What's So Funny? with guest Norm Macdonald

Norm Macdonald will talk for as long as he's talked to. Or until there's a knock at the door. Thankfully that knock didn't come for 90 minutes so he sat talking about hypochondria, God, science, childhood memories, and comedy, among other topics. Deep stuff. This conversation has been posted elsewhere several times on KZbin, but this is the original! If you like it, hit SUBSCRIBE.
Recorded July 2012.

[@rogue-like4life]

This is probably my favorite Norm interview for numerous reasons, such as his relaxed demeanor, his brutal honesty, his deep thoughts, and his ruminations on the history of his life.

[@Marty131080]

It was really good. I almost prefer his straight interviews, he was such an interesting man. His WTF interview was excellent too

[@rogue-like4life]

@Marty131080 The best ones for comedians to learn from come from any Todd Glass interactions, Bobby Lee appearances, and that one with Margaret Cho...what not to sound like in front of of comedy legend. Tim Allen almost pulled it off and Stephen Merchant became self-aware about halfway through and made it fun with their gumption.

[@roddydykes7053]

Holy crap I just realized this interviewer, Guy MacPherson, died of cancer in January 2024. His wife wrote a post saying: “As a nod to one of his favourite comedians, Norm Macdonald, Guy was adamant that I not say he lost a battle to cancer. The cancer is gone now too. It was a tie.”

[@kylegood2622]

"I dont give a fuck about your cancer - everybody has cancer." -Norm

[@MyPhone-hb3vz]

A lot of classic Norm clips are spreading around today and this is the first interview I thought of revisiting. One of the rare ones where Norm talks more seriously. You're a master level interviewer to have been able to draw this side of Norm out. So glad you were able to and something we can cherish now. Rest in peace, Norm.

[@OakAthainNerin]

The best one for sure!.

[@b0ssatr0n91]

He really did pull out a different side of Norm, get it? "Pull out"

[@joesilver1850]

By the date it is right about the time he found out about his cancer. So many years... he said he was getting a colonoscopy next weekend. I hope it wasn't ass cancer.

[@danielm6455]

norm on the Marc Maron podcast is also great.

[@TheBlackProject13]

even in his more serious interviews he lies about his age. i love him so much.

[@jimblack8027]

"You and death will never actually cross paths"... I miss Norm already

[@igot5onit423]

That comment hit me pretty hard.. And it makes a lot of sense.. It's kind of like you never know exactly when you fall asleep you just wake up

[@DC-ky6jf]

Quite possibly the best Norm interview of all time. Nice work man.

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

Thanks, man.

[@seastar1728]

Norm sees souls. We are our souls, solely. We are measured by our outward kindness and our outward Love. He gets it. I'm so glad, I'm smiling.

[@deb9806]

That is why it's unfortunate that a few words, a spontaneous utterance , can define someone when it's not really them. You need to know the whole person to see their soul

[@userk23c5d5]

Nephesh :)

[@DesignRhythm]

"You have a body. You are a soul."

[@matthewdelaney3466]

This is a fresh breath. Norm was brilliant and worth conversational mining, but until this interview, whenever this existential side of him was evoked it got instantly banished by moronic comics and radio hosts. Thank you interviewer for doing a whole interview of this stuff. Fascinating, invigorating.

[@ErnestoMike]

Great interviewer for sure.

[@kenmarrocco6899]

You can tell norm respects the interviewer almost immediately

[@tankmccoy875]

HUGE FACTS

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

Thanks you guys.

[@PrestonFrankel]

Couldn’t agree more.

[@dariaeliuk4377]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful conversation. We lost a comedy GOAT today, and this is a needed balm. You are a thoughtful, wonderful interviewer.

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

Sad day. But thank you, Daria.

[@dariaeliuk4377]

His thoughts on mortality are eerie in the circumstances, but also weirdly comforting. I hope he had All The Morphine. Love to you, his son and brothers ❤️

[@OakAthainNerin]

Absolutely best interview.

[@gavinohlhauser1258]

today is a sad day, but it warrants a Norm binge

[@simbad909]

Been norm binging ..its great

[@Slymbeaux]

What's crazy is I was binging Norm about a week before his passing. I haven't stopped since.

[@perkyporkpie]

I think those of us who loved Norm ( and I don't say that lightly) have been really affected by his death. The reason is that his comedy and his personality find echoes in ourselves and I think what it is is a view of the world that's basically melancholic. He was a gift to us all and I for one am grateful.

[@Aman-ux1du]

Completely agree, I’ve thought of him every day since his passing. I never realized how much of an impact he had on me.

[@terenceflynn5125]

When he shared his opinion, I often think, yeah, not only is it funny it’s true.. but I can’t say I see myself in him. I don’t know what we’ll do without his insight. Who will make what are sometimes such simple things so funny.

