IAmA Mike Birbiglia, former Senator and current President of the United States, AMA

I wonder who our celebrity is doing the AMA today? I hope it's someone really famous.

hahaahahaahha. this is great. if you don't get this, look up the track "celebrity golf" on "My secret public journal live." it's free on spotify or expensive on itunes.

Who would win in a fight, you or Daniel Tosh?

boxing and/or street fight?

Tosh would destroy me. Also, because 15 frat guys would see him beating me up and join in.

this. front page.

yeah! how do we do that?! i don't know how the hell this things works!

what other podcasts should i try to go on? can i ask YOU questions?!

You Made It Weird w/ Pete Holmes

this one too! i love pete holmes and we've definitely gotten weird. tweet at @peteholmes and tell him to have me on!!!

it's @peteholmez actually

Not a podcast but I'd recommend Beyonce's album "4".

i'm trying to do a collab with Beyonce but she won't return my shouting at her in parking lots.

Mike and Tom Eat Snacks!

i want to go on this one. i'm gonna call michael today!! tweet at @michaelianblack and tell him to have me on!!!

Proof?

That I'm American? I have a birth certificate and a letter from St. Mary's school in Shrewsbury that says that I was "Author of the Month" in 3rd grade.

Have you enjoyed the process of making an independent film? Do you think you'll do it again?

What does Ira Glass smell like?

Ira Glass smells like tote bags.

And yes, I love him. He's a mentor and friend and I learn so much from him whenever we work together.

He says I tricked him into making the film. this is a hilarious vid about how he never should have produced the film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zic8tleYeZQ

How's Joey Bag of Donuts?

he's good! he's coming to indianapolis with me this Friday. we're doing some Q and As there. The real question is, "how much can joe bags drink?"

You guys, thank you for having me to this IAmA. Such good questions. So fun. I think I have carpal tunnel.

if you want to know about my tour look on http://www.birbigs.com/tourdates

I am EVERYWHERE.

To find out the 200 theaters my movie is in, go to: http://www.sleepwalkmovie.com/sleepwalk-by-state

Joe Bags set it up so you can search by state. Who does that?!

See the movie this weekend if you can. Tweet about it. Facebook about it. Post here about it. We're a super small movie with a super small ad budget, so our only way of getting the word out is through you guys. And we're REALLY PROUD OF THE MOVIE. Love you guys and I'll see you out there.

Signing off, Mister Girbigaboo
@birbigs http://www.facebook.com/birbigfans

Hey Mike, I don't have a question. I just wanted to let you know that your comedy (specifically the album "Two Drink Mike") got me through a really shitty time in my life. I just wanted to thank you for that, and to wish you the best in your future ventures. You've a lifelong fan in me.

this means so much to me.

How was it making the transition from Senator to POTUS?

I like both but POTUS is more fun because I get to ride in crazy ass helicopters.

Have you had sex on Air Force One yet? This is getting to be a pressing issue here.

Who hasn't? Secret service better know how to keep a secret.

I saw you perform in DC, then saw your movie a week later. Congrats on all of your recent success.

Damn, I have no question... but yeah, rock on.

thanks, but you really missed the point of this whole thing.

1. Joe Bags' character was replaced by a sister character in the film. but he's fine with it- he cowrote the script!! imdb.com

2. Dude, Worcester is wicked close to 495. Feb. 8th! http://www.thehanovertheatre.org/shows/showDetail.php?showID=396

Hi Mike. Huge fan.

1) When you started comedy, how difficult was it get on the college circuit?

2) I've heard about your relationship with Mitch Hedberg, of whom I am also a huge fan. Did you guys hang out? What did you do together?

3) I also would like pizza until I fall asleep. How do you think we could make that a reality?

4) I live in a place that makes it difficult to se your movie, but I have listened to "Sleepwalk with Me Live" to the point of near-memorization. What are the key differences between the standup and the movie, plotwise?

Thank you, and congratulations.

Thanks Breaking Records,

1. it wasn’t easy to get on the college circuit, but I managed to hook up with a college agent in NY who put me on road. Not unlike what happened in my movie. I went to a lot of NACA conferences- which were really fun. if you are reading this and work for NACA, have me headline the 2013 NACA Nationals! I love it there!

2. I met Mitch because I was the feature act for him. We did hang out a bit. For some reason I traveled around with some old bowling shoes and I invited him and his wife to go bowling during the day. I was really bad, and at one point he turned and said to me, “When you said you wanted to go bowling, I thought you would be good at bowling.” We both laughed a lot at that. He had a point. I looked up to hi a lot. there's a chapter about him in my book called "My Hero."

3. Pizza until you fall asleep/Biden 2016.

4. I don’t want to go into plot differences in detail, but there were a lot of choices that had to be made to focus the story for a movie. i'd say all the sleepwalking is true and the relationship stuff in a general sense, but not really the parents.

