Mike welcomes back one of most referenced guests in Working It Out history, the legendary Maria Bamford. Mike and Maria discuss the importance of true confession in stand-up comedy, the financials of being a comedian, and why Maria works out new material one on one with strangers on coffee shops. Plus, Maria’s impression of Esther Perel, and why five-year-old Maria wanted to be called "Blueberry.”

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Working It Out Hall of Famer Gary Gulman returns to discuss his upcoming Off-Broadway show Grandiloquent. Mike and Gary break down, first of all, what “grandiloquent” means, and how the new show that looks back on Gary’s early life and looks ahead at the prospect of Gary becoming a father. Mike and Gary also check in on their friendship progress, moving from work friends to friend friends. Plus, jokes about soccer game injuries and the pitfalls of lecturing your spouse on pop culture.

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Author Elizabeth Gilbert wrote one of Mike’s favorite books about creativity, Big Magic. She also wrote a book that, to her surprise, become a cultural phenomenon: Eat, Pray, Love. Mike and Liz discuss the unexpected impact of Eat, Pray, Love, and what it was like for Liz to watch Julia Roberts portray her on the big screen. Liz gets candid about the ups and downs of a creative life, including the reasoning behind the cancellation of a novel she wrote that took place in Russia. Plus, some bawdy jokes and stories care of Liz’s uncles and grandfather, and the surprising reason why Liz was stopped at airport security.

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