Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out - BEST OF WIO: Ramy Youssef

Episode Date: May 27, 2024

Ramy Youssef Returns: You Already Love Him(Recorded October 2023) Ramy Youssef was one of the first and most popular guests on Working It Out back in 2020, and now he’s back with updates to some of ...the same very material he worked out the first time around. Mike and Ramy discuss which Death Cab For Cutie songs make Ramy cry, unfriendly encounters in Jacksonville, the perils of public restroom keys, and Ramy’s not-so-secret “secret marriage.” All that and why Ramy wants Mike’s next special to be called “The Arab Dad.”Please consider donating to Karam Foundation

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 How old will you wait for your daughter to be to let her go on the subway? Oh, on her own? Yeah. Yeah, like 25. You're actually the most Arab dad I've ever met. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Ask Jenny. Jenny will be like 30.
Starting point is 00:00:15 Dude, that should be the name of your special. Mike Birbiglia, Arab dad. You're the Arab dad. You're the Arab dad. Yeah, yeah. You know how fast my career would end if I called my special The Arab Dad? Just tell people I said it was okay. That is the voice of the great Rami Youssef.
Starting point is 00:00:37 This is one of our favorite episodes we've ever done. This is a re-air from the fall. And since then, Rami has a new special on Max called More Feelings that is so good. He's a fantastic comedian. He also was one of the stars of the Oscar award-winning film, Poor Things, and he directed an episode of The Bear. So Rami is busy. We directed an episode of The Bear. So Rami is busy. He's brilliant.
Starting point is 00:01:07 He's on tour right now. If you're able to see him live, by all means, see him live. I am also on tour right now. This week, I am in Florida. I'm in St. Pete on Wednesday. And on Friday, I am in Miami. In June, we added a second show in Atlanta. We added a fourth and final show in Washington, D.C. And a second and final show in June. We added a second show in Atlanta. We added a fourth and final show in Washington,
Starting point is 00:01:34 D.C. and a second and final show in Charlotte. I'll be in Niagara Falls in July. I'll be at the Bay Street Theater in Sac Harbor in the fall. I'll be in Red Bank, New Jersey, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Detroit. I'll be at the Fillmore. I'll be in Pittsburgh, Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Asheville, Charleston. I'm trying to get everywhere. I'm still adding cities. You can find out from joining the mailing list, which is on burbigs.com. One of the things I mentioned last summer that you should try to see if you're in New York City, is Julia Masley is an Estonian clown who made a show called Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. Jenny and I saw it at Edinburgh Fringe Festival last summer. Best thing that we saw. Completely incredible. Won the best show of Edinburgh. It's in New York for two more weeks. We saw it again. It was completely different this time. It's just an amazing show. So see Julie Masley's show
Starting point is 00:02:25 if you're anywhere near New York City. I love this chat with Rami today. We had in October. It's got a great arc, because my relationship with Rami, because there's a lot of new material that is in his new special, which just came out, again.
Starting point is 00:02:40 You can watch it on Max. And a lot of it was stuff we talked about on the podcast back in 2020 and it has some updates in October. Plus, Rami is just always so, just so funny. One of the funniest people I know. We talk about
Starting point is 00:02:55 his quote-unquote secret marriage. Ooh. He suggests a controversial title for my next special. We have a great time. Enjoy my chat with the great Rami Youssef. We're working it. So you're directing some episodes of Rami, an episode of The Bear.
Starting point is 00:03:24 Yeah. So, like, do you think you're going to direct movies? I'd love to. Yeah. That's kind of. That's what I'm feeling. I'm excited to. It's kind of what has been, it just excites me.
Starting point is 00:03:36 You know, like you kind of do a bunch of pieces of it. And I think, you know, you know this too. Like you've starred in stuff and written stuff and directed stuff and done all that. And then it's like you do so many pieces of it. And then, yeah, I'm never going to say I wouldn't want to do all of them. But the more it starts to like whittle down to how do I want to spend my, like our precious time that we have while we're here. I'm like, all right. So like if I'm actually making time a commodity, like what's the thing that I really want to spend it on? And I have so much fun directing. It's really, really fun. Yeah. What, what was the first thing you directed your own series? Yeah. Like first thing where there was money on the line that wasn't mine. You know, I think growing up, uh, I loved, you know, I would direct little music videos and do this and that. And, you know, in high school, like me and my buddy, Steve way, who's, you know, on my show, uh, we just, we, there was a TV program at our high school that we like expanded it into a three-year program. Like when we started,
Starting point is 00:04:34 it was a year and a half program. And we just kept being like, wait, we need more classes. We want to do more. And so they kind of stretched it out for us. And we kind of are the like known as the alumni who did that for that TV program. But it did a lot for us, you know, because it taught us how to make things and edit and do all of that. So it was something I always kind of really wanted to do. And then, yeah, I was in a situation where I had a budget and we had all this stuff and I got to do it. Your show is semi autobiographical. If you call it a Rami, it's like, what are you going to do? It's kind of you.
Starting point is 00:05:08 Even if you said it wasn't you, it's kind of you. Tough luck, bro. But it's like, what's the thing that you could do on your series that you're like, I can't do that as a stand-up bit? Because it's like literally me on stage saying the thing. bit because it's like literally me on stage saying the thing you know it's like i think things get to collide and build up in a way that they never could on stage it's there's not like a topic i don't think i couldn't do on stage or the seed of a thing i couldn't do on stage i could talk about anything you know but you know the storylines and the way that they can, the impact can be huge. Um, yeah,
Starting point is 00:05:46 I would never do on stage. And then there's certain things that I find funny that just wouldn't even sound good coming out of my mouth. And you get to give it to different characters, you know, like, uh, there's something like certain jokes or things that I feel that I'm like, oh, this would sound, I find this funny because it's the kind of thought my dad would have. And then it's like, oh, cool. I get to like give it to my dad. You know, we had this one scene. It's one of my favorite scenes we've ever shot
Starting point is 00:06:10 where the dad is explaining to the mom, to his wife, that he has broken down the lyrics of one of President Obama's chosen songs on his Spotify playlist. And it's this song by Bad Bunny. So he went online and he looked up the Spanish translation and then he turned all of the translation into like English that supports theories of the Quran. And then he's like telling her,
Starting point is 00:06:36 Obama is trying to use coded Spanish language to bring people to Islam. Because of course he's Muslim. His name is Barack Hussein Obama. It's one of my favorite scenes we've ever shot. It would kind of make sense if I said it on stage. But to put these two people in a car who are on the brink of divorce and she's really frustrated with him. And then he's like, I've been breaking down the lyrics of Obama's Spotify playlist. That's the
Starting point is 00:07:00 kind of shit where I'm like, oh, this is why it's so fun to make a show. Because you can get in on these little granular things. And it's like you can get in on these little granular things. And, you know, it's like what we love doing in comedy, making small things so much bigger than they are. And then kind of rooting them in relationship. And I think the relationships you can see on a show, there's so much more vivid and alive than the relationships you could talk about on stage. You know, that's what's really fun for me. Yeah, I think that's true. about on stage you know that's that's what's really fun for me yeah i think that's true i think the reason why like i feel like i'm so obsessed with film is like it feels often like
Starting point is 00:07:30 a snapshot of time yeah for that group of people so like the scene you're talking about in the car it's like that's not just from your brain it's from the actor's brains yeah and their souls and it's and it's what the art department's bringing to it. It's what the camera department, it's all kind of a snapshot in time. And like you're saying, you can't quite express that in standup. You can get close.
