Breaking Bread with Tom Papa

P.J. Byrne sits down with Tom for stories from I Play Rocky, The Rainmaker, Coyote vs. Acme and The Wolf of Wall Street. Along the way, they discuss why Los Angeles still matters, the teachers who change lives, surviving auditions and building a career by working hard without becoming a jerk. I Play Rocky is in select theaters November 6 and everywhere later in November. P.J.'s film Coyote vs. Acme is out now. Catch P.J. as Deck in season 2 of The Rainmaker, Fridays at 10 on USA. P.J.'s movie co-written with Jay Duplass is on the way. P.J.'s Amazon show is on the way. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Judd Apatow sits down with Tom Papa for a warm, funny conversation about Norm Macdonald, Maria Bamford and a lifetime spent preserving comedy. Along the way, he recalls an unforgettable night with Rodney Dangerfield, explains his digital hoarding habit and reflects on the creative guilt that keeps comedians working. Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald and Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story are streaming now on Netflix. Judd's film The Comeback King is in theaters February 5, 2027. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mark Cuban joins Tom Papa to reveal what really happens after a Shark Tank deal, explain why AI will transform work, and break down the problems hidden inside America’s healthcare system. They also talk about Cost Plus Drugs, family, wealth, Indiana football, and the airline pass that once let Mark Cuban fly almost anywhere.Check out Cost Plus Drugs at costplusdrugs.com, check out the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp at markcubanai.orgOur thanks to Helix! Go to helixsleep.com/PAPA for 20% off sitewide.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Josh Johnson talks with Tom Papa about developing his stand-up voice, hosting The Daily Show and why creative skill cannot be outsourced to AI. He also explains how Comedy Band Camp turns a live show into a community experience and why even a great set cannot silence a comedian's self-doubt. Josh's tour Comedy Band Camp is on the road now. Josh Johnson Comedy YouTube is out now. CHAPTERS 00:00 Josh Johnson Says Elon Musk Sounds Broke 02:56 Finding His Stand-Up Voice 12:08 Why AI Cannot Replace Creative Skill 17:12 Nine Years at The Daily Show 22:49 Hosting The Daily Show 25:38 How Politics Entered the Stand-Up 37:26 Elon Musk Hecklers and Changing Minds 45:12 America's Main Character Syndrome 49:36 What Algorithms Say Josh Johnson Does 54:00 Building the Comedy Band Camp Tour 58:43 Releasing New Stand-Up Every Tuesday 1:07:50 Why Comedians Still Doubt Themselves 1:13:55 Bread and Tour Plugs See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Max Amini joins Tom Papa to talk about building a global stand-up audience through crowd work, curiosity and comedy in both English and Farsi. He shares stories from growing up in Iran, directing James the Second and shaping a live show that changes with every room. They also discuss his upcoming special and worldwide tour. Max's film James the Second comes up in this episode. Max's next special is on the way. Max's international tour is on the road now. CHAPTERS 00:00 Max Amini Knows How to Joke With Any Country 03:58 Directing James the Second 07:08 Building a Stand-Up Career on Instinct 09:51 Discovering Crowd Work 12:29 Finding a Place Outside the Industry 16:20 The Class Clown Becomes a Comedian 18:23 Growing Up Between America and Iran 21:43 Teenage Rebellion in Iran 24:48 The Iran Beyond the Headlines 27:55 Hope, Technology and a Fairer World 30:54 Performing Stand-Up in Farsi 34:19 How Max Amini Learns Every Culture 37:08 Bread, Podcasts and Real Connection 40:14 The Famous Comedian You May Not Know 43:53 Building a Global Audience Independently 48:16 Max Amini's Next Special 49:34 How Crowd Work Shapes the Show 52:23 Why Comedy Rewards Originality 56:05 Turning Old Ideas Into New Films 57:26 Cairo, Albania and a Tour Documentary 1:00:28 Bread for the Road See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chuck Lorre joins Tom Papa to talk about his book Sitcom and the improbable road from aspiring songwriter to one of television’s most influential comedy creators. They dig into Two and a Half Men and the Charlie Sheen years Chuck admits he was in denial about, The Big Bang Theory, Roseanne, casting Jon Cryer, and the creative rules that keep audiences laughing and caring.Chuck's book Sitcom: A Memoir is out now.Chuck's show Leanne is out now.Chuck's show Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is on the way.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tom sits down with Zach Zucker for a freewheeling conversation about cheating on the ACT, finding his artistic home in French clown school and bringing his creative family to Netflix with Stamptown. Zach also explains the Iams voiceovers keeping the operation alive and the full-circle moment that took him back to Étampes. Zach's special Stamptown is out now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brian Posehn joins Tom Papa to talk about nearly 40 years in stand-up, his lifelong love of metal and Rush, and the call that brought him into a new HBO Max show from the Big Bang Theory universe. They also get into Star Wars, The Mandalorian, Deadpool, creator-owned comics, and the joy of building a career around everything that made Brian Posehn a smart, weird kid.Brian plays Bert in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, the Big Bang Theory spinoff, streaming now on HBO Max.Brian's stand-up tour is on the road now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Milan Patel and Tom trade stories about motel guests, hotel etiquette, Hinge, public pools, TSA PreCheck, and the strange calculations people make during flight delays. Plus, Milan Patel talks about The Paper, his upcoming dates with Anthony Jeselnik, and why Cybertrucks may have finally found their calling. Catch Milan in an upcoming episode of The Paper! Milan opens for Anthony Jeselnik in San Diego and Phoenix this December. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sam Morril sits down with Tom Papa for a conversation about the Knicks, unforgettable bombs, classic film noir, and taking creative risks for the right reasons. They also get into Sam Morril's new Netflix special and the movie he spent two years making on the road. Sam Morril's new Netflix special, Incorrect, is out now. His tour mockumentary is coming to Netflix early next year. This episode is sponsored by Monarch. Start a free trial, and get 50% off your first year of Monarch Core Tier with code PAPA at monarch.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.