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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

54:19

Rebel Comedy Writer/Director Larry Charles Chats...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/12/09

Larry discusses his brilliant autobiography Comedy Samurai, becoming a writer, Friday's, arsenio, seinfeld, mad about you, borat, curb your enthusiasm, and all of the strife and feeds, and turmoil they and he created. We talk about the passion that drives you to take risks. And why wearing pajamas is dangerous.Bio: Larry Charles, rose from the mean streets of Brooklyn and the working class housing projects of Donald Trump’s nefarious father Fred, to become the director of BORAT, BRUNO, THE DICTATOR

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49:16

Universally Loved Actor/Writer Michael Hitchcock,...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/12/02

The always in demand, Michael Hitchcock, talks about how children's theater led to adult theater which led to a career of acting and writing with the groundlings, mad tv, christopher guest, crazy ex girlfriend, currently the lowdown and nobody wants this. We chat about writing vs acting and what it takes to realize where you should be. Bio: Actor, writer, producer (and when he was a teenager, semi-professional magician), Michael currently appears as Ethan Hawke’s frenemy “Ray” in the critically

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49:52

TV Legend Dave Thomas Talks About A Life of Creating...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/11/25

SCTV’s Dave Thomas talks about making bold life choices, growing up in Canada, Shakespeare saving his ass, choosing between big money success as an ad man or being a broke improviser at Second City, becoming head writer on SCTV, Martin Short, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Joe Flaherty, Andrea Martin, Grace Under Fire, running an animation studio, turning to dramas like Bones and The Black List, going to Ukraine, Thailand, Mad Magazine, The McKenzie Brothers,

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47:22

Comedy Legend Dave Foley Believes In Aliens More Than...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/11/18

Actor/Writer/Kid-In-The-Hall Dave Foley talks about what to do with the next 20-30 years of our lives, finding love, making comedy he’s proud of, aliens, conspiracy theorists, Canada, Trump, keeping friendship alive from two coasts, and the day he fell out of a train. Bio: Dave Foley rose to fame as “the cute” member of the revered sketch group, “Kids In The Hall”. He went on to star in “News Radio” and dozens of movies and TV shows, He’s also the co-writer and star of the cult darling movie, “The

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56:00

Kathy Griffin Tells Jay He’s Not Worth Gossiping About

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/11/11

Kathy talks about surviving Trump, the Groundlings, Stand-up, her parents who loved show biz, Sia, Joan Rivers, relationships, dating younger guys, saving every dime, and why she made Jay pay for their date. Bio: Two-time Emmy and Grammy award-winning comedian Kathy Griffin is a towering figure on television, on tour and in publishing. In 2013, Kathy was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for writing and starring in an unprecedented 20 televised stand-up specials - more than any

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28:57

BONUS EPISODE! Author/Director Rick Beren Says Jay...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/11/07

Rick and Jay talk about stupid mistakes, shoe money, James Burrows, Cheers, directing people, not getting the girl, and the moment you reveal your big secret and no one cares.Bio: Rick Beren grew up in the Sixties and Seventies in the very liberal Bay Area. Even then, he managed to push the boundaries of tolerance of his parents, teachers, and eventually, the law. Mostly minor indiscretions, and all (always) in the pursuit of fun, but it landed him in the Vacaville State prison for selling one

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57:00

Intellectual Influencer Douglas Rushkoff Says A New...

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/11/04

Douglas talks about trying his hand at theater and seeing how technology and society were changing so he became an expert in navigating the future instead. We talk about tech, social media, surviving the collapse of the old economy, how to fight the tech giants, and helping each other in smaller societies that use less crap will save us. We also talk to Mamie, Douglas’s daughter about what it's like to have a dad who knows stuff.Bio:Named one of the “world’s ten most influential intellectuals” by

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48:21

David Koechner Says Jay Is Too Old To Get Laughs

Don"t Be Alone with Jay Kogen ·

2025/10/28

Comedian David Koechner talks about growing up in a big family in a small Missouri town, and developing the need to be heard and seen by taking the attention, the importance of SNL and Monty Python. Deciding to be a performer. Making the move to Chicago, the influence of being Catholic, the fall of old show business, trying to carve out a career in the aftermath. Becoming a stand-up, how we don’t own our kids, improv vs drama, feuds, apologies, Adam McCay, Del Close, and the maturity to not spill a

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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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