Joel McHale | Blocks Podcast w/ Neal Brennan

Neal Brennan interviews Joel McHale (Animal Control, The Soup, Community) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks.
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00:00 Intro
1:54 How He Got Into Showbiz
5:06 College football career
8:41 Almost Live
10:56 Marriage & Grad School
12:46 Early Career
16:37 The Soup
17:46 Inner Life
20:07 Dyslexia
24:04 Sponsor: Mando
27:10 Community
31:25 Workaholic OCD
33:21 Parenting
46:15 Status
50:22 Extreme Extrovert
55:30 Self-loathing & Imposter Syndrome
57:20 Gratitude
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Follow Neal Brennan: / nealbrennan
/ nealbrennan
/ mrnealbrennan
Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: www.netflix.com/title/81728557
Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: www.netflix.com/title/81036234
Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased).
Edited by Will Hagle
Sponsor Blocks: public.liveread.io/media-kit/...
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Sponsors:
www.shopmando.com promo code: NEAL for $5 off the Mando starter pack

[@FishbowlPhenom]

This podcast is streets ahead.

[@BonesEye42]

Verbal wildfire!

[@lizmetcalf3714]

If you have to ask, you are steets behind 🤓​@@BonesEye42

[@Gringa_L]

I could not agree more! It's like a relatively hidden gem.

[@MasKaiBur]

well done, fishbowl

[@poindextertunes]

Shut up Leonard, I heard about your prescription socks

[@FlavieFreedom]

Joel McHale is always a great interview guest. He's open, honest, and entertaining. Plus he seems to be very hardworking, deserves his success.

[@vPeteWalker]

You nailed it. He's fantastic. Someone who you'd love to be neighbors with, because they are on that same wavelength of kindness and appreciation... and sure like anyone else, can be a dick, but I dig that.

[@SoNoFTheMoSt]

Even when hes cooking terrible steaks and trying to hog the lime light in a show where hes meant to just sit down at eat?

[@Javmon9]

I never missed Talk Soup & Soup. It was the highlight of the week. I especially love when a talk show host would visit and make fun of themselves.

[@JavMacHer]

I always miss the Soup- it was greatness

[@Howyanow]

Joel has aged like a fine wine, incredible actor and seems like a great guy

[@maxmeier532]

His hair aged like fine leaves. But he keeps replenishing. To be frank, it seems after the hair plugs gave up on him more than once, he has given up on them and is now just wearing a wig.

[@benny-rex]

Where do I get my "AYAHUASCA IS THE PICKLEBALL OF DRUGS" shirt?!

[@tusia20_85]

I have been watching Neal’s podcast every week since he started and I still can’t get over how he does his ads 😂 he’s hilarious

[@blainechild9068]

I'm a simple man, I see Joel McHale on Neal Brennan's podcast, I click

[@commaJim]

I'm a simple man

[@MachWonder]

More like a basic man, parroting common KZbin comments everyone has seen a bazillion times.

[@b0000kify]

I do not have gratitude how "The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale" only had one season

[@margueritenesfield1641]

It was so nice to see Joel McHale so genuine and open. He is always cast as a mean person.

[@user-rk7qx5ng2c]

Thank you Neil Brennan, always tuning in, so helpful. I am it in the entertainment business and this podcast translates to us all💜👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.

[@JayK923]

⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️🔞🔞🔞🔞🪬🪬🪬🚨🚨🚨🫵🏼🫵🏼🫵🏼🫵🏼

[@B-Nice]

SIX SEASONS AND A MOVIE!!!! 🎥

[@user-rk7qx5ng2c]

Loved the Soup!! Going to share this episode with my 20 year old son, love that you kept with it, my son needs to know that everyone is out there just trying their best, find what you like and give it your all!!

[@commentforthealgo5383]

joel mchale blocks: my kid does not like my cars.

[@Logan-js2uk]

I love that Joel unironically ascribed a Nietzsche quote to Craig Ferguson 😂

[@freemagicfun]

Was he ever interviewed by Nietzsche? 😎

[@itsjeremy6]

Dyslexics are allowed to not know what dead people said.