Hey cracka! Thank you ever so much for doing an AMA (and responding so quick I might add)

• If you could be a bear, what type of bear would you be?
• Favorite song to play on the guitar?
• How would 8 year-old Mike respond if you told him he was going to grow up to be a comedian.
• I bought your book... But I bought the e-book version. Is there any way you can sign it for me through the Internet?
• Have you ever watch the show Doctor Who?
• best piece of wildlife to dance with?

Have a great day!

1. brown bear.
2. i'm the worst guitarist, so my own song "the oatmeal song" or "guitar guy at the party"
3. he'd go "ok, mom." and then he'd continue eating extra cheese pizza from shrewsbury pizza.
4. i'll sign your laptop if you bring it to a live show! i've done it before and posted photos on FB. 5.i love dr. who. grew up on it. haven't seen the recent ones.
5. my cat ivan is an excellent dancer.

Are you as awkward in real life as you are on stage? Because it's excellent.

ha. sometimes, yes. if people see me, the best thing to do is walk by me and say, "hey mike!", wave, and keep walking. it lets me know you like me, which is awesome- but doesn't allow me to let you down in the conversation. because i will!

Have you heard from Dennis Eckersley since your story about the MVP awards?

I haven’t, but I would love to. Incidentally, I haven’t heard from Roger Clemens either.

Any plans for a podcast? I'd subscribe.

No. Just planning to be on every one.

listen to my recent NERDIST. my favorite podcast appearance i've ever done. gets deep, dawg.

this is it: http://www.nerdist.com/2012/09/nerdist-podcast-mike-birbiglia-3peat/ it started a huge conversation in the comments section about breakups and relationships! really cool.

How did you get noticed by Ira Glass/This American Life? What is it like to work with Ira?

Ira is very passionate and very sharp and SUPER FAST. he's also very funny. i think he could have been a comedy writer if he didn't want to become a radio icon.

and did you think his appearance matched his notorious voice?

he dresses up a lot in nice suits. snazzy dresser. always looks better than me. when we hang i look like his delinquent nephew.

Hello mike. I am a huge fan and I have been for a long time. Do you have any plans to do stand up in places like Missoula or anywhere in Montana?

i don't. i wish i did. truthfully, some places that i love have so few people that not enough people would know who i am to make a show. as the great mitch hedberg once said, "I'm not a household name. i'm an apartment name."

That blows.

i agree.

most likely way to get me there is to have a local college book me.

How much did you pay them to feature Sleepwalk With Me in the iPhone 5 presentation just now?

hahahaaha.

i just heard about that. our ad budget is absurdly low- which is why that iphone 5 thing is such a lucky break for us.

part of the reason we're booked in 200 theaters, btw, is you guys. people tweeted #bringsleepwalk to their local art houses and we went from 24 theaters to over 200!!!

it's been REALLY REALLY exciting to see it all happen and be a part of something that i've never witnessed with movies- which is fans demanding to see the film as opposed to studios cramming bad movies down our throats.

so thank you guys. it means a lot to all of us who made the movie.

Hey Birbigs,

I consider Sleepwalk With Me to be a work of art, and I'm not just blowing smoke up your ass. I'm serious, there is no other standup performance that can have me laughing my ass off, then turning on the performer, then laughing again, and by the end of it I'm crying... but I've got those classic Father/Son issues, so that's why it gets to me.

My question is about that. Why did you decide to leave the moment between you and your dad out of the movie? For me, the relationship between you and your dad was the heart of the album. This isn't a criticism, I was just wondering what your thought process was.

Thanks.

Brendan

good question. it was a huge discussion actually. ultimately the dad became a smaller character in the film b/c in film you have to be where your characters are. in other words if the movie was going to focus on the father/son they'd have to live in the same house or near each other. that's why a lot of movies are about GOING HOME. it's a good thematic approach but also an easier cinematic conceit for why two people are in the same room together. phone calls in movies tend to be boring. it waters down the conflict. does that make sense, brendan? hope it's not too ramble-y.

and thanks for the compliment on the album, brandan. i'm really proud of it. glad you like it.

Given your style of telling stories about people you know, do you ever get in trouble with people in your life for sharing too much information?

Somebody else asked this in the request thread, but I don't see it here yet.

I don’t get in trouble, but it can be a topic of silence around the table at Thanksgiving.

"Topic of silence" is a really freaking deep phrase. I'm going to use that.

thanks. joe bags came up with it.

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thanks, redline!!!

i'm only famous to like 17 people. they will not ruin my perspective.

thanks for plugging FA22F2F

i love terry gross- my favorite podcast is fresh air.

Do you ever miss Shrewsbury? I ask as I spent my first 10 years then Shrewsbury and now live just past the White City bridge, so whenever I hear you make a joke about it I feel like I can appreciate it just a bit more than most.

i do. i always love going back. my friend matt beaton still lives there. he's a state rep. that means we're adults now, right?

I just wanted to apologize for yelling SHREWSBURY! when you played Bonnaroo in 2008. You seemed really confused; especially since we were in the middle of Tennessee.

ha. i remember that.

What are the chances that Sleepwalk With Me will be shown in Canada?

We are so working on this. It pains me and Ira that we're not there. It'll be soon though. keep following me on @birbigs or on facebook.com/birbigsfans. will have info soon.

