Neal Brennan - “Neal Brennan: Blocks”

very funny person. And I've seen your Twitter at the time that's when people are still telling jokes on Twitter, and I was like, man, I was like you your Neil Prayer. I was like, you're really funny. And we spoke a little bit and you were just like, who what is this? What is happening right now? A lot of people gave me that you just you know, but

you you wouldn't mean. You were just confused. And then um, we chatted for a little bit and then I said, oh, I'll follow you, and then I followed you on Twitter and then I remember that the next time we spoke, you sent me a message because you said, hey, who the hell are you? Because I have a whole bunch of exclamation marks and Africans in my mentions right now because I remember because one of my friends. And you're like, that doesn't that's not possible. Yeah, I can't even say that.

And that's actually how we became friends. Africans into your life, thank you. I never met one before you. All right, So no, the story I like town was so ten years ago. We worked in Denver. You were at the improv. No, I wasn't. I never played where were you I was at it was called like a funny bone or it was so not even an improv. I've never played that. I've never played any of the premium club. We were

there for the weekend. We're both getting three hundred bucks of shows, and I and you were like, I'm pretty big in South Africa and Europe. And I was like, get out of here, like literally get out of here. And he got out of here. He literally left, and uh and then and then because I told I told up doing the service though you're not doing Neil makes it sound like he's like grumpier than he has. What happened was we didn't know we were both in town and then I saw a post and I was like, Neils,

here you. I was like, oh, let's meet. And then we met one of your South African friends like you, and so then we we we were like, let's meet and we're gonna we're gonna grab some food and we met downtown Denver and we're eating at this little spot on with tacos. I don't know what it wasn't. We we're having a meal and we're chatting about how hard it is being on the road, how we're both getting three dollars and that you sho have to pay your own fair and it basically equals nothing when you get

back home, right. And then you said to me, I don't get why you're doing this, because you're huge back home, and yeah, but I love this and you're like, you're delusional. And then you said what's your dream? And I said, I just want to keep doing comedy and have as much fun as possible. And you said, well, America doesn't tolerate people with accents on TV, so you should leave. And at that time I was correct, Yeah, okay, in my defense, once Oliver started doing good, I literally they

called you and never forget that. I said, come back. I'll never forget that goal. I don't never forget that. And now the thing people don't the great thing that people don't know is three months I called you and was like, all right, that's enough, that's not true. You've been here from the beginning. Um, you know what I've what I've loved about your journey because it's not about me, it's also about you, is um you know a lot

of people. No, Neil as one of one of the smartest, funniest people you ever worked with in the comedy industries, worked with the greatest comedians you can imagine. You know a great comedian, He's worked with them in some way shapeful form. He is slowly turning into, in my opinion, one of the most unique and funny and original comedians

that are out there. And like, I've watched your journey, your new special on on Netflix is phenomenal because you're not just doing comedy, but you know you, you're you're creating different types of shows. You're you're enjoying it, you're playing with it, and your new special blocks I've told you this person, but it's it's amazing, it's funny. People

have commented on how heart breaking and funny. It is how poignant and honest it is because you break down what it means to be a liberal, how you try and identify yourself, how we as people don't communicate anymore, what it means to grow up in a household where parents didn't know how to love you, what abuse was. It feels like it's such a vulnerable hilarious That's that's my point. But that's my point, Like who would think, Yeah, that's that's the show that I'm going to make and

it will be hilarious. Yeah, it worked out pretty well. Um the the I'm I'm the final guest on the Daily Show. So that's no, it worked out. I had the idea for the show, and it is about the ways I don't feel like I fit in, even like recycling, I don't know how to do correctly, Like whenever I throw some away and it's in one of those garbage cans, got like a garbage hole, a recycling hall, on a compost hole, I do my best, but afterward I'm like, I don't think I did that right. Like that happens

kind of across the board in my life. I'm not married, I don't have kids, like I don't need meet. I don't drink them. I just I'm kind of an outlier in a lot of ways. Um, but I figured out, but I am very funny. But yeah, but I figured out I would to synthesize it into a show. Your new Can I talk about your new Netflix special? Oh? Why? Yes? You can? Sure now that you're here? Yeah you No, I I told you. I thought it's one of the

probably you're my favorite special viewers, yeah, which you never say. Yeah, I don't know what I mean. It's in a good way that you're not one of those people just says it was like favorite best I like what, No, you don't, you don't um, And but it really, to me was like your strongest, cleanest thank you material, Thank you very much.

