the top 5 things Jay did wrong (and right) as a father.
Along the way they talk about pushing your kid too hard, the pain of spending time apart, fear of the future, and the tyranny of expectations.
Jay explores the dichotomy between loving fatherhood and wishing he could trade it for pure friendship with Charlie.
Charlie shares the irony of having parents who support you ...
Along the way they talk about pushing your kid too hard, the pain of spending time apart, fear of the future, and the tyranny of expectations.
Jay explores the dichotomy between loving fatherhood and wishing he could trade it for pure friendship with Charlie.
Charlie shares the irony of having parents who support you ...
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.
A straightforward look at the day's top news in 20 minutes. Powered by ABC News. Hosted by Brad Mielke.