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
Episodes
159 episodes
Larry Wilmore Tells Jay He’s Podcasting Wrong.
On this week’s episode the versatile writer, creator, actor, & comic Larry Wilmore talks about growing up in Pomona, CA and finding comedy and magic, hanging
Sklar Bros Defend Jay’s Moronic Love of Sports
Bio: Randy and Jason Sklar can currently be seen in the fourth season of FX’s WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS playing fictional Property Brothers ‘Bran and Toby
Conan O’Brien Explains That Jay Needs to Just Shut Up
Conan O’Brien and Jay discuss the neurotic need to constantly make jokes at the peril of personal relationships and true communication.
Weird Al Perfects His Craft While Jay Clearly Doesn't
Jay smothers Weird Al with love and appreciation for Al’s perfection in his parody.
Tony Shalhoub Declares Jay’s Too Shallow
Tony and Jay meet for the first time. We talk about the depth of his character, Primo, in “The Big Night” and why Jay can’t find that depth in real like.
Toby Huss Explains Why Jay Can’t Handle Adventure
Toby and Jay talked about art and trying to see art (and life) from unique perspectives. Jay calls Toby a weirdo.
Author Kliph Nesteroff Tells Jay He's Remembering His Life Wrong
Entertainment Journalist and all around funny guy Kliph Nesteroff talks about a Canadian kid who got into collecting stories of strange and eccentric show
David Wild’s 30 Year Party With Music’s Biggest Names & Why Jay’s Not Invited
David, fresh off of a weekend with Donny Osmond talks about a lifetime of celebrities.
Writer Eugene Garcia-Cross Explains Why Jay Isn’t Happy Enough
Eugene Garcia-Cross talks about growing up in Pennsylvania, losing his dad early, and becoming a literature professeur only to give it all up to be a Hollywood
Singer Nicole Atkins Tells Jay He’s Been Squandering His Creativity
Nicole talks about the difference between creation and nervous activity and how hard it is to distinguish between the two.
John Ross Bowie Explains Why He Can Meet His Heroes and Jay Can’t
We talk about how to pronounce Bowie, the love of Monty Python, Elvis Costello, growing up in New York, the Ramones.
Director Paul Feig Encourages Jay To Completely Remake Himself ASAP!
Paul and Jay discuss looking like losers and feeling like winners, and wearing clothes to match your goals and garner respect, being authentic, Mt.
Millennials Tell Jay Why The Youngs Will Never Love Him.
We talk about trying to stay positive in a down comedy market, how Jay did or didn’t fit in writing a pilot with much younger people, what started the desire
Writing Legend Rob Edwards Exhorts Jay To Avoid Showbiz Disaster
We discuss our friendship since 1985, teaching at USC, the graphic novel “Defiant” about slave Robert Smalls who stole a southern ship and gave it to the
Kevin Nealon Explains Why Jay’s Son Will Never Respect Jay
Comedian Kevin Nealon talks about being an older dad, and the butt of all jokes, bad impressions, secret to stand-up comedy, stumbling into SNL and making
Actress Suzy Nakamura Explains Why Jay’s A Hack
On this episode we talk about making art for artsake. Suzy convinces Jay to start a second career as an actor and demands I put myself in my own show.
Gary Gulman Explains Why Jay’s Latchkey Childhood Ruined Him
Comedian/Author Gary Gulman and Jay compare their latchkey childhoods with memories of being alone, watching endless TV and worrying about whether the real
Bryan Cranston Details Why His Life Is So Much Better Than Jay's
Bryan talks about commiting to craft and giving up on whether you get the gig.
Rizwan Manji tells Jay to not box himself in already!
Rizwan how he got from Calgary to Hollywood, how he stopped playing terrorists and started playing himself, how serious actors who have the knack for funny can
Comedy Legend Lew Schnieder Scolds Jay for Crossing The Comedy Line
Writer/comic Lew Schnieder and Jay talk about the jokes they aren’t allowed to tell and how important being “funny” is to them both.
Kevin Nealon Shames Jay for Not Being A True Artist
The talented Kevin Nealon comes in for a quick visit in between painting, writing, stand up, acting and being a renaissance man, while Jay… isn’t.
Stephen Root Tells Jay Why He’ll Never Fit In
Stephen Root is a genius actor who brought humanity to the character of the outsider.
Andy Richter Explains Why It’s Great Jay Has No Chance At Being Famous
Comedian/Actor Andy Richter shares stories of fame, fans, and family and being a regular guy in an irregular world.
Jamie Denbo tells Jay Why He’ll Never Get What He Wants
Funny Actress/Writer/Improviser Jamie Denbo talks about jumping in the water of acting and writing while also trying to have a decent relationship with your
Singer/Songwriter, Charlie Kogen, Explains Why Jay’s A Terrible Dad
Jay challenges his son, college senior, Charlie Kogen, to list the top 5 things Jay did wrong (and right) as a father.
Lisa Kudrow Explains Jay’s Marriage To Writer, Brown Kogen
Lisa Kudrow helped introduce Jay to his wife Brown Mandell, and now 27 year later they are all trying to make sense of it. Brown has issues with Jay.
Phil Rosenthal Tells Why Jay Doesn’t Deserve Good Things
The great writer/actor/food & travel show host, Phil Rosenthal talks Jay down from feeling bad about undeserved success.
Greg Grunberg Rescues Jay From The Loneliness of Modern Life
In one of our first recordings, Actor, writer, director, and all around mensh, Greg Grunberg helps Jay settle in on what podcasting is and how it might help
Richard Kind Explains Why He’s Allowed To Say Anything He Wants and Jay Isn’t
Character actor extraordinaire, Richard Kind, talks about having the authenticity and self confidence to speak his mind and get away with it.
Dave Foley Tells Jay About UFO’s, Friendship, Comedy and Other Mysteries
Comedy hero and one of Jay’s best friends helps Jay work though the deep mysteries of friendship, UFO’s, their failed hit movie “The Wrong Guy” and how to stay
Dana Gould Talks About Jay’s Newfound Irrelevance
Dana talks to Jay about the ego death of change. You think you’re something and then you’re not.
Actor Kevin Pollak Explains to Jay Why Irresponsible Gambling Makes Sense
The brilliant Kevin Pollak forgives Jay for being late, talks about poker, growing up in San Francisco, becoming Don Rickles’ buddy, the loss of Matthew Perry
Joshua Malina Shows Jay How Social Media Doesn’t Have to Ruin Your Life
Josh talks about acting, podcasting, being proudly Jewish without being sure about being Jewish and about not being afraid to tell his friends he loves them.
Wayne Federman Decides If Jay’s Too Old To Be Funny
Comic, author, producer, Wayne Federman discusses if there’s an expiration date to being funny.
Pete Holmes Explains How Jay Can Be Less Sh*tty
Jay is completely enthralled with the depth of comedian/writer/actor, Pete Holmes, talks about religion, philosophy, keeping your artistic standards high
Aimee Mann Explains How to Survive the Music Industry
Singer-songwriter Aimee Mann explains creativity, writing musicals, knowing how to pick a good writing partner and how Jay should weather the crumbling TV
Julia Sweeney Fights Jay’s Fear of Parties
The funny and fabulous Julia Sweeney helps Jay fight through the fear of people, work, life, aging and the crippling danger of improv groups.
Steven Weber Explains Show Business
Actor Steven Weber helps Jay negotiate the changes in the business.
Introducing Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen
Join Jay Kogen, former stand-up actor and award-winning comedy writer, as he shares his great stories from his decades in show business on his podcast, "Don't