Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen : Comic Al Madrigal Is The Pride Of His People. Jay Is The Pride Of Nobody.
SHOW NOTES
Comic/Writer/Actor/Podcast-Entrepreneur Al Madrigal talks to Jay about representing our culture in our work. We also chat about the dangers of a guest based podcast, the pleasures of morning golf vs lunch, how Neal Brennan’s podcast “Blocks” is better than Jay’s, ADD, Vyvanse, roadrage, comic on comic anger, leaving the parent’s staffing company business to be a comic, the reality of show business having no guarantees despite everything looking great, never buy a car until the show is being picked up, good work ethics, trying your best, mentors from school and comedy clubs, writing more, his comic book PRIMOS - connecting with comic book giant Axel Alonso and developing a diverse character, superhero for Jews, latinos has no representation on TV, The trouble getting latino ensembles on TV, writing every single day, fighting ICE, digging in, making peace with people who disagree, clubs vs cults, standing up now is when it counts, gardening, and the dangers of wearing a pilgrim outfit, murder and turkey throwing in his family’s past.
Bio:
Al Madrigal broke out of San Francisco’s vibrant comedy scene with a sharp wit and an even sharper sense of timing — talents that would take him from stand-up stages to television screens and writers’ rooms. Al Madrigal cut his teeth in San Francisco’s stand-up scene, drawing on his Mexican and Italian roots to shape a comedic voice that’s sharp, self-aware, and distinctly his own. Madrigal’s star began to rise when he won a Jury Award for Best Stand-Up Comedian at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, leading to multiple appearances on The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Conan O’Brien. In 2011, he began a five-season stint on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as the “Senior Latino Correspondent,” a role he recently revisited following the inauguration of Donald Trump in January 2025. His first one-hour special, Why Is the Rabbit Crying?, premiered on Comedy Central in 2013 and was named one of the top 10 comedy specials of the year by Westword and The Village Voice. His follow-up, Shrimpin’ Ain’t Easy, released two years after his award-winning 2015 docu-comedy Half Like Me, was recognized in Decider and Vulture’s Top 10 Lists. Rolling Stone Magazine praised him in an article titled “The Best Stand-up TV Right Now,” saying, “The Daily Show alum spins comedy gold.” As an actor, Madrigal boasts a diverse IMDb page, with roles in Lopez vs. Lopez, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Bob’s Burgers, St. Denis Medical, Single Parents, About a Boy, Lucifer, Rutherford Falls, and feature films such as Air and The Way Back with Ben Affleck, and Night School alongside Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish. Madrigal has lent his voice to a range of television projects including Jim Carrey’s I’m Dying Up Here and Broke with Jaime Camil. He is also developing an extensive slate of TV projects under his current deal at CBS Studios. But his writing isn’t limited to just TV. In 2022, Al teamed up with AWA and former Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso to publish his Mexican and Mayan-influenced comic book, Primos. Behind the camera, Madrigal has executive-produced stand-up specials for Demetri Martin, Ronny Chieng, Neal Brennan, Shane Gillis, Whitney Cummings, Mae Martin, and Bill Burr, his partner in the number one-rated comedy podcast network, All Things Comedy. He was appointed to the board of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers where he provides industry access and helps amplify underrepresented voices to champion stories rooted in cultural authenticity.
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Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen
Don’t Be Alone with Jay Kogen is a comedy/advice podcast trying to fight the isolation of modern life. Each episode, Award winning TV writer/comedian/philosopher Jay Kogen has a conversation with a friend about how to solve the problems on Jay’s mind. These friends happen to be famous comics, musicians, actors, artists, writers, and sometimes even his family. It’s an entertaining, fun, and thoughtful show meant to bond us through humor, experience, and empathy.From Straw Hut Media











