Episode 99: Matt Ruby - Bullshit, Belief, Bits

About this episode

Comedian Matt Ruby discusses his journey in comedy, personal beliefs, and the New York comedy scene.

Matt Ruby is a comedian based in New York City. Instagram and all episodes (00:00) Leaving Chicago for New York (01:52) Keeping a tech job afloat (03:10) Why comedy first appealed (05:18) Comedy class and early confidence (07:24) Eating shit and learning fast (09:46) Letting go of rock star fantasies (12:38) Cheap East Village comedy changed everything (15:21) Truth-telling, hypocrisy, and point of view (18:07) Politics, gender, religion, and great jokes (20:14) Psychedelics and spiritual awakening (23:41) From atheism to metaphor and myth (28:06) Judaism, ancestors, and Torah study (32:11) Joseph Campbell and universal myths (35:01) Comedy as wisdom without pretension (37:46) New York comedy scene and getting better (42:18) Day jobs, Substack, and surviving financially (45:36) Favorite comedians and favorite venues (48:27) Technology, gender wars, and defining success

People in this episode

Guest: Matt Ruby

Topics covered

• comedy
• New York City
• personal growth
• spirituality
• Judaism
• politics

Keywords

• tech job
• comedy class
• psychedelics
• Joseph Campbell
• universal myths

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Torah

Places: New York City, Chicago, New York, East Village

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