Tag Archives | podcast

Alex Blagg is the kind of overachiever who makes you feel as if you aren’t doing enough in your life/career, but in a completely charming way. In addition to being the co-creator and executive producer of @midnight, he writes for Workaholics, helms (along with two partners) a successful production company, writes feature scripts and is raising twins. And he doesn’t even seem stressed. We talked about what brought him to this point: growing up the son of “cool Jesus” parents, moving around, renouncing the fratboy path he was headed down in favor of film and literature, doing comedy, working as the managing editor for the Best Week Ever site, taking a job in LA that was ultimately demoralizing and then inadvertently turning his own life into performance art/parody as a tech guru also named Alex Blagg. We also talked about his addiction to flossies, how he met his wife, getting sober eight years ago and more. Plus we took your questions over Twitter and did a round of Just Me Or Everyone.

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This show is brought to you by Amazon (clear your cookies first and what the hell, make a bookmark!) and CASPER (use promo code BESTFRIEND) and CUROLOGY (enter BEST FRIEND in lower right). And shop in my Amazon store! 

Before recording this episode we all took the Keirsey Temperament Sorter personality quiz and then revealed our results on air. Then #AL told us what it all means according to David Keirsey’s Please Understand Me and what each of our personal hells would look like. It was surprising to learn which members of the gang have the same personality types. We also talked about important matters like people who steal Tupperware. Plus we discussed about “No Substitution” policies at restaurants and did a round of Just Me Or Everyone.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Download the episode from iTunes.

You probably need to buy the new ARIYNBF LOGO tshirt and get the Bumbershoot bonus episode!

This show is brought to you by Amazon (clear your cookies first and what the hell, make a bookmark!) and Talkspace (use promo code ALISON) and Curology (enter BEST FRIEND in lower right). And shop in my Amazon store! 

I knew Gustavo way back when I was leaving the OC Weekly and he was starting there. He came out of nowhere it seemed and was suddenly writing a zillion articles a week which, I heard at the time, didn’t exactly endear him to the other writers. He went on to gain attention and notoriety with his now nationally syndicated “Ask a Mexican” column, author three books and become the editor-in-chief of the paper. He also regularly appears on radio programs and is a consulting producer on Fox’s animated Bordertown. We chatted about his beginnings and how he got to where he is today including growing up the son of “Mexican hillbillies,” not quite fitting in, falling in love with film and Pulp Fiction in particular, being a nerd, being repeatedly unaware of office politics, the satirical letter that changed his life, his relationship with former OC Weekly editor Will Swaim and so much more. We also took your questions over Twitter and did a round of Just Me Or Everyone.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Download the episode from iTunes.

You probably need to buy the new ARIYNBF LOGO tshirt and get the Bumbershoot bonus episode!

This show is brought to you by Amazon (clear your cookies first and what the hell, make a bookmark!) and Blue Apron and Curology (enter BEST FRIEND in lower right). And shop in my Amazon store! 

We’re minus #AL but plus special guest Susie Meister on this episode where we talked about our different interpretations of a common cliche, which is the better bunk bed should one find him or herself needing to bunk, Greg’s issue with chopped salads, meeting Janae, Party Girl and other assorted Kim Jones Mosses at Samantha’s baby blessing and so much more. We also talked about lady’s underwear and #GALCHAT. Plus we did a round of Just Me Or Everyone.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Download the episode from iTunes.

You probably need to buy the new ARIYNBF LOGO tshirt and get the Bumbershoot bonus episode!

This show is brought to you by Amazon (clear your cookies first and what the hell, make a bookmark!) and Squarespace (use promo code BESTFRIEND, all one word). And shop in my Amazon store! 

And please enjoy these pre and post show videos!

I’ve been a fan of actor, writer and comedian Michael Ian Black for years so it was a real treat to have him stop by my podcast during one of his trips to Los Angeles. We talked about his podcast How to Be Amazing and his approach to interviewing before delving into some of the meatier topics explored in his most recent book—which I loved and highly recommend—Navel Gazing: True Tales of Bodies, Mostly Mine (but also my mom’s which I know sounds weird). We chatted about growing up in a home filled with rage, growing up without much male influence, his gay-but-not-aware-of-it-yet mother being subjected to shock treatment by her parents and his theories about what led to this, his choice to live in Connecticut and thoughts about Los Angeles, whether people expect him to be more snarky  than he is and his desire to be a good person. Plus we took your questions over Twitter and did a round of Just Me Or Everyone.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Download the episode from iTunes.

You probably need to buy the new ARIYNBF LOGO tshirt and get the Bumbershoot bonus episode!

And shop in my Amazon store! This show is brought to you by Amazon (clear your cookies first and what the hell, make a bookmark!)

We got to the bottom of what #AL knows on this episode and we also debuted a new segment that Greg can’t remember the name of. Plus we debated precious notebooks, talked about the whereabouts of Jenna and Al’s baby, discussed the butt stuff that does or does not go on in fraternities and did a round of Just Me Or Everyone. Also: oodles of other stuff!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Download the episode from iTunes.

You probably need to buy the new ARIYNBF LOGO tshirt and get the Bumbershoot bonus episode!

This show is brought to you by Amazon (clear your cookies first and what the hell, make a bookmark!), Blue Apron and MeUndies.  And shop in my Amazon store!

Here’s a fun pre-show video because you guys love video:

I like to think I was something of a precocious whippersnapper, but writer, director, producer, podcaster, television personality Jake Fogelnest (Wet Hot American Summer, Billy On The Street, Difficult People) has me beat. At age 7 he wanted to be John Waters… and then actually contacted and spoke with John Waters. (I merely wrote a fan letter to animal expert Joan Embery and received a perfunctory written reply.) He went on to host a public access show, Squirt TV, from his bedroom in Manhattan which was later picked up by MTV all before going to rehab at the age of 17. Eventually he found UCB which is when, he says, his real career began. We discussed all this plus Terry Gross, The Monkees, the difference between Adam Driver and Ryan Seacrest, sobriety, resentments, self-care, selling out and so much more. We also took your questions over Twitter and did a round of Just Me Or Everyone.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Download the episode from iTunes.

This show is brought to you by Amazon (clear your cookies first and what the hell, make a bookmark!) and Betterment.  And shop in my Amazon store!