[@joshjackson5459]

💯

[@MalAnders94]

Every reader, as he reads, is actually the reader of himself. The writer's work is only a kind of optical instrument he provides the reader so he can discern what he might never have seen in himself without this book. The reader's recognition in himself of what the book says is the proof of the book's truth. Marcel Proust

[@andyroskaft3941]

That, and he was the funniest human on the planet

[@lauriehere6408]

You can tell that Norm appreciates not being interviewed by a fool, lovely conversation with the GOAT of comedy and an intelligent, present interviewer. Thank you for this🙏

[@justjazz784]

This is one of the best interviews of Norm I've heard. Underneath his wit and incredible comedic brain is an incredibly deep thinker. Great stuff!

[@AverageCarGuy]

This was actually pretty excellent. I’ve been binging his old vlogs and this was a fun treat.

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

Glad to hear it. Thanks for listening. I thought it was pretty excellent, too. Well, Norm, anyway!

[@AverageCarGuy]

Guy MacPherson I’ve really learned to appreciate his particular brand of humor lately. The interviewer was actually quite good too. I know it’s probably a very unusual episode but I had a few good laughs knowing Norm’s dry humor.

[@jermonken]

I appreciate that it never went off course and it stayed on the trajectory I was hoping it would stay on and it did... Some really interesting dialogue along the way until that stupid knock ✊ Good Job Guy MacPherson, Nice interviewing skills with just the right amount of coaxing and leading. Not that Norm needs any, but you kept going in the right direction ...

[@cauler6627]

@@jermonken kept going in the “right“ direction, you say… Welp, there is another proof the “left” is wrong, duntchya just know it!?

[@humanmodeproductions]

Norm's vlogs????

[@britainiedegarbott326]

Had coffee with him when I was 18 after a show, such a special soul, immediately loved him, always will. Loved this honest interview

[@MattLocke-m7n]

Liar

[@jasonstrauch8697]

I've literally watched etleast 20hrs of Norm since he died....and this is by far the best interview I've heard. Norm was always on steady rotation for me ....so I've seen everything. But this version of Norm is my favorite😌

[@susanguppy2231]

I agree, I’ve been binging on Norm clips but this is deep. It’s helpful fir life perspective.

[@superintelligentapefromthe121]

Thank God we have documents such as this to remember a great man.

[@hootboon5323]

i put him on before sleep to make it feel extra homey

[@Weldernils]

For any Norm fan this is a must listen podcast thank you for posting it

[@ignas358]

What a man. I’m so sad that I never really got into his comedy while he was alive, but I find myself binging his comedy and interviews now. And the words coming from his heart really resonate with me. He truly has affected me for the better. I hope that I can also make people smile too.

[@davidpinette9656]

On the plus side, I saw a lot of messages like yours. It gives me hope that his death will give his career a new swing. His legacy must or should outlive all of us

[@kimcantswim174]

Me too. Never heard him when he was alive. Now I can't get enough of him. Young Norm, old Norm, midlife Norm. He was funny even when he wasn't trying to be.

[@cheezvo_beats]

I had chicken once with him

[@driftless7134]

I just smiled reading your comment! Or so the Germans would have us believe...

[@hughgrection9439]

That old chunk of coal is now a diamond in heaven.

[@deb9806]

I like to think that. Catholics talk of purgatory like that, but we all need to leave our ugly parts behind to find peace.

[@avogadro4928]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJWcoHx7arqLf5o

[@curtismcdonald6838]

Thank you for saying this, Hugh G Rection! Lol. I read the diamond in heaven quote, THEN I saw the name of the author. Hugh G Rection. Something about that is very funny to me.

[@hughgrection9439]

@@curtismcdonald6838 I've been a huge fan of Norm for 3 decades now.Hated to lose him,as did we all.

[@curtismcdonald6838]

@@hughgrection9439 Of course. But the name still makes me giggle.

[@kimmancha4314]

We didn't need another podcast exalting Norm's comedic brilliance or an interview where we hear Norm being funny; those are ubiquitous. What we did need (maybe not even knowing it until now) was an interview that demonstrated Norm's fascinating mind and gives evidence of the depth of his intellect. I found that here; where Norm shines his clarifying light on deep subjects; where he challenges kindly and carefully; leaving the room for the interviewer and listener to engage in the dance even if their moves aren't the same. Norm's legacy will continue to grow and he will be recognized as one of the great thinkers of modern times. Thanks for this.

[@audrapettett9464]

Beautifully observed and expressed Kim

[@kristintipps6735]

The key to UNhappiness is indulgence. Brilliant.

[@dfheezy]

...which is a result of not knowing what you want.

[@user-qu8nl3pd1n]

this is the best interview of Norm I've heard because I discovered many things about him, he's a fascinating guy

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

You guys, I’m blushing!