Starting point is 00:07:55 To the point you're making, it's almost like a written scene is like a prompt. So it's like, what's that going to bring out of the actor? What's that going to bring out of the art department? Because they're going to put something in the room that you didn't tell them to put in. And then you're going to go and you're going to, you know, for better or for worse. But when it's for better, which a lot of the times my experience has been, it's almost always for better where you're like,
Starting point is 00:08:14 oh, whoa, like it's kind of about that. I didn't even realize it's about that. You know, I didn't even, you know, but, but the prompt, like a good scene on paper will prompt the best out of everybody who's involved in making it. And that's really fun. There's this great, I listen to Script Notes podcast. It's Craig Mazin and John August. And Craig Mazin says this thing I think is great, which is like. I love Craig, dude. Isn't it great?
Starting point is 00:08:38 Dude. Yeah, yeah, he's great. He's so smart. But he says this thing, which is like that filmmaking is biology and television is chemistry in a certain sense, where biology is just an experiment. You put these things together. It's like, maybe it works. Maybe it doesn't work. Wow.
Starting point is 00:08:56 And chemistry, it's like, you got season two. You got season three. You got season four. Let's try this. Let's try this. So cool. What is with your, what with your series do you feel like you're learning and it's better than season one? Yeah. That's so cool.
Starting point is 00:09:11 Is there anything like that? Tone. Tone. You know, like just digging into tone more, you know, and in a way, something we've done on the show is kind of, we've not been beholden to preserving the season one tone. That's interesting. Yeah. And then, you know, make season two, it has stuff from season one tone. That's interesting, yeah. And then, you know, mix season two,
Starting point is 00:09:28 it has stuff from season one tone, but it's also its own year. Season three, it's its own year. And in a way, season three for me was like the combination of season one and two tones, you know, put into three, right? Yeah. So yeah, it's, because I think someone like Larry David, you know,
Starting point is 00:09:46 he kind of picked his, like, this is the tone, this is the formula. And those comedies are so good. Right. Because they never change. So I feel like there's like a real, there's two types of comedy. There's the one where the characters never change. So the comedy, like they'll do anything but change their problem, right? Like every character has a problem. So what's so funny about Seinfeld is like, no one in that show is interested in fixing themselves. They want to fix the world around them to fit how they are. That's right. You know, and that's why it is powder keg repeatedly funny. And then I think obviously
Starting point is 00:10:20 there's a whole wave of comedies that I would consider my show being part of where the character is kind of like going through changes. Their scenario around them is shifting. And then that's kind of where the drama comes in. But then there's also the comedy because there's no fear in going into any topic, right? And there's no fear in needing to be taken too seriously, even if the emotions are serious. So you kind of get the drama narrative elements
Starting point is 00:10:43 of a character growing, shifting, dealing, but you also get the comedy of, you know, yeah, we're not afraid to kind of try anything or do anything. Right. Yeah. And so the more we've made the show, the more I'm aware of how the characters work,
Starting point is 00:10:57 but also what risks are worth taking. And then you take certain risks and then you kind of, new risks are born out of the old risks that worked or didn't work. What is the most uncomfortable you've ever felt shooting your series? It's a good question. I mean, there's two things that really stick out to me.
Starting point is 00:11:22 There's two things that really stick out to me. One was honestly just the first time we filmed me, my character, praying. Because that's something that I do and I grew up doing. And I had this weird feeling of, wow, now I'm doing it for a show. It's such a kind of personal thing. And then you put it out there in a certain way. But then it was so clear to me, you know, at a certain point, when I was dealing with it, where I was like, man, the only time people have ever seen this on screen, it's usually followed with like, you know, finish the prayer and then like, pick up a rifle, you know and and that's the imagery you know of what we do that western media has seen and i was like you know i have to kind of eat this discomfort um for the reality that like doing this and then going to a diner and post gaming about a date right and then going to work at a startup you know all these things that are in our show right to know that this act is part of the fabric of a life
Starting point is 00:12:25 that, you know, in some ways people are familiar with and in some ways is different, but to just understanding that it would ground it in a human act, you know? And I think there's like a, in general, part of what, you know, is there for Arabs, Muslims in every landscape and whatever it is, there's a level of dehumanization.
Starting point is 00:12:46 And so I had to kind of understand like, okay, if there's any little contribution I'm making, which you would be genuinely shocked at how little of a contribution I actually think I'm making. I really don't think, I genuinely think it's like, we're making jokes, we're trying, like we're doing our thing. I'm not going to put any importance on it.
Starting point is 00:13:04 I'm just going to say there's a bit of a humanization, hopefully, that we're giving. So it was uncomfortable for me, but I was like, but it, you know, maybe it does, like puts a more positive image for somebody, you know? No, I think that's exactly what it is. I mean, it's like when I see a great performance
Starting point is 00:13:18 in anything and the actor just gives themself to it, you just go, well, that's a gift. And it doesn't matter if it's Meryl Streep and it's like their salaries, whatever, like it's still, they're giving themselves to the thing. And it's like, I don't know, when you pray on screen, it's like, it's exactly what you're saying. It's a gift to people to see that in that way. And in an honest depiction. Yeah. And just like, this is what it is. This is what it looks like.
Starting point is 00:13:47 These are all the things that surround it. And it's not, you know, something, it's not what you might've thought it was, you know? So, so we're researching you the last couple of days in the office and then it's like, you're married, but then it's like, it's like you're secretly married. Like, and I know you're married and we can cut this out if you want, but it's like, I know I met your wife. This is like, what is this charade? And then it's like, he says in some interviews that he's married,
Starting point is 00:14:14 but then he doesn't say... I'll say it in any interview, of course. Yeah, very married. Okay. But you know what it is? It's like... It's really funny. It's a big discussion here. No, I've seen those articles where it's like,
Starting point is 00:14:24 Rami Yusuf's really funny. It's a big discussion here. I've seen those articles where it's like, Rami Youssef's secret marriage. It's like, it's a weird thing. Cause it's like, yeah, you know, it's the best decision I've ever made in my life. And it's almost why I'm like, yeah, you guys, you're not seeing her. You know, it's like, it's almost this thing of like, bring her to a red carpet, like bring her to a thing,
Starting point is 00:14:44 like take a photo. And I'm like, she's not interested, honestly. She's just kind of like, she's like it's almost this thing of like bring her to a red carpet like bring her to a thing like take a photo and I'm like she's not interested honestly she's just kind of like she's like you that's your job and then we have our life you know and it's like that kind of thing yeah and and I don't you know I don't think it's really so funny that I saw that art I saw there's like a couple articles that are yeah and and the publications I read regularly I know, you're always on The Sun and CelebrityNetworth.net which is always very accurate underscore net
Starting point is 00:15:12 that's where you go on and you're like they think I'm that poor I have much more no it's not but yeah dude I am the best I've known single Rami and now I know married Rami. Yeah, yeah.
