Blocks: I Wish I Knew w/ Neal Brennan

By Neal Brennan

Comedian Neal Brennan interviews people about the things they wished they'd realized sooner in life.... more

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FAQs about Blocks: I Wish I Knew w/ Neal Brennan:

How many episodes does Blocks: I Wish I Knew w/ Neal Brennan have?

The podcast currently has 152 episodes available.

Best of Blocks: I Wish I Knew w/ Neal Brennan

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: Daniel Sloss
In this episode of Blocks, Neal Brennan sits down with Scottish comedian Daniel Sloss to dismantle the "blocks" that have shaped his life and career. From the massive social impact of his Netflix special Jigsaw—which Daniel claims has led to over 350,000 breakups and hundreds of signed divorce papers—to the heavy toll of relentless global touring, Daniel opens up with brutal honesty. The two discuss Daniel's struggle with weed addiction, the transition from needing constant stranger approval to finding self-worth as a father, and the hilarious, high-stakes story of how he ended up married to his ex-girlfriend’s younger sister. It's a deep dive into self-loathing, the "quiet brain" of his wife, and why being successful doesn't always mean being happy. ---------------------------------------------------------- 00:00 Jimmy Carr1:27 Jigsaw and the 350,000 breakups4:30 Marrying his ex-girlfriend’s sister13:24 Achieving success young & avoiding self-love 15:24 The emotional toll of the X tour 20:32 Weed addiction22:20 Career struggles30:09 Sponsor: Bonobos32:34 Sponsor: CookUnity34:47 Admitting self-hatred in therapy39:39 Finding happiness in family & standup 42:01 The high-functioning stoner cycle 49:53 Bitter and Successful51:08 Comparing yourself to other comedians58:22 Searching for the source of self-loathing1:03:16 Sponsor: Tushy1:05:39 Sponsor: Zocdoc1:08:08 Balancing touring with being a dad 1:11:10 No hobbies and the need for standup1:15:10 Scummy Batman: Stories of justified violence1:23:22 Goals for the future ---------------------------------------------------------- Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan https://twitter.com/nealbrennan https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557 Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234 Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased). Edited by Will Hagle ---------------------------------------------------------- Sponsors: For 25% off your order, head to https://www.Bonobos.com/NEAL and use code NEAL.Go to https://www.cookunity.com/NEAL or enter code NEAL before checkout for 50% off your first order.3 Million Butts Love TUSHY. Get 10% off TUSHY with the code NEAL at https://hellotushy.com/NEALTaking care of your health just got easier – start here with Zocdoc: https://zocdoc.com/NEAL Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 20, 20261h 32min
Number 2: Craig Ferguson
Comedian and former late-night host Craig Ferguson joins Neal Brennan on the Blocks Podcast to explore the "blocks" that have defined his life and career. From his upbringing in Scotland and the impact of sectarian violence to his iconic run on the Late Late Show and over 30 years of sobriety, Craig opens up with deep introspection and his trademark wit. They delve into the realities of fame, the importance of vulnerability, and the turning points that changed everything.Check out Craig's new series 'American on Purpose' on CNN. 👍 Like, Comment & Subscribe for the Algo 👍 Subscribe to Craig Ferguson: ⁨@thecraigfergusonshow⁩ 0:00 - Introduction: The "Rapport" Between Neal and Craig 2:35 - Growing Up in Scotland: Violence and Affability 7:12 - The Influence of Producer Peter Lassally 10:11 - Lessons from a Holocaust Survivor14:15 - Navigating the World of Late-Night Television17:33 - The Reality of Human Relationships in Showbiz22:20 - The Illusion of Fame and Success23:51 Sponsor: BetterHelp25:43 Sponsor: Superpower28:10 - The Turning Point: Choosing Sobriety in 199234:11 - Understanding the "Conundrum" of Alcoholism42:25 - Facing Fear: Learning to Fly and Control Freaks46:27 - Magical Thinking and Superstitions52:05 - The Power of Introspection54:50 Sponsor: CookUnity57:19 Sponsor: Bonobos1:01:45 - Life as a Father and Husband1:09:25 - The Impulse to Tell Stories1:16:10 - Measuring Time and the Collective Unconscious1:23:00 - Outro Thanks to our sponsors! Visit https://www.BetterHelp.com/NEAL Visit https://www.CookUnity.com/NEAL or enter code NEAL before checkout for 50% off your first order. Head to https://www.Superpower.com and use code NEAL at checkout for $20 off your membership. Get 100+ biomarkers tested every year. Plus a personalized health plan and on-demand care team. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpodFor 25% off your order, head to https://www.Bonobos.com/NEAL and use code NEAL. ---------------------------------------------------------- Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan https://twitter.com/nealbrennan https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557 Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234 Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased). Edited by Will Hagle ([email protected]) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 06, 20261h 28min
Number 3: Josh Johnson
