How To Be Amazing With Michael Ian Black

Naomi Klein is an award-winning journalist, syndicated columnist and author of the international bestsellers, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies, and her latest This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs the Climate.  Her ability to tackle and make understandable big subjects like global warming and unfettered capitalism have made her hugely popular and even offer us a ray of hope in the face of a seemingly dire future.

After years of covering wars oversee, it was reading the news on Good Morning America that nearly did in newsman Dan Harris after he suffered a major panic attack live on air.  His nationally televised wake-up call forced him to stop self-medicating with recreational drugs and start a search for serenity.  His incredible journey navigating the self-help world and ultimately finding his key to peace, is a refreshing and convincing story for anyone who has issues embracing the spiritual scene but wouldn’t mind exploring how to be happier.

Baratunde Thurston grew up in a poor, drug plagued neighborhood in D.C. then spent years in the elite private school Sidwell Friends before being accepted at Harvard. Having straddled these two worlds, Thurston was perfectly positioned to write THE book on race in America which became the New York Times bestseller How To Be Black.  His funny, charming, accessible personality makes him a highly sought-after public speaker and thought leader. He’s now head of digital content on The Daily Show With Trevor Noah.

When Felicia Day moved to Hollywood after being a musical and math prodigy in college, she expected that being an actress would be as easy.  She was not used to failing.  But until she figured out that she had to carve her own career by writing and starring in the hit web series, “The Guild” which used her love of gaming as the basis, success eluded her.  Now with the publication of her memoir, “You’re Never Weird On The Internet,” Day walks Michael through how she made her own success on her terms, and what happens when you get what you want.

In Part 2 of Michael’s interview with David Sedaris, they talk about growing up Sedaris and how his relationship with his father motivated him to be the writer he is today.

Beloved author David Sedaris became a household name in his mid-thirties when he performed his iconic holiday story “SantaLand Diaries” on public radio. 20 years later he is now a bestselling author who tours the world routinely selling out venues full of loyal fans,  In Part 1 of his interview, Michael talks to David about how he crafts his stories and how his career as a writer and performer became so successful.  

In his early 20’s Alexis Ohanian and his partner Steve Huffman started the popular social media site Reddit.com which made him a millionaire after they sold the site to Condé Nast in 2006.  Ohanian has gone on to be a internet entrepreneur, activist and investor.  He’s got a unique and engaging perspective on creativity and technology that is both accessible and fascinating. 

In the late 80’s and 90’s Bobcat Goldthwait was one of the biggest comedians in the US.  His trademark voice and sharp black comedy led him to financial success in Hollywood films and videos, but he was miserable.  At the height of his so-called success, Goldthwait chucked it all and decide to focus on writing, directing, and most of all, being happy.

Ingrid Michaelson is the best-selling recording artist of such hits as “Girls Chase Boys” and “The Way I Am.”  While her voice certainly qualifies her as amazing, it’s the path she chose to follow as a recording artist that is so interesting.  Michaelson bypassed the established labels so that she could release her music on her own and found success as a recording artist on her own terms.

In this episode, Michael chats with A.D. Miles about his journey from prop stylist to his current job as head writer for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.  The Wet, Hot American Summer co-stars discuss everything from being booed off the stage, to meeting Lorne Michaels and the behind-the-scenes of working on one of the most successful television franchises in history.

Superstar chef Tom Colicchio went from flipping grilled cheese in his bare feet at a concession stand to overseeing a restaurant empire.  When he’s not busy in his own kitchens he can be found judging the hit Bravos show, Top Chef, working to fund food banks and testifying before Congress on behalf of the 50 million Americans struggling with hunger.

King of the nerds, Chris Hardwick, sits down with Michael to discuss how he figured it all out.  The talk show host and CEO of Nerdist Industries got his start on the MTV game show Singled Out. After several years of abusing alcohol and not being able to pay his rent, Chris quit booze, stopped acting and decided to make a world out of the things he’s passionate about which organically led to a build-it-and-they-will-come multi million-dollar business.

After barely paying her rent for years trying to make it as an actress, Megan Mullally hit the big time playing the wealthy, alcoholic socialite Karen Walker on the Emmy Award winning TV sitcom Will & Grace.  Her funny, warm and thoughtful take on fame is nothing less than inspirational.

In this episode, Michael talks with Nate Silver, the founder and editor-in-chief of FiveThirtyEight.com, who is a statistical celebrity.  His take on data is not only accessible and fascinating to those of us who flunked algebra, but it’s correct and has garnered him a huge following and a shout out from President Obama.

In this episode, Michael hears about the fascinating life of Frank Rich whose career includes stints as the Chief Theater Critic for The New York Times, then moving departments to become their Op-Ed columnist and now being the Executive Producer of one of the best shows on TV, Veep with Julia Louis-Dreyfus.  

Award-winning filmmaker, writer and multimedia artist, Miranda July seems to have dreams of conquering the world. Unlike most of us, she has wicked follow-through that demands the world’s attention in the best way.  Her unusual childhood has left her with a unique, and very funny, outlook on the world.

In this episode, Michael takes listeners into the world of the theoretical physicist and string theorist, Brian Greene, who has the unusual gift for not only understanding some of the world’s most difficult mathematical equations, but being able to explain them and make them fascinating to the rest of the population.

Operatic tenor, Carl Tanner, spent years hiding from his voice, first as a truck driver and then a bounty hunter until he finally decided to put the guns down and pursue his incredible talent.  Today he sings on the biggest opera stages in the world.  His fascinating story is not to be missed.

Michael sits down with his friend and fellow comedian, Amy Schumer to discuss her years trying to make it in stand-up, how she made her hit Comedy Central show Inside Amy Schumer, and her upcoming film with Judd Apatow, Trainwreck.

Michael takes us into the world of the fascinating, profane, indie movie director, Kevin Smith, who helped change the world of movie-making with his first film, Clerks.  For anyone who has had a dream and failed.  And failed again.  And again, this guy will make you want to get up and keep trying.