Starting point is 00:15:28 And it's exciting. I'm thrilled. You and I have a thing in common, which is we both appear to be calm on stage. Yeah. And Ira Glass was on this podcast for the 100th episode, and he called me on it. He goes, you're not calm in real life. So funny. And I'm going to similarly call you on you.
Starting point is 00:15:52 My response to him was, I actually am calm on stage, but I'm not calm in life, and that can exist. But what's your take on yourself? Because you're very relaxed on stage. And then in person like i move around a lot is that what it is you move around and you're like i would say off stage you're hyper focused oh interesting i think of you yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah and on stage it's more just like relaxed kind of we doing what are we talking about Yeah, I think it's why I like, well, it's funny.
Starting point is 00:16:26 This hyper-focus thing is something that comes up. It's, I really, I'm never going to get tested for ADHD. Me neither. I'm never going to do it. I'm the same. It's like, I'm not going to join. Am I? I'm not going to join.
Starting point is 00:16:44 Am I? That's so offensive. That's so offensive that's so offensive how dare you i'm positive i am but i'm speaking on behalf of the adhd community i am not joining which i'm not officially no i love you guys and i'm i'm and i'm probably one of you i'm not joining is so offensive is it it might be all love what you're describing is exactly how I felt for so long but I felt afraid to express it I just refuse to be diagnosed
Starting point is 00:17:14 I don't want I'm sure it's freeing I'm sure a diagnosis would be freeing I'm sure we all are to some degree but the thing about being on stage it's actually what we were talking about earlier with this like gratitude for the audience and this respect for the audience. Like I get up there and I'm like, oh, all I have to think about is the thing that I'm, stand up for me is like, okay, I'm going to come on stage
Starting point is 00:17:40 with something that I'm battling with. That's what's interesting to me. I'm battling with something. And I've figured out a way to make it funny before I have found the answer that I'm looking for. And I'm going to share essentially what is like a mid process with you. And so I have respect for presenting that battle. And then I have respect for you guys all put your shoes on. So like- What's your put your shoes on?
Starting point is 00:18:04 You put your shoes on. You came out to see me. I don't give a fuck when someone's like, I watched your show. I hate it. I'm like, you didn't all put your shoes on so like what's your put your shoes on you put your shoes on you came out to see me right like i don't give a fuck when someone's like i watched your show i hate it i'm like you didn't even put your shoes on like you don't even like you don't even like you're just sitting there you watch like you watch like seven minutes and you're like like you didn't put your shoes on these people with their shoes on they're here they respect what i might do you know so i i'm loose by that nature because i'm like you already love me you know what i mean like you're here even if it's not nature cause I'm like you already love me you know what I mean like you're here even if it's not my audience
Starting point is 00:18:28 I'm like you wanna love me you showed up cause you wanna love me this is great you know what I mean so it's like I'm chill listen to this all day do I even have to talk so I'm chill I just wanna listen to this I was here no it's like I'm chilling like you already love me you came
Starting point is 00:18:43 you're invested in loving me I'm gonna show you this thing I'm working on but I'm chilling like you already love me you came you're invested in loving me I'm gonna show you this thing I'm working on but I'm chill off the stage I don't know like I'm like this guy's trying to sell me something
Starting point is 00:18:52 this I got a family member calling me they're gonna talk about some random shit I'm like listen I don't I gotta fill out a form
Starting point is 00:18:58 for the city cause I broke my fence whatever if I give you my like relaxed thing I have this fear that you you know I never even, I'll never even leave the house. You know what I mean? So it's like, I just got to like focus and do it.
Starting point is 00:19:13 But, you know, I'm working on being more present even when I'm not on stage, you know. But you are, I don't think you're not present. I think you're present. I am. No, I, but, but I don't know. There's something, you know what I did do? I, which I, a lot of people are doing this and I just jumped on it, but I, I went to upgrade my phone, my iPhone.
Starting point is 00:19:35 And then while I was there, I bought a flip phone. So now. I'm doing the same thing. Yeah, it's the best. Because I'm writing a movie right now and I'm like, I can't have iPhone, iPhones and writing a movie do not coexist. So I just have flip, like, because it was this thing where I was like, wait, am I going to transition to flip phone? And then I was like, no, just I have flip phone days and then I have iPhone days.
Starting point is 00:19:54 Yeah. So much easier. So it's like, because I had this paranoia. I was leaving the house without my phone. And you know how it is. We'll find like any excuse to not write. So I leave the house to write. And then I'd be like, I'd be out. And then my mom was sick for a bit. And so I'd have this
Starting point is 00:20:08 paranoia that, cause I had this one morning I woke up where I had like 17 missed calls. And then, you know, anytime your phone is 17 missed calls from family, you're like something really bad happened. So I had this paranoia now to not have the phone. Cause I'm like, well, what if family calls? So I have this phone, only five people have the number and that's it. So it's like, I don't have to worry about that. If someone was in trouble, they'd call the phone. Those are the five people I love and I don't love those other 12 people. Well, the thing about the five people is they are attached to the other. They're attached to the other people, you know? Finally, I cornered you.
Starting point is 00:20:50 You got me, you know? That's what this podcast is all about. Corner me. It's all about who- You're not on the flip phone, bro. Who are the 12? Yeah, exactly. Who's on the flip?
Starting point is 00:20:56 Yeah, who's on the flip? Who's on the flip? Who's on the podcast about, like, what your brain notices is what your comedy is basically. And it's like what are you noticing now? Like what is like burning in you? I'm noticing a lot of stuff in my relationship, obviously. You know, it's like it's a new thing being in, being married, being in something like really.
Starting point is 00:21:43 Being in a secret marriage that you're not allowed to talk about. Being in a secret marriage that ishemarried.net is unaware of. They don't have a photo. But I am going to talk about it in my next hour. So it will be very public on the level. Feelings part two.
Starting point is 00:22:01 More feelings. More feelings. That's I guess the name of the tour. I haven't really named the hour yet. But maybe it'll be the name of the tour. I haven't really named the hour yet, but maybe it'll be the name of the hour. I like it. It's kind of cool. I like it.
Starting point is 00:22:09 What do you think? I like the continuity of it. Yeah. I like the continuity of it, and I think it expresses actually what stand-up comedy is in a certain way. I appreciate that, because you know what it is? I always liked the title Feelings
Starting point is 00:22:22 because I was actually battling with, I was battling with how much I like with how much I like to talk about politics in my comedy. But I don't want to have to speak about politics in any sort of eloquent, factual way. I don't want to be held to any of that. And so what I realized was it's really all just my feelings. So it's like, you know, there's nothing to be taken other than the fact that it is my feelings. And so I loved the title and then I was just like, well, this is just more of that.