Neal Brennan interviews Josh Johnson (New HBO special: Symphony) about being too nice, working together at The Daily Show, how his fashion sense has changed thanks to a good deed Neal doesn't remember, his prolific posting of standup on his Youtube channel, growing up lower-income, billionaires building bunkers, being present emotionally, becoming an effective communicator, whether or not comedy can change the world or people's lives, why Americans are too comfortable for a revolution, MAGA vs. Liberals, what it's like to be him, and much more. 00:00 Intro 2:00 Too Nice 6:00 The Forgotten Clothes Story 10:00 Working with Neal at the Daily Show 12:40 Prolific Standup Posting 19:09 Sponsor: BetterHelp 21:23 Sponsor: Superpower 24:35 Growing up lower-income 48:18 Sponsor: CookUnity 50:57 Sponsor: Bonobos 53:15 Sponsor: Ultra 55:24 Being Present Emotionally 1:00:00 Effective Communication 1:06:00 MAGA vs. Liberals 1:19:00 What It’s Like To Be Him Thanks to our sponsors! Visit https://www.BetterHelp.com/NEAL for 10% off your first month. Go to https://www.Superpower.com and use promo code NEAL for $20 off your membership. Visit https://www.CookUnity.com/NEAL and use promo code NEAL for 50% off your order. Go to https://www.Bonobos.com and use promo code NEAL for 25% off your order. Visit https://www.TakeUltra.com and use promo code NEAL for 10% off your order. ---------------------------------------------------------- Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan https://twitter.com/nealbrennan https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557 Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234 Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased). Edited by Will Hagle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 11, 20261h 29min
Number 4: Jordan Klepper
Neal Brennan interviews Jordan Klepper (Daily Show, "Fingers the Pulse") on the Blocks Podcast about the true nature of MAGA, what he witnessed in Washington D.C. on January 6, how the American attitude toward shamelessness and hypocrisy has shifted since Trump's rise to power, using his improv background in field pieces, taking a Trump supporter to a Kamala rally, interviewing a guy who pleaded guilty to punching a cop on January 6 but still believed it was an inside job, what he learned from Jon Stewart & Trevor Noah, hosting his own show and how it affected his nervous system, becoming a parent, his drift from Hitchens-era smug atheist certainty back to agnosticism, Dominos vs. Papa Johns on the road, connecting flights, Camus and philosophy, and being smug. 00:00 Neal & Matthew McConaughey's Shininess 1:40 Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse 3:00 Road life 8:15 Field pieces with Jon vs. Trevor 10:32 MAGA 13:10 January 6 18:54 Trump's superpower 20:40 Ad Break: Ultra Nuro Pouches 22:58 Ad Break: Zocdoc 25:25 Interviewing approach 30:24 Bringing a Trump fan to a Kamala rally 32:43 January 6 41:27 Ad Break: Harry's 43:37 Ad Break: Mando 45:44 Math vs. Comedy Brain 54:05 Marriage & Parenthood 1:06:30 Religion, Atheism & Agnosticism 1:26:36 Information overload 1:30 Jon Stewart & Trevor Noah Thanks to our sponsors! Don't sleep on @UltraPouches . New customers get 15% Off with code NEAL at https://www.takeultra.com ! #ultrapouches #ad Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://www.Zocdoc.com/NEAL to instantly book a doctor you love today. Our listeners get the Harry's Plus Trial Set for only $10 at https://www.Harrys.com/NEAL #Harryspod Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get 20% off with promo code NEAL at https://www.shopmando.com ! #mandopod Live Better Longer with BUBS Naturals. For a limited time get 20% Off your entire order with code NEAL at https://www.Bubsnaturals.com ---------------------------------------------------------- Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan https://twitter.com/nealbrennan https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557 Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234 Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased). Edited by Will Hagle ---------------------------------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 30, 20261h 46min
Number 5: Happiness Expert Dr. Arthur C. Brooks
Happiness expert, Harvard Professor & author Arthur Brooks joins Neal Brennan to discuss why happiness is ~50% genetic, why men and women fundamentally need different things from love (adoration vs. admiration), the dark triad/tetrad in dating apps, why “success addiction” ruins marriages, the psychology of comedy, the power of the “Reverse Bucket List,” why you need to be bored, how SSRIs affect creativity, Mass vs. Doomscrolling, why your personality keeps improving with age, and why suffering isn’t the same thing as pain. Arthur Brooks’ new book is called ‘The Meaning of Your Life’: https://www.arthurbrooks.com/the-meaning-of-your-life Subscribe to Arthur Brooks: ⁨@drarthurbrooks⁩ https://www.Arthurbrooks.com 00:00 Intro 3:21 Is Happiness Genetic? 5:05 Male vs. Female Emotion 10:20 Adoration vs. Admiration: What Men and Women Really need 15:20 The Dark Tetrad: Society’s Most Dangerous People 19:38 Addiction to Being Adored 27:12 Sponsor: Superpower 30:21 Sponsor: BetterHelp 32:36 Sponsor: CookUnity 35:16 Addiction to Adoration 39:58 Building Protocols to Protect Marriage 44:19 The Happiness Scale 56:45 Going to Mass instead of scrolling 59:34 Why You Need to Be Bored 1:00:56 The Pill, SSRIs & Creativity 1:08:22 Happiness & Aging 1:17:13 Sponsor: Ultra Pouches 1:18:57 Sponsor: The Perfect Jean 1:21:15 The Psychology of Comedy 1:23:45 The Reverse Bucket List 1:31:25 Psychedelics & Prayer 1:36:18 Suffering 1:43:50 Love & Marriage Thanks to our sponsors! Visit https://www.SuperPower.com & use promo code NEAL for $20 off your membership Go to https://www.BetterHelp.com/NEAL for 10% off your first month Visit https://www.CookUnity.com/NEAL & use promo code NEAL for 50% off your order Go to https://www.TakeUltra.com & use promo code NEAL for 15% off your order Visit https://www.ThePerfectJean.NYC/NEAL15 for 15% off plus free shipping. ---------------------------------------------------------- Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan https://twitter.com/nealbrennan https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557 Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234 Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased). Edited by Will Hagle ([email protected]) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 09, 20261h 54min