This podcast episode features a candid and wide-ranging conversation between comedians Rick Glassman and Nikki Glaser, exploring themes of professional life, personal insecurities, and the nuances of comedy. A recurring topic is Glaser's upcoming tour, with Glassman playfully negotiating for a longer opening slot, leading to a broader discussion on the dynamics of headliners and feature acts in the comedy world. The conversation delves into personal vulnerabilities, including Glaser's reframing of aging as being "more alive," her struggles with career envy, and her philosophy of non-judgment. This segues into a discussion on the seven deadly sins and a linguistic debate over the definitions of "jealousy" and "envy." They also analyze the art of performance, emphasizing the importance of appearing comfortable on stage, which is illustrated through anecdotes about comedy club etiquette, contrasting the professionalism of Bill Burr with the inconsiderate behavior of another comedian, and a story from Glassman about a misunderstood bit involving Dave Attell. The episode also touches on the evolution of their own professional relationship, societal pressures on female comedians, career-defining moments, and a spontaneous phone call to Glassman's Uncle Bob.
A Comedian's Conversation: Navigating Careers, Insecurities, and the Craft of Comedy
0:01:04 Tour Negotiation: Glaser discusses her upcoming tour and her desire to sell out the Chicago Theater, leading to a recurring negotiation with Glassman about him opening for her and the appropriate length for a feature act's set.
0:05:45 "We're Not Old, We're Alive": Glaser shares a perspective shift from a friend, reframing aging as being "more alive" as a way to combat negative self-talk about getting older.
0:07:02 Headliner vs. Feature Act: The hosts discuss the roles of headliners and feature acts. Glaser compares being a feature act to being a fun uncle who gets to enjoy the best parts without the full responsibility.
0:12:00 Jealousy vs. Envy: A debate ensues over the definitions of jealousy (the fear of losing something you have) and envy (wanting something someone else has), with Glaser admitting she struggles more with envy.
0:14:33 The Seven Deadly Sins: Glaser points out that Envy is the "only sin that's no fun," while sins like lust, gluttony, and wrath offer some form of pleasure or power, making envy uniquely punishing.
0:16:35 Combating Career Envy: Glaser reveals her personal strategy to combat career envy: whenever she sees a clip from another comedian that makes her feel envious, she forces herself to share it on her social media and praise it.
0:38:44 The Importance of Comfort on Stage: They analyze the art of performance, concluding that an artist appearing comfortable is crucial for the audience. Glaser cites Dave Chappelle as a master of this, being "more comfortable up there than I am in bed."
0:50:07 Comedy Club Etiquette: Glaser contrasts the professionalism of Bill Burr, who politely asked to go on stage before her, with another unnamed comedian who went 11 minutes over their allotted time without apology.
0:59:13 A Misunderstood Bit with Dave Attell: Glassman shares a story about a joke he made to Dave Attell about not letting him perform first, which was taken seriously by the show's host. This leads to a reflection on how bits can be misread and the importance of considering others' perspectives.
1:11:42 First Impressions: Glaser candidly admits that when she first met Glassman years ago, she found him intensely irritating because she didn't understand his deadpan, bit-heavy comedic style and felt he couldn't read her social cues.
1:25:22 Women in Comedy: They theorize that women are perceived as "less funny" due to nurture, not nature, as girls are often socially conditioned to be "ladylike" and are discouraged from the messy, disruptive, and scatological humor that boys often use to develop their comedic senses.
1:51:15 A Call to Uncle Bob: Glassman makes a spontaneous call to his Uncle Bob, a big Howard Stern and Nikki Glaser fan, leading to a lighthearted conversation about the Howard Stern show.
2:02:22 A Career-Defining Moment: Glaser recounts her first Tonight Show appearance, a last-minute opportunity where she had to re-learn her set in the car ride over. Despite the high stakes, she reveals the appearance didn't immediately change her career, and she had to move back home to St. Louis afterward.