Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out Podcast By Mike Birbiglia cover art

Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

By: Mike Birbiglia
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About this listen

Comedian Mike Birbiglia welcomes a different comedian or creator each week and together they work out original, untested material. And, occasionally, uncomfortable topics. Join them as they work it out.Reality Testing, Inc.
Episodes
  • 175. Malik Elassal: One of The Adults
    Jun 30 2025

    Malik Elassal is a stand-up comic, writer, actor, and one of the stars of Adults on FX. Meeting for the first time, Mike and Malik discuss Malik’s winding road to stand-up, including working as a long haul trucker. Malik talks about dealing with his conspiracy-minded cousins, his encounters with Islamophobia, and why you should never leave your comedy set list open on your phone when you’re at the airport.

    Please Consider Donating To: The Red Cross

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    44 mins
  • 174. Pete Docter: The Inside Out of Pixar’s Process
    Jun 23 2025

    In 2012, Mike was invited his film Sleepwalk With Me at Pixar and he’s been friends with filmmaker Pete Docter ever since. Known for his directorial feats of greatness with Monsters, Inc., Up, Soul, and Inside Out, Pete Docter is now the Chief Creative Officer at Pixar. Pete walks Mike through the Pixar “draft” process for developing a story, and reveals the ups and downs of being a Pixar director. Pete shares stories of his time spent with Steve Jobs, George Lucas, and some of the original Disney animators. Plus, advice on giving (and receiving) creative notes, and the story of Pete’s Star Wars fan film he made when he was a kid.

    Please Consider Donating To: International Justice Mission

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    52 mins
  • 173. Atsuko Okatsuka Returns: The Dizzy Duo
    Jun 16 2025

    Atsuko Okatsuka returns for her fourth Working It Out episode. Mike and Atsuko trace their friendship from Atsuko’s first appearance on the podcast, to opening for Mike at the Chicago Theatre, to touring with Mike across the country. Through it all Mike and Atsuko (and Atsuko’s husband and creative collaborator Ryan Harper Gray) became close friends and trusted comedy confidants. Now they discuss the delicate process of turning domestic drama into comedy, like Atsuko’s story of essentially being kidnapped by her grandmother as a child, and more recently, the time when Atsuko realized she’d never done the laundry at home, and how her husband encouraged her to make it into a bit.

    Please consider donating to The Trevor Project

    Get tickets to Mike's 92NY event here.

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    53 mins
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Mike and Hasan are both wonderful storytellers who make you laugh while also making you think. Put them together and it's magic.

Great conversation

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If you love Mike Birbiglia, you will love him even more after listening to his podcast. I am hooked.

True Birbigs

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I have been listening to Mike's Podcast on a regular basis and enjoyed this one as much if not more than any of his other interviews. What are fascinating person this artist sounds like! Another great job Mike

Fascinating Interview!

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Such a love for comedy in this podcast delivers. What a great job. Love the behind-the-scenes looks at how comedians create, mold and develop jokes.

The most enjoyable podcast

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Please stop counting your episodes. Probably half are repeats. They were so proud of their 100th episode and it's ridiculous. They still haven't reached a 100, because there are SO MANY repeats.

Stop Counting

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