Who is your favorite Victorian author?

Edit: I am a huge fan, and I had to ask. Thanks for doing the AMA!

I like the Bronte Sisters. Probably Wuthering Heights is my favorite. Heathcliff is a badass. plus he has a song about him by Kate Bush- so he has crossed the generational divide!!

How did you end up on Girls? What was that experience like?

lena dunham is my friend and she asked me to play that part. it was so much fun- one of the best directors i've ever worked with and by far the most fun. she's a genius. and also, a really sweet and kind person.

Thanks for letting me high five you outside the Nuart. I still haven't washed my hand.

gross hand, dude.

Thanks for doing this! Who are your favourite comedians?

doug stanhope maria bamford kathleen madigan henry phillips kristen schaal jessi klein louis ck OTHERS

Those stories you tell on stage, do they actually happen? Do they? Haha just kidding.

Thanks for doing this, You're one of my favorite comedians. I know you're busy with Sleep Walk With Me but do you have a new stand-up coming int he future?

Also Are you starting new acting roles since Sleep Walk With me?

Thanks Will!

A few years ago, when my brother ordered me a tv from Amazon.com (Glamazon as it was later described on SPJ Live CD) that came broken, he was writing this crazy letter to them, and explaining what happened, and trying to get my money back, and get my tv replaced.

And Joe and I were at our parents’ house at the time, and my mom picked up and read a printout of the letter, and she laughed, and she said, “This story is going to be worth more than that tv.”

My mom is smart!

Is there any advice you got from established comedians when you were first starting out that really stuck with you? Likewise, what advice do you give to up-and-coming comedians who seek your advice?

first, see the movie if you haven't. sleepwalkmovie.com (obvious, pluggy- sorry)

second, and this goes for all forms of art or any passion projects:

keep going.

fail.

repeat.

fail.

repeat.

just make sure you're learning something each time and taking constructive criticism from people you respect. the people who are still working as comics from when i started aren't the people who were most talented out of the gate- they're the ones who stuck with it and were committed to improving.

Hello Mike,

I saw the movie opening weekend at the IFC theater with you and Ira Glass. I wasn't brave enough to ask a question because clearly you guys ran out of time (I was at the pizza pillow showing where someone brought you a pizza pillow pizza from robertas.)

I was just wondering, in the scene you did with Marc Maron, in real life was Marc actually that comedian to inspire you to talk about your life, or was it someone else, if so then who? What influences did that comedian have in your career and how quickly did you life change after that in your "real life?"

I love you and proudly own one of your t-shirts, your movie was great by the way.

thanks blair!!!

marc was one of the comics who inspired me for sure.

Which comedians do you enjoy watching?

My favorite comic to watch hands down is Doug Stanhope. 2nd fave: Chris Rock- because when he works a small room, he works subtle and when he works a big room he works BIG. it's fascinating to watch.

How has been touring for Sleepwalk With Me been treating you?

Also, about three years ago you did a show at my school in Fort Wayne, IN (IPFW). Not sure if you remember it, but it was genuinely one of the most entertaining and just perfect shows I've seen in person. Thanks for being awesome.

I had so much fun in fort wayne. i LOVE performing at colleges. i ask my agent to book at me at them constantly. his name is mike berkowitz. he's a brilliant guy and asked me to give him a shout out in this session. so here it is. bug your student activities committee to bring me to your college and have them call mike berkowitz at APA. (212) 687-0092

First off, thanks so much for doing this, much appreciated.

• Have you considered doing a European tour?

• Charles Dickens or Emily Brönte?

Huge fan by the way, so much that my inner dialogue is beginning to sound an awful lot like you.

1. i just got back from London and boy is my U.S. currency tired. that said, i hope to return ASAP. i love it there.
2. i like bronte just because dickens makes me fall asleep. it's so beautifully written but so loooooooooooooooong.

What are the best/worst nicknames you've ever had?

worst: math jockey.

(i say this on sleepwalk with me live album but...) in high school kids called me that in math class, and it was sad b/c i wasn't even good at math- which means i just looked like i was good at math. which means...i wasn't the sex jockey.

honestly i HATED that nickname...but now people laugh when i tell that story, so i think it all works out.

if people are mean to you--just remember that you will laugh about it later. and they won't. they will just be sad and empty. good night!!!

First of all, you're one of my favorite comedians. I won't bombard you with questions, but I do have a few: 1. Did "Glamazon.com" ever retaliate with a lawsuit? 2. What is the secret to the perfect english muffin pizza? 3. Has anything ever happened to you that was MORE embarrassing than unknowingly mocking a blind man on stage? 4. Do you hate having to repeat (due to boredom, over-repetition) any of the stories you became famous for? Do you hate it even more when random people on the street try to flatter you by reciting parts of your act? Best of luck on your tour!!! Will you be hitting Philly at any point?

1. apparently people at amazon think "glamazon" is funny. who knows.

2. don't mess with a winning team. cheese, marinara, English Muffin. Done. Perfect game.