[@justjoe233]

@@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny You gotta get him back on. This is a piece of comedy history

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

@@justjoe233 Right?! We were close a few years ago, and then last year in the early lockdown, but it never happened. That being said, the second time might not live up to the first time. But I think with Norm, it's never going to be bad.

[@justjoe233]

Guy MacPherson I’ve heard Norms a tough guy to get to commit to things. Hopefully he’ll have something to promote soon and do another one. I think the nature of your interview style had an effect on how deep the last interview got.

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

@@justjoe233 Well, so much for plugging anything. Sad day today.

[@closcer3950]

Great interviewer. Loved how you let him talk.

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

Thanks, Closcer.

[@anubislee36]

Let's be honest this is one of the few times the interviewer / host doesn't sound dumb next to norm. Thoughtful responses come from good listening and we heard that here

[@evansgate]

@@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny yeah you did good, this is one of Norm's better interviews especially since we won't be granted any new ones now

[@jeffrice5793]

Probably the best interview of Norm I've ever heard. Good job.

[@cheezvo_beats]

Almost as good as Adam eget 's jobs

[@angelaoehley7931]

Agree & Norm is so layed back so cool! Love when he laughs. Miss Norm. Such a star ⭐️ RIP Norm in Heaven with his buddies. 💜☮️✝️

[@sirako]

I think it is the best and I love how it starts by addressing the worst one.

[@OakAthainNerin]

This was always my favorite Norm “interview”. May he rest easy. God bless him.

[@roberj568]

Me Too … more personal than most

[@drewdelaney4166]

Rain falls on the wicked and the just. Great quote Norm brought up. God makes no distinction between the evil and the righteous in this instance-He gives good gifts to both of them. There will be a time of judgment in the future, but, until then, God graciously gives good things, even to those who hate Him. He gives the blessing of rain to the just and the unjust alike. Wicked people, people who mock Him and even deny His existence still get to enjoy good weather, good food, the love of family, and a great many other things. Since God is so generous with His enemies, then we should be as well. Great interview and one I always come back and listen. Miss Norm

[@notyourfriendbuddy]

Great point, brother. In my estimation, Norm earnestly sought a relationship with God and accepted the truth of Jesus; albeit in his own, unique way. Obviously, no one but the Lord knew Norms heart. But I’d like to believe that old chunk of coal is now a diamond that we’ll get to fellowship and worship with in the presence of the Almighty.

[@mchaney2]

Norm having a poignant moment reflecting about his relationship with his son then HELLO THIS IS GILBERT GOTTFRIED!!!!

[@js2010ish]

:)

[@jezraelcummins4367]

This Norm fella had been tricking me for year, he isn’t some bumbling idiot. He’s some thinker who’d I like to share a chicken with someday.

[@notgonnalie1846]

Bring some morphine and you'll have a friend for life!

[@lunchbag_larry]

"the smartest guy in the room, pretending to be the dumbest guy in the room"

[@frankdodd3355]

Get your own chicken!

[@forgetfulstranger]

Man I'd love to have a roasted beef sandwich with him

[@FlipDahlenburg]

@@forgetfulstranger Norm doesn't LIKE roast beef, he likes CHICKEN!

[@homerpoikafani1336]

A real meeting of the mind!

[@pretorious700]

The interviewer is a doorknob.

[@planb5260]

Yeah, they've got a real stream of consciousness thing going on there.

[@oldnick4707]

Note to self,...the main problem with posting your own interview with Norm Macdonald is that you get labled a doorknob.

[@notgonnalie1846]

@@planb5260 It's called 'conversation', friend.

[@ChubbyChecker182]

A pair of knockers

[@riledmouse4677]

I found this to be one of the most profound conversations I’ve ever listened to. My brain got stretched. Super grateful this exists. 🙏 Mahalo

[@Tom-yd1ur]

Great interview for his biggest fans. Includes his thoughts on death & dying, fears of mortality and disease, views on religion and philosophy. One of the funniest people that ever lived being honest, vulverable, and deeply human. Norm was a comedic genius and also clearly a very deep thinker.

[@stanksalvala]

Well Norm, you may have focused on the belly laughs, but you certainly make me smile, too.

[@BNG1Fdarest]

Finally found the original..I listen to this very often... Thank you so much, this is timeless

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

Excellent. Check out some of the other episodes while you’re here.

[@850iStyle]

'facebook updates are the equivalent of bathroom graffiti' lmfao

[@boombastic108]

He's right.

