How To Be Amazing with Michael Ian Black

By Michael Ian Black

What's How To Be Amazing with Michael Ian Black about?

In this in-depth interview show, Black takes listeners into the minds of some of today’s most fascinating celebrities and newsmakers to discuss the process of how they became, well, amazing. Brought to you by PRX.

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How To Be Amazing with Michael Ian Black episodes:

01.16.2019
News for 2019
A short message from host Michael Ian Black.
01.09.2019
#102 Kathy Griffin
Despite having endured a terrible year in the aftermath of her Trump photo controversy, the hilarious comedian kept everyone in the studio laughing. Kathy Griffin is without a doubt a survivor. She talks to Michael about her long road to...
12.26.2018
#101 Bill Nye
Best known as the host of Emmy Award-winning show Bill Nye the Science Guy, and current host of the Netflix show *Bill Nye Saves the World, *he has been the public face of science and discovery for more than twenty...
12.12.2018
#100 Terry Gross
For our 100th episode, Michael turns the tables on "the greatest interviewer of our time," a guest who we've had at the top of our wish list since the beginning. Terry Gross is the iconic host of the public radio...
11.28.2018
#99 Jose Antonio Vargas
Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist, and filmmaker Jose Antonio Vargas, called “the most famous undocumented immigrant in America,” shares his story of discovering his status at age 16 and his journey in the decades that followed including his coming out to the...
11.14.2018
#98 Lynsey Addario
She’s one of this generation’s pre-eminent photojournalists, who covers wars and conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Darfur, among others; during which she’s been kidnapped twice. In this riveting conversation, the winner of a MacArthur Genius grant and a Pulitzer for...
10.31.2018
#97 Kevin Allison
Michael sits down with friend and fellow member of The State for a nostalgic, hilarious, and honest conversation about their time together in the iconic sketch group. For more than a decade after the tv show ended, the comedian and...
10.17.2018
#96 Maeve Higgins
The delightful and hilarious Irish-born comedian and writer sits down with Michael to discuss her passion for using her comedic voice to start conversations about immigration, environmental issues, and social justice. A star in her native Ireland, she left fame...
10.03.2018
#95 Hank Green
In 2007, Hank Green along with his brother John, tried a Youtube experiment - for an entire year they made a video a day together - which they thought was a dumb idea. To their surprise, these videos quickly led...
09.19.2018
#94 Zachary R. Wood
As president of his college group "Uncomfortable Learning," Zachary R. Wood attempted to bridge the gap between dissenting views by inviting controversial speakers to campus and was shut down by student protests. Now a recent graduate, and a new author...
09.05.2018
#93 Tina M. Tchen
The former Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama and leader of the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund talks about her time at the White House and her childhood growing up in 1960s Ohio as the daughter of Chinese...
08.22.2018
#92 Jay and Mark Duplass
In a very funny, touching, and creatively inspiring interview, the filmmakers discuss their incredibly close brotherly bond, how they never doubted success would happen, even though it took almost two decades to achieve, and how they had to learn how...
08.08.2018
#91 Carl Zimmer
The author of 13 books about evolution, neuroscience, biology, and most recently heredity, as well as the weekly “Matter” science column in the New York Times, discusses his accessible style of science storytelling, answering Michael’s burning questions on his recent...
07.25.2018
#90 Saru Jayaraman
The co-founder and president of ROC, Restaurant Opportunities Center United, Saru Jayaraman has devoted her career to improving the lives of restaurant workers. Her activism through legislation, initiatives, and conversation as well as her two books, have raised the awareness...
07.11.2018
#89 Dan Pfeiffer
One of President Obama’s longest-serving staffers, first as Communications Director then as Senior Advisor, and present co-host of the wildly popular Pod Save America, Dan Pfeiffer discusses present-day politics through the unique lens of his experience, which he also details...
06.27.2018
#88 Giada De Laurentiis
The Food Network star, bestselling cookbook author and now restaurateur tells Michael how her success all grew organically from her passion for cooking and not from a great ambition to be famous. But famous she is, and she now finds...
06.13.2018
#87 David Cross
The multi-talented actor, comedian, writer, and director sits down with Michael to discuss his journey from his first stand up performance as a teenager in Atlanta to his many memorable roles on Arrested Development, Mr. Show with Bob and David,...
06.08.2018
Introducing Obscure - Michael's new podcast
This is probably a terrible idea.” So begins the new podcast, “Obscure,” where comedian, actor, and writer Michael Ian Back reads the Thomas Hardy classic,Jude the Obscure,out loud and comments on it as he goes. Why is he doing this?...
05.30.2018
#86 Michael Pollan
The author of many bestselling books about food including, among others, The Omnivore's Dilemma and* In Defense Of Food hasturned his attention to a new kind of consumption - psychedelic drugs. In this fun and informative interview, Pollan talks about...
05.16.2018
#85 Nell Scovell
For more than thirty years, writer, producer, and director Nell Scovell worked behind the scenes of iconic TV shows such as Murphy Brown, The Simpsons, and Coach. In this lively and timely interview, she shares stories from her memoir Just...
05.02.2018
#84 George C. Wolfe
One of the greatest theater directors of all time, the gregarious and razor-sharp George C. Wolfe joins Michael in an in-depth and moving conversation about how his positive approach to life informs his work. For anyone who has struggled, been...
04.18.2018
#83 Maira Kalman
The charming and hilarious illustrator, author, and designer Maira Kalman sits down for an inspiring conversation about how she follows her curiosity to create everything from books and *New Yorker *covers to illustrated blogs, purses, and set design. Her unique...
04.04.2018
#82 Renée Fleming
The opera superstar, and “People’s Diva,” discusses how her constant need to learn and challenge herself has taken her from the biggest opera houses in the world, to her current role singing in Carousel on Broadway, and to working behind...
03.21.2018
#81 David Roberts
One of the best Alaskan alpinists of his generation and most prolific American climbing authors with over 28 books to his name, David Roberts discusses the lure of adventure, the incredible risks that come with alpine climbing (including death), and...
03.07.2018
#80 Tara Westover
