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PODCAST

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen

Straw Hut Media

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

comedy comedy interviews

All Episodes

48:30

Writer Mike Rowe Says Jay Should Have Been Run Out Of...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/10/21

Mike Rowe talks about not being the “dirty jobs” Mike Rowe, planning for the future, being funny in high school, becoming an electrical engineer and giving it up for comedy, performing in NY comedy clubs, Alan Zweibel moving him to LA, roasts, jokes, his book “It’s a Funny Thing”, Rodney Dangerfield giving him hope, comedy cliques, and why he’s moving to Connecticut. Bio: Michael Rowe is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer who has worked on many highly regarded comedy and animated shows on

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52:25

Friends Helen Hunt & Helen Slater Tell Jay Why He’s...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/10/14

Actor/Director Helen Hunt & Actor singer/songwriter psych/mythology PHD phd Helen Slater discuss a deep friendship and love, growing up in art, the beginning of their friendship on a trip to russia, Winnie The Pooh,, growing beyond your first dream, parenting, parenting artists, Helen H. introducing Helen S. to her husband, improv, acting styles, baseball, French Fries, & clown school.Bio: Helen Hunt has enjoyed a distinguished career not only as an award-winning actor, but as an

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48:17

Actor Gary Anthony Williams Can Get Alone With Anyone...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/10/07

Gary Anthony Williams talks about his remarkable ability to fit in when he wants to, how growing up poor in Georgia gave him optimism for everything else, how he got skinny, the connection between skinning rabbits and vegetarianism, how he’s uncomfortable at a party yet makes strangers comfortable at coffee shops, falling into acting through computer error, how nerds are his people, and how it’s still shocking he makes a living acting and being funny. Bio: Gary Anthony Williams' film credits include

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47:45

Ken Marino: Being Present Works For Everyone Except Jay

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/09/30

Actor/writer Ken Marino talks about The State, how cases of booze made him popular at college, the best way to be present when you are acting, opening your heart to others just for the fun of it, parenting, how Catholic Camp made him an actor, The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, Role Models, the joy of singing in your car, and Voo Doo Donuts!Bio: Kenneth "Ken" Joseph Marino is an American actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter known for his work in sketch comedy and a wide range of television

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49:49

”Wicked” Scribe Winnie Holzman Attributes Her Success...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/09/23

The amazing writer Winnie Holzman talks with Jay about hard word and being lucky, Wicked the Musical, Stephen Schwartz, My So Called Life, laying in bed depressed about writing, fighting your fear, tricks of staying in the creative process, Marianne Williamson, studying Broadways musicals even when she didn’t know she wanted to, being driven towards showbiz at 13, taking the train to acting classes, mentors: Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim, loving acting, being married to the great actor, Paul

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53:55

Political Guru, Mike Murphy, Says The People Have...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/09/16

“Hacks on Taps” political guru, Mike Murphy, talks about growing up in Detroit, studying ads, becoming a political consultant by being the only one to raise his hand, starting political pacs, being on the outs with the current Republican party, what the Dems should do to win a bigger percentage of the vote, how buying an EV can really help America, being a Republican in Blue Los Angeles, and secret Republicans in Hollywood whispering that they were conservative! Bio: Mike Murphy is one of the

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29:37

BONUS EPISODE! Writer Rob Kutner Encourages Jay To Be...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/09/11

Writer Rob Kutner talks about being anti-anti-semitic, “The God Gang” cartoon, beards, and a lot of other “Jew talk.” Bio:Rob Kutner is an Emmy-winning writer for TV (The Daily Show, CONAN, Teen Titans Go!) and books (Apocalypse How, Snot Goblins & Other Tasteless Tales, Look Out for the Little Guy), and the head writer of the independent kids’ animated series God’s Gang. For more info, and to “join the gang,” go to www.godsgang.com. For more Rob info, go to www.robkutner.com. For a good time,

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48:09

Writer/Showrunner Peter Murrieta Explains Jay Needs...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/09/09

Writer Peter Murrieta talks about how teachers pushed him to a better life, riding in the car with his grandparents, baseball, creating TV, college training him to be a showman, being a rare latino at Second City, Danny Trejo, collecting baseball cards, loving writing, and becoming a teacher to give back. Bio: Peter Murrieta is a two-time Emmy Award winning producer and writer who has contributed his voice to multiple projects that have expanded and further legitimized the entertainment value of

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49:49

Simpsons Showrunner Mike Scully Confirms Jay Will...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/09/02

Writer/Producer Mike Scully talks about being new in a writer’s room, Yakav Smirnoff, how he learned empathy from a non empathetic childhood, being a boss, taking over The Simpsons, how 5 daughters run his life, writing with his wife Julie, writing with his brother Brian, doing stand-up, Amy Pohler, Parks & Rec, how Jay ruined Bruce Sprinsteen being on The Simpsons, NRBQ, being a Masshole, getting fired, owing a lot to his mom, writing jokes for the Golden Globes, the WGA, and how Scully costs

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55:33

Joely & Tricia Leigh Fisher Remind Jay His Childhood...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/08/26

Joely and Tricia Leigh Fisher talk about being the kids of stars, Connie Stevens and Eddie Fisher—the allure of show business, putting on shows in their living room, and deciding at a young age to make performing their career. They share stories of being on the road with their mom, the good and bad lessons they learned, going to Beverly Hills High School while living alone across the street, and what it means to inherit both talent and addictive behaviors. They also open up about being moms,

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55:34

Amy Brenneman Talks About “Normal” and How Jay Isn’t It.