[@johndutchman]

So much more makes sense now. Norm's life is the epitome of courage, on and off stage. Such a humble and beautiful soul. I love hearing comedians discuss the craft of comedy, equally as much as their jokes . . because comedy is so vital to humanity, humane-ness. It's been said his 'battle' with cancer was nine years, so I wonder where that places this interview, pre- or post- 'the news' . . no matter, this is the most revealing interview of Norm I've come across, so far. Well done, Mr. Macpherson ! (And I like your take on being an Alarmist, I totally get that, and I choose to be a Denialist, 'What .. oh this? . . it's nothing, it'll go away after a while ..') Thank you.

[@Tom-yd1ur]

Norm says he's 48 during the interview and he was 61 when he passed. So this would have been around 13 years ago, a few years before his diagnosis.

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

@@Tom-yd1ur Once again, this was from 2012. No debate about it. He always went by a younger age until his book came out.

[@mattparzynski5910]

RIP Norm. He was a guy who definitely owned a doghouse.

[@dsoccer241]

❤️

[@BHam336]

I understand he was a deeply, deeply closeted homosexual

[@BHam336]

No, he was deeply closeted: he’d never admit he was gay. This was a good interview. I especially liked how the interviewer tried to flex he was an atheist & Norm kinda shit on him. What’s the joke about the vegan & the atheist at a table together? They will both manage to bring it up in convo, no matter the topic of discussion.

[@falsemcnuggethope]

He might have helped his gay friends off though, since he wasn't homophobic.

[@bethy735]

Thanks for the great interview with Norm.

[@nealm6764]

I loved how the interviewer thought Norm was trying to make some deep social commentary about homophobia in our society, but Norm was just setting up a cheap "give your gay buddy a hand-job" joke, which didn't land until Norm sort of walked Guy through it with baby steps. LOL! Made it all the more funnier. Looking forward to the rest of this!

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

I'm not so sure I thought it was supposed to be a deep social commentary, but even with jokes if they don't have an internal logic, I question them. Which is what I did.

[@DW-zj6ux]

@@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny right right right, you can't label something illogical after hearing 1 sentence,

[@AlJayWright]

You wouldn’t know what a logical joke is if it hit you in the face. Norm is the king of jokes; his comedy iq is massive. Even with the labour work stuff in Vancouver, he was stringing you along. He graduated high school at 14

[@tommytwobrews]

@@AlJayWright You must be one of Norm's straight friends

[@iamamaniaint]

Well spotted oh nealm6764 seer of truths. Ye shall it be ordained as fact, what at once was objective

[@William.H.Bonney]

This is great! I mean who’s bigger than Norm Macdonald? Too big to fail.

[@boneheap1000]

Let's not have fun at his expanse.

[@Wib0]

@@boneheap1000 exactly, sandwiches-galore, right. More like Too Big To Fall over cause of all the sandwiches the man likes to stuff in his face. I love Normy.

[@William.H.Bonney]

BoneHeap come on now! He was doing it for a role

[@cauler6627]

@@boneheap1000 look, see, behold and witness, now we’re having Pun at your expense… BTW… .

[@waynestarr6705]

Yeah, the only time I didn't like him was on the view cuz I couldn't hear him over those YAMMERING BITCHES!🤨

[@KillerDanzig]

Thanks Guy MacPherson for this interview. Love this interview, wish I could have met Norm.

[@ElstonsGun]

I come back to this every now and then

[@normie2716]

This interview makes me, if it were at all possible, like Norm even more. It truly fascinates me when I hear a celebrity ruminate on God and have faith. When in today's popular culture, atheism is the flavor of the month, Norm again marches to the beat of his own drum, unafraid. I wouldn't consider myself an atheist, but not really a believer either. However, Norm's point of view sort of resonates with me in ways I hadn't really given much thought to. I'm really going to miss this guy. Norm, I hope you found whatever it was you were looking for.

[@562handsomemike]

Well said.

[@lostat400]

