logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2016
38m 11s

Episode #1: Peter Sagal Opens Up

American Public Media
About this episode

The longtime host of NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me has battled depression for much of his life but has never gone public with that struggle until now. Sagal recently went through what was for him a very painful and very messy divorce. He shares how he’s been able to move on and host a weekly comedy program even as his life was falling apart. Some of the methods: keeping very busy and listening to Amy Poehler. We also hear from Peter Sagal’s friend, the neuroscientist Daniel Levitin, on what helps and hurts a depressed person’s brain in times of crisis.

Up next
Aug 2021
Introducing Depresh Mode with John Moe: Joel Kim Booster Is In A Pit
It's tempting to try to look for a reason why Joel Kim Booster, ordinarily a very funny and engaging person, feels dead inside, trapped in a persistent depressive state. His father recently died of COVID. The two hadn't been very close (Joel's dad was a conservative Christian, Jo ... Show More
51m 41s
May 2020
Movies That Get Depression Right
It’s easy for movies to get depression wrong, portraying a clinical disorder as equivalent to just being bummed out and, in the case of romantic comedies, curable with a magical kiss. People with actual depression know better and appreciate films that show the truth. In this epis ... Show More
45m 18s
May 2020
Steven Page Camouflages Songs About Depression
As co-founder and co-frontman for the band Barenaked Ladies, Steven Page belted out a lot of up-tempo pop hits. But if you look at the lyrics to songs like "One Week" or "Pinch Me," you can see a lot of darkness and that's an approach that has continued with his solo work. We hea ... Show More
45m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2020
Episode 1129 - Jerry Seinfeld
WTF started as a comedy podcast. It’s a show made by a comedian who wanted to talk to other comedians about comedy. Finally, after more than 10 years, Marc talks with the most well-known, most successful, and arguably most influential comedian in history, Jerry Seinfeld. About co ... Show More
1h 22m
Jul 2021
Sam Morrill: The Joker & Taylor Swift Of Comedy
The hysterical Sam Morrill enters hell and goes in depth to explain his role on "The Joker", his reality tv stint on "America's Got Talent" and how he recorded a comedy special during a global pandemic on rooftops. He is one of the best joke writers in the biz and in spite of soc ... Show More
50m 59s
Apr 2024
Matt Rife: Seems nobody but Netflix is excited about his new specials and sitcom
Matt Rife's Netflix Ventures and Controversies Kyle Kinane's Special: A Deep Dive Brian Regan's Evolution in Comedy Brad Williams Mainstream Success Melbourne Comedy Festival Highlights  Daniel Sloss on Comedy Across Cultures   This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give o ... Show More
11m 31s
Jan 2023
David Spade
Actor, comedian, and SNL alum David Spade joins Kevin Hart on this week’s episode of Comedy Gold Minds. The two talk about Spade’s start in comedy in Scottsdale, Arizona, working on Saturday Night Live at the same time as Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Chris Farley, and other comedic ... Show More
55m 35s
Sep 2021
Benedict Polizzi: Sleep Paralysis Demons & Scalp Surgery
I met Ben at a comedy club in Indianapolis and he looks like he was the captain of a football team but has the personality of the class clown who was always kicked out for giggling too much. His comedy videos go viral all over the internet. He makes fun of pumpkin spice, guys who ... Show More
1h 1m
Feb 2024
Shane Gillis hosts SNL - breakdown, analysis, clips and why most of the media hot takes are WRONG
Johnny Mac dives into a daily round-up of comedy news. The episode features a humorous tweet by Kermit Apios, a review of the past weekend's Saturday Night Live (SNL) hosted by Shane Gillis, and commentary about SNL's Trump sneakers sketch. Johnny also discusses controversial mom ... Show More
17m 28s
Sep 2021
Stress Relief, Pt 2
This week we finish breaking down “Stress Relief”. In a continued effort to relieve the office’s stress, Michael demands a comedic roast of himself; meanwhile Pam, Jim and Andy finish watching the very saucy film, “Mrs. Albert Hannaday”, starring Jack Black, Cloris Leachman and J ... Show More
57m 35s
Jun 2024
Talking Comedy with Joel Kim Booster and Marlon Wayans | Guest Spotlight
Ronny Chieng sits with Emmy-nominated comedian, Joel Kim Booster, to discuss the new Netflix documentary, "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution," and the lasting impact queer comedy has made on culture. And Marlon Wayans returns to The Daily Show to chat with Ronny about his new come ... Show More
19m 46s