Mike Birbiglia’s working it out is a great podcast to listen to while working and brings joy to my day!

You heard me…

This show delivers on many levels, and I appreciate it completely!

I listen every week and every week he says go leave a review if you loved it and I think I should do that and I never do. This week Mike said they were approaching 4000 reviews and my ego said you could be reviewer 4,000– my ego is not good to me. But alas I am 4003 because per the usual I am late. I always take away life lessons from this show, as a comedian and someone in a pretty secure parasocial relationship with Mike and all his guests/friends, I always end up believing I was in on all the bits. On the latest episode with Michael Ian Black I was reminded of the importance of committing to the bit. That’s why I am going to open my very own 2am souvlaki restaurant in the suburbs of Denver and call my rename my neighborhood The Big Apple. Once my master scheme takes root in 25-75 years I will move to the real NYC and finally take the stage at the comedy cellar. This is the only way to become a comedian, and Mike birbiglias podcast taught me this - Mimi Salonen- standup comedian and goddamn inspiration

I’ve loved Mike Birbiglia’s comedy since I first heard him years ago on This American Life. I adore this podcast. As a closet want-to-be-stand-up-comedian I LOVE hearing the process behind the scenes and the real connection between Mike and all of his guests 🤗

I couldn’t love this episode more. Listening as I drive…I’m in a trance it’s so beautiful.

Mike sounds like he could do a good Boris Karloff

Mike’s sweet energy and of course Humor! carry the show. His interviews and guests are well chosen and a delight to listen to. I especially love the ep. with Lin-Manuel Miranda! Golden.

I listen to Working It Out every week and find it insightful and so interesting each time. Mike is charming and smart and interacts meaningfully and respectfully with each guest. And vice versa. Rebecca Smith Kansas City, MO

I am huge fan of Mike’s and love hearing him interact with other creative people about how they love what they do and how they get through what they do. Warm and intelligent and—invariably—funny.

I love his stand up, and listening to him talk to comedians and other interesting people! Just listened to his interview of Drew Barrymore from 2022. I have always liked her and now I love her!! Mike can get to the heart of it like no one else!

(Mike always puts a pause when saying this and I’m wondering if anyone else notices haha)

Jack Antonoff is my absolute favorite guest. When I listened to his first appearance I had no idea who he was, but as every word came out of his mouth I fell more and more in love with him. During one section I was so intensely moved I just started crying. While riding the subway. The lady next to me even asked if I was all right. All of his appearances on your podcast are fantastic. I guess there is something I deeply connect with, but I find myself writing down all the insightful nuggets he shares. For someone so young he is surprisingly wise. I literally end up listening to his episodes 3-5 times so I don’t miss anything. I’m going to stop now, because I don’t want to seem like a stalker. Probably too late. I would just like to be his friend. And yours of course. We can all three be friends and hang out at that coffee shop and say wise things to each other about the creative process. (Hyperbole option enabled)

Another great one. Jack has a healthy insightful perspective about the gift of creating.

My favorite episodes are with Ira Glass. Mike and Ira’s voices are really good at helping rest my mind.

This podcast is kind, respectful, insightful, and funny. Mike is a great interviewer and has good rapport with his guests. It’s one of my comfort podcasts.

No matter what you’re creating, this is the podcast for you! Mike and a his guests do a great job of exploring the creative process and the need for vulnerability in the process. I’m a preacher and I learn so much from WIO!

It's very difficult to list my favorite Working it Out Episode! There are so many excellent ones! Each episode has me laughing and they also get me thinking as well as touching my heart. This is one of the only podcasts that I've listened to all the episodes and I'll even listen to the BEST of WIO episodes; that's how much this podcast has to offer and I'm not even a creative or comedian. If you're unsure where to start, pick the latest episode or an episode with someone you enjoy. They are all winners! I've been introduced to so many comedians and creatives, thanks to this podcast. Check it out! -Big Fan in Sacramento, CA

The best resource for anyone who enjoys going down the rabbit hole of storytelling, comedy, life, being human, philosophy, project management...really anything creative. I loved Birbigs' stand up before, and now I am devouring everything he has ever touched.

Mike and Zack have such similar voices and accents, it was fun trying to figure out which one was talking! Great podcast!

Excellent pod

I could listen to Mike work through material and discuss life experiences with fellow comedians for hours. Such a great podcast for creatives, and really for any humans interested in personal development too.

