The Tao of Comedy: Recent Episodes
Kelly MacLean
Following the sudden death of her beloved brother, host Kelly MacLean asks fellow comedians to aid her in an existential search for the of meaning of life. Hilarious and poignant, The Tao of Comedy exposes comedians as the sages they secretly are.
Comedian, actor (Not Another Not Another Movie), founder of GI's of comedy tour who received the purple heart for his service in Iraq discusses how comedy saved his life after battle, laughing in the face of death and his new podcast Battlescars.
Edi Patterson (HBO's Vice Principals, Blackish, Curb Your Enthusiasm) on why improv as a way of life: Let go. Lean in. Listen. And be stupid silly for no good reason.
Christina P. (Netflix Presents Mother Inferior, Chelsea Lately) tells us all about getting paid to be yourself, balancing motherhood and career, being a woman in comedy, getting woke, and her recent enlightenment involving a rat.
Josh Johnson (Conan, Tonight Show, Hart of the City) argues life IS fair. He also talks dirty in this episode about sex, relationship, white privilege, and "starfishing".
Comedy Central's 'The Comedy Jam' drummer Nick Liberatore on playing drums while the best comedians of our time sing their favorite songs; and Michelle (Iron Lung, Yale Repertoire) on life as a singer, actor and stand up. Together we discuss the connections, similarities, and differences between music, comedy and the sacred burden of following your dreams.
Mike Carrozza, named one of the top 10 comics in Montreal, debates Kelly about whether or not true altruism exists, discusses why he likes to sit around and think about death and implores you to be a better audience member.
Wheeler Walker Jr.'s music tops both comedy and country music charts because they're as funny as they are catchy. He and Kelly talk about the difference between racist and political views (hint: they're not the same at all) and how Ol' Wheeler built a country music empire on not giving a f#$*
DeAnne Smith (HBO’s Funny As Hell) and Kelly try to figure out if the universe is really speaking to them or if they’re just ego-maniacs and then tell you why it sucks to lose a loved one in the digital age.
Just before accepting the Generation award at Montreal Just For Laughs comedy festival Jim gave us a quickie.
Erica Rhodes (Prairie Home Companion, @midnight, Modern Family, New Girl) on astrology, destiny, magic and Garrison Keillor's social skills.
New York Times acclaimed political comic Hari Kondabolu (Conan, Fresh Air, Comedy Central Presents) on comedy as "sword and shield", the pitfalls of political humor, and his ride on the pendulum between God and Atheism.
Michael Donovan's photography is considered some of the most cutting edge, dark, provocative and unique in the fashion world--little do his fans know he started out as a stand up comic with a character named 'Cool Mike' who basically said the meanest things possible ever. And may have caused world war. This podcast is too weird to explain so just listen.
YouTube giant JP Sears (How to Be Ultra Spiritual, How to Become Gluten Intolerant) on his journey from spiritual life coach to spiritual satirist and gifts us our favorite new philosophy: Offend your mind.
The road to Hell may be paved with good intentions, but Jeremiah Watkins (Comedy Central Roast Battle, The Comedy Jam) says the road to success is, too. Our favorite Kansan comic shares his life philosophy that you should probably go live by.
Myq Kaplan (Conan//Letterman//Last Comic Standing) takes on the afterlife, manifesting vs. hard work and why he refuses to make a 5 year plan.
Writer, director and producer of the short film Stripped, winner of the clawed-after Kevin Spacey Foundation Grant, on her family's unbelievable true story which inspired the film, the fortune of failure and how to follow signs from the universe.
Romesh Ranganathan (Royal Performance Variety, BBC's Asian Provocateur) on his hindu roots, keeping his vegan pride in check, and his quest to break even with the universe.
Verbal assassin Tony Hinchcliffe of Comedy Central Roasts and the Joe Rogan Experience on insult comedy as self-defense, growing up in the Mafia, and how his palm is actually psychic.
One of America's top humorist and story tellers discusses the "crushing urgency of mortality", the difference between a good joke and a funny joke, the future of capitalism, why stories matter the most, and basically solves all the world's problems in this one hour.
Josh Blue, renowned stand up, disability activist, Paralympic athlete and winner of 'Last Comic Standing' on growing up a white boy in Africa, on the church of nature, and that time he elected to be publicly caged in a Senegalese zoo for 8 hours.
Legendary stand up-turned-philosopher Yakov Smirinoff talks about his historically significant relationship with President Ronald Reagan, the role humor can play in politics, and his respect for laughter as a vital barometer for happiness in life and relationships.
Patrick Bristow has remained one the top character actors since the 90s (Ellen, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld, Austin Powers, Showgirls, Transformers) the former Groundling now has his own school The Improvatorium and tours with the adults only muppet show, Puppet Up. Patrick and Kelly discuss improv doctrine as a way of life and his, Patrick's philosophy of 'letting the mystery be', and their mutual experience of loving someone who struggles with addiction.
Mark Lonow, co-owner of The Improv comedy clubs and actor (The Wedding Singer, City Hall, National Security) reflects on what he's learned from decades of watching and working with the best comedians in history and his chosen religion, sarcasm.