Starting point is 00:22:54 I think that's really interesting because that's like my biggest gripe with comedy criticism currently is when people get upset about comedy. I'm always just like, yeah, it's just that person's feeling about the thing. apparently, is when people get upset about comedy. I'm always just like, yeah, it's just that person's feeling about the thing. It doesn't really matter. Yeah. Unless, I mean, without getting into the weeds on specific people, unless that person sways an entire generation to feel a certain way.
Starting point is 00:23:29 But my inclination is that they were heading there. Yeah. And it wasn't someone's joke about it. Yeah, I think, you know, my issue is, I would say most artistic criticism is the responsibility that's being put on the art to be, we've kind of done this thing where we're asking artists and art to do what leadership in government doesn't do. And so there's this kind of weird thing that's just like, we won't even write a press article
Starting point is 00:24:03 about a lying politician anymore, but we'll write it more about someone we perceive to be like a lying comedian you know it's like the things are like flipped it's like wait wait you know we're used to politicians you know doing this this and this but like you're a comedian you're supposed to be like a voice for truth and it's like
Starting point is 00:24:20 dude we don't finish college like I don't like like this is it we don't finish, we don't finish college. Dude, we don't finish college. We don't finish college. I've had someone be like, dude, you miss... Look, I'm also learning a lesson though from critiques I've gotten.
Starting point is 00:24:37 Again, I'll talk about politics in a funny way in my stand-up. I'm not going to talk about anything that political on interviews anymore because I'm like, you know what? Someone will be like, you said this thing and it wasn't right. And I'm like, you're right. It wasn't right. I was wrong. And maybe I either should say less or be really clear about like, I actually don't know what the fuck I'm talking about. So I'm, I'm very, you know, open to that. So I like criticism in a sense because it'll either teach me or it'll guide me to a certain way to be closer to myself
Starting point is 00:25:06 or closer to what I'm actually trying to say. The only type of criticism I don't like is just that it has this extra tinge of like, you have failed society by doing such. Which is like, that's not true because you know what? There's so much fucking content. We're all fighting to get anyone to watch
Starting point is 00:25:22 what we're making anyway. So it's not like we're not in the era anymore where it was like Cosby and more black kids went to college because they watched the Cosby show. That's over. That was like, there were nine channels or however many there were, even if there were 20 or 30 channels,
Starting point is 00:25:39 you were gonna watch something that was on TV. It doesn't work that way anymore. Like my show doesn't speak to people who don't know anything about Islam or who hated Islam and then watch it. No, it speaks to people who are open-minded. Maybe they don't know, but for the most part, like we're all like kind of preaching to our choir because there's so much content. Like they're just going to go where they feel like they want to be. So my job always feels like, what nuance could I provide to my own choir? So it's like, here's my audience,
Starting point is 00:26:09 but I'm going to challenge them. But I don't think I'm like pulling over that many people who hate the idea of what I do. Right, right, right. The thing that I find interesting about your show and your act in relationship to Islam and like, you know, because is that most comedians are either agnostic
Starting point is 00:26:28 or atheist or some variation on lapsed Catholic. In my case, kind of lapsed Catholic. Yeah. And so it's like, you're like, you pray, you practice and you're open about kind of talking about it. Do you ever feel like there's a line you can't cross? Because I feel like so much of what we do as comedians is just cross lines, cross lines, cross lines,
Starting point is 00:26:51 or go really close to the line. Yeah, I mean, I, you know, it's kind of an easy one. It's like, I don't make fun of religion. I kind of make fun of myself within it for two reasons. One is like the critiques of religious culture are all very valid. And they're out there.
Starting point is 00:27:12 And the other thing is it's kind of hacky. To make fun of religion. Yeah, it's like actually from a pure comedy perspective, to make fun of religion is very like okay, that's what everybody does. You believe in a magical person in the sky or whatever we've heard that a hundred times
Starting point is 00:27:27 a hundred times yeah i mean it's like it's actually a hacky joke but but it is a line for me in the sense that i'm like yeah i'm not that's not it's just not interesting to me right you know and i think my biggest comedic line became at some point i don't even remember the joke because it was so inconsequential i just remember the show i once had at this bar show in Brooklyn where I like all day, I had this idea for a joke. I wish I could remember it, but I remember being like, oh man, I think this is going to be funny. And then I went up and it so didn't hit. And then on the ride home, and this was a time when I used to ride home to Jersey, you know, I was using my mom's car. So I'd be in the car, I'm driving back to Jersey. Those drives were the best. Cause I think so much, you know, cause there's something about like paying to go through the Lincoln
Starting point is 00:28:11 tunnel where like, you really feel like this set better be worth it. You know, I like, I went through the Lincoln tunnel and I'm driving back and I'm like, man, I don't even care about what I said. I just said it. Cause I thought it would be funny. So the biggest line for me is like, if I don't care on some level about what I'm saying, it could be silly, but it has to hit something that I feel about the human condition in some level. And if it doesn't, and I just said it
Starting point is 00:28:37 because I thought it would be funnier, I thought it would be clever. That's my line. Like, I can't do that. Because I need to feel like if I don't get a laugh, I still have like my line. Like I can't do that. Cause I need to feel like if I don't get a laugh, I still have like my dignity. When you, like you have such, your style is like laid back.
Starting point is 00:28:53 Is that from people you know growing up or comedians you watched? It's interesting. Cause I actually like, now that I'm getting into my, making my second special, I couldn't watch the whole thing. I don't know how you feel. I can't really watch my old stuff.
Starting point is 00:29:10 But I watch. It's hard. Yeah, it's hard. Oh, yeah. I watched some stuff from my first special. And the way I'm doing it now is totally like it's obviously totally still me, but it's like, I think I'm way more comfortable. So for me, sometimes stillness, you know, and this actually goes back to your earlier question. Sometimes it's like, when I'm nervous, I actually seem really calm. And so when I was younger, I would always get this where people would be like, dude, you're so chill.
Starting point is 00:29:44 And I'd be like, really? Like, I was actually pretty nervous. Like, I would always get this where people would be like, dude, you're so chill. And I'd be like, really? I was actually pretty nervous. I can't believe you thought I was that chill. When I'm really comfortable, I'm calm, but I move more. And so what I've noticed is because I filmed myself a bit as I've been on the road, I was like, oh, I'm moving more. I feel like I actually look more like myself. So in my first special, My first special is totally me. I think I was in the round and I was focusing on moving in a different way.
Starting point is 00:30:14 I'm really excited to shoot my second one because it feels a bit more like myself. Who's the first stand-up you ever saw live? That's a good question um so i used to go i'm trying to i remember the first stand-up i obsessed over watching which was carlin that was like my kidding that was like everything me and my uncle obsessively way before i should have you know that like like 10 years old or something. Literally 10 years old. I'm watching Carlin.