Hey. I’m so sorry I was late. My boss would let me leave and then traffic was insane… I really tried this time… No, I know. You’re right… I… Let’s go wherever you want to go. You pick. I’ll even pay. It’ll be my treat. … … … You know, speaking of being late, my favorite comedian Mike Birbiglia has a great bit about people who are always late. I think it’s on Instagram. Let me find it… … Where is it? Did he take it down? … Oh! I know! Let’s listen to his podcast. It’s really good. He interviews other comedians and they talk about the process of writing jokes… No, it’s not boring! It’s a really insightful and fascinating peek behind the curtain. Here, I’ll play it… No, I’m not trying to deflect! Look, I said I was sorry! I apologized! I just don’t see why we have to dwell on it… Are you gonna do this the whole time? I won’t be able to even enjoy myself if you’re just gonna… Ok, you know what? FINE. Pull over. Let me out of the car… YES. Right now. Let me out. HAVE A NICE LIFE!

I like this!

He’s great!

I’m newish to Hannah Berber and really enjoy her work. After an injury, I was out of TV options and watched a few Summer house episodes. She was a stand out then and was a great guest on WIO. ⭐️

I like his comedy and he has such a warm and inviting way of connecting with people.

I have been a fan of Mike since his first stories on “This American Life,” and I’ve been able to see his last three one-man shows live, so I’m coming in a bit pro-biased. Mike is a great interviewer, eliciting deeply personal and articulate responses from his guests, often resulting in me seeking out their work or looking for books they discuss in the episode. A couple of my favorites include his episodes with Gary Gullman and recent interview with Neil Brennan. It is a great show for creative and artistic people as well because the discussion of process is laid plane and even as a musician I often find myself relating to their challenges and successes in a personal way. Highly recommend!

Cancelled my insurance because of Mikes advice. Same results but for free!

I love this podcast. It has been fun to see Mike perform after starting to listen to this podcast because I have gotten to hear how certain jokes evolve over time. The guests are funny and it is wonderful to get to know those guests who are famous performers outside of their “personas” and hear about what their struggles as creators are. Some are hilarious, some are deeply personal. And some stories will make you cry. Mike oversees all of that with his signature blend of empathetic calm and funny observations. I have learned more about the “craft” of comedy from this podcast than anywhere else, and it has been a privilege to see how the sausage is made.

Every day a pod drops is a good day. Full of honest inquiry into process that doesn’t neglect the joy of creation. I’m writing this review from an island made of plastic.

If the term "existential musings wrapped in a cozy blanket of wit" could ever find a home, it would undoubtedly be on Mike Birbiglia's podcast, *Working It Out*. Imagine a therapy session where the therapist is hilariously self-aware, the patient is a celebrated comedian, and the only prescription is more laughter. Birbiglia, with his signature blend of charm and neurosis, navigates the treacherous waters of joke-writing and life itself, making every episode a delightful exercise in vulnerability and creativity. What makes *Working It Out* a gem is Birbiglia's unparalleled ability to turn the seemingly mundane into gold. It's as if he takes the grocery list of life's anxieties—career doubts, relationships, the inevitability of our own mortality—and finds a way to cross off each item with a punchline. His guests, a who's who of comedic talent, don't just riff; they philosophize, revealing their own fears and foibles in a way that feels like a group therapy session you didn't know you needed. But don’t worry—this isn’t the kind of therapy where you leave crying. Rather, you depart each episode with a grin, a head full of new jokes, and a peculiar sense of comfort that maybe, just maybe, we're all working it out together. The podcast’s title might suggest an intense workout regimen, but don’t be fooled. The only thing you'll be flexing here is your brain as it tries to keep up with the deft wordplay and intricate storytelling. And perhaps, your abs—because you’ll be laughing so hard. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to peer into the mind of a comedian as they craft their material, *Working It Out* offers a rare, unvarnished glimpse, all while maintaining a sense of levity that keeps you coming back for more. In sum, *Working It Out* is a testament to the idea that laughter is, indeed, the best medicine—especially when administered by the genial, ever-relatable Mike Birbiglia. Tune in for the jokes, stay for the camaraderie, and leave with a slightly sunnier outlook on this strange journey called life.

I always laugh when I listen to these podcasts! Mike somehow has a great rapport with every guest. It’s also nice that there’s some good writing advice and general how to be a creative person advice. This is my favorite podcast by far. I’ve told all my friends and enemies as instructed.

I’ve gotten so much great advice from this podcast. It’s helped me take feedback better, it’s helped me collaborate more confidently, it’s improved my writing, it’s given me so many ideas, and it inspires me. It’s also a really good, warm, homey podcast for when life is stressful and I could use a calm moment. My favorite podcast. Thank you!

Love this podcast and his conversation is always illuminating but I have a lot of unanswered medical questions.