In this heartbreaking yet hopeful episode, the author of the stunning new memoir Educated, opens up about growing up in a family of radical Mormon survivalists whose parents were opposed to traditional medical care and formal schooling. She broke free...
02.21.2018
#79 David Frum
The pundit, former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, and author of several books, including the new bestseller Trumpocracy, discusses how he came to be a prominent voice for the conservative movement after growing up the son of a famous...
02.07.2018
#78 Tig Notaro
In 2012, comedian Tig Notaro’s stand-up set, in which she boldly began with the line “Hello. Good evening. I have Cancer,” catapulted her into the national spotlight and led to numerous late show appearances, book and film deals. In this...
01.24.2018
#77 Chris Thile
Widely recognized as one of the greatest mandolinists of all-time (which he amply demonstrated when he offered to play in studio), Chris Thile joins Michael for a fascinating conversation about how he blurs musical genres to create his unique style...
01.10.2018
#76 Reza Aslan
What is God? What is faith? In this thought-provoking episode, Michael and one of today’s most renown religious thinkers and authors tackle some of the big questions and make us look hard at our own beliefs. Reza Aslan is the...
12.27.2017
#75 The Lumineers: Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites
Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites, the two founding members of the band The Lumineers, talk about their years hustling to make it as a band and what happened after their song, “Ho Hey,” blew up making them international stars. They...
12.13.2017
#74 Margaret Cho
The outspoken comedian, activist, and actress sits down with Michael for an honest and thought-provoking episode, which dives into topics ranging from her history with addiction, sexual abuse and racism to lighter topics like working together in the New York...
11.29.2017
#73 Malcolm Nance
In a conversation Michael said he could have continued all day, he talks to the delightful American author and media commentator on terrorism, intelligence, insurgency and torture about his years in service, how he learned to speak multiple languages including...
11.15.2017
#72 Alyssa Milano
In her podcast debut, the Charmed actress, philanthropist and entrepreneur opens up about the up and downs of navigating Hollywood after growing up on the hit TV show, Who’s The Boss. The two Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later...
11.01.2017
#71 Eileen Myles
**The effortlessly cool author/poet and Michael have a candid, fascinating, emotionally raw discussion ranging from Eileen’s life growing up in a religious home in Cambridge, MA, Myles’ approach to gender (including eschewing the pronoun “she” for “they”), and, of course,...
10.19.2017
#70 Taran Killam
The former Saturday Night Live cast member talks family life, creating celebrity impressions, and the day he learned his contract wasn’t being renewed. Killamopens up about his life after leaving the iconic sketch show from his delightful turn as King...
10.04.2017
#69 DeRay Mckesson
Michael talks social justice and activism with the former teacher and current civil rights activist and organizer who has become among the best-known faces and voices and vests of the Black Lives Matter movement. He’s one of the architects of...
09.20.2017
#68 Laurie Metcalf
Widely recognized as one of America’s best actresses, the Emmy Award-winning star of Rosanne delves into a fascinating conversation about her genuine passion for the stage, creating characters and bringing a script to life. In this engaging episode, the Steppenwolf...
09.06.2017
#67 Ina Garten
In 1978, Ina Garten took a huge risk and left her job as a budget analyst in the White House to pursue her dream working with food. She packed her bags, moved to the Hamptons, bought a specialty food store...
08.24.2017
#66 Doug Stanhope
Doug Stanhope is considered the comedian’s comedian for his precise writing and insightful, often cynical, and controversial social and political comedy. He’s also known for his use of drugs and alcohol. In this episode he talks to Michael about his...
08.09.2017
#65 Cecile Richards
The president of Planned Parenthood talks to Michael about how she got started in activism and organizing and what it was like growing up in conservative Dallas as the daughter of two outspoken liberals. She also delves into the important...
07.26.2017
#64 Pamela Paul
In a must listen episode for any person who loves to read, the editor of The New York Times Book Review is talking with Michael about writing, criticism and most of all, reading. Her new book, the memoir My Life...
07.12.2017
#63 Andy Borowitz
The political satirist traces his route from failed sitcom writer to creating and writing the popular New Yorker column, The Borowitz Report, where his made-up musings on politics often go viral, and sometimes, even get taken seriously, especially in China....
06.28.2017
#62 Katy Perry
One of pop music’s biggest stars - over the last ten years, she’s had 9 #1 hits, sold millions of albums, racked up billions of video views, and is the most followed person on Twitter - sits down with Michael...
06.14.2017
#61 Dean Karnazes
The man who ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days, among many other incredible feats, Karnazes has pushed his body and mind to inconceivable limits. In this inspiring conversation he tells Michael how he discovered his love for...
05.31.2017
#60 Al Franken
The Senator from the great state of Minnesota discusses his new memoir, Al Franken, Giant of the Senate, which traces his unlikely path from a 30 year career as a comedian, writing and starring at Saturday Night Live, to diving...
05.24.2017
#59 W. Kamau Bell
The comedian, writer and host of the hit CNN docu-series United Shades of America has an often hilarious, frequently serious conversation with Michael about his years determined to break into comedy, what he needed to realize to finally achieve success,...
05.10.2017
#58 Charles Limb
Dr. Charles Limb has married his passion for music with his day job as a surgeon and neuroscientist and is studying the science of creativity. In his research Limb has started gathering some tantalizing clues about the mind’s activity during...
04.26.2017
#57 Annie Duke
Michael sits down with one of the world’s best known poker players to discuss her big wins and losses both at the table and in life, as well as her struggles being a woman in a male dominated profession. Of...
04.20.2017
#56 Judd Apatow
Judd Apatow is one of the most important influencers of comedy today. In this jam-packed episode, the writer, director and producer of such blockbusters as The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up and This Is 40 traces the roots of his love...
04.12.2017
#55 Josh Groban
At the age of 17 a shy young man walked onto a stage to sing with Celine Dion and a star was born. In the almost 20 years since that moment, Josh Groban has gone on to sell over...