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/08/19

Actress/writer/activist Amy Benneman talks about creating a TV show, writing plays, the pleasure of performing in front of people. Her kick-ass judge-pioneer mother, lawyer activist dad and how they started her on a journey of trying to fix the world, expectations of what the world thinks is normal and how it messes up the rest of us, parenthood and raising a neurodivergent child and how she taught Amy to accept and embrace who she is and she talks, about how Jeff Bridges can seduce you without ever

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49:14

For Writer Felipe Torres Medina USA Has Been An...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/08/12

Felipe talks about his new book, coming to the USA under an EXTRAORDINARY ARTIST visa, writing for Colbert, growing up in Columbia, the beauty of curious Americans, the danger of being too comfortable, and losing emmy awards to his wife.Bio: Felipe Torres Medina is a Peabody and Writers Guild of America Award–winning writer from Bogotá, Colombia. His writing for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has earned him five Emmy nominations. His humor has appeared in The New Yorker, McSweeney’s, and others

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52:57

Jay’s Dad, Arnie Kogen, Talks About How Having Kids...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/08/05

Writing Legend, Arnie Kogen, talks with Jay and Jay’s son, Charlie, about his childhood, career, and what it’s like to be 91. Three generations of Kogens in one pod! Bio: ARNIE KOGENComedy Writer/ TV ProducerHas written and/or produced for the Carol Burnett Show, The Tonight Show, Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, Empty Nest, Mad TV, The Dean Martin Show, Sinbad, Donnie & Marie, The Jackson Five, Evening At The Improv, The Bob Newhart Show, Tim Conway, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Candid Camera, Love,

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30:27

BONUS EPISODE! Writer Turned Therapist, Phil Stark,...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/08/01

Phil Stark talks about writing and learning it wasn’t really his dream, telling patients to find their bliss, deciding joy wasn’t in the writers room, writing “Dog With A Blog”, treating writers who are panicking about work, writer’s block, and where’s the best Tex Mex in Houston. Bio: Screenwriter (Dude, Where’s My Car?) turned therapist (Dude, Where’s My Car-tharsis?) Phil Stark sees clients virtually from all over the state of California. He also writes about mental health and personal growth

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47:02

Writer/Legend Carl Gottlieb Always Makes The Scene,...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/07/29

Writer of “Jaws" & "The Jerk" Carl Gottlieb talks about working with Spielberg, Steve Martin, Carl Reiner, David Crosby, Joan Baez, improv group The Committee, performing comedy in the army, how the Smothers Brothers Show was the hippest most popular show at the time and somehow also cancelled. Bio: Carl Gottlieb is a screenwriter (Jaws, The Jerk), director (Caveman), & actor (Mash). His book, THE JAWS LOG, remains the most popular book about the making of a motion picture ever written. He

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50:00

Will Forte Says, “Everyone Follow Your Dream” But...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/07/21

Will Forte talks about almost being a financial advisor, his checkered writing career, SNL MacGruber, Nebraska, The Groundlings, Last Man on Earth, having kids late, seeing shrinks, frats, & Val Kilmner being the weirdest roommate of all time.Bio: Will Forte is a comedian, actor, writer, and improviser best known for his work on Saturday Night Live and his starring role in The Last Man on Earth. Born in Alameda County, California, Forte studied History at UCLA before briefly working as a

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48:48

James L. Brooks Explains Why Jay’s Such A Disappointment

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/07/15

This week, James L Brooks talked about The Simpsons, Mary Tyler Moore ,Terms of Endearment, having a million lunches to cast parts, his difficult beginnings and how the fear of survival and women's shoes drove him to his success. We also talk about what an amazing mentor he is, incredible writer, the worst notes he's ever gotten from a network, and now he likes to have drool days.Bio:James L. Brooks is a three-time Academy Award®-winner and eighteen-time Emmy® Award-winner. He began his television

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46:24

Writer/Comic/Activist Steve Skrovan Explores How Jay...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/07/08

Writer/Activist Steve Skovan talks about his work with Ralph Nader, his substack “Bits and Pieces”, his dad being a comic inspiration, the trouble with politics, Public Citizen a progressive consumer rights group, starting as a stand-up, and how a football coach changed his life without molesting him.Bio: Steve Skrovan has worked as a stand-up comedian, actor, and TV comedy writer since the early eighties. He has written for many shows, most notably, Seinfeld, Hot in Cleveland, Til Death, Wendell

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54:12

Comedy Legend Thomas Lennon Explains Why Jay Is Lazy

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/07/01

Tom Lennon tells us he's not working that hard on the unbelievably large number of projects he never stops working on. From writing movies (including a “HALL OF PRESIDENTS” SciFi comedy) to acting in 100s of shows to playing in a Smiths tribute band Thomas Lennon doesn’t stop. And don't try to stop him. Bio: Thomas Lennon is an actor, producer and New York Times Best Selling author from Oak Park, Illinois. He attended the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, where he was a member of the

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49:28

Film Makers Byron Manuel & Justin Graves Say Jay’s...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/06/24

Film-Makers Justin Graves and Byron Manuel talk about what it takes to make movies in 2025 being young, talented, and black. They talk about finding the dream of movies and giving up the dreams of music and sport. They talk about doing what it takes on a budget, fundraising, festivals, developing a ton of projects, and getting their movie “Swoon” on Tubi. They also talk about being able to handle the gut punches that the business offers and keeping your spirits high. Bio: Justin Antuan Graves was

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89 results

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