Kelly and UK comedian Chris Martin (Comedy Central’s 'Live at the Comedy Store', The Carl Donnelly and Chris Martin Podcast) talk Brits vs. Americans, devout atheists as religious extremists, their shared need to make strangers think they’re the nicest and an affinity for ‘cunt’.
Kelly and Jeff Miller (Host of Travel Channel's Trip Testers, Founding Editor, Thrillist LA) explore foodgasms and why food can probably elevate you to enlightenment. If not, it will at least be a whole lot of fun trying to get there--just about as much fun as an hour with Jeff Miller.
Comedian, actor and canook, Jamie Elman (Yid Life Crisis, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Kelly talk about Judaism, what's happening with Yiddish these days, and how to balance religious ideals with modern day practicalities.
Comedian and nerd-in-chief Jackie Kashian (Host "The Dork Forest Podcast", "This Would Make an Excellent Horcrux" hour special) discusses her roots in the Armenian church, performing comedy in Iraq and the spiritual path of nerdom.
LA’s death doula on pre-death funerals, the reclamation of mortality movement, why our society sets terminally ill patients up to feel like failures, and a clit joke. www.deathdoulala.com
A collection of answers to Kelly's signature ending questions from comedians Greg Fitzsimmons, Ben Roy, Andy Kindler, Joe DeRosa and Kelly herself.
A collection of answers to Kelly's signature ending questions from Duncan Trussell, Barry Katz, Bert Kreischer, Madeleine Smithberg, Ben Gleib and Pete Holmes.
Kelly and Renee Gauthier (Last Comic Standing, Dead Dad’s Club Podcast) geek out about Akashic Records, astrology, tarot, manifesting, reality and other millennial white girl cure-alls.
Matteson Perry, master storyteller of “The Moth Radio Hour”, and author of “Available: A Memoir of Heartbreak, Hookups, Love and Brunch” tells you why storytelling is the key to your soul.
Greg Fitzsimmons and Kelly talk about being a modern day cynical catholic, ouija boards and working with depression through meditation.
Comedian and star of the new HBO series "Crashing" discusses how the young Christian missionary became a stand up comic with strong Hindu leanings and reveals the meaning of life: life itself.
Top political comedian and activist Jimmy Tingle (HBO, 60 Minutes II) puts the impending election in perspective in a miraculously non-depressing fashion.
Ben Roy (comedian, star and co-creator of truTV's Those Who Can’t) on how science is religion backwards, chaos as life, and how to make a marriage work.
Audition Sensei Craig Wallace talks about ego, letting the f*@% go of people's expectations and being yourself.
Chuck roy talks about the slave trade of stand ups….no seriously. Plus he and Kelly reminisce over that time he swiped a hot frat boy from her.
The tables turn as Synchronicity Podcast host Noah Lampert interviews Kelly and asks her the big questions for a change. Can she handle the very pressure she places on her ToC guests?
Michael Kosta (Tonight Show, Comedy For Attractive People) discusses the pitfalls of organized religion, his worst birthday ever and why Bert Kreischer is wrong about destiny.
Comedian Andy Kindler (Maron, Just For Laughs, The Daily Show) discusses synchronicity, comedy as a path of awakening and his disdain for Atheism.
Journalist and Ebola Survivor Ashoka Mukpo discusses sacredness in life and twitter and his step-father, Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Comedian Ben Gleib on technology as humanity’s savior and taking back the world through positive ego. Oh, and pussy fights.
Comedian, musician and author of 'He's Just Not That Into You', Greg Behrendt, talks relationships and his star-crossed bromance with 'King Sweater' bandmate, comedian Travis Clark.
Comedian Brad Williams discusses life as a little person, a comic's first amendment rights and success as the best revenge.
Kelly catches up with Simpsons writer/producer Dana Gould on the red carpet at Montreal Just For Laughs festival.
Comedian Joe DeRosa discusses the life of a bachelor comic, life after death and survival of the craziest.
Legendary Comedy manager/producer Barry Katz on relationships, intimacy and why he prefers podcasting to sex.
Former Senior VP of Comedy at Fox Cheryl Bayer on finding humor in every moment, and that time she died for four minutes.
Renowned podcaster Duncan Trussell discusses the future Buddha Maitreya, relationships and re-branding spirituality.
Founding member of the "Harvard Sailing Team Sketch Group", Billy Scafuri, talks about sketch comedy, interning at SNL and his true religion—soccer.
Comedian Raj Sharma (HBO's Lucky 21) discusses the exploding stand-up scene in India he helped create.
Comedian Jerry Rocha (Conan, Last Comic Standing) discusses the loss of his father, signs from the universe, Game of Thrones and nerdom.
Daily Show Co-Creator Madeleine Smithberg discusses the yin and yang of life, comedy's changing role in society and The Daily Show's secret sauce.
Comedian, podcaster and TV host Bert Kriescher (Comedy Central's "Bert Kriescher: Comfortably Dumb"; Bert the Conquerer; Hurt Burt) talks about near death experiences, his fling with the Russian mafia and time travel.
Kelly chats with Patton Oswalt about the role of comedy in society at the 'Just For Laughs' festival in Montreal. This conversation and the one that followed at the bar helped inspire The Tao of Comedy.
Manager and producer Barry Katz (who represented & produced comedians like Dave Chappelle, Dane Cook and Louis C.K.) sits down with Kelly to search for meaning in life, death and comedy.