[@keithw453]

Now this is podcasting.

[@thetroothhurtz]

Joel is the BEST guy ever. Truly one of the good guys.

[@ListerTunes]

Will Hagle, you are a stone cold killer for that cutoff at the end. Excellent editing as always.

[@larissacole9413]

The Soup was one of my favorite shows. Pop culture needs to be roasted!

[@maxmeier532]

McHale on the Soup made you appreciate how good of a comedian Tosh and his show was.

[@Cargo_Bay]

they did a revival of sorts on Netflix in 2018 called "The Joel McHale Show", but it only lasted 1 season :(

[@Elmerphant]

LOVE JOEL SO MUCH!!!! EVERYTHING HE'S IN IS AMAZING!!!! ANIMAL CONTROL IS SO GOOD! COMMUNITY! THE SOUP!!!

[@DK051687]

It's so nice of you to guest one of the awesome cast from Community.

[@shanearanda3472]

Thanks Neal. Another great show.

[@colesteele1]

I completely forgot about Joe. Hard to believe Community came out in 2009. What a great show!

[@maxmeier532]

How is that hard believe? It's been ages since if went off the screen (before coming back for a short period). The show sucked ever since Glover and Chase left.

[@dannyganelin9777]

​@@maxmeier532 even at its worst, it's still on par with most comedies today. It was THAT good.

[@Eskay_The_Evil_Genius]

Dont sleep on crime scene kitchen its quality

[@krmnych_backlog]

Oh hell yeah! Much love from Ukraine🇺🇦🖤

[@tinypinata505]

What a great conversation. They touched upon a lot of topics and spoke hard truth to many. Kudos!

[@nancym.prattph.d.173]

Thank you, guys. Just a great discussion. Ended too soon. ❤

[@MurphyIsMyLastName]

Great to see this podcast has grown quite a bit since I last checked in. One of the best shows that's actively trying to contribute positively to our world, thanks Neal! BTW Joe List would be a great guest, and his podcast Mindful Metal Jacket is another comedic mental health pod I recommend to anyone that enjoys this.

[@dakeli]

Love me some Neal, especially the neg to pos thought replacement section. Exactly what I'm working on! P.S. excellent guest.

[@timschaiberger9395]

can't wait. Watching now! lol!

[@ScottThrill]

Watching this after the s3 premiere of The Bear hits weird lol. #IYKYK

[@Kamikazevondoom]

The IT Crowd would have been EPIC 😅

[@JeremyForTheWin]

The pilot is on KZbin. The tone is really... Wrong, compared to the uk version

[@Howyanow]

No it wouldn’t

[@elbowspeak]

Holy shit! Almost Live! A delightful blast from the past. What a great first real gig.

[@carylshawver]

Loved him on Almost Live, then everything else he's done after(esp. Community) 💖😄

[@DockerVbox]

“Ayahuasca became the pickleball of drugs” Now that shit is funny!! I’ll be thinking about that all day, LOL

[@stephekneeman]

Holy shit, dude lived in Haddonfield?! Wish our time there overlapped!

[@owenmorehart1224]

Great episode, great conversation. Joel seems like a down-to-earth guy...

[@ish474]

I always liked Joel. After this podcast, I love this guy!

[@donniemoder1466]

So cool he was a walk on for a national collegiate champion football school.

[@3HenKiss]

I can't believe he was on Almost Live!

[@akiag4678]

Joel 4 Prez, he's an Angel.

[@carahowell4260]

Love the soup! Love Joel!!

[@ABooTubeProduction]

I've always wanted to meet Joel McHale and tell him he's been my celebrity crush for over a decade so he can be rude to my face and tell me to go call my shrink. You have your fantasies, I have mine...

[@mulaneyfangirl]

Joel, my oldest has autism too and she is 100% a rule follower!