@@562handsomemike The reason why No one today, that goes to Public School, believes in God, is because of Darwinism, and it being taught as uncontested scientific fact. Even though if truth were told, there is no evidence for, and every bit against. Why? Because presented with the Fact that there is no Maker, there is only one conclusion one can come to, and that is that there is No God. Note, that you never get to hear any argument against Evolution, not even in University. So, what we end up with is everyone agreeing with Evolution, but no one being able to give a good reason as to why. LIFE began, or so we are told, by a natural process which takes molecules found in a disordered state and allows them to become ordered in such a way that life is produced, even though all things trend toward disorder. The second law of thermodynamics states that “as one goes forward in time, the net entropy (degree of disorder) of any isolated or closed system will always increase .” To "progress" from bacteria to a multi cellular organism, requires the addition of new DNA code. Mutations when they do occur can only change or degrade existing information, it does not add new information. Headline: "causes of sickle cell disease" Sickle Cell News. [Sickle cell anemia results from a mutation in a gene called HBB, which contains the blueprint for cells to make part of a protein called hemoglobin. The mutation in the HBB gene in sickle cell anemia changes one of the amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, in the beta chain of hemoglobin.] "Theory of Evolution" and what doesn't fit in. Starting with the fossil record: David Gelernter, a Yale a professor of computer science, Takes On Darwinism: [In the famous “Cambrian explosion” of around half a billion years ago, a striking variety of new organisms-including the first-ever animals-pop up suddenly in the fossil record over a mere 70-odd million years. Darwin’s theory predicts that new life forms evolve gradually from old ones in a constantly branching, spreading tree of life. Those brave new Cambrian creatures must therefore have had Precambrian predecessors, similar but not quite as fancy and sophisticated. But those predecessors of the Cambrian creatures are missing. Darwin himself was disturbed by their absence from the fossil record. He believed they would turn up eventually. Some of his contemporaries (such as the eminent Harvard biologist Louis Agassiz) held that the fossil record was clear enough already, and showed that Darwin’s theory was wrong. Perhaps only a few sites had been searched for fossils, but they had been searched straight down. The Cambrian explosion had been unearthed, and beneath those Cambrian creatures their Precambrian predecessors should have been waiting-and weren’t. In fact, the fossil record as a whole lacked the upward-branching structure Darwin predicted.] Irreducible Complexity: The Challenge to the Darwinian Explanations of Life. [ "irreducible complexity." In simple terms, this idea applies to any system of interacting parts in which the removal of any one part destroys the function of the entire system. An irreducibly complex system, then, requires each and every component to be in place before it will function.] According to the BBC the components and processes that need to be in place before life begins are: Article "The secret on how life on Earth began" BBC, dated 31 Oct 2016. [ It turned out that DNA only has one job. Your DNA tells your cells how to make proteins: molecules that perform a host of essential tasks. But the process of using DNA to make proteins proved to be staggeringly intricate. That was a big problem for anyone trying to explain the origin of life, because it is hard to imagine how something so complex could ever have got started. Each protein is essentially a long chain of amino acids, strung together in a specific order. The sequence of the amino acids determines the three-dimensional shape of the protein, and thus what it does. That information is encoded in the sequence of the DNA's bases. So when a cell needs to make a particular protein, it reads the relevant gene in the DNA to get the sequence of amino acids. But there is a twist. DNA is precious, so cells prefer to keep it bundled away safely. For this reason, they copy the information from DNA onto short molecules of another substance called RNA (ribonucleic acid). If DNA is a library book, RNA is a scrap of paper with a key passage scribbled onto it. RNA is similar to DNA, except that it only has one strand. Finally, the process of converting the information in that RNA strand into a protein takes place in an enormously elaborate molecule called a "ribosome". (Ribosomes are about half protein and half rRNA. Ribosomes are usually made up of three or four rRNA molecules and anywhere from about 40 to 80 different ribosomal proteins.) This process is going on in every living cell, even the simplest bacteria. It is as essential to life as eating and breathing. Any explanation for the origin of life must show how this complex trinity - DNA, RNA and ribosome protein - came into existence and started working. "DNA makes RNA makes protein, all in this lipid-encapsulated bag of chemicals," says John Sutherland. "You look at that and it's just 'wow, that's too complicated'. How are we going to find organic chemistry that will make all that in one go?"..... In Darwin's theory of evolution, the ability to create offspring is absolutely central: the only way an organism can "win" is to leave behind lots of children. But there are other features of life that seem equally essential. The most obvious is metabolism: the ability to extract energy from your surroundings and use it to keep yourself alive. Meanwhile, a third group maintained that the first thing to appear was a container for the key molecules, to keep them from floating off. "Compartmentalisation must have come first, because there's no point doing metabolism unless you're compartmentalised," says Sutherland. In other words, there needed to be a cell ... All three ideas acquired adherents and have survived to the present day. Scientists have become passionately committed to their pet ideas, sometimes blindly so. As a result, scientific meetings on the origin of life have often been fractious affairs, and journalists covering the subject are regularly told by a scientist in one camp that the ideas emerging from the other camps are stupid or worse. ....]

[@GrimSleepy]

@@lostat400 1) Darwin was a God-fearing and devout Christian. 2) If I'm not mistaken there are links between the cambrian and precambrian organisms. 3) 5 theorized mass extinction events which thrust the diversity of life WAY down (worst being ~95% extinction of all species from one event) that eventually climbs back up to the biodiversity we see today, some species were survivors of the previous world, while others are novel in structure. 4) Mostly unrelated segue; I am a carrier of a rare genetic condition that leads to a disorder called Phenylketonuria. My sister and her ex-husband were also carriers, which were the causal factors that resulted in my niece developing the full PKU disorder with it's common symptoms. I relate it to the Sickle Cell Disease, though they have nothing to do with one another.