Starting point is 00:30:46 Yeah. With my uncle. And that was where, and my uncle kind of talks like Carlin. Like he's really, my uncle talks in premises. He's really funny. Like he hit me with this,
Starting point is 00:30:57 with this like, like he'll say stuff that I'm just dying. Like he goes, what's up with Donald Trump's son? Just, has he been 13 the whole time he's like it's so funny like he literally goes the kid has never aged isn't that the funniest premise isn't that the funniest premise he literally goes the kid has never aged and i died and i was like yeah i don't think I've ever heard a different age on him.
Starting point is 00:31:26 Like, I know he's gotten older. Like, it's like, you know what I'm saying? So it's like- We're talking about Baron, right? Dude, yes, yes. That's so funny. Don't know about his young son. Like, he's like-
Starting point is 00:31:37 Right, he's not, right, because he's probably in college or something. He's probably 18, but he's like, as far as we know. That's so funny. No, no, it's got nothing to do with the kid's intelligence. He's frozen in amber. Yeah, yeah. It's nothing against him.
Starting point is 00:31:51 It's literally, it's like about. It's not insulting him. The joke is about like reporting. Yeah. Like he's literally like, the kid's just been 13 the whole, the whole term. And it just, it made me laugh so much. Are you doing this on stage? No, I never have.
Starting point is 00:32:03 Oh, you should do this. You should do this. I think potentially you should just, and I don't even know where you go with it because it's so funny on its own. But it is one of those things where like, sometimes in life we are out, as comedians, we're outdone by people who are non-comedians in our lives.
Starting point is 00:32:22 They're just, that's so funny. No, no, but like when I walk into a room with my uncles, they're like, I'm a fraud. Because they're like, we're funnier than you. Like they know it. They're like, whatever you're doing out there, like you're just, it's our energy. You know what I mean?
Starting point is 00:32:37 That's so funny. You know what I mean? Like they're just like, so they, I mean, they're so funny, dude. I love that. My uncles and my mom in a room. 11, 12? I have a bunch of uncles,
Starting point is 00:32:50 but the uncles I grew up with are two, you know, who lived in New York. Everyone else lives overseas between Egypt and Switzerland. We have like our family there. But they're so funny. So he talks like Carlin. And like, you know, so his style is really ripped from Carlin. You know, my style is obviously nothing like Carlin or my uncle's. But live, so I lived in Jersey, you know, until I moved to LA when I was 20. So when I was
Starting point is 00:33:19 like 17, I used to take my mom's car, I'd go to UCB back when it was back under Gristini's. And I'd go see Whiplash. On 26th Street, yeah. So in my mind, I feel like the first comic I ever saw live that I was like, holy shit, stand-up comic, was Sean Patton. I remember going to see Patton hosting Whiplash at some point and I was just like, this guy is so fucking funny like and to this day he's one of my
Starting point is 00:33:46 favorite comics he's hilarious he he just made everything funny in this way that you know kind of blew my mind those shows were I got to do it right before UCB shut down UCB Chelsea yeah which I don't know what year that was might have been 17 or something or 18 I just remember doing whiplash there and was one of the last like two three shows oh wow and it it like filled something in my heart where I was like oh my god like when I used to go at 17 or 18 I didn't even think I would do stand-up yeah because at that point I was writing things and shooting sketches and doing that kind of thing I kind of thought you know so stand-up looked like a pure magic trick to me. I was like, I don't know how anyone does that.
Starting point is 00:34:32 Do you still have the, are you doing the bit that we talked about on the podcast a few years ago about your dad and therapy? It's so interesting. I've lately been wondering if it's going to stay in the special I think it's so funny I know it really makes me laugh
Starting point is 00:34:49 it makes me laugh but I'm having this hard time I was like I think I need to clarify what I'm trying to say about my dad say it again in case people didn't hear it so I had this bit about just like my dad it's kind of, it's such a long bit now, but the essence of the bit is,
Starting point is 00:35:09 you know, he's basically like, you know, why are you seeing a therapist? You know, like you're paying a guy to talk. Yeah. You know,
Starting point is 00:35:18 like pay me, talk to me. And I'm like, well, that doesn't work. It's like, I'm talking, I'm talking to him because of you.
Starting point is 00:35:24 Like that doesn't, like that, that exchange doesn't, that exchange doesn you that exchange doesn't work and then he started crying it was the first time I ever seen him crying in my life not because of anything he did but because he created an expense he couldn't believe they did that the funny thing about it is
Starting point is 00:35:39 I know the money part rubs him but the thing is he actually is really emotionally open so I started to have this thing where i was like i know my dad thinks it's weird i pay for therapy but ultimately it doesn't really bother him but it's funny on stage but there was this part of me that was like i needed to lead to something else i'm saying oh interesting so you do okay so you think it needs to lead to a larger point yeah or something like more I guess more sincere about him because I want him to see it and like love it. Oh, interesting.
Starting point is 00:36:08 You know, like I want him to, I don't want to. I feel that's a question, by the way, I get from young comedians all the time, which is basically like, what do I do when I want to talk about my family and this person and my wife and my husband or whatever. And I want to be honest
Starting point is 00:36:24 but also respectful. I always say, it's just like, you have to navigate that. Like, that's the good luck. Like, that's our whole lives. No, I heard Mike answer this question in person. He said, fuck them. Like, I remember that was at the cellar. Mike goes, man, fuck those people.
Starting point is 00:36:39 No, no, it was an isolated incident. I was sued. It was a civil suit I lost. I heard you say, fuck them. I'm being. It was a civil suit I lost. I heard you say, fuck him. I'm being forced to sell my car. Dude, it happens. It happens. We all know it happens.
Starting point is 00:36:57 We're constantly working. My first stand-up hour and my first season of my show, my parents had never seen me do stand-up other than five minutes on cold bear oh my god i kept everything from them wow because i was i respect what they think so much yeah i didn't want to hurt their feelings and i knew if they were uncomfortable with anything that i was saying i would probably change it so i was like let me just do this without showing them i was it was one of without showing them it's better to just ask
Starting point is 00:37:25 for forgiveness later I always say the analogy for me it's stripping it's being a stripper being a comedian and you don't want to invite your friends to your first 10 times being a stripper
Starting point is 00:37:41 but you want them there the 12th time maybe 12th or 13th time when you, 12th, 13th time you're ready. When you're rocking it. Once you've picked your song. Yeah, yeah. You know, you've got your song. You've got to have a song that really works for you. You've got the right song, the right thong, everything.