[@tubafishy]

Joel McHale swole af

[@kevinmccombs3201]

Whatever Joel is in is auto play. Community is great but, he shoulda won an Oscar for IHOP 🤣 Great stuff fellas!

[@LamaMama26]

Best Culture Pop flavor! Sponsor Neal!

[@mattosborne1366]

Fucking Brennan; such a killer interviewer.

[@collinmorelock4911]

Fastest click ever

[@mulaneyfangirl]

Same!

[@iDard3n]

This was over in 15 min!

[@chrissanders733]

the best

[@mattthew2020]

Anyone else see Joel on Dinner Time Live with David Chang? He's on Fools notice!

[@brittanycarriger]

THE MANDO AD WAS SOOOOOOO LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG

[@Gringa_L]

Two smart, adorable men with beards. Life is good.

[@iwcnv]

Favorite Joel was on Santa Clarita Diet... So so funny

[@JT-nc9gy]

Dammit I love ya Neal.... Ever since that molly n aya u the comedian u always meant to be without even trying!!! So jealous of ya buddy

[@BatmanHQYT]

Just saw him on The Bear!

[@dogtato]

the letterman impression was uncanny

[@dielaughing73]

Yeah, brief but spot-on

[@iDard3n]

If Joel is doubting himself than I’m doomed

[@JayElls]

Joel McHale is awesome! So glad too see him. I did not recognize this scruffy ruffian though 😂

[@ReginaCioffi]

This Ep was awesome! Time for Rick Glassman now please 😊

[@lordaleksandre]

As a certified Glassmanbopper, Ricky will not do well with Neal, and vice versa. He's too silly for this podcast. He's hilarious, though.

[@vanessawhitneypro]

DIG Joel McHale… Brilliantly funny dude!

[@n.a.larson9161]

That sounds like a fun project! Here's a fictional excerpt from a screenplay about a school play adaptation of "It's a Small World," featuring a young Joel McHale: --- **INT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AUDITORIUM - DAY** The stage is set with colorful backdrops representing different countries. Children in homemade costumes bustle around, preparing for their big performance. The audience, filled with proud parents and teachers, chatters excitedly. **CUT TO:** **BACKSTAGE - DAY** A young **JOEL MCHALE** (around 10 years old) stands nervously in his costume, a mix of various cultural elements. His best friend, **TOMMY**, dressed as a French mime, tries to calm him down. **TOMMY** (grinning) Come on, Joel. You’ve got this! Just remember, it’s all about having fun. **JOEL** (nervously) Easy for you to say. You don’t have to sing in front of everyone. **TOMMY** (laughing) True, but you’re gonna be great. Just think of it as a big joke. You love jokes! **CUT TO:** **ON STAGE - DAY** The curtain rises, revealing the colorful set. The children begin to sing "It's a Small World (After All)" in various languages. Joel steps forward for his solo, his voice shaky at first but growing stronger with each note. **JOEL** (singing) It's a world of laughter, a world of tears... The audience claps along, enchanted by the children's performance. Joel's confidence builds, and he starts to enjoy the moment. **CUT TO:** **AUDIENCE - DAY** Joel's parents beam with pride, capturing the moment on their camcorder. His mother wipes away a tear, moved by her son's bravery. **CUT TO:** **BACKSTAGE - DAY** The children rush off stage, laughing and hugging each other. Joel is met with high-fives and pats on the back. **TOMMY** (excitedly) You nailed it, Joel! That was awesome! **JOEL** (grinning) Thanks, Tommy. I guess it wasn’t so bad after all. **FADE OUT.**

[@mapples007]

Perhaps we should stop looking at teen binge drinking as "normal behavior".

[@RenataKleinRK]

But it is normal behavior. Maybe you mean acceptable behavior?

[@RobBarrettgolfs]

Yesirrrr

[@MatthewOliphant]

1:05 Joel, our studio needs to be painted by the end of July. Pizza provided.

