About this episode

Mike Birbiglia talks with comedian Joe List about comedy, parenting, and overcoming panic attacks.

This week Mike welcomes to the podcast comedian, and fellow Massachusetts native, Joe List. Joe talks about what it’s like to be married to and raise a chid with another working comedian, Sarah Tollemache, and Joe tells a story about how he worked through a panic attack moments before doing stand-up on Conan. Mike and Joe also discuss Joe’s documentary feature that he directed about a comic who dropped out of traditional show business to run a comedy club in Key West, Florida. Plus, they work out new jokes about the military history of M&Ms, strange childhood memories, and the worst thing you could say to a child.

People in this episode

Host: Mike Birbiglia

Guest: Joe List

Topics covered

• comedy
• panic attack
• parenting
• documentary
• stand-up
• military history
• childhood memories

Keywords

• comedy
• panic attack
• Joe List
• documentary
• stand-up
• parenting
• M&Ms
• childhood memories

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Conan

Places: Massachusetts, Key West, Florida

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• Chloe Troast and Mike Answer Your Questions About Improv and Sketch · August 10, 2026 · 38 min
• 220. Jo Firestone Returns: You Better Marry My 40-Year-Old Daughter · August 3, 2026 · 57 min
• John Mulaney: He's Funny and Here's Why · July 27, 2026 · 1h 9m

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