Starting point is 00:37:55 You're ready. You've got the right nice outfit, and there's some kind of energy that happens. You've got to flow with the DJ. Very important, you know. Oh, are you doing the Jacksonville story on stage these days where the woman said
Starting point is 00:38:07 about Islam we don't do that here no you're like reminding me of a lot of my bits no we talked about it on the podcast last time because I said to you
Starting point is 00:38:15 so you last time I was on the podcast you we were talking about Jacksonville because actually this was like COVID huh yeah I was in my
Starting point is 00:38:22 I remember I was in my parents basement you were yeah you're like oh yeah we have the footage I remember it really in my parents' basement. You were, yeah. You're like, oh yeah, we have the footage. I remember it really well. We have the footage. No, no, but I,
Starting point is 00:38:32 no, because I'm doing Jacksonville in the winter. Oh yeah. And the thing I always remember about Jacksonville is that it's religious. Like it's the only place I've ever gotten complaints. Yeah. Like legitimate complaints. Like people going on Ticketmaster being like, I was really wish that he hadn't said this about Jesus.
Starting point is 00:38:47 You know what I mean? Like, all right, sorry. But it's like me. Right. It was you. Yeah, I wish you hadn't said that. But then you said that your Jacksonville story was that a woman came up to you and basically said about it, of Islam, we don't do that here.
Starting point is 00:39:03 Yeah, honey, we don't do that here. But she said it like, yeah, the air wasn't conducive for muslim life forms yeah yeah yeah like we just wish we could we can't grow it i think put that in too that was the same show i don't know if i told you this part but i was wearing this shirt that kind of had like an abstract looking rainbow on it did i tell you this part she No. This other woman comes up to me after the show and she's so, she loved the show and she grabs me by the arm and she goes,
Starting point is 00:39:31 thank you for wearing that shirt. We're taking the rainbow back. Like that I said I like women and she was just like, you are bringing, like there's a fight for the rainbow. From Pride? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:39:49 Yours? Yeah. Who is taking it back? Me and her. Wait, why? In her mind. You and her are taking the rainbow back because you're wearing a rainbow on your shirt.
Starting point is 00:40:04 And that I- From Pride. In her mind, we had formed this alliance to take the rainbow back. And the shirt was kind of an abstract rainbow. It took me a really long time to understand what was happening.
Starting point is 00:40:16 Taking that back. Jacksonville. There's a reason Cat Williams opens with 25 minutes on Jacksonville in his special. There's a reason Cat Williams opens with 25 minutes on Jacksonville in his special. It's a wild place. So I want to do a slow round question, which is what's a song that makes you cry?
Starting point is 00:40:38 This is going to be embarrassing, but no, it's not embarrassing. I own it. Any of Death Cab for Cuties albums get me into it dude like pop on pretty much any of them I'm in I'm back in my like 13 year old emo New Jersey fall jacket leaves are falling
Starting point is 00:40:55 girl didn't talk to me pop on Death Cab get home early otherwise I'll get yelled at I get that I'm in. It transports me. Yeah. That whole Zach Braff,
Starting point is 00:41:11 Garden State soundtrack has that kind of energy to it. Yeah. That vibe, it's New Jersey. You know what I mean? It's just New Jersey stuff. And that's something,
Starting point is 00:41:21 yeah, that as an adult, I've been told many times turn off your new jersey music i'm trying to think of a specific death cap song i mean where do you want well the transatlanticism album is amazing and there's the track transatlanticism i'm about to listen to it right now when i when i leave oh wow just because it's now in my mind i haven't listened to it probably for a couple years because i don't want to cry but after this podcast yeah I'm gonna want to cry okay should I just run out now just so I can have a experience for this story
Starting point is 00:41:50 like now um do you remember an inauthentic version of yourself what was like the least like what age? I would say 20 to 26. There was like this like six year period where it was like, I moved to LA. You know, when you're inauthentic, you're not inauthentic all the time. It's like, you're just like, I think I was just so afraid and kind of like ill-equipped to deal with life.
Starting point is 00:42:26 And because, you know, I was living at home and then all of a sudden I moved to LA for a job. I had never lived on my own. Like I literally, it sounds so stupid, but you know, when you're like 19, 20, if you've lived at home, you didn't go away to college, you didn't do anything. Like I had never really done like my own supermarket shopping by myself, you know? And so I was really, yeah, I really was like, not myself. Like, I think I was, I was scared and I was, you know, it's funny, even when you're being inauthentic, you are being who you are when you are, you're being your lower self. Yeah. So there's actually something authentic
Starting point is 00:43:02 about your, you know, you're just, you're just being your lower self. And so it's like, I was my lower self for more than I'd like for that early 20s, you know. And then I think towards the end of my 20s, I started to be like, oh, wait, I could balance this out. That part of me, you know, is not all who I am. Like I could actually maybe be better. I could actually maybe be better. We were literally talking about this in the studio today, about how if you have a sense of humor about yourself,
Starting point is 00:43:33 in some ways it's a huge strength because you're admitting that sometimes you're a zero. Yes. And sometimes you're a 10. Exactly. And sometimes you're any number in between. Yeah. But all those things can be true. Yeah. And it's like, yeah,
Starting point is 00:43:46 you're inauthentic version of yourself. I think for me, it's like 16 through 25 kind of thing. I was just intermittently a zero. Yeah, yeah. I look back and it's so embarrassing. And that guy shows up sometimes if you're really hungry or you're in traffic or you're underslept or whatever. That guy shows up sometimes if you're really hungry or you're in traffic or you're underslept or whatever.
Starting point is 00:44:07 That guy shows up and he's late. He shows up. But I've learned to love that part of myself genuinely because I'm like, oh, I'm so glad to know you exist because you definitely allow me to appreciate when I'm not being you. allow me to appreciate when I'm not being you, right? It's like, I really like, it's like, to not have to be in that mood all the time makes the other parts feel like a really sunny day. It's really sweet. You don't know a sunny day if it didn't rain.
Starting point is 00:44:36 So it's just- You literally, you and I had a text exchange when I was in London, because you were like, how's London? And I was like, I'm depressed. I'm away from my family. It's really hard. And you were like, how's London? And I was like, I'm depressed. I'm away from my family. It's really hard. And you were like, it's good
Starting point is 00:44:47 for you because the contrast and the experience of going through it will make you savor it when you come back. Contrast has just been my favorite thing to think about lately. It's like some really, you know, things happening in the world really mess and you're like, all right, like that means
Starting point is 00:45:03 something at some point is gonna feel really sweet, hopefully. Yeah. You know, like it's, there has to be contrast. The equal and opposite. Yeah. Will exist also. I'm going to get to some material. These are just things I wrote in the notebook.
Starting point is 00:45:37 And if you have stuff that you wrote down in your notebook, feel free to throw it out. I wrote this down this week. This, I think, has a shot, which is I was at a cafe and I had to use their bathroom. And my problem with using the bathroom key at a cafe is that there's a 99% chance it was just touched by someone who just used the bathroom.
Starting point is 00:45:57 If someone said to me, like, here, hold this big hunk of wood that moments ago was held by someone who went to the bathroom and then wiped their ass, I would say, no thank you, this proposition. That's really funny. And somehow we're like, give me the key. Give me the key.
