Funny You Should Mention
Funny You Should Mention
Podcast Description
Sure, stand-up comedy makes us laugh, but that’s not its only purpose. Comics use the stage to make arguments and express bigger picture world-views, getting people to laugh in the process of making deeper points. In Funny You Should Mention, a new comedy series from Mike Pesca and The Comedy Cellar, Mike spends an hour with each comic, seeking to identify a broader thesis, and pressing comics to put a finer point on their arguments. Funny comes first, but it’s ideas that are explored on Funny You Should Mention.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The show explores themes of comedy as a vehicle for social commentary, with episodes focusing on critical issues like criminal justice, race relations, and personal anecdotes. For instance, Roy Wood Jr. discusses police responsibility, while Django Gold reflects on societal norms through humor. The series emphasizes the blend of entertainment with deeper societal observations, challenging audiences to reconsider their views.

Sure, stand-up comedy makes us laugh, but that’s not its only purpose. Comics use the stage to make arguments and express bigger picture world-views, getting people to laugh in the process of making deeper points. In Funny You Should Mention, a new comedy series from Mike Pesca and The Comedy Cellar, Mike spends an hour with each comic, seeking to identify a broader thesis, and pressing comics to put a finer point on their arguments. Funny comes first, but it’s ideas that are explored on Funny You Should Mention.
Today on The Gist, A jet-lagged yet very gracious comedian and writer Jena Friedman joins the show to discuss her new stand-up special, Motherfucker. She talks with Mike about why writing abortion jokes is harder than ever in a post-Roe reality, the challenges of making dark topics funny on her true crime series Indefensible, and the current landscape of risky political comedy. Jena also opens up about the vulnerability of tackling grief on stage after losing her mother while eight months pregnant.
Produced by Corey Wara
Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig
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