I love this podcast so much that I do not want to write a good review for it because I like that it feels like it’s for me. But Mike said it helps and I want to help so I guess I will. This podcast is everything to me!

Mike is always entertaining and hearing his interactions with other comedians, his guests, is like getting a peek behind the scenes. Lovely, uplifting podcast and a refreshing change if , like me, you’re overloaded with true crime stories. Can’t even imagine how any podcast could be better 💕

Mike Birbiglia is a great source of medical advice

Wow - what a great show! It’s the focus on the work of creativity that drew me in — I loved hearing Mike and Stephen Merchant talk about the evolution of TV comedy, structuring a story, connecting with the audience; free, open, and funny. This show is a relief. Thanks to Mike and the production team and the guests.

I can’t get enough of this podcast. Listening to all the archives!

I only started listening about a week ago, working through back episodes with artists I admire, and I truly think the amount of laughter it’s adding to my day is good for my mental health. On top of the laughs I’m drawn to the open, generous and thoughtful conversations. I’ve even started a notes page to write down the thoughts shared that really hit me. Like the reviewer before me I also recommend the Tig Notaro and Bill Hader episodes and have to add Roy Wood Jr. to a best of list.

I stumbled across this show after finishing binging both Smartless & Fly On The Wall…so, much like I have a type with fair-skinned, redheaded women (uttered with respect for the women of color I’ve dated, too…mind you!), I also have a type where it comes to podcasts. Not just comedy, either…I want honesty & I find it mildly hilarious that in these extraordinarily bizarre & troubled times, the truth is more likely to come from comedians…like Mike & his crew & his brood. This show also serves as a reminder to me that we are nothing without eachother…so, please be good to one another. And listen to “Working It Out.”

Oh gosh, I love this show. It doesn’t matter if Mike is talking with a comedian I am familiar with or one I am hearing for the first time, the conversations are always funny and enlightening. Episode 138 with Tig Notaro had me laughing and crying. Perfection

What a sweet, funny, insightful conversation! Thank you to both of you for being so open and frank about your lives as parents, spouses, and comics. We’re all lucky to have you!

This show makes me laugh so much that other drivers must wonder what’s happening over in my car that’s so hilarious. I would gladly tell them it’s the Working It Out podcast with Mike Birbiglia, but since no one rolls their windows down this is the only way I can tell them. The new episode with Tig Navarro made me laugh so hard! She also had some inspiring things to say about her marriage and parenting. Turns out we’re all making mistakes! You should listen and laugh too.

Parents Say the Darndest Things. Hit me up for where to send my 20%. Love the show Mike, thanks for all the laughs and thoughts.

Hi Mike, I’ve watched all your standup a few times, and I’ve been listening to the podcast a lot recently as well, as my job requires I do a lot of driving. This show is truly so thoughtful, and uplifting both as someone who would love to try to standup at some point (I live too rurally right now for it to be a good option) and for just general mental health encouragement, as you’re not afraid to talk about difficult topics, especially in a way that makes the topic not even feel that difficult. Your conversations with Beth Stelling, Neal Brennan, Bert Kreishcher, John Green, Iliza Shleshinger, Atsuko, Aubrey Plaza and John August really stand out in that category. I’d also like to really thank you for being a good source for new comedian recommendations. As someone who is trans, partially disabled, and sometimes pretty sensitive, it can be hard to just go out on a limb and trust a new comedian. You never know when you’ll be jumpscared by something that may haunt you for weeks when you’re in one of those demographics, and sometimes you just can’t google everything, and I like being able to branch out into demographics that don’t immediately seem “safe” for a person like me. The point being, I know that if they’ve been on your show, they’re probably someone that is not only safe, but that I will also enjoy. It also gives me a snapshot into what to expect from their special so any things that may feel like jumpscares can be prefaced and worked out. I really appreciate your attention to character, and to working it out. I’d also love to hear more about what Jen is doing!

First, Mike B is awesome! I’ve listened to every special. I am so happy I found this podcast. I love the format and am inspired in many ways. Side note, I also have a sleep disorder and could totally relate to Mike’s journey. Thanks for always sharing from the heart and making me laugh. 🤎

I’m especially fond of the Judd Apatow episodes, if I had to play favorites.

The discussion of comedy and creation is fascinating. I’ve discovered so many comedians and writers through this podcast. But what I love the most is Mike’s ability to bring his guests into a space to talk so intimately about all sorts of topics, finding the humor in even the darkest topics, and his quick laughter and genuine expressions of delight at a good joke or a good story. This podcast has felt like a companion for years now, since I started listening during the pandemic.