Starting point is 00:46:15 Because you've got to go so bad. That's really funny. I thought that was worth it. No, it is worth it. It reminds me of I realized that i um you know sometimes you go to a bathroom you gotta poop in public which is obviously a very difficult position to ever be in but i you know i check if there's four stalls like i'm looking at each one
Starting point is 00:46:36 and essentially like what i'm trying to gauge is like which one will allow me to most successfully pretend i'm the first person to use it today. That's what I'm looking for. That is a very sophisticated thought. I'm looking for one that's so pristine that I can be like, they just cleaned this. Nothing's happened here yet. That's what I'm looking for. Wait, so talk me through the logic again. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:47:01 So when you walk in, you see four stalls, you open each? I open each one and I'm looking for the one that just looks so fresh that I could convince myself It's a lie. I'm the first one to use it. Yeah,
Starting point is 00:47:12 we're all lying to ourselves about these bathrooms. You're always lying. Always. Yeah. Yeah. But I mean, it's just,
Starting point is 00:47:17 I need that lie. It's like this fairy tale about the public restrooms that no one has used today. No, like I've created the dude who just left. Like I heard a sound of some wheels. I, like I've created the dude who just left. Like I heard a sound of some wheels.
Starting point is 00:47:27 I'm like, oh, it was probably just his cart he just left. And like he just mopped it. You know, like I'll do it every day. And then I still go in and I like wipe it down a little bit. Oh my gosh, yes. Yeah, I've definitely cleaned public toilets. Like for myself, but also to pay it forward a little bit. I think that it's like an undiscussed truism of society
Starting point is 00:47:47 that we're all kind of wiping down public toilets all the time. Like it's part of our day somehow. Of course. And it's not fair. And it feels- Dude, but there's a relationship to bacteria that I think as a New Yorker, you have so uniquely. And I think it's why Egyptians are so comfortable in New York
Starting point is 00:48:11 because you have the same agreement in Cairo. There are these really densely populated city places where the way you deal with bacteria and just keep rolling with it is so much different than other places. I was in Houston for a little bit and I'm just like, I actually don't have to touch anything. I don't have to touch, I don't, I can just get in the car. The traffic's never
Starting point is 00:48:32 really that bad. I could just, if I need to poop, I could probably go poop where I'm staying and not deal with any, but being in New York, it's just like, you make a deal because you're going to be on the subway. You're going to move around. You're just going to do whatever. You're going to come home. You don't always take your pants off before you go to bed. You don't like, or sit on the bed or
Starting point is 00:48:50 it's just everywhere. Right. You know, it really is. So we're absolutely right. We're just coping with, you know, so why do we do it? I, I don't, I think just from like movies in the seventies, like all these movies, just like, I think it was just like New 70s. Like all these movies just like, I think it was just like New York streets shot on beautiful film. Right. I think that's why we're here. We're here because of Scorsese and Cassavetes.
Starting point is 00:49:18 Yeah. And Nora Ephron somehow. You know what I mean? Yeah, no, it's crazy. It's truly crazy. It doesn't make sense. Yeah. It makes no sense.
Starting point is 00:49:31 It makes no sense. You have a street with nine trees on it, and you're like, oh my God, I'm in the jungle. I know. Gorgeous. Beautiful. Literally, yeah. Is this a rainforest?
Starting point is 00:49:41 You're like, bro, this is fucking nine trees. What the hell? Just go to Jersey. Do you have anything you're working on? Oh, this is like only for, this is a joke for you. Okay. It's actually- I like it.
Starting point is 00:49:54 Because we live two blocks away from each other. I guess there's just this thing about being like living in Brooklyn and the energy that is here and you go to coffee shops that like when I go to the Home Depot that's over here, I'm shocked at like the men being men. Like it's so like, like I walk into that Home Depot and all of a sudden I'm like, do I need a gun? Like, do I need to own a gun? And I can't believe it's this close because everyone at the coffee shop I go to is trans. So I'm just like, they don't, how do these people,
Starting point is 00:50:26 how is everyone 15 minutes within each other? Right. It's a small place. Yeah, and I go to Home Depot and I'm like, is this allowed? Right. Can you be like this? New York City is a wild landscape of a lot of different types of people living
Starting point is 00:50:41 in an extraordinarily tight space. I think that's why I love it though. It's why I love it. I think it's why, you know, this goes back to our New York conversation earlier. Yeah. It's the reason why people are here. It is why people are here. People like the fact that,
Starting point is 00:50:53 that it's an absurdly diverse population. It is. It's, it's why like you bring up any, it's like the amount of people who I deal with in the neighborhood who are different race who are trans who are different language
Starting point is 00:51:09 who do all these things you have people who be saying hateful things I'm like well you've never met them I live in New York I've met everybody I've actually met everybody because I live in New York and it makes it so much harder
Starting point is 00:51:21 to have a non-human opinion of anybody. I think that's true. You're like, no, I have real connections with anyone who you think is just like a political point. I guess that's why I like being here outside of the 70s movies. And I think that's why people raise children here too. It's because you're like, you want your kid to see everything. And do everything.
Starting point is 00:51:50 Yeah, because otherwise you end up like you're saying, like you were saying earlier, you end up seeing depictions of things in film and TV. That's it. Not actually what it's like. How old will you wait for your daughter to be to let her go on the subway? Oh, on her own? Yeah. I'm only 25.
Starting point is 00:52:09 I'm just being honest with you, Rami. These are my feelings. This is my special. It's called feelings. You're 25 years old. It's like, yeah, I grew up in New York, but I have a very, you know, like you're the most, you're actually the most Arab dad I've ever met. Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
Starting point is 00:52:25 Ask Jenny. Jenny will be like 30. Dude, that should be the name of your special. Mike Birbiglia, Arab dad. You're the Arab dad. You're the Arab dad. You know how fast my career would end if I called my special the Arab dad?
Starting point is 00:52:38 Just tell people I said it was okay. I'm like trying to tank you. Produced by Rami Youssef and it's like over the title in 40 font it's much bigger than my name you're like dude you know you said I could call it Arab Dad
Starting point is 00:52:54 you want to produce it so people know I'd be like nah dude it's okay just tell people I said you could you're like dude you're trying to tank me no no alright what do we got I don't know what do we got? I don't know what else I got, man. Oh, I was like, this is like a,
Starting point is 00:53:14 I was trying to figure out what I was afraid of with AI. And it's not like, it's like, I know I can write, you know? So I'm not even, I just have this fear that conservatives will get really good at making movies. Oh my god, that's so funny. Because it's like up until now, like for whatever reason, up until now,
Starting point is 00:53:41 only liberals could finish a script. They just seem to be able to finish scripts and like El Ambego work because it's like yeah like this country you know Brokeback Mountain changed this country's view of you know gay people in a really meaningful way right
Starting point is 00:53:57 where people thought they were seeing a western and then they were like oh wait I just saw this relationship so I was just like that's because Jake Gyllenhaal loved that script and so i could be like what if gyllenhaal like just what if you can get him to love a script that you wouldn't want him to love and then he's just playing this like ice agent you know and you're just like and and it's he's so good that you're like yeah maybe everyone should stay where they were born that's my God. That's a great concept. Well, I think that's the unspoken about the like liberals in Hollywood is like,
Starting point is 00:54:30 no, no, those are the people who've done well. There's not some thing where it's like if a conservative moved to Hollywood and wrote Good Will Hunting, people wouldn't be like, I don't know, he is a Republican. No, exactly. No way. It's just not how it is. Hollywood is very capitalistic. Of course.