[@motleysue8171]

@@lostat400 👍🏻In short, no functioning complex system has ever emerged without a creator. Someone designed and set into motion a beautifully orchestrated system upon which our complex universe depends. Perfect order has NEVER emerged from an explosion ... EVER!

[@mailroomplus7310]

I like when he talks about dogs and cats.

[@originafreerangechicken]

One of my favorite Norm interviews. I’ve listened to this a bunch of times. Admittedly, sometimes, it’s just to hear Norms uninterrupted voice. It makes me smile.

[@psy-eq1444]

Is this a new interview? It was great! Often interviewers don’t “get” Norm so it’s frustrating listening to them try and communicate with him, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. This isn't new - it's from 2012 - but it's timeless!

[@theremixphilly]

I can't nail it down if he was trolling about atheism. Kept going back to it. So it either bothers him (cause I have heard him talk about it on other interviews also) or he is trolling (for the same reason). He (here) doesn't understand it on many levels.

[@geebee380]

27:30 He said "I'm 48 now and I've had 2 Colonoscopys. This would put this interview around 2007. 🤔

[@martianmacdonald]

one of the greatest podcast episodes i’ve ever listened to

[@mkiemele]

That was really lovely, Guy. Norm always got me through some of these cold winter nights in the Great White North, but hearing him here, just now, made me smile rather than laugh. Thanks.

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

Perfect. Glad you liked it, Mark.

[@tankmccoy875]

Norm saying that this is uninteresting cut deep. This has to be one.of the MOST interesting interviews I've ever heard. I love the background and the questions 💯

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

Thanks for the comment.

[@mirbramo94]

Explain to the folks at home what death is

[@jezraelcummins4367]

You know what they call it nowadays a “DIRT NAP”

[@mirbramo94]

@@jezraelcummins4367 good god larry

[@oldnick4707]

Not sure, but it follows families.

[@cauler6627]

Death is when a person, place or a thing dies

[@EpicEventsPartyRentals]

@@cauler6627 thanks Adam. A real Ed McBoy

[@jasonpaul4308]

wow its just so heartbreaking listening to this and hearing him talk about being so afraid of death and wanting nothing more than to live as long as possible.... RIP :'(

[@denise26100]

Better to live in fear and face the suffering of existence and death than live in a meaningless hedonistic frency. The closer we get to the cross,the more splinters we'll get and Norm was closer than most of us, Christian or not.

[@Stj209]

@@denise26100 he was a Christian though, in case you thought he wasn’t.

[@denise26100]

@@Stj209 I know :) I meant other people and wether they're more devout Christians than him or not.

[@GuitarNTheCar]

@@denise26100 I loved Norm, but I don't understand if he was a Christian, why did he use God's name in vain. I've heard him do it several times. Also, why would a Christian be so afraid of dying. I understand the process of dying isn't something pleasant to ponder, but being afraid of not living forever is contrary to what is taught by Jesus about death and the afterlife.

[@kelvyquayo]

@@GuitarNTheCar I don’t think God is looking or reasons to send us to hell…. we are Ok with that on our own. But if we truly believe in The Name (Jesus means YHVH is my Salvation) and are indwelled with The Spirit we are saved…. But just like Moses wondering in the Wilderness many believers get stuck in a struggle which becomes a wandering the wilderness experience which heading to The Promised Land.. A believer can be in the offensive, preaching The Word and representing The Gospel properly… others truly buffeted by The Enemy are always on the defensive… they keep themselves in this struggle (with their sin) which prevents them from properly doing our duty as Christians…. The Enemy does all he can to keep people from the saving knowledge of Messiah.. but once we believe The Enemy’s job is to effectively neuter ones witness for The Kingdom…. ..but I rest assured of a Loving and Merciful God who has done everything to see that we are Redeemed…. Not by our works but The Blood and Resurrection of Christ crucified.

[@krokee2323]

Probably one of the most enjoyable and thought provoking conversations you can find on KZbin

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

All of KZbin?! Impressive. Thanks.

[@zjuazyz6240]

“The key to unhappiness is indulgence. “ ---I always look at what the meaning of happiness is. Prime example of the way Norm flipped ideas on their head. He was a different mind. Brilliant.

[@Andreas-yt9wv]

If anything I should congratulate you on this conversation, which showed Norm and made me understand even more why everyone said he was a genious.

[@gardnersusedbooks2560]

In my 57 years nobody has made me laugh as hard as Norm. Greatest stand-up comic ever.

[@arhturlegend007]

Love this interview, Norm is great to listen to. Love the questions, great job conducting this beauty. Thanks.

[@LordThree]

I heard this a long time ago and couldn’t remember where or when. Thank you for the upload

[@rogertayloRRR]

This was excellent..great to listen with a cup of coffee

[@NeTxGrl]

I just started to listen. Think I'll go make myself a cup of coffee.