What's How To Be Amazing with Michael Ian Black about?

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How To Be Amazing with Michael Ian Black episodes:

News for 2019

#102 Kathy Griffin

#101 Bill Nye

#100 Terry Gross

#99 Jose Antonio Vargas

#98 Lynsey Addario

#97 Kevin Allison

#96 Maeve Higgins

#95 Hank Green

#94 Zachary R. Wood

#93 Tina M. Tchen

#92 Jay and Mark Duplass

#91 Carl Zimmer

#90 Saru Jayaraman

#89 Dan Pfeiffer

#88 Giada De Laurentiis

#87 David Cross

Introducing Obscure - Michael's new podcast

#86 Michael Pollan

#85 Nell Scovell

#84 George C. Wolfe

#83 Maira Kalman

#82 Renée Fleming

#81 David Roberts

#80 Tara Westover

#79 David Frum

#78 Tig Notaro

#77 Chris Thile

#76 Reza Aslan

#75 The Lumineers: Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites

#74 Margaret Cho

#73 Malcolm Nance

#72 Alyssa Milano

#71 Eileen Myles

#70 Taran Killam

#69 DeRay Mckesson

#68 Laurie Metcalf

#67 Ina Garten

#66 Doug Stanhope

#65 Cecile Richards

#64 Pamela Paul

#63 Andy Borowitz

#62 Katy Perry

#61 Dean Karnazes

#60 Al Franken

#59 W. Kamau Bell

#58 Charles Limb

#57 Annie Duke

#56 Judd Apatow

#55 Josh Groban