It was hard for both of us because and not just us, many comedians, many touring autists, many like everyone from people who are running, you know, building the stage. So everyone was struggling because of COVID people couldn't go to offices, et cetera. But touring was decimated. You ever we worked was gone. Building a show was really hard. I wonder if you went through the same thing, because I was. I was panicking about whether or not I'll

be able to make the show what it was. And then you were also building a show when everyone was wearing masks, no one could even sit together, Like was that hard? I didn't know how much to talk about it, do you know what I mean? Because I couldn't tell if people wanted to hear it or didn't want to hear it. I know, yeah, so I don't say anything,

but what is your Yeah? Um? So I had a couple like fast jokes up front and and and then I would just get into the show because I think people want you to acknowledge it, but they don't want to harp on it to bump them out. I would love to know from the first time you and I hung out on the show and spoke about depression, we spoke about you know, anxiety, you know the stuff comedians talk about. Um, i'd love to know if you feel like you've healed a lot more, if you've grown a

lot more. And for people who have been on a similar journey to you, what's some of your best advice for that? Being a ton of stuff I've talked, I didn't think called t MS transparent on my netic stimulation for depression that was really helpful. I did ketamine. Did you therapy? They it sounds like you just did that. Ay, that's sort of sounds like you did. I did care. I mean yeah, I got drunk, I got little. It

really helped. Um No, so ketamine t ms ayahuasca. I just I'll do not like i'll do anything, but Kyle, like i'll do anything. Um and uh, but I feel like you've done stuff also. We this is another way in which we can act. I think therapy is amazing. I think you should always be working on yourself. But but like you've always been the person who's gone, I'm a tortured soul and there's no hope. You say that in your comedy, right, and and I feel like over

the years I've seen a glimo of hoping. I'm a little I'm a little I'm a little sunnier than you. I know. It's pretty cute. It is got a burgundy suit. Come on, what do you want? Um? So so so so that not to be too mushy, but to that Neil Brennan who's sitting out there right now and goes, I mean anxious, I'm depressed. I don't think anybody in the world loves me, I don't think there's any future for me. What, like, what do you say to them? Just keep keep saving your money and invest in a

raw ira now, um uh, just keep trying. That's the thing is because it is the thing with depression and anxiety and all these mental health things. They don't really know what does what. So you have to keep trying and not get too discouraged about. If one thing doesn't work, then you're broken or screwed or whatever. Like you know, you just try another thing. It's like stand up where you just do a joke and it's like, oh, you don't like that, We'll try another one. Yeah, and and

just go on and on and on. Do I worry for you? Yeah? I have some worries. I worry what's gonna happen when wake up tomorrow at one in the afternoon. Do you realize that you're not going to be the host of the Daily Show anymore? Yeah, You're just gonna be a best selling author who does comedy and sold out arenas around the world. Hashtag pray for Trevor, So, buddy, it is my great honor on behalf of everyone here and at home to give you your flowers. Thank you,

Thank you so much for that. Thank you. Also, as someone quitting a job in America, you're about to lose your health insurances, you should probably sign up for Cobra. I brought all the necessary forms. I love you, Boddy. Congratulations, Trevor No everybody. He'll bring much. The Daily Show with Trevor No Ears editions. Subscribe to the Daily Show on YouTube for exclusive content, and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount Plus. This has been a Comedy Central podcast.