[@antonitobendrito2243]

I am so thankful for this interview, it feels like some kind of closure. The host was amazing, who is this guy? And the Guest, well, just an old chunk of gold..

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

Glad you liked it. The host is just a guy.

[@flatterswhite]

I got two little philosophical mcnuggets this podcast: -"Why would you ruminate over an inevitability?" -"Since when you're alive you're not dead and when you're dead you're not alive, you and death will never cross paths"

[@MalAnders94]

It is true that it's an inevitability, but it does have effect on how you live your life, so you better think about it and how it effects your feelings and the decisions you make. Obviously you can't do anything about it.

[@flatterswhite]

@@MalAnders94 then that's more ruminating about life than ruminating about death

[@nobasementinthealamo3859]

Ernest Becker?

[@jeanjaque73]

@@nobasementinthealamo3859 indeed. respect.

[@billforson3143]

Listening in Oklahoma, thank you for uploading this gem

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

Glad you’re enjoying it. Say hi to Big Country for me!

[@onpsxmember]

Thank you for that great interview. I'm sure Norm enjoyed that dialogue, very open, not steering in one direction. I'd love to talk to him. If you see him again, why not talk about philosophers or what books he likes. You'd be also interesting as a guest on his show when he's back...hopefully in the fall. It takes forever to get him going.

[@FACEGRINDproductions]

Ask him about Russian existentialist authors!

[@HappyFarmerMG]

Thanks for all the laughs and smiles. This interview feels like a beautiful gift with you gone. We miss you Norm.

[@No_Use_For_A_Name1981]

Fantastic interview, and one that I've never heard. 2012, This would have been right around his time of diagnosis and maybe that colored his talking points here. He was a hilarious and insightful being and boy, did he make me laugh.

[@justinmoore3121]

One of the best shows I’ve listened to with Norm MacDonald. Learned so much more about the comedian which I know is the point of the show. It came across so good job.

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

Awesome, thanks.

[@idid9595]

32:30 "Indulgence is the key to unhappiness"

[@cauler6627]

Extremely insightful! He was either summarizing some part of the Bible or maybe a Buddho or something… But like any great comic, he has the skill to boil it down, orate and declaim it...

[@Jonjzi]

33:40

[@pablorages1241]

Only found Norm a couple of years ago ... and now he's gone ... glad we have discussions like this !

[@Zennofobic]

I hope Norm knows that this is NOT a boring interview, it's utterly fascinating for fans of Norm to hear more about his personal life and thoughts. We all know his bits, this is probably my favorite Norm interview.

[@NeerujSethi]

This is one of my favorite norm interviews. I love that you didn’t just joke around

I left rural northeastern Ontario when I was 16 to do the same thing in Van, Norm. My first job was as a chimney sweep in 1985. Expo happening the following year saved my life. I stayed for 17 years!

[@notgonnalie1846]

Did you fill up the van with cheese sandwiches, too?

[@evansgate]

1885 right?

[@BenOnBass]

this is still one of my favorite Norm interviews. Guy does a great job in the interview and I like that he gave Norm room for his serious, philosophical side. I understand why he rarely showed it, but I selfishly wish he let us in a little more

[@bernieburnalot]

This was super great. Loved it!

[@mulletforyou]

This is by far the best Norm interview I have come across. You really got to his core.

[@SueProv]

Beautifully done and said. Thank you both.

[@bethy735]

I really enjoyed listening to Norm talk to you. GREAT Intetview.Nice to know what the man was behind the funny. VERY SWEET&SINCERE.Thanks, Mac❤😊

[@xanhteps648]

These guys have a real stream of consciousness thing going on

[@tonywolfemusic5920]

It’s called a conversation... 🤣

[@cheezvo_beats]

A meeting of the mind

[@FloydMaxwell]

This is the very best Norm KZbin. You let Norm develop his thoughts. Didn't bail him out. Didn't react (and thus give him things to be diverted by). Hats off to you.

[@phonescreenfiendmachine92]

More norm podcasts!!!

[@notgonnalie1846]

In autumn Norm and his sidekick Adam Egret will restart their podcast!

[@Kenulas]

@@notgonnalie1846 is this true

[@tomasomaonaigh7659]

Gotta say, this was wonderful. Norms humility at not knowing, in a materialistic sense, yet, 'knowing ', intuitively was beautiful to behold.