Starting point is 00:54:51 People want... No, if it makes the money, we'll do it. People want to make a lot of money in that town. It's part of the reason why I don't live there. No, it's like, you feel it when you're there. And that's why I've always felt, that's why I guess what was,
Starting point is 00:55:04 you know, the empathy you need to understand human beings to write a script that pops usually will then lead you to probably disassemble whatever political view you think is like so strong and then i think it kind of ends up having someone be like well yeah let's just let everyone do what they want and they end up being liberal, like for the most part. But then AI comes in and now it's just like, hey, write me. Well, then it's like, well, write a movie in the spirit of James Cameron, except the people. The people are, they are getting rid of the abortion clinics.
Starting point is 00:55:39 That's right. You know, and then that's, and then, and then. It's a tearjerker. And then the script is good. And people are like, it's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. People are like, it's good. You're kind of like, I mean, you get these great actors and all of a sudden you're like, who's to say when a life starts?
Starting point is 00:55:51 Who's to say? Yeah. Please don't excerpt this out of context. Hold on, let me see if I have anything else that is. Oh, I have something in the hardware thing, which is Jenny and I have increasingly realized as adults that we just don't know
Starting point is 00:56:12 anything. We don't know about plumbing. We don't know about... And we're... We don't understand heat. We don't understand plumbing. We don't understand electric. And I feel like at this point,
Starting point is 00:56:28 we're currently looking for a throuple. We're going to technical colleges. Is there anybody who could complete? We're looking to fill some holes in the lineup. It's like we both realized we need a husband. We do. No, we need a husband. We do. No, we need a husband. We both realized.
Starting point is 00:56:48 We recently realized that we need a husband. We need a husband. That's very funny. I like that a lot. That's a really good tag. We need a husband. Yeah. That's what it is.
Starting point is 00:56:57 It's like. Yeah. Oh, my gosh. Do you ever have a realization? Do you ever see yourself from your wife's eyes and go like oh she got a doozy yeah oh my god like yeah especially when it comes to certain things like that where it's like you know stuff would happen when i was a kid and my dad just like pulls out the toolbox oh your dad was good yeah there was one time something was going on i didn't even know
Starting point is 00:57:23 what could be done but i was all right, maybe if there's a toolbox in front of me, I'm going to improvise something. Right. Because I have that kind of belief in myself. Like, I don't know what's going on. Oh, I get that. Just put the tools in front of me. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:57:35 Maybe I'll make something happen. But then I had to ask my wife where the toolbox was. Yeah, yeah. Because I don't know. She knows. She uses it. I don't. She's really uses it i don't she's like really handy her dad is an engineer oh so it's like she yeah i i was really embarrassed i
Starting point is 00:57:51 was like where's the tools and then she was like what do you i could see it in her eyes she was like what are you even gonna do with them it was like why are you asking to like the same dilemma just like learn about the house and where things are because like you're not going to use them. Our wives both need a husband. They need a husband. Yeah. We should get a guy for both of us. We live close enough to each other. Oh yeah, that's a great idea.
Starting point is 00:58:15 Let's see. No, I'm literally like thinking like, that's really smart. Just have a dude. Just have a dude. The final thing we do is working it out for a cause. And if there's a nonprofit you think is doing a good job, I'll contribute to them.
Starting point is 00:58:37 We'll link to them in the show notes. Oh, amazing. I did a charity show with the, they're called the Karam Foundation, and are giving like the best on the ground aid for everyone in Turkey and in Syria that were affected by the floods and the earthquakes. That's great. Which to me is just like,
Starting point is 00:58:57 it's like a climate charity in the sense that it's, you know, they're so affected by what's been going on there. Okay. So yeah, they're doing some shows with them. Karamfoundation.org. K-A-R-A-Mfoundation.org. We'll contribute to them.
Starting point is 00:59:13 We'll link to them in the show notes. We'll encourage others to contribute as well. Rami, thanks for coming on the show. You're the best. So fun doing it in person, man. The best. All right. This is my first handshake across the table.
Starting point is 00:59:24 Yeah, I think so. Because it felt like you were going for it at first. No, I don't know. That's how I felt compelled to touch you. But I've never had that. This is nice. This isn't even really a handshake. Your hand is so much bigger than mine, actually. It's really weird. No, it's okay. I'm used to it.
Starting point is 00:59:39 What I'll say is this. You are, when I think of you, when I think of you, this is ridiculous. When I think of you, it makes me feel warm because I think that you're funny in your bones and you're funny in a way that is like, it just makes me happy. Now we're bone to bone right here. Now we're bone to bone. I'm touching your knuckle right here.
Starting point is 01:00:03 Yeah, I like it. Come on. Come on. I'm right here. Yeah, I like that. This is, come on. Come on. That's going to do it for another episode of Working It Out. Always love talking to Rami Youssef. Again, you can follow him on Instagram at Rami, R-A-M-Y. And you can get the full video of this interview on my YouTube page,
Starting point is 01:00:30 which is at Mike Birbiglia. Check that out and subscribe because we're going to be posting more and more videos of these episodes. Don't miss that. Join my mailing list at birbiglia.com. Our producers of Working It Out are myself, along with Peter Salamone and Joseph Birbiglia,
Starting point is 01:00:44 associate producer Mabel Lewis, consulting producer Seth Barish, assistant producer Gary Simons, sound mix by Ben Cruz, supervising engineer Kate Balinski. Special thanks to Marissa Hurwitz and Josh Upfall, as well as David Raphael and Nina Quick. As always, my consigliere
Starting point is 01:01:00 Mike Berkowitz and Jack Antonoff and Bleachers for their music. Special thanks to my wife, the poet J-Hope Stein. Special thanks as always to my daughter, Una, who built the original radio fort made of pillows. Thanks most of all to you who are listening. If you enjoy the show, please rate it and review it on Apple Podcasts. It helps us so much.
Starting point is 01:01:21 It helps us reach other people who don't know about the show. We have so many people who say, I didn't even know you had a podcast. I've listened, I've watched all your specials, I've listened to your albums, and even though you had a podcast. So here it is. Tell your friends, tell your enemies, maybe you run into your enemy at a Home Depot. Maybe you're picking up some tools for your significant other to fix something around the house and you run into your enemy and you say, hey, while you're looking at those wrenches, maybe consider this podcast that I enjoy called Working It Out.
Starting point is 01:01:51 And then they'll like it. And then maybe you'll both enjoy one of those hot dogs they have outside the Home Depot where they sell the hot dogs. Anyway, thanks for being here. I'll see you next time.

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