[@JAYWASSERMAN]

I would love to see him on “Are you garbage”

[@kazoshay]

Joel McHale is groundbreaking, first hair transplant that didn't look hideous

[@ASocialMediaConsumer]

I like Joel McHale

[@maryshyrock1770]

Love Neal, a ribeye wouldn't hurt, it's a healer.

[@CraigMayhem]

If it is more accepted now, why not just say 'autistic'. I don't think it's a conscious choice on Joel's part, but as an autistic person it's intriguing to me how people try to soften it by saying 'on the spectrum'. It's autism and it's fine. My parents probably do the same thing but I definitely do not mind being called autistic because I am. Anyway, now I gotta go buy that book haha

[@janenoga7076]

I think saying “on the spectrum” was not to obfuscate the condition, but to indicate the variation and complexity of how processing differences express themselves in so many different and varied ways from person to person. I see that in the members of my own extended family! People are amazing with so many gifts and blocks❣️

[@CraigMayhem]

@@janenoga7076 "Soften" not "obfuscate". It's something humans do all the time for a lot of different things - but mostly about medical conditions. Because there is still unfortunately a stigma with a lot of these conditions including autism. It doesn't bother me - I just find it interesting. I always say autism, though. I'm a college professor and it's one of the first things I tell my students on day 1 because I usually have at least one autistic student every semester. It destigmatizes it and lets them know that I understand and am an advocate.

[@wanderingfool27]

He plays a fantastic A hole in The Bear

[@ousmanfatty2492]

Go Dawgs!!

[@ThatDudeLou2023]

KOOGLER!!!!!

[@tavismaplesden]

This looks like Neal went through the Steve Urkel/stefan URkel machine

[@Skunktruck]

for the algo

[@noahmanley1918]

If Ryan Reynolds wasn't a Hollywood heartthrob JOEL MCHALE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN BLADE 3😅

[@ruud4359]

Algoooooo

[@benellison5668]

Captain Seattle!!!

[@kevinw712]

I almost don't even trust an artist that DOESN'T have some manner of imposter syndrome at this point. Practically every single actor, comic, singer, whatever, that I admire, that are riddled with self doubt.

[@josef2012]

John Henson was the best Talk Soup host.

[@Gy23Ro]

Ya'll did Mulaney dirty with that lol.

[@GoodnightwithGlomstad]

The battle of the foreheads

[@cng2009]

Ayahuasca "It became the pickleball of drugs" - Joel McHale on Blocks 😆

[@baxtronx5972]

And host of the Tiger King review show...

[@jacobblaeser]

I love your show, but recently, KZbin has attached more ads than a syndicated sitcom. It’s becoming difficult to watch…

[@Dippedwithsweet]

Omg he makes the best steak and eggs

[@commaJim]

My favorire abusive chef!

[@nicoleparreira1024]

OK, I’m only at the introduction, but where is The Bear?

[@Stayup4661]

4:13 in Philadelphia its pronounced and spelled thurl. But at least they didnt lie about their degree.

[@jjsteeves]

"I can guess" hahaha

[@jdogsful]

didnt animal hospital have bobby lee on it? pretty sure he was 5th lead to a capuchin monkey. i think i watched the first season and then it got cancelled.

[@jdogsful]

lol if i just waited 2 seconds instead of pausing and typing this comment i would have had my answer.

[@chadbarbaro]

neal is just cool, fuck it I said it.

[@ryanmbricker]

😇☝🏼♾️

[@subliminaloats1]

Seattle comedian Drake Sather, writer of Zoolander, was also going to be on almost alive but instead moved to LA. an enigma to comedy. rip.

[@KatyWithAWhyyy]

1:02:11 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@a.KniteOwl]

First Comment

[@thomasbusy3632]

I member when Joel was funny ......... 25 years ago on the soup. Today, not so much. Weird he had less hair 25 years ago.

[@ep6507]

Joel is so hot…he gets better with age!

[@dielaughing73]

So... Chipmunk Mulaney???

[@thomasraven]

He's super fakey even when he's trying to be genuine. Crazy how that happens to some actors. Always ON.