[@JimmyJamesJimbo]

More of Norm like this please. Thank you for letting Norm just rant uninterrupted Mr Radio Guy. Started off weak but damn did you both end strong. Miss you Normy boy ❤

[@ItsOkImOnlyBleeding]

Heart wrenching to hear him say ‘i just wanna grow old‘. I love these types of interviews with Norm, he’s incredibly intelligent and hilarious. Truly one of a kind

[@TurdFerguson456]

You are the best Norm! I'm serious, in my opinion, you might be the greatest comic of all time. We really need your podcast to start back up soon

[@t-bosupremo6965]

I hope adam wasnt talking out his ass on joe's podcast and they really do it

[@philyroberts72]

I found Norm about 15 years ago through Artie on the Stern show! Living in the UK was harder to be up on different comedians but KZbin opened up the gates to everything. Mitch Hedberg, Bobby Lee, Theo Vaghan, and the real King of comedy Norm McDonald! The way his mind works & the way he talks at normal speed but has a lazy drawl & the names of his uncles. Absolute Legend. RIP Norm McDonald.🙏❤️

[@edub9930]

17:30 it's crazy him telling that story. Those chemicals probably gave him cancer. For a moment i forgot i was listening to Norm & felt i was just listening to some deep intellectual thinker. Wish the interview never ended. RIP Norm

[@GoldHamSam]

Just heard him mention that and came down to the comments to see if anyone else caught it. I believe he died of Multiple myeloma which lists chemical exposure as a likely cause. So sad. Amazing interview though

[@rizman1095]

Awesome interview of a great man! Thank you!

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

Thanks for listening!

[@Hollowsmith]

Kitchener Lesley sure as hell didn't give Norm's uncle this much time to explain himself.

[@adamdebenham6229]

Blind Brazilian Tex Atlantis the worst part was the hypocrisy

[@kitchenerleslie8388]

Aye

[@edwardgrimsley4401]

His Pig did

[@lynseymoat363]

I can't describe how I felt when he started talking about colon cancer. I already miss you Norm. You will always be one of my favorites.

[@wongbrackman4290]

This was great. The only thing that could possibly top Norm would be a hat!!

[@jontreeatreeify]

Some say Norm hasn't actually ever had anything on his mind... but that's not true! Just the other day, I saw a picture of him wearing a hat!

[@atrejunl]

this is my favorite Norm interview and there are sooo many good ones

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

Mine, too.

[@oom5768]

serious Norm is just as cool as show Norm is funny

[@1dweeb]

ive listened to this twice in a week. cant get enough. starting my norm content digestion again

[@BrianFedirko]

i like your format, and love the outside of philosophy trip you both took.

[@mrcell61]

My man, Norm. Beautiful and rough interview. Kind of like life.

[@quinbagwell7515]

I can't believe that I'm just now finding this interview. It's delightful to hear this. Like thousands of others, I loved Norm MacDonald.

[@dinoarchie]

Rip to both of these Legends Guy & Norm 🫡🫡

[@michaelbrown2470]

This interview is unique. I can hear Norm jokes listening to any other clip (and I think I've listened to them all). This one will stand out throughout eternity. This is more like listening to Jordan Peterson. Excellent!

[@linusp9316]

Norm is a trillion times smarter and more interesting than Jordan Peterson.. don't insult him like that.

[@bucketpizza5197]

@@linusp9316 old twitter post from norm to peterson: I have admired your work for years, sir, and am thrilled at your sudden success. You changed my life years ago and I want to say thank you. Thank you. I would bet Norm would not feel insulted.

[@linusp9316]

@@bucketpizza5197 You're aware that Norm is a comedian, correct?

[@bucketpizza5197]

@@linusp9316 Yes, I don't think he would feel insulted because he admire Peterson. Is my prediction wrong because he is a comedian?

[@linusp9316]

@@bucketpizza5197 He could be deadpanning or sincere, but in context it seems really unlikely that he's being sincere.. Norm loves trolling people, and knows how to do it.

[@LoveandButter]

One of my favorite comics and minds, of all time. So thoughtful. So original.

[@samsungtelevision695]

At 3:14 Norm describes an idea analogous to the Quantum Zeno effect. This is the second time I’ve found connections to fairly deep mathematical ideas in Norm’s material/interviews.

[@pacnowest]

Guy MacPherson has passed. I look forward to part 2 of this interview when I get there.

[@xB-yg2iw]

What a poignant interview. Thank you Guy I really enjoyed it.

[@GuyMacPhersonWhatsSoFunny]

Thanks for listening.

[@katieleporte7087]

Unrequited, garrulous, lambaste. All words that I never quite knew how to pronounce before hearing Norm just casually throw them into conversation. 🤣 No other comedian like him….

[@aprilosborn1886]

Norm was soo intellectual, and the way he looked at people who didn't know him was priceless RIP NORM

[@ai5837]

"God can't be mean." ? Well, why the fuck can't he? 🤣🤣🤣 "...not some force but an actual personage." 😊 So many gems in this one. What a genious. I knew he was and I even heard this interview before and remembered it well and, still, he blew me away again. What he says and how he says it... Just genious. I can't believe he actually existed. And that I actually lived in that world. This world now... just not quite as good. Thank you God for having made Norm. That was... genious 😊